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Opinions of Friday, 3 April 2020

Columnist: Emmanuel Graham Nyameke

Quarantine is not Imprisonment!

Coronavirus quarantine Coronavirus quarantine

The attitude of many Ghanaians concerning the Quarantining is very bad. Some Ghanaians who have been suspected of having Coronavirus will immediately run away from the Medical team.

This is a result of fear and panic. One thing they refuse to know is that when they run away from medical treatment they really run away from any possible help and rather run into Gehenna.

Quarantine is not imprisonment. When a person with a disease in which he/she can spread it is quarantined, such a person is only set aside from other people.

This is not the same as what was practiced among ancient Jews who left lepers on the outskirts of their towns to perish. When an individual who has been infected with COVID-19 is quarantined, such an individual is offered treatment.

Whereas imprisonment is done to correct convicted persons for criminal offenses, those quarantined have not committed any crime and they being quarantined does not take away some rights they ordinarily have.

Those quarantined are not deprived of any rights rather, they are being helped by the nation to recover from that particular disease.

A person quarantined will be restored to social life where his movement will not be any longer restricted.

Is quarantining beneficial? Yes! It is! A person infected with COVID-19 or any contagious disease must be quarantined to prevent its spread.

Quarantining is beneficial first to the infected person. The infected person who is quarantined is offered help. In this case of COVID-19, infected persons are given medical assistance to aid in their recovery.

Besides the giving of medical assistance, they are fed well to boost their immune system to help fight the virus. Again, quarantining is also beneficial to the society.

The society is a broad web. There are individuals as well as groups. There are families as well as friends.

In society, no one lives an isolated life. We mingle with one another. So in the case of COVID-19 which can be spread from person to person, then it is very important to “set aside” those infected to be treated. It becomes beneficial to society in that it prevents the spread of the virus to others.

If not quarantined for being infected, the infected persons can spread the virus among their family members and friends. Do you love your family members, friends and workmates, and are infected? Do not be afraid to be quarantined. It is for your good and that of society at large.

Quarantining is not imprisonment. When quarantined, it does not mean that you’re going to die. If you’re are suspected of having the virus, it does not mean that that is the end of your life whereof you have to run away. Accept the quarantining and accept good health. For when quarantined, you still have all your rights and you’re not in prison.

From the pen of Emmanuel Graham Nyameke.