There is no doubt that the coronavirus is a serious disease. I’ve personally known several people who have tested positive, and even know someone that has passed away from the virus. At the beginning of the pandemic there were a lot of unknowns, and at first I understood why the social distancing orders had been issued. However, the fear that the government put in place led to people panic-buying necessary goods.
It’s been almost three months, and I still cannot find toilet paper and baby wipes stocked at all times at most stores. When this first started there were weeks when I couldn’t find formula or diapers in my baby’s size. Had I not been in the fortunate situation where I was given an abundance of diapers, baby wipes, and formula at my baby shower, this would’ve led to a very scary start to parenthood.
Since then, there have been new studies showing that the survival rate is much higher than initially thought, but many states are still implementing a large-scale lockdown that amounts to government overreach. This does not mean the virus isn’t serious, but it is good news that should lead to us going back to our normal lives.
Now we are gearing towards the end of May. It is estimated that one in four Americans will be unemployed, which is the highest it has been since the Great Depression. While it is true that many have been furloughed, some don’t entirely know what that means. A furlough is a temporary layoff, and you’ll get your job back after a period of time. However, any furlough can turn into a permanent layoff, and during this time employers are not obligated to cover employees’ benefits, including health insurance.
This is a serious virus. Many people have become seriously ill, needed hospitalization, and have died. Now we are going to be in a situation where the virus has not stopped spreading, but one in four may not have health insurance. Women are still going to be having babies, children are still going to be needing vaccinations, and people are still going to get sick. Without permanent job security, people are going to be going into large amounts of debt, losing their homes, and unable to find work due to businesses closing.
With such an uncertain economic future, this has put a lot of stress on those who have been economically effected by the coronavirus. Suicide hotline calls have been on the rise. Domestic violence and overdoses have increased, and just look at your Facebook feed. Many people are feeling an overwhelming loneliness from not seeing their friends and family, and missing out on important life events like weddings and graduation. It’s hard when the only person outside your house you can socialize with is the grocery store clerk.
This virus is serious, but so is the cost of the overreach.
Marlo Enrico
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