By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
MAY 8, 2020 | There appears to be a “group think” all across the nation that we should “remain in place” during this pandemic. It appears that most people just plain question whether it is best to get out and about once again.
Brack, dressed for Covid-19
Granted, some militant groups are pushing for an opening of the economy in orchestrated demonstrations. But this seems far distant from the feeling of most people. The average person seems to “sense” that it is just not right now to resume normal operations. There seems to be nothing particular about this….just a feeling that it’s best to stay in your own quarantine a while longer.
Allowing people to go back to work, and reopening the economy, is proving to be much more complicated than some leaders might have anticipated. Our own governor, Brian Kemp, was at first reluctant to give “stay-at-home” orders, though local leaders from all parts of the state were begging for him to act on that.
Now that the Georgia edict to remain home has been in place for a while, Governor Kemp seems hell-bent in reversing himself quickly—the first in the nation. And yes, close association activities like those in barber and beauty shops, or tattoo parlors, got the green light.
Yet again, it appears the governor is not listening to people he has appointed to guide him, nor to city and county officials. The local leaders seem more in touch with the will of the people. The governor cannot seem to hear local officials, or his advisers. A group of Macon pastors protested the governor’s reopening, telling their congregations to stay home. And the state’s Supreme Court, which supervises all courts in Georgia, extended the statewide judicial emergency, meaning all criminal and civil jury trials are suspended until June 12.
New evidence this week indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet topped out throughout the nation, much less in Georgia. Now we are hearing that before all is over there may be more than 100,000 deaths in our nation, and some point to more likely 130,000. Only in 14 states are deaths decreasing, as of May 5. Georgia’s death rate remains about the same. With the nationwide total deaths of 74,665 (May 7), it appears our nation has many more difficult days ahead before anyone can feel solid about pronouncing an “All Clear!”
On Wednesday, the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta said despite the use of social distancing on a widespread basis, the incidence of the virus continues to worsen in Georgia. It even went so far as to anticipate that the nation’s death rate now of 1,750 a day could rise to 3,000 daily. It also said that the ultimate death rate could exceed 100,000.”
Sadly for Georgia, the CDC said it is among the states “whose burden continues to grow” from the pandemic.
We recognize this pandemic has caused unusual economic problems for many families. We realize lots of people want to get back to work, and provide a paycheck for their families. As far as that, we all would like to return to a more normal time.
Yet we pause and ponder.
To open up too quickly might be the trigger for an even tougher fight against this virus.
Best advice: be cautious, keep social distancing, follow the guidelines, and do your part to keep this virus from spreading even more.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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