Coronavirus lands in Connecticut
The coronavirus looks so pretty, but is so nasty.
We all need to work together.
An announcement was made today that the coronavirus, COVID-19, has made its first appearance in Connecticut.
Limited information is available, except the victim is a man between 40 to 50 years old and resides in Wilton, the town that I cover for my newspaper The Wilton Bulletin.
It is suspected the man caught the virus on a recent trip to California.
Being that this is the weekend, staffers from Hearst who cover weekend news are reporting on it.
Though this is my day off, how can I rest? On my own nickel, I am also working on some angles for this story.
The coronavirus is not only infecting people, it is pervading everyone’s thoughts morning, noon, and night.
Watching this unfold day by day, it is amazing how quickly and throughly this virus spreads. A 50-year-old man from New Rochelle, N.Y. catches it, then it’s reported that his family all has it, along with a neighbor who drove the man to the hospital, and the neighbor’s family as well. It seems to go on and on and ultra fast.
One of the reported problems is victims start spreading the virus before they even know you even have it. It’s that tricky and that pervasive.
As of the time of this post, there have 475 cases of coronavirus reported in the U.S., resulting in 19 deaths.
Originating in China, the virus has made its way to 108 countries and territories.
There seems to be some good news, if you can call it that. The number of new cases in China appears to be dropping off. There have been just 52 cases reported there recently. Contrast that to Italy, where 1,492 cases have been recently reported.
The Italian government has implemented drastic measures in an attempt to halt the spread. More than 16 million people in Lombardy and northern Italy have been placed under quarantine.
So are we panicking yet here in Connecticut? Not yet, except for the run on hand sanitizer and toilet paper at COSTCO. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, this is what people here do, even when there is just a threat of a storm. They stock up.
Next steps will likely be taken soon. Schools may close for a time, events may be canceled, people with trips planned may have to cancel them. (I have an upcoming trip scheduled for Paris. Will I go?)
Make no doubt, the next few weeks (possibly months) will be very uncomfortable for all of us until this virus settles down.
But we are in this together and we need to work together.
Follow best hygiene practices. If you or a family member is sick, stay home, don’t go out. Call your doctor if you think you have the flu.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
In the workplace, clean the spigots on the office water bottle cooler. They are a nasty transmitter of germs and one of the dirtiest things in the office. Have someone clean and disinfect the spigots and the inside parts of the spigots as well ASAP.
Disinfect door knobs in the officer and other common areas that people are constantly touching.
And as for workplace restrooms? They need to be throughly cleaned and disinfected throughout. If you have any doubts about their cleanliness, use a paper towel to open doors and faucets. And of course, if you can work at home, it may be the best place to ride this out.
Onward and upward. Let’s keep this nasty thing at bay.
Expect the Unexpected 