VALLEY CITY, N.D. (CityCountyHealth) – After being in lock-down for over 2 months we were all pleased to hear the news that with lots of planning in infectious disease control, Valley City State University will open and receive students at the end of the summer.

This will be a change for our community. Even though we live on the interstate we have not had an influx of Covid-19 positive cases, probably because at least until recently, travelers on the interstate stopped for gas and snacks but didn’t interact much with the local population. We were also I think all quite compliant with the initial lock-down instructions.

With a low prevalence of Covid-19 infections, we have avoided trouble in spite of being quite lax in observing the more lenient social distancing rules that we have received from the State Health Department. When did you last see someone shopping, especially in the grocery store, without being masked? When did you last see people talking to each other indoors at a distance much less than 6 feet?

Like other people, early in the course of this pandemic, I thought of this illness by comparing it to the flu. We talked about “flattening the curve” of infections, which assumes we will all get it before we are done, we just don’t all want to be sick at the same time. We might be learning to look at it differently now, and might be realizing that we should work hard to prevent people from getting it at all, because of the much higher fatality rate than influenza.

This is a good time, before the end of summer, when hundreds of students will enter the community from all over the country, from places with much higher viral prevalence than ours, to practice what we know how to do.
1. Wear an appropriate mask, at least while indoors, even when we are observing the 6-foot distance.
2. Stay away from large gatherings.
3. Carry hand sanitizer in your pocket and use it before and after touching something.
4. Wash hands 20 seconds often, especially on arriving home.
5. Keep track of whom you have been in contact with, in case you or they are found to be positive.
6. Get a flu shot in September.

If we practice well now, we will do better in the fall. This pandemic will be with us a long time, and we can’t expect good antiviral medication or an immunization soon, so we need to get used to observing the guidelines as a habit.

For more information on COVID-19 go to www.health.nd.gov and click on coronavirus (more information) or call their hotline at 1-866-207-2880 or contact City County Health District about any concerns or needs that you may have (845-8518). If you or your family would need a cloth mask, they can be obtained at City County Health District.