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Don’t Blame New Orleans, and Don’t Forget It Don’t Blame New Orleans, and Don’t Forget It
(6 days later)
NEW ORLEANS — One recent afternoon, Mama, ready to run some errands, clips herself into the passenger seat of my Volkswagen sedan, disposable purple gloves on her hands, a dim glint in her eye.NEW ORLEANS — One recent afternoon, Mama, ready to run some errands, clips herself into the passenger seat of my Volkswagen sedan, disposable purple gloves on her hands, a dim glint in her eye.
I have the same in mine. One that comes from being cooped up too long; from “sheltering in place,” as the government euphemism goes, with no end yet in sight. That I’ve lost count of the people I know who have Covid-19 — and know a couple of people who’ve died — doesn’t make it easier to take.I have the same in mine. One that comes from being cooped up too long; from “sheltering in place,” as the government euphemism goes, with no end yet in sight. That I’ve lost count of the people I know who have Covid-19 — and know a couple of people who’ve died — doesn’t make it easier to take.
My mother, a retired health care worker, hasn’t been out of her apartment in almost three weeks. In ordinary times, I’d pick her up and ferry her from the A.T.M. to the supermarket or the sundries store, where a pillow-size bag of popcorn can be had for $1. And usually, I’d stay in the car.My mother, a retired health care worker, hasn’t been out of her apartment in almost three weeks. In ordinary times, I’d pick her up and ferry her from the A.T.M. to the supermarket or the sundries store, where a pillow-size bag of popcorn can be had for $1. And usually, I’d stay in the car.
But not now. Now — because she is at higher risk of developing a severe case of Covid-19 — she stays in the car while I take her handwritten lists. I would prefer that she stay home, of course. But this is the compromise, the only thing stopping her from calling a cab and doing it all herself.But not now. Now — because she is at higher risk of developing a severe case of Covid-19 — she stays in the car while I take her handwritten lists. I would prefer that she stay home, of course. But this is the compromise, the only thing stopping her from calling a cab and doing it all herself.
“Run me to the beauty store,” she says next, arranging her purse. “Maybe I can go in there.”“Run me to the beauty store,” she says next, arranging her purse. “Maybe I can go in there.”
I stare out of the windshield trying not to show frustration. She’s worried about her hair. Underneath that, she’s worried about my brother and his family in Atlanta and my uncle who is in a nursing home. “All the beauty places are closed,” I say. “It’s a lockdown, Ma.”I stare out of the windshield trying not to show frustration. She’s worried about her hair. Underneath that, she’s worried about my brother and his family in Atlanta and my uncle who is in a nursing home. “All the beauty places are closed,” I say. “It’s a lockdown, Ma.”
“Lord,” she says. “There’s going to be some ugly people walking around.” I hear what sounds like a cough, and my chest flutters. But it was a laugh. I let go of my stern face and laugh too.“Lord,” she says. “There’s going to be some ugly people walking around.” I hear what sounds like a cough, and my chest flutters. But it was a laugh. I let go of my stern face and laugh too.
Before Dad died in 2014, I promised I would look out for her. Neither of us would have guessed that it would mean my chauffeuring her around in a pandemic in New Orleans which, as of earlier this week, had a mortality rate about double that of New York state with over 14,000 confirmed cases. The governor says we might not have enough ventilators for patients by the end of this week.Before Dad died in 2014, I promised I would look out for her. Neither of us would have guessed that it would mean my chauffeuring her around in a pandemic in New Orleans which, as of earlier this week, had a mortality rate about double that of New York state with over 14,000 confirmed cases. The governor says we might not have enough ventilators for patients by the end of this week.
Feb. 25 was Mardi Gras. This year, I strolled the city in a blue Hawaiian T-shirt. From one of the birthplaces of jazz, the Treme, into the Marigny neighborhood where throngs dressed like gurus, wood nymphs and characters from the film “White Men Can’t Jump” drinking, dancing, singing.Feb. 25 was Mardi Gras. This year, I strolled the city in a blue Hawaiian T-shirt. From one of the birthplaces of jazz, the Treme, into the Marigny neighborhood where throngs dressed like gurus, wood nymphs and characters from the film “White Men Can’t Jump” drinking, dancing, singing.
Like everyone else, I brushed up against countless bodies. I shook hands as I ran into people I knew. I hugged people I don’t even know. It was glorious. It was the essence of Carnival season; the city at its both decadent and redemptive best.Like everyone else, I brushed up against countless bodies. I shook hands as I ran into people I knew. I hugged people I don’t even know. It was glorious. It was the essence of Carnival season; the city at its both decadent and redemptive best.
This, now, all looks like a terrible idea.This, now, all looks like a terrible idea.
Some people are giving New Orleans a hard time about partying a month ago. But Louisiana didn’t yet have a single confirmed case of the new coronavirus then. Neither local nor federal health officials had a problem with letting the good times roll. These days, though, we’re all shut-ins, nervously ticking off our last possible exposure to the virus in our heads. Avoiding friends because we love them.Some people are giving New Orleans a hard time about partying a month ago. But Louisiana didn’t yet have a single confirmed case of the new coronavirus then. Neither local nor federal health officials had a problem with letting the good times roll. These days, though, we’re all shut-ins, nervously ticking off our last possible exposure to the virus in our heads. Avoiding friends because we love them.
On March 11, President Trump banned all travel from Europe. A couple of days later Louisiana State University, where I teach, an hour from New Orleans in Baton Rouge, closed its campus. On Sunday morning, March 15, the New Orleans Police Department S.U.V.s rolled down Bourbon Street, telling tourists lingering from the night before to go home.On March 11, President Trump banned all travel from Europe. A couple of days later Louisiana State University, where I teach, an hour from New Orleans in Baton Rouge, closed its campus. On Sunday morning, March 15, the New Orleans Police Department S.U.V.s rolled down Bourbon Street, telling tourists lingering from the night before to go home.
