Views Your letters

摘要

In critiquing the Great Barrington Declaration - described as a call for a let-it-rip, herd-immunity approach to the pandemic - Graham Lawton notes that mainstream scientists see curbs on freedom as the only way to keep a lid on the virus for now. A democratic, civilised nation needs to recognise that freedom is inseparable from responsibility. There are many norms that people follow, codified or not, that allow us to exercise freedom if, and only if, our actions involve self-restraint, in ways that limit or avoid harm to others. When a significant number of people flout the rules of society (or public health) and cause harm, then governments need to step in on behalf of citizens to enforce restrictions that minimise harm.