Plague Diaries, Issue 47: April 28, 2020

As we get closer to May 1, the conversations--national, personal, professional, and political--are focused on "reopening." Reopening the country, reopening the economy, reopening businesses. Reopening our lives, really. But because we don't have effective treatments for, or vaccines against, COVID-19, re-opening isn't going to be a resumption of our usual lives. And it's going to be a logistical nightmare, one from which I avert my eyes and thoughts.

It also makes me wonder--at what point do I declare finis to the Plague Diairies? When the governor lifts the stay-at-home order? When I go back to work? When I can gather in the same room with my friends? It seems like, especially as "normal" won't be happening right away, there will still be a reason to keep a "plague diary", if not every day, a fair amount, at least. To observe the potential "second curve", the political, social, and economic fallout from the past few months; to record the simple pleasure of returning to a store and touching an object without feeling compelled to buy it; to note the sheer delight of falling into the arms of my sisters.

Well, all of this is speculation; it all will come to pass at some point soon, but I don't spend too much time on this cool spring evening thinking about it. I'd rather lay in bed and smile as I think back on the day: productive work done; a lengthy Zoom birthday party with friends; various small tasks accomplished; a delightfully frothy period drama series binged. And another plague diary entry completed.

Daily Indiana COVID-19 Counts:
Total Number of Cases: 16,588 (up from yesterday's 15,961)
901 people have died.

Daily Gratitude: 
Thus far, our Indiana governor, Eric Holcomb, has been incredibly sensible in this crisis, and while it's no more than what we deserve--we are lucky. Is it too much to hope he continues to be cautious for just a little longer?

Daily Funnies