This past weekend we heard the news that Newfoundland and Labrador had its first presumptive case of COVID-19. (As I write this, we now have three presumptive cases.)
Almost immediately I saw demands online that the name and location of the person be revealed. Or if no names, then what community and what flight/cruise.
At the news conference on Monday, some media representatives asked again for details, which Health Minister John Haggie refused to provide. He noted it was enough to provide the region, reminding people this is still a very small place in spite of some geographical challenges we have including remoteness.
There was even more discussion Tuesday on Twitter with demands for MHAs recently returned from travel to self identify and elaborate on their self-isolation practices, in the name of “accountability.”
Here’s the thing. You do not need to know exactly where these people are living in the Labrador-Grenfell Region, or anywhere else for that matter. You do not need to know who has travelled and who is self-isolating for possible exposure.
There is not a single good reason why you need to know. Naming only feeds complacency and stupid behaviour. The only people who need that information are the public health officials tasked with tracking contacts.
In some contexts, like meningitis outbreaks or tuberculosis exposures where you have multiple contacts reporting at the same time, public health officials may make more information available to make contact tracing easier.
This is what’s been done in the case of the mining conference in Toronto in March hosting 23,500 attendees, or the recent dental conference with 15,000 people.
But the demand to know from the public here is concerning, as it comes not from a “here’s how knowing this information will help” point of view, but from anger, fear and yes, vigilantism. The New York Times reported on the stigma faced by returning travellers, including death threats.
It’s time to get the pitchfork out of your hand and put a bar of soap in there instead. You are getting in the way of people getting properly and quickly diagnosed. You are getting in the way of maintaining proper precautions when more attention to handwashing and social distancing is needed, not less.
To borrow a phrase from Smokey the Bear said, only you can prevent transmission.
If public health officials said the person lives in, say, Corona Bay, then people everywhere else will say, “I don’t need to worry about that.” And they will carry on with their lives as usual, and most importantly, they will become lax in their handwashing and other preventive behaviours, like wiping down surfaces.
And we can't have that. Not now.
The fact is you need to act as if there is community transmission everywhere and take appropriate steps. You need to behave as if you are already a carrier and you can infect someone else.
That means revising your calendar and removing all non-essential items from your schedule. Set up a regular time to check in with family and friends.
If you are able to take proper precautions, and you can shop for yourself and others, do so. That reduces the number of people out and about. However, when you are in the shop, respect social distance. That means keeping six feet between yourself and others in the checkout line.
Remember that warm-hearted camaraderie of Snowmageddon? Don't make it a one-time thing.
Be kind and generous. If you only need one item, leave the rest for others. Help your elders. Remember that warm-hearted camaraderie of Snowmageddon? Don't make it a one-time thing.
Be like that all the time. Remember people are doing the best they can.
If you feel unwell, do not go to the ER or your GP. As a doctor friend said in a social media post: “PLEASE do not lie about your symptoms or exposures to trick your way in to see a doctor. We will see frail elderly, newborns, and chemotherapy patients today. Then we go home, to our elderly parents or our young children. A quarantined doctor is a burden on the system. Be better than that please!”
Self isolate and call 811 instead.
Having someone’s name or location will not protect you. Ask yourself what you can do to reduce your risk for infection and/or transmission. If you are not sure, here are some helpful links:
How to practice social distancing: www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/being-prepared.html?
Handwashing technique: www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Hand_Hygiene_Why_How_and_When_Brochure.pdf
Covid-19 self assessment: www.811healthline.ca/covid-19-self-assessment
Now go wash your hands and look after yourself and your family.
Martha Muzychka is a writer and consultant living in St. John’s. She worked for a public health agency for 10 years and knows how to wash her hands properly.
