COVID-19 Is There a New Normal in Sight? by Fran Joyce
This is the last article I worked on for the July issue and I updated the figures for July 4, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic is not a political issue unless politicians and party members choose to make it one. As of 7/4/2020, there have been 11,343,897 reported cases of COVID-19 in the world and 532,310 deaths; 6,421,232 people have recovered, but there are still 4,390,355 active cases.
In the United States, we have had 2,931,258 reported cases of COVID-19 resulting in 132,290 deaths; 1,256,032 people have recovered, but there are still 1,542,936 active cases.
These figures are more than numbers, they are actual people – mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, husbands, wives, and partners; members of the LGBTQ community, Christians-Catholics and Protestants, Atheists, Agnostics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus, Blacks, Whites, Latinx, Asians, Pacific Islanders and Indigenous peoples, short people, tall, people, Skinny people, obese people, blondes, brunettes, redheads, raven-haired and people with no hair, young, old and everything in between; wealthy, middle class and impoverished people; first responders, criminals, entrepreneurs and the habitually unemployed; celebrities, Average Joes, homeless people; athletes, genius’, the physically or mentally challenged. Doctors, nurses, teachers, and other essential workers. I could go on and on, but I hope I’ve made you think of these people as so much more than a number or a statistic… a ratio or an average.
At this point, I’m sure some of you have stopped reading and may never read another one of my articles. Many of you will point out how many people die from car accidents, heart disease, cancer, or acts of violence and move on.
If you do, you have missed the point of this article and a defining moment of this pandemic.
Why is there so much resistance to wearing a mask to at least try to stop the spread of COVID-19? For people with breathing issues or weight issues, there are clear face shields available that cover your entire face - 4 of them for $5 at your local Sam’s Club.
We have treatment plans for many diseases, and we follow them willingly because we want to live, or we want to help a friend or loved one recover. Chemotherapy patients wear masks when their red blood cell levels drop to dangerous levels. Their friends and family also dawn masks or stay away to protect them.
We require drivers to pass written exams and driving tests to operate a motor vehicle. In most states, bicycle helmets and motorcycle helmets must be worn and in all 50 states, seat belts laws are enforced. We have traffic laws and you can lose your license, be fined, or jailed for disobeying these laws.
We’re required by law to wear clothing in public and businesses have long maintained a policy of requiring customers to wear shirts and shoes to enter.
In the aftermath of 911, Homeland Security was established, and privacy rights have changed. If we want to board an airplane, we must agree to be body scanned, remove our shoes, walk through metal detectors, and in some cases be patted down or even strip-searched. We comply with regulations about the quantity of liquids we can carry onto a plane. This became our new normal, and for the safety of our fellow passengers, we will play nice no matter how inconvenient.
We know enough about heart disease, diabetes, and many types of cancers to help prevent them by not smoking, trying to live a more active lifestyle, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding known carcinogens in our environment. If we are diagnosed with cancer, we turn to experts in the field of oncology for treatment and answers to our questions – not politicians or television personalities. We choose to do these things without fanfare or questioning whether being asked to eat leafy green vegetables or blueberries violates our constitutional rights. These policies save lives and benefit the general welfare of society.
Can we not do the same to help stop the spread of COVID-19? I know people fear losing their jobs, businesses, and homes, but sheltering in place, wearing masks in public and social distancing was working and has worked in countries all around the world.
Herd immunity is not a safe option. Our most vulnerable citizens (the elderly and people with medical conditions) will not survive and that is not acceptable. Seemingly mild cases of COVID-19 have left some survivors with permanent organ damage and no one is completely sure what other long-term health effects may be associated with this virus. Plus, the coronavirus has already demonstrated an ability to mutate and adapt. When I was a little girl, herd immunity was a popular theory. When the eldest child brought measles, mumps or chickenpox home from school, parents deliberately tried to infect their younger children wanting to “get it over with” and believing the younger siblings would have milder cases, As a result, most baby boomers were exposed to and caught Chicken Pox and are now vulnerable to Shingles and must be immunized to prevent this painful condition.
Until there is an affordable vaccine available for all Americans, and we all agree to be immunized, there will be no return to normal. If we want to be able to reopen our businesses and have contact with our friends and loved ones, we must wear masks and practice social distancing. We must continue to wash our hands and disinfect our homes. We must also limit the size of public and private gatherings.
If I’m wrong and the foremost experts in epidemiology that I listen to are also wrong, when this is over, you can call me on it, and I’ll admit my mistake.
Until then, stay safe, stay well, wear a mask, quit complaining, stay six feet (2 meters) away, avoid crowds, and don’t listen to conspiracy theories. The life you save may be your own or someone you love.
Blessings from Fran and This Awful Awesome Life