The coronavirus pandemic could have a material impact on the manner humans interface with each other prospectively. Humans are social animals that crave attention, love and physical contact with each other. But significant contact could result in greater spread of disease.

I never really thought much about the amount of time I spend with others. Of course, I try to have as much quality time with my immediate family as possible, but when I thought about how often I’m among many others in the course of a typical day, I was somewhat surprised. Is it something I need for my own mental well-being?

At work, millions of us file into the same building and we sit in rows of desks just a few feet apart from each other. Most companies want their employees to interface with each other regularly to inspire creativity and to improve the social experience.

Recreationally, we attend gyms and workout together in tight quarters. The most important thing is to try to be physically fit, but the social aspect of working out together is also pleasing to many.

We eat together in restaurants with 50 or 100 strangers, serviced by waiters we don’t know personally. For many New Yorkers, going to dinner is a very important part of their social life. It’s a time to reconnect with family and friends.

In school, our children join 10, 15, 20 others in classrooms all day long. The social aspect of school is an incredibly important part of a person’s maturation process.

Sporting events bring together thousands of us in huge venues including Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium. We sit close to each other and cheer on our favorite teams.

Summer is upon us. Going to the beach with hundreds of others is commonplace and will happen every day that there is warm weather.

All these activities are currently banned by the federal government or at least severely restricted. The authorities say the coronavirus will continue to spread so long as people congregate, at home, at school, at religious ceremonies and at sporting contests.

When will the federal government relax restrictions? It will depend upon the slope of new cases of coronavirus and the affiliated deaths.

In the meantime, humans across the globe must continue to act anti socially by minimizing contact with others. Will this new way of life persevere? Will humans be a little, or a lot more, resistant to socializing.

A broader point is whether these current antisocial requirements will become more widespread moving forward. For instance, will corporations recognize that they could decrease their carbon footprint by markedly reducing travel by their executives. There’s really no need to get on an airplane, travel 1,000 miles and have a face to face meeting when it can be done using Skype. Many in business believe that they are more productive if they meet regularly with their clients face to face. But the current ban on travel could make some corporations change the rules of engagement with clients.

For years, corporations have attempted to make it easier for women to be successful in high pressure jobs while they are growing a family. It’s possible that some corporations, after experiencing these new antisocial restrictions, will conclude that working from home two or three times a week will not decrease the productivity of their employees. By staying home more often women just may be influenced to stay the course and strive for greater compensation and higher positions.

Even the simple act of greeting friends, which typically involves at least shaking hands and sometimes a peck on the cheek may end. It may be too dangerous to continue with this formality given the problems related to the current coronavirus pandemic.

For 7,000 years humans have practiced these social rituals without interruption. Is it possible that after one month the whole system can be upended? Do humans crave the attention of others, physically and mentally?

It’s going to be really interesting to see how all of us respond if there are no long-term ground rules to protect us from disease. Having been around a long time, I’m not enamored with the prospect of being less socially involved with my friends. The real question is whether disease is so prevalent these days that less socialization is going to be critical to our long-term existence.

It’s over a week since the coronavirus odyssey began for my family. To say the least, the experience has been harrowing for my loved ones, as well as millions of people around the world. Many crazy thoughts have run through my mind, reminiscent of 9/11. I thought I might share some of them with you.

Frankly this whole episode is nothing short of a science fiction horror story. The entire global community is being subjected to a killer virus that emanated from deep within China. The Chinese kept the bug a secret and attempted to deal with a rapidly growing epidemic without soliciting the help of other countries. An effort to save face was a disaster as the virus spread like wildfire. An opportunity for the entire world to get its arms around the disease early was lost because of the hubris of our Asian counterparts.

There are many individuals that may become heroes or goats in the battle against the coronavirus, and its derivative impact on the world economy. The worst potential offender, besides China, is president Trump, who actually believes he can will the disease away. False hope and claims of doing a great job fill the newspapers and airwaves every day. But everybody knows it’s all exaggeration and self-aggrandizement. Trump wants to save the economy by bestowing unrealistic expectations about our ability to stem the pandemic. Hopefully, the president will finally set aside his own ego and just find a way to give comfort to those that need hospital beds and ventilators. He needs to be a strong unselfish leader, a large ask for this man.

It would be unfair to underestimate the strength of the worldwide health community and the ingenuity of doctors, researchers and pharma companies. But unlike a political war where man kills man, Mother Nature is a truly formidable adversary with absolutely no empathy for human life and suffering. A strain of flu has overwhelmed the world, and we need to empirically, logistically and medically cut through deep underbrush to confront the world’s affliction.

But heroes are distinguishing themselves with wisdom, confidence and a will to work with others. Doctors are ramrodding new potential cures and treatments through the system, and our great financial minds are ensuring that enough money will be available to fight a recession and provide for those who are being devastated financially. There is nothing like the American spirit when we have a common enemy. Political distrust and bad blood are being set aside for the greater good.

