Everyone suspected coronavirus already was here. Now that Onondaga County’s first two cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, each one of us has a heightened responsibility — to ourselves and to vulnerable members of our community — to hunker down and wait for this storm to pass.
Increasingly, we have no choice, as state and local governments close schools, restaurants, theaters and places of business to slow down transmission of this extremely contagious virus. Daily life as we knew it has ground to a halt.
You can partly thank outbreaks of selfishness and bravado for these extreme measures. Voluntary “social distancing” has been ineffective. You probably know people who think the public health recommendations are overkill, or that they are too young and healthy to worry about this new virus. The bars and restaurants were full of them over the weekend. Maybe that was you.
Well, you should know that you don’t have to be sick to be a carrier of the virus. Troubling new evidence coming out of China, the source of the COVID-19 pandemic, shows that “stealth transmission” by people who looked and felt fine is why the virus spread so fast and so far.
While you might feel invincible, the elderly, people with chronic underlying conditions and those with compromised immune systems aren’t so lucky. They are at risk of becoming very ill, and even dying, from an infection with coronavirus.
That’s why public health practices are so critical — and why everyone must take them to heart. Short of testing every individual in the county, it’s the only way to keep our most vulnerable community members safe and to keep our healthcare system from being overloaded with very sick people.
Hunkering down will be an inconvenience for many. It will be a catastrophe for others who become ill or lose their jobs. All of this is new and scary. We can get through it if we remember we are all in it together. If we take care of each other.
By now, we know how:
Practice good hygiene and “social distancing.” Wash your hands often. Disinfect high-touch surfaces around your home. Keep six feet away from others in public spaces. Don’t shake hands. If you are at high risk, consider just staying home for the duration.
If you are feeling ill, stay home. Call your doctor or Upstate University Hospital’s COVID-19 triage hotline (315-464-3979) for instructions.
If you have recently traveled to a coronavirus hotspot, stay home.
If you can work from home, do so.
If you are hoarding food and supplies, stop it, so that everyone can have access to necessities.
If you have elderly neighbors, check in (from a safe distance) to see if they need groceries.
If you have children home from school for the next month, have patience. It’s temporary.
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