April 1, 2020
April Fools
Seattle is almost serene right now. A sunny day in early spring shows off the glory of the city. Everyone is wondering when the surge is going to hit, the projections keep changing. And that means the physical distancing is working. We have flattened the curve and are saving lives. We are now projected to have enough beds and will need just a few extra respirators. But it is really hard to predict and variables keep changing, because we are learning to make a difference. And we have state and local governments that function well, for the most part, and our leaders do seem to care. Today, not only is Governor Inslee extending the Stay At Home Order, he is calling on businesses to make personal protective gear. This leadership makes a difference.
Many states are feeling abandoned and it hurts to watch. Lives are truly at stake. The people most at risk are healthcare workers. We as a nation should help every state have equipment that works and give the support they need, not having people on the front lines afraid they won't have the gear to protect themselves. We should be encouraging everyone everywhere to shelter in place, as much as possible. Yes, the economy is devastated, but the steeper the curve, the harder it will be to recover. The more grief, guilt, and blame we will all feel. Even it gets really tough here in Seattle, we won’t have the heartbreaking, overwhelming grief that is already occurring in New York, New Orleans, and Michigan. I weep for them and I weep for us.
But I must come again to the fact that we have flattened the curve, we are showing our love and concern, we are being good citizens. This is no joke. Don’t give up. And despite the grief and fear we are all feeling, we still need to laugh and play and be with each other, just stay 6 feet apart and wear a mask! There are some wonderful easy mask projects out there and you don’t need to sew. I feel safer already.
Oh, and wash your hands.
And finally, my caveat is that this is my experience and my opinions, which are subject to change as more information is available, and not related to the organization I work for. Thanks for reading.
https://xkcd.com/2287/
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-its-so-freaking-hard-to-make-a-good-covid-19-model/
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/coronavirus-daily-news-updates-april-1-what-to-know-today-about-covid-19-in-the-seattle-area-washington-state-and-the-nation/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/us/politics/coronavirus-ventilators.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/coronavirus-protective-gear-stockpile-depleted/2020/04/01/44d6592a-741f-11ea-ae50-7148009252e3_story.html
http://blog.japanesecreations.com/no-sew-face-mask-with-handkerchief-and-hair-tie