When a driver runs a stop sign and a person dies as a result, the driver can be convicted of dangerous driving causing death and serve significant jail time.
Why doesn’t killing somebody by breaking COVID-19 rules result in similar punishment?
The fines for breaking COVID-19 rules are generally higher than for running a stop sign. So if a COVID-19 infection that proves fatal can be tracked back to someone breaking the rules, why isn’t that person being charged with criminal negligence causing death?
Health officials have been very successful in tracking infections back to their source, so identifying the guilty party shouldn’t be too difficult.
Quarantining after travelling, social distancing and wearing masks are relatively easy rules to follow so there are no excuses for ignore these rules. For the few people who can’t wear masks due to medical conditions, additional steps such as testing, temperature monitoring and avoiding congested locations can help keep others safe.
The risk of serious jail time for causing another person’s death would hopefully get everybody to treat this disease with the respect it deserves and start obeying the rules.
