I’ve been getting irritated with a lot of my friends who are convinced this novel coronavirus is overblown and the media is inciting unnecessary panic.
“They’re not talking about how many people recover. They’re only talking about the deaths, and in the scheme of things not many people die. I’m not giving into this media-driven panic to alter my life,” they say.
To them, I’ve been saying: True. The vast majority of people who get the virus have recovered.
But dying is not the issue. (I’ll get to that in a second.)
I also agree the media isn’t helping quell the panic in some cases. I personally think the media has made several errors so far, among them initially labeling this an older person’s disease. That helped perpetuate a dangerous myth that I think historians will look back on with regret.
But that’s an issue for another day.
The issue, and what people just aren’t getting, is this isn’t a matter of recovery. It’s the recovering process that’s the bitch.
That’s where the rubber’s going to meet the road if there’s enough people all at once with severe cases that require hospitalization.
The best way I can put it that makes people understand is to make it personal: if you or one of your loved ones either gets a bad case of coronavirus or another life threatening disease and there’s no room for you in the hospital –or if there’s room but inadequate staff– you’re fucked.
Worst case scenario? Am I being doom and gloom?
Maybe.
But Northern Italy is unfortunately experiencing that exact scenario.
That’s the issue. That’s why governments are asking people to stay home and practice social distancing.
I’ve been so disappointed in friends being so selfish about this inconvenience we’re all being asked to endure. And a little appalled at the lack of regard they have for their own family. I get most people show little consideration for others as it is. We’re a Me Me Me society. But deciding “Fuck it. I’m not social distancing and staying in my house,” is actually putting their own family at risk.
But will it be their fault if a spouse, child, parent, sister, brother, etc gets sick? Nope. They’ll find a way to pass the buck, I’m sure.
I get this is an unprecedented moment in our lives. We’ve never been asked to do anything like this.
It sucks. It’s scary. Especially seeing people hoarding things and store shelves empty, and now millions losing their jobs and having to rely on unemployment.
I get it.
I also get the people in the power are in the unenviable position of making tough choices for the good of all. Some are calling it socialism, which it is.
News Flash: Socialism is part of the fabric of our country whether you like it –or realize it– or not.
Fire services, police, the postal service, roads, schools…all there for the good of all. Socialism.
If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA. Socialism.
It’s not a bad thing. There are times, like now, it’s needed.
Basically, if they didn’t do anything and thousands died, we’d all be bitching about that more.
I’m also shocked people don’t understand history is repeating itself. I’m shocked how many people never learned about the Spanish Flu of 1918.
I was further shocked when I was watching an American Experience episode on it that the flu of 1918 is actually considered “hidden history.”
What the hell? When did that happen? Or was I just lucky to attend schools that taught it?
I don’t know, but when I studied it in school my grandma was still alive. She shared her memories of that time. That brought it alive in a more exciting –and impactful– way.
Scientists have warned for decades it’s not a matter of if it happens again, but when. The when has arrived.
I’d rather be safe than sorry and keep my ass inside.
Plus, by nature I’m actually a homebody and not too fond of fellow humans, so I’m not panicking. I’m actually embracing this and savoring having a a term for what I prefer doing most of the time anyways: social distancing. Even better, now I don’t have to make excuses for why I’m doing it. Coronavirus has given me the perfect one!
P.S. I’m extending the same offer to anyone who reads this that I’ve given to friends I disagree with about this issue: you can bust my chops in perpetuity if it turns out this was all a spectacular case of overreacting, hospitals aren’t overrun, thousands don’t die and we all get back to normal by June. (Or before.)
I’ve never wanted to be wrong and have my chops busted like I do now.
Stay safe, keep washing your hands, and by all means suck it up and do the social distancing thing. If not for yourself, if not for your community or humanity, at least for someone you love.