COVID Reflections

Time Magazine has been selecting the Person of The Year since 1927. It selects and profiles a person, a group, an idea, or an object that has, for better or for worse, been most influential in world events. This year, the prestigious award may very well be given to the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19). It is not human, but this virus has had an impact on human life that is the equivalent of a global war. Some lost their jobs and careers. Some lost their respect and freedom. Some lost their center and balance. Some lost loved ones. Some got sick and are still suffering from residual symptoms. Some lost their own lives, and all of us have lost something. The virus has unleashed its power and has shut down many human activities. We can even argue that the virus and shutdowns have participated in fueling social protests and unrest, particularly in the United States. We became anxious, we became antisocial, and we became alone.

What a year this has been, and it is not over yet. As we are entering the fall and winter, we are worried about the upcoming flu season and the possibility that COVID-19 could worsen. I am a very lucky man. My first grandchild was born in December. I have had the opportunity to spend time with her with countless maneuvers, restrictions, concerns, and worries. Recently she got her first fever but thankfully it was not COVID-19, but another common childhood viral infection called Roseola. Even though she was ill, I observed dramatic changes in her. She literally grew an inch. She became more aware of who was holding her. The leap in her growth was astonishing.

This incident brought me back to my internship in 1987 with Dr. Zhao, Shao Qin, a well-known expert in internal medicine and infectious disease who told me that I will encounter at least two major pandemics in my lifetime. I learned much from him and gained many insights in dealing with viruses and other infections. He taught me not to be afraid of viruses but to try to get to know them well because they have the power to propel our civilization forward. We live with them constantly and continuously. There are more viruses than all the stars in the heavens. Sometimes viruses are harmful, deadly, and highly contagious, but most of the time they are benign and benevolent. Many viruses have been instrumental in shaping who we are as a species. Without them, I am not sure if humans would exist today, at least not in our present form. Viruses are messengers that carry tidbits of instructions that have guided us to become resilient, complex, self-regulating organisms.

There is a Chinese saying, “Heroes are born in the time of chaos.” Challenging times transform our lives and force us to become more resilient just like the infection that stimulated my granddaughter’s growth and development. The same is true of the SARS-CoV-2 infection; we will eventually learn to manage it, work with it, and live with it without getting sick. Yes, COVID-19 has wreaked much harm and it reminds us that we are NOT at the top of the food chain. I hope that this experience will humble us and help us appreciate that life without sickness is a privilege and not a right. We must work hard to earn this privilege and we need to have more respect—not only respect for viruses but also more respect for our environment, our society, our people, and our existence. If we can thank this virus for bringing us a serious message, maybe—just maybe—all of us and all of the living organisms on this earth, can become the next Time Magazine Persons of the Year.