Case in Point

COVID-19 is coming for our hometowns

Posted

For the third straight week, we come to you tired as we feel like we're running a race in which we're always behind. Like most of you, we're glued to our computer screens each day watching Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds update us on the condition of our state. We also wait for new rules and recommendations.

We watch the daily briefings at the White House. Then we're flooded with one release after another with regard to fighting this novel coronavirus COVID-19. It's been a century since a global pandemic of such magnitude struck our hometowns.

And trust me when I say, it's coming to our hometowns. It was last weekend before a case was confirmed in Muscatine County. Now there's five. By the time this gets on the newspaper page in front of you, they'll be more.

Due to the fact that the news is an essential service, our Advocate News office remains open. We've had several conversations about closing our office to the public. Yet we are here and, while healthy, we are working.

It would be hard for me to explain sitting inside our office, watching someone trying to open a locked door. However, we are hoping that people practice social distancing — one of the many new terms we are learning through this outbreak.

We hope that if a customer's business is non-essential to do in person, that he or she use our mail slot, email or the postal service to get us information. You may also call on the telephone — you know, things you used to do seemingly when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

It's frustrating that often by the time our news hits you it's old news. That's the world we're living in. All we're trying to do is keep up and stay healthy.

Our staff was a bit shaken upon learning of the first local case. At the same time I think we all knew it was coming. Of the 105 cases in Iowa as of March 23, nearly half (50) are within a short drive from our hometowns, including 35 in Johnson County alone.

Last week I wrote about testing and hospitals — my two biggest worries throughout this whole pandemic, no matter how long it lasts.

While listening to the governor speak late last week, there was a point when she mentioned having 400 tests. "Clearly she meant in Des Moines or something, I thought."

Nope, that meant 400 statewide. To put it another way, imagine our schools were still in session. If a child at Wilton Elementary School got it, I'd imagine every parent would want their child tested. Unfortunately, only around 50-60 percent would be able to have a test. And we're just one small school.

They keep telling us more testing is coming. I believe them but it's at a much slower rate than what is being let on.

Yes drive-up testing is popping up all over the nation, but most who want a test can't get one. You only receive one when you are heavily symptomatic or you've been traveling or around someone who has it. At that point it's too late if we're thinking about the likelihood of giving it to someone else. And because of that, I believe what the experts are saying — the numbers are going to get a lot worse before they get better.

If I'm a betting man, I think our K-12 school year is over. I'd be surprised if our schools start back up April 13. I hate that we can't go to restaurants or movie theaters. I hate that our economy is free-falling. Yet we need to do our best to flatten this curve and we're just not there yet.

There is good news. We've watched our communities come together to provide supplies and meals to children in Wilton and Durant. See our story on page 1 of local restaurants and grocery stores that have come together to keep our students fed. It's quite remarkable.

We also know that when you're spending an abundance of time at home, you could benefit from some reading. Teachers will tell kids home from school to read. We're jumping on that bandwagon. Starting with content from our March 19 edition, we're making all content on our website — wdadvocatenews.com — readable to all.

Keeping you informed is our top priority at this time. Also, we know that if you can get your news at home without having to brave public places to get it at newsstands, we may be helping to keep you safe, even in the smallest of ways.

While we're on the subject of our product, we're tightening our belt like any other business right now. Don't expect less quality, but perhaps less quantity. With no school activities and/or sports, coupled with the cancellation of several community events, content is going to be harder to find.

To all our families stuck at home, what are you doing to pass time? What kinds of games are you playing? Any fun story ideas coming out of what's happening? Fun photos? Reach out to me. Reach out to our staff. Email us at adnews@netwtc.net or me directly at dsawvell@netwtc.net. Share your stories with us. Tell us what you're doing to get through semi-quarantine. Be aware that some of it could end up in the paper. Or, we may just follow up with you for a story.

Comments