As COVID-19 continues to spread in an unmitigated manner in our country, once again, the health czars are scrambling to enact appropriate measures in an effort to slow the spread. However, at their most recent press conference, they announced they’ve decided to once again impose a curfew on the people of the country in a fervent attempt to quell the increase in the spread of COVID-19.
As a “new” curfew was once again announced, I shrugged at this measure. Despite the fact that we are facing an uphill battle against COVID-19, I simply don’t believe that a curfew is the answer. Let’s analyze the purported logic behind the imposition of a curfew.
The curfew was imposed from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. in the morning. Generally, given the slow to no economic activity at the moment, the entire country is in their houses or asleep at that time. The few persons who might have been out after that time, are not in groups or masses that contribute to or proliferate the spread of this virus.
The truth of the matter is this: the virus is being spread through our regular day-to-day activities and interactions. The virus is being spread in overcrowded supermarkets and grocery stores that are not properly enforcing social distancing protocol. The virus is being spread in offices and workplaces (during the day) when persons interact with each other. The virus is being spread through social and family gatherings that are still taking place. The virus is being shared among passengers riding buses and traversing our major thoroughfares.
If we want to really solve this problem, we’ve got to be more practical and grab the bull by its horns. But a 10 o’clock curfew is a mere sardonic gesture, to say the least. It begs the question if the virus merely spreads at night between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. That’s absolutely ludicrous, to say the least.
Nonetheless, on the bright side, the imposition of the curfew might assist in curbing the recent spike in crime and violence that has plagued the old capital over the past few days. In that regard, it might not be a bad thing after all.
However, the issue of COVID-19 continues to ravage us, and we need more practical approaches and pragmatic solutions to addressing this issue. Until this is done, the numbers will continue to increase, and (sadly) many more will die.
God Bless Belize!