We in the paper business are making efforts to continue to make the best of a bad situation while keeping our doors open. We do have the designation as “essential business” because we are part of the media.
We are currently trying to keep social distance and continuing to report the news. We are cleaning and disinfecting the office. If someone comes down with symptoms we would have them stay home. We are practicing social distancing when we go out and do stories. No longer are we doing hugs and handshakes. Tons of information are being distributed about the coronavirus, and we are providing what we feel are pertinent facts to our community. We are doing this in different ways. The first is through our traditional printed newspaper product, the other is through our web-page and other forms of social media.
At this point, I have a friend from Tupelo whose husband is about my age and has been on a ventilator due to coronavirus. Before this he was in good shape and played racquet ball regularly. He has been in a medically induced coma, but they have reduced his ventilator to about a 60 percent level and he seems to be improving.
His wife, also my friend, has most likely contracted the virus herself but because she did not have all the symptoms the medical officials would not treat her. They only advised her to take Tylenol and drink plenty of fluids. She has not had a fever but has experienced some of the issues associated with the flu.
The good news is that she is doing better and hopes she has made the turn towards recovery. We ask God’s blessings on them and a speedy recovery.
I started checking on family over the weekend, and those in New York have a family member who has tested positive. They also reported a close friend in Jackson who has been diagnosed with coronavirus.
All of this is to say it could happen in Simpson County so the best thing we can do is limit exposure and possible spread.
As far as Simpson County, thus far we have been very fortunate with only two reported cases. But don’t allow this to give you a false sense of security. Very few people in the county have been tested. We feel relatively sure that if more people were tested there likely would be more cases.
So we have changed the way we are doing things. In the Brown household we have canceled plans for get-aways. Vacations have been placed on hold. We have not traveled to see the new grandchild because our visit would be unsafe for her and unsafe for us.
Social media has made separation a little easier. Nancy and Anna Lauren facetime daily. I am not included because I am Android based and not Apple. I still send text messages so we are but a message away. Nancy and I have thus far decided we did not have to social distance from each other, but she has tried to implement that with the animals. They are not cooperating. They have gotten up in the middle of everything and want to be a part of everything.
We have watched a bunch of movies and are getting a bit stir-crazy. I have been going up to the Strong River a bit. Nancy was going Saturday but we got busy doing projects at the house. Besides it was a bit windy to be out.
It appears that things will not be back to normal soon so be patient, pray for God’s blessing and treat your neighbor with kindness and compassion--maybe by not getting too close to him.
