If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s patience.
It wasn’t until Nov. 7 that the Nov. 3 general election confirmed Joe Biden our president-elect. That would not be considered a long time were our current president to accept the results. Instead, the president filed dozens of lawsuits contesting the verdicts of several states, stretching Election Day into an eternity. Even so, one cannot, thankfully, stop the march of time.
On the medical front, Americans have had to learn that life as normal is not possible amidst a global pandemic, and that, indeed, no place and no person is free from its effects.
Almost a year into COVID-19, we are still learning how the virus is transmitted and what we must do to protect ourselves and others.
The most unnerving element of the virus is that a person is most infectious several days before their symptoms appear. Hence the importance of wearing face masks and social distancing in the event you are unwittingly spreading the virus to others.
The onset of a sore throat or dry cough is typically a full four to five days after exposure to the virus. The potency for transmission typically ebbs three to four days after symptoms begin.
That a vaccine has arrived in a year’s time is nothing short of a miracle.
But until most people the world over get vaccinated — Dr. Anthony Fauci says a vaccination rate as high as 80-85% is necessary — the pandemic will remain in free-fall.
Widespread inoculation in the U.S. could begin by early summer. Until then, we must continue to wear face masks and practice social distancing.
That these public health measures are viewed as undue sacrifices only points to how terribly spoiled we are.
Yes, Christmas was lacking and New Year’s will be no better. But if you’re around to complain of such things, be grateful.
Today, COVID is the third leading cause of death in the United States, second to heart disease and cancer. Month by month, COVID has outpaced deaths caused by stroke, chronic respiratory disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, influenza, pneumonia and kidney disease.
The virus is a major setback to decades of medical statistical gains. In the first nine months of 2020, a larger share of the American population has died than in any time over the past 50 years because of the additional 330,000 deaths to COVID-19.
As of Monday morning, almost 2 million had received the first dose of either Pfizer or Moderna’s two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, an estimated 0.6% of Americans — way too early for us to be confident that we are turning the corner on the pandemic. The good news is that recent polls show 60-73% of Americans have faith in the vaccine, up from about 50% this summer.
Patience, perseverance and good hygiene — will get us to the goal.
