Brighter days ahead?
"Spain and
Italy preparing to begin lifting restrictions as fatalities continue to
decrease…" - People
"Cuomo says he
believes 'the worst is over'…" - Al Jazerra
"…improving
China trade data." - CNN
(links to full
articles below)
While the headlines
are saturated with the negative consequences of the coronavirus - lockdowns,
deaths, companies shuttering, the stories above and a number of others indicate
that there are good times ahead.
China began lifting restrictions last week.Spain and Italy are starting this
week. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying it is over. Far from it. Restrictions
are still in place in all three countries. But these countries are providing a
glimpse of how life may slowly return to normal in the United States and the consequences.
One of the first
things that happened in Wuhan, China was 50,000 citizens fled the
city. That gave me pause. If the city was over the virus, why are its citizens fleeing.
Pictures of Spain
showed police and metropolitan employees handing out masks to their very few
passengers.
Some people say its
too early. We need to have a vaccine in place before restrictions can be
lifted.
The coronavirus era
has been intense, but it is not unheard of.
On Joe Rogan's
podcast, his guest remembered the Hong Kong Flu of 1968. According to the CDC, it killed 1,000,000 globally and 100,000 in the U.S.,
mostly individuals 65 and older. This virus continues to circulate worldwide as
seasonal influenza A today. Ten years before
that flu, the Asian Flu had similar mortality statistics.
With swine flu in
2009, people were told to stay home if sick. I remember this one. It sickened one of my coworkers who I am thankful to say made a full recovery. This flu actually
killed more people younger than 65 as well as those who were pregnant because the theory goes, they
had not been exposed to the pandemic of the 60's. Yet, the economy did not shutdown.
People were told not to go to work if sick, but that was the extent of the
restrictions in my daily life. The CDC also stated this virus continues to
circulate around the world as a seasonal flu virus.
Considering two of
the most virulent pandemic viruses of the past 50 years are still circulating around the world
getting people sick, waiting for a coronavirus vaccine before reopening the
economy doesn't sound possible.
What happens during
the next pandemic? More months of economic lockdown? Can the world economies
afford another economic lockdown?
Current worldwide
coronavirus deaths are 119,666 and in the U.S. 23,604 according to Wikipedia tonight.
When does the U.S. lift restrictions? Definitely a thorny issue. Government employees and politicians are definitely earning their salaries.
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