I’m fairly onboard with OP, and still know that some/many folks simply have no choice. I know of several towns and cities I’ve lived in where it is against the law (ordinance) to be in public are(s) with infectious disease, but never enforced even when called out on it. Great idea, but should be enforced when an obvious ‘threat’ to public exists - high rate of contact with customers, etc, and such, IMHO.
I once worked, long ago, at a Doc-owned 50-ish bed clinic/hospital in Idaho where ALL the Docs took contagions seriously. The radiologist, as well as all other Docs at times, was, at least twice IIRC, ill with flu (or other communicable illness), yet he came in to take care of others. However, he wore full-face HEPA mask and also a ‘bodysuit’ (like those yellow ones seen often in images with recent Ebola workers) and did not even ONCE leave his closed-door office without such protective measure(s). Drove to work suited up and left suited up, changing suits whenever necessary. If we needed to show him films or chat with him, it was slide film under door or call on phone. Excellent attitude towards protecting those who were not ill or whatever. Our mission carried on, and safety of others was a top priority - not profit-driven. I miss that kind of concern from others quite often.
The other Techs would do the same when we were ill and had no one to replace us for the freuent patients who drove 100+ miles for their exam(s). Sucked to have that gear on for majority of day, but the mission was accomplished. I was only Tech who did Nuclear Med exams, and one of two CT-qualified Techs, so I was ‘essential’, and the isotopes needed were ordered a day (or few days before) and were not cheap at all. Better to suit-up and get the exam/diagnosis completed with safe measures used by us workers than to allow decay of materials that costs hundreds to thousands of dollars at times. The patients deserved such respect from all of us there at the places of healing!
I am still haunted by a 17-yr old ‘boy’ with advanced Grave’s disease (severe effect on him, think of Marty Feldman’s eyes) and I was late to work due to having some form of diarrhea. Had the therapetic dose sitting there in lead-brick box for him and all. He was found dead at home a few hours after he no-showed for his pill of Iodine - I’d’ve gone to his house to check on him, with his mother’s blessing and every Doc I worked for, as he was so sick and placed his total trust in me and endocrinologist after teling him how that little white pill would reduce his symptoms and give him his life back. His post-motem body temp indicated he died VERY shortly before his Mom and I went to his place, per coroner. Taught me a lesson I will NEVER forget - do what it takes, but be safe about it. I could have isolated/barriered myself from others, but chose to wait a few hours, with bosses permission, to see if the squirts were going to alleviate a bit, which they did, fwiw. I was wrong in my choice and a fine young man probably died from it. Sucks. Still have occasional nightmare of watching policeman kick in door for us and guy was right there as if he was on his way to see me. Had car keys still in hand. I cried most of the rest of the day for the choice I made. Seemed reasonable at the time, but hindsight haunts me as I should have done what it takes to protect others, in a nutshell.
If those who must go to work and have a transmisibe disease (by contact, surface, or aerosol transmission, etc), then they should be forced to wear/use some appropriate type of protection against sharing their contagions. In a perfect world, of course. Even simple paper masks and hand cleaning can do wonders at reducing infecting others. Those who refuse to do so, well, I have a strong prejudice against their ignorance/unwillingness and willingness to knowingly and purposely put others in their line-of-fire, so to speak. But, again, many have no choice. I obviously think it should be more regulated/enforced than currently, but it is what it is. My appreciation to those who do what it takes to keep their illness to themselves!
I do realise how many businesses don’t give a darn and how ignorant much of a workforce can be, but I have more than a few times, prior to starting my medical career, refused to be anywhere near someone sick with something communicable w/out sick person wearing a form on of protection/barried to contagion(s). I obviously have caught flak here and there, but I have always had employer(s) back down in places that have the ill-in-public/work ordinances.
Most of these places were smaller-sized health care businesses like Minor Emergency Centers, a couple small and large hospitals, and such., and I expect that other type businesses would not be as ‘cooperative’ or simply not give a shit. Very unfortunate overall, to be sure. The worst offenders, IME, were pizza/fast-food places I worked at in my teen years that served food from a sniffling/coughing/puking cook/server that never washed hands after wiping off face with bare hand(s) or whatever… Disgusting and dangerous, no doubt at all. And is common most anywhere you go nowadays. People do die from such ignorance and/or uncaring of other’s safety/health.