Thoughts on those who disregard pandemic regulations
The news lately has seen cases of people violating pandemic regulations, ranging from large parties organized by ordinary people in their backyards, to prominent politicians taking vacations abroad. Those of us who consider ourselves to be responsible, upstanding citizens, who are doing our bit to flatten the curve, shake our heads and frown with disappointment at these reckless individuals who are endangering not only themselves, but others as well.
Yet, I cannot bring myself to be too angry at these people because a part of me understands, and shares, their frustration at many months of social distancing restrictions and the extreme likelihood of still more months to come. It is not surprising to me that some people are choosing to reclaim some semblance of normality, pandemic or no pandemic. Even with vaccines rolling out, there is no indication that social distancing regulations will be relaxed in the near future. If anything, they seem to be getting more strict, with tighter restrictions on international travel being a recent example. For some people, the desire for fresh air, familiar settings, and good company is a longing that cannot remain unsatisfied for any longer, and Zoom sessions or sitting on the porch is just not good enough.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected each of us differently. Personally, I do not mind being cooped up in my house for days on end. Others however are being driven mad by confinement and isolation. Even recluses like me start craving adventure and social interaction after a while, and we have had to do without for longer than most of us have experienced before.
One reason I do not leave the house much anymore is not just to limit my exposure to the virus, but to avoid confronting a world changed beyond recognition. As much as possible, I avoid going back to places I have not been since the pandemic started. I cannot bear to see how those once familiar places have been warped and twisted by barriers and new rules. Every time we leave home, we are all reminded of how much the world has changed, largely for the worse, in such a short time.
Personally, I know of very few people who have died or become seriously ill from COVID-19. However, I also consider this: perhaps it is precisely because so many people are following social distancing restrictions that there have been so few serious cases, at least compared to past deadly pandemics, such as the Spanish flu pandemic a century ago which killed 50 million people. In abandoning such precautions too early, we may end up inflicting a tragedy of the commons upon ourselves in which a few too many people go a little too far and create a snowball effect that hurts us all; a few people sneaking off to visit their buddies might not start a new outbreak, but that could change if enough people do the same. When you consider this, doing your own little bit makes more sense.
Remember that in choosing to follow or not follow public health regulations, you take on risk not just for yourself, but others as well. Not all of us have strong immune systems that can shake off the virus, and even if you are not personally affected by it, you can still carry it. If you insist on socializing, take as many precautions as you can. Also, keep in mind that, as of this writing, persons caught violating provincial stay-at-home orders can be hit with a $230+ fine. You can and should still minimize risk when and where you can. You have to judge for yourself whether the risk is worth it.
As a personal example, I usually do not wear a mask when walking around outdoors because it fogs up my glasses. I am a pedestrian in Chilliwack, and if you know anything about Chilliwack traffic, you know how important it is for me to be able to see where I am going and what might be coming at me. Since moving here, I have been nearly run over twice. Given the choice, I would rather contract COVID-19 than get hit by a car. I believe I would be more likely to survive the former than the latter.
The question now is, what are you risking and what are you getting in exchange for those risks? We all want this to be over as soon as possible, but think carefully about what a bit of normalcy now may cost you and others in the long run.
