Are we really in this together?

The theme of this blog entry is if laws and rules should be optional for those in power.

Conservatives seem to have issues obeying rules and understanding COVID.  To be fair, it is not just those on the right.  As seen in the UK, Piers Corbyn, the brother of Jeremy Corbyn, has been spreading the lie/delusion that COVID is a lie as well as organising protests against lockdown so that people can get COVID-19 just like Audrey Whitlock did in the USA.  But there has been a huge example of this in the USA, as well as one in the UK.

From what I understand, before deciding to play golf in a pandemic, Trump decided to ignore the requests of factory bosses as well as the law in Michigan about wearing a face-mask, a law which is in place to reduce the risk of a person spreading this terrible disease.  The governor of that state has more important things to deal with rather than prosecuting him for this breach of the law, but his actions are in my view inexcusable.  Either the law is to be obeyed, or it is not.  In addition to this, ignoring it will encourage others to do the same, which means that more will catch this.

In the UK, the most important political strategist has decided to flout the advice on lockdown, most importantly, when he was meant to be isolating.  Lockdown came into effect on the 23rd of March.  Matt Hancock and Boris Johnson tested positive for COVID on the 27th of March and the government confirmed that Dominic Cummings was staying at home with COVID symptoms.  

The allegations are as follows.  On the 31st of March, The Durham Constabulary become aware that Dominic Cummings drove his wife and son to Durham to take his son to his parents (though other relatives lived closer). His wife was unwell, and the guidance is not to leave the house when unwell with symptoms of COVID-19.  He was seen outside his parents property on the 5th of April.  On the 12th and 19th of April, he was seen, according to one allegation being 30 miles away from his home before his return to work on the 14th of April.  And his wife had an article published an article on self isolation on the 25th of April (23rd on the website) which apparently omitted the experience of doing so in Durham.     


Working in healthcare seeing those who may or may not have COVID is something I have to do.  I despair when I see people flout the guidelines on social distancing, but if those in power do not do so, how can we expect everyone else?