Viral Politics

COVID-19 infections grow nationwide. The numbers reveal a spread from coast to coast and from Mexico to Canada. Each of those nations have their own pandemic story to tell. Ours continues unabated. The swell of new cases embraces the entire landmass of North America.


Infections grow in number because that is the nature of the disease, its epidemiology. But we know of more infections because we are testing more people. Before now we were counting new cases as they became known, usually by interacting with healthcare facilities and staff. Hospitalizations were another statistic, but not everyone with the virus needs to be hospitalized.


Then we learned some ‘patients’ were asymptomatic, that is, they have or had the disease but didn’t exhibit any of the symptoms of the malady. While they actively had the virus, they spread it to others unknowingly. With more testing, we are learning that more of these patients are present in our population.


Then we must consider those who have had the virus and add them to the total infected number. We also need to test them for antibodies remaining in their system and determine if they are immune from re-infection, and if so, to what degree?


As we gain experience with the virus – its emergence, its infection, its symptoms, its course of treatment, its range of in-hospital care requirements, its survival rates and carry on symptoms after recovery, re-infection possibilities, and so much more, we gain even more knowledge on how to treat the virus as well as the means to avoid it.


Testing is the answer - before, after and during infection. Even then, testing has multiple appearances, methods and results. Knowing what they each mean is needed as well.


With so much unknown, and with consequences often severe, it is no wonder that health professionals are telling us – begging us – to remain home, remain socially distanced, and defensive in our actions to avoid the disease in the first place.


So many people have been affected by this disease, we do not have the full picture yet of its statistical presence or affect. Think about that alone. The longer we encounter and deal with the virus, the more we have still to learn. And adapt to.


The general public does not know all of these things. We must rely on those who know more to guide us on our actions. We can obey or not. That is our individual choice. But the consequences of being wrong affect others well beyond our single body. That is when the ‘public good’ enters the picture and becomes subject to authorities of society and government.


In a democracy we each have a voice and free will. We can choose to use it as we see fit. The responsibility for the consequences of our actions, however, belong to each of us alone. If I choose to ignore the quarantine rules, then I alone am responsible for getting the virus and spreading it to others. Shame on me.


It is best for each of us to stay put, do our best, and sit this pandemic out.


For the life of me I do not understand why some protestors need a gun, especially military grade rifles, to make their point. That alone is a threat larger than the pandemic itself.


May 4, 2020