The low points of a worldwide pandemic

Gandalf: “So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

-- Lord of the

Everyone wishes coronavirus never existed, yet that is not for us to decide. What is our decision, however, is how we combat it.

Some examples follow. Irresponsible Behavior: It’s one thing if only the nonchalant got infected. But it’s not that simple. In the real world, reckless behavior leads to others contracting the virus, especially older people and those with compromised immune systems.

What would it say if parents of a child fighting cancer went to a crowded bar during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? Such places are perfect breeding grounds for a contagious virus, so the odds of contracting corona, and bringing it into the house, were significant. But even if the odds were 1 in a 1,000, why would anyone risk bringing a death sentence home – where a child is fighting for life? Worse, how can parents take immune-compromised children out to dinner during the pandemic? Ignorance is no excuse, and such behavior should be shamed, because it is happening all too frequently.

Sen. Rand Paul: This is stunning, especially because this author has great affinity for Senator Paul. After Mr. Paul got tested for corona, but before receiving the (positive) result, he dined with senators (who are now in isolation and cannot vote), roamed the Senate floor, and used the senate gym and pool – potentially infecting many others. Most mind-blowing is that Sen. Paul is a physician, and the son of former congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul – also a doctor! It’s bad enough Rand exhibited reckless behavior, especially given his underlying medical issues, but his actions have potentially rendered the Senate unable to function at a time when its members are most needed. Leading by example was obviously not taught at his med school.

Not the flu: It is astounding how many still equate C19 with the flu. It’s not! Corona is far deadlier, with a mortality rate exponentially higher. The “novel” coronavirus refers to this particular strain never before having infected humans. Maybe it will go dormant in heat and humidity, like influenza does. But maybe not. Analyses thus far have proven inconclusive, but C19 is infecting people in hot, tropical areas, from Mexico to Singapore.

Lack of masks: We’ve discussed the government’s pathetic lack of foresight in stockpiling N95 masks, having as few as 1.3 percent of the total necessary for healthcare workers. Now we have TV-personality Dr. Oz chastising people for owning masks, even shaming them as unpatriotic: “It is your patriotic duty to not use a mask,” he stated.

Let’s pull the curtain back on Oz. Not only is he wrong and wildly irresponsible, but way out of line. How dare he question anyone’s patriotism, when people are simply protecting themselves and their families! Why should citizens be shamed or penalized because they had the foresight to do what the inept government and many healthcare systems did not?

Hospital Administrators: When corona passes, there needs to be a reckoning for those who dropped the ball, starting with hospital CEOs making millions. Despite the certainty that a major epidemic (or pandemic) would occur at some point, many executives chose the trappings of office over doing their jobs. Now, sufficient levels of masks are unavailable, including at some of Philadelphia’s top hospitals. Ditto for ocular protection, even though virus transmission via the eye is easily accomplished.

The cost of eye protection and masks bought in bulk are cents on the dollar. In other words, buying 100,000 N95s masks for a single hospital would cost peanuts, yet it didn’t happen. Administrators failed to fulfill their primary responsibilities: protecting the staff, and stockpiling adequate resources. How tragically ironic if million-dollar, state-of-the-art medical equipment isn’t used to capacity because operators are sick – due to lack of 30-cent masks.

Administrators failed en masse, and they need to be held accountable.

The president needs to invoke the Defense Production Act to command industry to produce ventilators, masks and other equipment. People need to stay home. And we need to follow medical guidelines. Otherwise, the health of everything – people, political futures, and the economy – will soon be on life support.