No, the coronavirus pandemic is not going away anytime soon
No, this is not an April Fools’ joke.
We wish it were.
So much for April. And so much for anyone who believed we could escape this deadly coronavirus pandemic in a few weeks, or that the nation could return to normal by Easter.
That was the word driven home Monday by Gov. Tom Wolf. His message was somber, a cold slap in the face to anyone who might still be doubting the severity of the outbreak of COVID-19, the illness brought on by the novel coronavirus.
If the numbers themselves did not do it – with Pennsylvania now dealing with more than 4,000 cases of coronavirus infections and a death toll now approaching 50 – the governor issued a fairly stark forecast: Get used to it.
Wolf announced that his order for all residents to stay at home would be extended through the end of April. He added four more counties to the growing list of areas told to stay home. Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin and Schuylkill County residents are now getting a taste of what life has been like for Delaware County and the rest of the Philadelphia suburbs now for the past two weeks.
In addition, all state schools will remain closed “indefinitely.” Anyone thinking we would be exiting this two-week crackdown and quickly reverting to life as we knew it before coronavirus turned our lives upside now must face this grim new reality.
Monday’s developments now mean more than 10 million Pennsylvania residents, or 80% of the state’s population, have now been instructed to remain in their homes. Yes, there are exceptions – trips for essentials, such as groceries, a trip to the doctor or pharmacy, or caring for a relative. We are still allowed to venture out for a walk, so long as we practice “social distancing,” keeping 6 feet between us and other people. Anyone who has been out can testify that is easier said than done – let alone enforced. Large groups continue to be seen congregating in parks, and on basketball courts. Some towns have gone so far as to remove the rims from basketball courts in the hope of discouraging impromptu games that violate the social gathering edict.
The governor announced the continuation of the ban just hours after the state reported what now seems like an every-day occurrence – hundreds of new cases of coronavirus.
No one ever said this was going to be easy. That becomes more apparent every day.
It certainly was not lost on Gov. Wolf, who admitted Monday’s news “isn’t easy to hear.” But the governor stressed the crackdown, and it’s the harsh economic and social reality it has imposed on the state, is necessary to save lives.
Much like epicenters of the coronavirus outbreak – New York
City and New Jersey – the goal of these moves is in large part an effort to prevent the region’s health care system from being overwhelmed by a sudden surge of COVID-19 patients that could cause the system to implode.
As has been the case since the dawn of this outbreak, health and medical officials have stressed not to think about today – but rather two weeks from today.
The same holds true for Pennsylvania. The next two weeks will be crucial in this pandemic fight.
It’s why officials moved to approve a federal emergency medical facility on the campus of the shuttered Glen Mills Schools. That facility will not host COVID-19 patients, but stands ready for other, less acute cases. Moving those patients to Glen Mills could free up hospital beds for those most in need of care.
The hope is that it never has to be used, but to be prepared if it does.
The same could be said for Wolf’s move to extend the limits on our daily comings and goings on Monday.
So when will all this pass? When will life return to normal? What will our lives be like after this pandemic passes? And will it return for a return engagement in the fall?
Good questions.
For now, the answer simply is not known. Wolf did not deign to put a date on when the worst will be over. He did not offer a date for when schools and businesses could reopen.
“We’re going to keep our schools and businesses closed as long as we need to keep them closed to keep Pennsylvania safe. Right now, it isn’t safe,” he said.
Later in the day, President Donald Trump President Donald Trump declared that a major disaster in Pennsylvania and ordered federal assistance to supplement state and local recovery. Specifically, the move means federal funding will be available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Now if only they could tell us where to find toilet paper and hand sanitizer.