It is NOT about YOU!

I am not a medical professional or an infectious disease specialist. The opinions I will share here are mine alone. My opinions have been formed by utilizing the information readily available from those professionals and organizations that are the experts in the arena of pandemics and infectious disease. I am not talking about Facebook or TMZ or a chat group. I mean the World Health Organization and Health Canada and the provincial Ministry of Health.

My opinion is also informed by the fact that the deaths of two important people in my life from the regular seasonal influenza changed the course of my life. The regular flu kills people – people who are loved – people who matter. COVID -19 is more virulent and more deadly. It might not be more deadly to you (or me) but it is to older people, to people who are already impacted by health challenges ….. these people are loved – they are people who are needed – they are people who are making a difference in the world and who matter.

It is not all that complicated.

• Wash your hands. Wash them extra, extra well and way more often then you think you need to.
• Pay attention to what you are touching (like handrails, doorknobs and elevator buttons) and then wash your hands.
• Keep your hands away from your face and work harder to contain your sneezes/coughs in your sleeve.
• Stay away from people if you are sick.
• Keep a little extra distance from anyone at work or in public. Find an alternative to shaking hands – there are lots of options.
• Have a few extra supplies and food around the house – I repeat a few extras – we are not experiencing a natural disaster or a zombie apocalypse – the goal is to reduce the need to go to the store. This is not a gastrointestinal illness – you just need the regular amount of toilet paper people!

If you don’t think you need take these simple precautions for yourself that is fine but get your head out of your arse because it is not about you!