As Virus Gets Worse in Metro Area,
Follow the Advice of Health Experts

By Rance Thomas-Special to the Independent News

Since we are facing an upturn or rise in the Covid-19 virus in the St. Louis Metropolitan and the Metro East areas, we are still in a position that demands that we follow the Health Expert recommendations. These include wearing face mass, maintaining social distance (remaining 6 feet apart), and washing our hands frequently.
However, some individuals are still not following these guidelines. This is even true when they are required to wear masks in order to enter certain stores, such as Schnucks and Walmart. Some wear the masks until they get inside the stores, then they lower them from over their nose and sometimes over both their nose and mouth. Further, some ignore the social distance guidelines as well. It is very difficult to understand why they ignore these requirements.
However, I am certain that some do not realize that they are not only endangering others but themselves as well. That is, masks not only protect others, but also protect the wearers as well. As a result, it is very difficult to understand their behavior.
As a Sociologist, in analyzing human social behavior, it is understandable that some are rebellious and feel that they cannot be told what to do. Others tend to mistakenly believe that they are immune from the virus, and as some have stated nationally their freedom or constitutional rights are being taken away.
Others do not take the virus seriously. They do not realize that many of our rights have already been taken away for the common good. For example, we cannot drive when we have consumed a certain amount of alcohol, and we are also required by law to wear seat belts. There are many more rights that have been taken away including not smoking or carry weapons into certain buildings Further, we cannot falsely yell “fire in a theater,” and we must have a driver’s license to legally drive a vehicle, etc. accountable in a court of law.
With respect to gatherings in large crowds, this can be explained by human beings as social beings and need social contact with others. Since those who do this in opposition to the recommendations or mandated guidelines find it very difficult to remain isolated for long periods of time. They tend to feel a strong desire to associate with others. We see some examples of this in bars, night clubs, parks, beaches, etc.
This is especially true in America, because we feel we have more freedom than individuals in many other countries. Further, many of these other countries demand stricter obedience than we do and individuals tend to obey them. Although, we are the third largest country in the world, we have by far the largest number of Covid-29 cases and the largest number of deaths from this virus. In spite of the loneliness and isolation, we need a national policy demanding that individuals obey these guidelines for the common good. These policies must not only be mandated, but they need to be enforced as well. If we do not do this, we will have a very difficult time gaining and maintaining control of this virus. It is very important that we do.
In fact, the health experts, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the situation will get worst if we do not demand stricter adherence to these guidelines. They are telling us the virus infection rate will climb much more during the fall and winter months when more individuals will be indoors
Let us all think about the common good and the safety of ourselves and others.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us