Bay Area must heed official guidelines on the coronavirus
It’s time for everyone to step up and do their part to slow the spread of the coronavirus. No exceptions.
Public health officials say this is a critical moment in the growing outbreak of COVID-19 in the Bay Area. They’re right. We understand that the recommendations announced Thursday by Santa Clara County will have a negative impact on many people and businesses. But the intent is to prevent an even bigger outbreak that will be far more disruptive.
Consider this: The coronavirus shows clear signs of spreading quickly throughout the Bay Area and beyond. As of Friday there were 49 confirmed Bay Area cases, including 24 in Santa Clara County, eight in Solano County, seven in Contra Costa County, three in Sonoma County, two in San Mateo, San Francisco and Alameda counties, and one in Marin County.
The death toll in the United States from the coronavirus outbreak rose to 14 on Friday, with more than 225 cases confirmed across the country. Worldwide the count is 3,461 deaths and 101,700 cases.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says if the virus behaves like the 1968 flu, 38 million Americans would require medical care, 1 million would need hospital care and 200,000 would need ICU care.
So when we say no exceptions, we mean no exceptions. Not for individuals. Not for employees. Not for employers. And especially not for those holding events that bring together large numbers of people.
It’s irresponsible for organizers of concerts and sporting events to continue hosting their events as if we aren’t in the midst of a public health crisis. Every time they bring people together they are putting scores of people at risk and potentially making the problem worse. For high school, collegiate and professional sports competitions, the games may go on. But play them without fans in the stands.
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department is widely respected in its field. Public Health Officer Sara Cody is working with a team of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials who are making their decisions on the best science available.
The six new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Santa Clara County, raising the total number to 20, signals that significant action is needed to slow the spread. Cody, in making her recommendations on Thursday, acknowledged that the vast number of people infected do not become seriously ill and will fully recover. “We are making these recommendations to protect the most vulnerable members of our community from the virus,” she said.
This is literally a matter of life and death for untold numbers of Bay Area residents.
COVID-19 has no vaccine and no cure. It’s imperative that everyone follow public health officials’ guidelines. That includes:
• Stay at home when sick and away from others in your household. If you have symptoms like cough, fever or other respiratory problems, contact your doctor first. Do not go to the emergency room unless essential.
• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth unless you just washed your hands.
• Stay away from people who are ill, especially if you are at higher risk for serious illness, such as diabetes, cancer or heart disease.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects (like doorknobs and light switches). Regular household cleaners are effective.
Public health officials are asking us to take reasonable steps to slow the spread of the coronavirus and protect those who are vulnerable to serious health repercussions. Everyone should do their part to reduce the number of people infected and minimize the number of deaths in the Bay Area and beyond.