Opinion

Editorial: A COVID-19 tear-soaked benchmark

Posted January 16, 2021 1:00 pm

The Daily Herald Editorial Board

We are looking this week at a tear-soaked benchmark.

It is a virtual certainty that the COVID-19 death toll will pass 400,000 in the United States.

Such a tragedy, not just because so many of these deaths could not have been avoided, but also because so many could have been.

Such a tragedy, not just because these are deaths, but because most have been gruesome, lonely, horrific deaths.

When it gets down to it, there are few pleasant ways to leave this life, but this way in particular is truly awful.

In less than a year, 400,000.

Add up the populations of Arlington Heights, Elgin, Naperville and Schaumburg, and by the time this week is out, it will be as if all four of those suburbs had been wiped out.

In less than a year, 400,000.

It is the toll of almost 135 9/11s.

In less than a year, 400,000.

That is about the same as the number of Americans who died in four years of World War II.

In less than a year, 400,000.

That is about twice the number of combat deaths that were claimed by the Civil War. On both sides.

In less than a year, 400,000.

It is about 3.5 times the number of Americans who died in World War I.

In less than a year, 400,000.

That's about seven times the number of Americans who died in the long Vietnam War.

In less than a year, 400,000.

In other words, it is Tulsa, Oklahoma. Or Tampa, Florida. Or Arlington, Texas.

In less than a year, 400,000.

In other words, it is not like the flu.

In less than a year, 400,000.

The first American death due to COVID-19 was recorded on Feb. 6, 2020. The bleak anniversary is still three weeks away.

In less than a year, 400,000.

We are likely to hit a half million before the end of February.

In less than a year, 400,000.

Wear a mask. Socially distance. Wash your hands. Avoid crowds. Take care of yourself. And take care of others.

In less than a year, 400,000.

The vaccines cannot get here fast enough. Get inoculated as soon as you can.

In less than a year, 400,000.

Hoping you stay well.

In less than a year, 400,000.

Sending you love.

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