Don't Mess Up A Good Thing

"Let the good times roll," is a popular phrase that we hear ever so often when people are ready to, well, have a good time. That may well be the sentiment of thousands of Louisianans, now that the state's governor, John Bel Edwards has lifted his stay in place order used to mitigate the COVID-19 virus. Starting Friday, May 15, residents will be able to go to restaurants, beauty/barber shops, and yes, even attend churches under strict State Fire Marshal guidelines. Many around the state thought that Edwards would rescind his order on May 1, but instead, the governor extended it until May 15, hoping that the extra two weeks would make a difference. Apparently those two additional weeks paid off, as the governor said that after consulting with health professionals and business/industry leaders, plus the good results that the state has seen, the order could be safely lifted. The governor's new stay at home orders will be in effect until June 5, as the state will go through Phase 1 of the federal guidelines, then re-evaluate everything after time has passed. Edwards also told state residents that "eyes are still on them", adding that there is more work that needs to be done. Edwards' announcement that people can now enjoy a sense of normalcy is a great relief for the millions of residents (except for those who had "essential jobs") who stayed inside. Staying at home started to become a burden for many. That was compounded by the governor's political enemies who tried to turn public opinion against the methods used by Edwards, despite the spikes in cases reported and increased deaths from the virus. Then there were small pockets of public protests against Edwards' policies, which may have affected the governor's decision.

Doctors from the CDC believe that more people can mingle in public places safely as long as they adhere to policies in place such as continual hand washing, social distancing, and wearing masks (strongly recommended) when appropriate. Louisiana is following states such as Texas and Florida who had similar openings, but the jury is still out on whether the openings are too soon. But it doesn't appear to be soon enough for President Donald Trump and his supporters across the nation including Louisiana, where some have basically said that "some should die willingly" in order to "save the economy". President Trump has called them "warriors" fighting (dying)for a worthy cause, but many say that the president has led from behind. Republicans privately are saying that they could lose the Senate and the White House if the economy does not improve, and the coronavirus is "contained" to a level where they can claim some kind of victory before the presidential/congressional elections in November. There may not be dancing in the streets, but there may be a few house parties/barbecues going on in the next several weeks as people "celebrate" what many may call their "independence from big government". Buildings such as churches, restaurants, bars, and gyms are limited to 25% capacity under social distancing guidelines. But in any event, don't mess up a good thing, because we are not out of the woods yet. We still have a ways to go.