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Yesterday, May 26, the http://worldometers.com"> http://worldometers.com website documented more than 100,000 Americans who died of Covid-19. I write this thread as a way of describing to anyone who might read this my experiences and thoughts about this ongoing tragedy, and observations about people.. 1/
I know and those Americans I don’t.
Not long ago, I was staying with a friend for a while before moving to a permanent home. After covid was gaining momentum, she for some reason decided it would be a good thing to have people come from all over Texas to have a pool party. /2
Not long ago, I was staying with a friend for a while before moving to a permanent home. After covid was gaining momentum, she for some reason decided it would be a good thing to have people come from all over Texas to have a pool party. /2
When I suggested it may not have been a good time for gathering, she effectively laughed at me, saying she knew many flight attendants and none were sick. There was no problem. On my end, I thought this was crazy and left for a few days. /3
When I returned there were still a few people there outside of family members.
March 18, a few days after I returned, is seared into my memory. I overheard a 20-something and a 30-something complaining about social distancing because it had been so long (2 weeks, roughly.... /4
March 18, a few days after I returned, is seared into my memory. I overheard a 20-something and a 30-something complaining about social distancing because it had been so long (2 weeks, roughly.... /4
at that point). While I tried to keep my thoughts to myself, I let them know that on that day we surpassed 8,000 dead.
The 23-year-old said, “Is that all?”
I was dumbfounded. And when the 30-something’s mother asked what I had said, he replied “it’s not a big number.” /5
The 23-year-old said, “Is that all?”
I was dumbfounded. And when the 30-something’s mother asked what I had said, he replied “it’s not a big number.” /5
I was even more dumbfounded and getting angry, so exited before unloading.
Sometime later, after my seeing a story about 100 plus flight attendants testing positive, she let me know that it was more than that and two had died. That did not weaken her concern and ... /6
Sometime later, after my seeing a story about 100 plus flight attendants testing positive, she let me know that it was more than that and two had died. That did not weaken her concern and ... /6
it was not long after that I thanked the mother for the stay and left, permanently, prior to yet another party with people from all over the state. My friends wondered if she had a death wish.
“Is that all?” is permanently seared into my memory.
/7
“Is that all?” is permanently seared into my memory.
/7
“Is that all?” for me was a profound, callous disregard for the dead. At that time it was only coming to light that young people got sick and permanently scarred. I thought the US cared for its most vulnerable. That caring went out the window within days, ... /8
being replaced with “they’re all over 80 anyway” and “there’s more important things than living.” It was a disregard for the danger our entire country faced, Covid already having been identified as a global pandemic. Furthermore, “is that all?” was a statement blind... /9
to the fact the goal was a low number.
“Is that all?” demonstrated a couple more things for me.
It showed how so very many people have no comprehension of how easily this virus is transmitted or how exponential growth works, like compound interest. Maybe the old TV ..../10
“Is that all?” demonstrated a couple more things for me.
It showed how so very many people have no comprehension of how easily this virus is transmitted or how exponential growth works, like compound interest. Maybe the old TV ..../10
of “they tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on” could reach some people. I do not know.
It also showed what I perceive as peoples’ inability to comprehend the danger until and unless they are touched personally, whether by them getting sick,.../11
It also showed what I perceive as peoples’ inability to comprehend the danger until and unless they are touched personally, whether by them getting sick,.../11
or a friend or loved one getting sick. And even then it may not get their attention until that friend or loved one dies from Covid.
People outside of NY, like here in TX, had and have a false sense of security because it has not yet blossomed here. Recent images of.... /12
People outside of NY, like here in TX, had and have a false sense of security because it has not yet blossomed here. Recent images of.... /12
crowded boardwalks and pools illustrate this false sense of security and believe it won’t effect them. Unfortunately, at that point it is too late because of the exponential transmission of the virus. Covid continues to be transmitted even in NY. /13
On top of this, it is highly likely there will not be a vaccine for a couple years. Unless this goes away on its own – all experts I’ve read and spoken to say it will not go away – it will be with us for a very long time. /14
So today, a day after the US surpassed 100,000 deaths, not far from the number of US WW1 deaths, I wonder how many people still say, “Is that all?” Is there a magic number which will get peoples’ attention? If that was to happen, one would think it would have occurred by now /15
Instead, I posit people will continue to say, “Is that all?” right until the moment Covid reaches out and touches them personally, either by themselves getting sick, a friend or loved one getting sick, or someone close dies from the virus. /16
This does not address the long-term effects some patients are left with after the illness, such as lung damage.
It is clearly not the entire population who ignore the danger until it touches them personally. But there are many. /17
It is clearly not the entire population who ignore the danger until it touches them personally. But there are many. /17
Those people will help transmit the virus to others, who will transmit to others, and so on.
“Is that all?”
“Is that all?”
