In the Age of Coronavirus, Whom Can You Trust?

The pandemic has sowed doubt and uncertainty within existing social circles.

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The 15-second ad sounds like it’d fit better in a dystopian science fiction movie than the present-day United States. 

“At Domino’s, we pride ourselves on handcrafted pizza,” a narrator reads. “But after leaving our 450 degree ovens, the only hands that touch them are yours. … Get them with contactless delivery, from Domino’s.”

The voiceover brims with a cheery aloofness that distinguishes the spot from the scores of somber commercials that have sprung up in recent months. But the subtext is clear: Trust us, you won’t contract coronavirus from eating our pizza.

Everything has changed in the months since COVID-19 has reared its ugly head: 80,000 are dead, nearly 1.5 million are confirmed to be infected, and tens of millions are out of work. Schools, workplaces, and community groups have shifted online; sports seasons, movie premieres, and vacation plans have been put on hold.

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  1. Avatar photo
    Michelle O

    I have been driving into Philadelphia about once a week for work since the lockdown began. At first the roads were abandoned: it felt like I was driving post-apocalyptic times. Over the last few weeks, however, I've seen more and more cars on the road. Today I drove into work and the traffic was steady; not quite regular workday busy, but certainly nothing like early to mid-April. More people are going places. I don't know where they're going, but they're going somewhere.

    I wonder if surveys aren't accurately capturing the mood - is it socially unacceptable enough to say you're done being locked down that people would lie about it to a pollster? And I wonder if one could use gasoline sales to track people's actions instead of their words, thus getting a better sense of how much of the public is "over it," as it were?

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      Pat Riot

      The cell phone data works pretty well to show how people are distancing. No need to ask anybody in a poll:

      https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/29/21198158/us-government-mobile-ad-location-data-coronavirus

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    Visibly

    Can I be allowed to give the typical US Presidents’s response to this virus of today:

    «Dear all Amreicans.
    We are today in A full-blown pandemic. China failed, as usual, to give full information, but we knew by late January what was coming our ways,. I failed to follow up, because I was more concerned about the impeachment inquiry, despite strong advise from several advisors. I deeply apologise, and hope we can join as a nation forward.
    Let me assure you: My administration supports the saying of: Once for all, all for one.
    I understand that the WH is priviledged in terms of testing. I want everyone of our essential workers to receive the same follow-up. And I particularly would like corporations and employers, to make sure that our essential workers are safe and feel proud to be our frontline workers.

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      This was half-sarcasm. True, but not tru.

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    Adam Bridge

    I'm not sure I understand what "social capital" is. I'm not very comfortable with the concept of human relationships being subject to the marketplace.

    From a moral perspective we return to the fundamental question of what we owe to each other. For some of us we can securely institute a passive defense by sheltering in place. But we still put others at risk to provide essential services. We also put people at risk from social isolation either alone or in family or cohabitation groups. I try to minimize the social "threat surface" by making as few demands as possible while greatly appreciating those who are taking risks to allow society to function.

    It's clear that some locations are at less risk than others. But the virus is as mobile as we are. In Mariposa County, California a visitor from another county brought COVID-19 in when the isolation was too great to be emotionally endured (or they were just selfish) and spread into a family birthday party resulting in the first cases in the county.

    As we become more mobile we'll see areas with only casual social intercourse with the outside experiencing more contact and greater chances for people who aren't exhibiting symptoms (or who are but aren't self-isolating) to spread the virus.

    We owe to each other, it seems to me, to be mindful of those around us and to realize we might be contagious though we don't realize it. Certainly I'd like to believe others will the same precautions. But I don't see that. In my area I do see people wearing masks when in close proximity. But even on the local news I see many people who intentionally are not, possibly to make a political point.

    I don't see the morality in putting others at risk. If we care for each other we should demonstrate that by taking precautions.

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  4. Ann G

    By the end of lockdown, my county was beginning to go a day or two with no new cases. Once lockdown was lifted, with very few restrictions, cases jumped to a few a day. So, locally, caution is still warranted because we have accomplished nothing.

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    Scarlette Tarte

    My husband and I went fishing yesterday, and what we saw confirms this story. It was a Monday, and beautiful weather. Yet almost everyone appeared to be home. People were out working in their yards, lots of youngsters kayaking and such. And we love in rural east Texas where support of Trump is high.

    Most Americans are staying home as much as they can. Until THEY feel it's safe, no amount of badgering from Trump is appearing to work.

