Random header image... Refresh for more!

An Interesting Idea to Control the Virus Spread

A friend had to move to a new country for her partner’s job, and she has been sharing pictures and such on Facebook now that she is out of the country’s two-week travel quarantine. Just in time for her new country to go into lockdown.

She described the new system: You are allowed to leave your home for certain reasons, such as getting groceries, exercising outside, or attending medical appointments. To leave your home, you first text a number with your reason for leaving the home, and the system replies “accepted” (or, I guess, “denied”). They can limit how many people are out-and-about in an area at one time, and as my friend says, you definitely think whether you really need to out each time you leave your home. You need to carry the reply on your phone and show it if asked, or you can get fined.

I think this is brilliant, and her comment feed was filled with equally envious comments. A government actually doing something to curb the spread! Holding adults accountable for their actions! Making people behave as if they’re part of a community, especially when they want the benefits of being part of a community! Amazing.

I think it could happen in pockets of the US and not others.

What do you think? A single text and giving up unnecessary reasons for leaving your home for a short period of time in exchange for controlling the spread of the virus and keeping people alive?

7 comments

1 a { 01.17.21 at 7:50 am }

It would never work here, unfortunately. People suck.

2 Natka { 01.17.21 at 1:55 pm }

I would be willing to do this short-term (say, 2 or 3 weeks?) but would have a huge issue doing it if it’s forever. Not so much not leaving the house unless absolutely necessary (already doing that, more or less), but the texting part and needing an official permission to do something. Too much like a totalitarian state. This is probably also why it would not fly in the US.

One of my kids had an idea I really liked – some sort of proximity alarm, warning you if you are getting too close to another person, so you would get a reminder to stay >6 ft away. Because it’s so easy to forget, especially for kids, to keep away from others.

3 Beth { 01.17.21 at 2:41 pm }

This only works if there is someone enforcing it, in my opinion. That’s the intriguing part to me. Who is enforcing it? Because I think we have all seen that sense of community or caring about other people is not enough to hold people accountable. Concern about the virus is not enough.

I would support this brilliant idea because I already only leave for essential reasons but I watch neighbors leaving for frivolous reasons. I would happily see them fined.

4 Working mom of 2 { 01.17.21 at 4:21 pm }

Well, that is what was supposed to happen here in Calif initially and then now again with the regional stay at home order, except people were/are supposed to police themselves-no text. And our state failed miserably—people are just too selfish and unwilling to sacrifice at all. Or they think they’ve been “careful” so it’s ok for *them* to gather with people outside their household in violation of health orders. Meanwhile I’ve been doing this for 10 months. The part about limiting the number of people out and about is interesting, but even in Calif there are too many covidiots who would just not text or ignore a text telling them to stay home. enforcement would be key but not sure the political will is there.

5 Sharon { 01.17.21 at 10:44 pm }

Would never work here. Would be viewed as too much of a restriction on personal freedoms by many people.

Keep in mind that there is a significant minority of people in this country who think having to wear a mask into a business is too onerous. And many of those same people believe that Covid is a hoax or overblown.

Do you think those folks would abide by a system like that? No way. And sadly, these people are not all grouped in one or more geographic areas. They live in the same communities as the rest of us, among us.

6 Mali { 01.18.21 at 3:54 pm }

I’m not an American (US) of course, but I will say that when we had our first lockdown last year, it was – like the rest of the world – completely unprecedented in NZ, which is a country that has prided itself on standing up against unnecessary authority (whether that be unethical military commanders or the US in global politics). We never had to text to request permission – that would maybe have been a step too far for our society. But because we had clear guidelines about what we could and couldn’t do for seven weeks, we all (pretty much) stuck to the rules because we could see it was necessary. The police were out and about, but they largely gave warnings, unless there were repeat offenders. It wasn’t a police state – it was a recognisable health emergency that we all dealt with.

And look at us now! We’re just a small version of any of these countries. There’s no reason why larger countries couldn’t do the same. I really think that leaders and citizens of a whole lot of countries have cut off their noses to spite their faces by not acting strongly and forcefully so they can all truly return to normal life. And sadly, so many lives have been lost as a result.

7 Virginia { 01.18.21 at 5:14 pm }

That seems like a brilliant idea! In Portugal we are going back in lockdown but schools are still open and the presidential election is still taking place this Saturday.
Since there are several cases in which you can leave your house (exercising, walking your dog, getting groceries… there are actually 52 exceptions to the rule) a lot of people focus on those exceptions and some places are still crowded.
Though I doubt there would be enough policemen to inforce it.
Personally, because I cannot work from home, I carry a declaration from my work but nobody has checked it so far.

(c) 2006 Melissa S. Ford
The contents of this website are protected by applicable copyright laws. All rights are reserved by the author