• Login
  • Register
The Daily Sceptic
No Result
View All Result
  • Articles
  • About
  • Archive
    • ARCHIVE
    • NEWS ROUND-UPS
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Premium
  • Donate
  • Log In
The Daily Sceptic
No Result
View All Result

We Should Have Done Nothing

by Martin Sewell
5 December 2024 7:33 PM

This article considers the effectiveness of lockdowns, face masks and vaccination programmes vis-à-vis mitigating COVID-19, with an epilogue on excess deaths.

In the autumn of 2019 a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, began to circulate widely but at a low level. In March 2020, as the influenza season in the Northern Hemisphere subsided, due to a drop in viral interference SARS-CoV-2 surged and became the dominant respiratory virus. COVID-19 spread from China around the world, suppressing influenza, whilst leaving the other human-infecting coronaviruses undisturbed. The vast majority of countries reacted to COVID-19 by imposing non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as lockdowns and facemask policies and, later, vaccination programmes.

Whilst some epidemiological modelling studies give credence to the effectiveness of lockdowns, most studies based on empirical data concluded that lockdowns had little or no effect on COVID-19 transmission, cases or deaths. The collateral damage caused by lockdowns impacted health, economic, social, political, legal, policing and transport issues. Health issues included delayed and missed healthcare, immunity debt, accidents, deaths, mental health, reduced fertility, an increase in obesity, an increase in smoking and alcohol and drug abuse, higher taxes, higher inflation, more people on benefits, waste (test and trace, personal protective equipment and hotel quarantine) and fraud (Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme payments). Children missed school, which compromised their development, communication skills, education and physical and mental health. Lockdowns also generated a workshy workforce and normalised truancy. Lockdowns exacerbated inequalities, too, with the poor being the worst affected. In the Third World, matters were even worse. The United Nations reported that hunger led to the deaths of 10,000 more children per month over the first year of the pandemic. It also estimated that disruptions in South Asia in 2020 likely contributed to 228,000 deaths among children under five years old. The benefits of lockdowns included reduced air pollution, fewer road traffic collisions and a drop in suicide rates. Overall, lockdowns failed a cost-benefit analysis by orders of magnitude. Lockdowns were implemented by governments due to pressure from the WHO and a well-funded international pandemic preparedness lobby, overly pessimistic modelling, risk aversion and the desire to be seen to take action. Lockdowns were then sustained because the media spread fear, whilst the public became fearful, abandoned the care of public affairs to the government-media-education class, trusted leaders and assumed that because governments implemented lockdowns they must work, making them motivated to virtue-signal and support them. Meanwhile, politicians were motivated to retain or seek power, so keen to appease the median voter, and maintained lockdowns, despite the economic and health damage they caused. A vicious circle developed: fear sustained lockdowns and lockdowns sustained fear.

Face masks were not effective at mitigating COVID-19, but can cause dyspnoea, hypoxia, hypoxemia and hypercapnia, harbour pathogens, compromise communication, vision, exercise capacity, cognition and immunity, cause headaches, skin complaints, bad breath and particulate inhalation, facilitate crime and lead to pollution. The only effective use for surgical masks and N95 respirators is for splash and droplet protection in healthcare. P100 respirators are effective (but only for the wearer) against COVID-19. The sad thing is that we’ve not learnt anything new about masks. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, and with reference to an influenza pandemic, meta-analyses of RCTs on community masking published by the WHO and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed no benefit. During the pandemic there were various low-quality observational studies that appeared to show benefit. Then after the pandemic, in 2023, an update to the Cochrane review confirmed that there was no significant evidence that wearing masks in the community reduces the spread of colds, influenza or COVID-19. So we’ve gone full circle, and back where we started before the pandemic: masks don’t work.

