As I type this the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has wormed its way into nearly every state in the United States, and many countries around the world. From everything I know (and I know more than most because by day, your girl Nik works in international humanitarian relief) this is probably just the beginning of this outbreak, which was recently declared a global pandemic.
Looking at my Facebook feed, most posts I see about coronavirus run along two different lines. Let’s talk about those first:
- The world is panicking! It’s not that big a deal! Yeah, so let’s talk about that. While I agree the massive toilet paper buying is a bit extra, in times of public health crisis, social isolation, quarantining and limiting large gatherings of people are actually scientifically proven to lessen the length and severity of outbreaks. If you are complaining because you haven’t seen or known someone with COVID-19 amid all the “hype,” it’s probably because of the hype. And the hype should continue. Yes, it sucks. But do you want to have fun all the time or do you want to stay healthy? #ISaidWhatISaid
- Wash your hands! Wash your hands! Wash your hands! And keep your hands away from your face. Seriously. It’s good advice and we should heed it, along with all the other precautionary measures that are being relayed to us from public officials. Remember, it’s not just about you. Depending on your age, you could get COVID-19 and be fine. But will your older loved ones? Personal safety is the best community protection.
