Sunday Times reports millions will be left unemployed and 150,000 could die as a result of the continuing lockdown. One thing is for certain: social distancing is set to stay, but at what economic , social and public health cost?
The current Coronavirus pandemic raises literally hundreds of ethical questions, and here at Ethics Explained we hope to keep you informed on many of the most important. Our coverage of this crisis is intended to give you something to think about and reflect on, and any views we report on do not represent any kind of editorial position. As always, we strive to be as politically neutral as possible.
We have spoken a lot here on Ethics Explained about the links between Utilitarianism - the philosophy that the end justifies the means - in relation to the 'lockdown' enforced in many nations as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. Draconian laws have been hurridedly enforced, making it a criminal offence for citizens to leave their homes for anything but 'essential' travel, such as going to the shops. Some nations even demand their citizens carry identification documents proving they have been authorised by the state to leave their homes.
Governments have been confronted with a potentially catastrophic global health emergency, and have have they have no option but to rapidly rush through these new laws and police powers. Amnesty International has warned that 'leaders who threaten human rights, are using this global pandemic to expand and abuse their power - instead of focusing on helping doctors & nurses'. The organisation has called for 'human rights' to be at the centre of every government's response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
In the UK, the population have been much more complaint with lockdown measures and restrictions than the government had expected. According to a report in the Sunday Times, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson was actually 'alarmed that so many people had listened to instructions to 'stay at home' and stopped working...threatening a 15% fall in economic output". A source told the paper the British Cabinet had been 'surprised how obedient the public has been'. One example is that schools were expecting 20% of students to continue attending after the lockdown came into place - only 2% of students are currently attending schools.
There are significant concerns about the prolonged economic consequences of a lockdown. Government sources tell the Sunday Times millions are expected to be left unemployed as a result of the drastic measures, with a source telling the paper: 'People will come off furloughing and find out they are being made redundant'.
There is also the cost of indirect deaths from the continuing lockdown. A publicity campaign is about to be launched with the message that the 'NHS is still open for business', with serious concerns that a 'ticking time bomb' of health conditions will explode in the months and years to come if people do not get the treatment they need now. One document circulated in Whitehall this week, and seen by the Sunday Times, concluded that the avoidable deaths as a result of the lockdown could hit 150,000 - a figure that dwarfs the estimated 20,000 victims of the coronavirus in the UK.
Difficult decisions will have to be made over the next 10 days, as the government attempts to make the right decisions about a 'lockdown exit strategy'. As Bill Gates has said in recent interviews with the press, however, there can be no return to 'normal life' until a vaccine is found and administered on a near-universal scale.
Social distancing is not going to end overnight. 'Flattening the curve' is just the beginning of an extraordinary public health and economic crisis - and Ethics Explained will be here to keep you informed every step along the way.
See All Our Ethics Explained Covid-19 Coverage Here:
Comments
Post a Comment