The virus king has changed us. In ways that we may not realize or acknowledge, it has changed us; restricted our habits, made us re-evaluate our life’s routines; the way we socialize, the way we approach each other, the way we move, the way we think. It has changed the way we were.
Whenever we try to “normalize” our existence in this pandemic, to live the way we did, the coronavirus reminds us – sometimes swiftly, other times subversively – that it wears the crown; that it is king, with the power to shut down the world—Corona, from the Latin for crown.
Anyone who fails to heed the king’s power can, and have, died—more than 1.6 million worldwide since its arrival nearly one year ago, moving steadily toward 2 million, and beyond. and growing exponentially.
The coronavirus disease, named Covid-19, dedicated to the year its reign of infection began. In the eleven months since, more than 72 million around the globe have been infected, more than 16 million in this country including more than 300,000 dead. The counter keeps counting.
To reign, the virus king needs us. It can’t travel alone; we are its unwitting companions. It is most infectious – and stealthy – coming from the asymptomatic as water droplets expelled from the mouth and nostrils.
Droplets fly like projectiles—the more we talk, the louder we talk (or shout), the more droplets expel and enter a non-infected person’s mouth or nostrils or eyes or hang in the air long enough for someone close by to inhale.
We can curtail the virus’s power – not provide subjects for infection – but we could never defeat the king. Everyone must wear masks, keep socially distant; wash hands. Frequently. Warm humid weather appears to slow infection rates, but the king conquers in cold, dry weather. Particularly indoors. Wear a mask. Keep your distance.
Masks and physical distance protects you/me/us from the virus. We know this from reading about outbreaks in bars or clubs or dorms or restaurants or weddings or funerals or political rallies. Wherever the mask-less mass, the virus spreads exponentially, and kills indiscriminately.
This is how we can subdue the virus, how we can save lives, even our own: wear the mask, keep your distance, test and trace, test and trace, test and trace. Get the vaccine.
Seven varieties of coronaviruses infect humans, this one has a will that no one can bend, not even the cold-blooded lizard kings who think they alone have the power to control the virus by denying its existence (hoax); the virus overwhelms to shows otherwise.
Along political fault lines are mask wearers and mask refusers. Refusers, infected with heavy loads of viral disinformation spread by lizard kings and their minions, are the virus king’s loyal soldiers—ignorant, defiant, they willingly, knowingly perpetuate infection and death. No words of empathy for the weak; no sympathy for those struggling to care for the sick and the dying.
The virus changed everything. Shapes our daily lives in ways that we may have once considered as our future; never our time. People work, teach, learn and generally engage in life remotely.
Friends and families visit and grieve remotely.
We want to laugh, speak loud, hold one another, stand close to one another—to yell, to scream, to greet with a kiss, a hug, a hand grip; to bid adieu in long, warm embrace. The virus changed emotions and expressions and gestures to something missing—our human touch.
Virologists assure us the pandemic’s end is near, effective vaccines are now on the way, but inoculation for all is months away. So, we wait for immunity; we wait for the king’s last day.
