COVID-19 Update

Tombstone City Information

BE  SURE  YOU  HAVE  YOUR  OWN  HAND  SANITIZER!

In Case the Rest Rooms in Town Haven't Been Recently Cleaned

---

Karaoke is Back

Because of a recent court case, there has been a loosening of some restrictions for bars, [ref: Fischer, H. (Oct. 21, 2020) azcapitoltimes.com/news/2020/10/21/arizona-eases-bar-restrictions-on-games-but-no-dancing/] among which is - Karaoke is now back. Here are the rules that are to be enforced (for safety) if sponsoring Karaoke:

• The Karoake singer must be a minimum 12 ft. from other patrons. Per reasoning that singing can project aerosolized droplets farther still than than recommended 6 ft. “social distance ” level. 
• However, if a plexiglass protective divider is set up, then the 6 ft. distance is satisfactory.
• Between each Karaoke Singer, the microphone must be either disinfected or exchanged for another
• And finally, despite its possible interference with the Karaoke song, the singer must wear their mask - keeping it on throughout

---

Arizona Governor's Latest

The Governor noted in updating his Executive Orders the following:

• The Governor now has a page with links to specific Business Advisories and Requirements.
• As rules a being relaxed in Cochise County, and in Tombstone - it's advisable to know what the requirement are for the business you plan to visit:
• GOVERNOR'S REOPENING GUIDANCE>

• Thus "pursuant to A.R.S. 36-787(A)" the governor has responsibilities to act in this Health Crisis, "by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State... after consultation with the Director of ADHS..."
• Within Arizona, a county, city or town is allowed to adopt its own policies about requiring face masks in public places. Legally enforceable, but in doing so must first work on best practices via education, and first allowing the person to comply.
• Pima County has a mask in public requirement, Cochise County does not. However, specific towns in Cochise County may have mask requirements, and of course specific businesses definitely do.

ON JULY 23, 2020 an executive order was issued, EO-2020-52, continuing his previous order, following case curve trends (Click on the current statistics for Arizona, then you can view the curve and See The Details>).

It acknowledges that the prior order(s) not affected by subsequent changes are still in effect. That includes requirements he issued for businesses with the last order: for Bar/Restaurants> that are still applicable coordinating with the following order.

In early December, a few updates to Executive Orders - major changes: no more than 50 for any gatherings without going through authorization hoops & extending allowable outside dining areas. See link to the orders below.

• This Order is in place until Further Notice, and will be under review for repeal or revision at least every two weeks.
• You can view EO-2020-52 at the Governor's website, which continues EO-2020-43>

Here is where you can access the Governor's Executive Orders> which you can follow to see if/ when/ how extended.

---

Tombstone AZ Covid Info & Assistance

One unusual fact with COVID-19 is a person who's infected with the virus, but doesn't yet have symptoms, can give it to others through their breath. That's why distancing is effective. That's why Wearing A Mask Is Effective. As much as it's painful for families financially, and for towns like Tombstone. But in the end protecting your health and your family and others is the most important action. And to get this under control - even gone, so life could finally get back to normal. Here is helpful information to make your own judgment on how to handle this situation.

Ourselves, having worked in the Medical Field, as licensed professionals (Respiratory Care Practitioners - Respiratory Therapists - who manage those ventilators/life support machines) before retiring - we know what we've chosen to do. For 10 years before retiring, we also taught students going into that field. We have researched this pandemic information with a view to sticking with the science, and presenting it objectively. Of course, you'll make your own decision.

It is troubling to hear people say wearing a mask is a "personal choice" because they have Libertarian-like ideas. That's unfortunate, as it shows a lack of understanding of how respiratory virus spreads. Here's how this even more troubling virus spreads:

• This virus spreads in tiny droplets (even microscopic) through the air when people cough, sneeze, even talk. Spreads when someone inhales it when they're about 3+ feet apart. The virus can stay floating in the air for up to three hours, even longer some studies show.
• If the droplet hits a surface, you touch that surface, then touch your face, it's slightly possible for the virus to migrate internally through you (via mouth, nose, getting into/rubbing your eyes).
• You can be exposed in a stealth manner because people may have it, don't yet or ever have symptoms, but ARE contagious. They're asymptomatic. In other words, they're "silent carriers." So they can pass it on to you.

