What does COVID-19 stand for?
In COVID-19, ‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as “2019 novel coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV”. There are many types of human coronaviruses including some that commonly cause mild upper-respiratory tract illnesses.
How do we fare in Lawrence?
While most people will say they are very afraid of contracting this virus, they have adapted to the new way of doing things. Schools, bars and restaurants and all non-essential businesses are closed and as a result, this is the second week that we have not been printing Rumbo because there’s no place to distribute it. Also, we received a few cancellations of ads so, a digital copy of the paper is being sent by email to anyone requesting it and some articles are posted on Rumbo’s page on Facebook. You can always find the entire edition in our website www.rumbonews.com. Hopefully, this will not continue for too long.
Unfortunately, the public is being deprived of local news since many radio programs are experiencing the same fate, unable to pay the stations for the time they use. Other cities and towns have at least, a local television station informing residents of all that is happening. But for the past 15 years I have been advocating for ours and they continue denying us the opportunity to create programs with information about local issues; this would have been the perfect media to reach everyone, particularly those without internet access.
For the past few weeks I have been following the actions of our mayor, keeping track of his lack of concern for us. No one from his administration (especially him) has made an attempt to go on a radio program or reach out to the community and just two weeks ago, he was downplaying the current situation. He believes that posting messages on Facebook the entire community has been informed. With so many elderly who are not computer literate or families without access to the internet, they also have been alienated.
On March 10, he called the media to a press conference during the Lawrence Alliance for Education regular meeting and read a message that was passed to all of us not saying much.
The next day, March 11, in an Eagle-Tribune article about said meeting, Mayor Rivera mentioned that the Parthum School “has been designated as an ‘off-site’ location for extra hospital beds if local facilities run out of space.”
Upon checking with Lawrence General Hospital about the progress with preparations at the Parthum School, I was told that, “Our Incident Command team continues to update emergency surge plans in preparation for a potential increase in COVID-19 related patients. If the pandemic continues and we experience a surge of people in the Merrimack Valley who need inpatient coronavirus care, we plan to use existing space inside the hospital to accommodate them. In a worst-case scenario, where hospital space here and at other hospitals becomes full, Alternative Care Site (ACS) locations would be considered for minor inpatient needs, but not critical coronavirus related care. Our Incident Command team continues to work with local officials to plan for those worst-case scenarios. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health would have to approve a waiver for a hospital to provide care at an Alternative Care Site (ACS).”
Dan Rivera loves getting headlines! There was no mention of the Parthum School being used by LGH.
In the same article of March 11, he said “the city is doing whatever it can to plan for an outbreak,” and then, “We have a plan for everybody.” So, what is it? We will have a plan or we have a plan for everybody?
Then, on March 12, he sent an email to all city employees telling them that he has a plan and to wash their hands. The message was long with advice on large gatherings, field trips cancellations, schools cleaning and sanitizing, more of the same advice who are tired of hearing everywhere about precautions and wash their hands.
By March 24, his attitude had changed during the press conference at Lawrence General Hospital. While doctors said that we had 5 cases of coronavirus in the city, he said there are 500. What? Is he crazy? Who does he think we are Biogen? Of course, he doesn’t need statistics, he knows better! He also asked the governor to send in the National Guard and is talking to the attorney general to see if he can enforce a curfew.
How do 5 cases of the Covid-19 justify bringing in the National Guard? To do what and who is going to pay for this?
Rivera knows this will attract attention that will get him more press and camera time. Calling for the National Guard, he’s acting as the protector of this community because you cannot protect yourselves. The National Guard will be necessary when the “fear” turns into “social unrest” expressed by violence, robbery, breaking and entering, assaults, and looting.
Is that what he intends to cause to get more air time?
I began to think about the history of Cuba and Fidel and his expertise of playing fear on the people and how quickly despots rely on “violent force” and apply it readily on everyone who does not do what they are told to do by the “enlightened” leaders.
What do you think armed guards are going to do to those who “walk the streets” in face of a “curfew.” Shoot them? That is, in fact, what they do.
Thank God the local leaders have no authority to declare martial law under these circumstances and even if circumstances were far worse. This is the response that Attorney General Healy is likely providing to those who want to use force to control behavior. The politicians do not possess the authority to enforce a curfew ordinance by use of force. That is how Fidel ran Cuba and it’s a first resort of dictators.
AG Healy is likely warning that use of force will have serious consequences and certain liability. Even if the Governor or the President of the United States declared “martial law” its scope and use as a tool to enforce action also remains in question because it binds freedom the source of which is not dispensed by the government. Freedom is God-given and based in human law. Freedom is limitless but remains subject to “reasonableness.” Armed guards are not a “reasonable” response to control people who are free even in the face of COVID-19.
Inspectional Services role
What really bothers me is that Mike Armano has deployed the inspectors to go door to door spreading the virus and possibly infecting themselves in the process. What will happen if those inspectors have a staff meeting with Armano and the Mayor? This could turn into a suicide mission! The door to door contact has to be the worst idea that I have ever heard of!
The Covid-19 Pandemic is a serious situation and this door to door contact is a sure way to spread it. The local Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stopped going door to door per order of the Church because of the risk of contracting and spreading the illness to others during this time.
It does not take too much imagination to know that the Mayor and Armano are carrying out a bad idea. The inspectors look bad for allowing themselves to do this and I hope that the Union will step in to stop it.
What’s quarantine?
In the words on my friend Judith Degnan Marte, “We are being asked to self-isolate. Quarantine is when your local medical profession tells you to quarantine because you tested positive or came in contact with someone who could be positive because they travelled internationally. Quarantine is no leaving your space to grocery shop or go to pharmacy, etc. I think most of the people on Facebook saying they are quarantined are self-isolating.”
President Trump STOP!
At every press conference, I noticed that the president introduces everyone very respectfully using their titles in their names (Senator, Representative, Doctor, etc.) but Dr. Birx in always introduced as Deborah. This woman is an eminence who came from Africa to help us and deserves the same treatment.
