2. Write about a current news story or event that has caught your attention.
I didn’t write about the Coronavirus last week, but it’s a current event/pandemic that will not be ignored. I tried to ignore it. When it first debuted in my corner of the planet, I thought for sure it was something being overhyped by the media. I saw some friends showing concern, but I was not making any mad dashes to Costco to fill up on toilet paper and hand sanitizer. I thought this would be like past viruses where we hear about them, prepare for them to take over the world and then they go away.
This is the first time in my life I’ve ever seen the threat of a virus turn into a nationwide concern that actually shut things down. Being in Washington State, I feel like we’re sort of the epicenter of it all for this country. So far we have the highest number of reported deaths and the number of those diagnosed continues to climb.
I teeter between treating this like an aggressive flu that will just run its course in our community on one hand and then on the other I find myself loading up on meds, electrolytes and sanitizers. Each day we get more news of school closures and community event cancellations. Tonight we learned that travel from Europe has been suspended and the NBA has halted their season. Many establishments where large crowds could potentially gather are now closed and my girls got word today that the biggest tournament of the year (and the one they most look forward to) has been canceled. We fully expect and are waiting for final word from our school district that they are closing as well.
I fully embrace the idea of a statewide quarantine. Shut everything down and stay home. Let those who have been infected receive treatment and let everybody else stop spreading/catching it. That being said, I am definitely concerned about the economic impact this will have all over. How does a single parent and sole provider simply stop working and stay home with their kids? How do their bills get paid if they’re not bringing home that paycheck? Small companies are already struggling with the decrease in business, not to mention thousands of hotel and Airbnb cancellations that occur when large events are canceled and travel plans change. One of the concerns about shutting down the schools is that the schools sometimes provide the only meal students get in a day. How can we address these things while supporting a quarantine?
I am so thankful that I am able to work from home and that my husband has a job that needs workers even when a virus is running rampant. And more than that, I am beyond grateful for all of those in the front line working countless hours to help others while putting themselves at risk.
At this point, I’m following the pack. I will buy toilet paper and stock up on frozen pizzas and wait for my next direction. I cannot say that I don’t believe the Coronavirus will be catastrophic because the truth is it already has been. Specifically for the loved ones who have been directly impacted by a death.
I look forward to the day they say we have seen the worst of it, the Coronavirus is a thing of the past and business can go back to normal.
John Holton says
I’m cautiously optimistic that this won’t be anywhere near as bad as they’re making it sound. That could be wishful thinking, I know, but that’s me. I check the CDC page every day to see how many cases there are…
Mama Kat says
I hope you’re staying safely tucked into your home just to be sure!