1. If infected, it commonly takes from 2 to 14 days to become ill - or you may not become ill at all!
2. How long they can be such a silent carrier still seems undetermined - as are many other things about this virus.
3. All it takes is for one to have it in this stealth manner to begin to an outbreak - especially in a crowd.

• And not only old people die from it - but still: plenty of "old" people are also loved relatives, people that are cared about, who have a good, valuable life, & who may have it carried to them in a stealth manner by a younger person. Every age group is getting this virus, even children & teens - young people are dying from it, too, they're not immune.
• COVID-19 is more contagious than the regular flu, passing on more easily. Now there are mutations (viruses commonly mutate, so this was expected - what other mutations will occur?), strains that are more contagious yet, spreading more easily.
• Reinfection has occurred. It's uncommon - but don't assume that if you have it, you can't get it again. The CDC says "As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we expect to see more cases of reinfection."[www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html]
• Here's More Detail> on why wearing masks applies to Libertarian Views, if you need that. Same applies to getting the vaccine.
• If you do get it, treatments are few, and reserved for certain cases. They don't cure you, they shorten the process & possibly lighten the effects. Just likely improvement in the case. Antibiotics are NOT useful against viruses - in fact, using them improperly can be detrimental. There is no preventative treatment either.

---

Making YOUR Covid-19 Decision

We're not telling you what to do. However we do advise Socially Distancing. We hope you're wearing a mask when out in public. We believe you should avoid crowds & gathering in large groups.

We are personally mostly staying home for now. Sure, we'll make some occasional short trips to avoid cabin fever. We have to get out to check on specific things to maintain our website & get updates for our newsletter - but not at the risk of exposure to this virus.

We do love to travel. But we'll stay in cabins, or motels where they consider the virus for guest check-in. Where you can pull up to the door & enter. We'll get outside & walk some wilderness area trails. Go to lake-side areas. Go camping.

---

Wear A Mask

They have an even better variation now called the KN95 Mask that is said to be the Best Protection Yet. Below is one of the first mask effectiveness studies conducted in the U.S. But now there are many available. It is a proven thing to protect yourself. Facts matter - So see all the studies for Mask Effectiveness.

"Snake Oil" Treatments Were Around in Historic Tombstone, Too!

Our careers were as Respiratory Therapists - Licensed Health Care Practitioners - and we've observed over the years how disease can spread, and its aftermath. While working, we've seen some weird ailments that were never able to be diagnosed!

I taught microbiology for about ten years. I studied this subject. I had students go through a scenario on how a disease such as this can spread in a multiplying way: 2 to 4 to 8 to 16 to 32 to 64 to 128, etc. That's an example of 1 person spreading it to 1 other. They're finding one COVID-19 infected person (before getting sick) is exposing about 2 or 3 others. So that spread is more like 1 to 3 to 9 to 27 to 81 to 243 to 729, etc. (Lately it seems it's sometimes even spreading from 1 up to 4 or 6 or more!) Now there are variations spreading even easier.

Libertarians - Masks a Personal Choice?

Now, we're not Libertarians, though we agree with some of those principles. But consider these points quoted from someone who was a physician, and left that field to become an entrepreneur. He holds Libertarian principles:

• The position overall seems to be "I'm an American so I'm free to choose." & "I would rather die from coronavirus than live the rest of my life in fear and wearing a damn mask." Fair enough. As a libertarian, I get that. The problem is, though, is that it's not ONLY about him... or you... or me. During a pandemic it's about ALL of us.
• Let's start with the only 3 hard facts that matter in this debate....they are also common sense.

1. Many people with COVID-19 don't know they have it. If they do they can pass it on to others
2. If you wear a mask, the physical barrier reduces your chances of passing the virus to someone else. It stops your "spray."
3. If you have it there is no perfect way to isolate you from passing it on to someone else, especially when you come home.

• It's worth mentioning, too...

1. You are also less likely to get COVID-19 if you wear a mask. The tighter the fit and the better the barrier, the better YOUR protection against the outside.
2. The higher percent of people who wear a mask in crowded situations, the benefit goes up.... it stands to reason.

But lets... focus on libertarianism and fundamental freedoms. The basic tenet of libertarianism is... "I am free to do what I want to do, as long as I don't impinge on the next person's right to do the same." The 2nd part is important, otherwise you have anarchy. So...

• We can drink alcohol, but we can't drive drunk. That's because you MIGHT kill other people, not just yourself. If it was just you, so be it. But it's not.
• We all have freedom of speech. But we can't falsely cry "FIRE" in a crowded theater. THAT endangers others.
• Americans have the right to bear arms, but not kill others by firing them (except in cases such as self defense).

