His parents live in Lons-le-Saunier, him in a neighborhood in southeast Manhattan. Arnaud Simeray has been living in the United States for twelve years. “I have lived in different cities but today I live in New York,” he explains. I take care of the commercial development of high growth technological start-ups. “
Today, he is confined to his home, in a country where the epidemic of coronavirus soars. At first, Arnaud only followed the situation from afar: “We completely underestimated the virus when it was only present in China or Asia. My parents informed me when Italy was strongly impacted and the first restrictions were applied in France. “
And to add: “Then, to United States everything accelerated dramatically. Returning from business trips to California, I noticed two days later that the country had gone into crisis mode: flights to Europe banned, teleworking compulsory, social distancing , etc. »
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“A ghost town”
There, New York is the epicenter of the epidemic. The city that never sleeps ? Not since confinement. “She is plunged into a deep sleep, describes the ex-Jurassian. The atmosphere is sad and hopeless. “A few hours before confinement, Arnaud went through the 5e Avenue, Times Square, Wall Street or Central Park: “Everything was empty. It reminded me of the Will Smith movie, I’m a legend. The coronavirus has turned NYC into a ghost town. “
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“We went from a normal life to almost total confinement in 48 hours,” continues the one who acquired American nationality. The rules are quite similar to other heavily affected countries. Arnaud can go out to shop for food or get some fresh air. “Following the Governor’s decision, all non-essential activities are prohibited and it is very strict,” he insists. New Yorkers mostly live in small apartments – we’re not used to staying indoors. This situation is an emotional and psychological shock for everyone. “
However, there are still reasons to remain optimistic: “The government, the population and private companies are working together to fight this scourge. It is a force during this health and economic crisis. ”
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Is health coverage a weak point in the United States?
How to get treatment in a country where there is no general health insurance scheme? “We will certainly know the limits of our health model in the face of the spread of the virus”, replies Arnaud Simeray.
“It is possible to get tested, free of charge, even without insurance,” he explains. Testing is primarily for people who have co-morbidities and those who have symptoms. In some cities, hospitals are starting to be overwhelmed, which is worrying. In New York, the military has arrived with a medical vessel to assist hospital staff and is also in the process of converting a convention hall into a hospital with a capacity of 2,000 beds. “
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