Introduction
Lockdown measures are practiced in many regions to control the spread of the COVID -19 virus. It involves restrictions of movement and association in public. Although population health is protected by the set boundaries, several important activities have been hindered. For instance, the ability to socialize, and exercise human capabilities, citizens’ democratic rights, and access to education have been affected. For these reasons, whether lockdown is ethical is a matter of great concern, which has sparked great debate in most countries.
Lockdown effects
Each person has the responsibility to stop the spread of COVID-19. Working from home, job loss, social distancing, and wearing masks are some of the costs one has to bear for survival in this pandemic period. The aged and people with compromised immunity are more susceptible to the disease while young people are resistant. Lockdown measures apply to all individuals, thus, children and youths endure the cost of health and survival for the sake of others.
Lockdown is effective in breaking COVID -19 transmission and saving the lives of people with long illnesses and the elderly. However, its negative consequences have inflicted more harm than good to others
COVID -19 Negative Impacts
Late detection of chronic diseases and unnecessary deaths have been experienced in most hospitals, this is because patients are afraid to visit healthcare facilities for checkups due to the pandemic.
Individuals on routine examinations such as breast cancer patients have failed to attend the checkups as required and as a result, their conditions have deteriorated while others have lost their lives.
The epidemic has caused an economic downturn since most people have lost their source of livelihood. Lack of jobs has also increased suicidal cases among the youthful generation.
Children who are restricted to their homes due to school closure are at a higher risk of developing mental and physical health issues.
Lockdown causes an economic downturn that has significant impacts on companies such as loss of experienced laborers and offshoring of high-skilled works. In addition, it may lead to closure consequently causing loss of livelihood source, increased unemployment rate, poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts among the youths.
Additionally, remote working have adverse economic effects on small companies, it accelerates profit losses due to lack of supply and demand as well as loss of experienced workers
Discussion
Since COVID-19 does not pose an equal danger to all people, the current intervention is unjust to the youths although it has greater benefits to the society at large.
The utilitarian’s judgments are associated with egocentric attitudes, it does not identify with humanity.
Each person is valuable, unrepeatable, and unique in the world regardless of their age. Therefore, the lives of the aged should not be compromised by the young and healthy.
My Opinion
Lockdown costs include shutting schools and businesses, overriding people’s rights such as freedom of movement and autonomy, and using government resources to increase hospital beds capacity.
In my opinion, the current lockdown measure cost to citizens’ well-being overshadows the benefits accrued. Thus, lockdown measures are not justifiable and are ethically wrongful.
People would have practiced what is right by wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands frequently, going for quarantine when suspecting an infection, and avoiding close contact with the elderly and infirm
Conclusion and Discussion
Since COVID-19 does not pose an equal danger to all people, the current intervention is unjust to the youths although it has greater benefits to the society at large.
The utilitarian’ judgments are associated with egocentric attitudes, it does not identify with humanity.
References
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Kahane, G. (2015). Sidetracked by trolleys: Why sacrificial moral dilemmas tell us little (or nothing) about utilitarian judgment. Social Neuroscience, 10(5), 551-560.
Kostoff, R. N., Briggs, M. B., Porter, A. L., Aschner, M., Spandidos, D. A., & Tsatsakis, A. (2020). COVID‑19: Post‑lockdown guidelines. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 46(2), 463-466.
Mills, M., & Allen, M. B. (2020). Notes on cost benefit of COVID‐19 lockdown. Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics, 21(7), 4.