Life as we know it has been cancelled for now

Published by admin on Thu, 03/19/2020 - 3:00pm
By: 
Steve Lyon
We are currently living through
anything but normal times.
Many are feeling acute
anxiety about the coronavirus and the
fear that they or a loved one will fall ill
from this new and unknown
contagion.
It’s a waiting game on the
appearance of the virus locally
as it spreads from state to
state and city to city. The apprehension
is literally making
some people ill.
The headlines are dire
every day. The media has reported
the worst of the news
about the virus – the apparent
lethality of it on older people
and those with underlying
health conditions.
It makes me want to take
up the life of a hermit on some remote
mountaintop and have supplies dropped
in by helicopter. No people contact until
this virus goes away or there is a vaccine.
Of course, that’s not practical or
possible.
I have run into people of late who
downplay the coronavirus as nothing to
worry about. It’s just like the flu, they
say. No big deal if you get it.
Such a cavalier attitude is not supported
by the medical facts I have read on
the coronavirus. Both of my parents are
over the age of 80, and it is beyond scary
to think about how they might fare with
the illness, which can get really
bad really fast.
I’ve thought about my
own situation. I think I’m
pretty healthy in middle
age. I exercise and try to eat
wholesome food. How sick
will I get if I catch the virus?
What can we do collectively
in this time of fear
and uncertainty? The immediate
objective is to slow
the spread of the virus so
medical facilities are not
swamped with a bunch of
sick people all at once.
We need to follow the guidelines of
the public health agencies. Social-distancing
is the new norm. Don’t talk face
to face with someone. Don’t mix with
crowds of people.
Be conscientious if you do get sick
and stay home and don’t spead the virus.
Look out for the welfare of others. Don’t
hoard the necessities that we all need.
That is the height of selfishness.
Will that be enough? Nothing is certain
and the statistics I have seen indicate
a significant percentage of the population
will get the coronavirus.
This is not life as we know it. The situation
is changing by the hour as more
and more events are cancelled. Rather
than report what is cancelled, it’s almost
to the point of reporting what isn’t cancelled.
A couple to note. The Weiser Little
Theater production of “Steel Magnolias”
scheduled to open on March 26 has
been postponed.
Weiser Mayor Randy Hibberd notified
me on Tuesday morning that the
Weiser library will close on Friday for
an undetermined period. All late fees are
waived.
People may need to hunker down, one
nationally known doctor said, and live a
life of near isolation until this thing passes.
The rush is on to create a vaccine, but
it takes time and testing.
Hopefully, like viruses before it, and
those that will come in the future, it will
run its course and goes away.
It can’t happen soon enough.
Steve Lyon is the editor of the Weiser
Signal American. Contact him at

Category:

Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

Upcoming Events

more

Connect with Us