It is truly human nature to think that bad things are not going to happen to me.
No doubt every young man who has gone off to war thinks that the other man will get killed, but not me. When we hear about someone else getting ill, invariably we think to ourselves, not me.
Right now, except for the 18 virus infected persons in the county, we are thinking, not me.
I don’t need to worry about it, because I am in good health. I don’t know anybody who is sick. I don’t get out much or I feel fine.
But all of these thoughts are simply false.
First the virus is all over Milam County. The 18 cases have come from all four corners of the county: Thorndale, Rockdale, Milano, Gause, Cameron and Buckholts.
Second being in good health helps, but does not prevent infection. Many healthy people have been infected and died from the virus.
Third, even healthy people can infect others as one does not have to have symptoms to spread the virus. So, do your part. Do not make excuses to avoid the mandates of the state and county shelter-in-place orders. Just because the state is trying to open commerce does not mean we should use that as an excuse to have social gatherings or other events that involve groups of people. Just because restaurants can open to 25% of capacity does not mean that we should not wear a mask. Remember the county order prohibits all public and private social gatherings and urges everyone to wear a mask in public. Why? To protect your health and the health of other Milam County residents.
The Commissioners Court continues to take this matter very seriously.
We were the first rural county in Central Texas to issue a disaster order and later a shelter-in-place order. Collectively, we monitor the infection and death rate daily.
Our Health Department investigates every infection case and quarantines those that are at a high risk of infection. The court is actively advertising to inform every citizen of the severity of the virus.
The virus is not going away. We are all going to have to learn to deal with this crisis.
I doubt if we ever get back to way things were just two months ago. Too much has happened and too much is going to happen in the future.
However, we can get through this. We have done it before.
But, we must wake up and realize that the virus is incredibly contagious and that it can and will spread exponentially.
Your conduct determines how much the virus will spread.
Your conduct determines the fate of your family and your neighbor.
So do your part.
Stay home, wear a mask, wash your hands and look for ways to avoid the spread.
Don’t make excuses. Don’t think it will not “be me.”
Just ask any of the over 3.5 million people in the world who have been infected.
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