There are two phrases whose usage never seemed more appropriate. Keep your distance and go the distance are important in any conversation about the pandemic. The use of masks and staying at least six feet away from each other continue to be essential to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
One might think that the time-honored western tradition of giving everyone their own space would appear to be an advantage. Unfortunately it is not. Individual interpretation seems to take precedence over the facts. So many of us decry the appearance of what we perceive as “fake news.” It is unfortunate that we accept those reports when they are covered by the invisible cloak of the word fact. Vague statistical references are referred to as facts, when there seems to be no accountability or verifiability. I find it reprehensible that the meaning of this word has been diluted over the past few months.
The divisive political debates simply exacerbate the fear and create the divisive atmosphere we are all experiencing. This is when we are no longer able to work together. The experience of the cities should be enough evidence for all of us. The great number of states reporting daily death counts and the close watch on the previous epicenters who spiked such high numbers indicate that the three important elements of keeping the coronavirus away remain mask wearing, maintaining proper social distance for both inside and outside locations and washing with soap and water frequently.
New York’s daily battle has taken a turn recently with one day’s report of no deaths from coronavirus. My latest conversations with my rural friends who walk daily and are not faced with the hordes of people riding bikes, running, pushing strollers, or walking tells me that so many of us refuse to believe that the main point of wearing a mask is to protect others from our droplets of saliva. The spread of this pandemic is due to the fact that many people have COVID-19 without knowledge of their own infection.
Our absorption of this information has not spread as fast as the virus itself. It is fine to move forward slowly taking all of the precautions that have proved to be successful across our country, as well as the world, but we all must be willing to collaborate continually.
No matter in what section of the country we reside, or whether it is a rural or urban area, we cannot let our guard down. I have been so proud of Meeker’s small businesses that continue to have the sign on their doors about wearing masks and keeping the proper social distance. The businesses that noted the number of customers allowed in the space at one time was also essential information. I hope we all continue to practice that old western tradition of giving everyone a wide berth as we go about our daily errands. Keep your distance!
By DOLLY VISCARDI | Special to the HT
