Every Soul Matters! As we leap through the COVID-19 storm – Yet, a steady and serene way out!

LONDON – These are really severe changing times. The global earth was at peace, by itself, walking towards the Christmas of 2019. Children, parents, and people being hopeful – all to their own things, yet minding one another. No one was to anticipate that the troubles, brewing at Wuhan China, will usher such new changes at the opposite ends of the global community as we began year 2020!

The principles of globalization were put into practice, not by choice, nor by any form of likeliness, but instead by the events and facts arising from Wuhan China of SARS Coronavirus-2 infection, code-named COVID-19. This shows all humanity, that what happens in one place, very easily is felt at some other location, thousands of miles away. This is seen as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), per ‘worldwide disease of such global spread’.

However, this COVID-19 is very much a plague, when also reviewed in the extent of destructions and devastations caused by this virus. It is quite a thought that, with all the technological development or advancement that one may boast of with the western world, a small virus (like the SARS- Coronavirus-2) would impose such heavy challenges to the nations of the world. It grounded all forms of reasonable social lives, national economies, and subjected international movements to total lockdown!

While one may appreciate the efforts of the various countries to tackle the problem of the Coronavirus pandemic, it is pertinent to point out that a great nation like ours ( i.e the United Kingdom) was rather quite slow in implementing safeguards to tackle this pandemic on time. The world watched China as they dealt with the Wuhan Virus back in November-December 2019, acting as if China was a place outside of our world! I do not seek to write blame games on any one government or country, but of a truth, a country as old and great as the United Kingdom could have done much better in our handling of this COVID-19 pandemic.

The expert scientific advice was not only misleading but greatly flawed on its own. Chief Scientific Adviser to Prime Minister, Mr. Boris Johnson’s government, advised that face masks need not be worn earlier than January 2020. Even after seeing results in China, South Korea, and events playing out in Italy, he stated that “wearing face masks is not known to show any benefits as Coronavirus is a respiratory virus!”

Let us take things on its terms

A respiratory virus gains entry into the human body through the nose (nostrils) or inhaled through the mouth (mouth breathing or talking). Yet, common sense could not advise that the use of face masks as a barrier to viral entry, is beneficial to reduce transmission? This Coronavirus is also known to be transmitted by the touch of fomites (infected objects) and then touching other people or other infected objects. Hence, the idea to wash hands properly and often, maintain all personal hygiene, promote the use of hand sanitizers, apply self-distancing measures, and avoid touching one’s face should be apparent.

As of April 14, 2020, Ministers in the United Kingdom were still very much divided on whether to support or not, the idea for people to wear face masks in public places. It would take London bus drivers dying, and for the Mayor of London, Mr. Sadiq Khan MP, to insist that London bus drivers wear face masks, for this simple measure to help reduce the transmission of this deadly virus be applied. By this time, the United Kingdom had recorded over 20,000 deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic!

As of April 17, 2020, Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, said: “There is a review that SAGE is carrying out. We are looking at it now. The evidence is quite variable around masks – it’s not easy to really get a firm position on some of it.” Then, when wearing masks were ‘allowed’ from May 8th, Prime Minister Boris Johnson broadcast an update on COVID-19, saying that the public was advised to use clothe face masks so that the surgical face masks do not runout for NHS Workers.

One wonders then, if the delay in advising the earlier use of face masks, were more of economic reasons than of encouraging all to do their bit in fighting this COVID-19 plague? This underpinning recklessness in not promoting earlier use of face masks or any form of face barrier to reduce the transmission of this virus is quite upsetting to think of the number of lives which we have lost in the UK from COVID-19. The pain deepens to me, for a medical doctor who had enjoyed over 24 years of uneventful medical practice, who was in good standing with the General Medical Council (GMC), but who had her medical registration taken away from her, for being a ‘female Black Doctor’ seeking a career in orthopedics & trauma surgery in the United Kingdom’s NHS trust Hospitals.

Then I ask, where is the Chief Executive Officer of the GMC, Mr. Charlie Massey in assessing such weak and truly porous advice from the ‘Chief Scientific Officer’ to the UK Government? Simple facemask use which could have provided some barrier to transmission of Coronavirus was not freely allowed and on time, even with obvious examples including benefits of such uses from the South Korea setting?

The ethnicity of the COVID-19 victims

It is interesting to note that, some questions are being asked as to the demography of the ethnicities of those who have died from the COVID-19 pandemic. From the King’s Trust Fund Report, ‘Ethnic minority deaths, and COVID-19: What are we to do?’, we noted that ‘in the UK, a large proportion of NHS staff come from ethnic minorities and some are dying at a much higher rate than white staff. The same is true in the general population.’ This study concluded by finding that although people from ethnic minority UK make up only 14% of the population, they account for 34% of critically ill COVID-19 patients and all COVID-19 cases.

While the Government had reassured the UK public that, adequate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is being supplied to NHS trust Hospitals for the staff, it is pertinent to ask whether such PPE was accessed by these ethnic minority NHS trust staff or workers. Were they (the ethnic minority NHS staff) adequately protected even whilst carrying out their duties, or were there disparities in making the PPE available to them, as indeed if we are together fighting this COVID-19, every soul should matter?

Not that I wish anyone dead, God forbid! However, it is noteworthy to point out that not one nor many white medical doctors have died of COVID-19, yet so many Black and Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) medical doctors, with many other NHS healthcare workers, have died from the virus. If this virus, which does not discriminate on its virulence, is to be tackled, it is thus fair and just that the same standard of PPE gear given to one NHS trust healthcare worker, be extended to all other NHS trust healthcare workers to truly protect everyone from this deadly virus, as the wellbeing of every soul matters.

The COVID-19 deaths from the Care Homes

My desire remains to stress that, all lives matter and ought to be cared for in our UK communities. Concerning the elderly residents in care homes, despite all laid down safeguarding regulations, as in the Care Act 2014 and other associated regulatory directives, it was saddening to note that the healthcare workers in the care homes were not adequately clothed with PPE’s. This does not ultimately protect the rights, dignity, and safety of the elderly in our care homes.

Some care homes lost as many as 16 to 19 residents to this COVID-19 virulence. This made a great nuisance of all the protective and regulatory measures which had been in place to protect and care for vulnerable adults among us in the society. These elderly residents in the care homes, are WWII veterans, aged professionals, bus drivers, post office workers, and others who held this country together in their own time!

In quiet times, any of such care homes recording such great numbers of deaths of the residents would have been quickly referred to the agents of all Protection of Vulnerable Adult Teams (POVA) for proper investigation. In this issue of COVID-19 deaths of the elderly, it is my humble and sincere belief that the agencies of POVA, be also integrated to investigate the circumstances under which the care homes were not properly protected to allow these deaths. For every life matters – whether Black, Asian, elderly, poor or rich, of Labour party or of Conservatory party – every soul matters.

There appear to be some degree of neglect in the duties of care owed to both the BAME NHS Trust workers, BAME bus drivers, and some key workers, as well as the elderly ones who died of COVID-19 in the care homes.  Although some reports claim the deficiency of Vitamin D among the Black and Asian patients who died of COVID-19, this hypothesis seems farfetched, as it cannot be truly proved that all other patients had adequate levels of Vitamin D.

Yet, a Steady and Serene Way Out?

Yes, there is hope. As humanity overcame the 14th Century Bubonic plague and 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, it is my sincere and yet strong belief that we shall also overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. All nations of this world will come out of this COVID-19 pandemic when we recognize 3 main pathways to walk out of this plague:

1. The Spiritual pathway

As a committed Christian, permit me to show my hand a bit and to remind this great nation, the United Kingdom of the times of WWII. On Sunday May 26, 1940, King George VI with his Prime Minister Winston Leonard Churchill, called for a National Day of Prayers. A situation which was so much at the disadvantage of the UK, turned around to become the ‘Great Deliverance of the UK’ which we all celebrate as the ‘Miracle of Dunkirk’ and as the Victory in Europe (VE) day today.

