What's Going On with Corona

Well, I’ve been home for a month. That means I’ve been isolated in a mix of bored and overwhelmed that I’ve never felt before and hopefully never feel again. I can’t pretend I’ve got it worse than anyone, though, and that keeps me grateful for what I have.

When I left Brussels on the 15th of March, I thought COVID-19 was going to pass like any of the diseases I have witnessed in my lifetime. The last pandemic, Swine Flu, was a blip in my mind. I don’t remember school being cancelled or any real panic. I, of course, was a child, so I’m not sure anyone would have told me.

Memory is stupid like that. It makes you think that a global pandemic that wiped out between 151,700 and 575,400 people was nothing. Just a couple of people getting sick and something to do with a pig.

As of today, April 13th 2020, there have been 119,090 deaths out of the 1,917,239 infected, which is lower than Swine Flu was, but it’s only been a couple of months compared to the year and a half Swine Flu was around. Not a very promising set of numbers.

People are pretending it’s nearly over. I love optimism, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t understand. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know it is going to include more mask-wearing. My mom made us masks and you can buy them on her Etsy. They’re really good quality as she is a professional Costume Designer, but I am struggling to make the whole vibe work for me. I am going to do it, though, because I care about a future where we can go outside of our homes and hang out with our friends again.

Dr. Fauci (hottie alert) says we should stop shaking hands forever. It’s a stupid tradition we have for no real reason except that we just do it. Fine with me, except I once spent a semester in sixth grade learning how to shake hands properly in Cotillion. I just wish we had figured this out during the Spanish Flu or something in the early 1900’s. Hopefully we’re the ones to finally do it right. Cut off all physical contact.

I have some internship opportunities this summer that I would love to be able to do. I really want work experience and this is my last summer that I’ll still be in school, and I’ve already gotten a dozen emails from a dozen companies telling me that they have suspended their summer programs. Luckily, a company in Greenville is really trying to make sure that if they are open, I can come and join them in business and I am grateful to them. I worry about people who are losing opportunities, especially since we don’t know how long this will last. I’m worried about the economy, but we’re still in early stages even though this feels like it’s been going on forever.

I am encouraged by the acts of kindness I have seen. People who have an extra $5 are donating it, and people are donating their time in any way they can. Everyone from the Kardashians to my next door neighbors is finding a way to help.

So donate blood, give to a food bank, or donate $5 to a local charity of some sort. There’s a lot of ways to give.