More Than Numbers
Pandemic Diary: The Coronavirus Spreads on the Thin Strands of Our Web of Connections
“The bottom line is controlling the covid-19 pandemic really is going to require controlling the silent pandemic of transmission from persons without symptoms. The community mitigation tools that we have need to be utilized broadly to be able to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 from all infected persons, at least until we have those vaccines widely available.” — Jay C. Butler, the CDC deputy director for infectious diseases and a co-author of a study on the virus’ spread
My niece tested positive for COVID. We saw her Saturday. It’s been four days. We’re within the incubation period. We’re going to be tested. // We’ve mostly been careful. We wear our masks. Keep our distance. Limit our time out of the house. But we saw family. // We paused before going. Considered the possibilities. The priorities. Worried when we went. When we came home. It appears we bet wrong. // I worry about the spread. Am critical of those who knowingly put themselves in harm’s way. Now this. // One of every 15 Americans have contracted COVID-19 since the outbreak began. One in 59 of them have died. It’s on in 90 worldwide, with one in 46 of them dying. Nearly 360,000 Americans have died. Almost 1.9 million total around the globe. These are statistics. But each one corresponds to a person. A parent. A spouse. A child. A loved one. // My sister had it in November. She lives in Nebraska. Exposed at work. Her husband tested positive. Both had mild symptoms. // My mom is in a memory care in Las Vegas. They’ve now had three positives. Two staffers. A male resident. The whole place is on lockdown. // Mom’s good, for now. Being monitored. No symptoms. No reason to be tested, they say. They are testing staff daily. Checking temperatures three times a day. // Still, it’s hard not to think about it. To wonder if Alzheimer’s is an underlying condition. To see the numbers in Las Vegas. To read the Vegas paper: COVID is “the leading cause of death this month in Nevada.” // Much of the spread is incidental. Accidental. Most people are careful. Conscientious. Take the proper precautions. But it just takes a single exposure. // We live our lives at the center of a web. Strands spreading outward. One life connected to many others and each of them connected to many more. I had lunch with my nephew the other day. Have I exposed him? We were at BJ’s on Sunday. The Chiropractor Tuesday. We have a repairman coming Friday. A contractor next week. // I saw the doctor on Monday for a physical. We talked about COVID. About the vaccine. About the precautions. Now I have knots in my stomach. So does Annie. We get tested tomorrow. That feels like a long way off. Too long. Much too long. //