DavidMertz/gist:23f19b03107d6833a74dd11481f47272

## gistfile1.txt
This post has a serious tone, because it is important.

Covid-19 will come to Dexter, and to central Maine generally. It is not
a question of if, but when. People you know will die, and more people will
become gravely ill. This is a sad reality, but it is reality. The
demographics of our town and our state mean that Maine will be more
impacted than most places (this particular disease has a CFR—case
fatality rate—strongly positively correlated with age; children, happily,
will not tend to die of this).

The situation will be made worse if Dexter residence—even a small number
of us—decide that they "know better" than medical professionals and
epidemiologists.... and than "the government." Unfortunately, we saw
this attitude in a recent vote. We also saw it when a medical worker
in neighboring New Hampshire, with instructions to self-quarantine,
decided to attend a meeting of 175 people rather than deal with the
mild inconvenience of staying home... at least one attendee became
infected directly, and at least two more became secondarily infected
via that spread. The real number will be more once they trace contacts.

If you, or your child, or any member of your household or family, is
advised to self-quarantine because of possible or confirmed exposure,
DO IT! Do not find some conspiracy web site that tells you something
different. Do not decide that you have a "hunch" that it won't matter.
Do not put the convenience of your job or child-care needs ahead of
the lives of people in our community. Do not get a 2 hour degree at
"Google University" that allows you to believe you know more than
actual pathologists and epidemiologists.

No vaccine or targeted treatment yet exists. Local hospitals are soon
going to be greatly over-taxed with the need for general respiratory
care, and case isolation will be difficult with clinics and hospitals
ill-designed to handle the need. Any "folk treatments" with herbs, or
household products, or unrelated medicines, are ineffective and are
likely to harm you in other ways. Don't do those things (sure take
moderate vitamin supplements if you want, it won't hurt you; you can
drink herbal tea or eat your favorite or non-favorite vegetable...
again, it's not going to stop Covid-19, but it won't hurt you).

This sounds glum, and it is. This disease is not the end of the world.
Most people who become exposed will have mild or zero symptoms. Even
most who become seriously sick will still recover. But a large number
will have long-lasting negative repercussions, including some dying.
Do not panic, but also do not treat this as less serious than it is.
	This post has a serious tone, because it is important.

	Covid-19 will come to Dexter, and to central Maine generally. It is not
	a question of if, but when. People you know will die, and more people will
	become gravely ill. This is a sad reality, but it is reality. The
	demographics of our town and our state mean that Maine will be more
	impacted than most places (this particular disease has a CFR—case
	fatality rate—strongly positively correlated with age; children, happily,
	will not tend to die of this).

	The situation will be made worse if Dexter residence—even a small number
	of us—decide that they "know better" than medical professionals and
	epidemiologists.... and than "the government." Unfortunately, we saw
	this attitude in a recent vote. We also saw it when a medical worker
	in neighboring New Hampshire, with instructions to self-quarantine,
	decided to attend a meeting of 175 people rather than deal with the
	mild inconvenience of staying home... at least one attendee became
	infected directly, and at least two more became secondarily infected
	via that spread. The real number will be more once they trace contacts.

	If you, or your child, or any member of your household or family, is
	advised to self-quarantine because of possible or confirmed exposure,
	DO IT! Do not find some conspiracy web site that tells you something
	different. Do not decide that you have a "hunch" that it won't matter.
	Do not put the convenience of your job or child-care needs ahead of
	the lives of people in our community. Do not get a 2 hour degree at
	"Google University" that allows you to believe you know more than
	actual pathologists and epidemiologists.

	No vaccine or targeted treatment yet exists. Local hospitals are soon
	going to be greatly over-taxed with the need for general respiratory
	care, and case isolation will be difficult with clinics and hospitals
	ill-designed to handle the need. Any "folk treatments" with herbs, or
	household products, or unrelated medicines, are ineffective and are
	likely to harm you in other ways. Don't do those things (sure take
	moderate vitamin supplements if you want, it won't hurt you; you can
	drink herbal tea or eat your favorite or non-favorite vegetable...
	again, it's not going to stop Covid-19, but it won't hurt you).

	This sounds glum, and it is. This disease is not the end of the world.
	Most people who become exposed will have mild or zero symptoms. Even
	most who become seriously sick will still recover. But a large number
	will have long-lasting negative repercussions, including some dying.
	Do not panic, but also do not treat this as less serious than it is.