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'Stay Safe Minnesota' doesn't mean the virus will be safer

Subhead
Star Herald Editorial
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Safe Minnesota, editorial, virus,

It’s been a long three months of social distancing and cautious avoiding of public spaces for fear of transmitting or contracting the highly contagious and sometimes deadly coronavirus.
Hyper focus on disinfecting and disconnecting has been effective in our little part of the world, and for that we can be proud. Our community has been spared a widespread and sudden outbreak of the disease. Is it because we did what we were supposed to do to slow the spread? Or are we just charmed? We may never know.
That’s the thing about prevention; if it works the way it’s supposed to, nothing happens, which is precisely the outcome we hope for in a pandemic. And because we’ve had time to prepare for a possible spike in cases (acquiring personal protective equipment and other resources), we have some wiggle room in case that still happens.
True social distancing has been isolating and socially exhausting, so StaySafeMN will seem liberating compared with StayHomeMN (for those who actually followed the order the way it was intended).
So, Star Herald readers, enjoy your burgers and beer on the sidewalk downtown and belt out a hymn from your pew in church on Sunday. You’ve earned it.
But please, please remember the pandemic isn’t over. The virus is still circulating, and it’s still randomly knocking some on their backs for weeks while others get by with a headache. And, yes, it’s still killing people.
Until an effective vaccine is developed, it’s still a danger worth avoiding — if not for ourselves, then for those around us.
Keep a six-foot distance from others, wear a mask, wash your hands, stay home if you’re sick, and do your part to keep the virus at a minimum in our community.
 
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On a side note, the Star Herald has worked hard to cover the pandemic and its effects on our community, and because much of the news was so important and timely, we offered it for free online.
We hope that over the past three months readers — both new and current — have seen the pride that goes into gathering and reporting local news and appreciate the value of being informed.
As our pay wall returns to star-herald.com this week, we hope the community continues to support our work with new and continued subscriptions.
Stay safe, Rock County. Stay informed.

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