https://www.oraclefilms.com/safeandeffective
This is a documentary about people who have been injured by the Covid injections. It's a subject rarely covered by the mainstream media apart from GB News. I have met Caroline Pover, one of the participants, and her experience is heartbreaking. Not only has she suffered physically but has also been treated like a pariah when seeking help. The belated Government compensation of £120,000 for those who died is pathetic.
Most healthcare professionals are willfully blind to the damage being caused by the Covid injections. Dr Aseem Malhotra, a leading cardiologist, has now broken ranks and declared that 1 in 800 people are at risk of serious adverse reactions. That's much more than for the well-established vaccines we take as children or for travel purposes.
We all know that the Covid injections do not stop infection or transmission so whether or not you take it should be a personal choice between the risks and perceived benefits. Yet the Government is still promoting them for healthy people, including children.
Please watch and learn. We should all be asking more questions.
Best wishes for the future,
]]>
We're struggling to understand why so many people are fixated on Covid, ignoring all the other problems facing us. Why are people so determined that all must take the experimental vaccines regardless of their personal circumstances? What has happened to our humanity?
Perhaps the answer is the phenomenon called mass formation, a form of hypnosis, where 20-30% of the population in the western world have become entranced by the dominant narrative of the threat of the virus and the safety and effectiveness of the experimental vaccines.
A very good summary of this phenomenon can be found on Dr Robert Malone's substack (https://rwmalonemd.substack.com/p/mass-formation-psychosis), including a 15 minute video that is easy listening.
Key points are:
1. The conditions to set up mass formation psychosis include lack of social connectedness and sensemaking as well as large amounts of latent anxiety and passive aggression. When people are inundated with a narrative that presents a plausible "object of anxiety" and strategy for coping with it, then many individuals group together to battle the object with a collective singlemindedness. This allows people to stop focusing on their own problems, avoiding personal mental anguish. Instead, they focus their thought and energy on this new object.
2. As mass formation progresses, the group becomes increasingly bonded and connected. Their field of attention is narrowed and they become unable to consider alternative points of view.
3. Left unabated, a society under the spell of mass formation will support totalitarian governance capable of otherwise unthinkable atrocities in order to maintain compliance. Even when the narrative falls apart and cracks in the strategy clearly aren’t solving the issue, the hypnotized crowd can’t break free. Those in control of the narrative produce bigger and bigger lies to prop up the solution. Those being controlled by mass formation are no longer able to use reason to break free of the group narrative.
The good news is that we can get out of this, but it will take time.]]>
The mechanism by which biologists convey their science is through the use of language. Unlike works of creative writing, the language used needs to be precise because bad English can lead to bad science. Which is why it jarred so much when I first read the following statement:
A third of people with COVID-19 have no symptoms.
The more technically correct statement (assuming that “a third” is accurate) is:
A third of people infected with [more correctly, testing positive for] the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have no symptoms.
So why did the first statement raise my biological hackles so much when at first glance these two statements might appear to be essentially very similar? It is because from a biological perspective they are profoundly different. The first statement asserts the existence of a disease with no symptoms i.e., a sickness that is indistinguishable from being healthy, while the second statement asserts that a viral infection does not necessarily result in a disease. It is not a question of semantics but accuracy and mixing these two concepts up is the sort of thing that would have resulted in an ‘F’ if I were to have submitted it in an essay to one of my professors. Yet, this is exactly the inaccurate language that has been used throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and not by students learning their discipline, but by experienced senior scientists who, one assumes, are well aware of what they are saying.
One could argue that this is unimportant as surely the point is to convey the idea that you could be infectious with coronavirus and be unaware of it and the first statement is an easy way to do this for the layman. Not only does this assumption treat the public as if they were children unable to understand the nuances of infection and disease, but I’d argue that the second statement is just as easy to understand as the first. No, the reason to create a disease with no symptoms is based on a profound decision, one that I believe was made with the intention of ensuring compliance but has, since its inception, grown to dominate our entire response to COVID-19.
First, let’s see why defining having a disease based purely on the presence of a pathogen is a flawed concept. This is best illustrated by reference to another virus, Epstein-Barr Virus or EBV. You’ll be forgiven if you’ve never heard of this virus, but it could be argued to be one of the most successful human pathogens because almost everyone is infected by it. Most people are infected early in life and if this happens then EBV takes up residence in your B-cells (the cells in your immune system responsible for making antibodies) where it quietly persists throughout your life. Every now and then the virus goes into active replication and makes copies of itself which get shed into your mouth, a process that you are blissfully unaware is happening. The problems with EBV generally occur if you don’t get infected early in life but avoid infection until you’re much older. Now when you get infected with EBV, you can develop a disease called infectious mononucleosis or, more commonly, glandular fever. This often happens in young adults when they become interested in close physical contact with members of the opposite (or same) sex… which is why glandular fever is sometimes referred to as “the kissing disease”.
Now let’s apply the new asymptomatic COVID-19 orthodoxy to EBV where we define having a disease purely through the presence of (part of) a viral genome. So, according to this definition, almost everyone in the U.K. (and the world) is suffering from a new disease, asymptomatic glandular fever, and if we were to do a large-scale mass screening campaign we’d discover that there were millions of ‘cases’ of asymptomatic glandular fever in the U.K. alone!
Of course, this is complete nonsense. We aren’t all ‘suffering’ from asymptomatic glandular fever. Glandular fever requires infection by EBV, but EBV infection does not necessarily lead to glandular fever. The same is true of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 and so the concept of asymptomatic COVID-19 as a disease is as ridiculous as that of asymptomatic glandular fever.
But as is the case with EBV, being infected with SARS-CoV-2 means that you can still pass it on even if you aren’t sick. However, it is a matter of degrees and the reason that people can be healthy carriers is simply because they have less viral replication and a lower viral load, which is why they aren’t sick. Of course, if the lower levels of SARS-CoV-2 in an asymptomatic individual were sufficient to mean such an individual was as infectious as someone with symptoms, then from an infectivity perspective the distinction between asymptomatic carriers and people with COVID-19 is unimportant and our statement would need to read:
A third of people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have no symptoms but are just as infectious as those with COVID-19.
However, this situation would mean that the R number for SARS-CoV-2 would likely be much greater than it is, and that coronavirus infection and COVID-19 would have crashed through the population in one huge tsunami at the start of last year. This wasn’t the case, and all the evidence is that healthy, asymptomatic carriers (and pre-symptomatic sufferers) are much less infectious than those with symptoms and a disease.
Given that this is all so blindingly obvious to anyone who has ever been near a biology textbook, the only reasonable conclusion we can draw about the creation of an asymptomatic disease is that it wasn’t done by a biologist but instead by individuals (probably on the Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours (SPI-B)) whose agenda is not to convey accurate information to the public but something different: fear and uncertainty.
The effect of the asymptomatic disease is to blur the lines between being healthy and being sick and means that people will consciously, or subconsciously, transfer some of their understanding of symptomatic COVID-19 and apply it to asymptomatic COVID-19. The implication being that the absence of symptoms is somehow not relevant and that just because you feel fine, you are in fact suffering from a deadly disease. This naturally creates fear, fear for oneself (what if I have it?) and fear of everyone else (they look O.K., but what if they have it?). This fear is useful if you now want to control the behaviour of people and drive compliance with policies designed to limit the spread of COVID-19, but the problem is that having created the asymptomatic monster as a mechanism to ensure compliance, it soon starts to consume everything because you now need to manage this disease with no symptoms.
The first thing asymptomatic disease needs is a way of identifying who has it. By definition, asymptomatic individuals have no symptoms and so in order to identify who is sick we need a test. Not only do we need a test, but because anyone who is healthy could be silently suffering from this illness, we will need a lot of tests. And because healthy people can become sick without any change in how they feel or look, then the testing needs to be endless. Also, because the disease is only defined by the presence of the virus, then positive screening results (real or false positives) naturally become ‘cases’, confirming the ongoing presence of the asymptomatic disease. Testing begets more testing.
The whole host of non-pharmaceutical interventions – including lockdowns – can also be seen as logical steps to take in fighting an asymptomatic disease. If sick people have no symptoms, then we need to employ strategies in everyday life to manage them. In effect, we have to treat the entire population as if it were ill and deploy measures across the whole of society with this in mind. This effectively leads to ‘reverse quarantine’ where we lock up the healthy to try and protect the few genuinely sick people.
