Action Plan to Manage an Ethical Challenge
Reopening of stores during the coronavirus pandemic has become a bone of contention between the possibility and necessity of this action. Corona Virus is a virus that affects the respiratory system and has spread worldwide and was declared a pandemic in March 2020. This thereafter caused the lockdown of services and the economy to fight the virus spread across countries. The Source of the information is from the daily covid-19 reports and the World Health Organization, giving an overview of the situation. Apart from the updates, they also advise on the steps and measures to curb the virus and get the economy running for sustainable living. These measures are customized by each country to suit their public, and the citizens' needs by giving the essential services and goods a priority. As a result, the reopening requires a well thought and proper procedure.
The moral challenge in this situation appears to be whether the governments are ready to jeopardize people's lives. This comes to effect when we reopen; we increase the chances of contact with the infected individuals, thus high infection rate, which will directly affect the mortality rate, and if not mortality the health system can be overwhelmed in a way the outburst number of infections my lack proper health care. This discussion is highly unavoidable since life is highly regarded, and putting lives at risk always gears a heated debate since the people talking about it are also on the grace of life. Thus, a critical balance between need and life should be struck.
Much is not known about the Corona Virus since it's a novel virus that causes Covid-19 disease. Many discoveries continue to be made on the mode of transmission, cure, and in turn, how to prevent further effects. Since the virus was discovered to be transmitted via contact, social distancing has been highly insisted on by the scientists and the World Health Organization. This led to the closure of public gatherings, which has hindered business in many sectors. This has affected business and livelihood from all social classes across the board. Therefore, the reopening of stores calls upon specific measures to be put in place to curb the spread. It involves government approval as the role of assurance of the World Health Organization has been delegated to the Ministries handling health in each country. Thus, a close watch should be placed on the dynamics of the discoveries and the variation of the modes of fighting the virus.
The greater problem comes when some countries have tried to reopen the economy; the members of the public turn out unruly, thus creating a fear of the second wave of infections as it happened with the Spanish Flu in the early 1910s. The knowledge of the risk of spread by reopening should be well disseminated to the public for the fight against this virus need to be a multisectoral approach for safer living and, at the same time, better business transactions. Apart from the caution about how to prevent the spread of infections, day to day updates on the discoveries should be rendered to the public for further public awareness. The above is, however, directed by the lately released directives by the World Health Organization on the countries trying as much as possible to work and learn how to live with the disease since it has proven it is here to stay. As a result, the idea of reopening should not blindfold, seeing the probability of a mutated strain or a second wave.
The humanity in us and what the society expects of us is to protect life and maintain it. Therefore, keeping life at risk appears to restrict the ability to fight with the reality that there is nothing more precious than life itself. However, people having kept safe from the coronavirus are having a great challenge on the sustenance since most of them have lost their sources of income or employment. Most businesses and stores are closed, making it even harder to access some of the services, and good people depend on the shopping malls. Therefore, in both cases, the lives of the citizens and the public at large is at stake because people living without the virus plus no food will like the virus lead to death. The only solution that has been left to console the public is that giving the virus time and adhering to the guidelines will keep the virus away, which has surprised many. Although the long-time people have waited for the end of pandemic without any signs of their expectations has led them to run out of patience, and that's the reason to as to why there is a big cry on the reopening of the economy. The extent of reopening and how long it will take for the whole economy to run back to the old days of normalcy calls for a critical analysis of this situation.
The pandemic at a great level has shown that the fight against it calls for everyone's participation. Still, each country's government has shown up to guide the public on the practicability of the issue since they hold the responsibility of the health and life of every individual. Consequently, the government's directives as per now stand as the final say since the action of an individual or an organization different from the rest can turn the fight to a mess, therefore, the government has no otherwise but to give a summed-up decision to be followed by every individual and any organization in the country.
Life is important, but in the same way, a quality life goes hand in hand. People have a right to live, but the fact that they need to live a sustainable life should not be disputed. People should be left to feel free in a way they also enjoy staying in their own country. Therefore, in my opinion, the government should take views from the common citizen since leaders in the government should remain loyal in the representation of the people’s views. After taking the views, they should weigh the best options for opening the economy and also keeping its citizens safe from the virus.
