I ran into a friend this morning on my run, and she told me about an app they’re using in South Korea to help stop the spread of the virus, so I “searched it up,” as my students would say. Those who have shown symptoms have been ordered into quarantine, and the government is tracking their movements with an app to insure they don’t become “super spreaders.” Normally, I would use this as a resource to discuss dystopian literature with my students, but I’m not sure I’m totally against this. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right? Still, I can’t help but chuckle at how the government refers to this program: “self-quarantine safety protection.” Where’s the “self” in this?
Not only does the government track these potential superspreaders, but the average, uninfected citizen can download the app, the “Corona 100m,” and receive alerts when they come within 100 meters of a location visited by an infected person. This isn’t as advanced as the CoronaVision superpower I’ve been daydreaming about – kind of like a blacklight for the virus. You can turn on your CV, scan the area, and avoid danger. So, the Corona 100m is an invasion of privacy, but I’m thinking if you can avoid a Typhoid Mary situation, go for it. Besides, the “self” quarantine lasts two weeks and then you’re free. Your super-spreader status will have come to an end and you’ll just be regular old you again.
My Corner of the Village 