As fatal virus spreads

We now know that coronavirus is a deadly respiratory disease. A medical article says the lungs are filled with fluid, blocking regular airflow that results in death.

The most troubling aspect is the lack of information of its pathology—origin and cause—even among the medical community. It doesn’t even have a vaccine to contain or eradicate it. Medical professionals are in labs working the clock to figure out the beast.

Decrease
We’re recipients of the devastation of the virus in the form of forced flight cancellations. It turns into far less tourists for the islands. Therefore, the simultaneous drop in revenues, a decrease in an already wobbly economy.

Too, when it renders hotel businesses empty it means employees may face work-hour reduction, furlough or termination. How do we help them meet family obligations?

Help
To aid in some appreciable economic recovery effort, Delegate Kilili has introduced an appropriation measure of some $100 million to cushion the heavy decrease in economic activities in the NMI. It’s the only realistic assistance amidst a huge decrease in visitor arrival.

One may say raise taxes. Fine! But what’s there to tax when there’s nothing to tax? Do you force hardworking people deeper into the misery of poverty when they’re hardly making it?

In fact, the right thing to do is give those earning poverty income wages and salaries their entire income taxes. You empower them the ability to adequately provide for basic needs at home.

Hope and pray the U.S. Congress accommodates the SOS appropriation we need to reset rebuilding a ruined economy rooted in coronavirus pandemic. News conveys the familiarity of members of Congress of the devastation across the country triggered by the virus.

It’s apocalyptic in magnitude that has brought the global community to its knees.

At Issue
The fatal viral infection isn’t the bulk of the problem as much as the unknown aspect of the virus, according to medical articles.

The virus wreaks havoc on the elderly, especially those with weakened immune system. It’s the most vulnerable group, according to medical reports.

At least research is continuing for the medication to contain or eradicate the contagious pathogen. It has two strains that remain a myth to doctors. One mutates, the other spreads. No medication as yet to cure or eradicate it altogether.

Work
Across the country, some employers have settled for “teleworking” where employees are allowed to work from home. It’s one way to avoid contracting or spreading the fatal virus.

A county in Washington has encouraged its 2.2 million residents to work from home. A thoughtful decision to contain a deadly virus!

Is there local medication for this deadly virus? I haven’t heard of anything up that alley other than casual talk from a dime-a-dozen people who talk as if factually doctors.

Hope
The devastation of the coronavirus grants the NMI the opportunity to learn never to take things for granted, e.g., total reliance on a single mini-tourism industry. It also highlights the need to improve health care services.

The prevailing decrease is a tale of the industry’s fickleness, necessitating looking into other sectors for development purposes to brace the local economy when every facet of tourism goes south. It’s a hard lesson the NMI can’t ignore with adolescency given its devastation. Any resolve to relegate complacency?

The apocalyptic strength of the virus doesn’t leave much room for suspect intelligent discussion. But the elected elite could converge to begin addressing the issue on a realistic basis. There’s hardly room to doze off on the wheels, time and again. The terrain is all fatal downhill and must navigate it with caution.

Be that as it may, the current experience grants us the opportunity to develop other sectors capable of bracing basic needs when the visitor industry takes a nosedive. Or is the issue too much of a task?

Definitely, the powerful virus has grabbed the attention of the U.S. Congress where it recently appropriated $8.3 billion to fight it. Labs across the country would be granted funds for treatment, vaccine and telemedicine.

Debate
National Democratic presidential contenders are cornered into discussing plans to ease health care costs for hardworking folks who could hardly afford it.

Indeed, this cost somehow hides until it shows its ugly face when we visit the hospital for serious ailments. Families have to endure paying for life insurance, auto and real estate insurance, first family home, including health care insurance.

Hope policymakers take time to revisit it amidst the reported 15,000 employees making do with poverty income in wages and salaries.