#PublicHealth (& life) requires nuanced thought. If the recommendation is, “stay home,” that doesn’t mean stay inside your house if it catches on fire. As situations change, recommendations may change 1
In this case, it is the messaging that has changed, not the actual recommendation. When experts said stay home, they always acknowledged that not everyone could do so; the recommendation was *really* to stay home as much as possible, avoiding unnecessary contact with others 2
If you think your health, or the health of others, is more at risk from structural racism then COVID, then it is reasonable to prioritize addressing racism, even if that leads you to leave the house. Just take whatever precautions you can (mask, glasses, distance, don’t yell) 3
Likewise, if you think your health, or the health of others, is more at risk from you not working than COVID-19, then it is reasonable to go to work. If you are an essential worker or have no viable alternative & must work, protect yourself & others by embracing precautions 4
“Abstinence” of any type is never a viable answer for some people. All or nothing strategies are doomed to fail. We need nuanced recommendations for reducing risk; that said, can the public understand nuance? 5
Finally, pushing for social change doesn’t solely mean marching. Vote; learn; donate: these options allow activism while minimizing COVID spread. It is too bad that we don’t have multiple options for addressing economic need. Work or suffer means lots of people must work. End
Addendum: The economy, racism, policing, infectious disease—anything that impacts patterns of mortality & morbidity is a public health concern
