|
The COVID-19 coronavirus is a new, more dangerous and transmissible strain of the flu that originated in China. It is a respiratory illness. Fever, coughing, and shortness of breath are the most common symptoms. Trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, bluish lips or face, and disorientation are emergency warning signs. If you develop emergency warning signs, seek medical attention immediately. Call a doctor before you get medical care if at all possible. Be sure to get care if you feel worse or you think it is an emergency. If you have a medical appointment, call your doctor’s office or emergency department, and tell them you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the office protect themselves and other patients.
If you are sick, you should wear a face mask when you are around other people and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. You do not need to wear a face mask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a face mask). Face masks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.
People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to recover at home. Fatalities are extremely rare in healthy people under 50. Do not leave, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.
If you do not experience symptoms, do not seek medical attention. Our medical facilities are already at or near their capacity to treat people. Instead, do everything possible to avoid contracting and potentially transmitting the illness.
As much as possible, avoid other people and when necessary stay at least 6 feet away from others whenever possible. Wash your hands frequently, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow, and then immediately wash your hands.
Very importantly: Stay healthy and keep your immune system strong by exercising regularly. Nothing is better for your immune system than a healthful diet and regular exercise. You can jog, cycle, and exercise at home. Search the Internet for “bodyweight exercises” for countless articles on ways to exercise your body without the use of gym equipment. At least 30 minutes of exercise per day will make your body vastly better equipped to combat the illness (and many other illnesses).
For more information, please visit www.cdc.gov, the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Besides taking precautions to avoid catching or transmitting the illness, this is an important time to remember that our mental health is every but as important as (and indeed, a part of) our physical health. Humans were not made to be isolated, and this is a battle of courage over fear, resolution over panic, determination over hopelessness.
This is the first time in human history that the entire world is dedicated to solving a single problem, and we’ve never had more powerful tools to discover treatments. Human ingenuity will be no match for this virus in the long run, and I share President Trump’s optimism that we will defeat it in record time.
In the meantime, remember that we have tremendous technology for keeping in touch. Remember to regularly call, or better yet, use an online tool to video conference with your family, friends, and other loved ones.
The governor issued a stay-at-home executive order that went into effect on Tuesday, March 24, effectively putting out entire state on lockdown. This is a dangerous overreaction that will cause dramatic economic damage, more so than was already caused by the shutdown of restaurants, gyms, and other services.
While I realize we are in uncharted territory with this virus, we also need to seriously consider the impact of mass unemployment and poverty, which will harm the public health as well as our quality of life.
I also have serious concerns about the governor’s continued use of executive orders, and the constitutional questions they raise. Even if we are facing a public health emergency, how does the governor have the authority to suspend the Michigan Constitution – which guarantees, among other things, the right to peaceful assembly?
When this is over, we must take a serious look at the powers of the governor, and how they balance with our state’s public health needs and the livelihoods of Michigan families.
I do believe people should be listening to the medical professionals and taking precautions to slow the spread of this virus, such as social distancing and working from home whenever possible.
Seniors and other people with underlying health concerns should take steps to isolate and protect themselves – but this should be done voluntarily, without placing the entire state on lockdown, as the governor has decided to do.
There are also serious concerns about what elements of our society have been determined to be “unnecessary.” At the present time, Michigan courts are largely shut down, with only the most serious criminal cases and custody issues being heard by judges. This is unprecedented. No war, famine, or outbreak in American history has caused an entire branch of government to shut down, and the judiciary is absolutely essential for our society to function.
Take the case of Lucas Gerhard, an Oakland Township resident facing criminal charges. I’ve mentioned his case in previous newsletters. He was first arrested on August 24, 2019, spent 83 days in jail without bail, was bailed out for $250,000 and kept under house arrest ever since. His dismissal hearing was scheduled for March 24, but is now postponed indefinitely. He has been under house arrest for 215 days and counting. How much longer must he wait for justice? Every criminal case cannot be held in limbo. Even civil disputes, while seemingly trivial, are often time-sensitive and critical for the parties involved.
I have ordered legislation that would allow courts to use video conferencing in the event of a public health emergency to allow proceedings to continue, and require courts other than small claims remain open. Parties can still opt to delay their cases if they wish, but court officials have a constitutional duty to the people they serve and if this is not something they are willing to serve, they need to allow others to take on those roles who will.