Likewise, vaccine passports are also driven by the need to manage asymptomatic disease because it is only by proving that you’ve had a medical intervention that we can be sure that your lack of symptoms are not a cause of concern. But being immune doesn’t stop an individual from becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2, it just means their immune system more rapidly and effectively recognises and deals with this infection and as a result they may never develop symptoms. In other words, vaccination is no protection from asymptomatic COVID-19 and suitably sensitive screening will continue to detect asymptomatic ‘cases’ amongst the immune population. Proponents of vaccine passports acknowledge this and argue (correctly) that if immune individuals are infected with coronavirus, they will carry a lower viral burden and so are less infectious. However, they then go on to demonise unvaccinated, naïve healthy individuals because they might be asymptomatic carriers. In reality, healthy people are healthy and even if they are carriers are unlikely to infect other people in normal social situations regardless of vaccination status. In fact, if you support the notion of asymptomatic COVID-19 ‘sufferers’ being a significant source of infection, it could be argued that we need vaccination certificates to protect the non-vaccinated from the vaccinated!
Finally, there is the whole question of variants. Clearly, a new, virulent more deadly strain of coronavirus that evades current immunity is a very concerning thing as it would essentially reset the clock back to the start of the pandemic: in effect it is a new disease. But because we have blurred the distinction between infection and disease and our focus is on the presence (and sequence) of viral genomes, every new variant is now treated as if it actually were a new disease. This in turn drives the need to continue to monitor (picking up more and more new variants) and manage ‘the spread of cases’ irrespective of the severity of disease they cause or the prior immunity within the population. Again, testing begets more testing in an endless cycle that will never stop unless we decide to stop it.
What all this means in practice is that the management of asymptomatic COVID-19 has become the focus of the Government’s coronavirus policy, but if we go back to the original (mis)statement about asymptomatic COVID-19 and swap it around we get:
Two thirds of people with COVID-19 have symptoms.
Of course, this should read “three thirds (all!) of people with COVID-19 have symptoms” but the point I’m making is that hiding in plain sight is the fact that most people infected with SARS-CoV-2 get ill to varying degrees. We also know that people with symptoms account for the majority of onward transmission of the infection. So, if we were designing an effective policy to manage COVID-19 we would focus our efforts on the sick as this is where we’re going to get the most bang for the buck.
What would this mean in practice? First, we would only need diagnostic testing capacity for the minority of the population with symptoms, rather than the industrial-scale screening that we have had to deploy to deal with asymptomatic COVID-19. Second, restrictions would be focused on ill people, and this would be much easier, not only because these individuals are easier to find, but because sick people behave as if they were, well, sick and as such may not require much encouragement to prevent others getting ill. (“Don’t come too close, I’m not very well.”) They also probably wouldn’t want to go to work, or the gym, or the pub, or visit Granny. These restrictions would be time limited as they only apply to an individual while they are ill. We could use the billions of pounds saved on not destroying the economy in a futile attempt to quarantine the entire healthy population to ensure that these individuals were supported until they got better. We could invest in extra capacity in the healthcare system to manage any increase in hospitalisations and focus resources on improved treatments rather than testing and managing healthy people. The need for vaccination certification becomes irrelevant because healthy people are treated as healthy people and new variants only become of concern if they make individuals sicker. Essentially, we could stop treating COVID-19 as a special case with all the collateral damage this causes to non-COVID-19 related health and manage it as we would any other potentially serious infection. None of this is surprising as it is based on centuries of accumulated wisdom about how to manage infectious diseases. Unfortunately, the creation and focus on asymptomatic disease has drawn our eye away from the real illness and devoured huge amounts of time, effort, and money.
Being told that you are sick with a major illness can be a devastating piece of news, not just for the individual themselves but for those around them. Even if this news is couched in terms of positive treatment outcomes, it would be impossible to not be fearful and run hundreds of ‘what if’ scenarios through one’s mind. Regardless of how you feel today, the worries are all about progression and how you will feel tomorrow. Normally, clinicians would have a duty of care to their patients and spend time in discussing a diagnosis and helping their patients come to terms with this news. But for COVID-19, people receive the results of their diagnosis with no support. Worse through track-and-trace they might even receive this news completely unsolicited; imagine if a complete stranger phoned you to tell you that you might have cancer? Then, rather than offer support and comfort, we demand that individuals cut themselves off from others (self-isolate); you’re ill but on your own. All of this has consequences, especially for those who have bought into the concept of asymptomatic COVID-19, and so is it not surprising that some people want to cling to mask wearing, social distancing and lockdowns. In the end, it turns out that – ironically – asymptomatic COVID-19 might not be asymptomatic after all because for any number of vulnerable people the very existence of this asymptomatic disease has the potential to make them sick – sick with fear, worry and anxiety.
This was first published on lockdownsceptics.org on 23rd May,
where references to substantiating evidence may be found.
Anyone with concerns about the effects of government interventions should check out a fun quiz produced by the irrepressible Tom Woods.
https://www.covidchartsquiz.com/
For a more serious quiz, have a go at the HART Group's 12 questions
https://www.hartgroup.org/quiz/covid-19-quiz/
For the even more curious we recommend Sebastian Rushworth's recent book called "Covid: why most of what you know is wrong". It's very readable and available from usual sources.
It's time to get on with life.
Our walks have taken us to see local bays including Port Egmont - a hurricane hole if you like them crowded . . .
. . . and Phare Bleu, with Clarkes Court bay behind
and not far away there's a pleasant forest walk to the top of Morne Gazo
Kites are an Easter tradition - so we gave Amara (our landlord's daughter) one for her birthday last week
Meanwhile, in the alternative reality:- we have to keep reminding ourselves of the famous book, written in 1841 by Charles Mackay, called Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds. In it he writes: "Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one."
It's an uphill struggle convincing people that governments can do very little to control viruses and that lockdowns are unprecedented and cruel. Ultimately, lockdown is a luxury of the affluent; something that can be afforded only in wealthy countries — and even then, only by the better-off households in those countries.
Whenever someone suggests we should learn to live with SARS-Cov-2, a bogeyman pops up to remind us that any one of us could die today. We fall for the infantilising "save lives" mantra, ignoring all the other risks to our lives. Perhaps we should feel pity for the scientific commentators who are seduced by the precision of epidemiological models, R numbers and so on - when compared to the empirical evidence most are 'precisely wrong'. Meanwhile any hope of a return to sanity is crushed.
Hopes were raised with the emergence of vaccines. The reaction was often hysterical, heaping praise on the drug companies for producing them so quickly, and the officials for rushing through emergency authorisation, even though the trials are still on-going. Surely once the vulnerable are vaccinated we can get back to normal? But no, the vaccines are not a 100% guarantee of immortality so we aren't allowed to.
In the meantime, the isolated old, uneducated young and hard-working poor suffer. Who cares about the national debt, unemployment, inflation and higher taxes coming soon? Perhaps we'll save the planet.
Why has this come about? A lot of things are going on but two things are for sure. We are a very unhealthy nation and the NHS isn't coping - just look at the unprecedented waiting lists, ever-growing obesity/diabetes problem. And, it's not just a question of throwing more money (ever more public debt) at it.
Most of us are too complacent about our health and many have ended up in a position of dependence on drugs and treatments instead of taking preventive action. If anyone reading this is concerned about their increasing dependence on drugs for blood pressure, type2 diabetes etc, it's time to start looking at alternatives, such as https://www.prolongevity.co.uk/ Many overweight people who can't lose weight don't realise they have an "insulin resistance" problem. For them the real problem is processed foods not calories so the traditional "eat less/move more" approach to weight loss doesn't work.
Remember. You only live once. Life is for living, not simply existing.
Whilst on the subject, let's not kid ourselves we want to end up in a care home having all our bodily functions dealt with by a robot. It's been on our minds for a while now and the last year has brought home the irrationality and inhumanity of interventions that keep terminally-ill people "alive" rather than allowing them to die with dignity. Having read a very moving article by a hospice nurse about this problem we've now signed up to https://mydecisions.org.uk/ and made Advanced Decisions (Living Wills). It's the right thing to do.
Christmas day in Grenada - our apartment is centre right, Mystic is beyond the trees in the boatyard
Nothing changes, except for the ever increasing self-inflicted crises of lockdown harms and national debt. Why has the Western world not come to it's senses? (Perhaps because of the WHO's redefinition of a word and a phrase: 'case' and 'herd immunity' - look them up!)
An interesting analysis is provided by Dr Hugh Willbourn, a psychotherapist who back in May diagnosed Festinger Syndrome. His latest blog is well worth a read (https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/17-remedies-for-2021), though he offers little hope of a return to normality.
"Reason, discussion and science are not enough to rescue people from delusion. The problem is one of emotional attachment. Some lockdown believers are innocents who have been bamboozled by the relentless media misrepresentation. Others proclaim the perils of the virus ever more loudly in order to drown out the still small voice of their own conscience and avoid the pain and shame of admitting their errors. They are avoiding the 'cognitive dissonance' that Festinger identified."
During the year we have lost many friends to the Covidian cult but we have also found new (lockdown sceptic) ones who have retained the ability to reason, and to whom we are grateful for support in these dark times. We salute the many brave scientists, medical professionals and media commentators who have spoken out, seeking to bring rationality and perspective to the usually hysterical and censorious debate.
No one is disputing that Covid 19 is a nasty disease but is it nasty enough to justify the damage being done to our health, society and economy? Those who die from Covid 19 are almost all frail, elderly and susceptible to respiratory viruses. It is nothing unusual when they die. And the vast majority of people who are exposed to SARS-CoV-2 either shrug it off or experience flu-like symptoms. As ever with flu-like illnesses our natural immune systems fight it off and learn from the experience. This is not the Black Death.
The government and public health officials have exaggerated the risks for their own ends. (A similar thing happened in 2009 over Swine Flu but without such dire consequences.) And now we learn they have 'borrowed' (ie printed) £6 million pounds for every single UK death 'with Covid', frittering away money on useless schemes to "beat" the virus and crippling the economy in the process.
This is not about politics but morality. Why are we complicit in doing something that will ruin the future for younger generations? It's time to speak out and challenge the narrative that ignores people dying from untreated cancer, heart attacks and strokes, that encourages domestic and child abuse, mental illness and alcoholism, that cripples small businesses and the job prospects of the young.
PS The fact is the government's own data show that lockdowns do more harm than good and the "second wave" is a myth (now we are seeing the seasonal resurgence of an endemic virus) but it's not easy to piece together unless you are comfortable with statistical analysis. For the curious the following chart provides a good overview at https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/covid-19-florence-nightingales-daigrams-for-deaths/
It's almost 100m down to the water
Let's get our vitamin D levels back up (OK - I know there should be a gap between shorts and socks)
The coastal trail takes us past many almost inaccessible sandy beaches . . .
. . . and the occasional fishermen's harbour
Vila Nova de Milfonte, on the river Mira estuary, has sheltered beaches . . .
. . . and a 'playpen' area
Back to the cliffs - black and white rocks, with scale indicator
. . . and on to the next crowded beach (Odeceixe, at the mouth of the river Seixe)
The Elusive Stork's nest
Most people we met were relaxed, though in the last few days mask-wearing became more apparent. Like elsewhere in Europe, Portugal's political class is experiencing a crisis of confidence and, despite all the evidence that lockdowns don't work and mask-wearing is ineffective, have once again declared a "state of calamity". The reason? Positive tests for Covid 19 have been rising again in some areas. But hospitalisations and mortality are normal for this time of year. Sounds familiar? Just shows ours is not the only government determined to continue the unnecessary fear and destruction of our health, society and economy in the name of saving deaths "with Covid". Why is a death with Covid any more important than one from flu, pneumonia, cancer, heart failure, let alone the increased domestic abuse and mental health suffering? It is certainly the case when friends and family are prevented from being able to comfort and mourn them. Is it any wonder the NHS has become a no-go area for those at risk of dying of non-Covid reasons? The statistics clearly show that our government's cruel message has become: "Protect the NHS, die at home".
Returning to the UK we spent two nights on the road in Spain, staying in almost empty hotels, served by robotic people wearing masks. With mask-wearing compulsory outdoors, the atmosphere in Spain is sinister. Sheeple in the street are grim and lifeless. Smokers hide in corners, puffing away while watching out for the mask enforcers. And, while the ferry from Santander to Plymouth was comfortable, there were few passengers for us to bump into, so the strict adherence to mask-wearing demanded by the staff was another sign of how dystopian Europe has become. The pet pen on deck 9 was a sight to behold - dogs free to bark, smile and otherwise express their doggy selves with gay abandon; owners grim and fully muzzled
It was good to disembark at Plymouth and meet officials more concerned about illegal immigrants and drugs than masks. Driving up the M5 the afternoon traffic levels suggested that much of the country is carrying on as normal?
Back in Evesham under house arrest quarantine we have time to reflect on the sorry state of our nation. Our politicians continue to inflict great harm on our economy and society. You don't have to be an epidemiologist to look at the data and see that the government is willfully manipulating the data to instill fear and irrational behaviour. They are guilty of propagating lies, the most recent being the myth of the second wave. Our hospitals are nowhere near overwhelmed and many more people are dying at home than normal. In fact the attempted cure is far, far worse than the disease.
When will the British public wake up to all this deceit? It seems we are experiencing a pandemic of mental illness. As Mark Twain said: "It's easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled".
Some people call us selfish and accuse us of being irresponsible for speaking out against this madness. But what has our society come to when we are not allowed to debate these issues rationally? We abhor the finger-pointing at young people and snitching on neighbours trying to carry on as normal. And who cares about elderly people imprisioned in their care homes indefinitely? You have to ask yourself: where is this all heading? Why are you doing this? Not in our names!
Castelo de Vide, in the old town, looking down past the synagogue . . .
. . . towards the fountain
Marvao, the neighbouring village (about 10km away), also has a castle
How old? The menhir da Meada was re-erected in the 1990s, from 2 bits found on the ground
It's the largest free standing stone in Iberia; age unknown - it's megalithic (I know that just means 'big stones'); the guy propping it up is 70.
But this nearby (close to Povoa Dam Reservoir) dolmen is said to be unreconstructed
The local reservoir - but no sailing club!
I spy supper! Porco preto Iberico (Iberian black pig), aka an acorn processing factory; they make very tasty meat
Coffee smugglers' walk. (Spain is a stones' throw astern of us)
Back on the tourist trail - Evora, from Sao Bento hill; 'our' Quinta just out of pic to the right
The view from our bedroom window
Underneath the (aqueduct) arches - same principle as the railway arches in London?
Monsaraz - an afternoon outing to another of those castles near the border
View from Monsaraz castle - a reservoir on the River Guadiana again.
Almendras Cromelech - this one is old. About 7,500 years (Stonehenge hadn't even been thought of)
After all this inland stuff - climbing up and down hills, steps and cobbled streets, spotting castles and megalithic stones, it's time to move on; 'To the sea side!'
The old town of Estremoz - enter via the drawbridge
On the inside looking out
The walk up to the castle from our airbnb apartment
Turkeys being warned about Christmas? In the tile museum
Estremoz was our first base in Portugal - apart from walking (up and down) to and from the castle and new town we planned to explore a few country trails and to tick off some of the countless castles in the area. Often built on Roman ruins, the Moorish fortifications (after despatch of the Moors) were handed over to the Crusaders for renovation and castellation; then serving as the defensive line of the new Republic from Spain (and of course Napoleon, although the Portuguese received a little help from their British friends in that endeavour).
View from Serra d'Ossa - the nearest hill worthy of being climbed
View from Evoramonte; vineyards, olive groves and cork oaks
Atop another hill - the bull ring at Sousel
Veiros castle
Alandroal castle; the keep
Alandroal castle - looking over the new town
Juromena castle - having ousted the Caliphate we need to defend against Spain (over the River Guadiana)
Far from the madding crowds! Still at Juramena
Juramena from the south
Serra da Mamede - our Quinta is just right of centre in this view from Castelo da Vide
A drive northwards took us to Serra da Mamede - for a week's stay at a Quinta in the tranquility of the countryside north of the range of hills. Walking boots out!
If you have any humanity, read and sign the Great Barrington Declaration at www.gbdeclaration.org.
We are so concerned about the current situation that we are
copying this open letter from DOCTORS to government, in full.
Please read it carefully. Do not dismiss it (or us!) out of
hand. This is important.
Paul and Rachel.
Open letter from medical doctors and health professionals to all Belgian authorities and all Belgian media.
We, Belgian doctors and health professionals, wish to express our serious concern about the evolution of the situation in the recent months surrounding the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We call on politicians to be independently and critically informed in the decision-making process and in the compulsory implementation of corona-measures. We ask for an open debate, where all experts are represented without any form of censorship. After the initial panic surrounding covid-19, the objective facts now show a completely different picture – there is no medical justification for any emergency policy anymore.
The current crisis management has become totally disproportionate and causes more damage than it does any good.
We call for an end to all measures and ask for an immediate restoration of our normal democratic governance and legal structures and of all our civil liberties.
‘A cure must not be worse than the problem’ is a thesis that is more relevant than ever in the current situation. We note, however, that the collateral damage now being caused to the population will have a greater impact in the short and long term on all sections of the population than the number of people now being safeguarded from corona.
In our opinion, the current corona measures and the strict penalties for non-compliance with them are contrary to the values formulated by the Belgian Supreme Health Council, which, until recently, as the health authority, has always ensured quality medicine in our country: “Science – Expertise – Quality – Impartiality – Independence – Transparency”. 1
We believe that the policy has introduced mandatory measures that are not sufficiently scientifically based, unilaterally directed, and that there is not enough space in the media for an open debate in which different views and opinions are heard. In addition, each municipality and province now has the authorisation to add its own measures, whether well-founded or not.
Moreover, the strict repressive policy on corona strongly contrasts with the government’s minimal policy when it comes to disease prevention, strengthening our own immune system through a healthy lifestyle, optimal care with attention for the individual and investment in care personnel.2
The concept of health
In 1948, the WHO defined health as follows: ‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or other physical impairment’.3
Health, therefore, is a broad concept that goes beyond the physical and also relates to the emotional and social well-being of the individual. Belgium also has a duty, from the point of view of subscribing to fundamental human rights, to include these human rights in its decision-making when it comes to measures taken in the context of public health. 4
The current global measures taken to combat SARS-CoV-2 violate to a large extent this view of health and human rights. Measures include compulsory wearing of a mask (also in open air and during sporting activities, and in some municipalities even when there are no other people in the vicinity), physical distancing, social isolation, compulsory quarantine for some groups and hygiene measures.
The predicted pandemic with millions of deaths
At the beginning of the pandemic, the measures were understandable and widely supported, even if there were differences in implementation in the countries around us. The WHO originally predicted a pandemic that would claim 3.4% victims, in other words millions of deaths, and a highly contagious virus for which no treatment or vaccine was available. This would put unprecedented pressure on the intensive care units (ICUs) of our hospitals.
This led to a global alarm situation, never seen in the history of mankind: “flatten the curve” was represented by a lockdown that shut down the entire society and economy and quarantined healthy people. Social distancing became the new normal in anticipation of a rescue vaccine.
The facts about covid-19
Gradually, the alarm bell was sounded from many sources: the objective facts showed a completely different reality. 5 6
The course of covid-19 followed the course of a normal wave of infection similar to a flu season. As every year, we see a mix of flu viruses following the curve: first the rhinoviruses, then the influenza A and B viruses, followed by the coronaviruses. There is nothing different from what we normally see.
The use of the non-specific PCR test, which produces many false positives, showed an exponential picture. This test was rushed through with an emergency procedure and was never seriously self-tested. The creator expressly warned that this test was intended for research and not for diagnostics.7
The PCR test works with cycles of amplification of genetic material – a piece of genome is amplified each time. Any contamination (e.g. other viruses, debris from old virus genomes) can possibly result in false positives.8
The test does not measure how many viruses are present in the sample. A real viral infection means a massive presence of viruses, the so-called virus load. If someone tests positive, this does not mean that that person is actually clinically infected, is ill or is going to become ill. Koch’s postulate was not fulfilled (“The pure agent found in a patient with complaints can provoke the same complaints in a healthy person”).
Since a positive PCR test does not automatically indicate active infection or infectivity, this does not justify the social measures taken, which are based solely on these tests. 9 10
Lockdown.
If we compare the waves of infection in countries with strict lockdown policies to countries that did not impose lockdowns (Sweden, Iceland …), we see similar curves. So there is no link between the imposed lockdown and the course of the infection. Lockdown has not led to a lower mortality rate.
If we look at the date of application of the imposed lockdowns we see that the lockdowns were set after the peak was already over and the number of cases decreasing. The drop was therefore not the result of the taken measures. 11
As every year, it seems that climatic conditions (weather, temperature and humidity) and growing immunity are more likely to reduce the wave of infection.
Our immune system
For thousands of years, the human body has been exposed daily to moisture and droplets containing infectious microorganisms (viruses, bacteria and fungi).
The penetration of these microorganisms is prevented by an advanced defence mechanism – the immune system. A strong immune system relies on normal daily exposure to these microbial influences. Overly hygienic measures have a detrimental effect on our immunity. 12 13 Only people with a weak or faulty immune system should be protected by extensive hygiene or social distancing.
Influenza will re-emerge in the autumn (in combination with covid-19) and a possible decrease in natural resilience may lead to further casualties.
Our immune system consists of two parts: a congenital, non-specific immune system and an adaptive immune system.
The non-specific immune system forms a first barrier: skin, saliva, gastric juice, intestinal mucus, vibratory hair cells, commensal flora, … and prevents the attachment of micro-organisms to tissue.
If they do attach, macrophages can cause the microorganisms to be encapsulated and destroyed.
The adaptive immune system consists of mucosal immunity (IgA antibodies, mainly produced by cells in the intestines and lung epithelium), cellular immunity (T-cell activation), which can be generated in contact with foreign substances or microorganisms, and humoral immunity (IgM and IgG antibodies produced by the B cells).
Recent research shows that both systems are highly entangled.
It appears that most people already have a congenital or general immunity to e.g. influenza and other viruses. This is confirmed by the findings on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, which was quarantined because of a few passengers who died of Covid-19. Most of the passengers were elderly and were in an ideal situation of transmission on the ship. However, 75% did not appear to be infected. So even in this high-risk group, the majority are resistant to the virus.
A study in the journal Cell shows that most people neutralise the coronavirus by mucosal (IgA) and cellular immunity (T-cells), while experiencing few or no symptoms 14.
Researchers found up to 60% SARS-Cov-2 reactivity with CD4+T cells in a non-infected population, suggesting cross-reactivity with other cold (corona) viruses.15 Most people therefore already have a congenital or cross-immunity because they were already in contact with variants of the same virus.
The antibody formation (IgM and IgG) by B-cells only occupies a relatively small part of our immune system. This may explain why, with an antibody percentage of 5-10%, there may be a group immunity anyway. The efficacy of vaccines is assessed precisely on the basis of whether or not we have these antibodies. This is a misrepresentation.
Most people who test positive (PCR) have no complaints. Their immune system is strong enough. Strengthening natural immunity is a much more logical approach. Prevention is an important, insufficiently highlighted pillar: healthy, full-fledged nutrition, exercise in fresh air, without a mask, stress reduction and nourishing emotional and social contacts.
Consequences of social isolation on physical and mental health
Social isolation and economic damage led to an increase in depression, anxiety, suicides, intra-family violence and child abuse.16
Studies have shown that the more social and emotional commitments people have, the more resistant they are to viruses. It is much more likely that isolation and quarantine have fatal consequences. 17
The isolation measures have also led to physical inactivity in many older people due to their being forced to stay indoors. However, sufficient exercise has a positive effect on cognitive functioning, reducing depressive complaints and anxiety and improving physical health, energy levels, well-being and, in general, quality of life.18
Fear, persistent stress and loneliness induced by social distancing have a proven negative influence on psychological and general health. 19
A highly contagious virus with millions of deaths without any treatment?
Mortality turned out to be many times lower than expected and close to that of a normal seasonal flu (0.2%). 20
The number of registered corona deaths therefore still seems to be overestimated.
There is a difference between death by corona and death with corona. Humans are often carriers of multiple viruses and potentially pathogenic bacteria at the same time. Taking into account the fact that most people who developed serious symptoms suffered from additional pathology, one cannot simply conclude that the corona-infection was the cause of death. This was mostly not taken into account in the statistics.
The most vulnerable groups can be clearly identified. The vast majority of deceased patients were 80 years of age or older. The majority (70%) of the deceased, younger than 70 years, had an underlying disorder, such as cardiovascular suffering, diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease or obesity. The vast majority of infected persons (>98%) did not or hardly became ill or recovered spontaneously.
Meanwhile, there is an affordable, safe and efficient therapy available for those who do show severe symptoms of disease in the form of HCQ (hydroxychloroquine), zinc and AZT (azithromycin). Rapidly applied this therapy leads to recovery and often prevents hospitalisation. Hardly anyone has to die now.
This effective therapy has been confirmed by the clinical experience of colleagues in the field with impressive results. This contrasts sharply with the theoretical criticism (insufficient substantiation by double-blind studies) which in some countries (e.g. the Netherlands) has even led to a ban on this therapy. A meta-analysis in The Lancet, which could not demonstrate an effect of HCQ, was withdrawn. The primary data sources used proved to be unreliable and 2 out of 3 authors were in conflict of interest. However, most of the guidelines based on this study remained unchanged … 48 49
We have serious questions about this state of affairs.
In the US, a group of doctors in the field, who see patients on a daily basis, united in “America’s Frontline Doctors” and gave a press conference which has been watched millions of times.21 51
French Prof Didier Raoult of the Institut d’Infectiologie de Marseille (IHU) also presented this promising combination therapy as early as April. Dutch GP Rob Elens, who cured many patients in his practice with HCQ and zinc, called on colleagues in a petition for freedom of therapy.22
The definitive evidence comes from the epidemiological follow-up in Switzerland: mortality rates compared with and without this therapy.23
From the distressing media images of ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) where people were suffocating and given artificial respiration in agony, we now know that this was caused by an exaggerated immune response with intravascular coagulation in the pulmonary blood vessels. The administration of blood thinners and dexamethasone and the avoidance of artificial ventilation, which was found to cause additional damage to lung tissue, means that this dreaded complication, too, is virtually not fatal anymore. 47
It is therefore not a killer virus, but a well-treatable condition.
Propagation
Spreading occurs by drip infection (only for patients who cough or sneeze) and aerosols in closed, unventilated rooms. Contamination is therefore not possible in the open air. Contact tracing and epidemiological studies show that healthy people (or positively tested asymptomatic carriers) are virtually unable to transmit the virus. Healthy people therefore do not put each other at risk. 24 25
Transfer via objects (e.g. money, shopping or shopping trolleys) has not been scientifically proven.26 27 28
All this seriously calls into question the whole policy of social distancing and compulsory mouth masks for healthy people – there is no scientific basis for this.
Masks
Oral masks belong in contexts where contacts with proven at-risk groups or people with upper respiratory complaints take place, and in a medical context/hospital-retirement home setting. They reduce the risk of droplet infection by sneezing or coughing. Oral masks in healthy individuals are ineffective against the spread of viral infections. 29 30 31
Wearing a mask is not without side effects. 32 33 Oxygen deficiency (headache, nausea, fatigue, loss of concentration) occurs fairly quickly, an effect similar to altitude sickness. Every day we now see patients complaining of headaches, sinus problems, respiratory problems and hyperventilation due to wearing masks. In addition, the accumulated CO2 leads to a toxic acidification of the organism which affects our immunity. Some experts even warn of an increased transmission of the virus in case of inappropriate use of the mask.34
Our Labour Code (Codex 6) refers to a CO2 content (ventilation in workplaces) of 900 ppm, maximum 1200 ppm in special circumstances. After wearing a mask for one minute, this toxic limit is considerably exceeded to values that are three to four times higher than these maximum values. Anyone who wears a mask is therefore in an extreme poorly ventilated room. 35
Inappropriate use of masks without a comprehensive medical cardio-pulmonary test file is therefore not recommended by recognised safety specialists for workers.
Hospitals have a sterile environment in their operating rooms where staff wear masks and there is precise regulation of humidity / temperature with appropriately monitored oxygen flow to compensate for this, thus meeting strict safety standards. 36
A second corona wave?
A second wave is now being discussed in Belgium, with a further tightening of the measures as a result. However, closer examination of Sciensano’s figures (latest report of 3 September 2020)37 shows that, although there has been an increase in the number of infections since mid-July, there was no increase in hospital admissions or deaths at that time. It is therefore not a second wave of corona, but a so-called “case chemistry” due to an increased number of tests. 50
The number of hospital admissions or deaths showed a shortlasting minimal increase in recent weeks, but in interpreting it, we must take into account the recent heatwave. In addition, the vast majority of the victims are still in the population group >75 years.
This indicates that the proportion of the measures taken in relation to the working population and young people is disproportionate to the intended objectives.
The vast majority of the positively tested “infected” persons are in the age group of the active population, which does not develop any or merely limited symptoms, due to a well-functioning immune system.
So nothing has changed – the peak is over.
Strengthening a prevention policy
The corona measures form a striking contrast to the minimal policy pursued by the government until now, when it comes to well-founded measures with proven health benefits such as the sugar tax, the ban on (e-)cigarettes and making healthy food, exercise and social support networks financially attractive and widely accessible. It is a missed opportunity for a better prevention policy that could have brought about a change in mentality in all sections of the population with clear results in terms of public health. At present, only 3% of the health care budget goes to prevention. 2
The Hippocratic Oath
As a doctor, we took the Hippocratic Oath:
“I will above all care for my patients, promote their health and alleviate their suffering”.
“I will inform my patients correctly.”
“Even under pressure, I will not use my medical knowledge for practices that are against humanity.”
The current measures force us to act against this oath.
Other health professionals have a similar code.
The ‘primum non nocere’, which every doctor and health professional assumes, is also undermined by the current measures and by the prospect of the possible introduction of a generalised vaccine, which is not subject to extensive prior testing.
Vaccine
Survey studies on influenza vaccinations show that in 10 years we have only succeeded three times in developing a vaccine with an efficiency rate of more than 50%. Vaccinating our elderly appears to be inefficient. Over 75 years of age, the efficacy is almost non-existent.38
Due to the continuous natural mutation of viruses, as we also see every year in the case of the influenza virus, a vaccine is at most a temporary solution, which requires new vaccines each time afterwards. An untested vaccine, which is implemented by emergency procedure and for which the manufacturers have already obtained legal immunity from possible harm, raises serious questions. 39 40 We do not wish to use our patients as guinea pigs.
On a global scale, 700 000 cases of damage or death are expected as a result of the vaccine.41 If 95% of people experience Covid-19 virtually symptom-free, the risk of exposure to an untested vaccine is irresponsible.
The role of the media and the official communication plan
Over the past few months, newspaper, radio and TV makers seemed to stand almost uncritically behind the panel of experts and the government, there, where it is precisely the press that should be critical and prevent one-sided governmental communication. This has led to a public communication in our news media, that was more like propaganda than objective reporting.
In our opinion, it is the task of journalism to bring news as objectively and neutrally as possible, aimed at finding the truth and critically controlling power, with dissenting experts also being given a forum in which to express themselves.
This view is supported by the journalistic codes of ethics.42
The official story that a lockdown was necessary, that this was the only possible solution, and that everyone stood behind this lockdown, made it difficult for people with a different view, as well as experts, to express a different opinion.
Alternative opinions were ignored or ridiculed. We have not seen open debates in the media, where different views could be expressed.
We were also surprised by the many videos and articles by many scientific experts and authorities, which were and are still being removed from social media. We feel that this does not fit in with a free, democratic constitutional state, all the more so as it leads to tunnel vision. This policy also has a paralysing effect and feeds fear and concern in society. In this context, we reject the intention of censorship of dissidents in the European Union! 43
The way in which Covid-19 has been portrayed by politicians and the media has not done the situation any good either. War terms were popular and warlike language was not lacking. There has often been mention of a ‘war’ with an ‘invisible enemy’ who has to be ‘defeated’. The use in the media of phrases such as ‘care heroes in the front line’ and ‘corona victims’ has further fuelled fear, as has the idea that we are globally dealing with a ‘killer virus’.
The relentless bombardment with figures, that were unleashed on the population day after day, hour after hour, without interpreting those figures, without comparing them to flu deaths in other years, without comparing them to deaths from other causes, has induced a real psychosis of fear in the population. This is not information, this is manipulation.
We deplore the role of the WHO in this, which has called for the infodemic (i.e. all divergent opinions from the official discourse, including by experts with different views) to be silenced by an unprecedented media censorship.43 44
We urgently call on the media to take their responsibilities here!
We demand an open debate in which all experts are heard.
Emergency law versus Human Rights
The general principle of good governance calls for the proportionality of government decisions to be weighed up in the light of the Higher Legal Standards: any interference by government must comply with the fundamental rights as protected in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Interference by public authorities is only permitted in crisis situations. In other words, discretionary decisions must be proportionate to an absolute necessity.
