Think for one second that tomorrow someone close to you, maybe your brother, sister, parent, grandparent’s, aunt’s, uncle’s, close friend’s or anyone else close to you was confirmed to have the coronavirus and they had no means of treatment. This is because the healthcare system was flooded with cases due to the everyday cycle of heart attacks, strokes, cancer patients, flu patients and many other ailments which cause individuals to seek care from our healthcare facilities. What would you do? You would run in the facility demanding treatment for your loved one and no treatment was available.
If you have read any of the current state of affairs in Italy or China, you would know this and understand that while this is a virus which won’t kill healthy people it is a virus which exponentially expands at a contagious rate which will overpopulate our healthcare facilities. This is what happened in China and Italy and they had to make decisions on who would receive treatment and who wouldn’t. This is what leads to death. The fact that an onslaught will lead to not enough beds, facilities, equipment and other necessary items in our healthcare system is what will cause death.
Today, I faced almost 500 students and told them the realities of what is truly going on and why it is important that we take this seriously and do what is asked. I also mentioned the fact that the government is putting forth rules on what is accessible and open is because just like school people know what the rules are but they can't follow them and when that happens someone must intervene and make them serve some type of discipline for not abiding by the rules. Well we are just beginning the discipline for our own good. We are 12 weeks out from seeing the full manifestation of this virus if we do not cuve our behavior. People close to you will become sick with this virus, let's hope we each do our part to make sure we curve this trend so they have the healthcare they need. It is up to each of us as individuals to participate in helping to turn the curve.
The best thing we can hope for is for the weather to warm to rid us of Influenza, freeing up healthcare workers to take care of the other sick including Coronavirus. Here is a fact - you can get it from 6 feet away and on certain metals it can last 9 days. It might not kill you or make you very sick but you might give it to someone that will. While most will get it eventually it is our job to slow the curve of those who do. I know I think of my parent’s, who have both had their own personal health struggles. I don’t want to be the one who helped to bring their demise. Also, I think of my in-laws and grandparent in-laws, who are in the category of those who perish because of this virus. The funny thing as I write this is, my wife is concerned for me because of my own health issues, but I am a Superintendent of Schools and no matter what I will be there for my students, staff and family. However, let's make sure we are for each other! That will help stop this!