Many Americans don't understand, we are only at the end of the beginning of the virus.

[shockey80]

We are now learning about children who are getting sick and dying from diseases caused by the virus. Doctors, medical experts have a long way to go before they can understand this virus. It seems to effect people in many different ways, different levels. That is going to take doctors a long time to figure out.

[uponit7771]

1. K&R, I would dare say we're in the middle of the begging sans New York Metro. The rest of country

... is being lit up now extrapolating New York results.

The idiots talking about going to work now are like wanting to run back into a burning house to cook hamburgers.

[Girard442]

2. Yeah, there's a lot of "it's not here because we live good lives" going around.

No. That would be "not there yet."

Remember the regular flu seasons when people in rural areas and small towns were pretty much untouched by the flu because of their wholesome lifestyles? Yeah, me neither.

[Turbineguy]

3. This "herd immunity" theory

may not be the answer.

A number of years ago a friend of mine got a virus. It damaged his heart and he ended up with an artificial heart valve. he was in his late 20's then. Luckily he's OK now.

[Alex Blaine Layder]

4. The Risks - Know Them - Avoid Them

[link: https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them]

"So throughout most of the country we are going to add fuel to the viral fire by reopening. It's going to happen if I like it or not, so my goal here is to try to guide you away from situations of high risk."

[bigtree]

5. cases are still rising, with testing falling

...there isn't going to be an 'end' point before the next escalation.

[Bayard]

6. I'm thinking any tests or vaccine

Is always going to be one step behind the mutations of this virus, because it isn't just one virus.

[barbtries]

7. also, we're doing everything wrong.

if the testing had been robust from the start. if the contact tracing had been done. if the president sought to reassure and unite the people against a common enemy. if he had used his power to help the people.

if republicans did not have power.

if.

we could be mobilized and actually be a United States of America and we could manage this catastrophe in a realistic and humanistic manner. Literally THOUSANDS of people would still be alive or would not have fallen sick.

but no. Nope. We have a worst case scenario with no clear end date. We are headed into a terrible Depression. I am in a vulnerable population and not only have no plans to leave my house for the foreseeable future, but am fighting depression and panic buying food. Last night I dreamt that I was on a plane with many people and we were going to crash. We had to line up so the people could catalogue our personal items for ID later, after we crashed and all died. The pilot was not competent.

Yesterday my youngest son picked up hand sanitizer for me and for the first time in about 3 months, he came in and we hugged. My middle son who lives with me works at a grocery and so far, still won't get out of his clothes and take a shower every day when he gets home from work, so I'm afraid to hug him. I miss person to person human contact and affection. If it wasn't for technology - well I was going to say I'd be out of my mind, but I know that's not true. I'd be thankful for my books and art supplies and I'd be writing. As it is I am very thankful for technology because it keeps me in touch with my loved ones.

It's not death that scares me; it's this virus. It's not like any other sickness and the only way I can gauge whether I will have a mild or severe illness is what's happening to others in my demographic. For us, it's not good. It could land me in the hospital and even kill me after weeks of misery, spent in a hospital with none of my loved ones nearby. My children would be denied the opportunity to properly grieve my loss and have to live with the knowledge of the loneliness of my passing.

The government can do and say what they will; I'm looking at the numbers every day and minimizing my chances of getting this terrible disease. That is what I will continue to do until I feel confident that a chance encounter with another human being will not be a death sentence.