    And this is also Trump's fault. If he would have started from the very beginning attempting to appear concerned about this virus, instead of downplaying it, maybe people would put more stock in what he says now. Instead, everyone knows that he himself is scared to death of getting it, but wants to push others to "get back to work". This reveals that he just wants the economy back on track for his own re-election chances...not because he actually believes the virus is no danger.

    Trump is remarkably bad at his job. His idea of "leadership" is just bossing people around. He has no idea of how to actually move people in the direction you want them to go. Now he is paying the price, and our citizens are turning away from others.

    Our recovery from this will take years and that is mostly because of Trump and a very incompetent staff.

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  6. Avatar photo
    Pat Riot

    "The Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing--after they've tried everything else." -- Winston Churchill (attributed)

    This is like watching a slow-moving train wreck. Here's what's probably going to happen:

    1. Governors will ease official restrictions.

    2. The virus will continue to spread.

    3. The hospitalization rate will continue as it is now, and will go up in places where the virus hasn't been yet.

    4. People will start to know people who have gotten the virus and will learn, first hand, how awful it is. They will develop a healthy fear of the virus that will override whatever Trump or their governor is telling them.

    5. With their government telling them what they know first hand to be lies, they will panic and the economy will contract worse than it ever has.

    6. After all of that, we will *finally* start to see a nationwide plan to *seriously* deal with the virus, which will involve *full* quarantines for a *long* time.

    7. Other developed countries who did *not* have an idiot in charge will have recovered, and will *ban travel to the USA*, further depressing our economy.

    8. The whole thing will have taken us five times longer and cost ten times more than other countries who weren't in COVID denial.

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    1. Victoria Ferauge

      Yes, and I would add that this has dealt a serious blow to the reputation of the United States as a world power. This is a nation-state that is incapable of mustering a serious and organized response to a national emergency. The US appears weak and divided. Friendly and un-friendly nations around the world have noticed and will adjust their foreign policies accordingly. I have wondered what would happen if some entity launched a 9-11 attack against the US right about now or if China decided this was the moment to kick the US out of its sphere of influence in the Pacific. US weakness tempts bad actors to do damage to US interests.

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    2. Caleb Doxsey

      The US took extreme measures in response to the virus. They weren't effective but it was not for lack of trying. There is nothing we could've done after January to have seriously curtailed the spread of the disease. It was and is a lost cause. We used to know this. (flattening the curve)

      *full* quarantine means people starving when supply chains run dry. More people will suffer under this strategy than simply letting the disease run its course.

      Unless you're a farmer (and in reality even then), you depend on others for sustenance. If everyone stops working basic necessities will disappear. Therefore we must keep essential services running. That means millions of people still need to leave their homes and work. And if millions of people are interacting, the disease will continue to spread.

      There is no way to achieve victory here. And it has nothing to do with Trump or the decisions he made. China could've stopped this in December, and we could've been better prepared, but there are no good choices now. There's only bad and worse.

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      1. Victoria Ferauge

        Have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. Asian countries took extreme measures. Europe took less extreme measures but still mustered serious nationwide lockdowns. The US? Down there with the developing world.

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        Pat Riot

        All you have to do is look at South Korea and see that our response as a country was catastrophically incompetent.

        We've been in quarantine for a couple of months now and nobody is starving. Obviously it isn't "perfect" quarantine, but rather the curtailing of all but essential services.

        China *did* stop it for their country. China could not have stopped it in the USA or anyplace else over which they have no control.

        But you are correct: there is only bad and worse. Bad is continuing the quarantine long enough to kill this virus. Worse is resuming normal life now and it spreading and then needing to quarantine even longer in a few months.

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        1. Caleb Doxsey

          So you're ok with the quarantine we had (and still have in many places)? I thought you said "which will involve *full* quarantines for a *long* time."

          If by quarantine you just mean what NYC did, it was not effective in containing the virus. They still have a very high death toll. This is because its not a full quarantine, and that's because a full quarantine is impossible. Some people *must* work in this country. Quarantine is only effective when applied to a subset of the population. Healthy people living their lives are necessary to sustain the health of sick people. If we treat everyone like they're sick, everyone is screwed.

          The goal of the lock down was to relieve strain on the health care system, not to eradicate the virus. All we're doing is slowing its growth. This was clearly communicated, but I guess a lot of people didn't get the memo.

          China could've contained the virus. Instead they pretended like it didn't happen, let it spread, and the let it loose on the world. We can't trust their numbers so who has any idea if its contained there. Personally I doubt it. And even if they did, at this point its just going to end up starting all over again when someone brings it back.

          South Korea is still dealing with outbreaks. They have not contained the virus.

          "Continuing the quarantine long enough to kill this virus" means not re-opening for years. That's a terrible idea.

