OPINION: “New Bedford, your loved one will possibly die scared and alone instead of surrounded by their loved ones if you don’t take precautions.”

“I want to say something to make people understand how serious they need to be taking this pandemic. Most people with good health will never really understand the true meaning of how bad this is for other members of our society who are not as lucky to have good health. To those people, I say how lucky you are!

Let me explain to you what the potential of this virus is if we do not take every precaution there is to keep from allowing it to spread.

If you live with a loved parent grandparent or other family member or friend that has health issues such as COPD, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis. You need to socially distance yourself (6 feet) from all other people. That means hanging out at someone’s house. Riding around with others in vehicles and using caution with public transportation. And if you choose to not take these precautions, this is what happens!

You have just socially spread Covid 19 into your home. Your mother, father or grandparent are now going to get very sick. If, and this is a big if, they recover you and they are very lucky! Think about the ones that are not that lucky. You will need to say goodbye to them at the nearest medical facility because you will not be allowed in with them. With luck, the facility will have the proper medical equipment to help them.

They will be hooked up to a ventilator and be alone for long periods of time, only to have an overworked health professional check on them occasionally while they have dozens of other patients to check on. Your loved one will possibly die scared and alone instead of surrounded by their loved ones.

Think about this when you say it won’t hurt anyone if I go hang out for a short while.” -‎Kelly Timms Hinckley‎.