Martino: Let’s Band Together To Defeat this Covid-19 Pandemic

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Palm Beach Gardens Residents,

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has transformed our daily lives. Together with each other we must battle the local, as well as, nationwide effects of this virus. These are very demanding times with unprecedented circumstances. Here in Palm Beach Gardens we must collectively do our part with unselfish effort and a total City response to overcome this unparalleled challenge to our community and our country.

If we are to be successful in blunting the spread of COVID-19 it is imperative that we follow President Trump’s Coronavirus guidelines. If you are a Postal Customer you received a post card in the mail annunciating these guidelines. The best and the brightest public health officials, scientists, medical doctors and nurses from all over our country strongly recommend that each of us follow these guidelines. State and local authorities advocate with one voice for these guidelines. Our own City Council and Administration encourage us to adhere to them. As a former Mayor and City Council member I would respectfully request that each resident of the Gardens hold fast to them.

Another opportunity for each of us to do our part to help to defeat the spread of COVID-19 is to respect, support, be grateful for, pray for, and say thank you every day to our fearless front-line first responders to this contagion. With self-sacrifice, dedication, and determination our fire and police departments, our doctors and nurses, our hospital personnel, the grocery store workers, the truck and delivery drivers, and others are at the center of the battle protecting each of us from this life threatening scourge. At great sacrifice to their own families and themselves, these individuals, some our friends and neighbors, are putting their lives on the line for us while holding at bay and helping to defeat this pandemic.

Selfishness is not a weapon against this virus but accepting personal responsibility to one’s self, to one’s family, to one’s neighbors, and to one’s community is. There are a number of other personal weapons each of us can utilize to defeat this COVID-19 pandemic. Mitigation works, embrace it by practicing good hygiene. Wash your hands often, particularly after touching hard surfaces. Disinfect surfaces and used items frequently. Cover your coughs and sneezes. Stay away from crowds. Use social distancing as a show of respect and consideration for others. An old Roman proverb says “Home is where the heart is”, so if you feel sick, if you are a senior citizen with underlying health issues, stay home. If possible work from and study from home. Avoid large gatherings, avoid travel, avoid eating or drinking out – support our local restaurants by using pick-up and delivery options.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide. This pandemic has been called a “Health War”, an “Invisible War”, and a “World War”. It is an invisible enemy that has penetrated every country’s borders without bullets and missiles in unprecedented ways. In the USA, COVID-19 is attacking us and killing us with a highly contagious airborne and touch viral disease as its weapon. It is creating chaos within our local, state, and national health-care systems. The pandemic is forcing our work force to the unemployment lines while wreaking havoc with our economy.

To defeat this enemy Garden’s residents must join with all USA citizens in imposing our American will and ingenuity. Leadership must begin with each of us as individuals. Unity must be our watchword. Concern and compassion, care and consideration, help and assistance, tenacity and calmness, should guide our actions. We must all band together as one force with one collective purpose, the defeat of this COVID-19 pandemic.