5 Things I've Learned This Week

In no particular order...

1. Never underestimate how quickly things can go to shit with little to no warning.  Of course we know that earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes can happen with little to no warning but one would think that a global pandemic would have given us a bit more warning.  While we are supposed to have a syndromic surveillance system to give us advanced warning of such events, many doctors actually learned of the beginnings of the outbreak via social media. smh
2. Never overestimate how much and how quickly the government will come to your aid.  At this point, several days out, millions of people have been laid off due to the pandemic, county and state offices have been shuttered, and still there is very little financial assistance or guidance from the government about how people can afford their basic needs during the next few months.  A "plan is in the works" but giving people cash assistance many weeks after they get laid off is less than helpful when people are hungry and worried about their bills today.
3. Never underestimate how people in your city will react during a crisis.  Many people have gone batshit insane in response to this outbreak.  Either they are throwing entire aisles' worth of food into their shopping carts, or they are hanging out at the beach with thousands of other people; both are poor ways to respond to this outbreak.
4. Never overestimate your preparedness.  So far so good with our stockpile of food and supplies, we probably won't have to leave the house for another several months although I would miss fresh produce.  On the other hand, I am making lists of things that we should have stocked or should have stocked more of, lists of changes we will make to the house (if we stay here and don't move away all together after this is over), and other things I will want to review, post-pandemic.
5. Never overestimate what the president is telling you.  Every daily briefing from the president makes me more surprised and incredulous at his lack of knowledge, lack of common sense, and lack of discretion (using a press conference on a major world event to point out reporters he doesn't like is both childish and stupid but I digress...).  No, there aren't enough COVID-19 tests and there won't be, there is also not enough lab capacity period.  The "wonderful drug" that may help treat COVID-19 is not at all wonderful but is probably better than death.  Maybe.  Get your information on the virus from reputable, knowledgeable sources and not the president of the United States.