It’s really easy to get caught up in the coronavirus panic that’s starting to rear its ugly head in various places around the country. People breathlessly checking out of grocery stores with carts full of dried rice and toilet paper are overreacting, we believe, given what we know about the virus presently.

That’s not to say the public, or our elected officials, should ignore what’s happening. They shouldn’t. That’s why we support activation Emergency Operations Center, a step Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took late last week.

“Right now, we’re harnessing all of the resources of state government to help people prepare and keep themselves and their families safe,” Whitmer said in a state press release. “By activating the State Emergency Operations Center, we’re ensuring that every branch of state government is on alert, and actively coordinating to prevent the spread of Coronavirus if it comes to Michigan. We are taking this step out of an abundance of caution. We will continue to take every necessary precaution to keep Michiganders safe.”

That makes a lot of sense to us.

The best prevention for viruses, such as influenza, the common cold or COVID-19 is to:

≤ Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.

≤ Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

≤ Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.

≤ Avoid contact with people who are sick.

≤ If you are sick, stay home, and avoid contact with others.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/ Coronavirus and CDC.gov/ Coronavirus.