That statement was made famous by Will Rogers, and remains true today as we work our way through the Covid-19 pandemic. While we get our constant news feed it appears Covid-19 affects some drastically; others not so drastic. And how do we know how it will affect us individually? No one knows for sure. There are still a lot of unanswered questions.
One thing we do know- social distancing is the best bet. While it may seem disrespectful to decline a friendly handshake, we can be mutually assured it's for good reason. Same goes for over-the-fence chit chat and other face to face conversation, that before now, was never a problem.
We received many calls following the news post this weekend regarding the Stay At Home order put in place by the Bates County Health Center. Will we be arrested if I go out? No. Can I go to work? Yes. Can I shop? Yes.
It's not a lockdown.
The Stay At Home Order is a common sense approach to keeping the infection numbers down. While New York, New Orleans, all along the west coast and many other parts of the country are seeing huge numbers, we here in and around Bates County are 'behind' in terms of infection. However, the number of cases all around us go up every day. Hence, avoid getting within 6 feet of other people unless you absolutely have to.
This means you can do brief grocery shopping, doctor visits and other necessary business. Call ahead and make sure the place you need to go is open. Yes, you can go for a walk or ride your bike. Carry anti-bacterial/alcohol wipes with you to wipe down before and after you touch things. Wear a mask if you want.
The idea of social distancing seems strange and foreign. As Americans, it's not in our nature. However, in everyone's interest, it's what we have to do for awhile.
We can hope to 'flatten the curve' in the weeks ahead. However, even after we reach the back side of 'the curve', we will need to be diligent to avoid another mass outbreak. Yes, it could be a long summer but remember, it's in all of our best interests.
What to do with your time? First, stay calm. Find a new hobby. Explore your options. Exercise.
Remember that many of our ancestors overcame adversity such as the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression, WWI, WWII and other things that greatly 'disrupted' their lives and required temporary changes... but looking back, it appears those folks weathered the storm and came back stronger than ever.
Another good thing to do with your time is reading. Here are some good resources about Covid-19 to get you started. And when you're done, we suggest a good book by the author of your choice so you can relax a little:
Bates County Memorial Hospital http://www.bcmhospital.com/
Bates County Health Center https://www.batescountyhealthcenter.org/
Centers for Disease Control
https://www.cdc.gov/
