― Avijeet Das
Well aren’t we in a fine mess? Just when you think things couldn’t get worse...they do. The novel coronavirus is definitely scary, but the media isn’t helping when they continually refer to it as the “deadly coronavirus.” I understand that they are in business to sell their wares...and panic sells...but no one will benefit from world wide panic.
The problem is that most of the information that is being disseminated is far from factual and therefor far from helpful. Today I read one source that told me 88% of people with this virus have a fever. Another source stated that 40% of people with the virus have fever. One source said it lingers on countertops for three days, while yet another said it lingers a full week. I believe that the media is now just quoting random doctors instead of waiting for legitimate experts.
I can’t figure out the hoarding either. Art needed distilled water for his CPAP machine, and we went from one empty shelf to another for days. We finally found the last two bottles in CVS. Why hoard water? Can’t we just turn on the faucet? Don’t even get me started on the toilet paper shortage. Really? Are we expecting a massive case of a stomach virus too, because that is not a major symptom of the coronavirus.
The biggest danger of this virus is our inability to act responsibly as a society. Why do we have to beg people to wash their hands? Weren’t we taught that as kids? Shouldn’t it be a natural instinct? Why is it so difficult to give up social activities. I live in a community where hundreds of women play cards at the clubhouse every Tuesday. One unknowing carrier can spread it through the group. Just Stop! Social activities can resume when this passes.
We can all live a month or two without movies, shows, restaurants and social gatherings. Stay at home. Experiment on new recipes and watch Netflix. If you think you are invincible and panicking is ridiculous, then think of the elderly man or woman you might infect along the way. Act responsibly and there is no need for panic. Controlling the panic might control the destruction that this is doing to our economy. Unless you have stock in Purell, you know what I am talking about. By the way, those of you who have your guest closet stacked with hand sanitizer bottles...Really? You will never use half of them, but those who need them have none.
I do have an idea about what you can hoard though, so you will have an easier time going through these next few months. Books! The first to get might be The Holdout by Graham Moore, the book I reviewed this week. It is a winner.
As always a complete review of this book follows my blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly