Is it just me or does it seem like we've taken two steps forward, and now we are headed for three or four significant steps backward? Sure, many will say it's easier to sit on the sidelines and critique how things are being handled, prioritized and managed. Most of the time, I would agree with that analogy, especially from having coached sports and played them in my younger years. However, we are all responsible for what we do! COVID-19 is still with us.

What’s up in America today? What I am seeing is a substantial segment of the public not using any common sense. A few days ago, my daughter sent me a photo taken of St. Mark's Place in New York City. The picture clearly showed hundreds of folks sitting and walking from bar to bar without social distancing and many without masks. That, and pictures of crowded beaches all over the country, are making my head spin. WTH? We aren't out of the woods yet with this virus, people! Cases have increased daily in the states that rushed to reopen. I, like many others in this country, know and have experienced first-hand how indiscriminate COVID-19 is. I lost a close family member to it less than two weeks ago. It is not going to just go away during the summer as some have touted.

This is serious stuff people, wake up! COVID-19 doesn’t care if you’re young or old, it simply looks for a path of lease resistance. Due to many troubling factors, if you are poor and/or non-white, the cases and death rate are skyrocketing, a fact that is not getting enough attention.

Let’s take a look at New Zealand, which has almost wholly reopened. Obviously, NZ is a much smaller country than ours and without land borders — hear me out, though: Kudos to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for her clear leadership and swift effective guidance. NZ took the immediate step of listening to the science and facts plus heeding the models of what would come if restrictions were disregarded and ignored. Like us, they put financial benefits into place for those who are not essential workers. So many wise initiatives have been formed to get this country back on track financially. For a tidbit, take a look at the PM's Instagram account, @jacindaardern. From 3/5/20, there's nothing but empathy, vision, facts, clear communication and saving lives. They are still not allowing outsiders into the country and, like many, they still have a huge financial fallout from shutting down the country. However, because of steps early on they are in a better position to regain some sense of new normalcy and the country has been COVID-19 free for more than three weeks!!! They held the first fully packed stadium for a national rugby match: 43,000 in attendance.

We are not COVID-19 free. We do still need to take huge precautions to keep ourselves and others safe. In the words of Forrest Gump, “Stupid is as stupid does.”

What are your constructive thoughts on all this?

Live well …

From my vantage point

Join for free* to continue reading.