Jay Bhattacharya: Trump picks Covid lockdown sceptic to lead top health agency

In a notable move, former President Trump has selected Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a prominent physician and economist known for his opposition to widespread COVID-19 lockdowns, to lead a top health agency. Dr. Bhattacharya gained significant attention as one of the leading figures behind the Great Barrington Declaration. This declaration made headlines for advocating against the use of extensive lockdown measures to control the pandemic, suggesting instead that focus should be on protecting the most vulnerable populations while allowing others to continue their lives normally to build up herd immunity. Dr. Bhattacharya's appointment comes at a time when the debate over the effectiveness and repercussions of lockdowns has never been more polarized. Supporters of the declaration argue that lockdowns have caused significant economic, social, and health damage that outweighs their benefits in controlling the spread of the virus. Conversely, critics of the declaration and Dr. Bhattacharya's stance argue that without lockdowns, the virus could have spread even more uncontrollably, leading to higher death tolls and overwhelming healthcare systems. As a professor at Stanford University, Dr. Bhattacharya has extensively expressed his views on the pandemic response through various publications and media appearances. His appointment is seen by many as a signal that there might be a shift in how health policies, particularly concerning managing pandemics, will be approached in the future. This decision has sparked a variety of reactions from the medical community and the public at large. While some welcome a fresh perspective on handling pandemics that minim