Containing the transmission of any infectious pathogen — especially one as contagious as Covid-19 — requires aggressive action. Defensive moves like closing businesses or social distancing are effective only when combined with rigorous, systematic efforts to get ahead of the spread of the disease.
(Apr 9): Kentucky Senator Rand Paul’s behaviour over the past two weeks is exactly what is wrong with America’s response to Covid-19. Paul has a compromised lung, so he decided that he should be tested for the disease out of an abundance of caution. From the time of his test until he was confirmed positive six days later, Paul did nothing to protect those around him. On the contrary, he met with other senators, cast votes on the Senate floor, played a round of golf at a private club, and even squeezed in a few laps at the Senate pool.
In the countries that have contained the coronavirus outbreak, such irresponsible behaviour has not been tolerated, and even could have landed Paul in jail. As a physician (ophthalmologist), he, more than anyone, should know that if he was concerned enough about Covid-19 to be tested for it, he should have been equally concerned about the risk he was posing to others.
