Not being an especially sharp science talking guy, I can't say I've tested this hypothesis that the virus is unable to cross Parish lines without special permission. But I have to say it does not sound convincing.
Backed by local business organizations, the Jefferson Parish Council is expected Tuesday to ask Gov. John Bel Edwards to loosen coronavirus restrictions by region or parish, saying Jefferson should be allowed to move forward if it meets the criteria and not be held back simply because other areas do not.
The Council resolution, crafted by District 2 Councilman Deano Bonano, argues that many businesses are on "the brink of bankruptcy" and that the parish's hospital capacity and infection rate are sufficient to move "forward into Phase 3 of the recovery while maintaining all of the required safety protocols."
Oh wait a minute. I did not realize it might be different if we tell the virus that the businesses are going bankrupt. Maybe that will keep it out. Anyway, Jefferson Parish doesn't even meet the Phase 3 criteria now so it's hard to know what the rush is.
Jefferson Parish has recorded 16,461 known coronavirus cases since the disease arrived in March, more than any other parish in Louisiana. And while daily case counts have fallen sharply from the earliest days of the pandemic, according to data from the state Department of Health both Jefferson and the broader New Orleans region still have a high enough count of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people — known as the infection rate — to mandate Phase 2 restrictions.
Probably they just want to yell about it. And, hey, who can blame them for that? Living like this really does suck. I also miss being able to just hang out somewhere. I don't even need the bars to open if I could go to the store or the coffee shop and just be in public feeling comfortable for a few minutes. Last night there was a three alarm fire down the street from our house. It was almost a comfort to stand outside and talk with a group of concerned neighbors gathering to watch. Then we remembered we had to put on our masks or keep back.
This is miserable. Nobody wants to be living this life right now but we understand that we have to. It would certainly have helped matters if Congress had acted to ensure our lives were a little less precarious while we were making these sacrifices for one another. But they didn't. And now we're all at the mercy of the local tin-pot sociopaths ready for us to sacrifice more on their behalf.
On Monday, (JP District 2 Councilman Deano) Bonano argued that hospital bed and protective equipment shortages that drove the stay-at-home order this spring are no longer present in Jefferson Parish, and that he doesn't believe the parish even had a second spike in coronavirus cases.
“Jefferson Parish’s numbers have remained well below what would be close to taxing our medical system and running out of space,” he said.
The reason to impose restrictions is is to stop the spread of the virus. It is not simply to make sure there are enough hospital beds for people who get it. How dismal is that? Bonano sound like he is fine to let God sort em out as long as there is enough room for the sorting. There's a better way to do this and it starts with congressional action and... well... we're waiting.
But in the meantime, let's not be stupid. Please.
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