More Covid-19 cases, more deaths, chaos in the flu clinics, snarling queues at hospitals and private clinics, lack of space to accommodate patients… a critical situation likely to get even worse. But all that is no news nor is it surprising.

What is surprising is that life seems to be going on as usual. Social events are taking place with dozens of people, hundreds of picnickers stacked up on top of one another at public beaches, in nightclubs and cinemas. Restaurants are brimming and photos of Halloween celebrations of revellers across the island are scary enough without any disguise. We know that our health services are overwhelmed and that the more pressure we put on them, the more deaths will ensue. So why can’t we, as responsible citizens, self-regulate? Why can’t we avoid crowded places, large gatherings and social events where the risks are high? Why can’t we minimise our exposure to the virus? If we did it during the first wave, why can’t we do it now with this more deadly one caused in large part by the insidious delta variant? Isn’t it our decision entirely?

No, it isn’t. Not quite. In a society like ours, where Collectivism is invasive, the tendency is to follow the trend. If others are doing something, then it must be doable. Opt out of a social gathering or a family event and you are on your way to being considered unsociable, perhaps antisocial or an outcast.

Not so long ago, during the first wave of Covid-19, the trend was to stay safe. So we complied and behaved responsibly, going to the extent of hounding those who dared as much as go to the supermarket to buy food for their families. “Cocovid”, we called them, while boasting on social media about not visiting our fathers or mothers on their birthday, stressing our sense of sacrifice and self-righteousness. What happened in a few months?

The answer is that the experts who were telling us the brutal truth and guiding us have been replaced by spin doctors who have been repeating to whoever would listen that all is well, massaging the figures of the death toll and of infections and hiding the truth of what is going on in our hospitals. The communication gap is growing wider by the day. That gap is being filled by self-appointed doctors, who are eager to give free, unwanted advice based on their whims and fancies. Every other person has become a biologist and an expert in how the virus is transmitted.

The self-appointed doctors are drowning the voices of the experts who are advising people to restrict their movements, opt out of any outing that is not essential and help break the chain of infection. The result is a competition to share photos on social media and WhatsApp, showing a life where the virus exists only in the minds of a few paranoid doctors and journalists. So, we are in a situation where the virus is spinning out of control, those in charge are telling us all is well and our friends and acquaintances are behaving as if it were. This is at best reckless, at worst criminal. And, paradoxically, few of us have the courage to go against the trend.

The only way to reverse that trend is for the authorities to fill the communication gap. We need more transparency and a reality check. Some harsh measures are also needed to send the right message out there that we are dealing with a situation that is nothing short of an unfolding national catastrophe. In fact, the only way to save lives is for the authorities to listen to those voices they do not want to hear. They are making proposals on a daily basis. Pick a few and apply them and we will get the message. Nothing else will get us to self-regulate.