Análisis judeo-cristiano de la crisis de COVID-19 y su gestión

The present coronavirus crisis caused major worldwide disruption. Numerous experts admit now that the crisis management was far from optimal from the very beginning. In the paper, we first digest the available information on the crisis and its management. We then list factors that led to the chosen way of crisis management. Afterwards, we question whether religious leaders could have gained enough information for them not to have supported lockdowns etc. back in March, 2020. In our opinion, they could have if they would have addressed trustworthy experts with a list of reasonable professional questions. We then analyze the question if hypothetical coercive measures are justified in the case when they are effective in decreasing the overall mortality but cause the death of several people. Our conclusion is that such measures are not justified ethically, and implementing emergency powers is justified only in the case of war. Finally, we formulate several important problems highlighted by COVID-19 to be discussed in the future.La actual crisis del coronavirus ha causado una gran perturbación a nivel mundial. Numerosos expertos admiten ahora que la gestión de crisis estuvo lejos de ser óptima desde el principio. En el documento, primero resumimos la información disponible sobre la crisis y su gestión. A continuación, enumeramos los factores que llevaron a la forma elegida de gestión de crisis. Posteriormente, cuestionamos si los líderes religiosos podrían haber obtenido suficiente información para no haber apoyado los bloqueos, etc. en marzo de 2020. En nuestra opinión, podrían haberlo hecho si se hubieran dirigido a expertos confiables con una lista de preguntas profesionales razonables. Luego analizamos la cuestión de si las medidas coercitivas hipotéticas están justificadas en el caso de que sean efectivas para disminuir la mortalidad general pero causen la muerte de varias personas. Nuestra conclusión es que tales medidas no están justificadas éticamente, y la implementación de poderes de emergencia solo está justificada en caso de guerra. Finalmente, formulamos varios problemas importantes destacados por COVID-19 para ser discutidos en el futuro. Palabras clave: salud pública; ateísmo; responsabilidad del sacerdocio; Toma de decisiones; elecció

Law, Ethics and Lockdowns: impacts on life, liberty and the economy

Many people worldwide, particularly those with disabilities and the elderly, suffered greatly not only as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic but also as a result of the lockdowns. In this article we set out widely-accepted ethical criteria for assessing when coercive public health measures are justified. We then review the empirical evidence, not least concerning the benefits and costs of the lockdowns, and conclude that lockdowns as instituted in the UK (and, presumptively, in many other jurisdictions) appeared to breach those criteria. We conclude that any future proposal to lockdown should be subjected to the strictest ethical scrutiny, and that a lockdown should not be contemplated unless it could be convincingly demonstrated that the benefits would substantially outweigh the harms; that it would be proportionate, and that legal coercion would be strictly necessary