Morals are a set of beliefs on the standards of behavior in the principle of right and wrong, whereas values are a belief in what someone regards important in life. Values conflict when all the dilemma is on two right choices, but one has to choose what is more important. In this situation, there is a right/right situation because they are based on the existence and sustainability of life. The type of dilemma in this situation is an epistemic, moral dilemma because the moral agent has no idea of the options which should carry the day.
The moral issues, in this case, holds an action of reopening or remaining in a lockdown, which in this case, is reopening is highly demanded so that people can take care of the sustainability of living. However, the reason for closing initially, which was to curb the spread of the coronavirus, should not be forgotten. This will help people to keep out of danger and, at the same time, be able to get basic commodities such as food and other life-supporting life basic needs.
The government is acting in the capacity of every citizen since it symbolizes the representation of the people by the people. Therefore they have no choice than to seek the common good of its citizens, which will hold the moral grounds of the society, and the choices made should not harm or threaten the lives of the citizens. Therefore, their choices should consider; which action will cause the least harm possible, the one that will carry the public interest, and everyone should feel part and purse of the decision made. Besides, the decision should be in line with societal values, and also, the action should also be convenient.
The committee of the stakeholders involved in decision making should involve people across all ages since wisdom and personal experiences matter in decision making—different religions for each set of communities to be included in the process to avoid conflict. As stated in the constitution, the values should be written down to ensure discussions go outside the community standards. The committee also holds the sworn-in members of the government whose mandate has been bestowed to them by the constitution, and they swear to defend the constitution. The stakeholders' values should also be put on check since some of the malicious people if put in such committees, would base their decisions on a privately influenced way they have a personal gain, which may be havoc for a country. Therefore, the committee's selection by-election or appointment should have set standards of morality even to be able to contest in cases of an election.
The challenge about the lives of the citizens is on the baseline and acceptable by everyone since all the traditions and the stakeholders involved believe that life is precious and all they want is the best for the citizens. However, the call for the open of the stores and the economy is yet to be accepted by everyone since the stakeholders come from different social, economic backgrounds. Some may feel the urgency of opening the stores does not yet hold waters. Life gives people what they need, and the assumption of what one has is the standard of everyone would be a dangerous line of thinking. This has been evident in the previous choices made where the economy was brought to a halt without prior considerations made on whether the restrictions will be sustainable to the common citizens.
The stakeholders are drawn from all walks of life. They include religious leaders, political leaders, scientists, medical practitioners, and business community representatives. The above choice of stakeholders helps consider all religious and cultural backgrounds, not leaving alone the people's choice and the real scientific facts as brought by scientists. All the moral principles brought up all make sense on all possibilities of events. In as much as the concepts are differing, the common goal of keeping citizens safe and having them able to sustain themselves have no opposition. This is because they also come from the same society and suffering from the halted economy and closed stores. The committee would be better placed in making a good decision when they involve people from all economic sets of backgrounds, no matter how hard it seems, it would play a major role in letting all the stakeholders know the depth of the matter.
The values on the weigh are the open mind, reliability, and loyalty. The stakeholders are given the responsibility either via election or any mode of appointment to be servant leaders where they should be open to the new ideas from the concerned citizens, how much the public can rely on the stakeholders and how loyal they will remain in putting the lives and concerns of the public. In this case, the stakeholders tend to side with the public interest, which is reopening the economy, which will involve the stores. This is so since they have the numbers, and the citizens have cried out loud on how urgent they need at least a partial reopening of normalcy.
The only practical example would be on a common citizen who was employed in a store. For the past three months, the person has had nothing in savings since he has been living from hand to mouth. The ability of that person surviving from now onwards will be hard, and if that replicates in the society will cause an increase in crimes and other immoral acts of earning a living. However, the consideration of opening the stores should not be done blindly but also following the measures to curb Covid-19. The focus should also be directed to the store owner, who must have invested a lot of money to put up the store and maybe had even secured a loan for the same. Such a person at this time may still be required to pay rent of the building where the store is housed without any single income, not forgetting that initially, the person was depending on the store to earn his/her daily needs.
