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Editorial
Coronavirus bringing out best of local community
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
“Crises like COVID-19 tend to bring out the best and worst in humanity,” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday.
He said the current coronavirus outbreak “is the defining global health crisis of our time” and “the days, weeks and months ahead will be a test of our resolve, a test of our trust in science and a test of solidarity.”
It may be true that the coronavirus can bring out the worst, but we’re happy to report that the vast majority of reactions in the McCook area have been positive.
We’ve noticed encouraging signs of effective leadership from the new crop of young business people, including restaurants that adapted to the challenge by creating or enhancing food delivery services if they have been forced to close or limit indoor dining or make other changes.
That includes 20-something Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dawson Brunswick, who issued a letter encouraging shoppers to continue to support local businesses as much as possible rather than resorting to online shopping.
It was encouraging to see business people like Nick Nothnagle of Nick’s Distribution in McCook, preparing gift bags of essentials like water, toilet paper and snacks, for a number of elderly who might not be able to get out.
According to its app, Walmart’s grocery pickup service was popular enough that reservations were only available a day in the future, and “contactless” Pizza Hut delivery was available.
Once disparaged by traditional education interests, homeschooling, albeit with institutional guidance, is now national policy in light of school closings ordered in response to the coronavirus.
Negative effects won’t be long incoming, of course, with fewer fast-food workers on the job and business activities of all types curtailed.
We’re doing our best to pass along the latest information on the coronavirus crisis, and it can be accessed free of charge to all on our website, http://mccookgazette.com under the menu/topics link.
It’s unfortunately probably inevitable that conditions will get worse before they get better.
But there are good signs we’ll emerge stronger and more united than ever when the threat declines.