Life in the time of COVID-19

ELLIS COUNTY – Midlothian resident Kay Wiggs was at a state park over the weekend and heading home Tuesday.

As she was getting the RV ready to head out, the park ranger came around and told her and her husband Governor Greg Abbott had directed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to close all state parks and historic sites.

This was one more step in Abbott’s “efforts” to strengthen social distancing and prevent gatherings of large groups of people.

Wiggs scratched her head and looked around. What large gathering – and who was not social distancing?

She had taken photos of people in their campers meeting the required distancing.

She had noticed families taking their children to the park playground one at a time to be respectful of the orders already in place.

Historic sites and state parks were effectively closed to the public starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, and would “reopen at the direction of the governor.”

“Social distancing is our best tool to curb the spread of COVID-19 and save lives,” Abbott said regarding his recent lockdown order.

“The temporary closure of our state parks and historic sites will help us achieve this goal by preventing the gathering of large groups of people.

“I urge all Texans to continue to stay at home except for essential services as we respond to COVID-19.

“By following these social distance practices, we will overcome this challenge together.”

The challenge now, however, seems to be more than just social distancing.

While Ellis County has reported this week a total of 38 cases of COVID-19 including 34 active cases, two recoveries, and two COVID-19 related deaths, Dallas numbers vary daily from 97 to 43 to 109 in the last few days.

Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, whose district includes Hutchins and Wilmer and southern Dallas said this shutdown is killing the economy.

“Why are gun shops open, but not pawn shops selling guns?” He said over the weekend he is concerned about his constituents who can’t collect unemployment and who do not have time to wait on stimulus checks to pay their next rent payment or put food on the table for their families.

Meanwhile, Governor Abbott has also said he would take COVID-19 resources from Dallas and Dallas County if not For example, the use of the area convention center to be used for patients, when the hospitals are not even at full capacity.

In the letter from Jenkin’s office to the governor’s chief of staff, Mr. Luis Saenz on April 6 it read, “Let me end here by saying again that I am disappointed by your letter.

“We do not appear to have open lines of communication between the county and the governor’s office during this critical time. Instead of drafting letters, I ask that you utilize the telephone for communication and coordination.

“I and my staff are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week during this crisis. Indeed, upon hearing about your letter on Sunday afternoon, we immediately placed a call to your cell phone number, but have not yet received a response.”

The “Stay Safe, Stay Home,” “shelter-in-place” orders that are confusing at best for most residents have now been put in place until April 30, another month. And then what?

Until that time, as some residents are asking “what is going on?”