Image courtesy of Stockvault.
There’s been talk in the news recently about a reduction of coronavirus cases here in the United States. The trend is known as “flattening the curve” for those unfamiliar with it. The idea is that while many people might get sick, it can be slowed down so that our healthcare system can actually treat as many people as possible.
With talk of the curve flattening – the graph of people getting sick and dying – some authorities have already called for an end to various protective orders like limiting group size or closed non-essential businesses. The stories that have stood out so far is an attempt by the Kansas legislature to let large groups gather for Easter and the U.S. Attorney General referring to protective laws as “draconian” (see the link above).
I can understand why people might be eager to get back to a normal life. But if we think of the rate of infection and mortality as a curve, that curve wants to go up. It takes a bunch of people taking precautions to help keep it from going too high. Pulling down this curve requires constant effort.
It’s good to see that we’re making progress here and elsewhere in the world. The efforts we’re all making are starting to pay off. Continued effort is what we all need to put this moment in history behind us.
One other thing: it’s good to see people around the world working together.
Diseases don’t care where anyone’s from. They spread because they take advantage of how people interact with each other. Across the world, there are many stories of different places changing how they do things so everyone can stay safe. All it takes is someone going from one place to the next to infect new people.
What this means is that everyone, everywhere, has something to contribute to this effort. Sure, there have been some instances of people doing unsafe things. Most people in most places have decided they share humanity with each other rather than putting themselves above everyone else. Across borders and language barriers, people have been working hard to contribute to the end of a pandemic.
I wish I knew enough languages (and had enough fonts) to express my gratitude to everyone. Humanity’s had quite a scare over the past few months. More people have risen to the challenge than have hidden from it. It’s only when a crisis happens that we know what we’re made of. If we hold on a bit longer, we have a shot at being okay.
I’ll hold on.
I think a bunch of other people will too.
Image courtesy of Stockvault.
Amusing Nonsense 