"He's nice a bit of a close talker." - Jerry Seinfeld on "Seinfeld"
This is no time to be a close talker.
Within a matter of days, "social distancing" has gone from an obscure term to a household phrase. For some of us, it's becoming an annoying buzzword. It's on the tips of the tongues of public officials ranging from Mayor Carrie Tergin to President Donald Trump.
Dr. Thomas Robbins, the medical director of the Jefferson City Medical Group, is among those who has asked the News Tribune to remind the public about the importance of social distancing.
"Educating the public on how they can protect themselves will not only decrease the potential for infection, but also give people a tool as to how do deal with this virus," he said.
But what does this mean, exactly?
Essentially, it means we should stay at least 6 feet away from each other. It also means limiting contact by avoiding travel when possible; don't go to concerts, sports events, bars or other social gatherings. Limit your shopping trips by planning your meals. Avoid dining in restaurants and opt to go through drive-thrus or have food delivered (many delivery services are even offering "no contact delivery"). Avoid gathering in groups of more than 10.
Basically, stay at home as much as possible.
Many of us at the News Tribune are doing just that. By the nature of our business, we must venture out into the public to gather news. But our doors are locked to the public, our newsroom is mostly empty and our reporters are generally working from home. This editorial was written at home.
Social distancing is a temporary inconvenience implemented to "flatten the curve" of the coronavirus, which is quickly spreading across the United States.
We know from past experience it works. Here's an example, as given by QZ.com, a business journalism website:
In 1918, Philadelphia ignored warnings of the Spanish flu and held a parade for soldiers deploying for World War I. A throng of 200,000 people watched the parade, and the flu claimed 4,500 lives within days. Meanwhile, St. Louis closed schools, playgrounds, libraries, courtrooms and churches. The city banned public gatherings of more than 20. Per capita flu-related deaths were half of what they were in Philadelphia.
Let's use that history lesson to save lives now. If we all work together on staying apart for awhile, we can go back to close-talking in no time. In fact, we can return to high-fiving, fist-bumping, rubbing shoulders, hugging, kissing and getting touchy-feely with our consenting friends.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
News Tribune
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