Given the unusual amount of free time we’ve all had during this quarantine, we have had time to do things we might not otherwise have had time for. Many have picked up new hobbies to occupy our time, and I have begun to read more frequently. A new book I recently read was titled, “Responding to a Global Pandemic 101”, and considering the time of COVID-19 in which we live, I thought this would be fitting. I have just finished the novel, and believe me, it did not disappoint.

The author opens the novel with a brief history on pandemics, and a list of viruses susceptible to break out into a pandemic. Surprisingly, COVID-19 was included on this list. As I made my way past the introduction and into the book’s chapters, I was blown away by the novel’s organization and thought-out process on how to handle a global pandemic correctly and efficiently.

Chapter 1 goes into great detail about identifying the disease, and taking decisive action quickly. The chapters continue about increasing restrictions for safety, and how to properly enforce them. As the novel ends, it goes into properly easing restrictions while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for everyone. The foresight the author had when writing this book is almost prophetic, as each step in the guide is perfectly in sync with the other to choreograph a perfect response.

I don’t want to go too much into detail as to spoil the book, as I hope many are curious in reading more since we are in the midst of a global pandemic. I will, however, leave the link here for anyone who might want to purchase the novel.

Link to novel

Wait, did the link not work? Try again. Still didn’t work? Maybe it’s because the book doesn’t exist. There’s no clear guide on how to act in times like these, so we need to respond to our leaders with that in mind. We are in uncharted territory right now, and we must accept that any action is better than no action at all. It is okay to be mad and frustrated, as we’ve all lost parts of our lives that are important to us.

But above that anger should be the acceptance that these steps to normalcy are unclear. Even the people making these decisions are unsure of the ramifications to follow, and we must be assured that the decisions they are making are in the best interest of the group they are leading. I can promise that. Sure, there will always be what-if’s to any decision made, and regardless of the decision and its effects, we will always be critical of it, if it’s not the idea we believed in. Everyone’s personal beliefs on how to respond are always correct in their own mind, but quite frankly, nobody has it right.

Experts who have spent their lives devoted to these sciences are still learning more and more about COVID-19 each day, and have had to backtrack on what they’ve stated. Much of our response is trial and error, and the sooner we realize that, the smoother this tough time will pass.

So the next time you’re quick to criticize leaders and their responses to this pandemic, whether it’s at a federal, state, local or school level, remember that we are all in the same position, and in that same position together.