In this Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016 photo patrons play poker in a designated area at Twin River Casino, in Lincoln, R.I. Casinos far from Las Vegas are experimenting with different ways to draw millennials. Twin River Casino removed 274 slot machines to make way in December for more poker and other table games favored by younger gamblers. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
On Monday, the President released a new batch of guidelines for Americans to heed.
Trump’s “15 Days to Slow the Spread” includes the suggestion of nixing get-togethers of more than 10 people.
Also advised against: eating or drinking in bars, restaurants, and food courts.”
So if you mosey over to the mall, don’t stay for the Sbarro.
Stick to “drive through, pickup, and delivery options.”
Actually, don’t go to The Galleria to begin with: The list gives a shake of the head to shopping trips.
And socializing.
It’s all about the community and, as per the rules, “Each and every one of us has a critical role to play in stopping the spread.”
One important way to do your part — don’t be a slob:
Wash your hands, especially after touching any frequently-used item or surface.
Avoid touching your face.
Sneeze or cough into a tissue, or the inside of your elbow.
Disinfect frequently-used items and surfaces as much as possible.
Read the rest here.
To be clear, those 15 days could turn into much, much longer.
As reported by Fox, speaking at a coronavirus briefing of the coronavirus task force, he noted that weeks’ worth of effort can bring dramatic results:
“With several weeks of focused action, we can turn the corner and turn it quickly.”
And:
“Our government is prepared to do whatever it takes.”
But whatever it takes may mean quite a long commitment:
When asked when the pandemic would subside, Trump said that “if we do a really good job,” the crisis could pass by July or August, a far less optimistic take than in his earlier predictions that it could be over within weeks.
All this talk of social distancing reminds me of an experiment once spotlighted by The New York Times (incidentally, don’t trust me — I’m not a doctor):
The theory that colds fly is espoused by Dr. Elliot C. Dick, a professor of preventive medicine at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and a student of poker.
He infected eight men with cold viruses and paid them to play cards with 36 healthy men. Half of the healthy men wore restraints that made it impossible for them to touch their faces.
While fewer restrained players caught cold – 10 of 18 against 12 of 18 in the control group – the difference was statistically insignificant.
To be clear, not everyone agrees with Dr. Elliot’s ideas, but the “aerosol model” is a nice reminder: Germs just might be sneaky. Caution’s a good thing.
Mad hysteria and a Lord of the Flies over toilet paper? Not so much.
Maybe we could use 15 days to slow the spread of that, too.
-ALEX
See 3 more pieces from me:
James Woods Responds to Twitter Flagging His George Soros Post – With Just Two Words
Fly Non-Binary: Major Airlines Let You Register as Having a Sex Different Than Male or Female
Find all my RedState work here.
And please follow Alex Parker on Twitter and Facebook.
Thank you for reading! Please sound off in the Comments section below.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member