The measures currently taken concern interference in the exercise of, among other things, the right to respect of private and family life, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of _expression_ and freedom of assembly and association, the right to education, etc., and must therefore comply with fundamental rights as protected by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
For example, in accordance with Article 8(2) of the ECHR, interference with the right to private and family life is permissible only if the measures are necessary in the interests of national security, public safety, the economic well-being of the country, the protection of public order and the prevention of criminal offences, the protection of health or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, the regulatory text on which the interference is based must be sufficiently clear, foreseeable and proportionate to the objectives pursued.45
The predicted pandemic of millions of deaths seemed to respond to these crisis conditions, leading to the establishment of an emergency government. Now that the objective facts show something completely different, the condition of inability to act otherwise (no time to evaluate thoroughly if there is an emergency) is no longer in place. Covid-19 is not a cold virus, but a well treatable condition with a mortality rate comparable to the seasonal flu. In other words, there is no longer an insurmountable obstacle to public health.
There is no state of emergency.
Immense damage caused by the current policies
An open discussion on corona measures means that, in addition to the years of life gained by corona patients, we must also take into account other factors affecting the health of the entire population. These include damage in the psychosocial domain (increase in depression, anxiety, suicides, intra-family violence and child abuse)16 and economic damage.
If we take this collateral damage into account, the current policy is out of all proportion, the proverbial use of a sledgehammer to crack a nut.We find it shocking that the government is invoking health as a reason for the emergency law.
As doctors and health professionals, in the face of a virus which, in terms of its harmfulness, mortality and transmissibility, approaches the seasonal influenza, we can only reject these extremely disproportionate measures.
We therefore demand an immediate end to all measures.
We are questioning the legitimacy of the current advisory experts, who meet behind closed doors.
Following on from ACU 2020 46 https://acu2020.org/nederlandse-versie/ we call for an in-depth examination of the role of the WHO and the possible influence of conflicts of interest in this organisation. It was also at the heart of the fight against the “infodemic”, i.e. the systematic censorship of all dissenting opinions in the media. This is unacceptable for a democratic state governed by the rule of law.43
Distribution of this letter
We would like to make a public appeal to our professional associations and fellow carers to give their opinion on the current measures.We draw attention to and call for an open discussion in which carers can and dare to speak out.
With this open letter, we send out the signal that progress on the same footing does more harm than good, and call on politicians to inform themselves independently and critically about the available evidence – including that from experts with different views, as long as it is based on sound science – when rolling out a policy, with the aim of promoting optimum health.
With concern, hope and in a personal capacity.
All along a problem has been that we couldn't persuade our current insurers to cover Mystic for the hurricane season in Grenada. We made enquiries, including locally, with a number of providers - including lots of tedious on-line form filling - but found many were just not interested. Luckily we got a positive response from Admiral and after the usual exchange of copious amounts of information and handing over a huge chunk of money our cover was arranged, so a big thumbs up to them.
Time to remove the mainsail - we remove all sails, canvas and external halliards to mitigate storm damage
That sorted we were able to have Mystic hauled out at Clarkes Court Boatyard. When we were here in 2016 with Lynn Rival they used a trailer designed for monohulls but for catamarans they use their enormous boat lift, which is big enough to haul small ferries.
Two divers checking the position of the lifting straps
Bottom cleaning
Mystic being delicately placed in pole position
Now ashore we have been staying in an apartment just a short walk from the boatyard. We have booked flights for next week and are busy packing up, not knowing how long it will be before we see Mystic again. We hope to return to Grenada in November but with the pandemic hysteria over Covid continuing who knows whether that will be possible.
Spectacular clouds at a sunset earlier in the week
Clear skies (and no Sahara dust) at our local beach last Sunday lunchtime
Many cruisers keep their yachts afloat in the Caribbean during the hurricane season. There are more than usual this summer, because of the strict closure of Trinidad. Trinidad is very rarely hit by hurricanes so is a favourite place to lay-up. Here in Grenada, 100 miles to the north, the risk is low compared to further north (hurricanes hit in 2004 and 2005) but those afloat still must be vigilant. We should all watch the weather forecasts and be ready to sail (usually south) at short notice. In practice it's not so easy.
Over the last week we've been following the learning curve. First we became aware of a depression, in the mid-Atlantic east of Trinidad, with Tropical Storm potential. By Wednesday it had formed and was named Gonzalo. The forecasts showed it reaching the southern Windward Isles by Saturday, possibly strengthening to hurricane force (more than 63 knots). As usual, different forecasts were showing a range of possibilities. The American GFS model was showing the storm tracking more northerly through the Grenadines, with hurricane conditions affecting Barbados, St Vincent and St Lucia. The European EWMWF model was showing the storm continuing west to Trinidad and petering out. But these are the long range global models and cannot provide good predictions of small features such as Tropical Storms. Meteorologists at the NOAA Hurricane Centre study all the available data and provide specific track and strength forecasts every 3 hours, with discussion explaining the derivation and possible error. And this week they faced a double whammy: small early storms are notoriously difficult to predict, and because of the COVID panic up to 80% of the data normally received from commercial flights does not now exist.
Yachts anchored in islands to the north of us were preparing to head south. In Grenada we faced a dilemma: should we head south and risk getting caught out if the storm follows a more southerly track? The decision is also driven (but shouldn't be) by insurers' limits on cover. Yachties in quarantine were particularly worried as the anchorage off St Georges is exposed; MAYAG, the Grenadian yachting industry association, arranged permission for them to move elsewhere until it was safe to return.
Some cruisers headed for the most sheltered bay on Grenada, Port Egmont, but there is limited room there, and inadequately anchored late arrivals may turn it into a trap rather than a haven. A few here in Prickly Bay raised their anchors and took a mooring buoy instead, possibly planning to spend the weekend ashore (local hotels were advertising rooms at special rates for the occasion). They rely on a third party's ground tackle rather than trust their own equipment. Others made plans to sail south towards Trinidad despite being told they would not be allowed to shelter there unless there was a risk to life, i.e. a category 3 or more hurricane coming.
The rest of us prepared for the worst; if necessary we were ready to set sail at the last minute. Back to studying the 3 hourly pearls of wisdom from the specialists, especially the NOAA and France Meteo (and ignoring the doomsayers and mischief-makers on the local cruisers information Facebook page). We could see that this was a fairly small storm, continuing to head west towards Trinidad. It could easily peter out, or maybe it would stabilise and intensify! On Thursday the NOAA sent an aircraft to investigate, gathering information to help their assessment.
On Friday morning Gonzalo was expected to reach the southern Windwards by Saturday, either passing just north of us, or just south of us, but as a weakening Tropical Storm. We were having the "calm before the storm", so went ashore for shopping and our usual lunch at the microbrewery. Everyone was getting ready "just in case" - patio doors being boarded up - and our veggie supplier was worring about his crops being washed away. For the local community, heavy rainfall is more destructive than the winds. They need the rain, but not all at once please.
Mystic ready to go, or stay
Back on Mystic we took down our large foresail and awnings to reduce windage (our much smaller staysail would suffice if the winds were strong enough to force us to leave), making sure everything was tied down. We prepared our second anchor and rode on the foredeck and veered a little more chain on the main anchor. By Friday evening we were having heavy rain showers and went to bed wondering what the morrow would bring. In the early hours we had more heavy rain and gusty winds - up to force 6 - but by dawn it was quiet again. Gonzalo had remained on its westerly path and passed over Trinidad.
Satellite photo - Gonzalo passing 80 miles south of us, at 11 o'clock Saturday
On Sunday morning we put the sun awning up again, but not for long - there is now another tropical storm forming in the eastern Atlantic. We'll call the past week a dress rehearsal!
Probably soon to be named Isaias (Hanna just caught the corner of Texas before heading to Mexico)
Less developed countries are facing the most severe consequences of the global shutdown. Here in Grenada, where there have been just a few imported cases and no deaths, the government has gradually relaxed the restrictions. Some restaurants and bars have opened but they have few customers. The hotels and University are empty. The anchorages have been filling up with yachts that have completed quarantine but most of their owners are desperate to get home to Canada or the US. The airport will be opening up to commercial flights soon but with restrictions and the imposition of quarantine should in-coming passengers fail a Covid test.
A weekly treat - roti for lunch
We've been doing our bit to help the local economy. Having to wear a mask is bearable if done in the way most of the locals have adopted - ie slung around the neck, but sometimes an over-zealous hand sprayer catches us unawares, so we avoid the supermarkets if we can. Stalls run by local farmers provide an abundance of excellent fresh produce. The French butcher has now run out of all the up-market produce imported direct from France (and most importantly sausage skins!) so opens less frequently. The local micro-brewery - run by a British couple, now Grenadian citizens - is struggling to get going again, like so many small outlets that depend on tourists and students for footfall, and they are now being asked for protection money by local senior police officers!
