Some Mercy and Comfort please...

"All I can say in conclusion is this - thank God we live in the United States. Thank God we have President Trump at the helm. And thank God we have the vast medical prowess and acumen we have in our country."

For a change, our government is working like a real government should. Senator Lindsey Graham said yesterday that, "This was the most united he has seen our government since 9/11". Good. And I love either watching or listening to the daily pressers with the Vice President (often times the President also joins), and the nation's medical team. Every day it seems our government gets smarter and more prepared for this very tiny, maybe deadly, and uninvited guest.

Yesterday it was announced the USNS Comfort and the USNS Mercy were being prepped for duty. One will be stationed off of NYC, and the other one some yet to be determined place on the west coast. Both these ships are monsters in fighting diseases or treating the hurting. To activate these ships was a smart thing to do, and to do it now was very timely. As NYC is becoming a "hot spot", having these additional beds available will be a God send.

Also yesterday, it was announced the President had invoked the 70 year old (and rarely used), Defense Production Act. Why is this important? If things really start to hit the fan, we will need a boat load more ventilators, respirators and surgical masks. This new authority gives the president the right to direct private companies to immediately make these items - even if that is not what their business is. It really is a wartime act. But according to the President, we are at war with this virus. 

Here is the sobering news, if I may report it. The worse case scenario with this virus, even if we can stay on top of fighting it, is this first round of the battle may last as long as eighteen months. Why eighteen? That is how long it is estimated it will take to have a "go to market", successful vaccine. If it is shorter - great. But having a vaccine will be the silver bullet which will end this war. Why is that? It is thought that like a common cold, even though you have this virus once, you can still get re-infected at a later time. Without a vaccine, we could be doing this stork dance for a long, long time. With a successful vaccine, life may once again return to normal.

Today, a bit past sun up, we will attempt to go to the grocery store. Seniors are encouraged to go early, to take advantage of a defacto "seniors only" time to shop. This might be our new norm until this ends. Going in, disinfecting our cart, keeping a safe distance from others, getting what is available, coming home, and disinfecting everything we bought. Sound paranoid? Or smart? This is the way the nation's medical team is recommending we do it. So we will. If we can't trust our doctors, then we are really screwed.

All I can say in conclusion is this - thank God we live in the United States. Thank God we have President Trump at the helm. And thank God we have the vast medical prowess and acumen we have in our country. But mostly, we pray to God for His protection, comfort and mercy as we go forward in this battle.