Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The impact of coronavirus has struck locally, even in isolated, rural Quay County, New Mexico.
To my knowledge, as of this writing, Quay County has not recorded a case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, but the state of New Mexico is doing everything it can to stop or slow the spread for the time being, and Quay County has not been exempted.
Nor should we be. Thanks to our hosting of an iconic segment of Historic Route 66, we draw tourists from all over the world, so Tucumcari cannot claim to be isolated from a world-wide epidemic whose spread is hard to track.
A lot of people, especially conservatives, are still downplaying the threat, but the president declared it a national emergency on Friday and, here’s the clincher: Newt Gingrich warns us in a tweet from Italy, which proportionately seems to be the hardest hit nation of all, that this is serious and we have to do something about it.
Normally, Newt would be echoing or orchestrating the right-wing messaging that has downplayed the coronavirus pandemic, as declared by the World Health Organization.
The coronavirus is more dangerous and insidious because there is probably more useful information about it that is not known than is known.
The symptoms healthy people get seem to range from none at all to moderate shortness of breath, coughing and fever, according to Dr. Randal Brown, the MD who owns the Sunrise Medical Clinic in Tucumcari.
I can’t even make a healthy person’s assumptions, though, since my age puts me in the danger zone by definition. That starts at 60 years old, which, for me, was 10 years ago.
If you’re not healthy, the virus apparently causes its identifying symptoms but makes existing ailments like heart disease and diabetes much worse, as well.
We aren’t even sure exactly how it spreads. People who feel perfectly fine and never experience a symptom can spread it around without even suspecting they may have been infected.
With great reluctance, I have to support the efforts of the Centers for Disease Control and the New Mexico Department of Health to forestall the virus’ progress by getting us all away from each other for a while. Events are being postponed left and right, including Tucumcari’s Rawhide Days, while we play a waiting game with the virus.
Disappointing, but we can just hope it works.
This coronavirus has proven fatal in about 3 percent of the reported cases. Seasonal flu kills less than 1 percent of its victims.
Based on the number of unknowns and that mortality rate, there is reason for concern, not panic, and urgent but deliberate action.
I am going to be as conscientious as I can about staying home, which is what I usually do anyway, and following other advice.
I encourage everybody to wash hands frequently, cough into the crook of your elbow, stay home when sick, avoid handshakes (elbow bumps recommended), and stop touching your face.
That works to fight the flu, too, so I’d recommend even to those who downplay the new threat.
Steve Hansen writes for Clovis Media Inc. Contact him at: