Guest Column: We must each do our part

Published 12:30 am Sunday, March 22, 2020

Astorians have always been tough, resilient and compassionate. They demonstrated this by quickly rebuilding after a 1922 fire obliterated 32 blocks of businesses, workplaces and homes, and by coming together as a community after the devastating windstorms of 2007.

Now, Astorians are about to be tested, possibly as never before. We’ve had weeks to prepare for the pandemic to reach our community, and to grasp COVID-19’s seriousness.

Local medical, public health, emergency management and other professionals are laser-focused on preparedness for the worst. Despite their around-the-clock efforts, there is a limit to the number of severe patients local hospitals will be able to treat at any one time during a surge in cases.

The worst-case scenario is that the virus spreads so rapidly that local health care providers are overwhelmed, and forced to choose which critically ill patients to not treat, as has happened overseas.

At this crucial time we must each do our part to protect the most vulnerable members of our community, and to help our health care providers save lives, by taking action to slow the spread of the virus.

The emergency rules closing our places of work, learning and socializing are devastating. They may become even more restrictive. As painful as they are, they are absolutely necessary.

Individually, we must each contribute to slowing the virus’s spread through rigorous social distancing: avoiding gatherings and staying home except for essential tasks, as well as frequent hand-washing. These steps will save lives.

Our tight-knit community is suffering as so many of our friends are enduring layoffs and loss of income and revenue. Our federal and state elected representatives are rapidly legislating aid packages for the suddenly unemployed, food insecure and struggling businesses for whom a month without revenue can mean bankruptcy. These efforts can’t come soon enough.

Our educators at the K-12 and community college level are learning how to transition traditional classes to remote learning so that our students can continue their educations in the coming months of school closures.

The city, Clatsop County and Astoria School District are planning to ensure child care is available for medical workers and first responders who will need to be working virtually around the clock during a surge in COVID-19 cases.

And throughout the county, neighbors are helping neighbors find the assistance they need.

If we succeed in “flattening the curve,” there will be fewer deaths, but the crisis may last longer. We all must adjust to a new normal for an unknown time. And then we will each help our neighbors rebuild their lives and businesses. I have no doubt that Astorians will rise to the occasion, as they have before, with toughness, resilience and compassion.