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VIRUS: Remaining vigilant

| June 3, 2020 1:00 AM

Social distancing, sanitation and masks are more crucial as we open up than during restrictive Stage 1. People in stores during Stage 1 had likely been in close contact only with their family. But in later phases, the individual cutting your hair or at the table next to you has likely been to restaurants, shops, church and other gatherings. Odds of direct and indirect contact with an infected person have amplified.

The virus is not gone. It will be carried into and around our community for months. No gathering or business wants to be the source of a contagion which might stigmatize our city and shutter our businesses.

And yet, I saw a nail salon last weekend operating at capacity. Every pedicure chair was occupied; customers elbow to elbow, none masked. Some hair salons are not requiring stylists to wear masks; contrary to Panhandle Health guidelines.

If you agree that greater care should be taken, spread the word. Many seem not to understand that 10 minutes at close contact — which includes contact with everyone in a closed room where air is recirculated — will transmit disease from an infected person.

And please don’t use health measures as political signals. If I and those near me were tested daily and all my contacts were screened and documented, I’d not wear a mask either. This is not about supporting the president, it is about avoiding a case spike and allowing our businesses to remain open. We have done hard stuff, we can do easy stuff.

Social distance, use masks when not distancing and sanitize.

JOY OLSEN

Coeur d’Alene