Do your part, let’s beat this thing
The line in Tampa, Florida, for Covid testing on Sunday, Jan. 2. Scott McLeod photo
Three tests, two shots, but just let me know if more is needed.
That’s a short and very superficial synopsis of my personal Covid story, but in truth the story goes much deeper. I suspect that’s the truth for most of us.
This past Sunday morning found me in a long line at a Tampa, Florida, testing site. I had what felt like a terrible head cold with congestion and coughing, and my voice was almost gone. I was hoping to visit with some nieces and nephews and their partners that afternoon, but I wanted to test first.
The results were negative, as had happened with my previous two tests, though my wife had tested positive earlier in 2021 and we had not quarantined because we didn’t know in time. I have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccination and had gotten a booster in November soon after it became available for me.
As of today, reports are that there were 1 million new cases reported on Monday, Jan. 3 (though many think the high number was due to a holiday backlog, but likely still we are having 500,000 new cases per day at least). The president plans to talk to the nation tonight (Tuesday) as the omicron variant is sending cases soaring and raising more questions about where all this is headed.
Last January, many were writing that by January 2022 we would have the Covid-19 epidemic behind us. There are many reasons that did not happen, among them the wildly adaptable mutation abilities of this particular virus. Like the old whack-a-mole game, we’d smack one variant down and another pops up in another part of the world. Researchers, drug companies and health care workers have done an amazing job, but weary as they may be there is work yet to do.
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Unfortunately, politics has played a role helping the pandemic linger, especially in the U.S. Some said Covid was no big deal, some said the vaccines did not work and were dangerous, others said mask wearing and vaccine mandates were assaults on their personal freedoms. The political divide on Covid issues started with President Donald Trump, but it has lingered and festered long after he has left office.
I’ve been skeptical of authority my entire life, someone who just naturally tends to bow up to rules. Not sure where it started, not sure how it has remained a part of who I am, but if someone tells me to go one way, I’m immediately looking in the other direction.
But I also feel very strongly about doing my part for the common good. Tell me to wear a mask because some politician wants me to, I’ll laugh in your face; tell me to wear a mask because it will protect someone’s grandma or their sick father, I’m masking up, no problem. In fact, I can’t understand how anyone could feel differently.
Here I am writing my first column of 2022 and we’re not out of the woods yet with Covid. Do your part, think about others, and let’s get this damn thing behind us.
(Scott McLeod can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
