Over Morning Coffee

As kids, we played a game called Simon Says. Standing in lines, we faced our leader, "Simon," and listened intently for commands. If Simon said, "Simon says, 'Hop'," we all hopped. If Simon said, "Take two steps'," we all froze because the command did not begin with, "Simon says...." After a rapid series of orders, players became confused, moved at wrong times, and soon were unable to follow any directions. Hilarity ensued and a different leader stepped up front.

Today, we play a more dangerous and deadly game called Fauci Says. Nobody's laughing. The leader is Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of NIAID and co-leader of the White House Coronavirus Taskforce. For the past 18 months, we listened to his confusing commands. "Don't wear a mask." "Wear a mask." "Stay home." "Close unessential businesses." "Stay 6' apart." "Stay 3' apart." "Get vaccinated." "If vaccinated, continue to wear a mask." "If vaccinated, don't wear a mask."

It began in January 2020 when reports of a new disease, the novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, began to trickle out of China. As the virus spread to other countries, we were traumatized by ominous predictions of 15 million hospitalizations and 2.2 million deaths in the United States. We were horror-struck by online videos showing dreadful suffering from the mysterious illness. Adrift and helpless, the country was in need of expert advice to face the unknown.

Enter Dr. Fauci, appointed by President Trump to co-lead the federal government's response. Dr. Fauci is a physician, scientist and immunologist whom the New York Times describes as "one of the most trusted medical figures in the United States." He has been the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984 and Chief Medical Advisor to every U.S. president since Ronald Reagan. In the Biden administration, Fauci earns more than his boss with an annual salary of $417,608 making him the highest paid official in government. He enjoys unchecked power and unquestioned authority.

During the pandemic Dr. Fauci rose from obscurity to become a household name. As the leading expert on COVID-19 in the U.S., he has appeared daily in briefings and newscasts for well over a year. In the beginning, Fauci told us we needed to lockdown the country for two weeks to "flatten the curve" in order to keep our hospitals from being overwhelmed and medical supplies depleted. This was only the beginning of an 18-month long battle against a pandemic that caused 33.2 million cases of COVID-19 and 591,000 deaths from the disease in the U.S.

While the pandemic is not over, it is winding down. The disease remains dangerous and deadly, but it is no longer the threat it was at the beginning of last year. Hospitalizations are down and most hospitals have closed COVID units. The mortality rate is nearing pre-pandemic levels and certain therapeutics have been shown to fight the virus with positive results. We are nearer to herd immunity as more people are vaccinated and others gain a natural immunity from having survived COVID-19. States are opening up and ending COVID-19 restrictions with no reports of super-spreader events.

Considering these positive trends, it's time to end the game of Fauci Says. People have stopped listening to him. In a recent poll by the Trafalgar Group, 42.2 percent of respondents say they've lost confidence in Dr. Fauci. As medical experts around the world come to understand the coronavirus and its treatments, we no longer need daily advice from him.

We must pivot our attention away from COVID-19 mitigation to the collateral damage from the traumatic events of the past year. Economic and psychological impacts of the lockdown have been devastating to America. The Foundation for Economic Education reports unintended consequences of the pandemic include increased global poverty, massive job loss, small business closures, increased depression and suicide, and other adverse social consequences. The U.S. economy went into an unprecedented recession with a 33 percent drop in GDP and a 2 million job loss.

Damage done by pandemic restrictions to the mental health of our children cannot be overstated. A study published in January 2021 by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) found "significantly lower achievement" for all pupils with a "large and concerning gap" for disadvantaged children. The EEF estimates it may take a year to catch up. During the pandemic, many children suffered from fear and anxiety. Because of their young age, they were especially vulnerable to being isolated and lacked coping skills to deal with the abrupt changes in their lives.

At this point in time, we do not need to hear daily COVID-19 statistics and advice. We need experts in economics, job creation, psychology, sociology and education. It's time for new leadership to step up and help us return to a pre-pandemic normal.

Bonnie Ewoldt, of rural Milford, is a retired teacher, news junkie and freelance writer. Her opinion pieces have appeared online and in newspapers across Iowa and neighboring states. Visit her blog at http://www.bonniesblogbox.wordpress.com.