Our COVID-19 Request: Stay Home

Stay at home   #flattenthecurve

We at WaylandeNews urge everyone to stay home to the greatest extent possible. This pandemic is unprecedented in our lifetimes, and it is hard to grasp the magnitude of what we are facing. Having read what the experts say both abroad and in the US, and understanding the experience of countries who both managed to contain the spread, and those that have not, we believe we need to react with great urgency.

The greatest danger with COVID-19 is that we overwhelm our healthcare resources. You may have seen the hashtag #flattenthecurve. To “Flatten the curve” means to delay and spread out the onset of cases over time, so that even if we can’t stop the infection from spreading, we can keep it from overwhelming the health care system at any given moment. With Italy just a couple of weeks ahead of us in this pandemic, we can see what our future holds if we don’t take aggressive measures now. Hospitals in Italy are having to choose between patients who need ventilators, and patients are dying because they are not getting care. You have doubtless read that 20% of COVID-19 patients require hospitalizationIf healthcare facilities are inadequate, the fatality rate will skyrocket. Further, health outcomes for patients with other conditions will also be impacted.

Why coronavirus is so challenging to contain:

This means that anybody you encounter might be carrying the virus even though they think that they are healthy.

Even if you and your family are low-risk, higher circulation of this virus in the community greatly endangers those at higher risk, particularly those who are older, and those who have health conditions. It is critical for the community at large that we all band together and protect each other. We must immediately practice social distancing. Here is an article with practical tips: Social Distancing: This is Not a Snow Day. This article demonstrates why/how it works in practice.

Limit your trips out to what you need from the grocery store and pharmacy. When you do go, wash your hands before and after your trip (and check out this primer on hand washing; many of us don’t know how to really do it properly. Also, don’t forget to moisturize! And consider clipping your fingernails short to make it easier to clean under them). Keep your distance from everyone else as much as possible. Try not to touch your face. Go for walks outside with your family, but avoid interactions with others. At this point, we are sure you’ve heard it all – the key is to actually do it.

For additional information from the Wayland Schools and Health Department on how to protect yourself, see these guidelines which went out to families yesterday. All Town press releases on COVID-19 are online here.

Knowledge of the virus and data on the number of infections is changing rapidly, so make sure you keep up on the latest information (but stick with reputable sources – there’s no shortage of misinformation out there).

We are all in this together. Stay home to keep our community as safe as possible.

WaylandeNews
Ian Hecker and Larry Krakauer, Editorial Board
Kim Reichelt, Executive Director and Webmaster (as an individual, and not as a member of the Wayland School Committee)

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