Admittedly, I rarely turn on the news since it only incites fear and panic in the masses. The death toll in some countries has been so high that they are allowing only cremation to dispose of the bodies. In Iran, bodies have become so numerous that they have resorted to mass graves. Morgues are filling up in New York City with bodies kept in cold storage, possibly for months, until funeral preparations can be made. It seems to me that given the aggressive nature of COVID-19, people need to put their religious views aside. Preparations which would normally be made to a body, so that it can be displayed for a funeral, endanger the embalmers and everyone who must come in contact with that body. I understand how a mass grave would be convenient when dealing with an overwhelming number of bodies, but the only thing that truly makes sense and to ensure the virus does not live, is cremation.
The media generally focuses on the numbers of cases, the need for more equipment, the economic collapse, and stay-at-home orders. People are losing loved ones and on top of this sudden shift in life as we have known it, those left behind by those who have died are dealing with shock, sadness, and grief. I have seen nothing on the news that addresses their emotional loss. These people may not be getting the closure that they need and they may be feeling like they have been forgotten. Perhaps the dead have left behind pets that now have to go to shelters. While we are social distancing, let’s not forget about those people who have lost someone to the virus. We can find ways to reach out to the grief stricken through letters, cards, emails and phone calls.
Today the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. is over 4,000, but more than 8,000 have survived its deadly assault. If you have a strong immune system and yet you still succumb to Coronavirus, you have a 50/50 chance of overcoming it. This is good news. Let’s focus on that and instead of getting consumed by fear, let’s reach out to another person or abandoned pet and ask ourselves each day, how we may serve in this time of great need.
