Want to slow spread of coronavirus in Fresno? ‘Social distancing’ is a good remedy
There’s a word for people who prefer solo walks in nature to hanging out in crowded shopping malls, restaurants and movie theaters.
Who would rather spend a quiet evening at home than among a crowd of thousands at a concert, street fair or sporting event.
They call us “introverts.” Or in extreme cases, “antisocial.”
But that was before you or anyone you know had heard of the coronavirus. Turns out we were early practitioners of what public health officials call “social distancing.” Helping slow the spread of highly contagious diseases just by acting like our normal reclusive selves.
If you’re not familiar with social distancing, my hunch is you will be soon. Defined by the Center for Disease Control as “remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible,” it may be our most effective tool in combating coronavirus.
More effective, for example, than clearing out every store shelf of hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and toilet paper.
So far, Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley have been bit players in the larger drama. There have been only two reported coronavirus cases, both by men who recently returned from Princess Cruise trips, and zero “community transmissions” in which the known source of exposure cannot be identified.
Want to keep it that way? Social distancing may be our best chance.
In some parts of the state, health officials have already made these measures mandatory. Public gatherings of 1,000 or more people have been banned in Santa Clara County, jeopardizing pro hockey and soccer matches, and strongly discouraged in other areas. Music festivals such as Coachella and Stagecoach have been postponed.
Meanwhile, numerous universities (including UCLA, Cal and San Jose State) and one school district (Elk Grove) have canceled in-person classes.
(To say nothing about what’s happening right now in Italy, where an entire country of 60 million people is on lockdown.)
Here in Fresno, decisions to shutter events like Valley Children’s Hospital’s Kids Day and the annual Raisin Association Bargaining meeting were made by organizers rather than governmental edict.
Are more such cancellations and disruptions inevitable as more locals test positive for coronavirus? Probably. But we’re not powerless to prevent it, either.
That means avoiding crowded public spaces, especially if you’re elderly or susceptible to illness. Or working from home, if that option is available. Or keeping your distance from anyone who’s coughing or sneezing. Or greeting someone with a wave rather than a handshake.
“It’s natural for people, when something like this happens, to want to take precautions,” said Joe Prado, Fresno County’s community health division manager. “They want to protect themselves and their health. Social distancing is one of the most effective ways of doing that.”
Social distancing isn’t about inciting panic or stripping away personal freedoms. Nor is it about validating anyone’s political bent. It’s about being smart and socially responsible. Doing your part to slow the spread of a contagious disease and, in effect, reduce demand on hospitals and public health agencies.
Does it work? There is evidence that it does.
The most-cited example came during a 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic and how different cities responded to it.
In Philadelphia, officials downplayed the threat by allowing a citywide parade to take place 11 days after the initial outbreak. Oops. By the time steps were taken, the “disease spread had already begun to overwhelm local medical and public health resources,” according to a 2007 study.
In St. Louis, by contrast, officials enacted preventive measures such as closing schools, churches, theaters and dance halls and forbidding overcrowding on street cars two days after the flu arrived. As a result, the overall death rate due to flu in Philadelphia was twice as high as St. Louis’ and had a peak death rate eight times as high.
People in St. Louis still came down with the flu. But those proactive steps kept the illness from spreading faster than doctors and hospitals could cope with it.
Experts call this strategy of preventing a huge spike in cases “flattening the curve.” It’s the difference between an outbreak that rises quickly and rapidly, like a steep mountain, versus a slow, gradual hill.
“The idea is that the sooner you stop that transmission chain, you are actually limiting an exponential growth,” Stanford University infectious disease specialist Yvonne Maldonado told the Washington Post.
“That’s really important, because instead of preventing 1,000 cases, you might be preventing 100,000 cases — and a matter of days can make a difference.”
Until we get a better idea of how far and wide coronavirus spreads locally, an ounce of social distancing now could prevent a ton of problems later.
No, that isn’t great news for restaurant owners or event promoters. But we can still support these businesses and endeavors if we so choose. Just because you couldn’t buy a Kid’s Day paper Tuesday morning doesn’t mean you can’t still donate to Valley Children’s Hospital.
Still, this social distancing stuff can be tricky. More than just distancing yourself from others, in some cases it means distancing yourself from … well, yourself.
As my dad admonished me twice Sunday evening during our weekly Skype chat, “Keep your hands away from your mouth!”
Anybody know where I can buy a Cone of Shame large enough for a size 17 neck?
