Unchartered territory – Our view: It’s usually better to err cautiously
No doubt we’ve all sat back during the past week and watched the impact of the COVID-19/Coronavirus sweep its way around the world and throughout the United States. We’ve seen the impact fear of the virus has had, from Wall Street to main street. It has impacted most every facet of American life and will continue to do so in the weeks, perhaps months to come.
We believe it is wise and prudent for our leaders to exercise great caution when making decisions impacted by the virus. Painful as it is, we believe postponing and canceling large-scale events, like sporting events, fundraisers attracting hundreds of people, parades, limiting visitors to sensitive areas like hospitals and nursing homes is wise. We also applauded the decision not to close schools until the governor ordered them closed.
It's all about caution and limiting access to potential situations where the virus can spread. We know some of these decisions, sadly, have painful consequences.
Friday afternoon, March 13, around 3 p.m., the city released information indicating one of its employees at the municipal liquor store, a person who comes in contact with the public, might have been exposed to COVID19/Coronavirus. Under state law, the city can’t release the name of the employee or medical data.
We were faced with two options: Notify the public, or sit on it and tell no one and wait for the employee or the city to volunteer the test results. We relied on the city to vet the private data, we released the info. Since medical data is private under state law, informing the public was the right choice for us.
We were hammered online as fear mongers who released unconfirmed information. It’s all there on our Facebook page. We removed nothing.
Informing the public with information you have a right to know is our job. What you do with that info for yourself, your family and friends is your call.
Heed it. Snub it. Mock it. You get to decide.
This is all unchartered teritory.
One person asked if people really needed to know the information about the employee since the diagnosis was unconfirmed. We chose the road of caution.
It turns out the diagnosis was later changed that the person did not have COVID-19/Coronavirus. The city informed us at 6:45 p.m. Friday the person was not diagnosed with the virus. As soon as we received that info, it was posted on our Facebook page and later on our website. Saturday evening, the city informed us the city was provided with false information.
We learned later Saturday the employee gave the city false information.
The point here is caution is the better option than blindly moving ahead thinking it won’t impact you. Our leaders are looking out weeks, months into the future because they simply don’t know yet what is to come.
Schools in Minnesota are closed today, March 18. Some opted to not open Monday, March 16. Public events might be rescheduled or adjusted in some way. Think about the possibilities that could be impacted: Prom? School graduation ceremonies? Glencoe Days?
Fact is, we just don’t know yet.
We applaud our government leaders for employing the wisdom of scientists and others to help make smart decisions on how to proceed moving forward. Conversely, it is downright maddening when people sitting behind a keyboard accuse others of fear mongering when they don’t have the scientific, legal or public policy background and information to know any better.
This is not just the flu.
For now, until more is known, we applaud a cautious approach.
-jm
