As I write, I’m now on day three of illness and I have a fever, dry cough, fatigue and my face and arms feel numb. I know that I have every reason to remain a “mild” case. I couldn’t be in a more privileged position to “personal responsibility” my way through this, but I’m scared.
I’m terrified I’ve given COVID-19 to my partner by not isolating adequately. I’m concerned for my medical and nursing colleagues under unprecedented strain, and I worry about anyone who needs any sort of medical care in the next six weeks as the proverbial hits the fan.
People wearing face masks in Melbourne.Credit:Luis Ascui
Negative rapid tests don’t mean no COVID-19, and they don’t mean you are not infectious. Personal caution in excess of current guidelines did not spare me infection. None of us are safe while transmission rates skyrocket, especially those in our community who are vulnerable due to older age, medical conditions, disability or being unvaccinated.
Despite the false reassurance, access to rapid tests was crucial to my knowing I was at risk the next day so I could limit movement, and in confirming my diagnosis early so I could isolate. People shouldn’t have to line up and spend hundreds of dollars – they should be free, and freely available. No one’s putting sticks up their nose for fun – or if they are and it prevents transmission, good on them.
In my case, the current close contact definition was insufficient and by following that advice, I ended up inadequately isolating. Lax isolation criteria to get people back to work is a false economy that will logically lead to a greater number of staff isolating with infection down the track. Similarly, the reduced isolation period of seven days for cases should be continually reassessed to ensure it does not increase transmission risk.
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Our leaders made a conscious decision about a poorly understood new variant to “let it rip” into our hard-fought equilibrium, so they should have had a plan to manage the consequences. Instead, it’s a disaster. Sunscreen is useless if everything’s on fire, and no one’s holding any hoses right now.
A misplaced reliance on “personal responsibility” has been a failed tactic in the face of Omicron that falsely lays blame for a policy vacuum at the feet of individuals. Now is not the time to abandon the public health measures that we know mitigate spread.
‘Personal responsibility’ is no match for Omicron
Source: Philippines Alive
