Mask-less in Astoria: Covid Complacency from Coast-to-Coast Mickey Z.

Photo credit: Mickey Z.

Mickey Z. -- World News Trust

June 16, 2020

(Please click on all the hyperlinks for added context… and motivation.)

I’ve been confined to my neighborhood of Astoria for a little more than three months. For most of that time, it’s been very comforting to witness how diligent the locals have been with adhering to mitigation guidelines. Considering that Astoria sits in the borough of Queens in the City of New York, it’s not shocking that we were doing the right thing. We have, after all, been dwelling in the epicenter of the epicenter.

Recently, however, something has changed.

Everywhere I go, crowds of people -- not wearing masks and not keeping social distance -- are back as if nothing ever happened. And it’s not just Astoria, of course. Most of America is “re-opening” and that means everything from malls to presidential rallies.

It could be “pandemic fatigue.” It could be related to paroxysms of civil unrest right here in NYC. Maybe it’s just the nicer weather or an honest misunderstanding of what “phase one reopening” means. But, like communities from coast to coast, my beloved Astoria has grown complacent. You might even say “arrogant.”

Now, I understand we need to safeguard our financial and mental health as well as our physical health. But when was it decided to pull a complete U-turn? How did Americans go from taking pride in staying home to callously drinking outside bars in huge, mask-less packs… in less than a week?

If anyone tells you they know for sure it’s safe to do so, they’re lying. If they tell they know for sure it’s unsafe, they’re also lying. Covid-19 is a brand new disease, barely six months old. No honest person can tell you what will happen in the short- or long-term. No one knows.

(more)

https://worldnewstrust.com/mask-less-in-astoria-covid-complacency-from-coast-to-coast-mickey-z