Letter to the Editor - COVID-19 measures buying time

Dear Hi-Line,

I am completely happy with our Northern Montana Hospital’s strategic planning and preparation for COVID-19.

I firmly believe that the actions of our community members have been largely responsible for its slow arrival here. I also feel that Easter will be a big test for social distancing. Nothing makes people lonelier and less resolute than spending holidays apart, and cancelling plans and traditions. In the next two weeks we will know if this has changed our counties’ profiles.

I am aware that, in the court of public opinion, these measures we have championed have not been universally supported or appreciated. I am also aware that if we have no surge in deaths or sickness here, the mantra may be, “See, we didn’t need to do this at all.” If we do have a surge or deaths, it may be “See, it didn’t matter what you did anyway.” I cannot predict how it will play out, but am completely aware of the response.

Therefore, as a relative expert in unpopular requests — “Don’t drink too much, don’t smoke, exercise, lose weight, put down that third donut, wear your seatbelt, take your medicine and vaccinate” — I still feel pretty good about the value of “shelter in place.” The places that isolated during this pandemic and the one before, Spanish flu, had fewer deaths. It still came, people still died. It was just less. We are not going to stop it, just slow it down until we have better medicine for the sick ones and a vaccine for those not yet exposed. All we are buying with these measures is time. Paying it forward, as it were.

Most people don’t get that sick. You personally might not die, but your mom, dad or grandparents might. Or you could be that random 30-year-old that does.

I, too, wanted to have a nice spring full of sports, dance recitals, prom, 4-H, shopping, concerts, hotels with pools. I wanted to see my daughter graduate college and help her pack for the real world. I worry that some of our businesses won’t be able to bounce back. All these decisions made by our governor are painful and unprecedented in our lifetimes. This threat is also unprecedented.

So, I hope this summer to hear you all say, “See, we didn’t need to do this at all!” That would be a win!

Sincerely,

Karrie Lien, MD

Havre