Lives vs livelihood
if they had no symptoms as a mandatory precaution. Enforcement being only to a limited number was comprehensive. Lastly, communities, streets and building where cases were confirmed were also completely quarantined for two weeks. As the numbers covered were low given this preventive approach, support for quarantining those affected was strong. A client of mine was in a quarantined high rise given there was a confirmed case. Everyday a team would come to take your orders for food, groceries and medicine and would get it and deliver it. This was basically flexible quarantine that was highly targeted and worked. Again, it relied on effective enforcement compliance. Perhaps it was effective as it was just for two weeks and in limited numbers so was tolerable to those quarantined. It also made the countrywide limited lockdown bearable as extreme measures were only going to be taken if this failed and people did not comply. It also helped that neighborhood watches were effective and the government long had effective monitoring in place for other reasons. They did not rely on mass testing as the Vietnamese government felt they did not have the means or early access to the test kits. They have since reopened with some safeguards in place.
Find our nuanced way
Am I recommending this or something else? I am not a health expert so that is above my pay grade and we have enough people opining. I just wish to make the following points. First, governments like ours are facing very difficult choices and are to be given the benefit of the doubt and praised for flexibility and openness. Two, quarantines are necessary and vaccines are needed but how do we operate in the period between the two? Three, as we cautiously open please realize there may be changes and reversals and if so, the government has to explain what it is doing clearly and comprehensively and if needed, reverse course quickly or act preemptively to keep it from getting uncontrollably worse. There are enough examples of what happens when governments don’t. Then look at what works and adapt or introduce measures even if you have to change or reverse them to fit your situation and means. Vietnam was shrewd enough to know they could not afford to do what Taiwan and South Korea did so came up with their own meaningful solution that also used their character as a nation. We must find our nuanced way rather than just this is what is done elsewhere or this was what we did before so let’s keep doing it. I have read the Department of Finance analysis of the situation and they are very well written, thoughtful and comprehensive. I expect this to lead to solutions that address lives and livelihood together.
The late comedian Jackie Mason had a great routine that can be analogized here. It went: “Money is not the most important thing. Love is. Fortunately, I love money.” So, let’s go for lives and livelihood, they are not mutually exclusive.