Since the first positive coronavirus cases were discovered in the United States, governors across the country have made tough choices to protect their citizens. From the beginning, Democratic and Republican governors took action because the health and well-being of our families and neighbors are our No. 1 priority.

When it comes to fighting this virus, we are all on the same team. Right now, mankind has a common enemy, and it’s Covid-19.

Governors have made gut-wrenching decisions in the face of a threat unlike any we’ve seen before. We have had to close school buildings for the rest of the academic year and to direct small-business owners who have spent a lifetime building their businesses to close their doors. We’ve had to close restaurants, movie theaters and barbershops and to limit in-state travel.

I never imagined having to use the levers of my office this way to protect the people I serve. Each action taken weighs heavily on me. Each action has been informed by the best science and epidemiology counsel there is. These choices have been tough. They haven’t always been popular. And we will never know precisely how many lives were saved as a result.