Covid 19 Update from KHCA President
>> COVID-19 Comes to Maryland
We were working on this newsletter at the beginning of March with the above image and my suggestion was going to be “be polite and observe normal flu season hygiene -- don’t cough in your neighbor’s face, muffle any sneezes in your sleeve, and wash your hands early and often.” I ended by saying there were no recommendations to change your routines – but to be alert for news.
So, there certainly has been news since then (and that newsletter ended up being set aside for a bit, but now we’re back!) We’ve all been practicing “distancing” to help slow and contain how big the outbreak could be a major disaster if left unchecked. What we know right now is that none of us know precisely when it will be brought under control, but we need to follow the science if we want it sooner than later.
For those who like numbers, a good website to visit is Worldometers. It updates continuously and tells you by country, how many total cases and how many new cases and deaths there is each day. It’s mind-numbing and scary, but it can help see if we are reaching the peak. China is already past, and Italy and Spain, which have been devastated by the disease, both see new cases and deaths slowing.
We haven’t seen that in the U.S. yet – our new cases are still going up and by a bigger number every day but that does represent exposures a few days to a couple of weeks ago, so hopefully, the protective measures we’re taking will begin having an effect. That includes the new recommendation to wear masks, at least when you are going into stores or other places where you will be closer to others. Everyone from Jo-Ann’s Fabric to your best friend has directions for making your own cloth mask, so take your pick. The one thing not to do is to try to grab the “N-95” masks – let’s reserve those for our heroic medical folks and first responders who really do have to get “up close and personal” with the sick. The rest of us need to use masks to supplement the effect of keeping our distance. It’s not time to let up yet; we know that if we don’t take those steps, we’ll see significant outbreaks (like in New Orleans after Mardi Gras and Florida after spring break), but they can work.
In the meantime, if you need help with any aspect of the situation, from health information to job loss to options for obtaining food to the meaning of “stay at home” orders, the County’s one-stop website is a great resource.
>> Physical Distancing -- Social Connections!
So, enough of all this talk about “social distancing!” We prefer the alternative someone suggested – “physical distancing and social connections.” The last thing we want to do in the midst of this crisis is let it destroy all of the social bonds within our community, so let’s take all of the great ideas people have been suggesting and roll them into a great set of connections.
BEAR HUNTS. How about everyone find your best bear (or puppy, or dolphin, or penguin – your choice) and plop it in your front window for everyone to find and notch on their list.
SPRING LIGHTS. It’s obviously too late for “Christmas” lights, but no reason we can’t liven things up again with “Spring Lights” (which is super easy for those of us who never took all of them down!) Let’s see who has the best display.
GARDENS! It used to be that “April showers bring May flowers,” but with climate change, March showers and a warm winter already have a lot of front yards up and showing off their bright faces. So, tour your neighborhood for what’s blooming.
We’re going to try to get the newsletter out more frequently now that we’re back on track. Look forward in our next edition for us to start some contests with respect to those activities – most bears spotted, most spectacular spring lights, prettiest garden shot – just wait and see!