June 25, 2020
Remember kindness?
The news today is alarming. I can’t sugar coat it. The number of infections in the country is rising, not falling. Houston’s biggest hospital’s ICU is at capacity, and the CDC chief says what we have suspected: positive tests are just the tip of the iceberg, estimating as many as 20 million Americans have been infected. Not surprisingly the rise is in young people, but more of them are getting sick and hospitalized than expected. .
What are we to do? We have tools to protect ourselves- distancing, masks, hand washing, being outdoors when we visit. We know they work. But there is pushback about wearing masks, people are angry and are refusing to wear them, claiming their rights are being violated. I respect Governor Inslee who points out again and again, calmly, that masks are a tool that protect people and that “It is fair to protect the people serving you”. I wear my mask for you and you wear your mask for me.
The Guardian has an excellent explanation about antibody testing and how it works.It reports some encouraging news on the vaccine front.
We just need to hang in there and get back to kindness. Consideration of others may seem like a lost art, but most of us are kind and good people. Most everyone doesn’t want to get the infection or give the infection to a loved one. Following the guidelines can help keep you safe despite the increasing infections.
Wash your hand, cover your nose, have some fun while keeping safe six.
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://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/25/viral-immunologist-antibody-tests-covid-19-immuity-coronavirus
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/25/world/coronavirus-updates.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage#link-65d80224
https://www.newsweek.com/texass-largest-hospital-reaches-100-percent-icu-capacity-1513481
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/cdc-chief-says-coronavirus-cases-may-be-10-times-higher-than-reported/
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/us-health-officials-believe-20m-americans-have-had-virus/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/25/us/coronavirus-cases-young-people.html
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/as-covid-19-spreads-in-spokane-inslee-visits-and-meets-unmasked-resistance/