Exile on Corona Street, Day 15

(Some Sound Advice)

It's Day 15 and there is no sign that the pandemic crisis is going to let up any time soon.  While that's far from good news, the reality is that fortunately, the fatality rate for Covid-19 is still relatively low in the United States, at about 1.96%.  Granted that any fatality is bad, especially when it is someone we know.  At this stage though, we need to hang onto any bit of hope we can get.

On a related note, it does appear that the fatality rate varies wildly between states in this country.  For example (all data from THIS site, as of 4:45pm on March 31, 2020):

Louisiana:  4.6%

Georgia:  3.4%

Michigan:  2.8%

Mississippi:  2.1%

New York:  2.0%

Texas:  1.5%

Connecticut:  1.4%

Florida:  1.4%

New Jersey:  1.2%

Pennsylvania:  1.2%

Massachusetts:  1.0%

When the dust settles on this truly sad period in our country's history, two things will become self-evident about the fatality rate:

1. Adjusting for age, the poor will be far more likely to die from Covid-19.
2. Access to quality healthcare is more of a challenge in the southern United States.

Both points have a common underlying thread, namely that healthcare in the United States is rationed based upon the ability to pay.  Then again, this isn't necessarily "new" news; if anything the pandemic will simply amplify what some have realized for a long time.

* * * * *

In addition to watching Covid-19 march through the United States like Sherman through Georgia, I'm also been busy with the business of career stuff.  Finding my next...and hopefully, final...career stop is going to be a bit of a challenge in the current environment, but I've not always been known for doing things the easy way.  At this point, I've got my resume spruced up, I've re-introduced myself to most of the job boards and I'm looking at opportunities for networking.  I'm also being a realist in that this could be a long haul.  Something could also happen for me quickly as well.  I just don't know (and hold that thought).

Looking back, I've already been through what I'll call "Layoff Bootcamp" when I was retired at the end of 2016 after nearly 28 years with the same employer.  Calling that time difficult is a bit of an understatement.  One thing that I learned from that experience though is that, at least for me, my expectations are probably the biggest hurdle I'll face.  I don't know what will happen, and that is disconcerting.  Especially for me.  I don't however, have much of a choice in this matter.  In fact, the only thing I do have the ability to make a choice resides with my attitude.  That sounds too much like a bad Pinterest graphic, I know, and I concede right now that I will be failing from time to time to choose a positive, productive attitude.  Another thing I learned though from the end of 2016 though is that choosing a positive attitude is something I need to do for me.  The alternative just isn't much fun, especially these days.

Let's be careful out there.