As I’m watching the CBS Evening News on Thursday evening, the broadcast begins with an almost breathless Norah O’Donnell talking about the deadly coronavirus and assuring me they’ve got it covered from every angle. That’s followed by a screen full of reporters from different areas who take turns telling the same tale over and over. The first thirteen minutes of the show, with no commercials, was dedicated to coronavirus. It was at the point that I said to myself “By God…that’s enough.”
I’ve had it with the hysteria over this virus that CAN be deadly to the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, especially when there’s a concentration in a nursing home with suspect infection procedures. To put in in perspective, there have been 16,000 deaths worldwide from the flu. Corona has taken over 3,400 worldwide. Over 3,200 die EACH DAY worldwide due to traffic accidents. In the United States fourteen people have died from the coronavirus. Each and every loss of life is significant and tragic. That applies to those who die in traffic accidents each year in our country. Over 30,000 die each year due to driving. That averages out to over 100 per day. Once again, there have been FOURTEEN coronavirus deaths in this country.
My concern about coronavirus has always been financial, not physical. I’m so tired of needless fear and worry financially hurting us collectively and individually that I HOPE I GET THE CORONAVIRUS. To repeat, I HOPE I GET THE CORONAVIRUS. I think having a bad cold for ten days and recovering will be worth it if even a only a few people realize IT’S NOT THE BOOGIE MAN.
The virus WILL spread. It WILL be detected in various cities. It’s probably there now. We should all know and expect it. But as soon as a case is discovered in a different city, the breaking news sound effect will echo from every corner of the country. Why?
I have to believe that corona coverage is ratings gold and that’s why so many networks cover it so intensively. I get it. It’s dramatic. Audiences love drama. I personally think drama is better when the it is deserved or is part of fiction. Those lines seemed to have blurred with the overdone breaking news corona coverage.
As I said before, the virus WILL, with NO DOUBT, SPREAD. But please don’t conflate that with severity. The virus isn’t mutating. It isn’t getting worse. It’s spreading, but it may already be where you are now. You may get sick. But you’ll recover. As will 99% of those who get it. So relax, and please think about this logically and not emotionally.
I’m not sick. But I’ll get sick if it proves the coronavirus emperor isn’t wearing any clothes.
I HOPE I GET CORONA VIRUS.
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