5 ms·

I think putting the blame on people for weddings, religious ceremonies (aka normal everyday life which is going to happen, even during the Afghanistan War peopl

I think putting the blame on people for weddings, religious ceremonies (aka normal everyday life which is going to happen, even during the Afghanistan War people had wedding celebrations despite the danger) is misguided. Governments are getting rightful blame. I think the media also don't help. How many stupid news outlets were saying that Indian people have some kind of genetic immunity to COVID with absolutely no evidence of any such thing? That affects people more than one wedding.

qart 5y ago
The virus does not care what you consider misguided. Make all the excuses you want, but crowds lead to spreading of airborne diseases.
- fabatka 5y ago
  Sure, but disease containment is not (or should not be) the sole metric to optimize for. Edit: grammar fix
  - mavhc 5y ago
    Problem is people don't understand exponential growth, whenever the R number if >1 you're totally screwed, even if just 1 person is infected
- Mediterraneo10 5y ago
  The virus may spread in whatever way it does, but what public-health measures are to be used to respond to it, have to have some kind of mandate from the population. Already in several countries the authorities have chosen not to impose tighter restrictions on gatherings because the population has shown that it would flaunt them. In that case, public-health officials have to change their messaging to e.g. encouraging those gathering to do so outdoors, where transmission is less likely.
  - ryandrake 5y ago
    If only there were some way to punish people who violate government mandated measures. Like, I don't know, maybe we could dress some people up with a uniform and badge, and give them the authority to stop violators and "fine" or "incarcerate" them. Some kind of "justice system" or something. I don't know, this is a new invention I'm coming up with on the fly. We had this problem in the USA, too. All these "mandates" flying around, and governments congratulating themselves over their stay-at-home "orders", yet very little to nothing in the way of enforcement. We seem to be able to enforce drunk driving and seatbelt laws, but when it comes to masks and preventing gatherings, we're flummoxed! Suddenly, nobody knows how to enforce the rules anymore!
    - Mediterraneo10 5y ago
      One cannot always just tell police to enforce restrictions and that is that. Courts have the right to review laws and decrees, after all, and in some countries courts have found that the government exceeded its authority by imposing mask laws, social distancing, or business closures. Consequently, police could give you a fine, but that fine would be dismissed when you go to court. After a series of defeats in court, ruling parties may then ask police to stop enforcing the restrictions, because the embarrassment could help cost them the next election. Again, COVID restrictions ultimately require some kind of mandate from the people. If a country’s government is unable to legally impose restrictions within its current constitutional order, and it is unable to gather sufficient votes to amend the constitution, then it will simply have to limit itself to public-health measures that the people will accept.
    - majoram 5y ago
      That's a horrible idea in today's social/political climate. Just try visualizing a police officer trying to arrest a black person for not wearing a mask. Or police being sent to gatherings in black neighborhoods. Sorry but I'd rather have more covid deaths than more riots and possibly a race war in my country.
      - InvertedRhodium 5y ago
- renewiltord 5y ago
  It’s public health. If your policies get people sick, then you’ve failed at managing public health. You can blame whomever you like but ultimately you’ve failed.

qart 5y ago

The virus does not care what you consider misguided. Make all the excuses you want, but crowds lead to spreading of airborne diseases.

fabatka 5y ago
Sure, but disease containment is not (or should not be) the sole metric to optimize for. Edit: grammar fix
- mavhc 5y ago
  Problem is people don't understand exponential growth, whenever the R number if >1 you're totally screwed, even if just 1 person is infected
Mediterraneo10 5y ago
The virus may spread in whatever way it does, but what public-health measures are to be used to respond to it, have to have some kind of mandate from the population. Already in several countries the authorities have chosen not to impose tighter restrictions on gatherings because the population has shown that it would flaunt them. In that case, public-health officials have to change their messaging to e.g. encouraging those gathering to do so outdoors, where transmission is less likely.
- ryandrake 5y ago
  If only there were some way to punish people who violate government mandated measures. Like, I don't know, maybe we could dress some people up with a uniform and badge, and give them the authority to stop violators and "fine" or "incarcerate" them. Some kind of "justice system" or something. I don't know, this is a new invention I'm coming up with on the fly. We had this problem in the USA, too. All these "mandates" flying around, and governments congratulating themselves over their stay-at-home "orders", yet very little to nothing in the way of enforcement. We seem to be able to enforce drunk driving and seatbelt laws, but when it comes to masks and preventing gatherings, we're flummoxed! Suddenly, nobody knows how to enforce the rules anymore!
  - Mediterraneo10 5y ago
    One cannot always just tell police to enforce restrictions and that is that. Courts have the right to review laws and decrees, after all, and in some countries courts have found that the government exceeded its authority by imposing mask laws, social distancing, or business closures. Consequently, police could give you a fine, but that fine would be dismissed when you go to court. After a series of defeats in court, ruling parties may then ask police to stop enforcing the restrictions, because the embarrassment could help cost them the next election. Again, COVID restrictions ultimately require some kind of mandate from the people. If a country’s government is unable to legally impose restrictions within its current constitutional order, and it is unable to gather sufficient votes to amend the constitution, then it will simply have to limit itself to public-health measures that the people will accept.
  - majoram 5y ago
    That's a horrible idea in today's social/political climate. Just try visualizing a police officer trying to arrest a black person for not wearing a mask. Or police being sent to gatherings in black neighborhoods. Sorry but I'd rather have more covid deaths than more riots and possibly a race war in my country.
    - InvertedRhodium 5y ago
renewiltord 5y ago
It’s public health. If your policies get people sick, then you’ve failed at managing public health. You can blame whomever you like but ultimately you’ve failed.