The Easiest of Times, the Hardest of Times

To paraphrase Charles Dickens,  these Covid-19 times are the easiest and hardest of times.

For me personally, the Covid-19 crisis so far has been relatively easy. Because of this, I have gratitude and also note my fortunes could change at any time. So far, none of my immediate family, friends, or colleagues has become infected or fallen ill. We are comfortably ensconced in our house, have access to just about all of life's essentials, and can enjoy the outdoors, including my own running, with careful physical distancing. Spring is arriving, and the weather over the last few days has been wonderful.

Likewise, my work life has for the most part gone on as usual. I actually have extra work in managing for the future of my department in the emerging financial recession and its impact on my academic medical center. But since my life is already highly virtual, my work has been relatively easy to carry on. For many years, almost all of the teaching I have been doing is already online. My other academic work, especially my informatics research, is also mostly virtual. I have also used this opportunity to offer up additional virtual teaching to other programs within and outside my university, and have become involved in one of many Covid-related informatics research initiatives.

But these times are still extremely hard. It is sad to watch and read the news, and see the statistics. It is difficult to see those succumbing to the virus and that impact on their families and friends, especially since better early management could have prevented some of that. I cannot say enough words of gratitude I have for frontline workers who are the true heroes of this pandemic, from those in healthcare to those in public safety, grocery stores, and other essential businesses. It is also difficult to see the economic impact, especially on those who cannot easily convert to remote work like I can. I also have tremendous worry not only for the recovery of public health and economy as well as inadequacies it has exposed in our healthcare system and the larger social support that society must provide.

It is easy to express my usual optimism being in my situation. While we must honor and protect those who have been impacted by this pandemic, we must also think of how we must also restructure society to insure not only a better approach for crisis times but also when times are good yet not everyone can benefit.