James Denseiow

After a year of being hit by three waves of Coronavirus and three successive lockdowns the British Government this week set out its ‘irreversible’ roadmap for a return to normality. As a case study for a country who has had a terrible death rate, huge economic shock and yet an inspiring vaccination programme the policies that the UK has agreed on to chart its way out of the pandemic will be a point of reference for the rest of the planet. UK

Four stages governed by four indicators with enough time in between each to ascertain the effect of the easing. It will take from the 8th of March to the 21st of June and even after that four-month period has elapsed some ways of life, such as mask wearing, may endure. Interwoven into this period are four ‘reviews’ into vaccine passports, mass events, possibilities for travel and social distancing.

It’s not clear whether the numbers of moments have been synchronised to help people remember them but four by four by four it is. The scientific strategy behind the roadmap is based on living with Covid in the same way we live with the flu and other endemic diseases. We can’t get to ‘zero Covid’ but we can – using the vaccines but also the various treatments that have come online – better protect people from it. UK

Already the vaccine has been rolled out to some 18 million adults, trials are ongoing to see if children can safely have it and the plans are to have all British adults ‘jabbed’ by the end of July. The early data from real world vaccine use shows that it reduces both transmission and the severity of the disease, even for elderly people most at risk. Suddenly the rate of infection and the dreaded ‘R’ number that determined whether the disease was spreading, is less relevant as the odds of getting seriously ill and needing hospital care or dying from it recede.

The political strategy has pivoted from Prime Minister Johnson’s earlier efforts to unlock, and rather than pushing for incentives for people to return to shops or their offices, there is a focus on being able to see friends, family and play sport in the short term. Perhaps the incredibly low rates at which the Government can borrow money has left them deciding that it is better to emerge from the pandemic with an employed and relatively happy population rather than one struggling both mentally and physically after months of sustained separation.

Yet there is political pressure around the speed of what has roundly been agreed to be a ‘cautious’ unlocking. Prime Minister Johnson has explained that his policies are driven by “data not dates” although the population and businesses alike are now using the dates to make huge decisions about their year ahead. UK

Members of his own party, described as ‘lockdown sceptics’, ask the question that if the vaccine protects the most vulnerable and its uptake has been so comprehensive what are the reasons for moving so slowly and holding back so much from a return to ‘normal’. Several answers follow, one being that whilst many have had the vaccine, many have not and the effectivity of the various ones on offer is not 100%. The Government’s own modelling suggests that even this cautious unlocking could likely result in an extra 30,000 deaths, yet such are the epic scale of the casualties so far that the number hasn’t made the headlines in the same way that celebration of schools or restaurants reopening has. UK

Despite the Prime Minister describing the unlocking as ‘one way’ and ‘irreversible’, in a subsequent press conference he admitted that future restrictions could come back. Indeed, the single biggest unknown that could scupper the roadmap that the UK has laid out is a more transmissible virus variant emerging that is able to avoid the protections offered by the vaccines. Although this is unlikely the fact that there are over 115,000 new Covid cases daily at present means it is a scenario very much worth imagining.

To counter this potential risk there is already talk of the RNA vaccines being repurposed and ‘booster’ jabs being offered to those seriously at risk. In short, it would seem that the British public better prepare itself for a rolling period of vaccines and top ups especially ahead of the winters for the next few years. Such protections come at the cost of being able to share and distribute the virus beyond the UK’s own borders which of course then limit the ability to stamp down on potential variants.

Therefore whilst the UK continues to follow its own roadmap it is of considerable urgency that the global strategy appears clearer and more resourced, something that was tackled to some extent at the recent (virtual) G7 but that remains far from settled. UK

James Denselow levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.