Coronavirus is Spreading - and I'm Worried
It seems like you can’t go anywhere today without seeing or hearing about the terror sweeping across the world: The Coronavirus. No matter what you call it, Corona, COVID-19, the “Pneumonia-Like” Bug, or even a “23-19” for those Pixar fans out there, one thing is for certain: It’s here and it’s spreading like wildfire.
Stores are running out of basic essentials like toilet-paper, wipes and fever reducer. Not to mention common food staples like bread and milk.
And now schools have officially been closed and events have been canceled.
Even my kids’ scouting events have been postponed or canceled until further notice.
All of these things have been done in order to try to slow or stop the spread of this virus because IT IS spreading.
It’s spreading, and I'm worried.
But not about the virus. I’m worried about the fear.
There is the famous quote that “the only thing to fear is fear itself,” and frankly the fear that’s spreading has me much more worried than the virus.
I’m worried about the lack of basic supplies left in the stores. I’m worried that the terrified consumers that have been buying everything in bulk have taken so much that the rest of us are left without.
I’m worried about those people who need things like fever reducer, Lysol wipes, alcohol swabs, and disinfectant as a part of their daily lives. Like those who are severely immune-compromised due to cancer treatments or other medical needs.
I’m worried about mothers who cannot find things like basic needs for their infants like wipes and formula.
I’m worried about the people who have lost and will continue to lose wages due to their work being shut down or needing to take time off as they no longer have childcare. I know that for many even one day off of work can result in $100 taken away from a paycheck, so I can only imagine their fear as they see several days or even weeks removed from their usual schedule. They have a reason to be fearful, and I worry about them.
I worry about the vendors and crafters who make the majority of their income from things like events and festivals, and with them being canceled that income won’t be coming. I know how one event can make or break a crafter or artist, and I worry about them getting back above water with so many being canceled one right after the other.
I worry about the children that will be losing out on the opportunity for meals now that their free or reduced breakfasts and lunches will be taken away. And though I love how local schools will be offering meals, I worry about the parents who can’t afford to take time off to take their children to get those free meals.
I worry about the teachers and educators who are sure to be panicking about how they will manage to get their already oversized and overstretched classrooms back on task and caught up when schools are back in session.
I even worry about the politicians that are making the tough decisions during this crazy time, because really there are no right answers. All sides of the debate are both right and both wrong, and no one really knows what the best course of action is. And though we can wish and want a plan to be put in place to take care of things like lost wages and sanitation, none of us can truly predict what is needed until we live through it. All we can do is prepare for next time.
But more than the empty store shelves, the lost wages, the missing meals, and the choices with no correct answer I’m worried about the fear; the fear that is spreading faster than the virus.
I worry about the fear that leads people to do absurd and radical things over issues that shouldn’t even be issues. Even in our small town there have been stories of fights breaking out over toilet-paper and Lysol wipes, or terror over others touching their faces. I worry that this fear, this panic, is going to make people do things that only contribute to the chaos. Ultimately I worry that this terror that is spreading across the nation is going to do much, much more damage than this virus could ever do.
So, what do we do in the meantime?
What do I do with all this worry?
I practice precaution, instead of paranoia.
I teach my kids to practice sanitary habits like hand washing and we will reduce our exposure to the outside world by staying away from large crowds and limiting visits to the store. Doing simple things like leaving our shoes off at the door and spending more time at home is going to get us through. But more importantly, we are still going to be living our lives. More importantly, we are going to take this as a life lesson. We are going to get through this by practicing patience and prayer.
Because even though I’m worried, I cannot let the worry, or fear of fear, take away from our lives. And I don’t believe you should either.
And in the end, remember that this virus, is impacting everyone, in multiple states, in multiple countries, on multiple continents all over the world, and not just the ones catching it.
