b'catastrophes, skyrocketing drug use and sui- remained partially shut down for many monthsAsanavidconsumeroftheNewYork cides, increasing deaths from stroke and heartpast its peak, causing serious economic prob- Times, the New Yorker, and NPR, I can attest attack due to hospital avoidance, and myriadlems and educational deficits, as residents re- to the media having operated no differently quality-of-life issues from isolation among themain petrified that a second wave is imminent.in the United States. Apart from a few pieces elderly to deprivation of education to encroach- Perhaps if the populace were acquainted within early March that questioned the wisdom of ments upon human dignity that conflict withthis theory, some of the terror would dissipatethe course we had set upon, there was no se-the tenets of liberal democracies (73-91).and a return to normal would be possible.rious discussion and no debate, at least in the I agree with Reiss and Bhakdi that thoseReiss and Bhakdi also blame the now-dis- left-leaning media, and anyone who dissented pressing for lockdowns and other restrictions,credited Imperial College model designed byfrom the prevailing view was and continues often members of the educated elite, vastly un- Professor Neil Ferguson for the unwarrantedto be dismissed as stupid or selfish. Early on, derestimate the hardship such measures inflictalarm. Ferguson projected that two million peo- and without any nuanced analysis, Sweden upon those less fortunate (83-85). Not only dople in the United States and half a million peo- was deemed a failure. The public has been they cause substantial harm, but suppressiveple in the United Kingdom would die, absentbeset by such terror, driven by anecdotes often measures are ineffective (49-54, 60-61, 91-98).extreme restrictions (47). As the authors pointpresented without context, that it has become The authors pay particular attention to Sweden,out, Ferguson is famous for nothing if not hisvirtually impossible to dispel these many mis-which never adopted widespread mask usagewildly exaggerated, past predictions (47).conceptions using facts, figures, and logic.and did not lock down. Instead, only gatheringsThe authors suggest that the media, poli- For that reason, Reiss and Bhakdi embark of over 50 people were prohibited and citizensticians, pharmaceutical companies, and largeupon an uphill battle by attempting to pierce were relied upon to behave responsibly.corporations, driven by financial motives inthe veil of fear that has enshrouded the World. Reiss and Bhakdi correctly observe that thesome cases and sheer incompetence in others,If it can be done, however, this accessible book press relentlessly emphasized that Swedenfueled the public panic that began with pho- will play a key role. I urge the reader to ap-would pay a high price for its liberal path,tos from Wuhan and Northern Italy and wasproach Corona with an open mind, and when in while noting that in reality, Sweden withoutexacerbated by Fergusons model (117-130).doubt, to check the citations. Because, at the risk lockdown is not significantly different whenWhile Corona is written for a German audience,of sounding dramatic, our civilization depends compared to countries with lockdown (93-94).from an Americans perspective, it is hard toon it. If we, as a species, can be so easily manip-Indeed, Sweden now has fewer deaths per mil- escape the fact that politics played a significantulated into ceding our liberty, dignity, and very lion than the United States, fewer infections perrole in the events that have transpired. As earlylives to irrational fear, I shudder to see what the capita than its Nordic neighbors, and its 7-dayas January or February, opinions about the vi- future holds.coronavirus-related death average is zero. russ seriousness divided rapidly along political The authors discuss T-cell cross immunity,lines. Once President Trump publicly doubtedFirst published at https://www.aier.org/ a crucial topic and one that warrants far morethe severity and suggested that following Italyarticle/disease-panic-vs-medical-reality/discussion in the media. Recent studies haveand China into lockdown would create an eco- on September 28, 2020. Reprinted here withestablished that previous exposure to othernomic horror show, the Democrats positionpermission. Reviewed and referenced as an coronaviruses, for instance the common coldwas a fait accompli.e-book prior to the books official publication in or SARS-CoV-1, protects against infection fromLikewise, the medias dereliction of duty isEnglish on October 2, 2020. SARS-CoV-2. Thus, large portions of the pop- beyond evident. As Reiss and Bhakdi observe, ulationthe precise percentage varies acrossbroadcasters and thepress becameservileCrosswordgeographical locationshave some level of im- mouthpieces of the government and neverPuzzle Answersmunity to SARS-CoV-2, which explains why thecritically questioned the disturbing images virus tends to die out after infecting no moreand frightening numbers (50, 117-18). Inciden-than around twenty percent of people in a mu- tally, a letter recently published by 200 Belgian nicipality, regardless of restrictions (104-07).scientists similarly criticized the media: [t]While the authors do not mention this, otherhe relentless bombardment of numbers, un-scientists, for instance theoretical epidemiolo- leashed on the population day after day, hour gist Sunetra Gupta and structural biologist Mi- after hour, without indicating those numbers, chael Levitt, believe that means the virus haswithout comparing them to flu deaths in other burned through the susceptible population inyears, without comparing them with deaths any location that has had a first wave, and therefrom other causes, has induced a true psychosis will not be a second. This has profound implica- of fear in the population. This is not informa-tions for places like New York City, which hastion, but manipulation.H ealtHF reedomN ews /F all2020 29HFN_FALL-2020_11-02-2020-FINAL.indd 29 11/2/20 8:50 PM'