Reflections on the Quarantine

People all around the world have been in a quarantine lock down due to the Covid-19 virus outbreak for about a month. In some areas, families can go for walks, while in other areas people are only allowed to go outside for things like getting food. This crisis imposed isolation, called "social distancing," is raising certain questions about how our society is structured and what we value.

As people rushed to stores to clear the shelves of hand sanitizer and toilet paper, causing the stores to post limits on how much of certain items can be purchased in a single visit, questions began to be raised on how people will continue to get basic necessities, especially if they live in a large city. The weaknesses of an economic structure where the production of basic daily needs is centralized far away from the population quickly became apparent. Certain pundits are actually questioning the wisdom of nations being dependent on other nations for these needs. However the same is true for cities within the nation.

It is not only unwise for a nation to rely on imports for food, it is also unwise for cities to rely on importing food from other areas of the same country. The centralization of food production to certain areas of the country, far away from the centralized urban population centers relies on large food production plants and distributors to remain in operation. As Covid-19 started to hit centralized meat packing plants, large cities began to fear food riots and looting if their populations could not get enough food. Maybe the idea of local butchers and grocers selling food produced on the outskirts of town wasn't such a bad idea? Imagine if every city, or even most cities, in the country was still structured like this.

While we are hunkering down indoors, we are also increasing our use of social media. Certain big celebrities made videos from their expensive luxurious homes trying to say how "we're all in this together," or with failed attempts at entertainment which quickly got ridiculed. Some people provided real entertainment and even the ability to find some humor in a serious situation. Two of my favorites are Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Coronavirus edition) by the Avalon Jazz Band[1] and My Corona Home - ("Kokomo" Parody Song) by Jon Pumper.[2]

These humorous interludes are needed because people are facing serious problems. With the majority of the economy shut down, a significant portion of the population is experiencing loss of income if not loss of job, which leads to the inability to pay rent or buy those basic necessities which may be in short supply. This has increased the levels of stress on people who are shut in at home. Calls to help lines like those for suicide prevention have increased dramatically, particularly in major cities with a high population density.

Still, others have managed to use this time to strengthen their relationships with both God and family. When the government prohibited all gatherings, this included religious observances. Those who help us in caring for our souls had to find new ways to accomplish this. Many used the resources of social media to live-stream religious observances to those stuck at home.[3] Some even worked with government authorities to provide modified attendance without violating the rules of social distancing.[4]

In this stressful time, it is all too easy to get dragged in to the negative commentary in the news and social media. There are serious issues that will hopefully result in changes that will make societies around the world more resilient and independent, but we should also take this opportunity to support each other through communication and prayer. We will need each other when this crisis has passed and we start the process of recovering and rebuilding our extended lives.

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Notes:
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcW3vY0XWBY

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uDTs-9fq00

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl8GRyTi5YY

[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6UMzsMTG34