MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: Any fool can panic, but the task of a real leader is to ...

MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: Any fool can panic, but the task of a real leader is to ...
MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: Any fool can panic, but the task of a real leader is to ...
MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: Any fool can panic, but the task of a real leader is to be calm

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The response of the Government to the new Covid variant from southern Africa should be targeted, proportionate and, above all, calm.

Of course it is both wise and practical to restrict travel from the affected areas. 

Millions will be reassured by tighter rules on masks in shops and on public transport. 

Equally, it makes sense to require PCR tests and self-isolation from returning travellers.

We just do not know yet how important or worrying the Omicron strain is. So we should act – but with care. 

The response of the Government to the new Covid variant from southern Africa should be targeted, proportionate and, above all, calm

The response of the Government to the new Covid variant from southern Africa should be targeted, proportionate and, above all, calm

There has been much speculation that it is more virulent, that it spreads more quickly than the widespread Delta variant, and even that existing vaccines might prove ineffective against it. But in fact this is all guesswork.

There simply has not been enough time to establish any of these things. While we wait to know, measured and targeted precautions are sensible.

They are relatively easy to remove if they prove to be needless, and equally easy to retain if they are justified. It is not as if we cannot react quickly to any crisis, when it comes.

If any of these dangers turns out to be real, we have in this country a superb vaccine research capacity, and we have demonstrated the ability to respond with great speed and efficiency when called to do

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