The Bonus Benefits of Social Distancing

By Sheriff Frank Reynolds

As I write this article, we are in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis; the date is April 9. These past few weeks have been interesting to say the least. Each day brings new questions and even fewer answers. I am hopeful that when you read this, we will NOT be back to what was normal. Ill explain later.

A few weeks ago, I began to keep notes on the number of COVID-19 cases. On March 21, the U.S. had 19,658 known cases and approximately 219 deaths.

At the time this magazine went to print, the U.S. had 644,746 known cases and 28,593 deaths. Cherokee County had 238 known cases and eight deaths. Looking at those numbers, you can see how rapid the disease spreads.

When asking others about their thoughts on the matter, you will likely have a wide range of opinions. Some think it is a weaponized virus from the Chinese to negatively affect the economic status of the U.S. and other foreign countries, while others may say it was a virus transmitted from an animal to humans in Wuhan. Regardless of its origin, we all have been affected in some way, whether by contracting disease itself, financial loss, or the feeling of social isolation.

As the sheriff, I am often consulted for answers during times of uncertainty. This event has been uniquely challenging because it is a public health crisis, not a law enforcement one. Although I have been granted some powers by the governor, I have had to balance the spirit of the law and the letter of the law. Fortunately, most of our citizens have complied with the federal guidelines and the governors orders.

I want to praise our elected officials, public safety personnel, medical professionals, school district, and local businesses. Together, we have managed the crisis with a reasonable sense of calm.

In any good movie plot, you have a storyline, a hero/heroine, and a villain. In this story, we all know COVID-19 is the villain. The storyline is being played out before our very eyes, and the hero/heroine is you.

Every day, I see random acts of kindness from both friends and strangers. I see and hear about people checking on loved ones and neighbors in a way I have not seen since before the internet and cell phones.

Families playing in the yard or completing projects together. Heck, I even played Frisbee with my wife, something I have not done in years.

Although our new normal is social distancing, I believe we have grown a little closer.

When this thing is over, I hope we are all physically and mentally healthy. But aside from that, I hope we do not lose our newly discovered appreciation for what really matters in our lives. Lets not go back to what used to be normal. Instead, lets remember to be a little more neighborly and family oriented.

God bless you, your families, and the United States of America.