COVID 19

Working at a community health center during a pandemic is an experience.

So much planning (at least on the local level. I have been unimpressed by 45's non-response). I have been impressed with my organization's rapid dissemination of information. We have daily -  even hourly - updates on the situation and current guidelines and recommendations. 

Activities and events are being cancelled. Schools are closing. Churches are cancelling services. People who can are telecommuting. "Social distancing" is a thing now. All the preparation may look like panic to an outsider, but it's not. Early and decisive action can prevent the spread of COVID 19 whereas reactionary panic cannot.  If we do this right, in the aftermath, it will appear all of our preparations and actions were completely unecessary. Don't be fooled. If you batten down the hatches and manage to weather the storm, you don't say, "well gosh, I guess we didn't need to do anything to prevent us from sinking after all."

Our family is in a unique and fortunate situation. We will continue to have an income regardless of how this unfolds, we are not dependent on the school system for childcare, and Chris works from home. In addition, all 5 of us are in a low-risk category for complications should one (or more) of us contract the virus. For all of these reasons, I have volunteered for the Acute Respiratory Response team at our clinic, which will help evaluate and test patients while helping reduce exposure and risk for our patients and staff.