Flattening The Curve and Upping Our Game

Hi Everybody.

The world has changed dramatically in a very short period of time. If you weren't taking the CoronaVirus seriously, you most likely are now. 

If you're like me, at first you thought this might have been overblown, thinking the fear of the virus was more contagious than the virus itself. That's clearly not the case. The NBA, NCAA, MLB, NHL, and PGA all canceled or delayed games. Tom Hanks has it and so does the wife of the Prime Minister of Canada. Last night I watched Colbert do his show sans audience and it was disturbingly surreal.

Perhaps you remain skeptical. If so, I urge you to click on this article that lays out the case for making every effort to do what we can to "flatten the curve."  The basic argument is the outbreak is spreading. Social distancing, assiduous hand washing, and breaking the habit of touching one's face can delay the spread and prevent hospitals and clinics from being overwhelmed.

This is a novel, or new, virus, which means none of us have acquired immunity. The virus is more contagious than the flu and more deadly. There is no specific cure and a vaccine is at least a year away. 

This is not a hoax, nor is it being hyped for political purposes. Don't look at the stock market -- it will go up and down. Look to the science.

Yesterday, Gov. Evers declared a public health emergency.  This morning, Mayor Satya posted a call for collective action, asking that we all comply with the various measures that have been proven to delay the spread of the virus.

The good news is that most who contract the virus will recover. However, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions are particularly vulnerable.  

I am calling upon each of you to do the following:

Engage in radical personal hygience, washing your hands diligently and frequently, for 20 seconds at a time with soap.  Wash your hands repeatedly and if they start drying out, use hand lotion and moisturizer, but by all means keep washing. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. DO NOT SHAKE HANDS. If you are feeling sick, stay home. Self-quarantine if you have any reason to suspect you have been exposed. It's likely you just have a cold or maybe the flu, but let's not be nonchalant.  Practice social distancing. We are social animals, but for the greater good we must be clear about limiting possible transmission of the virus. If you wear contacts, consider wearing your glasses instead. Break the habit of touching your face. Disinfect hard surfaces in your home and vehicle and do so on a regular basis.

Also, take up common wellness practices to enhance your immunity -- eat healthy foods, drink plently of water, get lots of sleep and exercise regularly.  I take Vitamin D3 in the winter months, which is clinically proven to boost immunity. Avoid scams and use common sense.

Lastly, and most importantly, look out for each other.  Check up on your neighbors, particularly those who are elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Offer to do errands, go on a grocery run or to the pharmacy to pick up medications. The measure of who we are gets tested in times like these.  People can be so petty and so mean, but during natural disasters, we often see how folks put their differences aside and go to great lengths to aid and assist one another. Let that be what characterizes us in the days and weeks ahead. It's got to be about more than stocking up on foodstuffs and extra rolls of toilet paper.  Yes to having a 14-day supply of food in case you are self-quarantined, but no to looking out for number one and number one alone. Let us remember to love our neighbors as ourselves, to look out for the least and most vulnerable in our midst. In so doing, we preserve our common humanity in these trying times.

One more final word. Stay calm. Shake off the complacency, but don't yield to panic. Laughter is good medicine. Find that middle ground, a personal commitment to being clear-eyed about what lies ahead of us, while remaining cheerful, hopeful and confident for the future.

We will get through this, as a city and as a people. 

If any of you have any particular questions about the City's ongoing response to COVID-19. please email me at district13@cityofmadison.com and I'll do my best to get you an answer.  

Kindly,

Tag