In December 2020 COVID-19 vaccination programmes were introduced. The vaccinations failed to provide sterilising immunity or stop transmission. The vaccination exhibits negative efficacy for the first two weeks, probably due to immunosuppression, which increases cases, hospitalisations and deaths. The vaccine, in the pre-Omicron era, then may have provided some protection against hospitalisation and death for the not previously infected for several months, before it waned towards and below zero effectiveness. Because those with ‘breakthrough’ infections may exhibit lesser symptoms, but have a similar viral load to the unvaccinated, they may be more likely to inadvertently spread COVID-19 to others and become superspreaders. In May 2021 the Delta variant appeared triggering new waves and from December 2021 the less severe Omicron variant appeared. The variant displaced harmless cold-causing human coronaviruses, and influenza returned. Vaccination programmes led to the immune system, via original antigenic sin, being fixed for earlier strains, leaving it less able to provide effective responses during subsequent infections. This enabled the natural selection of immune escape subvariants that are highly infectious. We ended up with antibody-dependent enhancement of the disease, vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease and the rapid spread of Omicron among the vaccinated leading to more cases, hospitalisations and deaths. The constant reinfection from an evolving cloud of variants leads to immunosuppression, secondary infections and superinfections. SARS-CoV-2 and mRNA vaccines can both induce cells in various parts of the body to produce the spike protein for months, leading to inflammation and adverse events. Repeated mRNA vaccinations increase IgG4 antibodies, induce partial immune tolerance and weaken the immune system. Because the vaccines did not prevent transmission and may have increased infection rates, the unvaccinated did not impose a negative externality on others, meaning there were no medical or ethical grounds for making vaccinations mandatory or for vaccine passports.

The populations of East Asia, Southeast Asia and Australasia may have had greater pre-existing immunity (from other coronaviruses) against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 due to their closer proximity to the origin of COVID-19, leading to low infection rates until Omicron. Global excess mortality, earlier largely involving COVID-19 and iatrogenic (treatment-related) harm, and later often related to cardiovascular issues, has continued to be significantly elevated since COVID-19 appeared, largely due to both COVID-19 and the vaccinations (directly, indirectly, in combination and over the short and longer-term) and the collateral damage caused by lockdowns.

A seasonal influenza-like illness became a pandemic of governmental overreach and collective hysteria. Lockdowns turned out to be the greatest health economics mistake in modern history, face masks served no useful purpose in the community, in schools or in healthcare, whilst vaccinations were likely somewhat effective against severe COVID-19 in the not-previously-infected elderly in 2021, but ultimately probably did more harm than good. It seems likely that we would have been better off doing nothing. Next time, we really should keep calm and carry on.

Dr. Martin Sewell is a quant researcher. This is a summary of his comprehensive new paper on COVID-19 and global policy responses. Follow him on X.

Tags: Cost-benefit analysisCOVID-19LockdownLockdown harmsSide-effectsVaccine

Donate

We depend on your donations to keep this site going. Please give what you can.

Donate Today

Comment on this Article

You’ll need to set up an account to comment if you don’t already have one. We ask for a minimum donation of £5 if you'd like to make a comment or post in our Forums.

Sign Up
Previous Post

Half of Businesses to Cut Jobs and Hike Prices After Budget

Next Post

News Round-Up

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
Please log in to comment

To join in with the discussion please make a donation to The Daily Sceptic.

Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.

45 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Monro
Monro
2 years ago

The key problem with the BBC is that most of its programmes are something beginning with S.

100
-2
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
2 years ago

I don’t know what to say. Is this piece really worthy of occupying space on DS?

34
-39
Mogwai
Mogwai
2 years ago
Reply to  huxleypiggles

Yep, it’s a slow news day in the DS house. Nick Dixon doing more and more articles I’m noticing, including the Round-Up. Toby and Will writing less. Perhaps it’s Nick who doesn’t feel writing an article on Andrew Bridgen is worthwhile but superficial kack about Clarkson and misogynist-inspired greetings cards tick all the boxes…? Oh well, something for everyone. 😮

42
-15
Steven Robinson
Steven Robinson
2 years ago
Reply to  Mogwai

Nick Dixon is on duty over the weekend, shortly to be replaced by someone yet to be appointed. I agree Andrew Bridgen deserves coverage. He spoke in Parliament on the vaccines last Friday. A few hours later YouTube took the video of his speech down, but after protest it was reinstated. As soon as he got up to speak, several MPs walked out, leaving the chamber as empty as when he spoke last year – only 5 stopped to listen to him.

