Coronavirus, coronavirus, coronavirus! I am absolutely tired of hearing about “social distancing,” hand sanitizer and store shortages! Let’s get back to our regularly scheduled lives. Unfortunately, as much as I and the rest of us want this, this is sadly not going to be the case yet.
I have been one of the skeptics who has wondered why all the hype or something that is similar to the flu but has a higher death rate. We have been through health scares before but nothing along the lines of this.
Monday night at an emergency meeting, Dr. Bert Beisel explained it in a way that made more sense to me than anything I have seen or read to date. Hopefully I am explaining this correctly albeit, maybe a little too simplistic, but here goes.
Marion County has 20,000 citizens, more or less. The attack rate of the virus is between 30%-40% so approximately 7,000 could possibly get it. While 80% of those people may have a very mild case of it, 20% will have a severe or critical case from it. Meaning 1,400 people, more or less, could have a severe or critical case. If all 7,000 cases happen at one time what will it do to all our doctors’ offices, clinics and hospital? There would be no way we could handle a load of that magnitude and furthermore if it got that bad here then you know the larger cities will be worse off. If we are fighting 7,000 cases at one time, are the 1,400 who have a severe or critical case going to be able to get the necessary treatment to save them?
That, folks, is what the concern is: overrunning our health care professionals with those types of numbers. It’s not fun and it’s scary and I still don’t have a clue what all of this has to do with toilet paper, but this is our current reality.
One thing causing this mass hysteria is a lot of people have never been through anything like this before. We have been preparing our Profile magazine, which comes out next week. It focuses on World War II. There was a time when items such as butter, sugar, rubber and gas and much more were rationed because there was a shortage. Yet those generations made it through and are stronger for it.
Maybe we have had it too easy that we have taken many thing for granted, like going to ball games, hanging out with friends, living life in such a way we could do whatever we want. That is being taken from us and we do not know how to handle it. It scares us to the core.
We have been told to wash your hands so much that if you don’t by now, hitting you over the head with a cast iron skillet just might need to be the next step for you. Wash your hands over and over: become OCD about it. Do all of the recommendations with social distancing and stay home if sick. But keep yourself healthy; exercise regularly; you can do that with social distancing. Stay hydrated, and get plenty of rest. Keep your immune system in top shape.
I hate this for the class of 2020; this is their time to shine, and that light is being overshadowed by COVID-19. With the NCAA tournament canceled and all other sporting events, that has been heartbreaking as well. I worry about businesses especially our smaller ones during this time and hope they are protected and able to get through this season.
They say if you repeat something seven times you will remember it. Marion County you will be OK. Marion County you will be OK. Marion County you will be OK. Marion County you will be OK. Marion County you will be OK. Marion County you will be OK. Marion County you will be OK.
Now can you please quit hoarding the toilet paper?
Susan Amundson is managing editor of The Columbian-Progress. She may be reached at (601) 736-2611 or samundson@columbianprogress.com.