Soon after came this dreadful climb in coronavirus cases we are experiencing: According to an analysis conducted by Gary Wagner, an economics professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana recorded the world’s highest average daily growth rate (65.7 percent) in the first 15 days since an initial diagnosis. Driven by cases here in Orleans Parish, the state now has seen one of the highest per capita virus infection rates in the nation. Some experts on television say we could end up worse than Italy or China.Soon after came this dreadful climb in coronavirus cases we are experiencing: According to an analysis conducted by Gary Wagner, an economics professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana recorded the world’s highest average daily growth rate (65.7 percent) in the first 15 days since an initial diagnosis. Driven by cases here in Orleans Parish, the state now has seen one of the highest per capita virus infection rates in the nation. Some experts on television say we could end up worse than Italy or China.
At our hospitals, staff members who are already working long hours are bracing for even longer days and nights. They lack proper personal protective equipment. Available intensive care unit beds are dwindling.At our hospitals, staff members who are already working long hours are bracing for even longer days and nights. They lack proper personal protective equipment. Available intensive care unit beds are dwindling.
It’s a rattling situation. And the prospect of indefinite social distancing is rattling in its own way. New Orleans is a tourism and hospitality economy, with those industries widely credited as supporting as many as 100,000 jobs in the metro area by some estimates.It’s a rattling situation. And the prospect of indefinite social distancing is rattling in its own way. New Orleans is a tourism and hospitality economy, with those industries widely credited as supporting as many as 100,000 jobs in the metro area by some estimates.
In this city, if you don’t work in a restaurant, hotel, bar, club, cafe or some food or clothing shop, then you used to, or definitely know somebody who does. Sure, there are the lawyers and an assortment of business people like everywhere else, but not as many of them. We’re a fun town, not a white-collared or politically powerful one. If people can’t travel, dine, haggle over goods or publicly gather, then what becomes of life itself here?In this city, if you don’t work in a restaurant, hotel, bar, club, cafe or some food or clothing shop, then you used to, or definitely know somebody who does. Sure, there are the lawyers and an assortment of business people like everywhere else, but not as many of them. We’re a fun town, not a white-collared or politically powerful one. If people can’t travel, dine, haggle over goods or publicly gather, then what becomes of life itself here?
The question now is how the rest of America will respond to our plight. This was indeed probably caused by Mardi Gras; because people who love it came here and because we welcomed them with open arms as always. So finger wagging won’t help — symbiosis will.The question now is how the rest of America will respond to our plight. This was indeed probably caused by Mardi Gras; because people who love it came here and because we welcomed them with open arms as always. So finger wagging won’t help — symbiosis will.
President Trump has so far done the bare minimum and approved Gov. Jon Bel Edwards’s request for a disaster declaration, which will give the state extra federal funding. And Congress has passed a relief bill that seems as if it will help some small businesses and the suddenly unemployed. But will enough of that help come soon enough to pay the bills, to keep food on the table?President Trump has so far done the bare minimum and approved Gov. Jon Bel Edwards’s request for a disaster declaration, which will give the state extra federal funding. And Congress has passed a relief bill that seems as if it will help some small businesses and the suddenly unemployed. But will enough of that help come soon enough to pay the bills, to keep food on the table?
New Orleans suffered from the Great Recession like everyone else. But our region is infamous for its disasters. The many French Quarter fires of the town’s early days. Hurricane Katrina and the floods that followed. The BP oil spill of 2010 that polluted our waters and killed a season’s worth of seafood that so many livelihoods depend upon. New Orleans suffered from the Great Recession like everyone else. But our region is infamous for its localized disasters. The many French Quarter fires of the town’s early days. Hurricane Katrina and the floods that followed. The BP oil spill of 2010 that polluted our waters and killed a season’s worth of seafood that so many livelihoods depend upon.
This global pandemic is different, but New Orleans is uniquely susceptible to it because of the epidemics of poverty, environmental racism and a lack of access to health care and preventive medicine. Largely because of that, the heavily African-American population here has high rates of asthma, diabetes and hypertension, all of which increase one’s risk of death from Covid-19. We’re now seeing the consequences, as African-Americans make up an estimated 70 percent of the death toll in Louisiana.This global pandemic is different, but New Orleans is uniquely susceptible to it because of the epidemics of poverty, environmental racism and a lack of access to health care and preventive medicine. Largely because of that, the heavily African-American population here has high rates of asthma, diabetes and hypertension, all of which increase one’s risk of death from Covid-19. We’re now seeing the consequences, as African-Americans make up an estimated 70 percent of the death toll in Louisiana.
Despite what many claim, the threat of the new coronavirus wasn’t as clear a month or so ago as it is now. Now, we know this is going to be hard for the entire country no matter what.Despite what many claim, the threat of the new coronavirus wasn’t as clear a month or so ago as it is now. Now, we know this is going to be hard for the entire country no matter what.
But we also all know that someday, whenever all of this over, people will flock back down here — seeking respite from the troubles and boredom of everyday life. We promise we’ll open our doors, crank up the music, put a daiquiri in your hand and a delicious meal in the other. So, please, don’t turn your back on New Orleans now.But we also all know that someday, whenever all of this over, people will flock back down here — seeking respite from the troubles and boredom of everyday life. We promise we’ll open our doors, crank up the music, put a daiquiri in your hand and a delicious meal in the other. So, please, don’t turn your back on New Orleans now.
Maurice Carlos Ruffin, a professor of creative writing at Louisiana State University, is the author of “We Cast a Shadow.”Maurice Carlos Ruffin, a professor of creative writing at Louisiana State University, is the author of “We Cast a Shadow.”
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