It Is On

COVID-19 disruption runs deep

Got a meeting? How about a conference you were planning on attending? Concert? Play? Perhaps even family reunion?
Or just want to watch a little sports on TV?
Well you can likely forget about it because it is cancelled, postponed or suspended for what we would guess at least the next 30 days.
We are in a state of emergency folks.

The intrusion of COVID-19 from the schools being shut down as of Monday to the toilet paper crisis that has produced an outpouring of amusing memes and given those intrepid social media shamers a bit of a platform to express their disdain at the run(?) on tp, this phenomena is reaching deep into everyone’s personal lives.

NC RESA Superintendent Dr. Lori Tubergen Clark shared this regarding the closure of our schools:
“Closing our PK-12 school buildings and suspending NC RESA services and programs is the responsible decision that will minimize the risk of exposure for children, educators, and families.  We are taking all possible steps to mitigate the spread of coronavirus in our communities.”

The county offices have taken action to respond to the outbreak with meetings being cancelled, the courts reducing services,the elimination of work related travel and  encouraging the observation of behaviors aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.The Commission on Aging has shut down activities while continuing at this time to provide needed medical transportation as well as the meals program.

As we are in a state of emergency the Newaygo County Emergency Operations Center is coordinating local response to the crisis and asking folks to access the Nixle website for alerts due to the ever changing nature of the situation: 
Anyone can view information through the Nixle Website without registering to receive alerts at https://local.nixle.com/newaygo-county-emergency-services/
You can also register for FREE text and email alerts by registering for a Nixle account by:

1. Text NEWAYGOES to 888777 from your mobile phone
2. Sign up and create a user profile at https://local.nixle.com/register/
3. Use the Registration Widget on the County of Newaygo’s Website at http://www.countyofnewaygo.com

 
So, naysayers, conspiracy theorists and those people who just refuse to trust nearly anything aside, this is serious business and as all involved have been saying, it is ‘fluid’ ( a most popular word these days) meaning things are constantly changing at a rate somewhere near the speed of light.

And here is our plea.
Despite the despairing divisiveness that has dominated the landscape of late there has never been a better time to pull together than now. 
We know the inclination is to ensure you have all the Purell you can find and a corner on the tp market but let’s take a little lesson from our citizenry during WWII when hoarding was considered  right up there with high misdemeanors at the very least and in many circles worse. We were a nation working as one to defeat an enemy who threatened our way of life and though it’s a virus this time around it is still an enemy to our way of life.
So maybe let’s be a bit rational when it comes to our purchases.
And hopefully may we all choose to embrace the instructions delivered by those who are tasked with setting the guidelines to ensure our safety.

As to social media? 
While humor directed at the crisis isn’t a bad thing, denial of the obvious is irresponsible. And though the ridiculing of the issue on various sites  won’t be stopped (because there are so many ‘experts’ out there as well as those who are easily influenced by the preposterous points proffered by poorly informed peeps  crying “Hoax!”) we can help combat the mountains of misinformation by keeping informed. Getting the skinny from genuine sources such as the site listed above provided by the Emergency Services folks,our District 10  Health Department, Spectrum Gerber, and the state Department of Health and Human Services.

In an email to parents and the community Newaygo  Superintendent Peg Mathis wrote this as part of the details she delivered to families affected by the shutdown. 
“Information is changing at a rapid rate. There is a possibility that we may offer some brown bag lunches for our kids during this shut down. None of those details have been made available to us yet and we won't have plans ready for that until sometime next week if this allowable, so please stay tuned."
Then she followed it up with this statement: 
“Perhaps most importantly, love your kids, take care of each other, and remain calm and positive. We got this!” 

Dr. Mathis is right. We got this if we work together, observe the recommendations we’re given and choose to believe that the folks delivering those recommendations are acting in our best interests.
Knowledge is power and accurate information builds on that knowledge.
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And for pity’s sake, keep washing those hands.

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