Last edited 2 years ago by Steven Robinson
85
0
Mogwai
Mogwai
2 years ago
Reply to  Steven Robinson

Yep, I know. I believe I was the first to break the story on here that very evening, under the Oxfam article. We’re ahead of you lot on here on that one. 🙂

20
-7
Smudger
Smudger
2 years ago
Reply to  Steven Robinson

Wasn’t it the Tory MP Andrew Mitchell (West Berks) who was seen chivvying both Tory and Labour MPs to leave?

5
0
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
2 years ago
Reply to  huxleypiggles

This is much more worthy as a news item:

https://www.technocracy.news/climate-change-flip-flop-bank-of-england-drops-it-biden-drills-for-big-oil/

17
0
Mogwai
Mogwai
2 years ago
Reply to  huxleypiggles

And also….so this is the white haired rat, encouraging others to slink off in Parliament as AB started his speech. Interesting…

https://twitter.com/JohnMappin/status/1637216977159593984

21
0
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
2 years ago
Reply to  Mogwai

I used to have a touch of sympathy for Mitchell. Used to. He’s now just a bog standard traitor.

29
0
ellie-em
ellie-em
2 years ago
Reply to  Mogwai

Just in case anyone is wondering what on Earth his new role as ‘polio eradication gender champion’ entails, perhaps this word salad may help.

“…The Gender Champion for Polio Eradication is a concrete effort to build off of the current movement by high-level, national and international gender champions and to highlight the role of gender in achieving polio eradication, by committing to the GPEI Gender Equality Strategy and supporting its full implementation.”

One could – mistakenly – assume he was a very health-conscious person, very much concerned about the health of the nation. However, seeing him not only walking out of the Chamber but encouraging spineless other MPs to do so, to avoid listening to AB speech, seems to belie that notion.

https://polioeradication.org/gender-and-polio/polio-gender-champions/

16
0
Smudger
Smudger
2 years ago
Reply to  ellie-em

Does his mate Gates fund polio eradication?
Follow the money as always.

4
0
transmissionofflame
transmissionofflame
2 years ago

Tory, Labour – what’s the difference? All left wing, like the BBC.

93
-2
RW
RW
2 years ago

The BBC isn’t being beaten up about this because anybody in his right mind seriously believes it wouldn’t stand on what like to call itself the right side of history (a Marxist core concept, by the way) but because it hasn’t been fighting the good fight rabidly enough. Reportedly, they had a hearing about this. And that’s clearly not impartial enough as it created the impression that it might be ok to believe that the present UK government isn’t being run by card-carrying Nazis and it absolutely isn’t.

16
0
Mogwai
Mogwai
2 years ago

Speaking of superficiality, here’s a bit more, just this time with a dose of humour. Actually it was the classic ( and oh so topical ) Monty Python sketch that did it for me! 🙂

https://rwmalonemd.substack.com/p/sunday-strip-symbolic-of-his-struggle

18
0
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
2 years ago
Reply to  Mogwai

Brilliant. Thanks Mogs.

Monty Python sadly prophetic.

9
-1
Tyrbiter
Tyrbiter
2 years ago
Reply to  huxleypiggles

Between the Goons, the Pythons and Douglas Adams there is precious little that has not turned out exactly as they prophesied.

24
0
NeilParkin
NeilParkin
2 years ago
Reply to  Tyrbiter

Not forgetting Ronnie Barkers sketch, the Ministry of Sexual Equality.

24
0
ellie-em
ellie-em
2 years ago
Reply to  Mogwai

😂 😂 Love Monty Python.

5
0
varmint
varmint
2 years ago

Trump is BAD but Obama is GOOD. Israel is BAD but Palestine is GOOD. ——Can any Daily Sceptic reader think of any other organisation in the UK where everyone of it’s employees is an EU supporter, a Trump Hater (like Lineker) and are immersed in the cult of “diversity”? —-In most places of work you will find some people vote Tory, some vote Labour or SNP, some don’t vote at all. Some think global warming is a load of old cobblers and some think the end of the world is nigh. Some want to be in the EU and some don’t.———– In no place of work will you find the groupthink that exists at the BBC. Yet all of us, no matter our world view are having to fund this Cultural Marxist propaganda machine.

