Life matters
This is a deadly disease. The mortality rate of this disease is 3.4%. That means that 1 out every 29 people who get the virus will die. From New York, the main people who are dying are
The frontline healthcare workers are very brave to work directly with those infected. They risk their own lives. China said Italy made the same mistake as China by not protecting their health care workers. It is very important that health care workers get personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, goggles, and gowns.
- the elder (70+ years old) and
- those with underlying health conditions (of all ages).
- younger people getting the disease and transmitting it to others.
The frontline healthcare workers are very brave to work directly with those infected. They risk their own lives. China said Italy made the same mistake as China by not protecting their health care workers. It is very important that health care workers get personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, goggles, and gowns.
Very fast
The disease is very contagious. The disease spreads really quickly. For every person that gets it, they come into contact with about 10 more people. This disease increases exponentially. In Navajo, we jumped from 3 to 14 in three days, then to 26 in a couple more days. By next week Navajo will probably have more than a hundred.
Social way of life
Our society is very social. We like our freedoms to move around freely. We get offended when someone infringes on our freedom. Many people don't listen to the warning to stay in. Some people continue to drive around in the communities, walk around in groups, continue to sell at the flee-market grounds. This disease is ideal to spread for these type of activities.
One suggestion is for the Nidaa' announcers to drive around in loudspeakers urging people to stay inside and to give hope to the people.
One suggestion is for the Nidaa' announcers to drive around in loudspeakers urging people to stay inside and to give hope to the people.
Our society is particularly vulnerable since there are many elders in our communities. Many of these elders carry vast storage of knowledge of culture and language which we are losing fast in the bigger picture.
National Leadership
I wish that our federal leadership could do more. President Trump told the states that they are on their own. New York is in desperate need for medical supplies. Without the supplies, the severely sick are left to die. When New York tried to bid for medical supplies, Trump outbidded the states to withhold the medical supplies from thousands of dying New Yorkers. ("The federal government outbid states on critical coronavirus supplies after Trump told governors to get their own medical equipment") Trumps wants the businesses to make these profits.
No monitoring of disease
In the US, there are not enough test kits. Test kits allow us to monitor the disease. The kits allow us to know where the hot spots are so resources can be used in those areas to limit the spread of disease. Without monitoring, we cannot fight the disease.
Inaccurate numbers
An earlier Navajo Times article said, "According to the NMDOH, 3,814 citizens were tested and out of that, 43 tested positive. In Arizona, 343 citizens were tested, with 44 testing positive." ("McKinley County confirms first coronavirus case") Therefore, New Mexico is testing 10 times as much as Arizona and that is due to the test kit shortage. The number in Arizona is not accurate. For every positive case in Arizona, there are probably 3 or 4 more people positive that could be going to the store or to carry-outs.
A critical race
We need to understand that this is a critical time. We need to realize that the decisions that are made will determine how much this virus will impact us. In the most recent Navajo Times article announcing 26 positive cases, the IHS Navajo Area Director stated that she sent 45 heath care workers home in Kayenta. She said in Kayenta the IHS will start sending away sick people who go to the hospital because the hospital has used up its limited resources.
That means if you get sick, the hospital may not be available to provide any emergency care. That is why President Nez is urging us to avoid getting sick by staying inside.
"Roselyn Tso, Navajo Area IHS director, said they have less than 30 days of supplies left and that will only decrease with more cases. During Friday’s special Navajo Nation Council session Tso said she had to send home 45 staff from Kayenta hospital, and it has impacted services to the point of the hospital having to turn people away from being tested."
That means if you get sick, the hospital may not be available to provide any emergency care. That is why President Nez is urging us to avoid getting sick by staying inside.
