I was following the spreading of the coronavirus a little too closely, to the point that anxiety was building in a way that I didn’t even realize. From the start of the virus’ arrival in the US, I started viewing the NYT map several times a day. In my head I saw the time lapse version of more dots, bigger dots, and states turning yellow with reported cases.
I knew what time the map was updated. I knew how many cases were in the most infected states. And I watched the number click higher and higher several times every day. As the last few states reported cases, West Virginia was lone hold out. Earlier this week the coronavirus appeared in the 50th US state. The map was complete. And I was able to walk away from the my obsessive checking of the numbers. It was a huge relief.
