Now that we have to social distance I understand better the need to do so. And I dare say it was not explained very well for the simple man. Having studied statistics, the graph was all I needed to see. Social distancing meant the flattening out of the curve so it would approximate a normal distribution as opposed to a spike. A spike being an instantaneous onslaught on the medical system. I have found that for many this was as clear as mud, so here is a better explanation.
Look at social distancing as a “filter” that separates the sick from the well. If everyone is separated for 14 days it is likely during that time those with the disease will start to manifest symptoms. They are then caught in the filter, and now government can assess the extent of the problem and address it. In places like St. Maarten where testing is an issue or like the US where there is a shortage of kits relative to a vast population we get an immediate rule of thumb. The better the social distancing the more effective the filter.
Here is an even simpler definition: “Protect Yourself”
Michael Vieira
By Melissa Martin
Disasters are definitely serious; however, appropriate humor serves to bring temporary relief from anxiety and fear. One reaction to the recent world pandemic is the hoarding of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Yes, humans want to continue to have wiping materials on hand for their posterior regions. And a liquid to wage war on germs. But people, please stop the mania. COVID-19 is a respiratory virus – not a stomach or intestinal virus. Go buy some essential oils. And stock up on Spam – there’s a lot of that left over on grocery shelves.
I chuckled after viewing a series of coronavirus-inspired cartoons in a newspaper story. Lucy and Alice Parker and their friend Hanna Ahlberg experienced 12 days of quarantine in an abandoned hospital in Vietnam after being on an airplane flight with an infected passenger.
“However, in true British spirit the girls are trying to keep calm and carry on. And in an effort to keep their spirits up, Alice and Hanna have taken to creating some satirical coronavirus cartoons on their iPads. Under quarantine, they have plenty of time on their hands after all. The graphic designers quickly began brainstorming different ideas commenting on the global panic surrounding coronavirus. …The cartoons lightly poke fun at the recent coronavirus-inspired hysteria in a series of comic single panels. In one cartoon, blocky figures create a fortress of hoarded toilet paper. In another, a cautious Lego-like character showers under a giant vial of hand sanitizer.” www.chaohanoi.com.
A sense of healthy humor can be a line of defense when it comes to coping with stressful situations. Laughter affects mental health by releasing endorphins, natural chemicals in the body. Endorphins promote a sense of well-being and relieve stress. Laughing decreases cortisol, the stress hormone.
“Humor and laughter can offer post-disaster healing, but timing and receptivity are critical considerations,” says Steve Wilson from the World Laughter Tour. “The benefits of laughter are plentiful and far-reaching. In today’s culture, people are more stressed, less relaxed and often lacking in work/life/family balance. Life is meant to be enjoyed with passion, zest, enthusiasm and in the camaraderie of like-minded individuals. Laughter therapy can bring the happiness back into your life, while helping to relieve or eliminate many health problems that are associated with stress.”
Reflecting on his time in a Nazi concentration camp, Viktor Frankl stated, “It is well known that humor, more than anything else in the human make-up, can afford an aloofness and an ability to rise above any situation, even if only for a few seconds.”
“Humor allows us to detach from the trauma for a few moments and gives respite from the emotional chaos. Laughter provides an emotional catharsis. Feelings of anger, tension, and fear can be neutralized and released with laughter. After the laughter we feel strong, resilient, and hopeful. Laughter invites celebration and reminds us of the joy in life,” according to an article on the website for The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor.
However, humor needs to be used effectively and appropriately when applied during a disaster to reduce stress. Hurtful humor is not funny. And tasteless jokes are, well, tasteless – no flavor.
I think I’ll leave a basket of Spam and essential oils on my neighbor’s porch.
“I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.” – Bob Hope
~ Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, educator, and therapist. She lives in the United States. ~
Coronavirus everywhere, affecting lives across the globe,
Making social interaction awkward, even with people you know.
To see the way you made your entrance in silence,
No way of knowing who will be the next victim
Of this worldly spread disease (COVID-19).
With its fast level in which it spreads all around the world,
Attacking our respiratory system,
We need wisdom to overcome this phantom,
Please allow us to regain our freedom.
Let’s get our priorities right, and stick together
To combat this pandemic from further spreading.
Let us contribute to protect our community
And open up our eyes to see that we are not each other’s enemy
But are called to unite and not to fight.
I was not delighted to make your acquaintance, Mr. Corona,
You are like a global earthquake that came to
Destroy the entire human race
And carry us to an early grave.
So, don’t touch your eyes! Please scrub your hands!
Obey the rules! And that will minimize the spread
Instead of causing many to drop dead.
Funny how the fear is drawing near
Sitting at home on lockdown,
My city is now a ghost town.
Please follow the rules! Stay at home!
Embrace and appreciate each other’s presence.
I now enjoy a simple game of Tic-tac-toe
With the kids on the living room floor
Creating family time my child has always longed for.
It is such a joy to see on social media film fragments
With fathers kicking ball with their boys,
And mothers crafting with their girls,
Placing family first the world is in reverse.
Mr. Corona you need to disappear
And don’t reappear! we don’t want you here.
