The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 25 percent of people infected with the coronavirus have no symptoms. When these people breathe and speak, they eject droplets containing the virus that infect nearby people and contaminate surfaces. Until widespread testing or a vaccine is available, the outbreak won’t be contained unless these transmissions are reduced.
Everyone should wear an improvised face mask in public to protect each other. Wearing masks is common in places that have contained the outbreak. Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia now require covering the mouth and nose in public. The mayors of New York City and Los Angeles have urged people to cover themselves. Combined with staying home, maintaining physical distance and washing hands, covering your mouth and nose could further slow the virus spread.
Surgical masks and N95 respirators should be reserved for health care workers and first responders. Covering your mouth and nose with a scarf, shawl, bandana, two layers of cut up t-shirt or a homemade cloth mask would help. Wash your hands before putting on, adjusting, or taking off a face covering to avoid infecting yourself. Launder face cloths in hot soapy water regularly.
Brian Wanty
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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