The center of the storm - the center of the COVID-19 pandemic

The "storm" has been gaining strength in NYC since the first case was diagnosed on Feb. 27, 2020, close by in New Rochelle. The coronavirus had already spread rapidly through Wuhan, where it was first identified, and other parts of China and Italy. In the weeks since Feb. 27th the cases in New York State have risen to 1500 people with more than 800 in NYC. We are advised to stay home, stay six feet from people when with them, avoid physical contact and stay in small groups or no groups at all. Children have been identified as carriers who do not usually show symptoms and so the most at risk group (over 60 with health issues and over 70) is discouraged from being around the youngest group.

There are drive-through testing tents being set up in major cities. A positive move to identify as many cases as possible, but one more way that inequity rears its ugly head. To drive through you need a car, you need gas to get to Long Island and you need to drive or have someone drive you while putting them at risk of contracting the virus. This is how the first case spread quickly to the cases outside the man's family and quickly turned into 85 cases during the first week after diagnosis. Hospitals are nervous that at its peak there won't be enough beds, but those who can't make it to a drive-through will risk not getting tested or end up in the emergency rooms as well. We knew our health system was broken, but the evidence is so clear now that it is being tested to its limits.

Schools and colleges are closed, movies, museum and theaters are also closed and restaurants and bars are limited to take out and delivery. The economy is struggling to stay out of a recession and many people are unemployed from the jobs that kept them afloat day to day. Many businesses are also at risk. The bars have missed out on St. Patrick's Day, one of their biggest days of the year. The parade has been cancelled and the Kentucky Derby delayed. Professional sports has called off the rest of their seasons and the Final Four has been canceled.

I feel like we are in the center of a storm and will need to wait until the coast is clear to step back out into daily life and see what the real damage is. Let's hope that as we try to piece life back together that we gain a new perspective, new priorities and a clearer vision for positive change.