A 20 minute walk takes us to the West Indies Beer Co, for a Windward IPA and tasty pub pizza
Will the hysteria ever subside? Not until we accept that the virus cannot be eradicated. So long as Governments can borrow (Grenada) or print helicopter money (UK) they can delay confronting reality but eventually the economic consequences will bite hard. We all face a very uncomfortable future, muzzled both physically and in _expression_ of thought.
We still hope to get Mystic to Trinidad and us back to the UK before the end of the summer. Some Caribbean islands, including Grenada, are tentatively opening up their borders, but not Trinidad. They are having a general election on 10th August so are unlikely to do anything until then. Their previously flourishing yacht service industry may never recover.
Meanwhile we continue to keep a watch out for tropical storms. The ones likely to threaten us form in the Atlantic far to the east of the Windward Isles. Troughs of low air pressure, called Tropical Waves, can develop into revolving storms and build up to hurricane strength. But the last month has seen a prolonged and extensive Sahara dust cloud covering the ocean. Although our lungs and eyes suffer this has suppressed storm formation, but all good things come to an end - the forecasts show it clearing within the next few days. The risk of hurricanes also increases significantly in August so we will remain vigilant - and ready to put to sea.
Murky or what? All the way from Lake Chad
PS. We have held on to our sanity with the help of hectordrummond.com, drmalcolmkendrick.org and lockdownsceptics.org among others - if you have retained the ability to reason give them a go (while you still can)!
Our second week in quarantine was quite tedious, not helped by some cloudy, muggy and (Sahara) dusty days. Another batch of yachts had arrived so the anchorage was fuller but of course we were not allowed to socialise. Being at anchor close to the shore and other cruisers is very different from being at sea on long passages, when isolation is normal. We're increasingly fed up with this hysterical and fearful world we now inhabit though remain hopeful that both people and politicians will eventually come to their senses. What else can we do? In the meantime we keep busy including fixing all sorts of things that we had on the "to do if we have time" list and scrubbing the hulls to keep the weed at bay - and looking forward to our release.
A forest of anchor lights in the quarantine anchorage
Mystic in quarantine - (we were requested to wear both the Q flag and the courtesy flag)
On day 13 we had to go by dinghy to the quarantine dock where medical staff in full PPE were waiting to poke sticks up our noses and down our throats for Covid 19 PCR testing. It was quite a relaxed affair and we had brief chats (through our masks) with others in the queue, while keeping our distance, sort of. Not far from us officials were handling some of the next batch of arrivals who had turned up a day early. The anchorage was getting very busy - we had been lucky to be in the small group of guinea pigs invited to come in week 1.
Part of the Quarantine anchorage - another week's arrivals expected in the next two days
The next day we waited for the results but some mix up meant they didn't come through until the afternoon. (John on "Cloud Nine" was desperate to move on as he was booked on an FCO organised repatriation flight the next day. All very rushed but hopefully he's now back with his family.) Finally we were asked to go into the marina and clear in with Customs and Immigration. Another 'hurry up and wait' (the men at the ministry had failed to send the list to the women on duty at the port), but eventually we were cleared in to the country. This last day was a bit frustrating but we've been very impressed by the process and grateful to MAYAG for organising it and persuading the authorities to agree. (Weekly batches of arrivals are planned extending through August.)
By the time we were sorted it was too late to move Mystic so we visited a nearby supermarket. It was a strange experience, masked-up (DIY dust masks - so within the letter rather than the spirit of this ludicrous diktat) and unsure how to behave - trying to keep our distance but failing then realising that everyone else had long since given up worrying. After 14 days it was good to stock up with fresh produce and Rachel got quite excited at the sight of a locally grown cauliflower - a rarity in these islands.
On Thursday morning we sailed to the SW corner of Grenada and motored around the corner as far as Prickly Bay, one of the many deep inlets on the south coast of Grenada. Prickly Bay is very attractive with a large boatyard at the end, posh houses along each headland and a small marina on one side. Normally it is a very busy anchorage but in these times we had no problem finding somewhere to drop the hook.
Looking east over Prickly Bay - Mystic just right of centre
Prickly Bay, looking south-west, from Mystic
The weather has been very unsettled, often overcast with squally winds and muggy when the wind drops. Another tropical wave passed over at the weekend bringing thunderstorms and heavy rain. We managed to collect a lot of water for washing - saves paying for it and carting jerries from ashore.
We are still hoping to continue on to Trinidad but so far there is no news as to when we might be allowed in. We're expecting to have to undergo another 14 days (at least) quarantine so our concern is to make sure we're well stocked and ready to go. The situation does seem to be improving in Grenada. On our trips ashore we've noticed that people are using their common sense and trying to get on with their lives. Masks are mandatory in public but more often than not they are worn on the chin when not in shops. People are supposed to stay 6 feet apart but that's just not happening, especially in the buses (which are essential for getting around the island). At the dinghy dock we've bumped into a few other cruisers and had brief chats but we're not supposed to congregate...
It's not all gloom and doom, despite the weather being decidedly off and an irritating swell that makes Mystic roll at times (much worse for the monohulls so we can't really complain). There's a French butcher at the marina selling excellent meat, including the best sausages and bacon we've had since last in the UK, and delicious baguettes. We've not eaten out since we were in Deshaies so are looking forward to trying the local take-aways and even the restaurants should be opening soon (today - Tuesday - according to latest decree, but only until 7pm). However, the question on every cruiser's mind is: when will we be able to meet up on each other's boats for a beer or three? You may think it would be easy to surreptitiously cheat - the problem is not the occasional patrols by the fast Coast Guard boats, but the apparently large number of snitches within the (Facebook-posting) sailing community.
During the last two weeks we've allowed ourselves to become hopeful of getting to Grenada before the worst of the hurricane season, despite their Government enforcing a very strict lockdown. The marine business association (MAYAG) is well organised; they devised a plan (Grenada Lima) and yacht owners were invited to register interest. Last week Government approval was announced for the scheme to allow yachts to enter under controlled conditions, including quarantine at St George's, the capital. With maybe 600 yachts - from all over the Caribbean - registered we didn't expect to be invited immediately.
As luck would have it they decided to invite yachts sheltering in the nearest islands first. An email arrived last Sunday morning giving us just one day to reserve a space and submit forms regarding health and boat details in order to arrive in this week's slot. We jumped at the chance and hastily made preparations for both leaving Clifton and undergoing another 14 days' quarantine.
Monday and Tuesday were a hectic round of laundry, shopping and saying our goodbyes (Tiger for the mooring, Sheena for fruit and veg, the proprietor of the Yummy Stuff bakery, the friendly staff at the Big Ship supermarket - purveyor of beer and chocolate, and several street sellers). On Tuesday morning we trekked to the airport to persuade customs and immigration to clear us out for Grenada. Although there have been far fewer flights during the last month, they have restarted scheduled flights (of the island hopper 6 seaters) from St Vincent so the staff were getting ready for action. No masks were worn, but we did notice a new perspex screen at the immigration desk. There was much scrutiny of our Grenada Lima reservation and telephone calls made but an hour later we had the necessary clearance forms and stamps.
At dusk we were sitting on deck, preparing for a pre-dawn start on Wednesday morning. A ferry was at the jetty obscuring our view of the town centre. We heard a double explosion and saw smoke rising, from the far side of the ferry. Soon we saw flames coming from behind the ferry and heard another explosion, suggesting the catastrophe was probably at the fuel station.
Petrol tanks ablaze, with the occasional boom of further explosions (possibly propane bottles)
We could not see or hear much, especially as it was getting dark. It must have been worrying for the crew on board the ferry but they didn't appear panicked. With all the restaurants closed after dark the town is not busy at night and all the lights went off at the seafront properties making it eerily quiet despite the fire. We could hear the fire truck make it's way from the airport to the town and eventually the flames died down. After an hour or so a Coastguard RIB appeared, from the 'mainland' (as the Grenadiners call St Vincent), blue lights flashing.
The following morning we were up at 5am and set off for Grenada. Looking back there wasn't much to be seen in the early morning light (and we hoped it hadn't been as bad as it looked).
As luck would have it a tropical wave was forecast to pass over us as we made our way 40 miles south to St George's. These north-south pressure discontinuities, similar to troughs, move westward across the tropics (and sometimes develop into hurricanes), bringing cloudy conditions and briefly interupting the steady trade wind pattern.
