COVID-19 Update

Tombstone AZ 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. 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.

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Tombstone City Information

• Here is Access for Info in Cochise County>
  
• Lots of details are viewed here on Arizona, your own state & the country's Current Statistics>
• And then there is the CDC's own U.S. Cases with a Vivid Color-Coded Map

We update this page regularly trying to keep up with it all. If you have any particular questions, concerns or don't understand something, please reach out to us. We'll try to help. Please Contact Us to inform us, and we'll see what we can do.

Cochise County cases have been steadily climbing, and now Tombstone has Cases of COVID-19.

For Events Rescheduling (continuously being rechecked & reworked) - Plus any updates on Events you can check either of two areas:

1. Our Events Page>
2. Our Tombstone Facebook Page>

Arizona Governor's Latest

• It acknowledged a 6/12/2020 study showing face coverings' effectiveness in prevention of COVID-19 transmission spread, & as of 6/17/2020 Arizona has increased cases of & hospitalizations for COVID-19
• It acknowleged that from his previous orders, these are still in effect:

1. Vulnerable individuals still advised to take reasonable steps to limit time away from home. Family members should take precautions not to carry the virus back to them.
2. All in public areas should maximize physical distance from others, and/or avoid social settings unless precautionary measures are taken and CDC guidelines observed.
3. All businesses must have & implement policies based on CDC, OSHA, & ADHS to limit/mitigate COVID-19 spread - including: disinfection/ventilation, sickness monitoring, ensure physical distancing, providing PPE, promoting hygiene.

• Thus these & other factors show the need for "increased focus on precautionary measures by both businesses and individuals" & "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 now 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.

NOW TODAY, JUNE 29, 2020 a new executive order has been issued, because the new case curve is still increasing (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, and likewise for Other Businesses>

Summary for this order is:

• Organized public events attracting more than 50 people prohibited, unless approved, and then only with safety precautions implemented including distancing measures.
• Liquor License series 15 and Special Event licenses and series 16 licenses won't be issued from now through July 27, 2020.
• Bars with series 6 or 7 Liquor Licenses shall pause operations effective 8pm 6/29/20 and until at least July 27, 2020 - unless extended. They may continue serving the public as provided for series 12 Liquor Licenses, through pick-up, delivery and drive-through operations.
• Others who must cease operations are: indoor gyms and fitness clubs or centers, indoor movie theaters, water parks and tubing operators. 

• This Order is in place until Further Notice, and will be under review for repeal or revision at least every two weeks.
• Here is your own look at EO-2020-43>

Here is where you can access the Governor's Executive Orders>

Making YOUR Covid-19 Decision

We're not telling you what to do. However we do advise Socially Distancing. We are personally staying home when possible for the foreseeable future. If you read on, you'll see why we're doing that.

How Respiratory Diseases Spread
My experience With a Respiratory Illness

"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!)

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

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Wearing gloves is helpful in some circumstances, when done the proper way. The virus will not soak into your body through your skin. It isn't a contact virus in that manner. It's just important to not allow it to migrate to an area where it can get into your respiratory system. Watch this film from a nurse on effective glove wearing:

So you can see the importance of washing your hands. It's the most 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.

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!

Another contributing and frustrating fact is lack of PPE - Personal Protective Equipment. Still a continuing problem in many areas! Surveys are still, into June 2020 - saying this is a fact!

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 6 foot distance from others, even 10 feet - so there's time to hold them up! Keeping them at a distance. Face-masks around your nose & mouth are advised - surgical-type face masks that are available to the public.

Please save medical grade masks, N-95 types, for those in health care. We need health workers to stay well! How very sad that many have lost their lives fighting for patients in this pandemic!

How tragic that by mid-May 2020 the U.S. death total from COVID-19 was 87,993. It's still rising. In a little more than four months more people died than just over 11 years in the Vietnam War: those 58,177 who paid that price [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. In fact, it really shows impatience, something like children show when they don't want to wait to wake up at a reasonable time on Christmas morning. Do you really want them to get up at 2am?

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 - taking and eating one of those M&Ms. Would you do it??

Your Alternative - Social Distancing

If you've made plans, and it's totally frustrating to adjust, to have to do Social Isolation. But you want to be sure to keep yourself and your family safe.

So why not align yourself with the CDC guidelines as a first priority. Because we'd suggest not gathering in contained places with large groups of people. That's where this virus can stealthily  & easily spread.

Here are some of our suggestions*:

• If you're 60 years of age, and older, it's still definitely best to stay home - an occasional short car ride may relieve the cabin fever. Just be sure your transportation is in good shape, so it doesn't break down. And avoid areas with lots traffic.

1. Take advantage of grocery store food delivery that's available now-adays. Or at least the Store-shopper pick-up. Where you make your order on-line. Then you drive to the designated parking spot & the clerk loads the bags for you. Be sure to disinfect your hands: wash them, immediately after unloading your groceries.

• Take a scenic drive. Wherever you live, there's probably some area nearby that is a nice drive, a relaxing place you may not even have yet seen. Or that you haven't driven to in a while. Just be sure your car is in reliable shape. This is NO time to have a break down.
• However, overall - It IS best to stay at home if at all possible & as much as possible. To protect yourself & avoid cross-contamination. 

1. Many states have stopped requiring this, some have never required it. Is that a good thing? You must take responsibility for your own health, and that of your family. But think of the others you also come in contact with. And think of that old equation - Risk vs. reward.

Home COVID-19 Protective Methods

Try shopping for some items and it's frustrating. I know I just went online to do my online order for pick-up.

There is plenty of disinfectant soap - but you don't even need that. If you watched the film above, you can see regular soap is fine. It's the technique that's important. I looked for hand sanitizer, as when you need to be out, that's important. None available. No sanitizing wipes either.

What to do? Well I found two recipes you may find handy - here they are:

Hand Sanitizer - Make Your Own

Here's a recipe that originates from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. They're at the forefront in decontamination.

• 2/3 Cup Rubbing Alcohol (70% alcohol)
• 1/3 Cup Aloe Vera Gel
• Optional - 8 drops Essential Oil for Fragrance

1. I believe Eucalyptus is a good choice

Stir together with a small spoon or fork until well blended. Spoon it into a container for storage. Be sure to label it as Hand Sanitizer.

Disinfectant - Homemade Spray/Wipes

This formulation comes from the CDC. Once you make up the solution, you can place it into a spray bottle. Or cut up small sheets of material, place them into a small covered jar (such as a repurposed salsa jar), then pour just enough solution over to dampen all of them. After using them, throw them in with your "whites" laundry.

• 4 teaspoons household bleach - be sure the expiration date is still good
• 1 quart water

What you're disinfecting should be clean first. Be sure the surface you're disinfecting is appropriate for a bleach disinfectant. Mix together in a container and label.

But never mix this solution with any other type of household cleaner - a poisonous gas can result! 

When disinfecting, protect your hands with gloves. Use enough solution to wet the surface so it's moist for several minutes. Let dry.

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