Uncertainty and the inevitable effects
How should we react to a new pandemic? Based on the responses from south of here, we have no idea. It’s been weeks since the first head’s up that there might be a “new hired gun in town”, to use an old Western movie line.
As it turns out, even though there were suitable test kits available in the world, the CDC decided to create their own, out of whole cloth and a known viral signature. And, without knowing exactly why, the lab test failed to work properly. Rather than simply going off and ordering kits from the neighbours, the CDC started again. Right now, the timeline is stretching, and people are dying. Not good. When asked why, during a press conference, the bafflegab from the officials was hardly reassuring.
The first casualty in such a situation is (again, without my knowing why) the financial markets. One of my kids confirmed that all of the gains against his future retirement savings are now evaporating. Another victim of uncertain times is the trust between neighbours; it looks like an inevitable that international borders are going to close. One of my siblings is in FL on a winter stay; will she get to come home when she wants to? Right now, we don’t know.
Insurance companies are cancelling travel coverage. Schools here in Canada have started to quarantine students who have ventured abroad. With March Break starting in just over a week, there will be trip cancellations and other collateral damage. Right now, I’m not ready to “go anywhere”. Just in case.
