Jaristotle's Jottings | Dumb and dangerous

On Monday, as I listened to the prime minister lamenting on the irresponsible behaviour of some of our citizens, I could only shake my head. Disseminating fake news, spreading apprehension and panic, disregarding social-distancing requirements and breaking quarantine rules, undermine the Government’s efforts to manage this crisis in a mature manner, break the person-to-person chain and control community spread.

I was flabbergasted to have learnt that fellow Jamaicans who, having been allowed to return to the island from COVID-19 hotspots, and who apparently knew they had tested positive, failed to adhere to the requirements for self-quarantining, interacting with others in what may be described as deliberate acts of community spread. Dumb and dangerous.

It appears that some people have failed to grasp the gist of what we are up against and what we must do. If the quarantining of entire communities (Bull Bay and Corn Piece) has not signalled the gravity of the situation, perhaps the realities of other countries may.

According to a recent BBC report, Indian authorities in the Punjab had to quarantine around 40,000 residents from 20 villages following a COVID-19 outbreak linked to just one man, a 70-year-old preacher who reportedly ignored advice to self-quarantine after returning from a trip to Italy and Germany. One man’s ignorance and defiance compromised 40,000 others. Dumb and dangerous.

Locally, reports indicate that an infected person, through dishonesty, failed to disclose his history of contact with persons who had travelled from overseas. His dishonesty put a number of nurses at the Percy Junor Hospital at undue risk. Dumb and dangerous.

In addition, with these nurses now in quarantine, he has succeeded in depriving the nation of the services of precious front-line workers, nurses who unselfishly attend to our citizens despite the circumstances.

How do we treat with dumb and dangerous?

When individuals are directed to go into self-quarantine, or when placed in a quarantine facility, we expect them to avoid interacting with others. Self-quarantine is a mature approach to dealing with this issue; big-man business, so to speak.

Invariably, the names of quarantined persons are not disclosed, and for good reason. However, while confidentiality and discretion are relevant when individuals comply, when there is no problem, is non-disclosure practical in scenarios where there is widespread non-compliance with quarantine requirements?

One may argue that if a known infected individual, or someone who should be under quarantine approaches you, their actions are akin to someone coming at you with a [potentially] dangerous weapon, and you are therefore entitled to defend yourself.

BEING FOREWARNED

On the other hand, if there is no prior knowledge of their untenable condition, one is far more at risk, not being forewarned and thus unable to take ‘defensive’ action. Net argument: to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

We have had instances of non-compliance, thanks to the dumb and dangerous, and we are aware of the potential mayhem they can unleash. Under the circumstances, should the Government sensitise the citizenry regarding persons who should be under self-quarantine, with the understanding that community vigilance and restrictions will reduce the scope for community spread?

No way, you say, notwithstanding that we are now swimming in uncharted waters, and decisions for the greater good will involve groping in the dark at times. Isn’t it better to inconvenience a few rather than compromise a few thousand?

That said, we must also consider the cons of disclosure, because if we cannot treat with such information in a responsible manner, we would be putting the individuals concerned at additional risk, what with stigmatisation and discrimination.

Yes, while ignorance is a factor that we have to contend with in all its forms, dumb and dangerous is a state of mind that we should not ignore.

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