04-20-2020, 02:05 PM
So there's a growing body of anecdotal evidence that six feet of separation isn't *really* quite enough to prevent transmission -- every little bit helps, but it will all depend on how much virus is being breathed out, the movement of the air, and how much air is being inspired/expired by people nearby as well as the distance between people. But six feet is the published number because larger separation distances would really make essential life functions untenable as it is.
During the Blitz, UK citizens were asked to douse all lights at night and maintain a strict blackout so as to not give German bombers target guidance. I see parallels in the potential for individual actions to create collective harm. I think it's hard for people to understand the harm they might be encouraging -- first, asymptomatic transmission happens without the carrier knowing it ("I didn't know, it's not my fault!"), and so infectious carriers has no moral qualms about causing harm of which they are unaware. Second, it may take up to a week for any symptoms to manifest in the carrier, which is when things get real and if -- if! -- the carrier has serious/critical symptoms, you'll probably see an about face in attitude as the virus suddenly morphs from abstract news item to existential threat. By then, it's too late to prevent the harm the carrier has potentially inflicted on those around them.
I don't like the idea of neighbors ratting out neighbors, but I am also severely disappointed in the response to the sheltering orders that seem to flout the idea that any measures need to be taken at the individual level to help flatten the curve. Someone mentioned online that we are being given one grade for this big group project, and a few foolish actions are going to sink us.
In a world where healthcare workers are short on PPE and the federal government is running interdiction operations against hospitals procuring PPE, our ability to quickly flatten the curve most certainly saves the lives of healthcare workers who have no opportunity to distance from virus carriers.
During the Blitz, UK citizens were asked to douse all lights at night and maintain a strict blackout so as to not give German bombers target guidance. I see parallels in the potential for individual actions to create collective harm. I think it's hard for people to understand the harm they might be encouraging -- first, asymptomatic transmission happens without the carrier knowing it ("I didn't know, it's not my fault!"), and so infectious carriers has no moral qualms about causing harm of which they are unaware. Second, it may take up to a week for any symptoms to manifest in the carrier, which is when things get real and if -- if! -- the carrier has serious/critical symptoms, you'll probably see an about face in attitude as the virus suddenly morphs from abstract news item to existential threat. By then, it's too late to prevent the harm the carrier has potentially inflicted on those around them.
I don't like the idea of neighbors ratting out neighbors, but I am also severely disappointed in the response to the sheltering orders that seem to flout the idea that any measures need to be taken at the individual level to help flatten the curve. Someone mentioned online that we are being given one grade for this big group project, and a few foolish actions are going to sink us.
In a world where healthcare workers are short on PPE and the federal government is running interdiction operations against hospitals procuring PPE, our ability to quickly flatten the curve most certainly saves the lives of healthcare workers who have no opportunity to distance from virus carriers.