gmhTODAY 30 gmhTODAY April June 2020s | Page 63

Coronavirus Pandemic A SOUTH SANTA CLARA VALLEY RESPONSE IT IS REAL! The world has taken a sharp turn. Like it or not things have changed and will continue to change. The status quo we knew is not today’s reality. We are not sure what the next wrinkle will be. So we need to be realistic but hopeful. STAY INFORMED! Information is power. There is a lot of bad information out there but there is also a lot of good information Santa Clara County . Some suggestions for good reliable …information: World Health Organization has a website with lots of information about this worldwide crisis, and local or individual things to do. www.who.int Center for Disease Control and Prevention is the national program for disease control. Its motto is Saving Lives, Protecting People. The web site has links to such topics as “How to protect yourself” and “If you are sick” as well as many other topics. www.cdc.gov California Department of Public Health is the state program responsible for public health. Their web site has a host of good informa- tion including a daily update. www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/ Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx Santa Clara County Public Health is our County health oversight agency. It has all the legal information regarding openings and closings as well as guidelines for people. SDCPH or https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/ DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Pages/ COVID-19-Guidance-031320.aspx City Sites post updates on local related issues, information and which city sites are open. City of Gilroy www.cityofgilroy.org City of Morgan Hill www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/CivicAlerts. aspx?AID=1528 Chambers of Commerce have been sending out updates on business responses to this crisis as well as resources of business to tap into. The Washington Post ran a great article on Parenting during coronavirus: What To Know About Play Dates, Education And More! The Gilroy Chamber site has info on “Small Business Things to Do,” “Working from Home.”Etc. www.gilroy.org/businessfocus/ Spectrum Cable TV just announced that— in order to ease the strain in this challenging time—beginning Monday, March 16 and for the following for 60 days that they would partner with school districts to make sure local communities are aware of available tools to help students learn remotely. They opened their WiFi hotspots across their footprint for public use. In addition, they continue to offer Spectrum Assist, a high- speed broadband program for eligible low- income households (spectrum.com/browse/ content/spectrum-internet-assist.html). The Morgan Hill Chamber is offering a consulting service in response to this crisis. Contact info: brittney@morganhill.org or www.morganhill.org School Districts are providing multiple options for home schooling, homework assignments and free breakfast and lunch programs. Gilroy Unifi ed www.gilroyunifi ed.org Morgan Hill Unifi ed www.mhusd.org/covid-19 Charter & Private Schools Check their respective websites TURN A NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE! Is the glass half full or half empty? New situations offer us an opportunity to do things differently. With kids home, business closures, restricted travel and social distanc- ing, things can be diffi cult. Or they could be an opportunity. My wife mentioned the other day that she might learn how to play the piano I gave her last year. And I may work on perfecting my guitar playing. Together, we've started playing Backgammon. Then there's those household chores we've been putting off, like cleaning out the attic. This might be the time to take it on. USA Today had a great article: 100 Things To Do While Stuck Inside Due To A Pandemic. Here are a just of few of their suggestions: • Coloring books: They’re not just for kids. • Take time to refl ect: What have you accomplished in the last year? What goals are you setting for yourself in the next year? • Write a short story or get started on that novel. • Actually try to reproduce something you see on Pinterest. Probably fail. Try again. GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN SPRING 2020 BE A GOOD CITIZEN! There might be a senior citizen, a shut-in or someone who is ill in your neighborhood that you could help. Without endangering yourself or your family, check in on them and see if they need help. One lady posted a sign on her front lawn: “Need Help Shopping? Contact ….(her contact info).” Several of her neighbors called or emailed that they were not able to get out. This lady, while keeping the prerequisite social distance, took care of several neighbors and helped others set-up a regular check-in and shopping service for her neighbors. A guy, who was aware of some neighbors in need of toilet paper, due to the short- age in stores. He placed a sign on the road asking for toilet paper and he got what he needed. “Door dash” a meal to a friend or neighbor who you know is struggling. Call a distant friend or relative. They might be really happy to hear from you. Have you seen the videos of the Italians in an apartment complex singing opera on their balconies? Or the one of the fi tness instructor on a roof leading all the surround- ing people in an exercise routine? Ask yourself: “What can I do to make this a little easier?” gmhtoday.com 63