I know there's a lot of fear right now going on with the increase in the number of COVID-19
cases in the United States, and there's even more fear when we start talking about shutting
down schools and closing restaurants and taking a lot of measures to do social distancing.
But actually I think that that should be our message of hope today. Social distancing actually
works, and it is our best defense right now against this rising epidemic in our country.
Many people feel like we're overreacting by closing schools and restaurants and not going
to the movies, but actually it is our best hope for really making a change in the curve
of acceleration of this illness in our country. In the 1918 Spanish influenza, for instance,
the city of Philadelphia and the city of St. Louis had two very different approaches to
social distancing in their communities. St Louis implemented social distancing by
closing schools and restaurants and movie houses and churches and synagogues way earlier
than Philadelphia. Philadelphia waited 14 days to do so, and the rate of infection in
Philadelphia really spiked during that time, whereas the wave, the rate of infection, in
St. Louis was much lower. And when you get these big spikes in cases, that's when your
health care system gets completely overwhelmed.
So we want to be St. Louis. You want to help us be St. Louis. You want to help us get to
that point where you are starting to do social distancing measures yourself as soon as possible
in order to help our communities stop the spread of coronavirus. For those places
that have closed your schools and now your kids are at home with you, avoid play dates.
Avoid the playground. It's OK to go for a walk right now until they implement curfews
and stricter policies. I have two small children myself, in first
grade and seventh grade. I know how hard it is to imagine having your children home for
several weeks at this point. I believe that we can all get through this. Our school systems
are reaching out to try to get internet access at home for families who don't have it. They
are working on curriculums that can be done online. Enable your children to be able to
reach out to one another. But please refrain from the play dates. Start to think about
the fact that you really aren't going to be going out at this point except to go to the
grocery store and any medical facility if you need to. And if you do need to seek
medical attention, call first before you do. It's possible that you could get an appointment
that is over the telephone or virtual. And then also based on whatever your symptoms
may be, they can help you find the right appropriate location to get your care. I want to encourage
you in particular to look out for those who are older, over the age of 60, those who have
other medical problems, who may need assistance. This is going to be a very difficult time
for them, and we want to make sure that they have the social support they need so that
they don't need to go out of the home. Reach out to your communities and find out how you
can help our older Americans and their families. I also ask you to help support those members
of our community who provide essential services during this period of time, who still must
work. This includes our health care workforce, police, fire departments, and many, many others.
Reach out to those members of your community who may need assistance with their child care
and other services for their families while they must be working during this hazardous
time. I know that this is a very difficult time for everyone, but I'm here to give you
a message of hope. Social distancing can work and it will work if we have each and every
one of your support in participating in what is going to be some very hard decisions for
each and every one of us. But I encourage you to rise up and be part of that solution.
Thank you for keeping us all safe.