Today marks the beginning of trying to open up NY State. My region of the state, however, does not meet the necessary requirement to “re-open,” so we continue on “pause” until we do. At the practical level, it means the city of Buffalo has to have less COVID-19 cases to meet the standard. As of today, their hospitalization rate still is trending up. So we wait a little longer.
Personally I am somewhat torn about this situation. I understand and sympathize with both sides. My greatest fear is that the people too eager for re-opening will endanger everyone else. When I read the stories about people crowding bars and beaches and other recreational spaces like lemmings, I fear what will happen next in those areas. Because the virus is random, it’s not going to be just the people who put themselves at risk. It’s going to be the innocent who will pay for this stupidity. This is what I have a hard time grasping – why other people cannot see that their behavior endangers not just themselves, but other people whom they do not know. Continue reading →