Stay home.
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is serious. It has not hit the US like it has hit some other countries. Obviously, we need to prepare and do what we can to prevent its spread. But keep in mind that the government is not in charge of you; you are in charge of you.
You are unlikely to get it. But you can reduce your risk of getting the virus with a few, temporary adjustments. If you can stay home, then please do. Not everyone can so please help those who have kids (with schools being close, it must be hard). Don’t shake hands with anyone. Go to the grocery store and buy just a little more than usual, don’t but 10 of anything. Read more books, watch more movies, enjoy the slowdown time.
Governor Ralph Northam has “announced a temporary statewide ban on all public events of more than 100 people.” His tweet below explains more. As Draconian as that sounds, and as un-American as this may be, it is okay because it is temporary and it appears to be responsive to the public want/need. The view from my couch (I’m staying in), I see Virginians are okay with a few, temporary, public health-imposed limitations. The government should not be able to close businesses, so bars and restaurants should remain open, but large events and concerts are cancelled.
In principle I’m against the government doing what Northam has done, but the exception proves the rule and this current public health concern warrants decisive temporary measures. Anything longer than a few weeks and the government needs to turn any “ban” into a recommendation, which the public will likely accept. And of course, I reserve my right to completely change my mind and flip out if any of these “temporary” limitations run too long.
There are still a lot of question marks regarding elections. Right now there are county-level mass meetings and conventions on the calendar. Fairfax County Republicans had their mass meeting last weekend at an outdoor park, which allowed participants to keep a distance from each other. There are a number of conventions in April that could be cancelled along with the state convention, set for the first of May. The RPV will meet via conference call on Wednesday to discuss moving forward. The RPV released a statement on Sunday advising the use of caution and leaving the decision on whether to hold meetings up to the local units. This all may change after Wednesday’s call, it may change after the March 28 State Central Committee meeting, it may change in an hour, it may not change at all. Things are moving fast, stay tuned.
Tuesday is St. Patrick’s Day, a day normally for drinking and celebrating at local bars, but this year you are better off staying home and vicariously participating in the usual by watching It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (it’s not evenly remotely Irish, but the show takes place in an Irish theme bar the characters own and its funny). Stay home.
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