The most important thing that individual Americans can do to get the country, and the world, back on track is to heed the warnings of the experts. What we don’t need are renegade and undisciplined young people living for today and spreading infection. We need everyone to isolate and retard the growth of the virus. We need people to wash their hands regularly. Simple things will save lives.

Our intestinal fortitude is being challenged. Humans are social animals that need companionship. The fight against this virus is counter to our basic needs. For several weeks, we need to stay away from each other and avoid crowds. It’s unnatural but essential.

Last night I lamented to my family that being quarantined was really getting to me. I felt great anxiety, and cabin fever was setting in. I needed to dig deep with help from those I love the most.

Generally, I’m not willing to let others tell me what to do or how to behave. I’m the master of my own life. But this virus is a new kind of challenge that will make our country stronger in every conceivable way if we are diligent. It will take some time, but not that long before we will once again live the American dream.

 

 

The world is waiting for medical experts to tell it how and when this coronavirus pandemic will end. Researchers have had plenty of experience tracking the evolution of disease in recent years, so it’s surprising that they are stumped by this new virus.

The Chinese experience seems to be the best outcome from what we know. Government officials isolated a significant hot spot and allowed the virus to run its course.  The objective was to not allow the bug to affect others outside Ground Zero. Apparently, Chinese officials were not shy about the isolation process. It may have been cruel, but it was effective, as the outbreak turned the corner in China. And this was the objective- to stop the increase in the number of newly infected individuals.

In the New York Times, the tree impact of a disease outbreak brought clarity and the importance of avoiding contact. Graphs showed how a disease will spread exponentially if each person passes the disease to two other people. The contamination is astounding. But, the most important point is that the less contact we have with each other for a short period of time, the sooner the disease will peter out.

But, America is not China. Authorities asked, pleaded and gently coerced revelers In Florida during this past week. Only after the governor and mayors shut down beaches and bars did the crowds disperse. The alternative was that these young people would pass the virus to each other and bring it home to their parents and grandparents, who are much more vulnerable to the disease. The lesson to be learned is that every American should stay home for a couple of weeks and the coronavirus will lose power. This in conjunction with severe travel restrictions into the US is the solution to the virus’ enigmatic qualities.

I am personally in quarantine at this time and have avoided contact with my family. Cabin fever is setting in, but it’s only a short time before my life will be back to normal. It’s a small sacrifice that I want to make for my loved ones and for my country. I implore all of you to do the same thing.

 

 

I’ve been trying to find the words that express my feelings about the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a scary time for the entire world. But, it’s not the end of mankind by any stretch of the imagination. And frankly, the world has survived through much more difficult times in the past.

The most disconcerting issue to me, besides the deaths of several thousand people worldwide, is the inability of government the leaders to work together. The virus does not play favorites, it makes ill and kills humans across the globe indiscriminately. The efforts by China to hide the outbreak was unforgivable. The US and other countries could have gotten a head start in the battle with this bug if we were brought in early to help the Chinese.

But the Chinese are not the only ones who deserve criticism. Here at home, politicians, the media and citizens have weaponized the virus for their own advantage. After 9/11, the entire country empathized with and wanted to avenge a horrible tragedy. We worked and mourned together. Even some of our enemies overseas were outraged by such a despicable act of terrorism.

Not today. Instead of giving support to our leaders, the political opposition is looking to denigrate efforts by the president to get his arms around the disease. He’s making mistakes because the pandemic is new to America and the world. Granted, Trump’s ego makes it difficult to give him our trust, but he’s in charge. Our lives and well-being are in his hands.

Similarly, the media is so busy harassing the president that it has not reported the situation in a way that gives us any confidence. If the president makes a mistake, they should report it. They shouldn’t continuously keep saying everything he’s doing is part of an effort to get reelected. Trump does not want Americans to die or suffer, and it’s shameful that the press indicates otherwise.

Making matters worse is the totally imbecilic primaries being conducted by the Democrats. The contenders think that proclaiming Trump is not the man to get us through these difficult times is only stoking resentment against the man who is responsible for pulling us through this horrible situation. Winning an election by distorting the facts and creating mass hysteria is not more important than defeating the virus.

I lived through many difficult moments that will be judged to be far more dangerous than a flu bug. In the 50s and 60s, we were practicing taking cover in the event that the Soviet Union launched nuclear missiles. In the 60s and 70s , Vietnam killed 50,000 plus Americans. Natural disasters plague the world unceasingly during the last 50 years. Aids killed thousands. And of course, 911 was a heartbreaking time for all Americans.

The most important thing that occurred during all these tragedies was that Americans empathized, contributed and kept a positive outlook. We faced every disaster that Mother Nature and our enemies threw at us. We are the strongest most resilient country in the world. So, it’s time we all began to approach coronavirus with confidence. We will defeat this nasty bug. The virus attacked us suddenly, and it’s likely that it will depart just as quickly. In the meantime, give your children pep talks, follow the rules that will decrease the spread of the disease, be empathetic for those who lose family and friends and support our government.

I wish you good health.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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