The world is now battling the COVID-19 virus. Many nations have instituted closed borders. Here in the United States, several states have issued “shelter in place” guidelines. The San Francisco Bay Area led the nation with this decree.
Unfortunately, this president keeps referring to the virus as the Chinese virus. He doesn’t think that there is anything wrong with doing that. I have to shake my head and wonder why he continues to call it the Chinese virus. That is not what it is. It is the COVID-19 virus. Renaming does a lot of harm to our relationship with China. It is hurtful to the many millions of Americans who claim Chinese or Asian ancestry. So, what will happen if we need to get more supplies from China? I won’t blame them if they refuse to do it.
The rapid increase in the number of people exposed to this virus continues apace. The doubling time is now happening in 2.5 days. The frightening scenario is that we won’t be able to flatten out the curve of the pandemic in time. Flattening out the curve doesn’t mean that the coronavirus is defeated. It just means that the medical establishment has additional time to address this before the system becomes overloaded.
As if this wasn’t enough, we are inevitably heading into a severe recession. Many people have lost or are losing their jobs. Businesses will shutter as we go through this. And yet, Mt. Trump waxes poetic about how “beautiful” the economy will be when we come out of this pandemic. Honestly, within a week, people will need to figure out how to pay the rent or the mortgage. All of this is fueling a steep decline in the stock market. I don’t think we will see a bottom in the stock market. Confidence needs to return to the government.
What would simplify the messaging about the seriousness of this situation is for this president or the government to send one clear message: STAY HOME! Yes, we need to go out to get some fresh air. But, we can do this with the social distancing of 6 feet between us. Yes, we need to eat—go ahead and shop at your local grocery store and keep that social distance. Wash your hands and disinfect anything you touch. PERIOD.
Mr. Trump has declared himself a “wartime president.” There have been other more notable presidents that have donned the cape of a wartime president. It remains to be seen whether this man can rise to the challenge. I fear that he may take the idea of being a wartime president too far. Will we see the delay in the election because of his mindset? Only time will tell.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Stay secure, safe, and healthy.
Empty shelves that would normally be filled with toilet paper and paper towels. Who knew that the pandemic would unleash this kind of hoarding?