Humans have been fighting viruses throughout the entire existence of humanity, and nowadays, this topic is as relevant as never before. It can be said that modern medicine is capable of dealing with almost any virus and infection. Policymakers are also taking action to combat disease outbreaks. Mayor Bill DeBlasio and his political decisions to tackle the measles outbreak in 2019 are a prime example (Paybarah, 2019). Fines of $1,000 and $2,000, as well as banning people with signs of illness from going to public places, was a harsh decision (McNeil, 2019). However, it was a necessary measure. In this case, disregard for the principles of individual responsibility and freedom of choice is the lesser evil that was adopted to achieve positive public health outcomes. It is politicians’ duty to preserve and enhance the well-being of society. DeBlasio’s strategy can be considered efficient but unpopular because people do not like to be penalized and ostracized.
Cuomo’s actions seem logical since he relies on scientific data. Researchers note that “restaurants and bars were the fifth main source of new infections in the state” (Gold, 2020, para. 21). However, their effectiveness is questionable as outdoor dining is also a spreading factor as COVID-19 is highly contagious. It seems that in making such a decision, Cuomo was trying to promote public health while preserving some freedom of choice for New Yorkers. In both cases, a positive result was not achieved. In December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided the public with new disease prevention and health promotion measures that include, for example, an expanded routine screening (Rabin & Mandavilli, 2020). The proposed strategy consists of both primary and secondary prevention methods.
References
Gold, M. (2020). Indoor dining will shut down in New York City again. The New York Times. Web.
McNeil, D. G., Jr. (2019). Measles outbreak infects 695, highest number since 2000. The New York Times. Web.
Paybarah, A. (2019). Measles outbreak: The public health emergency and the crackdown in Brooklyn. The New York Times. Web.
Rabin, R. C., & Mandavilli, A. (2020). As virus spreads, C.D.C. draws up an urgent battle plan. The New York Times. Web.