Last edited 2 years ago by varmint
41
0

NEWSLETTER

View today’s newsletter

To receive our latest news in the form of a daily email, enter your details here:

DONATE

PODCAST

The Sceptic | Episode 45: Jack Hadfield on the Anti-Asylum Protests, Alan Miller on the Tyranny of Digital ID and James Graham on the Net Zero Pension Threat

by Richard Eldred
25 July 2025
0

LISTED ARTICLES

  • Most Read
  • Most Commented
  • Editor’s Picks

News Round-Up

25 July 2025
by Richard Eldred

White Britons Are Right to Resist Becoming a Minority

24 July 2025
by Charlie Cole

Britain Could Be Sued Over Climate Change, Says UN Court

24 July 2025
by Will Jones

Twice as Many People Work in Environment ‘Charities’ Than in Wind Power Generation: ONS Report Reveals Shocking Truth About UK’s ‘Green Jobs’

24 July 2025
by Chris Morrison

Corbyn Launches Hard-Left ‘Your Party’ to Challenge Starmer

24 July 2025
by Will Jones

White Britons Are Right to Resist Becoming a Minority

40

Corbyn Launches Hard-Left ‘Your Party’ to Challenge Starmer

25

Report on Black Maternity Experiences Blames “Racism” Without Evidence

24

Britain Could Be Sued Over Climate Change, Says UN Court

24

News Round-Up

14

Wind Power Price Soars 11% as Government’s Promise to Cut Bills by £300 Fails to Materialise

25 July 2025
by Ben Pile

Report on Black Maternity Experiences Blames “Racism” Without Evidence

24 July 2025
by Dr Roger Watson

White Britons Are Right to Resist Becoming a Minority

24 July 2025
by Charlie Cole

Twice as Many People Work in Environment ‘Charities’ Than in Wind Power Generation: ONS Report Reveals Shocking Truth About UK’s ‘Green Jobs’

24 July 2025
by Chris Morrison

‘Schools of Sanctuary’ Brings US Open Borders Ideology into UK Schools

24 July 2025
by Charlotte Gill

POSTS BY DATE

December 2024
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Nov   Jan »

SOCIAL LINKS

Free Speech Union

NEWSLETTER

View today’s newsletter

To receive our latest news in the form of a daily email, enter your details here:

POSTS BY DATE

December 2024
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Nov   Jan »

DONATE

LISTED ARTICLES

  • Most Read
  • Most Commented
  • Editor’s Picks

News Round-Up

25 July 2025
by Richard Eldred

White Britons Are Right to Resist Becoming a Minority

24 July 2025
by Charlie Cole

Britain Could Be Sued Over Climate Change, Says UN Court

24 July 2025
by Will Jones

Twice as Many People Work in Environment ‘Charities’ Than in Wind Power Generation: ONS Report Reveals Shocking Truth About UK’s ‘Green Jobs’

24 July 2025
by Chris Morrison

Corbyn Launches Hard-Left ‘Your Party’ to Challenge Starmer

24 July 2025
by Will Jones

White Britons Are Right to Resist Becoming a Minority

40

Corbyn Launches Hard-Left ‘Your Party’ to Challenge Starmer

25

Report on Black Maternity Experiences Blames “Racism” Without Evidence

24

Britain Could Be Sued Over Climate Change, Says UN Court

24

News Round-Up

14

Wind Power Price Soars 11% as Government’s Promise to Cut Bills by £300 Fails to Materialise

25 July 2025
by Ben Pile

Report on Black Maternity Experiences Blames “Racism” Without Evidence

24 July 2025
by Dr Roger Watson

White Britons Are Right to Resist Becoming a Minority

24 July 2025
by Charlie Cole

Twice as Many People Work in Environment ‘Charities’ Than in Wind Power Generation: ONS Report Reveals Shocking Truth About UK’s ‘Green Jobs’

24 July 2025
by Chris Morrison

‘Schools of Sanctuary’ Brings US Open Borders Ideology into UK Schools

24 July 2025
by Charlotte Gill

SOCIAL LINKS

Free Speech Union
  • Home
  • About us
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy

Facebook

  • X

Instagram

RSS

Subscribe to our newsletter

© Skeptics Ltd.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Articles
  • About
  • Archive
    • ARCHIVE
    • NEWS ROUND-UPS
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Premium
  • Donate
  • Log In

© Skeptics Ltd.

wpDiscuz
You are going to send email to

Move Comment
Perfecty
Do you wish to receive notifications of new articles?
Notifications preferences