I get that staying home if you feel ill sounds logical, thankfully I can afford to do this, but it’s actually a very privileged thing to ask of others. Most people don’t have the luxury to miss a day of work. There’s also no way to enforce this either without being part of a medical apartheid so I don’t believe there is a rational solution to this.
Discussion
Listen I get it. I’ve been poor and broke. Working in a restaurant trying to get enough tip money to be able to go to the doctor when I knew I had strep throat. I didn’t have the luxury to think about anyone else and was just trying to get through the day. It sucked and I didn’t make it to a doctor before it transitioned into Scarlet Fever. It sucked so hard. But I never once thought or said anything about it being for the benefit of other peoples immunity. It was just a shitty byproduct of my economic situation. If I was in the situation of having to show up to work ill, I’d have the courtesy to wear a mask. It would serve 2 purposes trying to keep my germs to myself and probably pissing off whatever boss I have.
I haven’t said anything about policing this. I’m just saying how I would appreciate people behaving in this society. I’m completely aware people will make decisions as they feel best benefits them. We also have a problem that in the US culturally we don’t prioritize health in a multitude of ways. I think some problems need to be addressed in this world by challenging cultural norms. Leaping to laws and policing isn’t frequently the answer imo.