- Steve Gruber - https://www.stevegruber.com -

Coronavirus Consequences You Might Not Have Thought Of

With all the cancellations and bans across America, there are a lot of unintended consequences, some
that are obvious, some not so much.

The Trump administration is suggesting that people not get together in groups of 10 or more and
governors in some states are issuing executive orders limiting the number of people who can be at
events.

These suggestions and orders are putting things like weddings, bridal showers, birthday parties,
retirement parties, memorials and funerals in chaos. If you die at the wrong time or have something to
celebrate, it looks like you are out of luck.

First responders have gotten the coronavirus [1] and have been quarantined, taking needed police officers
and EMTs off the road and unable to help people in their cities. This could be a real problem if this
happens in smaller cities with limited resources.

There are also AA meetings being cancelled. Not a good thing for people who need to go to meetings to
maintain their sobriety. People are also opting out of physical therapy they need because they don’t
want to go out into public spaces.

Some animal rescues are barely hanging on due to current circumstances, running low on supplies,
volunteers, donations and adoptions. Villalobos Rescue Center, a huge Pit Bull Rescue in New Orleans,
has been hit bad. Their organization is featured on the TV reality show “Pit Bulls and Parolees” and the
cost to run the rescue is about $10,000 a day.

They own a restaurant (which is now closed by the City of New Orleans) which helps pay for the needs
of their dogs – food, supplies, medical care and more. They’re also dealing with a loss of revenue at
their retail shop in the French Quarter. Adding to their problems is a lack of supplies both online and in
stores, delaying food deliveries and making them very nervous. Their current post on Facebook says,
“we need a miracle” and they say there are in survival mode and desperately need help. Similar
circumstances are probably happening for rescues and animal shelters all over the country.

In a natural disaster, people jump in to help. While the medical side of the coronavirus is not currently a
major disaster in the United States, the reaction and response to it is becoming a disaster to many of
our fellow Americans.

I hope that people quit spending their money on toilet paper and ramen noodles and start helping others
who are needing more help than we do.

I think everyone’s stress level is high and the maintenance of our mental health is important. Helping
others is a big part of that maintenance even if you can only help in a small way. Donate to
organizations who need it, see if there are volunteer opportunities in your city, buy some groceries for an
elderly neighbor or patronize a local business on your way home from work.

Get in “disaster” mode like we’ve been hit with a tornado or hurricane and do what you can if you still
have a paycheck coming in.

Charles Dickens said, “no one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”