Hi All
We live in interesting times! I am writing the editorial for the newsletter on Thursday morning March 12 and have just checked out the latest announcement made by Dr Tedros, CEO of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr Tedros has declared the COVID-19 virus a global pandemic. He stressed that cases in China and Korea are declining significantly and that several countries are demonstrating that it CAN be controlled. However, it is the countries that either lack resources or lack resolve that now need to take the matter very seriously.
In Australia we do live in “the lucky country” because there are both resources and resolve in abundance. As Dr Tedros stated, “We are in this together to do the right thing with calm and protect the citizens of the world. It’s doable!”
Dr Tedros exhorts us “not to panic” and that it all came down to “preparedness and prevention” and that the vast majority of cases recover, usually within two weeks, with worse cases possibly up to 6 weeks.
I can remember last year we had a flu-like illness going around that many members were telling me they “couldn’t shake it and that they were in their third lot of anti-biotics!” I think we are taking many more precautions in 2020 and that surely this is the best “preparedness and prevention .”
In the Green Apple our preparedness extends to encouraging you to use disposable gloves while attending the Centre, to use the hand sanitizer when you remove your gloves, to use the wet wipes (anti-bacterial) on gym handles etc. We have ramped up the daily wipe down of equipment (by both staff and volunteers). These are things we have some control over and I urge everyone to help in any way they can so we can come through this in the best possible way.
If you plan to go overseas or on a cruise, if you have any doubts at all about your own exposure to the COVID-19 virus, we ask you to avoid attending the Green Apple for the two weeks after your return. We can help with advice on exercise during that time and I plan to have a phone-contact service to provide support and advice for members at home if matters get to the stage we require this.
If you have a chronic non-contagious breathing problem or cough, the best time for you to attend Green Apple will be when we deliver the Lungs in Action class on Monday and Wednesday at 2pm. The Group Leaders of these classes, Sunny and Darrol, will be explaining to anyone attending at that time that these members may manifest symptoms of flu but it is their chronic state and not the COVID-19 virus.
All crazy? Better crazy than sorry in hindsight.
Cheers
