Today, Friday March 11, 2022, marks the second anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic and for everyone it is a solemn moment of reflection of where we are today. March 11, 2020, was when Americans received news of the World Health Organization declaring Covid-19 outbreak a global pandemic. Majority of the working class went home with instructions for remote work, given responsibility of figuring out various collaboration packages on their own to stay connected.
Stores ran out of toilet paper, paper towels and all cleaning supplies, as people hoarded essential items in fear of the unknown. Grocery stores showed empty shelves of dry rations, parking lots remained full as people anxiously shopped as if preparing for a famine or a war. It was indeed on a war footing that the fight against the microscopic enemy named Coronavirus was launched.
Tribute must be paid to the essential health workers who have been working long shifts, not only at the hospitals taking care of the seriously sick, but also at laboratories and research centers running tests and gathering more information about the Coronavirus, its life cycle, spread, variants, symptoms, and management.
Two years later, we sadly note a heavy toll of deaths despite rushed clinical trials and vaccinations approvals.
The latest statistics shared by John Hopkins University show that more than 964,000 Americans have fallen victim to this deadly, merciless, microscopic enemy with a death toll of 50,000 in just the past 28 days. At this current rate, it looks like by the end of March we shall get to the somber milestone of 1 million Covid-19 deaths in the United States of America alone.
How wrong was the prediction of 100,000 deaths in total made in April 2020 by the then administration? In February 2021, soon after the new administration came into office, the death toll hit 500,000. One year later we are now approaching one million, a grim, sad milestone that was totally unimaginable at the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic.
Our present statistics clearly indicate that we are not out of the woods yet.
An announcement coming out today also extended the mask wearing requirement on airlines and all kinds of public transport to April 18. This is a smart decision, as after the announcement by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention of lifting essential mask wearing indoors in public places like restaurants etc. and allowing it to be an individual’s personal decision, led to the majority dumping their masks and starting a mask free, carefree life.
Although most of the states have moved to an ‘Endemic’ state with pledges of quick management of community outbreaks, with efficient quick testing, daily single pill management, isolation and shut down of positive areas, we all still need to stay responsible.
Every individual needs to remain cautious and avoid any behavior that may give rise to spread of new variants, further prolonging the misery of the pandemic. We may need to live with the Coronavirus but let us be in control of the virus and not let it continue to control our lives!
Good suggestions!
Good advice! Thanks for reminding us all.
Yes. These small new habits can go a long way in preventing yet another wave of Covid-19 with a new variant.
An excellent write up. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.