New York City and coronaviruses

New York is a city with grand buildings, grand universities, grand money and grand pride. Yet the tiny viruses sweep through New York just like any places. Indeed, the viruses hit New York much harder than other cities. The viruses pay little attention to all the impressive looking scientists, all the impressive looking bankers and all the impressive looking artists. These coronaviruses are tiny, much tinier than the tiny bacteria. Yet they fearlessly charge against the most revered, most feared grand personalities. These coronaviruses are RNA viruses, more primitive than the primitive DNA viruses. Yet they pay no respect to the self important modern and post modern institutions.

Viruses are nimble, versatile, economical, and most of all, fecund. They are ancient. And they are forever young. They are the most prolific and most successful life on the earth. Yet many scientists don’t even call viruses life. How arrogant and self centered some humans are. Viruses are our stern masters.  They guide us, discipline us and prune us in more ways than we can imagine.


In an April early morning, an old man ventured down to the street from his apartment. He was one of the most prominent researchers on viruses. He looked up the street, then down the street. The whole street is eerily quiet. He walked slowly and cautiously along the street. Soon, he found several kids run around toward his direction, chasing each other on the street. They seemed totally ignorant of the peril of viruses. Or they simply ignore it. Maybe the kids know more about the viruses than he does. Maybe we should be less burdened by the expensive medical systems. Maybe we need more June juveniles than August authorities. Afterall, juveniles rejuvenate our life, August authorities don’t, no matter how impressive they look.