Opinion: Only you can prevent spread of COVID-19

Just a few weeks ago, it seemed COVID-19 was on its way out of New Mexico. Now we know it’s not.

Curry County had 80 new cases in four days last week, including 33 reported on Wednesday. The state had 339 new cases on Friday, the most in a single day since July.

The Albuquerque Journal has called it a “three-week surge.” New cases were averaging around 100 per day early in September. Now they’re averaging more than 200 per day.

What to do?

Employ personal responsibility. It’s our only hope.

Dan Heerding, Clovis’ emergency management director, says we each need to determine “acceptable risk” for ourselves.

“Each individual has what they would feel is acceptable risk based on their own situation — healthy vs. an individual with a compromised system,” he offered, as an example.

He’s right. We don’t have to hide in our houses in fear of COVID-19. We can shop, eat out, go to church. Live life … responsibly.

But if we want to sideline this thing, the emphasis has to be on responsibly. That includes being respectful of others.

Some were concerned Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last week might again shut down restaurants and other businesses across the state because of the rising covid numbers. She didn’t, hopefully because she has learned that government cannot keep us safe unless we decide to keep ourselves and our neighbors safe.

It’s not really complicated.

Those with compromised immune systems should not concern themselves with whether stores, restaurants and churches are “allowed” to be open, but whether they’re crowded and face coverings are in use.

And even if you’re healthy and young, please think about your definition of “acceptable risk.” Is it morally acceptable to dangerously risk contracting a virus you could unknowingly pass on to grandparents or immune-compromised friends and co-workers?

We’d like to think our neighbors care about those most likely to become seriously ill with covid. That’s why most businesses in eastern New Mexico have posted signs asking patrons to stay 6 feet apart and wear face coverings.

Decent people respect those businesses’ policies and follow them.

Not everyone is respectful of others, however, crying about their “rights,” … as if they somehow have a right to enter a private business and ignore that business’ policies.

And so that’s why personal responsibility has to be Job 1.

We know social distancing and facemasks work. When covid-safe practices were high on everyone’s priority list, new infections in New Mexico were well below the state’s goal of 168 per day. There were fewer than 60 people hospitalized then (we had 89 on Friday). Numbers were down locally as well. A four-day period saw just 18 new cases in Curry, Quay and Roosevelt counties combined.

And then last week happened.

Blame it on families and friends gathering for Labor Day, blame it on schools returning to in-person instruction, blame it on those who are just tired of this pandemic, who choose not to follow the guidelines anymore.

But don’t think this is something other people, or the government, need to deal with.

We’re all responsible for beating COVID-19, one “acceptable risk” at a time.

— David Stevens

Publisher

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