While many states, including Michigan, have severely restricted travel, commerce, and personal interaction with no end in sight, President Trump has consistently voiced his concern that these measures must remain temporary, as they may crash the economy and severely harm Americans’ quality of life.
At a news conference on March 23, for example, President Trump said he would continue to listen to advice from federal government doctors but would ultimately make his own decisions about the future of the economy.
“If it were up to the doctors, they may say, ‘Let’s keep it shut down, let’s shut down the entire world… and let’s keep it shut for a couple of years,’” he said. “We can’t do that.”
The President is correct: This situation is not sustainable in the long term, as hundreds of thousands if not millions of Michiganders are on furlough or lost their jobs altogether. They economic shock will devastate all businesses, and it doesn’t take a long time before this situation spirals out of control.
Supporters of the lockdown argue that stopping the spread of the virus is a compelling public health interest, but economic damage is also a health problem. The economic recession of 2007 was reportedly linked with more than 10,000 suicides. People with no money to spare tend to eat less healthful foods (because processed foods are cheaper) and less in general. They are more likely to abuse drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. All of these things have real health consequences. Even with respect to the coronavirus itself, the most important variable in whether people survive or succumb to the illness is their respiratory and immune system health.
Unemployment and isolation are not healthful, either. Being without employment and unable to provide for oneself and one’s family takes a terrible emotional and psychological toll. No matter how much we are able to connect online, there is no substitute for real life, personal contact, and it won’t be long before people become stir crazy.
Again, this is not to downplay the serious threat of the illness, but to remember that policies have myriad consequences, and it’s critical to take into consideration the entire effect of each policy on the public as a whole.
A statewide shutdown is not something that can continue indefinitely, and I applaud President Trump for remaining focused on beating this illness, beating it quickly, removing every governmental obstacle in the way, and getting us back to normal as soon as possible.
As I’ve said, I am confident that the Chinese coronavirus will ultimately be no match for the brilliance of human civilization. We’re already hearing about promising therapies and the first potential vaccines going into testing. Most importantly, Americans have already made major changes in their health habits. We’re washing our hands and sanitizing, staying apart, and wearing masks when appropriate. All of these things will dramatically slow the spread of the virus, and we will see the results very soon.
In the long term, I hope this sad episodes results in a newfound appreciation for healthy habits, healthful living, and the great American values of innovation, hard work, personal responsibility, and community service.
We will beat the virus, and sooner or later, the economy will recover, too. I’m not saying it will be quick or painless. But it will happen eventually, sooner I think than most people expect.
But whether it’s sooner or later, another question about our recovery remains: What changes made during this emergency will endure? Will we be encouraged to practice “social distancing” forever?
We should not allow this, and people should demand a return to normalcy once the illness has passed. People need each other, and it is their right. We cannot surrender our society for the sake of fighting an illness that someday will be long passed.
It was just weeks ago, but feels like a lifetime, when the legislature abandoned a bill that would have enabled the Detroit metro area to take on a $4.5 plan for new public transit, which would have dramatically raised property taxes.
In hindsight, it was something we could ill afford, as Michiganders feel the economic crunch of a statewide lockdown. At a time when people are saving everything they can and battening down the hatches for the economic recession, or even depression, raising taxes would have made a bad situation worse. This is an important lesson: everything the government does that has an economic cost may have a serious impact for somebody, and potentially for everybody. In any economy where some people are secure and other people struggle, there are always people on the margin, just getting by, where even a small change can make a big difference to them.
I am thankful that my colleagues ultimately supported the Oakland County Republican delegation in its opposition to this transit deal.
Listening to your thoughts and concerns and helping find solutions are the most important parts of my job as your representative. Please remember in this trying time that I am always available and want to hear from you.
Serving the people of northeast Oakland County is very important to me. I encourage residents to contact my office with any state or local issues by calling (517) 373-1798, emailing me at JohnReilly@House.mi.gov or visiting my website at www.RepReilly.com. It is an honor and a great duty to represent the people of Addison, Brandon, Oakland, Orion, and Oxford Townships. Please contact my office if I can assist you in any way, or if you have a great idea to help move our state forward.
|