Wearing a mask during a pandemic is all about exercising one's freedom "responsibly." The science on this is clear. Wear a mask to cut down the rate of viral spread. It's also simple common sense. THIS VIRUS KILLS. So if you cut down the rate of spread, you'll cut down deaths.... ICUs will not be overwhelmed.

BOTTOM LINE? NOT wearing a mask is indeed exercising some sort of freedom. But you do so IRresponsibly. It's up to us to self-manage and work TOGETHER. Surely we can start to benefit from what we've learned and finally get it right? If we do we can wrestle the virus under control within a month. If not, the deaths will soar. The economy will absolutely tank, far beyond what we imagine. The old will be dead. The young will be poor, millions desperately so. Wear a mask - for ALL our sakes.

- quoted from Ken Evoy of SBI

---

Washing your hands is also very important! This was something we in healthcare education (and in the work-force) always emphasized. You've heard: 20 seconds. Sing Happy Birthday, or Row Your Boat (whatever one you want/know) TWICE.

Want to know why a little plain ole soap & water wash is effective? Watch:

Facts are that social distancing IS effective in stopping the spread of this virus. And the earlier the better. It's not good when social distancing isn't uniformly followed. When one state, county, or town does the right thing for prevention, and another does not - then it can spread across those imaginary lines more easily. When it's delayed, then the virus has more & more time to spread, especially in that stealth manner. You don't know who is infected, who is infecting you. But when it isn't possible - what's essential is to wear a mask. When out in public wear a mask.

The truth is we're seeing people who've insisted on not wearing masks - and now it's too late for them. They've already contracted COVID-19. Some are now sick. Others are just outed. Some have passed away! The sad thing is - they've infected others, too! Innocent people. Their victims.

COVID-19 spreads mostly by drops in the air and somewhat by contact on surfaces. Which is why masks especially are so important. And health care workers absolutely need them, as well as all the other PPE for their essential work - since they're constantly exposed.

According to the National Institute for Health Studies, COVID-19 virus can live up to 3 hours in air droplets:

1. Tiny, microscopic droplets can float around in the air for up to this long. You may breath them in & they stick onto your lung cells. Breathing medication (like inhalers people take for asthma) is based on this principle!

Remember that if you think you may have COVID-19 - consult & stay in touch with your doctor by phone first, then only go into the hospital when/if they advise it's needed to do so. You'll just stay home in isolation because there isn't anything special the hospital can do for people with COVID-19. "Treatments" for it are supportive for your symptoms. Only if you become very serious, which your doctor will monitor while you're at home, will you need to go into the hospital. You're better off at home, really!

Don't take it upon yourself to search the internet for unproven "treatments." Not a good idea, and most likely dangerous. There is undocumented information spreading the internet. If it's true - then validate and prove your sources! If you're looking at it - then look for documentation! Don't believe just anything you're reading on the internet. Use critical thinking - authentically research it.

There's a lot of misinformation circulating around, even daily. See W-H-O Myth-Busting>

If you need to go out in public, of course it's wise to keep a minimum 6 foot distance from others. Add a Face-mask around your nose & mouth - surgical-type face masks that are available to the public. Keep reusable ones clean & dry. Disposable ones can be reused if kept in a plastic bag & worn for a very short time. Otherwise, dispose of it & wear a new one the next outing. 

How tragic that the U.S. death total from COVID-19 is still rising in January 2021. 58,177 died in just over 11 years in the Vietnam War [ref: US Military Operations: Casualty Breakdown. Retrieved from globalsecurity.org/military/ops/casualties.htm]. My youth was during that horrific war era, and I remember watching those deaths on the news every evening. So these mounting Numbers of COVID Deaths are quite vivid in comparison. Two horrible tragedies.

Our concern is that people stay safe, keep their families safe, and not spread the virus so that it will be over sooner - rather than continue over a longer and longer time. We'd like to be able to go out and socialize again. But doing so too soon will not help.

Consider this: Someone gives you a bag of 100 M&Ms and tells you 18 of them have something in them that kills you. And there's some pieces split in half, and one of those halves can kill you. Will you chance eating any of those M&Ms?

That's the chance you take when you don't follow Social Distancing & wearing a mask in public places - taking and eating one of those M&Ms. Would you do it??

---