Thread by @HZiauddeen

Mini-thread:
@dgurdasani1 and I have just published this piece in the Byline times. Not going to talk about the whole piece in this thread but just wanted to focus on three key aspects
(1/n)

https://twitter.com/BylineTimes/status/1320659658286182400

The first is the two false dichotomies that have seriously hampered our pandemic response and continue to do so. (2/n)

The second aspect is the lockdown strawman. Nobody wants or is advocating for lockdown because ltheyare very hard and have multiple costs. Having to lockdown is a point of extremis because it mean you've failed to control the pandemic. (3/n)

So lockdowns and the consequences of lockdown are all the consequence of failing to control COVID. However this false dichotomy pits the lockdown strawman against controlling COVID, framing it for people as a difficult 'choice' that has to made between two false options. (4/n)

In reality, we have little choice and limited agency beyond our immediate circles. This is not just true for COVID. We are usually discussing, debating. justifying and challenging aspects of decisions and processes we have little influence over. (5/n)

However with COVID, the timeline is much shorter and the future outcomes pretty immediate. I feel greatly saddened by anti-lockdown protests (leaving aside how they are organised and fomented) (6/n).

I feel especially said for people who are essentially protesting against how their lives have been so devastatingly affected by COVID when apart from the uncontrollable occurrence if a pandemic, the main reason for their suffering is the failure of their govt to look after them