I’ve come to the conclusion that we now know enough about COVID-19 that we should do more to impose more accountability & personal responsibility in our pandemic management. At this point, I believe whether or not you get COVID-19 is a personal choice. If you don’t want to get it, we know enough about the activities that spread the virus (predominantly indoor gatherings of all sizes and outdoor crowds without masks) that if you want to be careful, you can avoid it. And if you are less concerned and are willing to take more risks, you can do so. There is one major problem with allowing people to shirk on what we know are the right things to do: the hypocratic oath; if you get sick you will be taken care of. Even with improved pathways for therapeutic treatment of the virus, medical care costs money and exposes healthcare workers to incremental risk. So when people make selfish decisions or let their guard down, they are socializing the consequences of their decisions. Instead of trying to lecture people or force unpopular lockdowns (which have only led to backlash in certain communities), we should break the calculus.

Here’s how it works:

• The State Government will establish guidelines for institutions (Businesses, non-profits, religious & other government). If those institutions and their patrons abide by them, they and those who patronize them are shielded by liability

• If an establishment, whether a business, local government, non-profit or religious chooses to opt-out, they can. However they have to post a red sign at all of their entrances that they are opting out, must inform their insurance companies and must document all attendees, including paid staff. Any establishment of this sort is subject to the usual inspections and included will be their contact tracing protocols. Any in violation can be closed by government order

• Any establishment that opts out will not be shielded from liability and any insurance company that seeks to drop their coverage from it may do so

• If anyone who attends a “red sign” establishment and needs medical care in the subsequent 14 days, the government will not pay for care and medical insurance companies are not required to pay either. Furthermore, any attendees are responsible are responsible for any first responders or medical professionals who come in contact with them and need any subsequent care

• If you are on medicaid or medicare, you will be cared for, however the cost of your care will be deducted from the allocation from the Federal Government to your State

• If you as an individual are found to hold or attend a gathering over state guidelines you face the same risks. Your insurance company is not required to reimburse you for the costs of your care and you may be liable for the costs of those who you infect

From my perspective it will do the following:

• Allow for individual freedoms and provide a pathway for individual liberties. Those who want to ‘opt-out’ and have the means to pay for their own care if infected can do so

• Provide a new revenue stream for governments and hospitals

• Allow for the free market, most notably insurance companies, to weigh the risks and put a cost on them — typically as they have done successfully for many years

• Reduce the burden of government to be seen as the “bad guy” and reduce shut-down orders which have proven to be locally unpopular, putting the more of an emphasis upon compliance, yet allow for enforcement when red sign and contact tracing protocols are not followed

• Most importantly, it will improve overall compliance with best practices. In turn this will be a win for public health, in the spirit of the American way