I second the “wash your hands and stay home if you’re sick” message, but not the “this is other people’s problem” vibe. The population most at risk, older and immunocompromised people, does include some EAs, and definitely includes friends and family of EAs. If the situation swamps the capacity of hospitals, then it will be a problem for anyone who needs a hospital. If schools and daycares close, then it will be a problem for children and anyone with children. If borders close, it’s a problem for anyone who needs to go somewhere. If workplaces close, it’s a problem for people who need to work in person and won’t get paid.
I agree that some forms of reaction aren’t helpful, but the epidemic is in fact a problem that affects an awful lot of people. It’s worth figuring out not just if we can reduce harm to ourselves but also if we can protect others we might infect, and if we can prevent the spread of an illness that will incapacitate a lot of systems we all depend on.
I second the “wash your hands and stay home if you’re sick” message, but not the “this is other people’s problem” vibe. The population most at risk, older and immunocompromised people, does include some EAs, and definitely includes friends and family of EAs. If the situation swamps the capacity of hospitals, then it will be a problem for anyone who needs a hospital. If schools and daycares close, then it will be a problem for children and anyone with children. If borders close, it’s a problem for anyone who needs to go somewhere. If workplaces close, it’s a problem for people who need to work in person and won’t get paid.
I agree that some forms of reaction aren’t helpful, but the epidemic is in fact a problem that affects an awful lot of people. It’s worth figuring out not just if we can reduce harm to ourselves but also if we can protect others we might infect, and if we can prevent the spread of an illness that will incapacitate a lot of systems we all depend on.