MEMPHIS, Tenn. — There is nothing normal about “the new normal.”
We don’t eat in restaurants. We don’t watch sports. We don’t gather together for anything.
And we don’t see our politicians in action.
“This is a tragic time,” says Shelby County Commission Chairman Mark Billingsley.
You can’t physically attend Shelby County Commission or Memphis City Council meetings for the time being.
“We are doing what we can,” Billingsley says.
It won’t be easy.
Commissioners and Council members meet at different locations and communicate through social aps like Zoom or Skype.
“We want to hear from you,” he said says.
The County Commissioners next meet on Wednesday. City council meets a week from next Tuesday.
This is “the new normal.”
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Coronavirus in Context:
The symptoms of coronavirus are similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80-percent of the cases there were mild.
But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.
The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.
Lower your risk
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.