April 27, 2020

It has been three weeks since I last wrote. The United States now has over 54,000 deaths from Covid-19; we are leading the world. We are number one. In Virginia there have been 453 deaths. The first death in Virginia was just over six weeks ago. 

The rules for staying at home, the closing of businesses, and social distancing vary by states, but in most cases we are restricted to groups of ten or fewer, must stay six feet apart, and wear face masks when in public. However, resistance to regulations by a small but very vocal minority now has emerged. In Wisconsin, for example, about 1000 people assembled in Madison, shoulder to shoulder without face masks, carrying signs. Some signs said “I Want a Haircut.” 

Governors are working on plans to reopen businesses, with regions collaborating. Georgia, one of the last states to close businesses, now is one of the first to reopen, including nail salons, tattoo parlors, and bowling alleys. 

The economic hardships are very real. 26.5 million new claims have been filed for unemployment benefits. It is predicted that many retailers will never reopen. The states are struggling, too, and are revising budgets. 

At last Thursday’s White House briefing, the President suggested that perhaps injecting Covid-19 patients with disinfectant might help. This suggestion later was withdrawn.

Gradually many of us have begun to realize that this is not going to be over in a few weeks or a few months. Or a year. This virus does terrible things to the human body— blood clots and strokes. It is terrifying. Even once the states reopen their economies, I wonder who will feel safe in going back to shopping malls? to hair salons? to movie theaters? baseball stadiums? church services? to movie theaters?

I have been thinking about how once upon a time, we went to movie theaters to watch scary movies. One of the best of these movies in my opinion was Aliens starring Sigourney Weaver playing the lead role of Ripley combating aliens who looked like our worst nightmares. But Ripley was courageous and she acted out of love to save a little girl—a stranger’s child. She entered that elevator and strapped on her gear as she descended to meet the alien monster.

We can do that, too. And many of us can do that just by staying home.