WW Covid-19

THE COVID-19 WAR

The U.S. has fought many wars against foreign enemies, and has never lost their homeland. Like other wars, there are casualties from the enemy. While this isn't the first pandemic the U.S. has had to deal with, never has our country had to shut down large portions of commerce to save lives in as a defense against a virus. 

THE BEGINNING

At first, the enemy virus seemed to fight a skirmish with China. But as it spread throughout Europe, it was evident that it was far more threatening. America had restricted flights from China at the end of January, but Italy's death count was rising, so flights from Europe were halted as well. Unfortunately, it was too late. Previous flights had already let the enemy in. The only hope to vanquish the invader was by using our homes as fortresses to barricade contamination in or out. Regardless, the virus conducted siege warfare on our domiciles, by sending invisible soldiers quietly, and literally, on the backs of our young and healthy who spread it to the older and more vulnerable. 

The original U.S. death was in Washington State, then others mounted in other parts of America...California, New York, and so on. President Trump announced social guideline recommendations to the States and most governors complied. Nevertheless, slowly and methodically the virus marched across the country - spread on by the cavalier and naive. Within three weeks, the death toll climbed from a few hundred to over 10,000.

Worse case scenarios had posited that up to 200,000 lives could be lost, and the U.S. government had to make some serious decisions. 

With Freedom comes sacrifice - but at what price and with how many lives would it take to conquer the enemy? 

THE FRONT

This is one war that required less people not more to fight it. Italy proved how quickly resources could be overwhelmed and how important restricting large crowds curtails the spread. Fearing similar results, the U.S. took steps to ensure hospitals were capable. Therefore, most states endorsed self quarantine in homes,  closed non-essential business, and curtailed large gatherings.  Some thought it folly or draconian; others wanted even stricter measures. President Trump opted for State's rights instead of Federal control. States like South Dakota with fewer people and wider spaces allowed more commerce, large densely packed states like New York clamped down hard. For the first few weeks, deaths were low everywhere. but sadly the virus had already infiltrated the population. The virus quietly incubated and spread before anyone knew it was upon them. Control measures wouldn't stop it, but hopefully they would slow infection down. 

Other than people armed with alcohol and soapy solutions, citizens had no offensive weapons against the invaders. Isolation from loved ones and skyrocketing unemployment was taking it's toll.
The virus was so new, scientist needed to adapt on the fly. With ingenuity and swiftness, untested biological weapons were being created to combat the disease.  Everyone pitched in with ideas and methods to combat the evil. Private enterprise stepped up, modifying factories to produce masks, gowns, ventilators, and other medical equipment. As the death toll mounted, government supported the states with anything and everything needed to combat the virus.
Coincidentally, the tide turned at about the same time Easter approached. Relief came in the form of leveling hospitalizations. New York had half of the over 20,000 U.S. deaths, but was the first to see some improvement. Active cases and daily death rates were declining.

AFTERMATH

Americans always believed they would survive the war, but at what cost?
The stock market had plunged to the lowest levels in history. Businesses had forced employees out of  work. Government threw out trillions of dollars to stop the financial bleeding.
We were a crippled nation in a crippled world.
So like the Battle of the Bulge in WWII, the US could look positively forward to an end to this war with Covid-19. Unfortunately, like the past wars and pandemic storms, lives and property are washed away. Experts will no doubt dissect the damage and determine if the methods were worth the pain, while hard-hit common citizens will pick up the pieces and struggle to survive.

But there is a glimmer of hope for Americans and the world at large. History has been through worse and recovered. Let us learn from the Easter message - that through death comes life, through tragedy comes renewal, through loss comes rebuilding.
We must have faith, for this too shall pass. This isn't just the American way, it's what we do. And although American life may be different, it will bloom beautiful once again.