Jump to comment:
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Social distancing is to balance autonomy with social responsibilityRE: Social distancing is to balance autonomy with social responsibility
Self-governance relates to one's privacy, voluntariness, self-mastery, free choice, choosing one's own moral position, and accepting responsibility for one's choice. Therefore, respect for autonomy is summarized as a personal rule of self by adequate understanding free from controlling influences by others and personal limitations that prevent choice. The advisory from the Health ministry or related Medical council provides a guideline as to how one must protect from COVID-19 infection. Wearing face masks while in the public and keeping a specified distance from each other are those guidelines to be followed by the common man to prevent him from getting infected or transmitting infection. These social requests are there to be followed to limit the spread of the infection unless a proper understanding of the virus's behavior, as well as a proper therapy, are in place. To follow or not to follow depends upon the social responsibility of the individual. The individual's social responsibility depends upon the economic status, educational background, and also the personality traits of the individual. COVID-19 is a community-related infection that requires a co-operation between the community and the government. Therefore, proper networking of community health service has to be there to make the program successful. The speed of the viral infection demands the proper utilization of the resources available. These resources whether personal protective equi...
Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.References
- Kirsten Patrick, Matthew B. Stanbrook, Andreas Laupacis. Social distancing to combat COVID-19: We are all on the front line. CMAJ 2020;192:E516-E517.
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Isn't it too early to draw definitive conclusions?RE: Isn't it too early to draw definitive conclusions?
We have seen that predictions based on inaccurate data produce greatly mistaken forecasts.
As the Editorial1 itself states: "All models are limited by their assumptions and the data available to run them", and the public policies discussed will be useful in a future pandemic, it would be prudent to wait until we have exact data to design Public Health guidelines.
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Kirsten Patrick, Matthew B. Stanbrook, Andreas Laupacis. Social distancing to combat COVID-19: We are all on the front line. CMAJ 2020;10.1503/cmaj.200606.
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Gender issues in COVID 19RE: Gender issues in COVID 19
As suggested by Patrick et al. we are all on the frontline 1. We must work together to contain the pandemic and we must appeal to all the human resources available to us. Our National health systems's capacity to respond to changing circumstances go to meet enormous pressure and our best weapon is prevention. What we must do now is aggressively apply and implement measures aimed at reducing transmission of the virus in the Community. Social distancing represents the only certain defense available to us, but it is a measure of restriction that is not easy to accept and implement. In China aggressive isolation measures have led to a progressive reduction of cases: isolation of infected people, social distancing and quarantine can contain the epidemic. In western democracies to control the spread of COVID-19 individual behaviour might be the most important issue rather than government action. Health and political authorities have to make incredible efforts to contain a shock wave that is severely testing the health system, they must take decisive action to aggressively combat the out break and each of us must contribute with responsible behavior. Women have a greater aptitude for prevention, are more willing to seek medical attention and take more medications. Women may also have a different and stronger instinct for conservation. It is acknowledged that women exhibit a stronger antiviral immune response and we there is a higher mortality in men with regard to viral dise...
Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.References
- , , . RE: Gender issues in COVID 19. 2020;:-.
- Cai H. Sex difference and smoking predisposition in patients with COVID-19. Lancet Respir Med. 2020 Mar 11. pii: S2213-2600(20)30117-X. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30117-X.
- Conti P, Younes A. Coronavirus COV-19/SARS-CoV-2 affects women less than men: clinical response to viral infection. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2020 Apr 7;34(2). doi: 10.23812/Editorial-Conti-3.
- Thompson LA, Rasmussen SA. What Does the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Mean for Families? JAMA Pediatr. 2020 Mar 13. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.0828.
- Anderson RM, Heesterbeek H, Klinkenberg D, Hollingsworth TD. How will country-based mitigation measures influence the course of the COVID-19 epidemic? Lancet. 2020 Mar 9. pii: S0140-6736(20)30567-5. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30567-5.
- Page navigation anchor for Long-term social distancing during COVID-19: A social isolation crisis among seniors?Long-term social distancing during COVID-19: A social isolation crisis among seniors?
While we agree with the long-term necessity of social distancing during COVID-19(1), we posit that social distancing among seniors, without insight into its potential consequences, can arguably be equivalent to social isolation, defined as the deprivation of social connectedness.
Social isolation among seniors has already become a public health crisis prior to the COVID-19 pandemic(2). Long-term social distancing, although necessary, will undoubtedly worsen this crisis and pose unique challenges for seniors. As public spaces close and visitor restrictions are imposed by different institutions, seniors who live at home alone or in residential facilities are cut off abruptly from society with no contingency plan in place. This is problematic especially considering the strong associations of social isolation to depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation(3,4). It is thus crucial to mitigate the negative effects of social distancing on seniors.
The solution? Invest in physically distant human connection. Although technology has been demonstrated to be effective(5), disparities in its access and use among seniors are problematic. Consequently, a multi-pronged approach involving numerous stakeholders is required. In residential homes, hallway activities (e.g. bingo, live concerts, dance sessions) with residents by their doorway, maintaining 6 feet distance in a small group setting, can be organized. In the community, volunteers can provide companionship through dai...
Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.References
- Kirsten Patrick, Matthew B. Stanbrook, Andreas Laupacis. Social distancing to combat COVID-19: We are all on the front line. CMAJ 2020;10.1503/cmaj.200606.
- Cacioppo JT, Cacioppo S. The growing problem of loneliness. Lancet. 2018;391(10119):426.
- Calati R, Ferrari C, Brittner M, Oasi O, Olie E, Carvalho AF, et al. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors and social isolation: A narrative review of the literature. J Affect Disord. 2019 Feb;245:653–67.
- Santini ZI, Jose PE, York Cornwell E, Koyanagi A, Nielsen L, Hinrichsen C, et al. Social disconnectedness, perceived isolation, and symptoms of depression and anxiety among older Americans (NSHAP): a longitudinal mediation analysis. Lancet Public Heal [In
- Chen YRR, Schulz PJ. The Effect of Information Communication Technology Interventions on Reducing Social Isolation in the Elderly: A Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res. 2016;18(1):e18.