This post is coming to you from the parking lot of Whole Foods, whose free Wi-Fi is still available although their tables and chairs have been removed.

Reduced non-profit funds and hands. Grocery stores are not taking reusable bags now because they might be contaminated. So we don’t get bag tags any longer, and the local nonprofits that used to profit from our bag tags have a reduced income stream, which may have already dropped precipitously if they decided to close, as our local aquarium did. For non-profits still open, like food banks, most of the folks who used to volunteer are staying home, and with income uncertainty, donations are down.

Being homeless is even harder. Public bathrooms are potential contamination spreaders so they have been closed. In California, the homeless are exempted from shelter-indoors orders, but remarkably, that isn’t true everywhere.

Professional artists can’t work. Perhaps not true for all, but I can personally vouch for the problem for classical musicians, who rely heavily on symphonies, music festivals, music schools, churches, choirs, and venues for income. All of these are closed or canceling. So are art galleries and museums, and art fairs. Ballet or play performances? Craft fairs? No and no. Even major motion pictures are releasing to the small screen, and how will new ones be made with social distancing?

The weakness of the gig economy is revealed, a positive unintended consequence in my view. Whether you are a realtor, a consultant, an energy healer, or an electrician, if you are self-employed, there is less work, and no access to unemployment benefits. Without income, you may be forced to let your health insurance lapse, if you had any.

Negative health effects. My chiro is having trouble staying stocked with anti-viral and pro-immune supplements, probably because of increased demand, possibly because of hoarding. Blood supplies are dwindling since people are reluctant to go out and institutions are reluctant to have us come in–our family is actively trying to donate blood and having trouble finding a way. Overall health could decline as folks forego cancer screens and checkups, including dental cleanings, as well as exercise and socialize less and eat more, or more poorly.

Election canceled or influenced. This is only a possible consequence, and perhaps the most terrifying. Some folks are starting to speculate that we won’t be able to hold our 2020 presidential election at all, while others think participation will be significantly reduced.

Lessons learned. I heard this morning that in Singapore schools never closed, and in another country, perhaps South Korea, businesses stayed open. This was attributed to their previous experience with other coronaviruses, SARS I and MERS: they learned their lessons well. If that happened in the US, that would be an extremely unexpected consequence.

I prefer not to find that out, honestly. One pandemic is plenty.