It seems like months have passed since Italy’s coronavirus crisis was front-page news. On March 8, 2020, the country’s government took unprecedented steps to slow down the spread of the coronavirus. Overnight the government imposed severe travel restrictions on the country’s Lombardy region, which powers the country’s economic engine. Nationwide all cultural and entertainment centers were closed. The leaders did allow food establishments to remain open but only if they could maintain social distancing of three feet. In the U.S. The de facto standard for social distancing as established by the  CDC is 6 feet. Who would dispute the fact that bars and restaurants have always been places for social engagement?  It is safe to conclude that being in proximity with one and another is part of the social experience. Regardless, the social distancing requirements imposed on Italians just like here in the USA effectively shut down the foodservice industries. Has all of these undemocratic restrictions on our personal liberties been worth it?

In terms of deaths, the coronavirus has hit Italy the hardest of European countries. Amazingly the country is now taking bold steps to reopen its economy. More than 4.4 million Italians went back to work on Monday after seven weeks of extraordinary restrictive measures, according to an Aljazeera article. Italian leaders should receive a round of applause for displaying courage in opening the country’s economy. It should not be forgotten that Italy was facing economic and political problems before the outbreak.

Why are New York’s elected officials still preaching a daily message of doom and fear of the coronavirus without offering a real path to a more normal existence? I am neither an epidemiologist, virologist, doctor, public health official, an administrator of a company that delivers health services, nor a statistician. From what I have read, a vaccine to prevent infection from the virus is a long way off. The mountains of data do not indicate why the coronavirus strikes and kills some people while others are hardly affected. It is doubtful that the lockdown and other restrictions will speed up the development of herd immunity Public policy should not be based upon the argument that this coronavirus “is novel” and, thus more research needs to be undertaken before the economy can be opened again. The problem is that the experts (and pseudo-experts) issue their opinions and finding and then debate and discredit their own research and conclusions. We have become a society infected with equivocation and lack of courage to take bold action.

I live in Queens New York City,  which is the epicenter of the virus’ rampage in New York State. By most standards, I am better off in many ways than the average New Yorker. The virus has not infected me and if it has, I have not developed any noticeable symptoms. Healthwise I am fine, though I am suffering from cabin fever. It is sad that so many people have lost their battling the virus.

What is becoming clearer every day especially since warmer weather has arrived is that the lockdown is disintegrating under its own weight. There are a lot of reasons for this breakdown. These reasons will be discussed in a later post. What New York State’s liberal Democratic leaders need to realize is that their main political base believes that the eternal lockdown is worse than the health consequences caused by the virus’ outbreak. Many average hard-working New Yorkers feel the same way as their Italian counterparts as the consequences of the lockdowns. Listen to their comments as complied in a BBC video. You cannot help but feel their pain and admire their courage.