03/20/2020
A message from Theresa Tran, MOL's President, regarding COVID-19:
Dear friends,
California's Governor just ordered ALL residents to stay home. My heart goes out for them. Self-isolation is not easy. In fact it is very difficult. People are social animals, with tribal instincts. We need friends and group. And we're so used to have our freedom, to go wherever and whenever we want, to restaurant, to visit friends, to clubs, to work ... and now we have to hunker down at home. It's like being a prisoner in your own home. Staying put at home takes strength, determination, willingness to overcome our old habits and go against our natures. But we can do it, and we have to do it. Please do try even if it is hard. It is the responsible thing to do. It is right thing to do. It is the loving and compassionate thing to do. Not just for our sakes, but for others as well.
As citizens of the USA and a member of the human race, if we do not do our part, do things we can do to help slow the transmission such as practicing "social distancing", self-quarantine (if we see symptoms), stay home when we are asked too, canceling group gathering with over 10 people... basically follow the government and health officials requests, we will directly affect not only ourselves but many others. Millions would die before the year ends. That is simply the nature of Pandemic.
Spanish flu in 1918 affected 500 millions people worldwide, and it was estimated that 50 - 100 millions people died from it. It was because there were no medicine then, but it was also because we did not know about social distancing, self-isolation or quarantine then. But we know them now. So let's practice them to slow down the spread, to give the medical communities more time to come up with treatments and vaccines, to not overload our medical facilities like what is happening in Italy right now, and most of all, to save lives.
From what I have read, it will take at least a year to get the vaccine. And I have not seen any reports that spoke of any kind of medical treatment or therapies available to treat COVID-19 right now. Once you are infected, you are totally dependent on your own immune system to fight the virus. If your immune system is weak, you are doomed. And that is why so many elders died from it. That is why there are so many cases springing up everywhere.
- Italy passed a grim milestone on Thursday: Deaths linked to the virus there had soared to 3,405, exceeding the toll in China, where the virus first broke out. The country tallied 902 deaths in the last two days alone: 475 Wednesday and 427 on Thursday. Italy now has 41,035 coronavirus cases.
- France crossed the threshold of 10,000 coronavirus cases on Thursday.
- Germany’s official count of coronavirus infections jumped 34 percent from Wednesday to Thursday, reaching 10,999. - Spain has reported more than 17,000 cases and 800 deaths.
- All 50 U.S. states now have confirmed cases. The U.S. hit two grim landmarks — more than 200 deaths and over 14,000 confirmed cases — as the pandemic continued Friday to dramatically alter lives.
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom laid out a sobering, staggering prediction that more than half the 40-plus million California population would contract COVID-19 in the next eight weeks, if we do not do something drastic to stop its spread.
It is serious. We are at war with COVID-19, and all of us are soldiers. The most effective way for us to win the war against the virus right now is to not allow it to spread freely. And that means staying home, only go out when you ABSOLUTELY have to, and practicing "social distancing" ALL THE TIME. If you have to go out, stay 6 feet away from others. Wash your hands, do not touch your face... All the things you have probably heard many times. Please do them. We will win this war.
Please do try to enjoy life while you are stuck at home. Go to Youtube to learn how to cook a new dish. Binge on your favorite shows on Netflix. Read your favorite book. Spend quality time with your family. You don't have to be totally isolated. Use technologies to stay connected. Get on Facebook. Email to a friend. Use Zoom for meeting with people at work. If you are alone and feel desperate or hopeless, pray earnestly to God. He is always there to listen and He will give you the peace and strength you could never imagine you could have. You can also call a local hotline and ask for help. Pick up a new hobby. Plant flowers. Walk your dog, say hi to neighbors but make sure you stay 6 feet away from each others. Go to grocery stores when you need to, but wear gloves and mask and stay clear of each other's way. Life does not have to end. It is difficult to stay home, but it can be enjoyable and most importantly, you keep yourself and others safe.
May God bless you and keep you and your family safe during this time.
Theresa Tran
Fear not, for He is with us.