The morals dictate one to take a right and the best for its people. The most important aspects the stakeholders should consider are; the lives of the citizens, the quality of life of the citizens, and the urgency of citizens to return to normalcy. The demands of the citizens and the only options out should dictate a moral decision that can be relied upon, having positivity, be very dependable, and show a sign of servitude where everyone and all aspects of morality are considered. However, the public might demand too much due to misinformation or ignorance; thus, further consideration from the technical advice should be considered.
The option of partially opening the economy, allowing the stores to reopen while observing the covid-19 guidelines from the government, and at large the World Health Organization might be of great benefit. This will help people to be able to earn a living from the opportunities that will be available. This option will be positive towards the citizens, very reliable, and in the long run, consistent because it does not sideline the efforts of curbing the spread of covid-19. It will ensure the fight on the virus will still be on, and people will be able to sustain themselves. On the bigger picture, as the stores will be running, the government will be able to collect revenue from the business people and, in turn, earn funds required for the health care system and in general mitigation factors on covid-19. For it is in the economy that the country runs.
The best way out is to help people the freedom to reopen stores and the economy at large on a laid down procedure, which involves the measures for curbing Covid-19 and not putting the lives and the health of the citizens at risk.
Read MoreThe greater problem comes when some countries have tried to reopen the economy; the members of the public turn out unruly, thus creating a fear of the second wave of infections as it happened with the Spanish Flu in the early 1910s. The knowledge of the risk of spread by reopening should be well disseminated to the public for the fight against this virus need to be a multisectoral approach for safer living and, at the same time, better business transactions. Apart from the caution about how to prevent the spread of infections, day to day updates on the discoveries should be rendered to the public for further public awareness. The above is, however, directed by the lately released directives by the World Health Organization on the countries trying as much as possible to work and learn how to live with the disease since it has proven it is here to stay. As a result, the idea of reopening should not blindfold, seeing the probability of a mutated strain or a second wave.
The humanity in us and what the society expects of us is to protect life and maintain it. Therefore, keeping life at risk appears to restrict the ability to fight with the reality that there is nothing more precious than life itself. However, people having kept safe from the coronavirus are having a great challenge on the sustenance since most of them have lost their sources of income or employment. Most businesses and stores are closed, making it even harder to access some of the services, and good people depend on the shopping malls. Therefore, in both cases, the lives of the citizens and the public at large is at stake because people living without the virus plus no food will like the virus lead to death. The only solution that has been left to console the public is that giving the virus time and adhering to the guidelines will keep the virus away, which has surprised many. Although the long-time people have waited for the end of pandemic without any signs of their expectations has led them to run out of patience, and that's the reason to as to why there is a big cry on the reopening of the economy. The extent of reopening and how long it will take for the whole economy to run back to the old days of normalcy calls for a critical analysis of this situation.
The pandemic at a great level has shown that the fight against it calls for everyone's participation. Still, each country's government has shown up to guide the public on the practicability of the issue since they hold the responsibility of the health and life of every individual. Consequently, the government's directives as per now stand as the final say since the action of an individual or an organization different from the rest can turn the fight to a mess, therefore, the government has no otherwise but to give a summed-up decision to be followed by every individual and any organization in the country.
Life is important, but in the same way, a quality life goes hand in hand. People have a right to live, but the fact that they need to live a sustainable life should not be disputed. People should be left to feel free in a way they also enjoy staying in their own country. Therefore, in my opinion, the government should take views from the common citizen since leaders in the government should remain loyal in the representation of the people’s views. After taking the views, they should weigh the best options for opening the economy and also keeping its citizens safe from the virus.
Morals are a set of beliefs on the standards of behavior in the principle of right and wrong, whereas values are a belief in what someone regards important in life. Values conflict when all the dilemma is on two right choices, but one has to choose what is more important. In this situation, there is a right/right situation because they are based on the existence and sustainability of life. The type of dilemma in this situation is an epistemic, moral dilemma because the moral agent has no idea of the options which should carry the day. Read More