The Peru Gazette

As of Saturday morning, there are 30 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Clinton County, along with 1 probable case. Another 32 people in the community may have COVID-19 based on clinical assessment (suspect cases). Negative test results have been received for 202 individuals. Seven people are now considered recovered. Three are in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). While the numbers are still relatively low, they are doubling every four days and that’s troubling County officials.
“Each person who becomes infected with COVID-19, infects several more. They in turn each infect several others. The numbers grow exponentially,” stated Eric Day, Director of Clinton County’s Office of Emergency Services. Public health officials have been warning that we must flatten the curve, but what does that mean? John Kanoza, the County’s Public Health Director explained, “The number of cases will rise quickly or slowly depending on the actions we take as a community. If they rise very quickly, our local hospital and the health care system will not be able to keep up with the demand for beds, ventilators, and staff to treat patients. However, if we can slow the spread of this virus enough, then the resources we have available will be able to keep pace.”

COVID-19 is a new virus. Humans have no immunity and there is no vaccine. Many will get the virus eventually. That’s the bad news. The good news is that most people who get the virus will have only mild symptoms and will recover on their own. Unfortunately, this creates another problem. Mildly ill people often don’t feel sick enough to stay home. Some don’t feel sick at all. If people with mild symptoms and people who have the virus but have not yet developed symptoms move about in the community, they are likely to spread the virus to others. One of those others may be you or a member of your family.

“Staying home and maintaining distance between yourself and the people around you are critical steps you must take to protect yourself. They are also the steps you need to take to protect your children, your parents, your friends, your neighbors and your grandparents,” stated Mr. Kanoza. “This is serious but we have the power to save lives. Our goal as a community must be to sustain a manageable number of cases so that those who develop serious illness will have access to the medical care and resources they need to recover.”

Predictions have been made about how long the outbreak will last. Earlier forecasts had indicated that the peak, or the highest number of cases, might occur as early as mid-April. Realistically it will be much later into the spring before the peak, or the apex of the curve gives way to fewer cases. We may even see more than one apex. Maintaining social distancing strategies for several months won’t be easy but slowing the spread of COVID-19 can be the difference between life and death. Reducing the rate at which the virus is passed from community member to community member will help to ensure that resources will be available for all who need them.