Coronavirus cases are increasing at drastic rates in some states. Some people are alarmed with this rise in coronavirus cases, while other people (including some elected officials) downplay the increase in cases by saying out that there’s more coronavirus testing than before, and that because of more testing, there are more cases.
I’m here to say that there is reason for alarm in some places. But the reason for alarm is not because of the increase in coronavirus cases in many places, but because many places are struggling to adequately handle coronavirus cases so severe that urgent intervention is needed.
In places hard-hit by the coronavirus, the local health care systems get completely overwhelmed by coronavirus patients. In parts of Italy, the health care system got so overwhelmed that doctors had to make heart-wrenching decisions about who to try saving and who to let die.[1] In my hometown of New York, response times for emergency calls surged significantly at the height of the coronavirus, which in turn further endangered individuals already at risk.[2] In Alabama, fellow blogger Kim reported a few weeks ago that hospitals in Montgomery were so overwhelmed that they were needing to start sending patients to Birmingham, which is 90 miles away from Montgomery; this additional wait for treatment also further endangered individuals already at risk.[3] In places like these, the health care systems get so overwhelmed that lives are put at risk or worse—lives are lost. That is reason for alarm.
But, how is one to respond to the alarm? I have five words to say: wear masks and socially distance. People should do those two things, as much as possible. I know people want to give their friends a hug, and I know that the masks can feel hot during the summer, but this is not about you. It’s about others. Namely, it’s about saving others’ lives. It’s about making sure that our emergency responders, nurses, and doctors don’t get overwhelmed. It’s about making sure that the immunocompromised don’t catch the virus and end up seriously ill (or dead) because of irresponsible actions from others. If you don’t want to wear masks and socially distance for yourself, do it for others, because wearing a mask and practicing social distancing are the two best ways to do your part to limit the spread of this pandemic.
Note that I will not have a post next Monday because of the July 4th holiday the previous Saturday.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200428-coronavirus-how-doctors-choose-who-lives-and-dies?ocid=global_future_rss
[2] https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/tracking-nycs-coronavirus-fight-from-911-call-to-er-door/2369206/
[3] https://cadburypom.wordpress.com/2020/05/22/family-fridays-9/
Blind Injustice 
Another concern Brendan is the number of people under the age of fifty who are being hospitalized with severe symptoms. In Texas one hospital system just reported that more than 1/3 of their cases were younger people.
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I wasn’t aware of that, so thanks for bringing this to my attention.
I originally thought that the virus was particularly difficult for older persons and the immunocompromised, so it’s definitely concerning that so many younger people are getting hit as well.
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From what I know, no one seems to have an answer. Is it mutating?🤷🏻♀️
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I hope not…
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My cousin, who lives in Texas caught it in a hospital where she was undergoing treatment. It was someone else in the treatment center who came in without a mask and yet was sick and coughing. It’s not 100% effective but it’s the best we’ve got at the moment. Wear a mask! Thanks for posting.
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And thanks for writing about your cousin’s experience. This sounds like a cautionary tale for the mask-wearing, for sure.
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Why do you use ” Socially Distance.” Could you change the wording to say Physically Distance or Medically Distance? Sometimes the power of words means a lot.
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I use the term “socially distance” because that is the term used among reputable media and medical professionals to describe one of the things we should be doing right now. Said media and medical professionals don’t really use the terms you suggest that much, so I’d be concerned that changing the terms would only confuse people.
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It might be the other way around.
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Massachusetts is doing okay and I am really concerned with people coming here for vacations, I don’t live in a vacation area but that doesn’t stop the spread. The state asks people to self quarantine, but seriously if they are coming for vacation who is going to stay inside for 14 days?
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I think that’s a legitimate question. I think there’s also the question of whether this is a quarantine that will be enforced, and if so, how. After all, an unenforced law is about as pointless as having no law in the first place.
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It does put the onus on the individual and well we can see how well that has worked elsewhere!
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Thank you. I am living in dread because New Hampshire which is one of the two very low states and my town in New Hampshire gets a TRump rally next Saturday. Talk about reversing a god trend.
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It’s scary when people are no longer scared of the soaring numbers. Last night , it’s 135,000 covid19 deaths in America but the gatherings and not wearing mask continues . My healthcare system is preparing for at least 8 months, can’t imagine what America looks like by then. Everyone has to work together & take the virus seriously.
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I agree. We all need to take this virus seriously. But I’m also concerned that for some, this is just some “hoax” until it affects them.
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For those who think it’s still a hoax, the only way for them to realize it’s real is sadly to experience the pain & suffering of those who did. It’s not just hurting people physically but economically. Most of us don’t have millions to cushion unemployment. No bailouts for the poor and middle incomes .
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Yep. Sad as it is to say this, I think you’re right that it will take pain and suffering for people to realize it’s not a hoax.
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Wear you Mask. Social Distance. It’s not rocket science and it’s really not difficult.
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Yep. And I just heard that according to the head of the CDC (I think it was the CDC), we could control this virus in 4-8 weeks if everyone wore a mask.
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I sure wish people would just do it! I’m sorry to say Brendan but I don’t want the Canadian/US border open until some common sense seeps into more of the populace. I love the usa. I have a lot of friends and family there but they’re really not doing themselves any favors with such irresponsible behaviour.
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No need to feel sorry. Frankly, I’m American and I don’t think Americans should be going around to other parts of the world right now. Our country has been too nutty with how we’ve handled COVID.
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So agreed. It’s still nuts. We’re far from perfect here but at least it’s not a political issue it’s viewed as a health crisis. Keep writing. Keep fighting. Followed you btw. Always good to stay in touch from the west coast to the east.
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