The coronavirus is rapidly spreading across the United States and has infected more than 1,000 people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided guidance on the virus which includes proper hygiene protocols, staying away from large crowds, quarantining yourself if you’re sick, and to work from home. While this is helpful information and is intended to reduce the spread of the virus, it not only impacts the economy but also low-income people and those who don’t have the ability to quarantine themselves or work from home.
Currently, the United States House of Representatives is working to pass legislation that is intended to reduce the economic impact of the coronavirus. This piece of legislation includes expanding assistance such as paid sick leave, unemployment benefits, and food assistance for low-income people.
It’s hard to imagine how this will impact people and their communities, particularly those that are unable to work from home or those that do become infected and need to be quarantined. In thinking about some of the assistance that legislatures are putting forward, what are your thoughts around these additional measures? Do you think they will work? What might be missing? How is this pandemic impacting your community, and impacting you?
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Roughly 30 years ago when I was in the Air Force, I would conservatively say we moved ahead 2 years in technology in the weeks leading up to the start of the Gulf War. I'm hoping that some of the frantic changes that are going on to increase remote work capability, provide tele-services, and simply get rid of rules and processes because we have always done it that way - stick when this is over.
I agree with both of you on this. Unfortunatley we were not well prepared for something like this to happen. I really feel for those who don't have the capability to work from home and those who also have children out of school now because of this pandemic. I really hope there are lessons learned from this so we are better prepared in the future. I have been wondering what communities are doing to help people and/or make plans to be better able to deal with similar situations in the future. What sorts of things are taking place in your communities?