By February 27, 2020 Covid-19 which started in Wuhan China had spread to 37 locations internationally, including cases in the United States. This week however life was normal. I was sketching rehearsals in theaters and I sketched in a crowded theater.
The CDC was making the following recommendations at the time…
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer between hand washings
- Cover your cough: Use tissues or cough into your sleeve.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
- Get Vaccinated: CDC recommends vaccination for everyone aged 6
months and older, especially for those people who are at high risk of
serious complications from the flu. (This step we now know would have no effect on Covid-19. There is no vaccine for Covid-19.)
15 days later, On March 13,, 2020 Donald Trump would Tweet, “So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages
between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the
economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of
CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!”
Orlando Urban Sketchers held a drink and draw at the Bear and Peacock Brewery, 1288 N Orange Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Pam and I arrived a bit late and found everyone crowded around a table. With no where to sit, we decided to get our own table in the corner and I sketched the group huddled together. Gay Geiger had picked the venue because her co-workers wanted to go out after work for a drink. Her co-workers never left so we had two groups crushed together for drinks and conversation. This sort of scene is unimaginable today in our new reality.
Daily over 2000 Americans are dying from Covid-19 this week. Over 2 Million people have died world wide. 37,154 people have died in America so far from the virus. The inaction of the president has resulted in a massive death rate that didn’t need to happen if testing was being done on a massive scale to find and isolate those infected.
Trump is now effectively calling for protests in Minnesota Michigan and Virginia where followers are protesting stay at home orders. A similar protest took place yesterday March 17, 2020 in Orlando Florida outside the Administration building downtown, with no social distancing among the protesters gathered.