Another day. Another announcement from Gov. Roy Cooper.
This time, the news was 30 more days of staying home in an attempt to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.
To date (March 28), according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, there have been 4 deaths in North Carolina, with some 935 identified infections. Of those infections, 87 people are currently hospitalized.
So far, more than 17,500 people have been tested. As that testing continues, the number of infections will go up.
Anyone who tells you that they have an absolute pinpoint on the right thing to do right now is lying — or disillusioned.
Part of the reason for the panic is that no one is really sure how to battle this menace — and no one wants to be wrong.
The constant parade of commentators on the television and amateur “experts” on social media, as well as the danger of amplified and misinterpreted data passed along as fact, mean that it is hard for us regular Joes to figure out what to take away and when to be really scared.
And many of us are just that — scared, for our families, for our friends and neighbors and for our country.
And we are not alone. The experts are not of one opinion either.
Even those who are supposed to know what to do are not 100 percent certain of what the response should be. And that data changes daily. Even listening to a level-headed scientist like Dr. Anthony Fauci can seem both calming and alarming at the same.
So, to digest what this COVID-19 pandemic means, you have to really pay attention and to be prepared to understand that anything you read, listen to or get on your Facebook, TikTok, Instagram or Twitter feeds should be taken not as a tablet brought down from the heavens, but as information to be evaluated and then added or discarded to your decision on how you should manage your life during this crisis.
Let’s start with the easy stuff. It is the same advice that you hear every year during cold and flu season.
Wash your hands. Use hand sanitizer and wipes. Cover your mouth when you sneeze. Keep a safe distance away from others in public. And, please, don’t touch your face.
And, if you are immunocompromised, or have a family member who is, stay away from people right now. Extra precautions are very important. Unnecessary trips out are unwise, and now is the time to rely on family and friends to assist.
Now, take those last two pieces of advice, and double them. That is how often you should wash your hands, clean your cart and avoid close contact, for now.
The other piece of advice is not so easy. Stay calm.
This nation is strong. We have battled through some really tough stuff. We will be fine as long as we stick together and think of others. And that includes not sucking up every possible item in the grocery store so that while you will have toilet paper or ground beef for a month, families that cannot afford to stock up are left wondering how they are going to make it.
And give back.
What if we spent these coming weeks doing whatever we can to help our community survive this?
What if we used sites like “Go Fund Me” to set up virtual tip jars for local restaurant employees or bought gift cards or vowed to buy takeout twice a week?
What if we talked to that landlord we know about the possibility of letting a local business slide on its rent for the next month or two?
What if we called our representatives and told them to reach across the aisle to come up with a state bailout package to ease our neighbors’ fears?
Some of you have already gotten creative.
Teachers across the county, from Northeast Elementary to Rosewood, have figured out a way to have an impact on the lives of their students.
A group has sewn and donated hundreds of masks to the local hospital.
Pastors have figured out ways to hold virtual worship services and everywhere you turn, people are doing good.
There are people in this community right now who are setting aside their own concerns for the future and making sure others are OK. We need to hear their stories and their testimony. Please share them — they will make all of us feel better.
If you know of someone who is stepping up or if there is a project going on to help local families that needs community support, send us a message on Facebook or email us at newoldnorth@gmail.com.
And please don’t forget the #WayneCountyStrong campaign. There are small businesses all over this county that need you right now.
These are our friends and neighbors, and we need to step up to let them know they and their employees matter to us.
The first step back is remembering who we are as a community and taking care of our own while we fight through this crisis.
So, we would be remiss if we did not remind you that our healthcare professionals are risking their lives right now to take care of those who need them during this pandemic.
We plan to launch a support campaign for them in the next few days, so please, watch for it, join us and spread the word.
Thanks should also go to the teachers and administrators in this community who have been hit with a wrecking ball and who are trying desperately and quickly to put together meaningful online programs for their students, keep their own families calm and make sure that the Class of 2020 is not left to flounder and no one is left behind.
And don’t think we have forgotten about the moms and dads, aunts, uncles and grandparents who are trying to keep a sense of normalcy in their homes as they worry about the basics like childcare, food and money to pay the bills.
But we will get through this. We promise.
And if you have any doubts, remember, this is a county that has bested hurricanes and hard times. We are the descendants of people who started with nothing and built farms and businesses while raising families. We are the people who step up to help when no one is asking.
That is the kind of nation we live in, too.
This, too, will pass — so remember who we are, and whose we are.
That is what we need to know more than ever.
•
With those things in mind, we thought a lot about what to do about our quarterly magazine, Eastbound & Downtown. We decided to go ahead and publish it for a couple of reasons.
Its theme is “Heroes,” people who have changed their community or who have shown the strength that we think exemplifies Wayne County. We think their stories will make you remember just how special this community is and that courage and kindness is in our DNA.
The print copies will be available — and relevant — for weeks to come. You can get yours inside stores across Wayne when our county goes back to work — and support our local businesses at the same time.
Or, you can read it right here, right now by scrolling through the digital version below.
We are not going away. No chance. And COVID-19 or not, we are watching what is going on in the community, too.
We will continue to keep our eyes wide open, and to share information and perspective we think this community needs.
Until then, know we are with you.
Eastbound & Downtown – Spring by K Fine on Scribd
