The Coronavirus - Four Weeks Later

It is hard to believe that it has now been 4 weeks that we have avoided any personal interactions. My wife and I mostly stay at home. Over the last four weeks we have gone into the office periodically, but have not allowed another soul in - not other staff, not clients and not vendors. No one.

The numbers. There were a total of 547,681 cases of coronavirus, with 21,692 deaths in the US, as reported earlier today on Fox. The states with the most cases are New York with 188,694, and 9,385 deaths; New Jersey with 61,850 cases and 2,350 deaths; Massachusetts with 25,475 cases and 756 deaths; Michigan with 24,638 cases and 1,487 deaths; and Pennsylvania with 22,833 cases and 507 deaths. States with less cases but higher numbers of deaths include Louisiana, 840; Illinois, 720; and California, 609. Some are postulating that millions may have been infected but never tested.

According to Fox, the most populous county in the country - Los Angeles County - has "extended its safer-at-home and business-closures orders through 5/15/20." Also according to Fox, Los Angeles County has 8,873 cases, with 265 deaths. Of course, all numbers in this and the preceding paragraph are already outdated. NBC also reported that 48% of employees in the County either lost their jobs or had their hours reduced. Total jobless claims for just the last 3 weeks in the USA now equal a whopping 16,780,000. That number is approximately the total number of people living in our four largest cities - New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.

But not everyone is fixated on the coronavirus. The police chief of Seattle Tweeted this: "Washington State is no place for hate...hate has no place in our community. Report hate, including racist name calling, to 911. We are here to help, and will respond to investigate." And this: "Even racist name-calling should be reported to police. If you aren't sure if a hate crime occurred, call 911. We are here to help." Call 911 for racist name-calling? Seriously? Racist name-calling may be exceedingly bad behavior, but - absent a threat - it is definitely not a crime. It is, in fact, protected speech. At a time when the 911 emergency system is likely overburdened already, you want people to report name-calling? If I am not careful I would be inclined to call this police chief a name - but not based on race; no, it would be based on stupidity.

Speaking of stupidity, somebody(s) decided it would be a good idea to see if they could break the record for traveling by car from New York to Los Angeles. Given our near empty roads, they succeeded. It only took 26 hours and 38 minutes. Assuming they traveled the shortest route, they would had to have averaged 103 miles per hour. If they want to risk their own lives, that's their business. But there are still others on the roads, including many first responders out there trying to help others without idiots putting them at risk.

One letter writer or Op-Ed writer (I do not remember which) expressed the frustration that many of us are feeling, but did so in a way that may only be described as overblown: "I'm unable to get ready to celebrate freedom when I feel imprisoned in my own home." The celebration of freedom was in reference to Passover, when we Jews celebrate our departure from Egypt, when we went from being slaves to a free people. But "imprisoned" is too forceful a word. For most of us, our so-called imprisonment includes having the equivalent of a nearly unlimited library in our own homes - as long as we have internet access. Most of us have TV, often with numerous channels from which to choose old and new TV shows, and old and new movies. Many have yards allowing them to sit outside, weather permitting. And we are able to go for walks, jog or ride a bike. I get it. We cannot just pick up and go wherever we want whenever we want. It is frustrating. But it is not prison. And maybe we will all appreciate just how free a people we are once society returns to some semblance of normalcy.

I was not alone in feeling the pain of that young woman in Pennsylvania getting a citation for over $200 for the simple act of driving her car. (See the prior post.) Senator Ted Cruz had some advice for the authorities in Pennsylvania: "Resist authoritarianism and don't abuse power. Driving a car alone is not a public health threat." And conservative political commentator and author, Mark Levin, called it "outrageous fascistic behavior."

A Fox News poll conducted from April 4 through April 7, found Trump's approval rating at 49%, with 89% of Republicans approving. Trump's coronavirus team all got positive approval ratings, with Dr. Fauci getting 80%, Dr. Birx at 62%, Vice President Pence at 52% and President Trump at 51%. 57% agreed that the fight against the virus is going in the right direction, with 30% saying we are going in the wrong direction. And while 56% say that they approve of the Federal government's response, a much larger 77% approve of their state government's handling of the virus. But it seems to me that is how it should be. We should always feel that our more local state government is better at responding to the needs of residents than the more distant Federal bureaucracy. Still, a full 80% favor a nationwide stay-in-place order.

There was an interesting question posed by Fox, regarding how the virus may have affected people's interactions with others. 34% found people to be more friendly and compassionate, while a nearly equal number, 35%, found there to be no difference. And 21% felt that others were less friendly.

President Trump just recently declared a major disaster in Wyoming. The result was a first in US history, with a major disaster being declared simultaneously in all 50 states. The New York Times reported yesterday that the President is being pushed by "bankers, corporate executives and industrialists" to reopen the country, while "the medical experts beg for more time to curb the coronavirus." Trump: "I'm going to have to make a decision, and I only hope to G-d that it's the right decision." But the Times went on to tell us that "the decision on when and how to reopen is not entirely Mr. Trump's to make because he never ordered it closed. The stay-at-home edicts that have kept the vast bulk of Americans indoors were issued by governors state by state." So, let's pray to G-d that all our political leaders make the right decisions. And that a vaccine and anti-viral treatment are speedily developed.