10 Apr Ready to go back to work with your COVID-19 coworker?
It baffles me how so many have become relaxed in their efforts to combat COVID-19 and are ready to return to work. After a very preliminary success in mitigating the outcome with social distancing, the buzz is to be back to work by May 1st. But do these individuals understand that the rate of infection is still going up? Click on the link https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/ and you will see the numbers increasing every day. The infection is not controlled. Just because we have successfully mitigated the curve in California for now, that does NOT mean the infection is becoming less. “Flattening the curve” helps protect our healthcare system from being overwhelmed, but it is way too early to predict that coronavirus is on the decline.
But you are anxious to get back to work. And according to the preeminent infectious disease expert, Bill Barr, we have to get rid of these draconian measures of hiding under our beds and get back to work. (Hiding under the bed?) This is an irresponsible statement to make. And President Trump feels that there is no reason to do widespread testing before we all return to work. OK then… Do you want to go back to work when the infection is still on the rise and you don’t know if your coworker or waiter or hair stylist is carrying the disease? Be my guest..
We have tested 2 million people of a population of 327 million. That is 0.61 % of the population. We are #44 on the list of countries for the amount of testing per capita. Yet the government is optimistic that you will all be back to work by May 1st, and has no plan in place to monitor how the disease might spread when we eliminate masks, gloves, clorox wipes and social distancing.
We are all nervous. Financially, everyone is effected. This is not going to be easy, but we must look at the data and be logical. I don’t know how anyone in the public eye can say with sincerity that we will be back to work May 1st. We need widespread testing in place before it will be safe to do so.