75 years down the line, we are faced with a deadly virus, SARS-Coronavirus -2 that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the current Prime Minister, Mr. Boris Johnson, despite suffering from COVID-19 has not deemed it fit to call for a national day of prayers to seek the face of the Sovereign Divinity to help helpless humanity at such a time as this. The Holy Bible states, “when I send pestilence (plague) or (pandemic) among My people, if my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Much as many may wish to argue against a national day of prayer, let everyone appreciate that death is finality and if by national prayer, the United Kingdom was miraculously delivered at Dunkirk, then nothing stops any such miraculous interventions and clarity of thoughts in the management of this COVID -19 pandemic. Praying will cause no harm, but can, and surely will do us some good. Science, including medical science and religion which include faith and prayer, are not mutually exclusive. Research Studies have shown that patients who were prayed for, fared well even when faced with much critical illness and diseases. Prayer and faith can be potent cures for a whole host of emotional and physical problems. Hundreds of scientific studies prove it. But how do you access this hidden strength?

Rather than wave off religion, prayers, and faith in our world today, we should thus do ourselves much good, to harness the hidden strength and positive effects of prayers and faith to help us fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. The Physical pathway

In the management of all resources to combat COVID-19, all sectors of the Government, advisors, the NHS Executives, and NHS Trust Workers need to see all men as equal and ensure that PPE’s and effective care deliveries are rendered to all people. Under this Physical pathways are measures, inclusive of the uses of;

i. Physical Protection Equipment (PPE), like facemasks when in public places and full PPE gear for all healthcare and social care workers.
ii. Medical treatments in the Hospitals and Isolation Centres
iii. The testing for Antigen and Antibody Titre against COVID-19.
iv. The quest for COVID-19 vaccine and mass vaccination programs.
v. Vitamins C, D, and Zinc mineral supplements
vi. Regular Exercises and healthy eating.

The pathways of (i) and (ii) above are already taking place in the Hospitals and COVID-19 Isolation Centres in the UK and other countries. I will only mention here the need to ensure that all Healthcare and Social Care workers be adequately provided with the PPE that they need, to protect them, and to bring everyone in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and as amended. While in public places, people should be mandated to use facemasks as barriers and protections for themselves and for the wellbeing of other people. Our sense of duty of care to each other, towards our ‘neighbors’ in the Community, should encourage everyone to freely use the facemasks. This should not be a matter of choice, but one of social care.

There is a need for the Government to begin national antigen and antibody status testing within the UK Communities. If we had the use of community Nurses, we can also train and send community COVID-19 health workers to carry out such Antigen/Antibody testing to know the Coronavirus infectivity and status of each person within the UK. An antigen/antibody testing will offer good information on recent infectivity (with the presence of Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and also on the history of past infection/ immunity with the presence of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titers against the Coronavirus.

Even if the testing is to include the use of PCR amplification of the Coronavirus swabs and reverse transcription studies, these are still acceptable to carry out on respiratory droplets or products among patients in the hospitals or at drop-in centers in the Community. It is thus important that there is wide testing of the general public in the UK communities, to ascertain the COVID-19 status of each person, isolate this virus, identify any level of immunity within the communities, isolate infective active cases, quarantine and treat them.

However, whether the testing for COVID-19 is being rationed and denied of people based on racial strata or age grade, it will be a big pity for the UK and NHS trust hospitals to have a long time shedding herself of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many countries are in the race for a vaccine against the novel Coronavirus. This may not come easy. The Governments of these nations including the UK, the USA, and others should be transparent in telling citizens important details about the nature of the vaccine being made. These vaccines are not like the usual vaccines known to medicine, as seen with Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Polio vaccines to mention but a few.

While the measles vaccine has been made with live attenuated virus and/or with formalin attenuated virus, the vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is seeking to use other new and ‘unconventional’ methods. Examples of methods in preparing these vaccines include the use of mRNA Coronavirus/Human DNA nucleic genome. When injected into the human body, this ‘cocktail’ will multiply by replicating itself inside the host tissues and create a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO).

