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Winter of discontent

Posted 12/21/20

Yesterday marked the beginning of winter and the last days of 2020. We think back on the year we've had and what kind of things have defined it. It's no surprise that the global health crisis has …

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Winter of discontent

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Yesterday marked the beginning of winter and the last days of 2020. We think back on the year we've had and what kind of things have defined it. It's no surprise that the global health crisis has come to define the last ten months and will continue to occupy attention for some time to come.

We learned this week that, due to a software error, there were at least 200 positive COVID cases that were not reported to our County Department of Health. The news that COVID-19 is more prevalent in our communities than has been reported is as serious as it is concerning. News also broke this weekend that the United Kingdom was tightening Coronavirus restrictions after health experts reported a new variant of the virus that may be able to spread easier.

Data from John Hopkins University shows nearly 250,000 new COVID cases were reported across the United States on Friday, up by more than 2,000 from Thursday and representing the highest single rise since the pandemic began. The grim statistics don't stop there, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than 315,000 Americans have died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, at least 54 of those right here in Sullivan County.

All of this comes as vaccines have been approved for emergency use and are only beginning to be administered to the most essential workers and vulnerable populations.

This is all to say that there is light at the end of this tunnel, but there's still a lot of tunnel ahead. Small businesses face an especially tough road to recovery as less people are traveling for the holidays. People who may have lost their employment in recent months are likely to spend less money this holiday season, choosing instead to focus on family and other things more important to us.

December is a month of lights at the beginning of a season characterized by longer periods of darkness. As we gather with some of our immediate families in the lights of Christmas trees, menorahs or kinaras, it's a constant reminder that dark nights always break to a new dawn.

We take stock of who and what is truly important to us and everything we have to be thankful for during these times of crisis and celebration.

The next few months will be as tough as they will be crucial in combating this disease. We're confident and hopeful that spring will bring a renewal of life and spirit not just in nature but in our communities as well.

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