Trust me, I do not want to write about COVID-19. I despise every time I have to type C-O-V-I-D, but for much of the last six months it has been unavoidable.
There are restrictions that are forcing the majority of small business in the Upper Ohio Valley to struggle like they never have before, and that is why since mid-March LEDE News has published articles with the intention of helping local businesses during this pandemic. We have also concentrated on how our local school districts would open as safely as possible. It was an amazing experience to observe how local school systems managed to continue some form of education for the children, and to feed them, as well.
Those folks have never had to do that before during their careers, but they figured it out. I know the district’s administrators have received complaints about the virtual and packet platforms, but some parents complained about the free food, too.
In May, though, it was possible here in the Upper Ohio Valley not to mention the coronavirus in every article because fewer positive cases were reported by health departments in in the spring, and once the spread associated with summer vacations faded, that damn curve flattened again in Belmont, Brooke, Marshall, and Ohio counties during most of August. And you’ll agree, it was a relief.
Fall and Winter?
But with the increase in cases so far this month, the moving of the testing center, the infections reported by West Liberty University, and the school staff members testing positive after interaction with colleagues, students, and student/athletes in Ohio and Marshall counties, it has been impossible to NOT pay attention to the negatives connected with the coronavirus. We all want to be, “open,” and we all want to remain healthy, so it’s all about how to do that, right? We know by now that this crap is airborne and can be contracted when spending 10 or so minutes in close proximity with someone who has been infected; and we know this virus can be spread via contact with hard surfaces.
Some folks, though, have decided to debate wearing a mask even though there is crystal-clear science indicating that wearing a face covering will hamper the possible spread, and others have gathered a mask collection and have chosen to isolate themselves and their children as much as possible during this pandemic. Let’s face it, no one believed this pandemic would last this long, but that’s because no one had lived through something like this.
It’s exhausting. It’s puzzling. It’s frustrating.
And yes, all of it makes us cuss.
