Getting Technical
COVID-19 : THE NEW GLOBAL PANDEMIC
By Charles Nicolson
CHARLES NICOLSON
Charles Nicolson has a physics and chemistry degree from Natal University which he subsequently put to good use by applying speciality chemicals in mining and industrial processes where water is a major factor . This created an enduring interest in water technology , a passion that expanded to the HVAC industry in 1984 when he joined BHT Water Treatment . Since then , water technology in HVAC water circuits has continued to be an abiding interest .
During the year of 2020 while Covid – 19 was rapidly spreading out to become a worldwide pandemic , one of the effects it has on human behaviour as seen on television pictures – but not widely reported in other media – was , and still is , on the crowds of spectators at sports events .
In many cases there was just a reduction in the size of the crowds .
However , at events such as premier league football matches where stadiums have traditionally hosted full capacity crowds , the areas of empty seats appeared to be considerably larger than those where presumably regular fans usually used every ( or virtually every ) seat available .
One of these fans commented during a TV interview that " the players look like they are not bothering to try " and added that he would " not be coming again until this ‘ Covidemic ’, or whatever you call it , is finished and over with ".
Watching this on TV brought back a now 25-year-old memory of when I was lucky enough to be offered a ticket to that now famous rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and South Africa at Ellis Park – as it was still called in 1995 .
South Africa was then still in the throes of grinding its way slowly out of apartheid but suddenly took a leap forward when a picture of Joel Stransky`s superb match-winning drop goal along with one of President Mandela presenting the trophy to South African Captain François Pienaar made international front-page news . These images still remain as indelible items in our history .
Many sporting figures who have achieved renown acknowledge how spectators , especially applauding crowds of spectators , somehow raise their abilities as well as the skills of whole teams to levels producing more successes . World Cup 1995 could , conceivably have been blighted by a murderous micro-organism similar to Covid – 19 in which case , the result would have been recorded but would probably have not continued to be remembered as the triumph it was for South Africa .
When widespread or global afflictions such as pandemics come into being , they tend to last for lengthy periods until particular people with specialised education , training and experience
Wikipedia / Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour
Dr Anthony Fauci .
emerge as leading figures in countering and overcoming them . An outstanding historical example of this is the American , Dr Jonas Salk who created and produced his innovative Salk vaccine which was successfully used to suppress the poliomyelitis pandemic during the 1950s . Now , a year since Covid – 19 began spreading out increasingly rapidly around the world , another American scientist with impeccable qualifications and many years of appropriate experience has become globally recognised as one of the leading technical authorities on Corona Viruses .
This specialist microbiologist is Dr Anthony Fauci whose attitude towards Covid – 19 viruses is aptly described by his references to them as " Miniature Murderers " and " Tiny Terrorists ".
Anthony Stephen Fauci was born on 24th of December , 1940 , in Brooklyn , New York , the second child of first-generation Italian- American parents . He was educated at Regis High School in
www . hvacronline . co . za RACA Journal I March 2021 37