Is the war over?

Arkansans still need to be on guard

One of the great challenges of our form of government is attention spans. Are you still with us? Think back in American history to how many hyperbolic governmental fights have been declared on a domestic or international issue. In various ways, the nation has on matters of policy launched metaphorical wars.

In the 1930s, J. Edgar Hoover headed up a war on crime. Richard Nixon set his sights on victory in the war on drugs, but also declared a war on cancer. Jimmy Carter, in true Carter fashion, declared the “moral equivalent of war” on energy consumption. George W. Bush had his war on terror.

“This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America,” President Lyndon B. Johnson emphatically stated in his 1964 State of the Union Address. “I urge Congress and all Americans to join with me in that effort.”

That sparked an unprecedented four-year period that saw the creation of Medicaid and Medicare, food stamps, school meal programs, Head Start and other programs aimed at eradicating poverty. Those program made, and continue to make, huge differences, but did

LBJ win the “war on poverty?”

Attention spans last only about as long as leadership does, sometimes even less. Johnson, who had wanted to be president practically his entire life, decided not to seek the nomination to a second term in 1968. For all the legislative victories domestically, Johnson had become a symbol of the nation’s divisions — on race, on civil unrest, on Vietnam, on the use of government powers.

It didn’t take long before another catch phrase caught on: The war on poverty is over. Poverty won.”

These policy wars, particular on the domestic front, strain the attention spans of administrations and of Americans.

It’s been a year, as of this coming Thursday, since Arkansans joined the rest of the world in their conscription into the war on covid-19. It was the day, March 11, that the World Health Organization officially labeled the global health circumstance a pandemic.

It was also the same day Arkansas confirmed its first patient infected with the new coronavirus and that Gov. Asa Hutchinson declared a statewide public health emergency. That declaration triggered extra-ordinary powers for the governor and his public health advisers. Colleges and universities immediately announced plans to convert to online-only classes. Lawmakers immediately started grousing about not being informed enough about the state’s emergency preparations.

A day later, one case had become six. Public access at the state Capitol was shut off. Public event cancellations grew. Travel disruptions took hold. Companies began sending workers home to work remotely. By week’s end, the governor had begun setting some limits on public gatherings in central Arkansas counties, but he largely counted on people making “good judgments” on their own. Less than a week into the state’s response, the governor closed down public schools. Then casinos were ordered shut. By March 19, Hutchinson inaugurated restrictions on businesses — closed restaurant dining rooms, bars and gyms as case numbers rose to 62. Such businesses have dealt with occupancy restrictions ever since.

The numbers since have skyrocketed, despite the “war on covid” Arkansans have been engaged in both voluntarily and by government mandate. As of Friday, 324,326 total cases of covid-19 had been confirmed in Arkansas, with 5,283 deaths attributed to the disease in our state.

After a horrid holiday season that spiked the numbers of cases and deaths, the situation with covid-19 has gotten calmer in Arkansas. Every day, more people are getting vaccines and many thousands have some level of immunity from having already contracted the disease.

The result? In late February, Gov. Hutchinson lifted almost all of the Department of Health’s directives for businesses that were designed to slow the virus’ spread. He converted those enforceable directives into nonbinding “guidance,” which Hutchinson described as “strong recommendation based on medical consensus.” The public and business owners know what’s necessary to protect themselves, Hutchinson argued. People can use their own judgment about where they’re comfortable.

Hutchinson even set parameters by which the state mask mandate might be lifted by March 31.

It seems the message is the worst is behind us.

But is it? Maybe, but there’s no guarantee.

Dr. Jennifer Dillaha of the Arkansas Department of Health warned that Arkansans should continue to follow the directives even though the state has eased its enforcement. People should, for example, avoid restaurants and other businesses that are crowded and where people are not wearing masks.

Thankfully, Arkansas hasn’t gone so far as states like Texas, which lifted its mask rule last week. It’s clear, though, that Americans are tired of rules even if the virus has killed more than 500,000 across the nation.

Medical experts say there’s still a threat another wave of deadly cases could affect the nation if people too aggressively drop their guards against covid-19. “We stand to completely lose the hard-earned ground we have gained,” Centers for Disease Control director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said early last week.

People want their freedom to choose how to protect themselves, not government mandates. So now we’re entering a period in which the spread of the virus will depend on personal responsibility. Will people step up?

Put another way: How good are Americans about taking doctors’ medical advice? So, yes, there might be room for concern.

Caution, fellow Arkansans, is indeed the better part of valor. The decisions to lift restrictions doesn’t signal we’re all out of the woods. Rather, it signals that it’s more important that ever that people make wise choices — wearing masks in crowded situations, washing hands frequently, keeping distance when possible. Get those vaccinations as soon as possible.

Hopefully, the effect of the vaccines will spread fast enough to create some grace for those who immediately begin behaving as though there’s nothing to worry about now. It’s not inconceivable, though, that if enough people make poor decisions, case numbers could again begin to grow.

Maybe, just maybe, Hutchinson has timed this let-up on covid-19 restrictions perfectly. We think he’s been pretty evenhanded in managing the crisis throughout. Perhaps the worst is over, but if those numbers start to tick up again, we hope he and his health advisers stand ready to respond.

The war on covid-19 is not won.