People do stupid things sometimes, but the pandemic seems to be increasing the incidence of stupid actions, at least in certain segments of society. Let's call it "covidiocy".
Here's a particularly good example from the state of Utah.
On social media, in rallies and at campuses across the state, growing groups of Utahns are declaring that they won’t get tested for COVID-19 — even if they have symptoms.
Some say they don’t want to contribute to the rising numbers that could push their schools to close. Others don’t want to be forced to quarantine for two weeks. A few suggest the results wouldn’t be accurate anyway and insist the severity of the pandemic is a hoax. And one state lawmaker is refusing because he worries it would put him “on the radar” if he tests positive.
“The health department doesn’t need to know if I’m sick or not,” said Rep. Mark Strong, a Republican from Bluffdale.
These individuals are Utah’s test deniers. And public health officials worry that they’re making the state’s already bad situation with the virus worse. Just one anti-tester, they warn, has the potential to cause significant amounts of spread without any way to trace where it’s coming from — or any way to control it.
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