PS. To all the families all over the globe, who lost a loved one or even more and to those working around the clock, to secure lives, while their own is at risk, we salute you.
Ginette Samson
Dear Editor,
We are living in some challenging times. And critical decisions have to be made that will determine our future on this island.
Let me say now we do not need politics to be played and no bashing of government. We need solutions to help create a better quality of life.
Where I and most people see it differently is that I do not believe shutting down everything is the solution. I agree to close down the island for two weeks.
But you cannot keep a country locked down for too long. Reason: it is man’s nature to be free and the human needs food and water.
So, the approach to take is safety first but then close after economics has to be in harmony with it.
What happens after 2 weeks is gone, most of those jobs and more will be eliminated. The economic factor is no cash flow, more uncertainty and then desperation.
How I see it, we must come up with a balancing program of safety and economics. It is better we have a slower economy than nothing at all.
After two weeks we can think about opening high schools and leave all elementary schools closed.
Any child with flu-like symptoms stays home, we still maintain the safety and hygienic measures.
I am trusting after two weeks we should by then have some kind of testing facility at the airport and harbor. If not, we have to expedite these measures so the economy can start to produce.
We know we do not have resources like the United States and China, but we have to make our own expertise function.
We presently are living with many people infected with AIDS and herpes, and people with the flu. Life did not end, the island did not shut down.
We have to continue to live and survive to be smarter at it. But I guarantee you shut down 2 more weeks after the first two weeks will create panic and chaos.
People will be inspired and have hope once they see the end of the tunnel have light. Money can be less and some uncomforted they can live with. But complete lockdown is not possible.
All people of St. Maarten and government, let’s come up with solutions to make safety work with economics. That is the way out.
Surely we need our Lord and Savior Jesus, let’s pray to him to give us the wisdom to find a solution to this crisis and pandemic. Patience is a virtue, but time is running out.
Choices have consequences, choose wisely. In God we trust.
The Patriot Miguel Arrindell
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary actions. The government of France is making 45 billion euros available to deal with the effects of the coronavirus. It would have been prudent and humane to allow the 14 African countries who are paying the French colonial tax to keep these funds to mitigate their own financial challenges attributed to this outbreak. We are talking about $550 billion that is taken out of these countries on an annual basis.
The United Kingdom is providing 12 billion euros for similar situation.
Our Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said that the corona outbreak could impact St. Maarten worse than Hurricane Irma. This is very sobering news indeed. After the passing of Hurricane Irma insurance pay-outs helped businesses and persons who were insured, others used their savings, banks gave delayed mortgage and other payments to qualified businesses and or individuals. But this COVID19 falls under a completely different category.
In my opinion, because of this dilemma where the budget is concerned, St. Maarten should not have to adhere to the entire article 100.2 of the Constitution which states, and I quote, “The annual budget and the long-term budget shall be balanced. If necessary in connection with the recovery of damage caused by exceptional events, including natural disasters, departures from the first sentence are possible in accordance with rules issued pursuant to a Kingdom Act or national ordinance.”
It is no doubt that we are going to face serious financial consequences caused by COVID19, being that some 80 per cent of our income is tourism-based. The drastic drop in airlift, cruise tourism, our main economy drivers, are already being affected. Economic activities have been seriously disrupted.
The reason for mentioning article 100.2 of the budget not being complied with has to do with the following: It will mean urgent financial expenditures that will have to be made by St. Maarten’s government on short notice will require based on this article the approval of the Kingdom Council of Ministers; it will mean complying with article 25 of the Kingdom Law to establish the Committee for Financial Supervision which means we have to get permission from the Kingdom Council of Ministers before incurring a budget deficit. This method will be a serious obstacle to government carrying out her social responsibilities as outlined in articles 18 to 21 of the Constitution.
The Kingdom Charter, although applicable to all 4 countries, gives the Netherlands the authority to take unilateral and final decisions regardless of the consequences to St. Maarten and its residents. The process laid down in the Kingdom Charter articles 15 to 22 are a clear indication of such. The present experience with the Dutch-imposed condition of the World Bank is proof enough.
This is no time for setting conditions or following laws that put the lives of our people at risk. I am not confident based on our present experience after the passing of Hurricane Irma in 2017 that the Dutch government will have a change of heart. While they might say they are facing similar or worse consequences, they have a surplus and we don’t. Conditions are attached to the 50 million liquidity funds. This COVID19 is not only a healthcare cost but it is affecting every aspect of society.
President Trump said that they will have to help the airlines and the citizens with a relief package. The Federal Reserve has cut interests rates on several occasions within the last month. In essence the entire world will face serious financial, social and economic challenges.
I am pleased that our Prime Minister has made contact with stakeholders. I am sure the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten, the Banker’s Associations of both islands, the Chambers of Commerce, foundations, unions, the Prime Ministers of the Dutch Caribbean countries and the Ministers of Finance and Economic Affairs of the countries are holding frequent meetings to address this disaster. It should be a collective effort.
Again, please follow the prescribed instructions given by our Prime Minister because these are based on information from local, regional and international experts.
George Pantophlet
