Correction - COVID-19 Update: Flattening, Masking, and Coping with Grief

Thanks to Karen T. from Vilas pointing out the links about Coping With Grief were not accurate.  

I've fixed them below...for those interested, here are the correct links"

"That Discomfort You're Feeling Is Grief": https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief

"It's OK To Feel Overwhelmed":  

https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_it_s_ok_to_feel_overwhelmed_here_s_what_to_do_next?language=en

Be Safe and Stay Healthy!

Tag

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Hi Everyone.

What Flattening the Curve Actually Means

I get it, this staying home thing, even for hardcore introverts, is no easy walk in the park. There is evidence, however, that it's working.  "Flattening the curve" does not mean that we see zero new COVID-19 cases every day. It means that the number of new cases stays about the same. And that is what we're seeing in Dane County – about the same number of new cases each day.

By slowing the spread of infection, we help make sure our health system doesn't get crushed.  The goal is to keep medical resources available for people who need access to care and to keep our health care workers safe.

Thank you for continuing to stay home! If you must go out, stay at least 6 feet from others, wear a mask, wash your hands religiously.

Public Health Madison and Dane County is the primary source for the latest health information about COVID-19 in Dane County. While the impacts of COVID-19 vary day-by-day, you can always get the latest information on Public Health's website, which also includes daily updates and the latest count of positive COVID-19 cases in the County on its data dashboard.

More on Masks

The D13 Mask Brigade is up and running. 

If you're looking for ways to help out during COVID-19, please consider sewing and donating masks. The City has a number of employees who cannot work from home and are in need of face coverings. These essential personnel work in Streets, Parks, Water Utility and other public-facing departments.

Also, residents at Bayview need masks, as do residents at CDA Housing on the Triangle and at Romnes.

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. The CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus. The cloth face coverings are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators, which should be reserved for health professionals.

If you'd like to create a mask, the CDC has a list of materials, a tutorial on how to create a mask, how to safely sterilize face coverings, plus other information.

You may donate your handmade masks by dropping them off on my front porch at 2329 Keyes Ave. I'll make sure they get distriibuted to those in need.

Coping With Grief

This is not normal. What is normal is that we struggle to deal with this strange world we now inhabit.  

My neighbor shared a YouTube interview with the writer Elizabeth Gilbert that's worth watching. Her message is "It's OK to Feel Overwhelmed -- Here's What To Do About It." It's definitely worth checking out.  

And today the CEO at my day job shared an article from the Harvard Business Review titled "That Discomfort You're Feeling is Grief."

There are useful nuggets about Finding Balance, Coming Into The Present, Leting Go Of What You Can't Control, and Stocking Up On Compassion. But what I liked most is applying the Five Stages of Grief to the pandemic and then adding a sixth stage -- finding meaning.

We find meaning, I believe, in helping each other. 

If you need help, ask. 

If you can help, offer.

That's how we'll get through this together.

Be safe. Be well. Be kind.

Tag

P.S. If you have questions, suggestions, or just need to talk, you can reach me via email at district13@cityofmadison.com or 608.424.2580.