Now, there is pressure to “open up the country” because we must save the economy. That pressure came last week from continued demonstrations of very suspect origins by unmasked idiots violating social distancing. It also came in much more subtle form–social media groups banning COVID-19 discussion. This was couched as giving members a break from stressful subjects, but I suspect it is really an attempt to pave the way to open businesses; after all, consumers will be more likely to venture out if the virus has been removed from their online conversations.
Oddly, those demanding a “return to normal” largely misunderstand what happened in the last couple months. Closure orders didn’t kill the economy; the economic crisis happened because people were afraid that going to restaurants, gyms, malls, movies, etc. would make them sick. They are still afraid of that–and rightly so. In Texas, testing remains abysmally low (around 48 states have done better), which means we don’t know the true numbers on infections here, and there is no process in place to trace the inevitable flare ups. Yet, Gov. Abbott already allowed both retail to-go and discretionary medical procedures last week, with widespread business openings to be announced tomorrow. (This is despite the fact Texas had more COVID-19 hospitalizations last week than ever before.) Interestingly, Abbott made it clear that schools and universities will NOT open for the rest of the school year. That tells me it is not safe to be out in public mingling now; if it isn’t safe for schools and universities, then it isn’t safe in general.
According to polls, the general public doesn’t think it is time to open up. Whatever openings are announced by special interest-owned politicians in Texas and nationwide, it will likely change very little of day-to-day life, to the vast disappointment of the “give me liberty or give me death” crowd. (My answer to that argument is—good news for you, with a pandemic you get BOTH liberty AND death. Me, I’m waiting it out.) Open or closed, if the public doesn’t feel safe, they will stay home. And, as I can attest–we’re getting pretty good at coping (without doing anything stupid with bleach or Lysol products.) I’m not interested in being sacrificed to the next wave of infection just to bump up local business sales, and I will continue staying at home until respected medical opinion based on well-documented statistics tells me it is safe to do otherwise.
Also, I really don’t appreciate the condescending responses I’m seeing to those sharing my viewpoint, that go something like this—“Sure, if you can afford it, but other people face tough choices.” Really? How dare anyone assume others don’t have tough choices or nightmarish consequences from the pandemic. People may have different circumstances, but none of this is easy. Whether it is a lost job, failed business, gutted savings, children home from school indefinitely, being a health care worker now, having a loved one isolated indefinitely in a care facility, those actually suffering from COVID-19, those with deceased loved ones they cannot even bury normally, or some other horrific permutation—everyone is in a bad place now. And, frankly, I’ve heard enough about how small businesses are suffering. Billions of dollars in government aid is being funneled to them (not quickly or efficiently, but still, it is coming). Where is the government bail-out for seniors whose retirement savings were destroyed? Or for all the other tragic losses this virus has inflicted?
On a lighter note
I recommend Ken Herman’s humorous recent column —
And also Leonard Pitts’ brilliant “I will not die of stupid” piece–
https://www.statesman.com/opinion/20200426/pitts-i-will-not-die-of-stupid
I bought 5 masks made of solid fabric and they are SO boring. I plan to write mottos to live by on them. Here are the finalists so far:
— I will not die of stupid
–I love Dr. Fauci
–You thought this would be a FUN pandemic?
–If you think injecting bleach will help you, go right ahead
Perspective is key, and it helps to see what changed in the last week. (I’m showing the same figures on COVID-19 cases/deaths as previous weeks, but I’m changing the format, for clarity.)
A week ago (April 19), worldwide, there were 2,407,255 confirmed cases and 165,047 deaths. As of today (April 26), there are 2,994,436 confirmed cases and 206,973 deaths.
In the US, a week ago there were 764,303 confirmed cases and 40,548 deaths. Today, there are 987,160 confirmed cases and 55,413 deaths.
In Texas, a week ago there were 18,923 confirmed cases and 477 deaths. Today, there are 24,631 confirmed cases and 648 deaths.
In Travis County, a week ago there were 1108 confirmed cases and 25 deaths. Today, there are 1,412 confirmed cases and 39 deaths.
A week ago, we had 26 confirmed cases in Lakeway’s zip codes of 78734 and 78738. Today, we have 26 cases (no change).
Things I wonder about
–How long until my cat, Tulip, needs another depo shot? (She usually gets them around the 2 month mark, and her last one was Feb. 10.)
–How will thawing my frozen milk jug turn out this coming week?
–Will this be one of those 100-days-over-100-degrees summers in Central Texas, or just a regular hellishly hot summer?
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/