Back to Business and COVID 19

During the seven weeks of stay-at-home orders, which began in March, most non-essential citizens complied. They Netflixed, puzzled, walked and biked in their neighborhoods, zoomed with friends and family, and reacquainted themselves with sit-down family meals and home cooking (yeast, flour, and sourdough kits flew off the grocery shelves, right after toilet paper and Lysol wipes.) We were restless, mourning the loss of our calendar of events- weddings, trips, school, graduation, and darn it I just started tap dance classes! But we stayed put, as witnessed by our cell phone data. We stayed home. And for most of us, it was okay, perhaps even a welcomed change, especially for those introverts amongst us.

            In mid-May, however, Memphians and many Americans were told by well-meaning “re-entry” task force committees that cases of COVID-19 were under control in our communities and it was time to safely re-open with “precautions.” Phase two, or “Back to Business,” lifted restrictions and allowed restaurants, bars, gyms, nail salons, hair parlors, and yes, even tattoo shops to operate. In the hospital, elective cases resumed slowly, and we all hoped the worst had passed.

            We did all of this while not implementing mass testing and tracing.

            We did all of this without a mask ordinance in place.

            We did all of this with no vaccine and no treatment.

            We did all of this with an almost 8% fatality rate in some patient populations.

            And here we are in July, with 130,000 American casualties, and the worst of this virus is yet to come. Cases continue to surge, and locally we are nearing a 3% fatality rate; as horrific as that is, it is even higher in African-American, Hispanic, and elderly populations, and specifically worse in patients with hypertension, so… let’s remain open? “Precautions,” and all will be okay?

            In my opinion, it is time for us to collectively retreat. It is far better to mourn the loss of our calendar events, than mourn the loss of our loved ones. Stay vigilant wearing masks, washing your hands, socially distancing, but most importantly, and as much as you can, stay at home. This too will pass, so be patient and try your very best not to become one.