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            Pat Riot

            You can hope and pray all you want, the virus doesn't care.

            And China *did* contain the virus. We didn't.

            And we have American intelligence there, who warned Trump in December what was really going on there, so we don't go by press reports. (Trump of course ignored the IC but that's another story).

            And South Korea is dealing with a *tiny* number of cases now, and they have mass testing in place to keep things under control. South Korea is able to safely start opening things up. We aren't.

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        2. John Cheyney

          Actually you don’t even have to look at South Korea. We got beat by Argentina.

          https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/12/853837925/argentina-reacted-early-and-kept-the-coronavirus-largely-contained?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=nprblogscoronavirusliveupdates

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            Pat Riot

            Christ on a crutch.

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        Visibly

        Absolutely not true that US took extreme condition compared to other countries. But because the world-wide restrictions affect all of the world, it feels extreme. Because these days, we only consider less extreme to very extreme.
        US had at least 3 months to prepare, given Intelligence Services AND WHO AND even China to prepare. Federal administration failed miserably

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        1. Caleb Doxsey

          We did take extreme measures. You keep repeating this statement but what did we not do in this country that we should've?

          As an example:
          - we shut down all schools in the country
          - we shut down all restaurants
          - parks, playgrounds, beaches were all closed
          - the majority of retail stores were closed
          - all public events (sports, concerts, etc) were cancelled
          - religious services were made illegal
          - non-essential travel was made illegal

          You were still allowed to go to the Grocery store. So I guess that's another thing they could've shut down. Is that what you're referring to?

          Here in CO liquor stores and marijuana dispensaries were deemed essential services after massive civil disobedience forced the government's hand. But the US has a long, troublesome history with alcohol (ie prohibition), so that's hardly surprising. Nevertheless they tried to shut it down.

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            But the problem is that it was too late! And I think you should blame your president and the federal government,
            By the way, I love Colorado. With conferences and then holiday, I think I have been there about 6-8 times, from Norway!

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            Pat Riot

            Testing, testing, testing, and contact tracing. Other countries did this. We didn't. Other countries are coming out of this mess. We aren't. Trump said in virtually every news conference he's had that we have the best testing in the world. It's a ridiculous lie.

            If we didn't do all of those things you mentioned our crisis would be a hundred times *worse*.

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  7. Valerie rhodes

    Some parts of the country may be loath to acknowledge one another with a hello, here in OKC we stop and have conversations, mindful of distancing. I've met new neighbors during the apocalypse.

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    I will trust an expert nearly everytime over an Idologue with uncompromising and dogmatic ideas.

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  9. Victoria Ferauge

    The leader of my local hiking group wants to start up our Sunday hikes again as soon as possible. Most of the members are over 70 (I think I'm the youngest at 54). I think she will have few takers because we have to take the train to reach the trailheads and that is very risky. These are my friends and I miss them so much. (These are exactly the companions I hoped to have as I grow old in my adopted country). But I am a cancer survivor with an autoimmune disorder called Horton's disease which causes severe inflammation in my arteries and is controlled by heavy doses of steroids which suppress my immune system. Because of this I am a radical take no chances social-distancer. If God decides that it's my time then I hope to go with grace. But until then I have a husband, children, a garden, and a flock of chickens to love and care for. Carelessly putting myself in the path of this virus so I can hike feels like spitting in the face of my Creator who has saved me so far and made it possible for me to enjoy so many good things for far longer than I had hoped for.

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      From one cancer survivor to another: Being outdoor and with physical distancing, the viral load and infection risk are likely to be low. So, enjoy your tours.
      We still know so little about this virus: I find it interesting that high age, hypertension, obesity and diabetes are among the highest risk groups, but we do not see reports that people with asthma and immunocompromized patients are at so high risk. Or cancer survivors.
      Back to being a scientist: We need to understand why: Do genetics, environmental exposure, some antiinflammatory drugs actually protect against COVID?
      Do follow the advise given by experts and frontline workers. New data coming out every week.
      And feel free to feel that these workers are the sign of God’s intervention. The most important is that you now stay safe and healthy, and that we allow time to find good solutions for everyone.

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      1. Victoria Ferauge

        Well met, sir, and your advice is sound - I average about 35 km a week of walking in the forests near my house. Forget the gaudy monstrosity that is the Versailles castle - the really beautiful things in this region are found by walking in the forests along the back trails that lead to villages and flow back into forest again. The immuno-suppressed are not so high risk? That would be good news and would make me feel a lot safer.

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          i hope as an atheist to support the restoration of Notre Dame, starting tonight!

