Along with the other tedious mantras we have all learnt by heart over the last twelve months “Follow the science” has been repeated so often I’m sure we all say it in our sleep. Indeed only “Protect the NHS” has been parroted out more.

With that being the case, I have to wonder why we are actually ignoring the science and the evidence. After a year of the COVID-19 pandemic and the horrendous lockdowns that accompany it there is actual evidence now showing how we could deal with this situation more effectively, yet it is being ignored.

The NHS itself is now recommending vitamin D supplements to lessen the dangers of COVID-19. After months of discussion on this point it now appears to be the settled view of medical experts that this vitamin is very important against the virus. Back in 2019 the British Nutrition Foundation warned of “extremely concerning” low levels of vitamin D in UK citizens. Professor Susan Latham, the new head of the Nutritional Sciences Department at the University of Surrey said “more attention needs to be placed on the importance of this” at a conference organised by the foundation. The foundation estimated that approximately 1 in 5 people living in the UK had low levels of vitamin D with a particular concern for ethnic minorities who take less of the vitamin in from sunlight due to skin pigmentation.

The highly esteemed Harvard Medical School published an article in April 2020 stating that exercise is extremely important for the immune system. They suggested ways to improve your immune system including exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. They also suggested that stress was bad for the immune system.

The most recent evidence of all comes from the Italian government who have analysed all deaths in their country from or with COVID-19. Their findings are stark and unequivocal. They found that 99% of those who died had underlying health conditions and of those conditions the main factors were high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

Now it doesn’t take a professor or an expert to see that this mountain of evidence shows that not only is there a different route out of the virus pandemic but that the actions of our government and others around the world are totally counterproductive and quite likely to make the situation worse.

Some of the main contributory effects to high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease are lack of exercise, poor diet and stress. One of the main contributory factors to a weakened immune system is again stress. One of the best routes to more vitamin D is to be outside in the sunshine more although during the winter months vitamin supplements or healthy eating are also necessary.

With this being the case how can any government proclaim that by following lockdowns as a policy they are doing anything other than making the pandemic worse?

It is well documented by the NHS and the mental health charity MIND that cases of anxiety and depression are on the increase due largely to the stressful effects of lockdown. Thus, rendering millions more susceptible to infection.

The economic results of lockdown are inevitably leading to financial hardship meaning that the temptation to cut back on the weekly shopping bill and by cheaper perhaps less healthy food is going to be compelling to many. It will also make the cost of vitamin supplements prohibitive. Add to this the limitation to one hour per day of outside exercise and the obvious limitation of our exposure to sunshine. This obviously contributes to the already serious lack of vitamin D in our systems.

On top of this the government has closed gyms and sporting facilities, stopping people from accessing the exercise they need to boost their immune systems, have healthier hearts and control their weight. Not to mention the proven positive effect that exercise has on helping people deal with stress and mental health issues.

Our government and its colleagues around the world are creating the perfect conditions for a virus to thrive by systematically weakening our population and making them more vulnerable. If they really believe in following the science it is time for them to abandon the damaging and dangerous lockdown approach and encourage people back to sporting facilities and healthy lifestyles. Aside from the fact it is logical and will yield long term benefits taking some of the strain from the NHS it is immeasurably cheaper and more economically viable.

Photo by Hans Reniers on Unsplash