It’s a public health crisis ... and it isn’t just about you

Schools and universities are actively considering and moving to virtual classrooms, employers are offering remote work,, and economic and social ramifications of the coronavirus outbreak can be felt throughout the nation. It can be scary to look at the numbers in headlines from around the world and ponder what a community spread might look like in Connecticut and beyond.

It’s important to understand that for many, COVID-19 can feel akin to a flu or even be asymptomatic.

However, it is equally — if not more — important to understand, this does not mean those at lesser risk do not have a role to play in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 to others. As stewards of each other’s health, we need to collectively focus on how each of our decisions and behaviors has the potential to impact someone else’s health and safety.

Understanding the implications of one’s actions on others will be important to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in the United States, especially in states such as Connecticut, which has confirmed only a handful of cases so far.

This isn’t a natural instinct for many, if not most, Americans. This country’s culture is, and long has been, one defined by individualistic practices. Public health crises aside, it can be difficult for Americans to see beyond themselves and their own health. No one sets out to intentionally negatively impact the health of another person, but few also practice taking the health of another into consideration before going about their daily routines.

While healthy younger individuals will experience milder symptoms of the illness, they should be cognizant of their ability to still spread to others in the community. This means that travel to

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lands near and far may pose an acceptable risk to you, but perhaps not to your family, friends or others whom you interact with. Handshakes, attending certain events or coming to work with mild symptoms could represent a serious risk to others. Now is the time to practice a simple, yet inconvenient, public health tool: social distancing. That is, maintain at least 6 feet from others. No handshakes, no hugging, and be mindful about the social gatherings you’re choosing to go to. In essence, pause before proceeding. It’s not just your health at risk. It’s the health of everyone you connect with and those they, in turn, will come into contact with.

The illness is much more harmful and potentially lethal for people who are older, and particularly those who are older than 70 and/or have other chronic conditions. In this population, reported mortality rates can be over 10%. It is for this group

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