The good, the bad and (yes, even) the funny of coronavirus

There is so much coronavirus news out there now, I’m taking just a smidge and trying to boil down into a rundown I’m calling “The Good, The Bad, and (yes, even) the Funny of Coronavirus.” 

Let’s start with the bad: Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control, just told the Washington Post he’s very worried that a possible second wave of coronavirus will hit the country just as the next flu season starts. He’s beyond concerned that a scenario like that would really stretch our medical resources beyond capacity.  

Also on the bad news path, we encounter Europeans trying to burn down dozens of cell towers and destroy other communications equipment because… didn’t you know? The new 5G cell network causes coronavirus! 

Maybe those people are reason enough for Trump’s temporary immigration ban. 

Now the good news – starting with the goodness of 40 employees of a company called Braskem America. They are just now enjoying their first family time in almost a month. That’s because they lived at their manufacturing plant for 28 days straight, switching off between crews working 12-hour shifts. They did so because they didn’t want to risk infection and a work stoppage as they cranked out protective personal equipment for front-line medical workers and first responders. 

Honestly, I almost cried when I read that.

More good (although it may not sound good at first): two new studies using antibody tests in California suggest that coronavirus infections may be more common than we originally thought. If true, that could mean that the mortality rate for COVID-19 may be much lower than originally thought. 

While the studies haven’t been peer reviewed yet, I’m hoping their peers agree.

And finally, because we have to laugh to survive tragedy, I end with the coronavirus funny. 

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio set up a tipline to let New Yorkers narc on neighbors who aren’t socially distancing – by sending in pictures of offenders. (Geez, I can’t see how that could be misused by naughty neighbors falsely accusing enemies.)

People sent in pictures alright, but because so many people were angry with the tipline of tyranny, they clogged it with pictures of (*ahem*) their nether regions, pictures of de Blasio not socially distancing in the gym (which was a real picture) and de Blasio in a Hitler mustache (which was not a real pic but kinda accurate).  

And finally, my 4-year-old has a brand new baby doll who apparently has “da corona.” 

But not only has the diagnosed doll not been quarantined, my daughter (who is the doll’s mom, physician and pharmacist), insists I feed her pretend infant a bottle and give her doses of “medical water.” (whatever that is…)

I just wish she’d provide me with a Doc McStuffins mask to protect me from “da corona.” 

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