To say the least, the evolving COVID-19 health crisis has changed life here in Franklin County. A good barometer of its seriousness is the stock market. Conglomerate corporations wouldn’t close their doors and forfeit cash-to-be-made for a minor blip. Since hitting an all-time high Feb. 12, the Dow Jones Industrial, an index that measures the performance of 30 large companies, has dropped by 30 percent.
Locally, we’ve yet to see the financial impact of this crisis, but the writing is on the wall:
Schools have closed; live entertainment events have been put on hold; some restaurants are now only offering take-out deliveries, others have shuttered altogether; the cogs of the region’s economic machine are grinding to a halt. The picture is similar across the nation. For example, the number of Americans filing unemployment claims jumped by 70,000 last week, according to the Associated Press.
Indeed, these are challenging and historic times for everyone — and the worst could be yet to come.
At this crucial moment — still relatively early in the pandemic’s spread — it’s imperative that area constituents heed protocols set by the nation’s public health leaders such as those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We’ve heard them before, but they’re worth repeating here — wash your hands; avoid touching your face; keep at least 6 feet away from others; limit travel; work from home if possible; socially distance to break the risk of transmission. To that end, state officials have limited gatherings; public spaces are being shut down; everyone is advised to stay indoors as much as possible.
If these seem like extreme measures, that’s because the situation is dire.
When the virus has been allowed to spread uncontrolled elsewhere — Italy and Iran, for example — hospitals have become overrun. Lacking resources, medical workers have been forced to make difficult decisions about who to save. Thus, the measures that are being related by health officials are intended to prevent that from happening here. There is no vaccine. The only way to get it under control is to avoid social contact.
During this time of uncertainty, there are bright spots. To name a few, area schools have continued to provide meals for students (check in with your local district to see how they’re being distributed), businesses like Stop and Shop have created flexible hours for elders, who are at a higher risk of contracting a serious case.
Unequivocally, the coming weeks are going to be difficult. We’re going to have to adjust to an abrupt change in just about every area of life. This will be made easier if we link together (remotely) as a community.
So, check in on your neighbors via phone or instant messaging. Encourage family members who might be facing weeks of isolation. Keep friends accountable for fitness routines. Be kind to one another.
Supporting our local economy is more complicated than a phone call. Businesses are interconnected — all will be affected in one way or another. Because of that, we hope to see aid packages from the federal and state government in the coming days.
Without support, the impact will be profound.
That being said, there are some things individuals can do. Consider purchasing a gift card from a business that has closed its brick-and-mortar doors and support the online endeavors of local artists. Our community is tight-knit and we have no doubt that Franklin County will rise to meet the challenges that lay ahead.