Anyone else think enough is enough... ?

[LSUmiss]

IMHO everybody who feels like they'd rather "take their chances" should read some of these stories about what it's like to be on a ventilator. Or worse, be in a country where the health care system is so overwhelmed that there is no ICU bed or ventilator for you. Because that's the chance you (yes, you, regardless of age or health status) are taking.

On a ventilator alone in a hospital without family by your side. It’s terrifying. I’m only 41 & didn’t seem to be high risk until this hypertension thing. My biggest fear right now is leaving behind a 2 yr old son.

 

[Christine]

OP, I, too, understand your frustration and your concern. No one wants to lose it all. I'm lucky in that no one in my immediate family or circle of friends is a small business owner at risk. But I do think we have to look back to other tough times we've been through (many of these times were well before any of us were born) and we have to get through it to protect people's health.

I think the answer to this will be two-fold:

1. Keep of phases of social-distancing/shut downs to make sure that hospitals can keep up. This isn't limited to being there to save only COVID-19 patients. If there are too many virus sufferers in the hospital, then cancer patients can't keep up with their chemo schedules, people who get in car accidents can't get the treatment they need, people dying of other conditions conditions continue to die alone. It's super important to support the medical community and keep them from being overwhelmed.

2. Antibody test. We need that FAST. As soon as we have them, I believe people should get a certificate stating that they've had it. These people should be allowed to come back to work and start providing services such as opening shops, cutting hair, etc.

 

[godisney14]

with or without the flu

I kind of stopped there.

I know you had good intentions writing this piece.
But, this isn’t just a flu. I thought we were all past this stage by now.

 

[mikehn]

For me, enough is enough was three weeks ago

 

[godisney14]

2. Antibody test. We need that FAST. As soon as we have them, I believe people should get a certificate stating that they've had it. These people should be allowed to come back to work and start providing services such as opening shops, cutting hair, etc.

I’d like to see how Germany, or another country, fares first with such program (I believe Germany was the country thinking of doing this antibody cert you are speaking of).

When I hear about such a certificate, I think of all the illegal abuse there can happen with so many people itching to go back. Think of taxi medallions.

 

[LSUmiss]

I do understand. I have friends and family losing their jobs. I do not know how you expect me and my husband to fight. He is at risk. Our parents are at risk. Heck with asthma my kids in their twenties are at risk. I don't have the tools to fight. I will not be going back out there until a vaccine is available, it dies out, etc. That is fine if others want to at some point, but until it is pretty much gone, I'm not. There are A LOT of us like that. Enough, that I doubt the economy will come back until we can feel safe. It isn't only me. It is my mother-in-law and mom. I will not put their health in jeopardy. Also, as Louisiana is showing us diabetes and hypertension are HUGE risk factors and a HUGE problem in a large portion of our society.

That’s exactly the thing. The economy is going to be a mess until feel ppl feel safe to get back out there so it really doesn’t matter if things open or not.

 

[cabanafrau]

On a ventilator alone in a hospital without family by your side. It’s terrifying. I’m only 41 & didn’t seem to be high risk until this hypertension thing. My biggest fear right now is leaving behind a 2 yr old son.

Sadly that's not an irrational fear. Hopefully with careful behavioral choices you can make it unlikely at a level as statistically close to zero as possible, but you are not irrational to think that way.

This is about an older person, but she was beloved by her family nonetheless and was vibrant and vital as recently as the turn of this New Year. A member of our congregation suddenly required some rehab care after a surgery in February. Her case proved tricky and because of difficulties she wound up having to stay longer than anticipated. She was still there and unable to leave when our care facilities shut out visitors because of the virus threat. She was struggling greatly being separated from her family and they were campaigning for birthday cards to be sent to her for an upcoming birthday with her being so down and isolated. Late last week she became ill very suddenly and passed quite quickly from the virus. She may have been older but she was nowhere near ready to go -- and I can assure you her family isn't hurting any less right now. The trauma to her children and grandchildren is hideous.

 

[kiddo76]

Mispost

 

[MillauFr]

For me, enough is enough was three weeks ago

Just a few more weeks. Projected deaths are projected to be down to zero by mid May.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattl...ations-may-have-already-peaked-in-washington/

 

[kiddo76]

I am so thankful that "The Greatest Generation" didn't decide enough was enough and go about life as if nothing was happening in the world.

