by Michelle Delaney, Editor
South Lake Tablet
Since March, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state of Florida has risen to over 576,094. For the first few months, the pandemic was considered a hoax, something that would miraculously go away. It hasn’t. I want to take the grandkids on summer adventures, party with friends, Go to the movies, Eat at Restaurants, Shop, and most importantly, stay healthy and keep my friends and family healthy.
Leaders have squandered the last six months, providing confusing messaging and direction. Instead of Uniting the States in a war against COVID, the virus has become a political cause and wearing a facemask has become a statement not a safeguard.
Florida became a COVID hotspot and hospitalized 34,194 people and lost 9,539 of those residents. The United States is averaging over 1,000 COVID deaths every day for the last 3 weeks. Lake County has had approximately 284 hospitalized and 68 deaths related to the COVID virus. Now that schools are opening, it is difficult to predict how the virus will be contained, and if Florida schools have the resources to protect the kids and staff. Children are NOT immune and can catch, get sick, and spread the virus.
SCIENCE MATTERS
Test, trace and isolate is important in slowing the spread of the virus. In some areas, people are still waiting on long lines to be tested and over a month for test results! (There are 4 in my family who never received results). What is the ultimate result of poor testing? Today the total number of COVID cases soared to 574,094.
Why Test? It has recently been suggested that only those showing symptoms should test, however, a number of the 574,094 people testing positive didn’t know they had the virus and were unknowingly spreading it.
Scientific studies recommend a few ways that the average person can easily help slow the spread of the virus: Wear a Facemask, wash hands often, and social distance.
Laws like wearing a safety belt and NO texting while driving created public pushback but were put in place to save lives, not ruin them.
Does anyone remember when scientists spoke of how smoking caused lung cancer and how second-hand smoke affected the health of all? People were outraged when smoking a cigarette was first prohibited in public areas such as restaurants, planes, offices. But after a lot of education and government backing, the habit became unsavory.
Let’s unite to fight COVID. It really isn’t that difficult to wear a facemask, wash hands often, and social distance. It may pay off. What do we have to lose?
