So, it looks like there are now "factions" of COVID-19 believers out
there — that is, there are people who take the guidance seriously, people
who don't take it seriously, then there are people who think it's a
complete hoax.
One who commented on a Facebook thread I saw on a friend's wall typed,
"[We're] still supposed to pretend that C19 is a thing." Basically, a "flat
earther" of the pandemic, I suppose.
The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy asserted in late
May that people's views on the various policies and procedures regarding
stopping transmission (things like observing social distancing and wearing
masks) appeared to be consistent with their political affiliations. Citing
multiple polls, Republicans were much more likely than Democrats to visit
retail malls for non-essential shopping, and far more likely not to wear
a mask when leaving the house.
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Pew Research reported on June 3 that "Since late March to early May, the
share of Republicans who view the outbreak as a major threat to the nation's
health dropped 9 points, from 52% to 43%, while views on this issue among
Democrats increased slightly from 78% to 82%. Democrats are now nearly 40
percentage points more likely than Republicans to consider the coronavirus
a major threat to the health of the population. About six-in-ten Americans
(59%) view social distancing measures — which were still in place across
much of the country at the time of the survey — as helping a lot to reduce
the spread of the disease, although this belief is more common among
Democrats (69%) than Republicans (49%)."
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Now, I find it interesting that the Trump Administration and the
Republican Party have been pushing so hard for reopening the country, and
they're doing it despite the data that shows infections are up. The
Lieutenant Governor of Texas infamously said a few times (and I'm
paraphrasing here) that the U.S. economy is more important than living.
Clearly both of these organizations have quite a hold on the percentage
of the public that echoes these sentiments -— although, to be fair,
most of us can't live without income, and that's one thing that is NOT a
political issue.
I believe the people not taking the countermeasures seriously are the
primary reason why we're still in the first wave of the virus spread —
we should have been past this point already, but we're not, because (1)
people protesting the economic hardship the countermeasures have created
have allowed the virus to spread (2) racial tensions in the United States
have produced other protests and riots, which have allowed the virus to
spread (3) the Memorial Day weekend — which many view as the start of
summer — sent covidiots scrambling to beaches and shopping and other
gatherings, which has allowed the virus to spread.
(Texas has moved into Phase 3 of its reopening plan despite the Dallas
area seeing record numbers of new cases for a SOLID WEEK. What do you
think the chances are the Governor will pump the brakes on Phase 3?
Particularly when Dan Patrick is so willing to sacrifice Texans' lives?
Which brings me to the secondary reason we're still in the first wave.)
The secondary reason we're still in the first wave is entirely
political. The Republicans are far too ready to brush off the new cases
by simply saying "well, we're testing more, so the numbers are higher."
It's an entirely too dismissive approach, encouraged by the fact that
nobody is confident in any numbers any longer — either because the
collection methods are changing, or because the data scientists are being
told to fudge the numbers (and getting fired if they refuse, right,
Florida?). So with the encouragement of politicians, people — apparently
especially Republicans, if the polls are any indication — are allowing
the virus to spread.
Another quote from Pew Research: "Since April, Republicans have grown
more concerned that restrictions will not be lifted quickly enough, while
Democrats have become increasingly concerned that restrictions will be
lifted too quickly. In the most recent Center survey, nearly 9 in 10
Democrats (87%) say their greater concern is that states will lift
restrictions too quickly; Republicans are closely divided between concern
that restrictions will be lifted too quickly or not quickly enough (47%
to 53%)."
According to this data, Dems are almost unanimous in their concern for
restrictions being lifted too quickly. But what could be the reason for
Republicans being so split on the issue? I think it's a question of
loyalty: the economy IS the Trump Campaign platform in 2020. COVID-19 has
fucking wrecked it; Republicans have been tasked with getting the economy
back and at full steam in time for voters to do their thing (I guess3).
Seems the Republicans polled like living, too.
At the start, I said that it looks like there are now "factions" of
COVID-19 believers out there — that is, there are people who take the
guidance seriously, people who don't take it seriously, and people who
think it's a complete hoax. I now understand that there's a strong
correlation between one's political affiliation and where one stands
regarding COVID-19 countermeasures: The spectrum of "Stay Home, Stay
Safe" to "Reopen the economy now!" appears to parallel the spectrum of
Liberals to Conservatives/Democrats to Republicans.
I think it's important to point out that Democrats and Liberals aren't
anti-economy, and with notable exception of Dan Patrick, Republicans
probably aren't generally pro-COVID. Nobody wants to die, and nobody
wants to be broke, which means there's likely common ground AND that
probably nobody is paying any attention to Dan Patrick.
Personally, I'm worried about going into Phase 3. But I also know that
the Dallas County recommendation is essentially the mid-June equivalent
of SIP. I can still stay
home while the economy reopens. Actually, Dallas says I SHOULD. I wish
more would, but they're making choices just like I am. And I want us
all to make good choices. For ourselves, and others.
UPDATE: The Dallas County Commission voted this morning (Friday, 6/19)
to require masks at county businesses — for employees AND consumers.
A report I saw on NBC's TODAY show this morning expained, COVID
hospitalizations in Texas are up 95% since Memorial Day.
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Please stay safe and be good humans.