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Coronavirus Calm for the Community
The coronavirus is real, and a serious threat. The reality is, the illness is spreading exponentially and these are just the known, confirmed cases. Maybe it’s not a huge risk factor for you, but to your elderly neighbors or immunocompromised family members, it could be a death sentence. But does that mean you have to hoard toilet paper and buy $100 containers of hand sanitizer from eBay? Is it time to sell off everything you own and invest in Bitcoin like it’s 2017 all over again? Which is more dangerous, Coronavirus or Coronavirus fear, and how can we protect ourselves the best?
Americans aren’t going to like this answer, but the best way we can protect each other isn’t from turning to a lifetime supply of hoarded consumer goods. Social distancing is the best way to reduce the risk of illness, but at some point, we will have to stand up for each other. For the same reason you (hopefully) got a flu shot this year, not for you but for your community’s newborn infants, chemo patients, and other immunocompromised people, social distancing and some extra sanitary measures are key.
Does it suck to cut down on travel, public events, and, even more scarily, income if you are a working person? Absolutely.
And on that topic, we must acknowledge that our country is set up neither for community connections nor for social distancing, especially for the millions of people who live paycheck to paycheck at hourly or freelance jobs with no benefits and the millions more whose access to health care is precarious at best. There is a lot of privilege bound up in the statement that we should just stay home. Here is where it’s important to stick up for other human beings. If you can work or study from home, take 5 minutes a day to advocate for those who can’t. Consider boycotting companies that force workers, especially poorly-paid hourly employees, to work when it would be best to socially distance. If you have extra resources, why not reach out (Figuratively and digitally!) and ask people you know if you can contribute to help? If someone only makes $100 a day, even $20 can make a big difference. Simply checking in with those who live alone or who have chronic or other conditions will also go a long way. You shouldn’t panic, but you should be worried, and consider this an opportunity to relearn excellent hygiene habits and connect with those you care about.
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