Persons who have received this vaccine are ‘life storages of a variant of Coronavirus’ which is hoped to resist infective attack from the deadly SARS-CoV-2. It is therefore not a true vaccine but a ‘creation of an artificial genome’ which is hoped to stimulate an individual to produce enough mRNA to resist the infection.

The standard old vaccines of Measles, Rubella, Polio, and others which are attenuated virus (weakened in strength) when injected into man, are protein vaccines which mount weak reactions of the infection, causing a pseudo-infectivity of the original virus and the body of man, mounts a reaction against it, thereby building up individual immunity or antibody titre against that virus.

When a vaccinated person comes into contact with the virus in the future, the body’s immunological cells which have already been primed, will ‘recognize’ that virus and then produces further antibody (immunity) against it and the person does not suffer from that disease, in any appreciable form. The person is said to have immunity against that virus and is thus protected.

However, due to the rush to obtain a vaccine against COVID-19, this method of using mRNA of the Coronavirus to create a GMO in a person has not been fully tested. These are called mRNA vaccines. They have not been successfully tested on animals, yet are being rushed for human trials. As such, the side effects and complications have not yet been fully studied, which is quite dangerous.

On April 23, 2020, the ‘Oxford Vaccine Researchers’ started the human clinical trials in the UK, even if they ‘pass’ the vaccine to be used on humans for mass vaccination, it may still be years in the future that some of the side effects and complications are discovered.

Both the Humanized Cow Vaccine and Humanized Rat Vaccine against the COVID-19 follow the same principle for vaccine production against the COVID-19 in the USA. Here, the animal (a cow or a rat), is injected with the serum of a person who has recovered from SARS CoV-2 infection and later on injected with live Coronavirus to hopefully mount immunological reaction and produce sufficient antibody serum against the disease.

It is pertinent to point out that Coronavirus is one of the many zoonotic virus, which transmits diseases from animal to man. It is thus questionable as to the level of protection this method of vaccine production will offer human beings, knowing that COVID-19 primarily came through animal–to–man spread. The speed of vaccine production in this way, cannot truly guarantee safety to the human populace, as it does not offer sufficient time to also study its complications and side effects in any long-term study.

In the Human Challenge COVID-19 Vaccine method, serum from those who recovered from COVID-19 is injected into a study group, with the control receiving placebo. At a later date, both the study group and the control are then injected with live Coronavirus, then studied to monitor their ability to mount immunological reaction against the virus. It is hoped that they can produce sufficient antibody titre to protect them against the COVID-19. Their serum can then be harvested as a vaccine for the wider population. For a novel virus that has no specific medical treatment, this appears to be very dangerous and the deadliest of all the methods.

I do not accept any ideology for mass vaccination, and as a committed Christian, I do not support the use of mRNA vaccination type (as the principle totally modifies the human tissue to become a GMO), nor the use of animal humanized vaccines against the COVID-19 which primarily is a zoonotic infection by itself. A situation where there is natural immunity against this SARS-CoV-2 is preferable or a protein vaccine, which may take a longer time to produce but is more ideal.

The Government of the nations should first ascertain the antibody titre levels (natural immunity) of the people, before offering anyone this rushed mRNA vaccine and the Animal (Cow & Rat) humanized vaccines. At all times, the rights of individuals to choose and/ or, to give consent for treatment, should be preserved.

People should liaise with General Practitioners (GPs) or Family Doctors to ensure that they are not deficient in the common Vitamins like C and D, as well as minerals like Zinc and Selenium. There are many variations that are sold over-the-counter (OTC) in many pharmacies and super-stores. These vitamin supplements are necessary to boost one’s immunity and promote general good health. While vitamins A and C are known to stabilize tissues and improve immunity against chest infections, many studies have shown that vitamin D is necessary to protect against viruses, and particularly against this coronavirus.

