“Shelter in Place” Means “Don’t Do It! Don’t Go Out”
By Rev. Dr. Oveta Fuller
The “Shelter in Place” or “Stay Home, Stay Safe” policy declared by Executive Order in over 30 states is among the most aggressive prevention strategy to reduce disease, death, and economic loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. Its goal is to stop CoV-2, the respiratory transmitted virus of the COVID-19 disease, from making more copies of itself. This can only be achieved at this time by limiting contact among personal encounters between those not infected with those who are infected with or without symptoms.
CoV-2 uses human cells to make copies of itself. This requires new human hosts who have not yet developed an immunity. The COVID-19 disease is transmitted person to person in moisture through breathing, sneezing, and coughing. Stopping contact among persons and preventing production of the CoV-2 progeny decreases circulation for the virus and its availability to reproduce in new hosts. The COVID-19 pandemic will halt as virus transmission ceases.
“Shelter in Place” is the policy that can effectively stop the spread of the CoV-2 virus. It is the strategy available for managing the COVID-19 disease and preventing the overload of our limited health system. Whether or not an area officially declares “Shelter in Place” or not, implementing this policy will lead to lower losses of life. Rigorous compliance with “Stay Home” or similar policies should be a priority in all locations until the COVID-19 pandemic curves decline.
“Shelter in Place” or “Stay Home, Stay Safe” means staying in. It means self-isolating with members of your household in your dwelling place. It means not visiting other households, even relatives, or going to places away from home. The only three exceptions that merit leaving your dwelling place are performing state- or federally-defined jobs or volunteer-related essential responsibilities; obtaining groceries or food, necessary medicines, or medical care while minimizing trips outside; and getting fresh air, sunshine, or exercise while maintaining a distance of six feet from others.
If you have to leave your dwelling place, every person must remain diligent to prevent virus encounters. Be purposeful to observe, at all times, the Simple Rules of Preventing CoV-2 spread which include social distancing or spacing six feet from others; covering all coughs and sneezes so nothing disburses freely into the air; disinfecting or avoiding touching common objects like park equipment, handrails, and doorknobs; frequently washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or thoroughly disinfecting with alcohol sanitizer; and avoiding face touching with unwashed hands or contact with anyone other than uninfected members of your household.
This policy necessitates the use of virtual platforms and creative communication to meet spiritual needs for worship, prayer, and connection with the limited assembly of no more than two-nine people that allow clergy and congregation members to comply with the most aggressive interpretations of “Stay Home, Stay Safe.”
When deciding what to do, the default answer is compatible with Christian, civic, and humane responsibilities to stop COVID-19, “Don’t do it!” Don’t go out of your dwelling place unless it is for one of the three stated exceptions previously noted. For every essential trip, comply with the rules of COVID-19 prevention.
Faithfully, use the power of love and a sound mind with this guiding policy to stop the CoV-2 spread, reduce the loss of life, and eliminate new COVID-19 cases. Working together, we can bring an end to this unprecedented modern-day global challenge.
