“I miss my mom, I miss my dad

I miss the road, I miss my band

Givin’ hugs and shakin’ hands

It’s a mystery, I suppose

Just how long this thing goes

But there’ll be crowds and there’ll be shows

And there will be light after dark

Someday when we aren’t six feet apart”

 

Here he reinforces the idea of physical distancing as well as protecting older family members who are higher risk of complications and mortality from COVID-19 infection. I also like his idea of the pandemic’s duration being a ‘mystery’ as to ‘how long this thing goes’. It accurately sums up the inherent unknowns of epidemiology and public health investigations. But it also conveys a tacit acceptance of that process along with the need to be patient before there are ‘crowds and shows’.

 

He also outlines his plans after physical distancing recommendations are relaxed. Yet, he will still bring with him lessons learned from the pandemic – namely ‘overwashing’ his hands.

 

 

Luke Combs’ understanding that ‘there will be light after dark’ stands in stark contrast to Riverside County Supervisors 5-0 decision last night to rescind a mandate for residents to cover their faces and practice social distancing while in public. Supervisor Jeff Hewitt wanted to go a step further and have Riverside County join other California counties that are defying Newsom’s mandates imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19. “As fun as that would be, I don’t know how we get rid of somebody else’s authority,” Jeffries said.

 

As of this morning, Riverside County has reported 4,817 COVID-19 cases (199 per 100,000 population) and 204 deaths (8.4 per 100,000 population).

 

I will update this post in two weeks for Supervisor Jeffries specifically. We will then see just how much ‘fun’ disease and death can be – especially when they are entirely preventable.

 

Or, as Billy Currington said, “God is great, beer is good and people are crazy.”