The importance of keeping the public informed during pandemic
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to dominate our coverage and as more counties in our coverage area have come up with more positive tests, I can’t help but praise how many elected officials are handling the situation.
Last week I wrote about how Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Albany County Executive Dan McCoy have done a tremendous job with keeping the public informed as well as being transparent and honest in their daily COVID-19 updates.
I think doing daily updates is beneficial to the community as it allows them to hear from elected officials and know what is occurring in the community and how it is being handled. It seems like Cuomo continues to get high praise for many people, including President Trump at times.
I see many people comment on social media that although they are not a fan of Cuomo they think he has stepped up during the pandemic and is handling the crisis like a true leader.
Although he has had to make decisions with closing and banning gatherings, I think he is trying to do what is best for the state to try to help slow down the spread of the virus.
hen I wrote my column last Tuesday morning, Rensselaer County had not announced any positive cases still. I figured that it would eventually hit Rensselaer County since it had already spread so much in other neighboring counties.
Well, later that day, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin did announce the first case within the county.
He immediately communicated the positive case on social media and sent out statements on it.
As more cases popped up within Rensselaer County each day, McLaughlin has continued posting updates on social media as well as holding Facebook Live streams and press conferences as a way to keep residents informed like how Cuomo and McCoy have been doing for some time now.
One thing that caught my attention while watching McLaughlin’s Facebook Live updates is how he and other county officials will sit there for nearly two hours sometimes just answering questions from people on social media.
I have not seen that done in other counties besides Saratoga County hosting a Facebook Live Monday afternoon and doing the same, however, McLaughlin does this every day including weekends and answers as many questions as possible each time.
It’s reassuring to see and know that elected officials are stepping up and doing the best they can to work together, no matter what political parties they belong to, to handle this pandemic in the best way possible.
I think with everyone working together and keeping the public informed will help the crisis as long as everyone does their best to follow the mandates handed down by the state and everything that elected officials are preaching with staying home and using social distancing as much as possible.