The teachers in the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District are receiving plaudits and offers of help and support due to the extreme stress they are under.  When teachers are asked what they want as a “thank you” for working under stressful and difficult conditions this school year, most say the same thing – wear a mask, social distance and wash your hands regularly.

Health care professionals are saying the same thing…..if you respect the work they have been doing, wear the mask, stay 6 feet apart from others and keep your hands clean.

The City of Fishers is preparing a Public Health Order that goes beyond the executive order issued by Governor Eric Holcomb.  The details are here.

HSE Schools will be on virtual learning only for grades 7-12 beginning Monday and extending at least until Christmas Break.

The Fishers Board of Health chose not to follow the Health Department recommendation cancelling all school extra-curricular activities, much to the relief at the local schools.  However, those in attendance will be reduced to a very small number.

Just so you know, to the north in the state of Michigan, their state high school athletic association has issued an emergency order suspending fall tournaments and all winter sports.

The fact is this – in states around us and in most of the Midwest, the novel coronavirus is on fire.  Not only are positive tests and deaths at very high levels, local hospitals are filling up with those sick with COVID-19.  This impacts not just those testing positive, but everyone needing to be admitted to a hospital for any medical emergency.

I realize COVID-19 fatigue has set in.  We are weary of the all the guidance from the public health experts.  The problem is this – the virus doesn’t care whether we are fatigued, it will continue to spread based on our behavior.

Fishers is considering fines for those not following the Public Health Order expected to take effect Wednesday.  That is a statement by the city that our elected officials are serious about containing this virus.

I believe that with or without penalties for noncompliance, the essence of beating the spread of coronavirus lies within each of us.  We need to support the health professionals working long hours and dealing with the horrific health impact this virus has on the patients they are treating and their families.  We need to support the teachers working under stressful conditions to educate our young people as best they can under these trying circumstances.  We need to support the families that have lost a loved one or dealing with the long-term health impacts of the virus.

As I have written here before, I tested positive.  It was a tough virus to fight.  I was very lucky and, with the help of God, was able to completely recover, despite the fact that I am in a very high-risk category among coronavirus patients.

So, in support of all the people I have mentioned in this piece you need to support, count me as one.  For me, follow the public health guidance.  If we want to have our children back in the classrooms and have our hospitals at normal patient loads, fines or no fines, it is essentially up to us.

Please think about that.  We hold the condition of our community in our own hands.