The LuLac Edition #4,243, March 18th, 2020

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our "Write On Wednesday" logo.

This week's "Write On Wednesday" is quite topical. Here's what the Citizens' Voice recommended.

CARONAVISRUS: WHAT TO DO NOW! 

Now that the coronavirus pandemic has officially reached Luzerne County, the situation calls for prudence, but not panic.
The county and Wilkes-Barre have taken common-sense steps to limit contact between people seeking and providing government services while ensuring most of those services will continue, albeit on a limited basis.
Citizens should follow their example by taking the following reasonable, but not onerous, measures recommended by the responsible agencies:
Don’t hoard. There is no shortage of food or essential items, except for temporary, localized ones caused by panic buying. It’s fine to stock up on items that will limit your trips to the store, but leave some for others.
Don’t clog hospital emergency rooms or medical offices. If you have what you suspect are coronavirus symptoms, call your doctor, who will determine whether you should be tested and where. Call 911 only if you have life-threatening symptoms.
Practice social distancing. Avoid crowded spaces and unnecessary trips to public places.
Keep it clean — not just your hands, but any “high touch” surfaces such as tabletops, countertops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, phones, keyboards and tablets. The virus can survive for several hours or even days on some surfaces, according to the World Health Organization.
Don’t spread rumors in person or on the Internet. There are plenty of unsubstantiated claims about the virus out there. Rely on reputable sources. The Centers for Disease Control website cdc.gov/coronavirus is among the most authoritative.
Be kind. That supermarket clerk spending hours each day restocking empty toilet paper shelves is most likely having a harder day than you. Treat people right.
Be patient. The CDC recommends that large-scale gatherings be cancelled for the next eight weeks, giving some idea of how long experts think it will take for the pandemic to fade.
We still don’t know how severe the effects will be, but following these best practices will help limit the spread and the damage.
Stay safe.