There is virtually no one living in mainstream America who hasn’t heard about the coronavirus, evident by the run on toilet paper, bumping of elbows and the disruptions in our daily life – both big and small.
That said, while the awareness might be practically speaking, universal, the response has been anything but uniform.
From a laissez-faire approach to a full-on panic, people are handling this pandemic in their own unique ways.
Here at the Southwest Ledger we focus on being a weekly newspaper covering business and politics in southwest Oklahoma but we have found our community, our families and ourselves in the same situation you probably are – overrun with news, reports, memes, blogs and a flood of information concerning this pandemic.
Like you, we have seen the memes that say gargling vinegar cures the virus (not true according to the Health Department), that drinking bleach can prevent you from getting the virus (not true – and potentially fatal), and that this isn’t much more than the common cold (absolutely not true according to the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases.)
We at the Ledger make the following pledge to you:
We will never report anything as a scientific fact that doesn’t come from a top scientist in his/her respective field. We will not seek to alarm you, but rather to inform you of the most relevant facts. We will not sugarcoat or downplay our coverage to appease those who equate this pandemic to the common cold or flu. People don’t die from the common cold, but thousands of people have died from the COVID-19 disease.
STOCKING UP?
While the “run” on toilet paper has shown some of the worst qualities of mankind, the mocking of shoppers appears to be shortsighted. According to most federal government sources you should (at all times, not just during national pandemics) have a 30 day supply of food and supplies.
So, I ask you: Are you prepared?
In my house (of three) we go through approximately one roll of toilet paper a day. Yet shortly before sitting down to write this I counted fewer than 20 rolls in our house.
Certainly there has been some overbuying, some hoarding, and frankly some rather bizarre behavior, but could you make dinner for the next 30 days without a run to the grocery store? I couldn’t do so, without my child feeling nervous about our food supply.
While my fridge is stocked, and my cupboards are relatively full I don’t think I can meal plan 30 days. I know that in my house we need more than a single box of rice, a lonely canister of Bisquick and a case of Vienna sausage.
We as most Americans probably should have enough rice, beans, and pasta to last us more than a few weeks.
I say this not to alarm you, and please don’t rush out and buy 240 rolls of toilet paper or a 50-pound bag of rice. But if you were asked to stay home for 14 days, how would your pantry fair?
Could you entertain yourself or your child for 30 days? We have NetFlix, cable tv and a stack of DVDs that never got watched, but I wonder after about a week how many coloring books and basic activities would still be entertaining.
As Mike Underwood put it, “We will defeat this boogeyman.”
We just have to exercise caution and common sense. The old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth of a pound of cure” seems more than prudent. We should temporarily trade “hello” and “have a good day” for handshakes. Practice social distancing (maintaining 8 feet between us and our neighbors) and as always WASH YOUR HANDS.
But we cannot be let our guard down. We cannot tell ourselves; I am young, this is only killing the elderly. While the mortality rate for those over 80 is somewhere between 14% and 20%, we all have family and/or friends who are at risk. While you might survive a bout with Covid-19, would they?
I myself am responsible for a 9-year girl who suffers from numerous allergies. As a parent, there is no greater responsibility than protecting a child from harm. Why would I chance introducing the virus to her? My mother is 74 years old, and while by all appearances she is in good health why would anyone wish to invite any level of heightened risk to their loved ones?
Please stay aware, informed and safe.