The COVID-19 pandemic

[danbrotherston]

The major issues with this COVID crisis are people simply not following the rules and common sense. The governments have an incredibly hard job — do we shut down again and permanently kill businesses, do we continue to do what we’re doing and let nature do its thing, do we have stricter enforcement of ‘the rulez’?

I think the obvious answer is to have stricter enforcement, and some stricter rules, regarding social circles.

1) Absolute mask enforcement. If you’re in public, you’re a risk. Wear a mask. Very few exceptions, and as a asthma sufferer, this isn’t one of those exceptions (as are hearing aids, which some are using as their excuse).
2) Significants fines for people not obeying rules regards to gatherings. $800 doesn’t cut it. $10,000 will.
3) Fines for people that don’t attest to their condition or whereabouts truthfully. $10,000 should be the minimum. (‘Condition’ might include having been exposed to someone with COVID-19, but not admitting it, or not following quarantine having travelled outside the country, of meeting up with someone who has.)
4) At restaurants, for example, patrons must wear masks when speaking to waitress.
5) Stiff fine for owners of food establishments when they chin their mask.

We slowed the spread back in July and August. People have let their guard down. This is why we have what we have. Parties of any sort need to stop. It’s just not worth it.

Then again, too many selfish people out there, so I suppose we end up getting exactly what we deserve.

I disagree with the idea that a lockdown has to kill businesses, there is no reason that we cannot provide financial support to businesses that have to shut down.

I also think (and I'm not saying you are saying this, but it seems that our Premier is), that NOT shutting down will not save these businesses either. Even if the foolish people who will keep going out during a wave of the pandemic are enough to keep businesses alive (which I suspect they are not) the fact is, many employees getting sick with COVID will also kill a small business....and possibly the employees and owners literally.

At the end of the day, our economy is about consumer confidence, and the pandemic threatens that. The way to restore it is to give people the belief and trust that the pandemic will be handled well both in terms of health and economics.