On 07/03/2020 09:34, Rod Speed wrote:


"Jim Stewart" wrote in message
...
On 07/03/2020 08:12, Cynic wrote:
Admittedly from Facebook source so take it or leave it for accuracy
but worth thinking about.
Â* "I'm a doctor and an Infectious Diseases Specialist. I've been at
this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I
have worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of
Africa. HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis,TB, SARS, Measles, Shingles, Whooping
cough, Diphtheria...there is little I haven't been exposed to in my
profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left
me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.

I am not scared of Covid-19. I am concerned about the implications of
a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues
to find new footholds in different soil.Â* I am rightly concerned for
the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or
disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately,
at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of Covid-19.

What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that
has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of
panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a
bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. I am scared of
the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics
where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers
and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges,
perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others. I am scared that
our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they "
probably don't have it but may as well get checked out no matter what
because you just never know..." and those with heart failure,
emphysema, pneumonia andÂ* strokes will pay the price for overfilled
ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.

I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that
weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions
will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the
Olympic Games...that could be kyboshed too. Can you even
imagine?

I'm scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm
partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise and
ultimately culminate in a global recession.

But mostly, I'm scared about what message we are telling our kids
when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality,
openmindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be
fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.

Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a
hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point.
Expect it.Â* Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the
virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our
own behaviors and "fight for yourself above all else" attitude could
prove disastrous.

I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and
uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great
deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable
transmissible diseases in our society. Let's meet this challenge
together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and
above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as
opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.

Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts.
Our children will thank us for it.

#washurhands #geturflushot #respect #patiencenotpanic

don't see the point of stockpiling food...

More fool you...

when you get it you won't be hungry ...

But when you are self isolating without having got it, you may well be.
why would I do that ? ...