Editorial from the Chicago Tribune editorial board
Americans knew back in March the coronavirus was infectious and dangerous and a return to normalcy eventually would require a vaccine.
Defeating COVID-19 was always going to be a slog requiring commitment and sacrifice. As we wrote in April, best to accept 2020 as The Year of the Asterisk in which we embrace, rather than deny, upended reality and deal with work, school, recreation and social obligations as practically, realistically and cheerfully as possible. A wedding on Zoom? OK. Bring it.
There are times when we need to come together? Like the holidays?
What we do know is we’re worn out — from the politicians not following their own dictates to the evolving, mandated protocols and to the sheer isolation of staying home. Progress against the virus feels fleeting.
Thanksgiving is coming, and our best, most optimistic advice is to take on Thanksgiving and the holiday season as joyful variations on a theme, which means find different, safe ways to celebrate and give thanks. Our favorite debate of the past week has been whether to describe a remote family gathering as Zoomsgiving or ThanksZooming.
Holding smaller gatherings is a reasonable ask. Thanksgiving is not canceled. But expecting a nation to stay in lockdown mode indefinitely is not realistic. Shutdowns have inflicted devastating economic consequences for families and business owners.
To some extent the pandemic isn’t different from other aspects of life — it requires accepting personal responsibility and thinking through consequences.
These are the precise at-home rebellions that have led to case spread. Don’t be that guy.
A key challenge of the pandemic is assessing the risks. Is it worth insisting on your traditional, extended family Thanksgiving get-together? COVID-19 is a new virus and not fully understood. Some basic assertions are holding true: It is potentially lethal, especially to the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, but the mortality rate has declined since spring. It is highly infectious and can be passed on by someone who is asymptomatic, meaning a young healthy person can end up being responsible for an older person going to the hospital. Individuals and families need to keep their guard up and decide for themselves which daily activities need to be avoided.
Let’s not give up the fight.
