The message from my son had an undertone of alarm:

Are you staying away from large crowds? This corona virus is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life. Nationwide is asking us to work from home for the time being.

I assured him his stepmother and I were taking all sensible precautions to avoid the disease, but in fact, what is true for Jonathan is true for Becky and me. We have never experienced anything like the corona virus pandemic. Of course, there have been other pandemics in recent years; the avian and swine flu come to mind and back in the late 60’s, the Hong Kong flu created a stir. But nothing wrought by these earlier pandemics compares to the fear and havoc inflicted by the corona virus. As of Saturday, March 21, over 328,00 people have come down with the disease worldwide and about 14,400 have died.  In the United States, the disease has struck some 31,000 people, resulting (so far) in close to 400 deaths.  The majority of people who come down with the corona virus survive, but as with earlier pandemics, the elderly, the very young, and people with other health problems are highly vulnerable. One of the most-frightening things about this virus is how extraordinarily contagious it is. It can be contracted by coming within just six feet of an infected person, whose breathing puts virus-saturated droplets in the air. The disease can also be picked up if an individual touches an infected surface or object and then touches his or her face.

The impact of the corona virus on daily life has been staggering. The stock market has plummeted. Schools, offices, libraries, exercise centers, and most stores have closed. Athletic events and conferences have been canceled. Restaurants now only do business through delivery and carryout. Even doctors are only taking emergency cases. The only kinds of retail outlets to remain open are pharmacies, hardware stores, and groceries. And tomorrow starting at 11:59 pm, a stay-at-home order, issued by Governor DeWine, goes into effect. This will require all Ohioans to stay at home except when pursuing essential needs such as buying groceries or filling a prescription. Outdoor exercise will also be permitted as long as proper “social distancing” of six feet or more is maintained.

As a retired man, I’ve been affected by the corona virus pandemic less than most people. Even so, I’ve had two promising book fairs canceled and the literary program I’ve been promoting with the Ohioana Library at the McConnell Arts Center has gone to the back burner. I’ve also had to deal with the loss of exercise days at the Worthington Community Center; fortunately, my bike-riding season has started, which should help offset that loss. As for Becky, she has been able to conduct a lot of her legal business through e-mail and conference calls. But many of her clients in the education field have been pushed into “uncharted territory,” having their schools closed yet still expected to provide services to students. Together, we’ve encountered the shortages at the grocery store that other people have. That means coming across empty shelves that once held toilet paper and liquid soap.

My children have had the challenge of being cooped up with their own children, but so far, they’ve managed to keep their sanity. Nikolai, Naomi, and Alek have been going to school through video conferencing. For recreation, there are books, Legos, jigsaw puzzles, and floor hockey in the basement. My son, in a flash of imagination, had a “Halloween Day” inside his house complete with decorations, costumes, and trick-or-treating. A “Christmas Day” is coming up next.

If there is anything more frightening about the corona virus that its contagiousness, it’s the fact that no one knows when it will end. Currently, the disease has invaded no less than 160 countries, and every day brings an increase in the number of new cases in each of these countries, with China (where the virus originated) being the lone exception. Measures, such as the “stay-at-home” order might work, but weeks may pass before any evidence emerges to validate its effectiveness. And in all likelihood, this vicious virus won’t just suddenly disappear; it will probably be phased out with the number of new cases edging downward and with the threat of a resurgence ever present. But when the pandemic is over, there should be a silver lining for humanity. We’ll appreciate hugs, kisses, and handshakes more than ever. We’ll be grateful for grocery shelves stocked with toilet paper, liquid soap, and other formerly taken-for-granted products. We’ll delight at the sight of crowded shopping malls and children frolicking on school playgrounds. And as newspaper columnist David Brooks observes, we may “ask the obvious questions: Why did we tolerate so much social division before? Why didn’t we cultivate stronger social bonds when we had the chance?”