There are so many things I’d like to say. As with everything, there seems to be a great divide across the U. S. One group seems to think the media, the President, the Vice-President, the Governors, the school boards . . all the way down . . are hyping the COVID-19 “crisis” and making it worse and the other group is wishing they would all do more – close down everything as has happened in Italy.
I am not educated enough or in the know enough to understand it. The bottom line for me is knowing there are “x” number of ICU beds and “x” number of ventilators and, if things happen here as have happened in other countries, there will be way too few ICU beds and ventilators. I heard a doctor in Italy say they have to “triage” the patients . . decide which ones have the best chance of surviving. He didn’t give these examples – they’re mine but say a 70 year old man with a heart condition or diabetes needs a ventilator and there’s only one available. Another patient is 60 with no underlying condition. In Italy, they are having to decide who gets the ventilator and who doesn’t — basically deciding who lives and who probably doesn’t. It’s a nightmare for the doctors and just as bad for patients.
Apparently what they’re trying to do with the “social distancing”, is flatten the curve, which, as I understand it means this: If 50,000 people are going to need ventilators, try to make it so 20,000 need them next week, 15,000 need them later and 15,000 need them a little later. If all 50,000 need them at once, there are going to be way more deaths.
Of course, I’m believing what I’m hearing. That’s all I can do at this point.
As I said in a comment on Facebook to someone complaining about the restrictions . . This is unprecedented. The President, Governors and on down are going to be criticized if they do too little or if they do too much. At the current time, no one knows what is right. Months from now, we’ll look back and say either that they should have done more or what they did was ridiculous and cost jobs. Hindsight is always 20/20. I would not want to be in their shoes. No one wants to see jobs lost but no one wants to see lives lost.
Please remember that you may be young without underlying conditions, but some of us are not. Some of us are older, have conditions that would be life threatening with this virus.
No one knows what’s going to happen; how bad this could get; how quickly it will disappear. It’s ok to disagree with how it’s being handled but please . . don’t be rude, call ugly names. If you pray, our leaders, our country, the people across this country could use all the prayers we can lift right now.
Chris Jensen says
Well said.
Dottie says
So very true.
Linda R says
One official said today—if we overreact we’ll never know about it. If we under-react, we’ll know about it right away. Your words are wise, Judy.
Penny Holliday says
Great post Judy! Some things that all need to be aware. Then think about especially the effects of the corona virus depending on age &/or general health!
Laura Deaver says
Well said!
Shari Chastain says
Well said.
Janice says
Just heard a piece on the news that said basically the same as you. It was an Italian doctor having to choose between a 70 year old and a 20 year old and giving the ventilator to the one who has the best chance of surviving-the 20 year old. Very sobering. As of tomorrow all our schools in the province will be closed. That makes 6 provinces that have closed all schools. All gathering places from day cares to sporting facilities are closed and shopping malls have reduced their hours. I just hope a bunch of teenagers aren’t hanging out at the mall starting tomorrow because they’ve got ‘nothing’ to do!
Dorothy Matheson says
As a retired RN who remembers the days before vacines for measles and chicken pox and how fast it could go through a school. Oh please this is ever so important to do all we can. I am isolated at home with my 94 year old Mother. There is no way she will survive if she gets this.
Joan Irons says
The medical professionals (Doctors,nurses) in my family are telling me that everything is as bad as we are hearing and probably worse if we don’t practice everything they are telling us to do – basically stay home unless absolutely necessary to go out. They are doing the grocery shopping etc. for our elderly relatives so they don’t have to go out.
Rebecca in SoCal says
I just read a post by an epidemiologist. It went:
Everyone: Why did they close all the offices and schools and make us hide at home? Hardly anyone even got sick!
Epidemiologists: Right, that was the idea.
Everyone: I mean no one I know died at all. Total overreaction.
Epidemiologists: …
I am looking at the situation not in personal fear, but as something where we all need to cooperate to slow the spread…in other words, stay in for the sake of others.
I hadn’t realized that what you said was what “flatten the curve” was about. Good to know.
Amy Makson says
Well put! We need to support each other now, not point fingers. There will be plenty of time for that when we get to the other side of this. I pray and hope that when we do, we can work together to fix some of the most apparent problems of not being prepared for something like this… and at least make steps toward a better tomorrow. MEanwhile prayers for all affected.
Susan Nixon says
I’m sad to see that, as in almost everything in our times, people are dividing and not unifying over this situation. If all you can do is complain, I really want to say … just shut up. Rude, I know. There are so many things going on and most of us have no clue just how many, or how serious they are.
Marcille S Irwin says
Amen to that!