Where Were You?
On Sept.11, 2001, the world stopped turning, as Alan Jackson sang — “Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?”
Some say that our lives were forever changed. The fact of the matter is that the looming threat of terrorist attacks changed the behavior of the American people. Fear is a liar, as we are told by a multitude of sources. However, we watched fear take control of many of our lives on that day.
Alan Jackson asks, “Did you shout out in anger in fear for your neighbor? Or did you just sit down and cry?” Will Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) be another historically life changing event for the United States and the world? Will we tell stories to our grandchildren about the pandemic of March 2020?
The song asks again, “Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened…Close your eyes and not go to sleep?” Where were you when each state in America gradually and cautiously prompted restrictions motivated by fear or fact? There can seem to be a relatively minor difference in meaning when fear and fact become intertwined.
Regardless of the source of danger, our law enforcement and first responders are submerged in the chaos driven by a mixture of facts and fears. They have loved ones and family members who may be more fearful because of law enforcement’s level of responsibility and exposure in the face of the unknown.
Is the unknown more worrisome than any other day? Perception is your reality, but knowing the facts as provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) can be helpful. It is important for law enforcement to reassure their families, like any other day, that they are tactically sound and taking precautions necessary for their safety and for reduced exposure to their family.
The CDC states the following in regard to what law enforcement personnel need to know about the virus: COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The outbreak first started in China, but cases have been identified in a growing number of other areas, including the United States. Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness.
Data suggests that symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.
Symptoms can include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath.
The virus causing COVID-19 is called SARS-CoV-2. It is thought to spread mainly via respiratory droplets among close contacts. Respiratory droplets are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can land in mouths or noses, or possibly be inhaled into the lungs, of people who are nearby.
Close contact may include:
Being within approximately 6 feet of an individual with COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time.
Having direct contact with body fluids (such as blood, phlegm and respiratory droplets) from an infected individual.
As Alan Jackson sang, “Faith, hope, and love are some good things…the greatest is love.” As individual’s, we get to decide how we respond to this pandemic. Following recommendations from the CDC and by your agency is imperative. Meanwhile, plan your day, take time to reflect and workout, dance, hold your grandchildren and hug your spouse. Take a moment to notice the beauty amidst chaos and breathe.
