While we are all dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 virus, and in the face of conflicting information we receive on a daily basis, the most important steps we can all take is to remain calm, and limit interactions with others (I’m looking at you, San Francisco).
The measures we take right now have a direct effect on the number of deaths later. There’s no sugar-coating this. Limiting contact and interactions with people for a brief time now will have a dramatic effect on how long we limit social contact. The scene coming out of San Francisco is not only disheartening, but also alarming. A city that was placed under a shelter-in-place order saw many of its citizens out for jogs, walks, coffee — it is irresponsible to brush off such orders, and has the effect of increasing the negative impact of this pandemic, both to personal life and financial resources.
At the end of the day, this is a virus. Common sense goes a long way. Regardless of your symptoms or lack thereof, regardless of the information you have, practice common sense and good judgement. Stay home. The more you do that now, the less you’ll need to do it later.
Be safe out there!