Allow remote communities to close themselves to outsiders
Many remote communities have no cases of the virus and don't want any outsiders coming in apart from healthcare and delivery of supplies. They should be allowed to "close" the boundary and restrict entry to outsiders in an enforceable way.
Why the contribution is important
Most remote communities have many vulnerable people and have often built themselves into a wonderful community all working together to protect the vulnerable and keep everyone safe and provided for. My parents in their 90s are in such a community and there are many vulnerable people there. When a camper van turned up there was outrage and the police were called, rightly so in my opinion. They were told in no uncertain terms to go home and stay away. There should be a way for the community to enforce the closure of the boundary and restrict entry of outsiders for the safety of their residents.
by JLMBD on May 09, 2020 at 03:15PM
Posted by Emmab85 May 09, 2020 at 16:10
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by Lanaiya May 09, 2020 at 16:41
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by Movingforward May 09, 2020 at 16:41
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by MatthewSlack May 09, 2020 at 16:58
But this virus is likely to be around for the long term, and any community that fails to implement the measures needed to survive in the presence of it is going to be badly hit some time in the future when the first case arrives.
Living in a virus free area invites a dropping of the guard, leaving an open goal for the virus when it eventually does come calling. One asymptomatic visitor combined with a lax approach based on a false sense of security can lead to an entire small community being infected in short order.
Until there is a vaccine there will be no substitute for living as though every person is infected, including yourself.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by JLMBD May 09, 2020 at 17:06
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by MatthewSlack May 09, 2020 at 19:26
For me, there is more resilience in actively planning how to stay safe in the presence of the virus - minimising risk by living defensively so that consequences are contained and limited - than in trying to lock it out and risking substantial consequences as a result of lack of preparedness.
I'm sure we will see examples of both approaches in the coming weeks. My big fear for remote communities is that there will be at least one serious outbreak in a place where people thought they were safe.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by mallan May 09, 2020 at 23:00
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by ArtSam May 10, 2020 at 09:42
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by OldDeuteronomy May 10, 2020 at 13:11
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)