Isolation Defined

For a moment, let’s see if we can agree on an important definition.

The word is quarantine. It is important for all of us to be on the same page if indeed we start seeing the coronavirus in this neck of the woods. Quarantine means a “period of isolation for people that have been exposed to an infectious or contagious disease.” Cutting to the chase….if you are exposed to this virus and are told to stay away from the rest of us……please do it.

In St. Louis, there was an incredible breach of common sense which is having a broad consequence.

On Thursday of last week a young Ladue woman, who recently returned from Italy, showed symptoms of the virus. The health department tested her on Friday and advised the family to self-quarantine. On Saturday, the results arrived. She had the virus. But instead of heeding the quarantine request, the father and sister of the victim spent Saturday night at a father-daughter dance at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton.

They potentially infected hundreds, which is an outrage. Two schools were closed in St. Louis Tuesday and health officials are scrambling to try and assess the threat to the region. The father should face arrest on ….something.

That’s a stone’s throw from here. Our isolation from population centers will not protect us. There will be cases logged here before this thing is over.

So, let’s agree on the definition of quarantine.

It means isolation.