Hong Kong media article: Why is there a need for a "you too" campaign against ignoring the epidemic prevention policy

On January 17, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post website published an article titled "Djokovic and Johnson's 'Party Gate': Why 'YouToo' Events Appear This Year", by Phil Chen. The full text is excerpted below:

On 25 November last year, when my British Airways flight was about to arrive in Cape Town, my neighbour J. D said something to me that I still remember to this day. J· D was the only passenger I saw without a mask during the 12-hour journey. He said he didn't like wearing a mask.

Because I felt like a mature and stable person, and completely unaware that South Africa had just reported a new variant of the new coronavirus to the World Health Organization the day before, I just replied to this because I was too cold (sitting right next to the emergency exit) to wear a mask. But I can't help but think: Does anyone like to wear a mask?

I don't know how to behave, I can't stand. It is in difficult times that the strength – or lack thereof – of a person's personality is revealed through the choices it makes.

Over the past two weeks, some people in high positions, influence or responsibilities have acted as if COVID-19 measures are not working for them. Such reports have shocked people in the UK and around the world.

After weeks of downing street insistence on denying that a garden party was held at the Prime Minister's residence on 20 May 2020 during the British lockdown, British Prime Minister Johnson finally apologized.

But with emails from his chief private secretary inviting 100 colleagues to "bring their own drinks" to "fully enjoy the good weather" have come to light, he still insists it was a "work event" held "strictly" under the rules he had set.

Across the country, tens of thousands of people have been fined for violating lockdown rules, and many have had to say goodbye to dying loved ones through the Zoom software. One lawmaker called Johnson "social distancing from honesty, responsibility and integrity."

As a true manifestation of sport without borders, Djokovic Djokovic, the world's number one player in men's singles who strongly opposes vaccination, has a dispute with the Australian government because he failed to meet the entry conditions (vaccination) and his visa was cancelled after arriving in Australia with a "medical exemption" qualification.

Djokovic also did not take the health of his countrymen to heart. Shortly after testing positive for the virus on December 16, 2021, he attended public events without wearing a mask, ignoring Serbia's 14-day self-isolation rule. He also fulfilled his promise of an interview and photograph because he didn't want to disappoint reporters.

A Federal Circuit judge has ruled that the cancellation of Djokovic's visa was procedurally unfair because border officials ignored the proper procedures when he entered the country and ordered his release.

Australia's Immigration Minister has since exercised statutory personal powers, "in the public interest ... For reasons of health and good order", Djokovic's visa was cancelled for the second time. The Federal Collegial Panel also unanimously agreed to the decision.

In Australian law, good character is always a condition of entry.

Since the discovery of COVID-19, governments around the world have imposed severe restrictions on every aspect of our daily lives in the name of public health. As the pandemic approaches its third year, we have normalized such restrictions. So much so that only those who think they are powerful, rich or "smart" enough not to be bound by popular rules will go to parties, travel and fly without masks without vaccination.

In the current covid-19 pandemic, political leaders, well-known sports stars, and others in high-positions, influential, or important roles must be moral role models.

Just as the 2017 allegations against Harvey Weinstein led to the "MeToo" (me too) movement, the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed millions of people, should also mark the beginning of a "YouToo" (you too) campaign.

Ultimately, in the face of a pandemic, we should all be role models of strength, influence, and responsibility, not only for others but also for ourselves.

It's always good to be humble.

Source: Reference News Network