In the wake of recent deadly storms, Tennessee is now facing a new crisis: the coronavirus.
This highly contagious virus sweeping the nation has already gravely impacted Tennessee, with most of the cases located in Davidson County – 110 confirmed cases at the time of writing this editorial, and all indicators predict it will get worse before it gets better.
Like President Trump said at a recent press conference, getting through this crisis “will require an all-of-America approach.” But if we work together, heeding the president and health officials’ advice, we will overcome this pandemic.
President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Governor
Thanks to their effective leadership and decisive actions, including implementing a travel ban from China, providing more resources for local health facilities, and working with private corporations “to vastly increase and accelerate our capacity to test for the coronavirus,” we are committed to flattening the curve to put less of a strain on our health care system.
Thank our first responders for their work
Our first responders, health care workers, and military members, like those in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, deserve a great deal of credit for keeping our communities safe, and we must do our best to support them.
While many Americans may not be familiar with the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, they sent a “strike team” to a Washington state nursing home, which was deemed the epicenter of the coronavirus in the United States. To date, over 700 Public Health Service members have been dispatched across the country to care for the critically ill. They are a crucial part of our response to this pandemic.
As our health professionals and first responders work around the clock, they are on the front lines in this global fight. We should follow the advice of our first responders along with President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Governor Bill Lee, local public officials, and our health care officials to stop the spread of this deadly disease.
The president has advised avoiding groups of more than 10 people, bars, restaurants and food courts, and postponing discretionary travel. We all have a role in this global pandemic, and we must answer the call to not only protect ourselves but to protect others around us.
Let’s rise to the occasion and help each other
It’s times like these that we are reminded why Tennessee is called the Volunteer State. We rise to the occasion and look after our neighbors in need. Even as we are practicing social distancing and taking necessary precautions, we should all look for additional ways to help our neighbors in need and be a part of the solution.
Whether it’s grocery shopping for an elderly neighbor or providing childcare for a friend who works in health care – now is the time for us to come together in a safe and responsible way. Governor Lee recently said, “Tennesseans can do this, this is what we’re made for.” And he could not be more right.
It is vital that we continue to practice the CDC’s best practices for preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
For example, please remember to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, don’t touch your face and mouth with unwashed hands, cover your coughs and sneezes, stay home if you feel sick, and practice social distancing. If you are looking for more information, please visit https://www.tn.gov/health or the CDC’s website here.
This global pandemic is going to disrupt our lives in the short term, but if we take common sense, precautionary measures we can flatten the curve and limit the spread of the coronavirus. I encourage all of my fellow Tennesseans to take this challenge seriously and continue to follow the guidance of our nation’s leaders as we all work together to reduce the spread and eliminate the virus in the weeks ahead.