EDITORIAL – What’s the ‘science’ behind relaxing COVID travel mandates?

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

THE SCIENCE SAYS I should get a second booster shot against COVID-19, so that’s what I did this week. When I asked the pharmacist which vaccine I should get, she diplomatically replied that there’s no science that says I should get one or the other and that they’re all good.

So, OK, I stuck with the same one I got before.

Throughout the pandemic, politicians and health experts have told us to trust the science. But I wonder whether the politicians are heeding their own advice.

The feds this week changed the rules on travelling with COVID. Effective June 20, outbound travellers can exit without proof of vaccination, though returnees will still have to do it. Unvaccinated Canadians will still have to have negative tests and be subject to quarantines.

According to Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, the changes have nothing to do with massive lineups at Canadian airports. The easing of mandates, he said, are “based on science.” Nothing to do with the fact so many other countries have already done it, either.

The science, it seems, is subject to change. Seems like only a few days ago — actually, it was — that Justin Trudeau was telling us we’re still in the middle of the pandemic and that we’ve got to stick to our guns because that’s what the science says.

And Dr. Theresa Tam was reminding us that we need to continue our vigilance. If Dr. Bonnie Henry had made a recent appearance I’m sure she’d have been saying the same thing.

So, it has nothing to do with public opinion polls that show the Conservatives are seriously challenging the Liberals as the party Canadians want to be in government after the next election. Nor that COVID mandates have become increasingly unpopular with Canadians.

No, it’s about the science. Well, what, exactly, has changed about the science in the space of just a few days?

Seriously. Just asking.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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