As coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeps the United States, health experts agree that the best way to slow the transmission of the virus is to stay home. That way you're not at risk of getting infected, and more important, you're not able to become a link in the infection chain that is spreading the virus to vulnerable people like the elderly or infirm.
But for those of us who have to go to jobs away from home, "social distancing"--remaining about 6 feet away from other people--is the next best thing. (Of course, this goes hand-in-hand with proper hygiene. And it's not foolproof, since the virus can hang in the air or sit on surfaces.) Lots of people are talking about social distancing. But in my experience over the last couple days, hardly anyone in my area is putting social distancing into practice.
This weekend I sallied forth to do my music work and necessary grocery shopping, determined to stay six feet away from other people. But everywhere I went, people wouldn't stay six feet from me or from anyone else. Several different people came up at different times and started talking to me from such a close distance that I could feel their breath on my face. People from different households were sitting right next to each other or standing shoulder-to-shoulder talking. People in grocery stores were clustered close together. People were handing items back and forth.
By this afternoon, I was about ready to give up on ever keeping that six-foot distance. How in the world can you stay six feet away from people if they won't stay six feet away from you? Social distancing is a two-way street. It requires cooperation.
If I have the virus, I don't want to give it to you. If you have it, I don't want to get it from you (and give it to other people). This social distancing is in everyone's best interest. Even if you're not concerned about catching the virus yourself, and even if you're not in close contact with someone elderly or sick that you're trying to protect, think of the people that you could infect farther down the line! Say you have the virus and unknowingly spread it to another young, healthy person who survives the virus. That person may end up giving it to an elderly person who dies from it.
I guess many people around here are thinking they probably don't have the virus. "Probably" isn't good enough. Look at the numbers all over the Internet. The virus is spreading, and sooner or later, it's bound to show up in our communities. We have a duty to protect the vulnerable among us, starting now. If we wait until the virus is confirmed in our communities, it may already be too late.
I don't mean to be a prophet of doom. Here's my point. As coronavirus spreads, it is killing people, particularly the elderly and those with health problems. Don't be a link in the chain of the virus! Follow the instructions that have been widely circulated by health experts! Stay home if you can, and if you must go out, actually stay six feet away from other people! It's the pro-life thing to do. It's the right thing to do.
When I have to go out and about, I will do my best to stay six feet from you. But I can't do that unless you stay six feet away from me.
