In a world full of opinions and counter-opinions it is difficult to find something new and reliable to say about Covid.
The report ( WSJ, July 21, 2020) that the European experience with reopening has been much more favorable than the American experience is an observation that deserves examination. A complimentary observation is that European citizens have exited lockdown but have respected recommendations to avoid large gatherings. They wear masks and keep a generous distance from each other. The American re-openings has been characterized by a much more vigorous social response where larger numbers of individuals gather together, mingle more closely and have a variable rate of donning masks.
While the first observation about the difference in infection rates is well documented the second observation about differences in social responses would benefit from some formal measurement before accepting it.
Nevertheless, every observation or hypothesis that could lead to safer outcomes deserves consideration.
While the academics ponder this, it suggests a reasonable pathway for the individuals who have so far avoided infection. It is clear that the long period of quarantine or self- incarceration is beginning to take a toll on the emotional well-being of the Covid inmates. They not only deserve but desperately need some relief from their restricted situation. On the other-hand uninfected people who start to circulate risk crossing paths with an actively infected individual and losing the benefit of the last four months of quarantine.
I believe the problem here is that we continue to frame continued isolation as a dichotomous issue with only two options, either continued isolation or resumption of completely unrestricted activity.
The European experience suggests that a more disciplined resumption of activity offers the benefits of emotional hygiene at a greatly reduced risk of infection. Individuals should exit their isolation and carefully consider which daily activities would offer them the greatest satisfaction. At the same time there will be activities which bring them into contact with great numbers of potentially infected individuals and generate less satisfaction.
By carefully examining each activity, individuals who are suffering from the long period of quarantine efforts can design a pathway forward that starts returning them to normal while still limiting their risks.
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