Recently, a group of people in Australia were caught at a birthday party in violation of new lockdown orders amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. Police issued fines to 16 people, totaling more than $18,000.
The fines might seem steep, but they serve a purpose in encouraging people who should know better to follow the rules and take the coronavirus pandemic seriously.
And as the coronavirus continues to spread across much of the United States, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont should put in place stronger enforcement of simple coronavirus protections such as wearing masks and quarantining.
So far, we've relied on the good graces of our fellow Nutmeggers to choose to wear masks, keep their distance and wash their hands. For the most part, we've agreed to take those steps, and the result is clear: Connecticut's COVID-19 transmission rate is among the lowest in the nation.
But how long can we continue to rely on good intentions, especially when it comes to travelers from states where masks are optional ― or scorned ― and the virus is spreading out of control?
In recent weeks, Gov. Lamont has steadily added to the list of states from which travelers are asked to quarantine ― nearly half of the nation is included. Air travelers from those states will be asked to fill out a form and quarantine for two weeks.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is taking a harder line. All air travelers coming into New York must give contact and itinerary information or face a $2,000 fine. Courts can even order that a person be quarantined.
Connecticut should go that route as well. Tougher enforcement is needed. Travelers from high-risk states must be required to register and quarantine upon arrival, and there should be spot checks to ensure compliance. Mask-wearing in public should be a law enforceable with fines.
The coronavirus is slippery. Outbreaks are difficult to control and impossible to predict. But we know that mask-wearing and social distancing works, combined with rigorous testing. We rarely see people in Connecticut without masks in public. For the most part, we have agreed to take care of each other, and nonsensical complaints that masks somehow violate our "freedoms" don't gain much traction. In that, we are fortunate.
But since we know that mask-wearing and social distancing is so effective, why are we hesitating to enforce it? We have hundreds of laws on the books that are there only for health and safety, to allow society to function in an orderly way. We stop at traffic lights, drive on the right and wear seat belts. We agree to background checks before buying guns. We immunize our children (for the most part). It's possible that we would choose to adhere to this cooperative system without laws, but the laws help encourage us to do the right thing for the good of all of our friends and neighbors.
The coronavirus is one of the greatest threats society has ever faced. Why not enforce the rules that we know greatly reduce the risk of spread? Other countries have figured it out.
Governments have the right to enforce mask-wearing, and while Gov. Lamont has so far relied on trust to make it happen, the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases across the country raises the question of whether trust is enough.
If everyone in the country adhered to mask-wearing and social-distancing standards, the virus could be brought well under control, quickly, and the economy could begin to recover, schools could resume, and our lives could come back to some kind of new normal. What are we waiting for?
The editorial appeared at the Hartford Courant. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
The fines might seem steep, but they serve a purpose in encouraging people who should know better to follow the rules and take the coronavirus pandemic seriously.
And as the coronavirus continues to spread across much of the United States, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont should put in place stronger enforcement of simple coronavirus protections such as wearing masks and quarantining.
So far, we've relied on the good graces of our fellow Nutmeggers to choose to wear masks, keep their distance and wash their hands. For the most part, we've agreed to take those steps, and the result is clear: Connecticut's COVID-19 transmission rate is among the lowest in the nation.
But how long can we continue to rely on good intentions, especially when it comes to travelers from states where masks are optional ― or scorned ― and the virus is spreading out of control?
In recent weeks, Gov. Lamont has steadily added to the list of states from which travelers are asked to quarantine ― nearly half of the nation is included. Air travelers from those states will be asked to fill out a form and quarantine for two weeks.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is taking a harder line. All air travelers coming into New York must give contact and itinerary information or face a $2,000 fine. Courts can even order that a person be quarantined.
Connecticut should go that route as well. Tougher enforcement is needed. Travelers from high-risk states must be required to register and quarantine upon arrival, and there should be spot checks to ensure compliance. Mask-wearing in public should be a law enforceable with fines.
The coronavirus is slippery. Outbreaks are difficult to control and impossible to predict. But we know that mask-wearing and social distancing works, combined with rigorous testing. We rarely see people in Connecticut without masks in public. For the most part, we have agreed to take care of each other, and nonsensical complaints that masks somehow violate our "freedoms" don't gain much traction. In that, we are fortunate.
But since we know that mask-wearing and social distancing is so effective, why are we hesitating to enforce it? We have hundreds of laws on the books that are there only for health and safety, to allow society to function in an orderly way. We stop at traffic lights, drive on the right and wear seat belts. We agree to background checks before buying guns. We immunize our children (for the most part). It's possible that we would choose to adhere to this cooperative system without laws, but the laws help encourage us to do the right thing for the good of all of our friends and neighbors.
The coronavirus is one of the greatest threats society has ever faced. Why not enforce the rules that we know greatly reduce the risk of spread? Other countries have figured it out.
Governments have the right to enforce mask-wearing, and while Gov. Lamont has so far relied on trust to make it happen, the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases across the country raises the question of whether trust is enough.
If everyone in the country adhered to mask-wearing and social-distancing standards, the virus could be brought well under control, quickly, and the economy could begin to recover, schools could resume, and our lives could come back to some kind of new normal. What are we waiting for?
The editorial appeared at the Hartford Courant. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
