Child sacrifice, attributed to ancient world pagan culture, kills beautiful, young, healthy children to appease deities in times of famine or drought. In times of trouble, the beautiful daughter of a king might be sacrificed as they sought the blessing of the supernatural. During the Covid pandemic, we also sacrifice the healthy young to appease those paralyzed by fear. In both cultures, the healthy young are subject to mandates or rituals that don’t placate the disaster yet harm our children’s well-being.

At the outset of the pandemic, governors instituted a lockdown which forced healthy people to quarantine at home in contrast to previously when the sick were told to stay home. Playgrounds were cordoned off with yellow caution tape and basketball nets were tied up to prevent children from using them. Neighbors ratted out kids for playing soccer at the local schoolyard. Although we knew that the young were rarely afflicted and rarely vectors of infection, children were told they would kill grandma unless they stayed home. Whereas we previously worried about excessive screen time hampering social interactions, emotional well-being, and physical health, we instituted policies that encouraged isolation and increased screen time.