Our stressed community

At the start of month five of responding to the coronavirus pandemic in Washington state neither the news nor the prognosis is good. Skagit County has recorded 117 cases since July 4 and 223 cases since it moved into Phase 2 June 5. A two week total under 25 is the marker to proceed to Phase 3, further expanding economic activity in the County.

The virus is not under control, much less being beaten back in the county, throughout Washington or nationally.

Let’s focus on our little corner of the world, though the disastrous lack of a coordinated national response threatens the local availability of PPE, the critically needed personal protective equipment every healthcare worker in our state needs daily.

Every family and individual is affected: adults out of work, kids out of school, those who have lost their jobs and others their businesses. We are all touched in multiple ways.

The pandemic affects our physical health, our mental health and our economic health. The true root causes of each has to be named and addressed for solutions to be developed and applied.

Physically, the coronavirus continues to spread. It is a respiratory disease carried in our lungs. The exhaled breath of people with the virus is inhaled by those without the virus and more people get sick.

The solution to reducing the spread is identifying those with the virus and isolating them. If you do not have the virus you need to stay away from anyone who might have it. The purpose of social distancing, mask wearing and limited contact with others is to protect you and those near you.

Good physical health is paramount. Protecting everybody means reducing social interactions.

There are lost jobs and closed businesses that are lost for good. There are lost wages and reduced income that will not be made up. There are bills, loans, rent and wages that are owed without a means to make good on those debts. This is a burden on entire families, not just wage earners and business owners.

People are worried, worn down and worn out. Many are having emotional and mental health problems. There are increases in use of alcohol and drugs, domestic abuse and thoughts of suicide.

Reopening local economies, whether in a rush or by baby steps, is a cure to economic, emotional and mental strains. Good jobs at good wages help in almost any situation – except, maybe not now.

Most of us work together, learn together, shop together, socialize together. Together will make many of us sick and kill some of us. But how to overcome the economic losses, loss of productive activity, isolation and spiraling personal burdens?

Public health experts are right: stop the spread, contain the outbreaks, get the virus under control. Protecting everyone’s physical health comes first. Healthy personal and community economies cannot emerge and will not be maintained if the virus is not contained and eventually wrung out of our communities.

So, how to stay apart for another year or even two? Our physical, mental and emotional health is inextricably tied up in our economic wellbeing. We want to work as well as have to work. Yet working – being around others – will make many sick and kill some.

Work equals income. Replacing that income while keeping people apart was the reasoning driving spring Congressional legislation sending money to individuals and to businesses. Congress will turn the money tap on again. That infusion of cash will ease some of the stress and pain so many feel and fret over.

Instead of taking the money and running, it is critical that folks take the money and stay put. That is the hardest job and toughest work of all, staying away from each other, not for weeks but for months and more months, well into 2021.