SUSPENSION OF ACTIVITIES

There is so much that we don’t yet know about this virus. And some glimmers of light, like the antibody test with the hope that antibodies will prevent reinfection. A vaccine may be developed and produced faster than any vaccine ever, but it will still be a year at the very least, the fastest previously was 5 years I believe. It will then take a considerable time to vaccinate by priority. We may never get an effective one, we didn’t for SARs but it seemed to burn itself out; although obviously still there and there are treatment options. It MAY burn itself out but we are still learning about treatment options. We are also learning that it can kill very effectively if it takes hold. Roughly 50% of cases that enter ITU went onto oxygen and 50% who do don’t survive. That it is very contagious and easily transmitted. That it is a very lonely death being watched by strangers wearing full PPE even if their names are on the label. We are also just learning that it has residual effects post recovery, there is a growing suspicion that they may be long term for some. Similarly we are learning that children are affected in a different way. It is because there is so much we don’t know that it presents such a risk. It is because we are learning, and that takes time, that time and not filling voids with speculation that risks others is our best defence. BMI is a factor as well btw and I recall a study a long time ago that showed that most of the England rugby team had excessive BMI..go figure. Everything is about climbing.

The BMC are wrong. Simple. For all the reasons Andrew has posted. And this just isn’t the same as driving a car. If driving cars killed circa 40,000 people in under two months there would be an outcry. And actually killed whilst there were restrictions on buying and driving cars. The Blitz only killed 32,000 and that took nearly a year. You just cannot compare this to the flu or anything else. Yes it is down to individual risk assessment and choice. If someone climbs with a friend and they meet the risk criteria, take protective precautions and miraculously stay apart a reasonable distance then not only is that an amazing achievement in a sport like ours, yes it is their choice. But if they don’t, if they have an accident, if they help transmission then they are removing that choice from someone else. Just because others bend the rules it is not our freedom of choice to do similar. Remember, we are able to have this debate because some freedoms have had to be limited not in spite of them. I will not judge others if they make the choice to climb. Just don’t put the Club’s name under the activity until access is accepted and the lock-down is properly relaxed. Which it very clearly hasn’t been.