How the Coronavirus Ups the Ante for CA's Most Vulnerable

If your economic situation is precarious, life is harder—and the coronavirus pandemic has made that painfully clear.

For many residents, struggle and instability were already part of their California story. Even though the state has the world’s fifth largest economy, some of both the richest and poorest people call it home. The spread illustrates the width of disparity, but not its depth. Almost four in ten Californians live in or near poverty and 23% of workers make less than $20K/year. Bay Area workers in service occupations, a sixth of the Bay’s workforce, earn an average of $10.50/hour.

This is a baseline for those struggling economically. Elevate the pressure with an unexpected $400 expense and 40% of Americans would struggle - revealing how many people live check to check. Then COVID-19 rolls its way into everyone’s universe, wreaking unprecedented havoc. It’s anxiety-causing and fast-evolving, with developments that strain even the most stable of households.

State and local leaders are also grappling with uncertainty, including the inability to know how many have the virus because there’s been so little testing. Even more challenging is trying to prevent worst-case outcomes and flatten the curve, by ensuring people heed the warnings. Some see the response as overblown, but with exponential growth everything looks fine until it doesn’t.

There are those who believe we’re overreacting, but many more who simply cannot heed the advice. We saw this during the 2018 Camp Fire. When the Bay Area was blanketed in smoke and particulate pollution was “very unhealthy,” poverty prevented equal access to expensive air purifiers, the opportunity to get out-of-town, and even the ability to stay inside. Likewise, the coronavirus shows what catastrophe looks like when you lack the privilege of money, the privilege of options.

During this chaotic time, remember that:

• Restaurants and shops that typically serve those now working from home are pushed to the brink.
• Most service jobs do not accommodate remote work.
• Gig work (like ridesharing) is now more scarce and risky.
• Not going to work means no pay.
• To not show at a job, is to likely lose that job.
• Conferences sustain many vendors.
• School closures present serious childcare challenges, food resource uncertainty, and the time strain of leading your child’s learning.

The state has called for the cancellation of gatherings of 250 or more through March, and has requested that residents adopt “social distancing.” The bottom line is: everything is shutting down. San Mateo County public health officer, Scott Morrow, said in a statement, “The only way to slow the spread in light of having community transmission is to have everything in our society grind to a halt for an extended period of time, as you have seen done in other countries.”

But who pays the cost of that halt for the economically insecure? Are they left to bear the brunt of a situation that forces a choice between health and basic needs? COVID-19 deepens the divide between the haves and have nots, reminding me of the old song, God Bless the Child – them that's got shall have, them that's not shall lose.

It doesn’t have to be this way, particularly in California with its track record of breaking the mold. Public sector leaders could rework disaster aid to provide more extensive, faster support to low-income residents. They should also work to buoy general economic stability for the socially vulnerable.

There is individual onus, as well. Social distancing is a privilege. We can check ours by determining actionable steps to increase resilience. Support businesses that extend paid leave. If you can, buy gift certificates to use later; it will support the service industry now. Engage in campaigns focused on the economically vulnerable.

We live in community. Groundbreaking social networking tools are based here, however it seems there’s been social distancing even before recently advised. Catastrophe puts a spotlight on our vulnerabilities but that spotlight presents opportunity. Let’s take advantage to build and sustain a commitment to each other, even in the roughest of times.