The Virus: Being "Social"
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Among the terms this virus has taught us—"community spread”, “herd immunity”, “PCR tests”—the one most self-evident is social distancing. In general, it means avoiding crowds; more specifically, it suggests staying about six feet away from everyone else in public. In the real world, that translates to cancelled concerts, sporting events and schooling.
Ignoring this can have dire consequences. In 1918, during the throes of an influenza epidemic, Philadelphia decided to go ahead with a WWI parade. They feared cancelling it would panic citizens.
Thus, more than 200,000 jammed the streets along the parade route.
Three days later, every one of the city’s hospitals was jammed to capacity. And the death toll eventually reached 4,500.
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Those who contract the virus are doubly affected. Not only do they suffer the medical symptoms, but there’s also a psychological price to pay. This mental penalty is social isolation. A self-imposed spell of two weeks at home might seem, at first, kind of appealing. But many of those victims live alone to begin with. Others will logically be shunned by family or roommates living in the same dwelling.
You may have seen the photos from the nursing home in Washington state where the first corona-related deaths occurred. They showed relatives of elderly residents standing outside, looking through windows at their loved ones on the other side of the glass; the very picture of isolation.
Figuratively speaking, you’re likely to eventually be looking through that glass from one side or the other. Beyond the fever, cough and sore throat, consider the road to recuperation without a hug…or a hand to hold. Covid-19 both afflicts us—and separates us.
Be prepared to proactively fire up your Skype or Google Duo. Send flowers. There are ways to touch without touching. And they’ll be necessary.
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To me, the largest question surrounding all this is social cohesion. It’s been clear for a long time that we, as Americans, have frayed the edges of our social contract. As a nation, how much do we still believe in common goals? In doing things for the common good?
A cynical political strategy of division and the responding resentments have corroded the common ideals that used to bind us. With Covid-19, we’ll discover to what degree. There’s a reason that Costco put a limit on the number of huge packages of toilet paper any member can buy. Hoarding is the result of both fear…and a breakdown in social cohesion. If someone else has to do without…so what?
It’s been common for politicians and health officials to speak some version of, “we’re all in this together.” In other words, we need to respond together.
But will we?
I’m optimistic that people will do the right thing, not just for themselves, but for fellow citizens. I think that people are still decent…especially in a time of crisis.
But to be honest…I’m prepared to be disappointed.
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