Covid Concerns

My thought veer down 3 paths. 

1. The first path is, "what's the long-term plan?" Because the short-term isn't a plan so much as an instinctive reaction out of fear. Hoard the toilet paper, shutdown work, and stay inside for a week or two. 

Let's say that everyone in the U.S. is cleared after 2 weeks and the virus is nowhere in site except for those already found to have it who remain quarantined. Then what? Will the virus never return? Will the U.S. remain free and clear going forward forever? 

And what if there's another outbreak 1 month from now. And then 6 months from now? Do we just keep shutting everything down infinitely? 

At what point does life move on? 

And what other issues are being exacerbated that are virus-unrelated because of this. Like domestic violence and abuse within families being inflicted more because of the tension and lock-down. And people in poverty being screwed -not just because they're without toilet paper -but because they can't afford to "wait this out" without pay.  

2. The second path has to do with the Elderly & Immune-compromised. The whole reason we're doing this is for the groups of people most vulnerable. If it were a disease that killed children the world would be in entire incubation. And that worth and value that we regard children with is also inherently present in others, we just tend to forget or ignore it. So the call to safeguard the vulnerable means everything. It's not something to take lightly. 

3. Silver Linings. 
I had a snap shot image pop-up in my head of a trash can with "Make America Great Again" hats thrown into it. This virus will help those who have been blind from the beginning finally start to acknowledge Trump is not a good leader/president -especially in this situation. 

Beyond that, issues with our infrastructure are coming to light more -particularly with healthcare and poverty being exposed. 

Our unprepared and disorganized response is another issue. If there ever comes an epidemic that has a 70-90% mortality rate for all people: We're screwed. Thankfully we're seeing this now. 

Fear. How do people contend with their own fears? How does the media play into it? What do you do when you reach a point where you're no longer addressing a virus but instead are contending with people's panic and reaction to it more? 

How do you prevent mass hysteria from exacerbating an already troubling situation? 

This virus has given people a lot to reflect on.