The true number of infections and deaths will never be known. People with mild symptoms who were never tested and treated but recovered and inconsistent testing protocols are one part of the problem; political manipulations in various nations are another; not all nations are reporting honestly.

It is important that people take proper precautions to minimize exposure to infection and if possible, to get tested at the first sign of symptoms and then self quarantine. Also maintain one's physical and mental health as best as possible.

I accept that I am mortal and that all I can do is take the precautions available to me to prevent becoming infected. I have accepted that it may happen and that given my age and underlying health issues, I may not have a good outcome or even survive. That said, I can't worry about what may happen or obsess about it. A panic response will lead me to bad decisions that will increase my risk of exposure/ infection.

Both of my parents survived the 1918 flu pandemic although they both lost family members; they survived the depression, World War II and McCarthyism. They taught their children- by how they lived their lives as well as educating us- that we, as individuals have control over some situations and not others, but that how we respond in situations not under our control is entirely up to us and that adversity can be an important teacher.

It is my fervent wish that everyone here do the best they can to stay calm and protect themselves, their families and those others whom they hold dear; to ride out this pandemic and learn the lessons that this pandemic can teach us. We can do this and become a stronger community as a result.