To what Extent Can the Implementation of Public Health Measures such as Quarantine, Isolation and Social Distancing Slow the Infection Rate of Covid-19?

Abstract

The outbreak of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has disrupted the social and economic life of humans globally. The virus was reported to have originated from Hubei Province of Wuhan in China, early November 2019 (Ma 2020). Health professionals initially thought it was common pneumonia and therefore treated it as such, however, the virus has taken the world by storm, infecting and killing millions of people (Worldometer 2020). Due to the contagious nature of the disease and the prevalent high rate of infections in Wuhan, the Chinese government implemented strict quarantine and social distancing measures in some provinces, which resulted in a significant drop in infection (Zengyun 239). Emulating China, countries worldwide started implementing lockdown and social distancing measures based on the World Health Organization's (WHO) directives. While social distancing measures have worked in some countries, it has not been successful in others. Many ethical questions have been raised by health officials in finding an effective response to COVID-19. These include access to medication, resource management, managing essential services, human rights violations (implementation of lockdown and social distancing measures), and vaccine development to curb the infection rate of the virus. In responding to these questions, an ethical framework is crucial to maintain public trust, promote compliance while minimizing social disorder and economic loss. There are various moral theories such as deontology, egoism, and virtue ethics that can be applied to managing the pandemic. However, within the context of public healthcare measures, and the contagious nature of the virus, a Utilitarian framework will be a more plausible theory to justify the application of prioritization of resources, access to medication and restricting citizen's movement to reduce the spread of the virus. To achieve this goal, the paper is organized into five main sections, three of which have sub-sections. The first section provides a historical overview of the origin of COVID-19, its definition, symptoms, and the number of cases worldwide. The second section discusses ethical concerns and a Utilitarian approach in the context of healthcare measures. The third section focuses on pandemic planning and distribution of resources. The final section provides recommendations to effectively manage restrictions related to COVID-19.