What is Essential During the Pandemic

We are three months into the COVID-19 pandemic and the quarantine orders set by the state of Oregon. It was a shock to us all: schools closed for the rest of the year, we were told to shelter-in-place and social distance, and most businesses were forced to close (many with dire outcomes) until further notice. Only essential businesses and services were allowed to still operate. 

The state was so quick to put a proverbial bandage on the pandemic, leaders took little time or care to thoughtfully decide what an essential business was. It was issued more as a somewhat backless statement. Grocery stores and gas stations, select city services and hospitals ... they were all considered "essential." It made sense as we reeled from the shock of the situation. But as we settled into our quarantined lives, working remotely and basically homeschooling our kids, many of us didn't settle in. In fact, it has regrettably been some of the most stressful times for many of us. 

It begs the question, "Where do we draw the line on what qualifies as an essential business?" Unfortunately, our state and federal leaders reacted in such a careless way, it didn't even occur to them that they indeed were mandating the closure of essential businesses. Let me explain what I mean. 

To our leaders, "essential" is defined as just those businesses that basically keep us alive, providing the bare minimum on what we need to get by. What they failed to see were many of the businesses that had to shut their doors were essential to those business owners. The cafes, mom and pop shops, salons .... many with little equity, relied on the income of their businesses to feed themselves, their family, to get by. They were stripped of their livelihood in a matter of days.

That's 11 million restaurant workers alone nationwide without work, and an additional 5 million support vendors to those businesses affected.

Although not a business, public school is in some cases essential to the livelihood of many students. I heard a story on NPR shortly after school closures were announced of a student that relied on many services provided by schools because he lived in his car: education, the one-on-one time with teachers, sports, even something as simple as power to charge his school-issued iPad to do schoolwork. That student is now in a very challenging situation.

What about members of the community who rely on the support of their church or other support groups? Aren't these essential? If we are exercising our rights to hold vigils and protests, is it not also our right to exercise our freedom of religion and to gather in a similar fashion?

I want our state and federal leaders to stop patching holes and strategize real solutions. Find the fix. Let us get back to our lives, however different they will be. Do your job.