Personal Freedoms/Choices & Public Health Measures

Actually, the point is different.

Every person, every one of the “many other people” you mention, had the freedom to stay home and not interact with the person who chose to exercise his freedom.

The burden needs to be with the individual. One who wants to isolate can. One who wants to interact can.

Putting people on house arrest is wrong.

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Was listening to the news early tonight, and this pediatric syndrome is in 25 of our states, and in 13 countries. Among other complications it inflames the heart.

Can we all agree that mandatory wearing of masks is a good policy?

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Hi 03Cobra,

Covid-19 hospitalizations lag infections even more than COVID-19 diagnostic tests.

The hospitalizations in early to mid-May are the result of behaviors and policies from mid- to late-April. This was the period prior to the “reopening,” of course.

So right now your credibility with me is extremely low; you seem not to understand the data you have cited or their implications.

That said, it is my sincere wish that cases and hospitalizations in Georgia will not increase as a result of the reopening. I can’t say I anticipate that outcome, but I would love to see my skepticism disproven.

Grace and peace,
Chris Falter

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Ok, let us see how you feel in a fortnight.

But my opinion is based less on the facts of today and more on the freedoms and rights that persist continuously.

Putting healthy people on house arrest is always an overextension of good practice. It always exceeds the rights of the government.

Where?

In a store?

Outside on a walk?

In your own house?

Use the Massachusetts order: anywhere in public, indoors or outdoors, that social distancing is not possible.

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My sister, an ICU nurse in a Southern state who daily cares for intubated patients with Covid, just Whatsapped me, asking for prayer, as she wiill likely be transferred to an overflow hospital because of increasing cases. WHO also recently marked a day with the single highest new case Covid count ever.

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As testing increases, we can expect the confirmed number of cases to increase.

This is especially true with targeted testing, as has been happening in Texas.

That reminds me they are very concerned with Montgomery hospitals at the moment being maxed out.

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The problem I see is that actions of one person become a burden to others.

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So are we in agreement or not?

I think we should obey the laws. And, in the absence of a law requiring masks, wearing is an individual choice.

The decision to go somewhere that there might be people without masks is also an individual choice.

The people demanding others stay home and not work are placing a great burden on others.

If we could it would make reopening one heck of a lot more hopeful. But there are people so intent of demonstrating their liberty that they won’t participate in the kinds of strategies which will allow us to safely open more work places sooner.

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That wasn’t my question. I asked whether mandatory wearing of masks (i.e required by law or by a lawful executive order) was a policy you would agree was good. In other words – should it be required by law?

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That’s how society works. We aren’t an island unto ourselves. Our actions impact others, so we have to figure out how all of that will work. Sometimes that means having restrictions put in place for the greater good of society. I’m not saying that it is justified in this specific situation, but we can’t pretend as if human interaction doesn’t exist.

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Not for this pandemic.

I think encouraging the use of masks is good.

And people concerned for their safety because others are not wearing masks should weigh those safety concerns against the need or desire to go out among the unmasked masses.

We don’t disagree on the general principles.

We appear to disagree on the balance between personal freedom and legal requirements.

Why not? The preponderance of evidence is that it slows transmission, it requires no infringement of rights, it doesn’t have any effect on people’s ability to work and make a living, and it costs hardly anything.

In exactly the way that people concerned for their safety because others are drinking and driving should weigh those safety concerns against the need or desire to go out among the drunken masses. I trust that you’re consistent and oppose drunk driving laws.

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