It was an eventful week in many ways, but for those saying home as advised it was just more of the same—which makes for an odd disconnect. But, watching the daily statistics soar at every level was every bit the horror show that experts warned it would be. In the US as a whole and also in Texas, more people died last week from COVID-19 than in all the time previously. (See below.)
Federal assistance remains ephemeral. All of it—from the $1,200 stimulus checks for individuals to the small business aid—has run into snags, endless forms, and repeated delays. Not surprising, really. I was raised in the south, so I know not to trust “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”
In Texas, official promises remain centered on the prevalent testing that will become available here any day now…. Some cities are flaring up with cases. Nursing homes are, predictably, hot spots for the disease. Texas churches remained able to host in-person services for Easter, which is insanely reckless. Our restaurants are allowed to continue operating, preparing food for pick-up and delivery; early on, they were granted the bonus of selling alcohol for take-out and delivery, and now they can sell grocery items that way, as well. (Many restaurants decided operating in any fashion wasn’t safe for the public or for their own staff and closed.) Construction workers here are classed as essential, even if they are building luxury homes or office buildings, restaurants, shopping malls—all spectacularly unneeded now but still profitable for those higher up the economic ladder (who are, doubtless, safely working from home). So, construction workers doing nothing at all related to our precious “infrastructure” as touted in the governor’s order are required to expose themselves and their families to getting sick, or they get fired and don’t qualify for benefits. The same is true for all our essential workers, but at least those in law enforcement, health care and even food services actually ARE doing work that people need to survive this crisis. We all need our police and fire workers to show up, we all need medical staff on the job, and we all need grocery stores stocked. But, we do NOT all need countless more high-end homes going up in Rough Hollow right now. As a recent University of Texas study concluded, allowing general construction work to continue endangers the workers as well as the community. UT study: Construction activity can raise coronavirus risks for workers, community. https://www.statesman.com/business/20200410/ut-study-construction-activity-can-raise-coronavirus-risks-for-workers-community?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Austin%20American-Statesman%20breaking-coronavirus%202020-04-10&utm_content=GCOX_AUS&utm_term=041120
Here in Lakeway, the city held a Council meeting last week, via video conference. Members logged in from home, with results running the usual gamut. Residents could watch live online, and it was recorded, as always. The agenda was fairly short with nothing particularly controversial, so no one bothered to register beforehand to phone in public comments. (This is an odd way to handle citizen participation and needs to be improved going forward.) I DO wonder why the new economic development committee approved at the meeting will have all 3 of its members appointed by the mayor AND will meet behind closed doors—another decidedly opaque move by an administration fond of touting its transparency.
As far as little old me, I’m still working from home. I finished Louise Penny’s The Beautiful Mystery and started her How the Light Gets In, and I’m watching season 2 of Star Trek Discovery. I also spent an inordinate amount of time making fabric masks. (And failing. It’s definitely harder than all those breezy videos make it look….) I’m seeing more folks on my early morning walks, and regrettably many are of the path-hogging sort. Last week, I cancelled newspaper delivery as the digital version is safer, but reading the Sunday paper online isn’t nearly as enjoyable. My 3 kitty girls are perfect in every way, as usual.
My Easter was brightened by watching online a concert Andrea Bocelli gave today, in an empty cathedral in Milan. Just 30 minutes, it was 4 sacred songs (including Ave Maria) in Italian, with the finale (Amazing Grace in English) shot outside and accompanied by current footage from Paris, London & NYC–all beautifully empty cites. Watch Andrea Bocelli: Music For Hope – Live From Duomo di Milano https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huTUOek4LgU&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0kZ1Aaaxlj2Vz16G1xtnhNz7KTeINnaM9EAzWuTHdtXYfSi-Bsv91FuW4&src=Linkfire&lId=f864ffed-b5e8-46de-a5ba-dc3521efb601&cId=d3d58fd7-4c47-11e6-9fd0-066c3e7a8751
Perspective is key.
A week ago (April 5), these were the numbers on COVID-19, cases/deaths:
Worldwide US Texas Travis Co.
1,269,313/69,346 334,745/9,572 6,812/127 484/6
There were 16 confirmed cases in Lakeway’s zip codes of 78734 and 78738.
Today’s numbers (April 12):
Worldwide US Texas Travis Co.
1,851,734/114,179 560,402/22,105 13,484/271 774/9
There are 21 confirmed cases in Lakeway’s zip codes of 78734 and 78738.
Things I wonder about….
–How early will fawns be born here in Lakeway this year? It used to be I didn’t start seeing them parked around town until late May. Then, it was mid-May. Last year, the first photo of a newborn fawn spotted in Lakeway was posted on social media on April 12.
–The US in general and Texas in particular have, in the time since COVID-19 became a known threat, glaringly failed to make testing for the disease readily available. So, is there any reason to think we will fare any better with the next 2 major hurdles—antibody testing of the population and (eventually) vaccine administration to everyone?
–Why are our “essential” workers among the lowest paid, least respected, and most powerless members of our population? And, how long are they going to jeopardize themselves and their families, with inadequate protection, under grueling conditions, and often for minimum wage—while the rest of society stays safely at home?
I update my COVID-19 page daily with useful articles. See the Menu for that page; here is the link– https://ninawriteorwronginlakeway.com/coronavirus-covid-19/