I actually started paying attention to what was happening when the WHO first brought attention to a new coronavirus in early January – mostly out of my fascination with novel diseases. At the time, I felt little concern that it would turn into a pandemic. Even as the US recorded its first case on January 21st, then a second (being the first in my home state of Illinois) on January 24th, and then three more cases, I felt little concern since the infected persons had traveled from China.
But on January 30th, when the 6th case was the spouse of the Illinois patient – someone who had not traveled – I switched from passively following the developments to actively seeking out information and facts as I became more concerned about community transmission. The first official case of community transmission in the US (someone with no travel or contact with any known case) was announced in California on February 26th. This is when I began to consider the possibility of a pandemic, though I'd already started to prepare for a possible outbreak in my area.
I don't consider myself a "prepper" or an alarmist. Preparedness seemed the responsible, logical response to the situation. But as I took what I thought to be rational steps – stocking up in case of quarantine, donating disinfecting wipes and extra food to the local food pantry, reconsidering some of our plans – I became increasingly frustrated by the number of people downplaying the issues, spreading misinformation, and, especially, by our government taking no serious steps to slow or contain the spread.
My frustrations lead to a new graphic, a #BookShareSunday post, and two new essays: "Please Stop Using Seasonal Flu Deaths to Downplay the Threat of COVID-19", and "We Are Much Too Quick to Dismiss the Past as No Longer Relevant." I actually have a first draft of another (loosely related) essay done, as well.
But, now, my frustrations are subsiding into resignedness. All that's left to do is see how this plays out in the short term and over the next year (because evidence does show a second wave next winter is likely) and ride it out the best we can.