Table of contents:

How does a vector become infected?
Why does quarantine make sense?
The Italian scenario
The herd effect - thinking of others

Quarantine, according to the regulations, is "the isolation of a healthy person who has been exposed to an infection, in order to prevent the spread of particularly dangerous diseases". Quarantine therefore applies to healthy people, in whom an infection may or may not develop. Remember that some people may go through the infection asymptomatically without knowing that they are ill. Voluntary seclusion and isolation allows for the protection of others - as an asymptomatic carrier can infect people who come into contact with them.

How does a carrier become infected?

Because a viral infection produces symptoms a few days after contracting the disease, it is sometimes difficult to detect that a person is ill. Nevertheless, such a person is already infected before the first symptoms appear. One person can even infect several people. Each of the infected persons, unaware of the fact that he or she is developing an infection, infects several others... This creates a domino effect - one person can indirectly infect dozens of others.

Why does quarantine make sense?

One argument in favour is that very many people will not become ill at the same time. In a situation where many patients need medical assistance (including ventilators) at the same time, a major problem may arise when it comes to deciding who is more in need of help. Countries that have quickly implemented quarantine and advised their residents to stay at home have not blocked the ability of an already strained health care system to provide assistance. Singapore and Hong Kong, for example, where steps to restrict people from leaving their homes were taken quickly and dramatically, have seen dramatically less spread of the virus than those countries where such measures were delayed.

Quarantine, photo: panthermedia

The Italian scenario

The best and saddest example of why quarantine is necessary is the so-called Italian scenario. Despite the restrictions introduced by the government, many people in the northern region of Italy did not respect the need to spend time at home. What did this result in? A surge of sick people, a 'clogging' of the health system, a shortage of hospital places and, consequently, a mortality rate higher than in China.

The herd effect, or thinking of others

There is another argument in favour of the use of quarantine. In our society, apart from the elderly and those with chronic diseases, who are at risk of contracting a coronavirus infection, there is a large proportion of people who struggle with immune disorders. Oncology patients (children, adolescents, adults, elderly), patients with autoimmune diseases (HIV, RA and others) are also at increased risk of contracting coronavirus. Our actions and prudence, including the application of quarantine rules, minimise the risk of these patients also contracting the disease. Let's emulate wise and prudent behaviour - only through self-discipline are we able to limit the spread of the pathogen. Think of yourself, think of your family, think of tomorrow. Together, we can reduce the possibility of infection.

way4cure.com

The domino effect, or why quarantine makes sense

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