Our COVID-19 Reactions: A Gulf Between Two Sides, A Simple Difference of On One Point

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The division in the country that we see with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic originates from a single point of contention: how serious you deem the virus.

One side sees the disease as very serious, and so we need to stop the spread. Thus, news of people getting the virus is always bad and means there was a failure in how people have been acting. The other side sees the disease as being less serious--to the point that we have to accept its inevitable spread through the population (particularly the young and healthy). In fact, because this side sees it as inevitable, some health professionals in this camp even see the recent spread on some college campuses as a good thing. For it's better to be spreading through these populations--and eventually "working its way" through the country--than by spreading through elderly groups. Part of what pushes the "more serious" side of the issue is that it's just too easy for headlines to declare: "900 More Cases, 8 More Deaths". News of the virus goes, well, viral. It has become a thing to watch for in the news cycle, a point to monitor and react to. So, whenever a spike in cases happens in a school, for instance, it's automatic big news and public outcry. The leaders of the affected institution want to avoid that attention, so we as a society (schools, companies, governments) are collectively taking strong precautions to avoid anyone getting the virus--regardless of whether this is overall the wisest approach to take. This doesn't mean this virus isn't very serious or that those on this side of the issue are wrong. It's just useful to be aware that afflictions of this particular problem are exaggerated. It's the "shark attack" effect, where certain problems gain larger attention/reaction than the numbers "should" warrant. For example, of the many thousands of COVID-19 diagnoses on colleges this fall, I don't believe there have been any hospitalizations as a result. It's also good to know that what seems to be a gulf separating the two camps of thought regarding COVID-19--and all the resultant activity and advocacy--is actually just one difference on one point.
Originally posted here: https://hive.blog/america/@fedoraonmyhead/our-covid-19-reactions-a-gulf-between-two-sides-a-simple-difference-of-on-one-point