According to findings, “Vitamin D is unique. It is a prohormone which is produced in the skin during exposure to sunlight (UVB radiation at 290-315nm) with, usually, smaller amounts obtained from food”. The required daily allowance (RDA) for Vitamin D are displayed on the packs advising 400 IU / Day (in the UK), 600 IU/ Day (in the USA), 800 IU /day for those over 70 years of age in Europe. It is advisable to discuss with one’s GP so as to correlate all dose intakes with one’s known health issues. There is no advantage in taking over-dosages of Vitamin D.

For children, it is important that we give them fortified milk, as such milk is enriched with Calcium and Vitamin D supplements. Adequate calcium homeostasis is required to maintain the normal signals in keeping the immune system finely balanced, ramping responses up and down at the appropriate time. One study noted that Calcium regulated T-Cell channels play vital roles to maintain immunity and fight immune-related diseases.

Regular exercises against a sedentary lifestyle have been noted to promote calcium homeostasis as well as macromolecular transport of other minerals along with the cortical bones. It is therefore well advised to engage in some form of exercise even whilst under lockdown. While bodily exercises will promote good muscle build and tone, it is primarily important to maintain calcium homeostasis, as well as its related vitamin D balance and immunity in the body.

3. The Social pathway

Other than a National Day of Prayers, while people are observing ‘stay home’ instructions across the nations, there is also a need to call on national cleaning days! This may sound simple to some but wherefore this virus has spread through human contacts and travels from one place to another, before the national move to ease lockdown restrictions, common sense argues for the need to deeply and thoroughly clean the offices, the bus stations, the buses, trains and train stations, the aircraft and airports, public centers, hospitals, and homes.

Fumigation of public places like the City Stadia and conference centers are also necessary. There is a need to ‘close shop’ for superstores like Morrison, Tesco, Sainsbury, ASDA, etc for a weekend and thoroughly clean spaces and products. Upon re-opening, there will be ‘COVID-19 watch officers’ to direct use of hand sanitizers before one is allowed in and out of these stores and social centers. This will gradually continue to reduce the viral load and also reduce the risks of the spread of COVID-19.

Conclusion & Recommendations

In Conclusion, I feel quite upset that the UK should record a high number of COVID-19 deaths, up to the highest in Europe! No one is going to pat the Government on the back that it was deaths more of BAME NHS Trust Healthcare Workers or of the elderly in Care Homes.

It is also important to inform the UK Government that their ‘Advisers’ need not only to be White males/females, but there are also very brilliant, knowledgeable, and competent scientists and microbiologists from the BAME community, who can offer more supportive advice to the Government and help overcome this COVID-19 pandemic.

In all things, I plead for fairness and equitable decisions at all stages to deliver effective care services. A threat to the life of one is a threat to us all. My heart goes out to everyone who has lost their family member and friend to this COVID-19 pandemic. I pray for you to have peace in your hearts and be consoled from your pains. Let us all, however, pull together in our fight against this pandemic as it shows no discrimination at all in its attacks and virulence. Let us be kinder to one another, appreciating that all men are born equal before a Great Creator or Divinity(God) and that we all share the same humanity.

While on lockdown, people should be encouraged to exercise and keep fit outside in the sunlight, keeping a safe distance. People should not engage in over-eating, but rather eat healthy with reasonable intakes of fruits and vegetables and supplements to boost immunity. The use of PPE should be made accessible to all healthcare and social workers, and the use of facemasks in public places should be mandated.

Anything that has a beginning surely must have an end. We may not see a complete end or eradication of the SARS-CoV-2 but we may all have to upgrade our ways and have ‘a new normal’ in society due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In all things, it is important not to be fearful but stay alert, focused, and safe at home.

Above all, with antigen/antibody testing, contact tracing, and self-isolation, topped with staying strong in faith and being prayerful, living right, showing kindness and fairness to all, this storm of SARS-CoV-2 shall pass. It will bring a new normal way of living, but it will surely, steadily and serenely pass.