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    Earl King

    In general those at the Dispatch would rather focus on Trump and the Administration rather than the missteps of the CDC and FDA in February which lost us time, OK...
    I prefer to focus on the media and their motivations. Nicolle Wallace of MSNBC said it perfectly. The only good thing about this virus is that it has hurt Trump. That sentiment has led much of the reporting. Healthy fear is good, irrational feat is bad. We have been locked up nearly 8 weeks. With just under 1,400,000 million confirmed infections and 80,000 deaths....We do we never seem highlight the overwhelming vast majority who must have recovered by now...Otherwise see dead bodies in the streets. That figure by the way underreports a huge number of asymptomatic and mildly sick who never got tested. Perhaps 10 million to 20 million more are suspected to have been infected.
    It is true that seemingly healthy people have died. But half the deaths are from people in nursing homes and those had preexisting conditions. We generally know who should be hyper-fearful. If you are a black male, obese and have hypertension and diabetes....Freak out and don't leave your house. You will likely get very sick.
    The Media, sticks with "if it bleeds it leads" editorial content. First is was Trump left us with no ventilators people will die. Now its testing kits that is Trump fault alone. The message is don't go out, don't open up the economy. Anything to hurt Trump, the Media's TDS has infected the coverage. 80,000 Deaths are horrible. More people will die, the virus is not gone but unless the Media allow us to open up we won't. The economic arrmagedden will have its own complications and as Nicolle Wallace said...that is a winner for the Media. Bill Maher wanted a Recession. He may get a Depression. Happy Days for the Resistance.

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    1. Kaybmorrow

      And the media are working and being paid while telling everyone else to stay home.

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      1. John Cheyney

        As well they should be. A free and outspoken media is one of the greatest blessings our Founding Father’s gave us.

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    2. John Cheyney

      I hold Donald Trump and his Administration responsible because the operation of the federal government is his responsibility. Period. Full Stop.

      He can't play the new guy card and he doesn't get to pick and choose what he wants and doesn't. If he can't take the heat he should have never volunteered to go into the kitchen in the first place.

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        Earl King

        You're right, I forgot he has a PHD viral immunology and he works alone

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          Pat Riot

          All of those people you mention work for Trump.

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    3. Valerie rhodes

      We can have 2 thoughts at one time. Much of the left wants us to live in fear,and likewise much of the right wants us to live in ignorance.

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      How many times do we need to remind people that although the death rates among older people is a very serious issue, the main difference between C19 and flu Is that so many relatively young become very seriously ill, often requiring ICU and ventilation, often for weeks. In Norway, 50% of those submitted to hospital are under 60 y. Also for those not hospitalised, a substantial proportion develop a severe flu like condition that often lasts for weeks rather than days.

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        Earl King

        You have perfectly highlighted the problem with opening...Do we focus on your statistic of 50% hospitalized in Norway are under 60....Or that 95% or more infected will survive...of those the vast majority will have no, mild or moderate symptoms. Which one is more useful? It's a conundrum. We have a Sophies Choice...neither option, to stay shut or to open carefully, is foolproof. More people will die.

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          Let us compare Norway with Colorado. Both have quite similar population size and not so different population density. Norway is somewhat wealthier, but Colorado is doing very well. Both well educated. In Norway, we have so far had 8000 infected, with 224 dead, About a 1000 have been submitted to hospital. We have extensive testing: Only 5% are positive. In Colorado, the number infected are getting close to 20000, with nearly 1000 dead. more than 3500 have been hospitalised. As much as 20% of the tests were positive. So far Norway is doing far better than its US counterpart. What is more important is that this temporary shutdown has given us a chance to find better solutions, and to change behaviour. Furthermore, summer is coming, with more people on holiday, and with many more being outside (less risk for infection). And by the way, Norway is not homogenous anymore, particularly in our cities.

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          1. Caleb Doxsey

            Colorado shut down. Just a few days ago they fined a guy 1000$ for playing a football in a park. A restaurant opened illegally on Mother’s Day and is now being shut down.

            The disease is poorly understood and places are seeing wildly different outcomes despite following the same strategies. Why was nyc a disaster but Seattle and LA a non event. Why is Florida (a state with tons of old people) better off than Ohio (a state that pursued some of the strictest and earliest measures). Why are some people completely unaffected by the disease, some have a mild cold, some have an ugly flu, and some are on the brink of death? Why are children largely immune?

            What’s the rate of infection in the general population? Maybe it’s actually super widespread and we just have no idea. We only test sick people, and a nurse friend told me the antibody test has significant problems.

            What’s particularly disturbing is I don’t feel like we know anything more than we did a month ago.

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