COVID Update July 2: Why not to freak out. 1/

Yes, the news is bad. Yes, more than ever we all know this was preventable. And yes, it’s a sad & difficult time. No getting around that. 2/

If you have personally lost someone or been sick, as so many I know have, it sad— you and your family have been underappreciated, your chance to mourn has been too limited, and I know it will take time to heal.

But as a country, and a planet, it isn’t time to despair. 3/

Today’s challenges, while they can feel overwhelming, are ones we are better positioned for than any time in the history of the world to take on. 4/

Despairing that we don’t appear to be taking them on well in the US? Well you’re right.

But there are a few things to feel good about. 5/

1) Bad responses from the government don’t get hidden for long. Things are more self correcting here than they seem. If Trump were living in the world he wanted to where he controlled the press, we wouldn’t know and he couldn’t be pressed on things. 6/

While he is slow to respond to pressure & yes, likely won’t have a strategy, when things are exposed, others can solve them.7/

2) Science— just as the virus works invisibly until it overwhelms is, so does science.

Even though the virus moves exponentially & can overwhelm us, it doesn’t overwhelm science. 8/

Things that were deadly in April are already less deadly in June & July. Anti-clotting, vent procedures, steroid use, new therapies are all promising.

People will get the virus still but more will live. 9/

While it hasn’t all been pleasant, we have also adjusted in ways to make COVID less deadly. People with health issues who can are being more careful. Older people are being better protected. We travel less. Bars indoor dining are being closed back down or will as things worsen.10

There’s a correcting mechanism. Yes we pull it too late. Yes we’ve mismanaged it. But people are despairing that we can’t control the virus. We can. We just must be willing to tolerate less death. And as each state experiences it, it sinks in. 11/

Gov Abbott required all Texans to where masks in public today. It is a good idea whatever day it happens.

Yesterday always better than today. But at least it’s not tomorrow. 12/

Instead of despairing that this will go on forever or we won’t be able to control it, we have to minimizing future mistakes, and most importantly, to help each other get through this. 13/

Empathy for people who’ve lost their business of 20 years. Or who worry about paying the bills. Or who have to go to an unsafe job. Or who feel alone...

... is as important to us as empathy for people who have suffered health issues. 14/

There are people who haven’t lost someone yet & may think this is overblown. I hope they never have to learn. They have faced other losses in this time. We all have. 15/

Listen to @GovWhitmer describe what it’s like as she’s lost 3 family members & consoled so many others. You can’t wish this on anybody. 16/ http://Smarturl.it/inthebubble 

Despair is at its greatest when we focus on the uncertainty instead of accomplishing something today. When fingers pointed— threats against public health officials, the mask-no mask family trauma.

But it feels best when we’re sewing masks & delivering meals for others. 17/

One mistake I make is sometimes I get too upset about the last issue we should have prevented instead of focusing on preventing the next one— where there are other lives to be saved. 18/

I spent some time trying to persuade Arizona & Texas to close bars & allow masks. I was upset when they waited too long.

But then NY, NJ, CA, and NC saw those mistakes & acting more forcefully. One gov I know was about to open restaurants & decided not to. 19/

And it reminded me to focus on what I can influence in whatever amount I can. And to learn from problems not dwell on them.

And someone needs each of us— a child, a student, a parent, a lonely neighbor. I’m so damn lucky I can never do enough to earn it. 20/

So I’ve started talking to what I call Wave 1, Phase 3 areas.
-Phase 1: NE, Chicago, NO, Detroit. -Ph 2– Houston, Phoenix, Miami, LA, Charlotte.

Many of the Phase 3 areas think they’ve escaped. That they have been more cunning than the virus. No, you’re just smaller. 21/

If people don’t travel there as much, if you’re outside more (than the Southern states), if you haven’t had superspreader events, that’s good— but you must prepare for your turn.

Govs are obsessed w public opinion. Letting them know you value life & health sends a message.22/

Phase 3 areas have to start preparing now & must learn from the first 2 phases. And they have to hear from you— because the fringes bang louder than their numbers.

Humility, preparation & diligence helps. Focus & action, not panic, will carry the day. 23/

It’s also tempting to focus too much on Trump. His response has been abhorant on a historical level.

As I wrote in @USATODAY yesterday, the President only reluctantly spends time on the pandemic but there are leaders around the world to model. 24/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/07/01/supreme-court-save-obamacare-reject-trump-republican-argument-column/5349014002/

But he is not the country. We are. And he needs to hear the bang of out anger.

But if we turn to what we can influence we will succeed faster. 25/

This virus will become something we learn how to live with. Maybe we will have to adjust for a while.

But adjusting doesn’t mean avoiding joy. Adjusting doesn’t mean putting life off. Adjusting doesn’t means living in a constant state of obsessing about the virus. 26/

It may be we miss a football season. It may mean we miss a basketball season. It may mean a year of school is haywire. We may miss our parents or kids.

But the only thing unrecoverable is a life we don’t save. 27/

We will get through this. The hardest time will pass. Whether early next year or soon after or most likely, little by little, the hardest parts will pass.

And we’ll be left with a legacy of what we did & how many we lost. 28/

What prompted me to write this?

An outpouring of hopelessness I’ve seen lately. It’s not like I haven’t felt a wave of it. Or worked myself into a frenzy to avoid thinking about it. I have done both. 29/

Thankfully, there is much to do and I’m lucky to be here to be one more person to have a chance to do something.

Despite everything, the best time for optimism is in what feel dark hours. 30/

Just like the seeds to this pandemic were sown without our noticing itC the seeds to our recovery can be sown now. /end