Welcome to our regular column where a local resident has their say about something on their mind. This month Donna starts a discussion
about taking personal responsibility for helping manage the Covid crisis.
Whose Responsibility Is It Anyway?
A restaurant was recently closed down for a deep clean, food was thrown away, staff were put on hold and income was lost. Why? Because someone who had just been tested for Coronavirus decided to go out for dinner and a few drinks rather than wait for her test results.
It is likely that other people were infected by her as she sat eating dinner and as she travelled to and from the restaurant. This is how the virus spreads, people mixing with each other and not taking seriously the guidelines about washing hands, wearing masks, going into quarantine etc.
To force the virus back to a manageable level we all have to take personal responsibility for our actions. There’s more than plenty we can blame the government for over the whole coronavirus episode but we do all have a personal responsibility too if we are to ensure the virus stays at a manageable level until we have a vaccine.
Another discussion would be around the anti-vaxers, the flat earth society. They really do need to read some real science instead of conspiracy theories. It is science that will come to the aid of humanity regarding this virus not giant Lizards or drinking bleach. Who would drive a car without wearing a seat belt? Only fools, nowadays! So why would you not follow the guidelines on handwashing, staying home if waiting for test results and so on?
Well, of course, some people – far too many people – will have to choose between taking the awful risk of going to work knowing they might be infected and/or infect others and paying the rent and food bills. That’s not a real choice, not a fair choice.
We need the government to guarantee full pay for all workers if they have to isolate, regardless of their contract or status. Else, the poorest paid, least protected will remain in the frontline of fire with this virus. If we are to avoid a second spike this winter we do all have to believe that it’s all our personal responsibility to help keep the Covid virus under
control.
There are things we can do individually and there are things we must do collectively. Supporting campaigns to make sure the workplace is safe, that schools are safe, that care workers and other frontline and key workers have full employment rights with decent pay and benefits etc is an essential way to put pressure on the government to deliver what we need.