I woke up in the middle of the night and had trouble falling back to sleep because I am beginning to realize how huge an impact the corona virus will have on all of our lives for many months to come. You are probably in the same place, yes? When I did my first post about the virus on Sunday, just three days ago, the day before Spain began the lockdown, the number of cases here was 6,391, with 196 deaths. Four days later, it is 13,910 cases and 623 deaths. I feel sick to my stomach reading these statistics.
Reading the newspaper is becoming a worrisome ordeal. I read a New York Times story headline today, “U.S. Virus Plan Anticipates 18 month Pandemic and Widespread Shortages,” and I stopped to think about what this will be like for our two sons and our extended family members who all live in the United States. It’s difficult to get through such an article because I keep stopping to worry about the impact of covid-19 on the lives on our family and all the economically-vunerable around the world who will be impacted. For example, what do waiters and waitresses do when they are out of work for months? What will retail employees do when the stores where they worked are all closed? How does a child continue to learn when schools shut down and he or she doesn’t have access to a computer or the internet?
During this lockdown in Spain, we are not allowed to go over to our neighbors’ houses, not even to see those who might be living alone and in great need of company. How many people are home alone during this pandemic with no one to look out for them? Yes, this will be hard on all of us, but especially those living alone and/or without economic resources or others to care for them. A 2016 article in Atlantic magazine said 47 percent of U.S. respondents in a Federal Reserve survey said that in order to cover a $400 emergency expense, they would either have to borrow money or sell something, or they would not be able to come up with the money at all. How are people in such a precarious economic position supposed to survive this pandemic? https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/05/my-secret-shame/476415/
This is the insecure economic environment we are facing during this pandemic, not just in the U.S. but in many countries around the world. Economic inequality has been a nagging problem for years but now the consequences of it could lead to profound suffering if governments don’t take decision action now. The headline of today’s NY Times says, “Nations Pledge Millions to Stave Off Economic Catastrophe.” Let’s hope that wise decisions are taken by governments to help the most vulnerable rather than the big banks and corporations, who already had their bailouts in 2008. Let’s now help people who are in danger of being evicted by stopping the foreclosure process, rather than giving money to the banks to shore up their share prices.
With Trump still in charge, I am not optimistic that the U.S. government will make the right decisions. How is it possible that the worst person in the world to see America through this crisis is leading our response? Trust in government officials is especially important right now and Trump cannot stop lying to save his soul. If people trusted the government to manage this crisis, gun sales wouldn’t be surging across the nation. People are scared. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-15/coronavirus-pandemic-gun-sales-surge-us-california
I wish I could share a message of hope or humor with you right now but I am finding it very hard. The best I can do is tell you to stay home, stay safe, reach out to friends and family via social media. Someday this will all be over and when it is, won’t we be thrilled beyond measure to see our loved ones again?
US Author Nancy Klein in Spain 
Hello Nancy
Cannot add any more to your comments than to wish you both safe and healthy.
It’s certainly a worry both financially for individuals and the world. It’s like chemical warfare.
Some friends in Sweden man and wife are just recovering from corona virus and I put their translated contributions on FB to read for everyone.
Can’t believe how much I miss you all and really looking forward to the day with can cuddle a la Anne and discuss books again and go for walks by the sea. 🙏❤️
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Yes, Ingbritt, I also long for the day we can be together again and do yoga and discuss books. Stay safe, my friend. Sending you love and hugs!
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Thanks for writing what we are thinking about, Nancy. One silver lining is that I heard in the U.S. the government has mandated ‘no evictions’. So, even if people cannot pay rents, or mortgages they are protected. This should provide at least some comfort.
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Thanks for your response and for letting me know the U.S. government has mandated no evictions. That would be good news!
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Hi Kathryn. So good to hear from you and to get information about what is happening in Ireland. A mortgage limbo and not shutting people off from their utilities is a very good idea. Hopefully, the U.S. will follow suit. Thanks for reading my posts. You take care too!
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Nice post. Sadly it is the tip of the iceberg! It’s going to be a very changed world. Africa will be a world disaster. Over 700,000,000 ( that’s millions ) people do not have access to water! Think about that! They can’t wash there hands or get water to drink, the worse medical system on the planet and the poorest people. The death toll is going to be staggering! The only hope is a vaccine. But how are you going to distribute that with 1.2 billion people living on the continent.? What we see today is nothing compared to what we are in for in the next month or two. The scientist have been warning us for decades about this and climate change.
Mother Earth has a virus and it is humans and she is not happy!
Not trying to sound doom and gloom its the reality we all need to look at and face it!
Stay safe!
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Hi John and Susan. Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I hadn’t even thought yet about what may happen in Africa. You are right. It will probably be catastrophic there as well as many other places around the world, especially in countries with limited financial and medical resources to fight the epidemic.
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Just home, after leaving the Ghost Town of Limerick. I’m still doing f2f meetings with plans in place for online as desired or required. Many items ons market shelves are not there or in short supply, but less panic than a couple days earlier. Within the next half hour, we may hear of a mortgage limbo for 3 months..will be most welcome for many. Also, talk of utilities Not shutting people off if in arrears. It IS a scary time; and, I don’t feel you’re catastrophising. It will take a lot of thoughtful collaboration and clear protocols(with genuine back-up to get through these next months… Or longer. Take Good Care! Thanks for your writing.
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Hi Kathryn. So good to hear from you and to get information about what is happening in Ireland. A mortgage limbo and not shutting people off from their utilities is a very good idea. Hopefully, the U.S. will follow suit. Thanks for reading my posts. You take care too!
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This is serious and I don’t like the feeling of being trapped and unable to see my family. I also feel that there is a reason for this and we will learn from it, as with everything. I am thankful for social media to keep me connected. Take care. xo
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