03-28-2020, 07:29 AM
I totally agree with RabbiO here. I also think that we need to distinguish fearmongering from rational broadcasting of facts. I do not know the situation in the US well, but in Europe I feel we moved from sensationalist headlines to calm reports and this reduced actual panic (I.e., thinking we are all gonna die or run out of toilet paper). Our stores are starting to remain stocked again as people are now understanding that the situation will last for a while.
We are under lockdown. Businesses are finding new and creative ways to handle the situation (everything is closed except for essentials). And there is governmental help, for both businesses and people (e.g., people cannot be evicted due to not being able to pay rent, but the govnmt in turn helps the landlords, too). It is a hit on the economy, but we will recover. And first and foremost, the economy is not more important than human lives, and in our country, a high importance is placed on also helping those affected by this in the long run.
While it is true that young people recover more likely, it still remains unclear if there will be lasting effects. A "mild" version may still include pneumonia and severe symptoms, just not necessary hospitalization or ventilation. The problem is that this disease is an addition to the annual flu. Hospitals are just equipped to handle the "regular" amount of patients, plus a little extra capacity. But that has been surpassed weeks ago and this will affect regular treatments as well. This is part of why we all need to support the measures, not only the subjective risk to personally get the disease.
At the moment, a lot of younger people having severe symptoms are emerging, too. A famous musician (the lead of Rammstein) was in ICU, young people, young as teens and twens are dying, with no underlying conditions. A friend of mine currently has it and it's very painful for him - he is fit, a free diver and outdoor type. And according to the findings of Iceland which tested nearly half of their population, people can carry the virus and be asymptomatic in up to 50% of cases, but still infect others so you just cannot know and use your good judgement like with other infections.
I completely understand this being a challenge to all of us and it is hard to change our routines and ways. But I also think we have this responsibility to care for our community by distancing at the moment. I saw an oecumenic worship last Sunday (Christian, Muslim and Jewish! All live broadcast from Berlin!) And they found beautiful words to say that we need to show our love now by doing what feels contraintuitive right now - increasing the distance out of love.
We are under lockdown. Businesses are finding new and creative ways to handle the situation (everything is closed except for essentials). And there is governmental help, for both businesses and people (e.g., people cannot be evicted due to not being able to pay rent, but the govnmt in turn helps the landlords, too). It is a hit on the economy, but we will recover. And first and foremost, the economy is not more important than human lives, and in our country, a high importance is placed on also helping those affected by this in the long run.
While it is true that young people recover more likely, it still remains unclear if there will be lasting effects. A "mild" version may still include pneumonia and severe symptoms, just not necessary hospitalization or ventilation. The problem is that this disease is an addition to the annual flu. Hospitals are just equipped to handle the "regular" amount of patients, plus a little extra capacity. But that has been surpassed weeks ago and this will affect regular treatments as well. This is part of why we all need to support the measures, not only the subjective risk to personally get the disease.
At the moment, a lot of younger people having severe symptoms are emerging, too. A famous musician (the lead of Rammstein) was in ICU, young people, young as teens and twens are dying, with no underlying conditions. A friend of mine currently has it and it's very painful for him - he is fit, a free diver and outdoor type. And according to the findings of Iceland which tested nearly half of their population, people can carry the virus and be asymptomatic in up to 50% of cases, but still infect others so you just cannot know and use your good judgement like with other infections.
I completely understand this being a challenge to all of us and it is hard to change our routines and ways. But I also think we have this responsibility to care for our community by distancing at the moment. I saw an oecumenic worship last Sunday (Christian, Muslim and Jewish! All live broadcast from Berlin!) And they found beautiful words to say that we need to show our love now by doing what feels contraintuitive right now - increasing the distance out of love.