Anticipating lighter winds we decided to fly the genaker. It hadn't been out of the bag this season and Paul was pleased to get it hoisted without too much ado. However, we were not moving very fast and when getting the main up the genaker fell in the water. Fortunately it wasn't too difficult to pull the sail back on board and discover that the fitting at the head had broken (Chinese stainless steel!). The sock was still attached to the halyard so we were able to bring it down and make a temporary fix to hoist the genaker again.
After that we had a pleasant reach most of the way, passing Carriacou and giving Kick em Jenny (an underwater volcano) a wide berth before hitting more variable winds off the east coast of Grenada. We avoided the rain showers and were intrigued by the unusual cloud combinations formed by the tropical wave, still carrying Sahara dust. About 5 miles off St George's we finally hit the wind shadow and motored the rest of the way.
Tropical wave clouds, with Sahara dust, over Carriacou
At St George's we docked temporarily at the prestigious Port Louis Marina superyacht berth, helped by two marina staff who managed to be very pleasant while wearing face masks. Ministry of Health officials were nearby to take our temperatures and remind us of the rules. We then found a spot in the quarantine anchorage, which runs north-south along the coast between St George's and the famous Grand Anse beach. John on "Cloud Nine", who we got to know in Clifton, was already there and we anchored nearby.
A peaceful Quarantine anchorage - coastguard patrols by day and night to ensure no fraternising!
We're now settling in for another 14 days on board. We've not anchored on this side of Grenada before and the weather has been quite stormy but so far the anchorage is more comfortable than at Clifton. On our first day the coastguard visited at least twice to check on quarantined boats. There are perhaps 20 here in the first wave. More are expected next week but for the time being it seems quiet. We also have seen two cruise ships dock, presumably bringing home crew who have been stranded for the last two months. (There are still many working seafarers stranded around the world having lost their jobs and desperate to get home.)
PS Local media reports tell us that the fuel station in Clifton was destroyed, also some neighbouring properties. Sadly, the fuel station owner and two young people are in hospital with burns.
Clifton harbour, looking south. Mystic is closest to the tee head jetty.
Easter was even quieter than the "new normal". The SVG government issued advisory notices in the media encouraging people to stay at home and refrain from the usual gatherings and celebrations. A large coastguard boat (as in small destroyer - there is no Navy) arrived here - making sure the local tripper boats stayed put. Meanwhile, the kite surfers continue to charge up and down alongside the outer reef, seemingly immune to it all.
Clifton town, looking towards Carriacou (that's 'abroad' from here, being part of Grenada)
We've managed to explore the island a bit by foot, though the heat is a limiting factor. There's little shade so 2 hours is enough for us to get dehydrated despite drinking lots of water. It's not far to the end of the airport runway for views of the Tobago Cays and Mayreau island to the north. Just recently we met a Bavarian couple walking along the seafront. He was the architect of the airport, built 28 years ago, and since then this has been their winter home.
For better views we walked up the nearest hill to Old Fort and across the island to a salt pond - the source of much wealth in the past. Another day we ventured west and hiked to Frigate island and back, meeting few other walkers. The area between Frigate island and the shore of Union Island is shallow and protected by a reef. It's now a pleasant nature reserve but in the 90s was turned into a construction site for a marina/resort development that eventually failed.
Salt pond - what more can one say?
There's a good anchorage at Frigate island which is probably more comfortable than Clifton. Quite a few yachts seem to come and go but we decided to stay put in the current uncertain situation. Tiger, whose mooring we rent, Sheena at the fruit and veg stall, the ladies at the bakery and supermarket, and sometimes even the fishermen are very welcoming and it's nice to chat with them when we go into town, even if it turns out to be a good moan ("when is it all going to end?").
Two suspension bridges link the reefs which were to form the marina with Frigate Island and the main (Union) island
A nature reserve, part of the abandoned marina/resort development, with Ashton town behind.
The anchorage was busier after Easter, mostly with French yachts, but generally Clifton remains very quiet, perhaps more like it was 50 years ago before the growth in tourism and yacht chartering. Most of the tourist shops and restaurants are closed but a few cafes and most of the ordinary shops are open. Local people seem to come and go as normal and just a few shop workers wear (home made) masks. The boatmen and fishermen hang around, hoping for a little business to come their way.
View of Ashton from the northern hills
'Sparrows', the posh resort on the Atlantic coast, almost empty
We have been keeping busy spring cleaning both inside and outside the boat. The bookshelf has had a thorough overhaul (that's the structure of the book shelves and the sliding doors, rather than the contents) and Paul is working through all the technical files he keeps, trying to make sense of notes made since we took on Mystic. When the seas are not too bouncy, Rachel has been scraping the weed off the bottom. Unlike in Deshaies there are no barnacles here but a red velvety growth that is tenacious and regrows very quickly.
The weather has turned more stormy in the last couple of weeks - a sign that the wet season is on its way. Some days we get squalls coming over, with stronger winds and rain showers. This is the hottest time of year - with the sun overhead - and the cooling rain is a welcome respite as well as important for local people. Water is scarce and expensive here so they collect it in buckets to fill up their tanks.
While waiting here we remain hopeful that Trinidad or Grenada will let us in before too long. What else can we do? We haven't ruled out sailing back across the Atlantic, but it's a big undertaking and not one we planned for this year. And, if we got Mystic back to the UK, what then? Until the situation is clearer, both in Europe and the Caribbean, we think it best to stay put.
The anchorage is now very quiet. Just a few cruising yachts come and go for fresh water and supplies. A coastguard boat comes regularly to check on who's here. Almost all the boatmen who usually service the charter market both here and at the Tobago Cays have laid up their boats. The ferries still come and go but we see few aircraft movements. For the time being we're staying on Tiger's mooring close to the town - at a reduced rate as there's not much call for moorings these days!
Looking over Clifton bay
Frigate Island, just south from Clifton
In the last few mornings we've been going ashore to catch up, including taking a large pile of washing to the laundry, getting fresh water for our tanks and spare diesel in jerries. The main street has been busy with vendors and men (mostly) hanging around with nothing to do. There is a good variety of fresh fish available and we bought a yellow tail snapper which was delicious. Everyone is friendly and keen for our business but quite a few are now wearing some form of face mask and occasionally people ask us where we are from, understandably wary of travellers.
The ocean still provides - and we still have three weeks of the lobster season ahead
Sheena's Green Garden - one of the market stalls selling produce brought from St Vincent on the daily ferry
Whilst the main street is quite lively, the seafront looks forlorn. Most of the restaurants are now closed - due to lack of business, not official instruction. To cap it all the spring tides have brought in a large quantity of sargassum weed which is building up in the areas between the jetties. Hopefully it's just a passing problem.
Plenty of room on the docks, and less incentive to clear away the sargassum
The health ministry has issued advice telling people to stock up in preparation for a two week "stay at home" order but there are few signs of panic buying. Another govenment advisory asks people to refrain from the usual Easter activities of gatherings, including boat trips, goat cooks, beach parties, etc. Elsewhere, Grenada and Trinidad are already in "house arrest" mode and have extended the end dates to 20th April for Grenada and the 30th for Trinidad. It's hard to imagine how the local people will cope being cooped up for so long, especially in this climate and with their love of partying (and now without alcohol in Grenada!)
Over the last few days we've spoken to a few yachties, passing in their dinghies on the way to the town. A Canadian couple we'd met 8 years ago in Madeira were here but they've now hauled out in Kingstown - leaving their boat to the mercy of the hurricane gods - and flown home via Barbados. A British couple have just left and are hoping to do likewise - but they surely run a big risk of getting stuck at an airport somewhere along the way. Another Brit, alone as his wife and family have already flown home, is sitting it out for the time being (hoping Grenada will let us in before long).
The harbour is fairly quiet. A trickle of foreign yachts - mostly French but a few Dutch, Swedish and even Finnish and Brazilian - come and go. They may be coming here for fresh supplies and then going to other, more comfortable, anchorages to wait. The charter catamaran businesses have all but dried up, though yesterday we saw a local tripper boat preparing for weekend outings. The restaurants and bars are closed but people are moving about onshore and on the water. Local yacht services staff regularly check on the unattended boats.
Small planes still land and take off at intervals, though perhaps only carrying a few people at a time. The ferry services seem to be operating as normal, generating a flurry of activity, and we are hopeful that supplies are still coming in. Like everyone we worry about using up our stocks and being caught out in an emergency.
The big daily ferry from St Vincent
The local island hopper, dive bombing the Anchorage Yacht Club