This Thing is Not Over

Across the land, new Covid-19 cases are rising as restrictions on social interaction and commerce are relaxing. Some of the increase in new cases is due to increased testing. Some of it the result of stupidity, greed and disregard for one’s fellow human beings.

Evidence of the unflattering causes for the rebooting pandemic is found in our nation’s air transportation system, which I have been forced to utilize on three occasions during the past two months: five flights, four different airports, two different airlines.

My observation is that at least a third of the passengers who move through airport terminals do not wear face protection or they position the mask uselessly beneath their nose or even below their chin.

My observation is that airports and airlines have closed large sections of terminals and then funneled all planes and passengers into smaller areas where all gates are in use, and passengers are as packed together in standing-room-only lobbies and hallways, as congested as on a busy holiday weekend.

My observation is that airlines have abandoned the practice of providing empty seats next to passengers. Most center seats are now being booked.  Passengers are shoulder-to-shoulder during boarding, when seated and while deplaning.

This thing is not over. . .this health and economic threat we face is still alive and well. Take a look at the trends in Texas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North and South Carolina, Arizona, Tennessee and Alabama. In these states, as well as others, the people are not so alive and well as their relaxing restrictions on socializing and commerce would make us believe.

The reluctance of the United States to recognize this health crisis seven months ago, and the rush to judge that the worst of it is behind us now, has already secured the US response among the four or five worst of all nations in the world.

JER