Today was Day 2 of Kemp’s “Open Georgia” policy experiment, meaning no mandated restrictions related to the pandemic, that overrides local authorities like Atlanta to maintain its stay-at-home order. Georgia opened up for business the day after nearly 60 Georgia residents died of COVID-19, bringing the death toll to Georgia more than 1100 Georgia residents and an overall total of nearly 26,000 confirmed cases. All the experts – and even Trump – has said it is too early to lift restrictions.
Meanwhile, our family is continuing as before by staying at home. But I was curious about my fellow Atlantans. So, as a special treat, I decided to pick up some Ethiopian food – something I do not cook and that the kids and I really enjoy – for the first time in more than a month. My older son went with me, happily rediscovering all the car toys he hasn’t seen since mid-March. He wore his mask and brought his gloves in case he had an unexpected need to get out of the car. Wearing my own mask and gloves, I retrieved the food that I had ordered and paid for by phone, tipped well, and maintained as much social distance as possible. When we got home, the food tasted extra delicious. Something I expect was not only due to the great food, but also the sweetness of reconnecting with something from our pre-pandemic lives.
On the way to the restaurant, I was disturbed with how much traffic filled the streets. The parking lots of the strip malls, Chick-fil-A, Kroger, and apartment complexes were full of people tailgating. I thought it was the great weather or some FB-organized city-wide meetup. Although some social distancing and a few masks were noticable, plenty of people were connecting with others from a couple feet away or less, and without masks. On the way back from the restaurant, I saw everyone looking skyward and then noticed the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds doing loops around the center of the city, that I later learned was to pay tribute to the healthcare workers.
What I saw today filled me with a great sense of forboding for what will happen in 10-14 days. That is how long it will take for those who were infected today to start getting sick. A dear friend of mine is an ER doctor who rarely posts on Facebook – but today was too much for her and so she did (see below). Her Platinum Rule is worth the read.
This idea of “herd immunity” means that the number of deaths will increase. At what point will our first responders say, “Enough” and quit in droves as the stress of coronavirus takes its toll on the physical and mental health of themselves and their families? Who will care for the sick then? And are we really okay with hundreds of thousands, if not over a million, dead for the sake of the economy?
#Stayhome if you can. Wear a mask for others and yourself. Maintain a safe physical distance if you start reconnecting with others. We are all in this together, whether we act like it or not. Be safe and well.
The streets of Atlanta today
Blue Angels and Thunderbirds fly over Atlanta drawing crowds
Note: The picture at the top of the post is from a similar Blue Angels event in DC hours earlier with the same crowd issue as in Atlanta shown below.]
Perspective from a Frontline Worker:
Dear Friends,
I have been trying to not post anything today. I respect the Blue Angels but as one of many frontline workers, I had no need for the “support” and fanfare this afternoon in Atlanta (speaking for myself) and purposely stayed home.
I subscribe to the Platinum Rule vs the Golden Rule which states treat people as they want to be treated – not what you think they want. Well, as a frontline worker I want my colleagues and myself to all have secure sources of PPE which has been variable around the country, I want CDC guidelines to reflect science and not supply, I want medical school student debt forgiveness programs for young physicians who are just starting their careers, I want my Specialist colleagues to get adequate loans and grants so they don’t have to shutter their practices or go into bankruptcy and I want all of my Emergency Medicine colleagues to be paid their regular salaries even though the census has temporarily gone down because they are risking their lives every day…the media just caught on.
Denial is a sneaky thing. Almost 3,000 people have died in the last 24 hours. This virus is not done yet. These individuals are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands, children, colleagues and friends. I am afraid to think about the tally at the end of May and hoping/praying there will not be a second wave.
Please continue to stay home as much as possible, wear masks, wash your hands, socially distance and support your local businesses from afar. The beach, the restaurants, the haircuts, the parties can wait.
As a frontline worker, I thank you 🙏🏾