I’m writing this on a dismal Easter Sunday. It was exactly one month ago that Virginia Tech abruptly announced it would extend spring break, move classes online, and cancel a dozen public events. A week later, graduation ceremonies were canceled. On March 23, the Governor declared that all public schools would be closed until the end of the school year. Then came the stay-at-home order that still governs us. It’s become a struggle for people to work, for children to learn, and businesses to serve the community.

Our families are strained, our friends distant, and our neighbors, it seems, have become a menace. I’ve heard from residents who want university students turned away or locked down. Opponents of the Mountain Valley Pipeline cite out-of-state construction workers as possible threats to public health. An Asian resident was harassed as she was buying groceries at a big box store. The stores themselves have been indicted for an apparent lack of preparedness. Children in parks and playing in the streets are raising anxiety, too.