"Need to keep our vulnerable residents safe"
It is advised that members of the public must refrain from taking selfies with the vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic to protect them from exploitation.
Protective measures have been put into place to ensure members of the public are at minimal risk of catching and spreading the disease.
These include social distancing, self-isolation, washing your hands every twenty minutes, do not touch your face, catch coughs and sneezes in tissues and dispose of them and go out as infrequently as possible.
Many countries like the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Italy, Spain and more are currently on nationwide lockdown to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19.
Undoubtedly, the lockdown measures in place have affected the general public immensely, in particular, the vulnerable.
In this instance, the vulnerable include the elderly, young children and people with underlying health conditions.
In a bid to help the vulnerable, members of the community help the vulnerable with their groceries, deliver food packages and more.
Now people who have been supporting the vulnerable during the coronavirus have been advised to not take selfies while helping them.
According to The Bolton News, councils have urged people to be more mindful and not take selfies with the vulnerable.
This is because taking selfies with the vulnerable people and posting them on social media leaves them susceptible to exploitation.
For example, there will be people who would exploit the vulnerable if they are able to identify them on people’s social media posts.
A council spokesperson explained the importance of abstaining from taking selfies. The spokesperson said:
“If you are helping others because they can’t go out please follow the government advice about protecting them and yourself.
“It’s a great thing that you’re doing but please don’t be tempted to take selfies or other photos.”
“As well as keeping your distance, we also need to keep our vulnerable residents safe from people who might exploit them if they are identified on social media for example.”
There is no doubt that the vulnerable are dependent on the help of others as they have no other means of support.
Therefore, it is crucial members of the public are mindful of the safety of the helpless.
If you are someone who supports the vulnerable with their shopping and so on, ensure you consider their safety first before pulling out your phone.