This morning when I got up I checked the news and found that a school in the area had been closed to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus due to someone being infected. I saw the news article start to circulate on my feed, I saw the headlines get darker and darker, and I felt the fear start growing in my heart. Do you ever feel that fear creeping up on you? When that happens to me, sometimes it best to step away a minute and make a plan instead of letting the fear overwhelm my head and my heart. Perhaps this will help you as well.
How are a few ways that we can all respond to the coronavirus.
Do not panic. Do not live in fear. God does not intend for us to be swallowed whole in fear. He intends for us to walk forward in confidence. If you need to remind yourself not to live in the panic, write these verses down, etch them on your heart, and keep them close at hand.
- “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
- “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.” John 14:27
- “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Watch what you read. The illness is spreading quickly, yes, but so is misinformation about it. One article I read called it the infodemic. Be aware of the information you are taking in and check your sources.
Prepare. There is nothing wrong with thinking ahead. As you would for any emergency situation, think through if you have what you need should schools close for a time or your normal routine be put on hold for any reason. Take the time to make a list, do some extra shopping, and consider things you may need like extra medications. The Red Cross has information on what they recommend for planning ahead.
Talk to your Kids. Based on the age of your kids, you can determine the right information to share with them. The bottom line is you should remind them to also be washing their hands, especially in school. Remind them when you are out and about to try not to touch things and then touch their face. I will not tell you about the time my daughter licked the cart, because I just can’t. I’m glad she grew out of that, but if you have a similar situation, take precautions. It’s always good to remind our kids.
Pray. It will calm our hearts to pray for the world. There are many being infected by this virus. Pray for those already impacted, those who have lost loved ones in China, and those with immune systems that are compromised and may be facing extra fear. Place it all in the hands of the Lord. Pray for our communities to come together and for us to more fully rely on Jesus and his plan as we walk through this time.
Here is some information from the CDC:
According to the CDC, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) respiratory illness was first detected in Wuhan, China and continues to expand. Tens of thousands of cases have been reported, with the virus reportedly spreading from person-to-person in that part of the country. A growing number of cases in countries internationally are also being reported, mostly associated with travel from Wuhan. In the United States, on January 21, 2020, a Snohomish County resident was diagnosed with the virus upon returning from a trip to Wuhan, and the first person-to-person spread occurred on January 30, 2020. Other countries in Asia and Europe are also reporting new cases of infection.
The CDC has all the background and is monitoring and updating their site regularly with new information on the severity of the illness, the current risk assessment, and how to respond. For that full summary, visit cdc.gov. The information we have listed here is current as of 3/2/2020.
What basics does the CDC recommend to prevent the spread of disease?
- Get your flu vaccines
- Stay home if you are sick
- Promote good hygiene: Wash hands regularly (20 seconds). Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or use an elbow or shoulder if no tissue is available). Handwashing is one of the best strategies for avoiding illness and transmitting it to others and avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes.
- Cleaning: Perform routine cleaning of touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, counters and doorknobs with appropriate cleaning agents.
- International travel: Before traveling internationally, check the CDC traveler’s health notices for latest guidance and recommendations for each country to which they will travel https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel. Consider using disinfecting handwipes, N95 respirators, and gloves for their carry-on luggage. You should not travel if you have symptoms of acute respiratory illness and stay home.
For the latest updates on the virus and what the CDC is doing, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
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