A United Methodist Insight column
The number is incomprehensible: more than 900,000 Americans have died from coronavirus since the pandemic was declared in March 2020. What’s worse, COVID-19 deaths are spiking because omicron is so highly contagious that more vulnerable people are becoming infected and dying.
Axios’ AM newsletter for Feb. 8 reports: “Speaker Pelosi joined a bicameral, bipartisan group of lawmakers last night for a moment of silence on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol for the 900,000+ Americans who have died from COVID (see accompanying photo).
“The Washington National Cathedral tolled its funeral bell, the bourdon, 900 times. The ritual lasted 1 hour, 25 minutes. (YouTube)”
Our confidence is waning that we’ll be able to overcome the fast-evolving virus. “Only one in 10 Americans thinks COVID will be eradicated by this time next year, Axios managing editor Margaret Talev writes from the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index” says the newsletter. … The new poll shows Americans are coming to terms with living with COVID. But it reveals zero consensus on how.”
What’s more, the Washington Post’s “The 7” newsletter reported Feb. 9:
“Covid deaths in the U.S. are the highest they’ve been in a year.
…The omicron variant, although less severe, is highly contagious. It has infected so many people that more are dying overall. Who’s at risk: Seniors, the unvaccinated and the medically vulnerable. Nearly half of the deaths last month were among those 75 and older. Death rates barely budged among the vaccinated and boosted, health officials said.”
UMC Age Distribution
Pew Forum Chart
These latest developments pose great problems for United Methodist churches. Some 62 percent of United Methodists are age 50 and older, with the larger cohort of 32 percent over age 65, according to the Pew Forum’s study on American denominations. This means that nearly two-thirds of United Methodists are at greater risk of contracting Omicron and dying from it, especially if they have other health conditions.
“The 7” newsletter reports that “The CDC director warned that ‘now is not the moment’ to end mask requirements.” This would especially include Sunday worship and other in-person events at United Methodist churches, where prolonged exposure in a confined space, sometimes with poor ventilation, increases the infection risk.
Hard as it is, friends, keep singing with your masks on and keep your distance.
Variants increase COVID uncertainty
While our churches long to ease COVID restrictions, coronavirus variants complicate the situation. In an article for The Conversation titled “BA.2 is like Omicron’s sister. Here’s what we know about it so far,” professor Paul Griffin of the University in Queensland, Australia, describes what scientists look for when assessing possible coronavirus variants such as Omicron. In addition, Prof. Griffin, an infectious disease expert, notes:
“We should expect new variants, sub-variants and lineages [of coronavirus] to continue to emerge. With such high levels of transmission, the virus has abundant opportunity to reproduce and for errors or mutations to continue to arise.
“The way to address this, of course, is to try to slow transmission and reduce the susceptible pool of hosts in which the virus can freely replicate.
“Strategies such as social distancing and mask-wearing, as well as increasing vaccination rates globally, will slow the emergence of new variants and lineages.”
Good luck getting anti-vax demonstrators in Ottawa who demand reasons for mask mandates they want removed to understand the science. Read on.
How Canadian truckers’ anti-vaccine protest was steered by neo-Nazis and QAnon
Speaking of the Ottawa protest, here’s an observation from The Guardian’s “First Thing” column:
“Thousands of demonstrators have successfully occupied Canada’s capital for days, and say they plan on staying as long as it takes to thwart the country’s vaccine requirements.
“The brazen occupation of Ottawa is the result of unprecedented coordination between various anti-vaccine and anti-government organizations and activists, and has been seized on by similar groups around the world.
“.... The so-called ‘freedom convoy’ – which departed for Ottawa on 23 January – was the brainchild of James Bauder, an admitted conspiracy theorist who has endorsed the QAnon movement and called Covid-19 ‘the biggest political scam in history.’ Bauder’s group, Canada Unity, contends that vaccine mandates and passports are illegal under Canada’s constitution, the Nuremberg Code and a host of other international conventions.
“Are neo-Nazis and QAnon really involved? Since protesters have arrived in Ottawa, the extreme elements of the protest have been visible: neo-Nazi and Confederate flags were seen flying, QAnon logos were emblazoned on trucks.”
Washington Post’s Today’s Worldview echoes The Guardian sentiment: "The self-described Freedom Convoy protesting coronavirus measures has been an unusual and intimidating presence in Ottawa since it rolled up nearly a dozen days ago. Ottawa police said they have launched 60 criminal investigations, issued hundreds of tickets, towed vehicles and made at least 20 arrests since Friday. They warned that anyone found to be supplying trucks with fuel could face charges."
A WashPo follow-up article Feb. 8 reported: “In what Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly characterized as a ‘siege’ of the downtown areas, protesters have used big rigs and cars to block crucial traffic arteries, with horns blaring throughout the day. Ottawa police said they have launched 60 criminal investigations, issued hundreds of tickets, towed vehicles and made at least 20 arrests since Friday. National monuments have been desecrated and businesses forced shut over security concerns. A state of emergency was announced for the city Sunday.”
The same night, Arwa Mahdawi of The Guardian wrote: “Rather, [the Ottawa demonstration is] an astroturfed movement – one that creates an impression of widespread grassroots support where little exists – funded by a global network of highly organized far-right groups and amplified by Facebook’s misinformation machine. The drama may be centered in Canada, but what is unfolding has repercussions for us all.” Be sure to read how she unpacks the background of the protest.
Many of us are old enough to remember public health efforts to eradicate the scourges of polio, smallpox and childhood diseases such as measles. What this aging Boomer can’t recall is any resistance from our parents to inoculations and other measures aimed at curbing these diseases. Is our history that hard to understand? I doubt it, but people of faith need to continue to share this truth: vaccinations save lives.
The catch, according to the Washington Post, is the cost of getting vaccines to low-income countries. Here United Methodists are on the case through an interfaith intiative coordinated by Global Ministries, "Love Beyond Borders." The initiative that was spurred by First UMC, Boise, Idaho. Check it out.
Media Mentions as of Feb. 8, 2022
Service Continues At St. John's United Methodist Church, Despite Devastating Fire the Day Prior – CBS Los Angeles
Church hosts 'scream night' for people frustrated with pandemic - Christian Post
Chetek United Methodist Church gives to Food Shelf, Ambulance Service | News | chetekalert.com
Evans church donates more than 2 tons of items to food bank - WRDW