It’s All Up to Us
As most of you are already aware, we have had a significant outbreak of covid-19 over the past week. The details of the outbreak are not important, other than to say it appears to have been entirely preventable including large gatherings, going to work while feeling sick, etc. The outbreak comes at a vulnerable time for our city as we are attempting to open up businesses and public services in our “new normal” environment.
I have been in contact with the health authorities to try to get an idea of what we can expect going forward. So far, all of the cases are related to a single group of people who had social and work-related contact. As of the time of this writing there are 28 confirmed and 2 probable cases in Washington County with additional related cases in the surrounding counties. The source of the outbreak has been identified and measures taken to contain the spread as well as possible.
However, the authorities also say we can expect to have “community spread” soon. This is referring to people infected in the community without being able to trace the virus back to the source. Community spread happens from random encounters with the virus in stores, at the gas station, meeting with friends, and so on. The community spread stage is when Weiser is most vulnerable. The virus is here and going to spread.
From this point on, how this plays out will depend on how each of us assumes personal responsibility for ourselves and responsibility for protecting others. The results can go either way, but the outcome will depend on the choices each one of us makes. Will we continue to keep our distance? Will we walk away from a crowd, no matter who is there or who says it’s OK? Wearing a mask is not a bad idea. The outcome depends on us. There is no one else who can control the outbreak. There is only us and we are responsible for what happens now.
Keeping these things in mind, this amazing community, which has shown time after time how much we care about each other, is fully capable of crushing unpreventable spread. The outcome will depend on each of us and the individual decisions that are made. We had the fewest number of cases in our region until last week. This city had shown the curve could be crushed. But, with just a few poor choices this deadly disease is in our midst. Please take responsibility to contain this virus and decide to keep this community healthy.
As far as city business goes, I stated that the library would be opening this week. I did that without consulting with the library board first and I apologize. Starting Tuesday, May 26 the library will be taking call-in orders from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon. Books will be bagged with the patron’s name and placed in the foyer of the library for pickup. The library can be reached at 208-549-1243.
Also, the power bump on Saturday was due to a suicidal squirrel.
Well, that’s it for this week. Remember…Only YOU Can Prevent Covid-19.
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