While Americans are known to be defiant, we are also extremely adaptive, as are humans in general. We will make it through this.

 

[LSUmiss]

I’d like to see how Germany, or another country, fares first with such program (I believe Germany was the country thinking of doing this antibody cert you are speaking of).

When I hear about such a certificate, I think of all the illegal abuse there can happen with so many people itching to go back. Think of taxi medallions.

I thought about certificates for emotional support animals .

 

[godisney14]

Just a few more weeks. Projected deaths are projected to be down to zero by mid May.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattl...ations-may-have-already-peaked-in-washington/

From that linked article:
“But the improved outlook is contingent on maintaining strict social-distancing measures, including closure of schools and nonessential businesses, at least through the end of May...”

 

[Praying Colonel]

BTW, revised IHME estimates project <100 Covid deaths/day nationally by May 23, 0 by June 19:



What we're doing is working. Let's not go wobbly now.

 

[PlainJane]

A lot of the issue is millions of people’s livelihoods were taken away and THEN the security net programs were so overwhelmed that people aren’t getting SNAP, unemployment, Medicaid, the stimulus checks, a lot of people with kids are waiting forever and a day for their refund due to the child credit, etc. These things finally showing up months later does not help people feed their kids, pay rent, etc. NOW. The system being overwhelmed and being unable to help people is making people feel compelled to go back to work.

It’s easy for an essential worker to say “don’t work” to everyone else because they can still feed their kids and they have no concern of foreclosure or bankruptcy AND it protects them. It doesn’t make the advice untrue. I think it’s best for non-essential to stay home, but that doesn’t change that it’s easier to say that when you’re not scared about how you’re going to feed your family. And I know there is a risk of health doing this work, I’m not minimizing that, but the possibility of homelessness, going hungry, not being able to afford your kid’s prescription is also very scary.

 

[VandVsmama]

I think it's normal to have really mixed feelings about this like the OP does. I, too, have found myself feeling the same way many times since this all began. You guys should go back and re-read the OP's disclaimer at the beginning of the post.

The whole situation just really and truly sucks is a huge way!

 

[LSUmiss]

A lot of the issue is millions of people’s livelihoods were taken away and THEN the security net programs were so overwhelmed that people aren’t getting SNAP, unemployment, Medicaid, the stimulus checks, a lot of people with kids are waiting forever and a day for their refund due to the child credit, etc. These things finally showing up months later does not help people feed their kids, pay rent, etc. NOW. The system being overwhelmed and being unable to help people is making people feel compelled to go back to work.

It’s easy for an essential worker to say “don’t work” to everyone else because they can still feed their kids and they have no concern of foreclosure or bankruptcy AND it protects them. It doesn’t make the advice untrue. I think it’s best for non-essential to stay home, but that doesn’t change that it’s easier to say that when you’re not scared about how you’re going to feed your family. And I know there is a risk of health doing this work, I’m not minimizing that, but the possibility of homelessness, going hungry, not being able to afford your kid’s prescription is also very scary.

You can’t feed your kids if you’re dead either.

 

[NYCgrrl]

You can’t feed your kids if you’re dead either.

...you can if you're a zombie...

 

[PlainJane]

You can’t feed your kids if you’re dead either.

True, but most of the people scared they won’t be able to provide basics necessities for their family are highly unlikely to die of Covid-19. The point of my post was more that the lag in safety net is what is making people panic and want to go back to work, not that they should.

 

[LSUmiss]

True, but most of the people scared they won’t be able to provide basics necessities for their family are highly unlikely to die of Covid-19. The point of my post was more that the lag in safety net is what is making people panic and want to go back to work, not that they should.

How do you know those ppl are highly unlikely to die? Here 70% of deaths have been African-American & most socioeconomically disadvantaged. I agree the lag in safety net is a problem.

 

[PlainJane]

How do you know those ppl are highly unlikely to die? Here 70% of deaths have been African-American & most socioeconomically disadvantaged. I agree the lag in safety net is a problem.

Age is a huge factor. Which was not addressed. I did read an article that black men were being disproportionately affected, but it didn’t seem to indicate that a 40 year old dad was at high risk.