Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to ask whose “science” are we following?

With Bermuda making the decision to follow the direction of Britain for many decisions regarding Covid and vaccinations, why are we not following all the directives of Britain?

The entire population of Bermuda is so minuscule, it will fit in the average American football stadium or in two English football stadiums with room to spare. However, Bermuda has decided to pick and choose policies implemented by our exponentially larger neighbouring countries, Britain and America, sometimes simply making up its own rules (multiple tests through Day 14 and boat raft-ups).

Bermuda continues to implement strict and egregious rules, especially those imposed on our young and developing children. Statistically, over the past two-plus years of Covid, children are the least transmissible, suffer the mildest of symptoms and by a wide margin have the lowest mortality rates. Yet they are forced to follow the most punishing and restrictive regulations because Bermuda deems them as high-risk.

The Bermuda National Library, Youth Services posted an article on January 14 about how damaging remote schooling is for children. I fear that after having three school years interrupted, and with mask wearing and mass quarantines, our children are going to suffer long-term mental, emotional and educational consequences. Furthermore, even despite the mask wearing, they are still being unjustifiably quarantined. Again, I ask — whose “science” are we following?

Effective January 20, children were no longer be subject to a ten-day return-to-school policy; they are now required to stay “only” seven days out of school, regardless of negative test status. Since arrival is Day 0 and you must get a certified antigen test, it works out to a minimum 8.5 days. We are following this (made-up) science that no other countries are following.

Covid is here to stay. Where is the “science” behind the seven days, particularly with all the testing. Test-to-stay should be used once a positive case is identified and only positive cases should be remote learning. We have interrupted three years of schooling and there is not a defined policy on how a positive test is handled within the classroom.

The World Health Organisation is suggesting there is no evidence that healthy children need a booster shot. The NHS in Britain does not advise boosters for 12 to 15-year-old children generally — only in limited instances, for those in a high-risk condition. Yet our young children are being socially and politically pressured to get the booster to be able to stay in school and avoid quarantine. Many of Bermuda’s children have been infected with Covid, both confirmed and part of the overall Covid numbers and those who never had a test — you now have natural immunity.

Effective January 20, there are no longer masks in British classrooms and this week no mask mandates anywhere. We have the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration openly admitting that cloth masks are almost ineffective with Omicron; yet our children are forced to wear masks by law. Furthermore, even despite the mask wearing, they are still being unjustifiably quarantined. With the use of masks in the classroom, no one should be deemed a close contact and all healthy children should be allowed to stay in school like our neighbouring countries are doing. Again, I ask, what “science” are we following?

Children are being demonised, viewed as little superspreaders that can magically infect all people. They can’t even go eat indoors at a restaurant with their own family.

If regulations don’t change soon, Bermuda may face consequences that will take decades to recover from. Incoming business travel and tourism is down. Bermuda’s exempt companies are discouraging business travellers to visit, not for fear of Covid, but rather owing to the draconian regulations. I personally know multiple families that have left or are talking about leaving the island. The loss of tourism, business travellers, small businesses who have closed their doors and the multitude of other ripple effects will be felt for years to come. Combine this with the continued psychological damage we as adults are inflicting on our children, and the future is quite bleak.

So, I ask again, because I care about the welfare and wellbeing of Bermuda and its residents, whose science are we following? We are not following Britain, we are not following the US, we are not following the WHO. So who are we following?

KOURTNEY FASSLER

Hamilton Parish