COVID-19 SHUTDOWN — The Weekly Opine

Normally bustling with people, Chicago’s LaSalle Street financial district was desolate during lunchtime on St. Patrick’s Day. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Is America on the verge of collapse?

On 9/11, after the airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center, I stood in an office watching a television with a group of co-workers. One of them, a woman named Betty from Singapore, commented that the buildings were going to collapse. The rest of us reacted with snickering disbelief, saying it was impossible. Yes, the situation looked awful but the buildings would not collapse. Shortly thereafter, the South Tower collapsed, followed 30 minutes later by the North Tower.

While America collapsing may seem impossible, if we fail to immediately accelerate from talking about COVID-19 testing to actually doing large quantity testing, coupled with stringent social distancing, America’s fate could be sealed.

Like everyone, the past week has been spent preparing to be…call it what you want; quarantined, locked down or sheltered in place. So, rather than a typical full-length column, today we borrow from The Weekly Opine’s “Events” page format, posting photos that memorialize the state of things.

Most of us are experiencing a combination of adrenaline, angst, fear and acceptance (that whatever big spring/summer plans we had are likely out the window).

Reality was cemented on Monday when, within an hour, my barber texted cancelling my haircut appointment and my dentist called to do the same. I decided to go to the nearby beauty supply store and buy clippers in case I need to cut my own hair (you’ll never see photos of my self-inflicted haircut).

Below are 11 photos taken this week. Be safe.

A quintessential bar in Chicago, Fado Irish Pub was shuttered on St. Patrick’s Day. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

The world’s largest Starbucks has been reduced to an empty shell by the coronavirus. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Even pigeons avoided Federal Plaza in Chicago. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

A barometer of what’s happening on Wall Street and in the restaurant industry, McDonald’s headquarters has been rattled by a 35-percent decline in stock price. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Across America, empty bus shells are the new normal. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Retailers like Nordstrom Rack, already fighting to stave off online shopping competition, have been shuttered by COVID-19. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Trump cajoled Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell into lowering rates too many times previously. Now, the Fed lowering rates to near-zero is having no impact. The building on the left is the Chicago Board of Trade. At right is the Chicago Federal… — Trump cajoled Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell into lowering rates too many times previously. Now, the Fed lowering rates to near-zero is having no impact. The building on the left is the Chicago Board of Trade. At right is the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Approaching the noon hour, few cars and fewer people on Chicago’s famed Michigan Avenue “Magnificent Mile” shopping district. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Sports are affected, too. Opening Day for the Chicago White Sox and all major league teams won’t happen for awhile. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Will hospitals like Rush Health Center receive the resources they need to handle an onslaught of patients with COVID-19? The Trump administration seems more interested in bailing out the airlines. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Someone’s ready. (Photo sent to The Weekly Opine from Bill W.)