COVID-19: Our Walls Of Defence Are The Houses Of Our Community

etching of a castle, drawbridge in foreground of a landscape
Castle with drawbridge up for protection.

Retreat to the castle, pull up the drawbridge, deny entry to ‘others,’ a.k.a. the enemy. We all know the drill for community defence. In this age it doesn’t so much come from actual experience, as from watching 1001 action-adventure movies set in ‘times of yore.’

This self-defence strategy once worked for invading armies, but never for pandemics. In the case of COVID-19, the enemy is already within the community. The last line of defence in a modern pandemic is the home. Social distancing and self-isolation take place within an actual physical home, not a notional one.

We are talking here not just about the defence against the pandemic for those individuals behind the barricades of the home. We are talking about the defence of the community as a whole. With every potential carrier of a virus who remains in isolation, the community itself becomes that little bit safer.

Though a physical home is such an obvious line of both individual and community defence, it’s strange that enormous government efforts are looking elsewhere. (America’s brand new 2 trillion dollar COVID-19 crisis bailout is an fine example. Much set aside for cash into individual pockets and support for big business. Housing? Nada.)

The importance of the home as barricade against disease is a health benefit not just to individuals but all citizens. Read more in The Conversation: Why Suspending Housing Evictions Will Defend Against COVID-19

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.