HaRav Gershon Edelstein has brought to the public's attention the following message:
Now, during the scourge of the Corona, one must be vigilant for oneself and for others, that he remain healthy and that others not be harmed. If one is circumspect for others, he is keeping a real mitzvah of caring for the welfare of others and helping them to avoid contamination or suffering.
This can be regarded as similar to returning lost property or protecting the property of others as in the example of one seeing floodwater threatening to inundate another's field and succeeds in stopping the flow (Bava Metzia 31a). He is performing a mitzvah by protecting someone else from harm or damage.
If one is careful for his own sake, that is taking measures that he remain healthy, he must also have the mental intent of seeking to remain healthy, lesheim Shomayim, so that he can continue to fulfill the mitzvos and not merely being cautious for the sake of his own health. But even if he does not have this kavonoh in mind, he must still seek his own physical welfare, although having the proper kavonoh makes a difference.
On another occasion, he said,
"One must employ all measures of caution according to doctors' instructions: to wear a mask, keep the necessary distance, and to pray outside, in the open air. All these necessary precautions should not be taken lightly but at the utmost stringency. This is a requirement! As is written, `And you shall be very vigil for your lives.' The Rambam, in the laws of the murderer, quotes a different posuk, `Be watchful and watch over yourself exceedingly.' Guarding one's health is a definite obligation.
"If, then, watchfulness is a mitzvah, and being cautious constitutes a mitzvah, not only is this beneficial, but since everything that Hashem does is for the good, it is also a mitzvah, and the difficulties involved are an integral part of the mitzvah, the mitzvah of self protection."
