opinion

Governor Lee: please order Tennesseans to stay at home during this coronavirus crisis | Opinion

I have wrestled with my responsibility as an official. Is it irresponsible to speak up, or not to speak up about the peril we are facing? I have decided I would rather be too cautious than wait for the worst.

I’ll be frank: we should be alarmed but not panicked about COVID-19. We can manage this, and we will. Even better, we will come out of this stronger than ever. Right now, we must take drastic measures.

Nashville’s first reported case of COVID-19 was on March 10, and as Friday we had 110 confirmed infections.

This aligns with the rate of a pandemic: at least double the amounts of infection every three days. Let’s take a look at the breakdown of infections statewide, and (Davidson County) in the past 12 days:

March 10: 7 cases (1)

March 11: 9 cases (2)

March 12: 18 cases (6)

March 13: 26 cases (10)

March 14: 32 cases (14)

March 15: 39 cases (17)

March 16: 52 cases (25)

March 17: 73 cases (42)

March 18: 98 cases (58)

March 19: 154 cases (75)

March 20: 228 cases (110)

This will get worse before it gets better. Much worse. The current fatality rate is between 2%-4%. If I continue to project the numbers above, then Davidson County alone will have 1,200 confirmed cases by March 31, on the way to 24-48 deaths. Let’s remember that our recent tornadoes, tragically killed fewer Tennesseans statewide.

More: Coronavirus in Tennessee: Davidson County reports first death

Stay-at-home orders in other states are helping stop the spread

This is scary but please do not panic. We don’t need panic right now. We need diligent and appropriate behavior, and leadership throughout the community. We must consider the harm we can do to others by not protecting ourselves. This is not an “it won’t happen to me” moment. This virus does not discriminate and will jump to any person available.

The government is working as quickly as possible, including acquiring test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE), opening drive-through testing and working to make room at our hospitals. Even still, the government is not doing enough. We need to hear from our government that we must stay-in-home.

Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

We have seen in the past few days the extreme restrictions being put in place throughout the country. Stay-at-home orders are requiring everyone to remain in their homes except for essential needs like groceries, or prescriptions.

This is being done on the honor system, and is not martial law. It is up to each of us to respond, and until the government puts in these requirements, it is up to each of us to adapt our behavior.

Lee needs to take stronger actions now

Gov. Bill Lee has not made the tough decisions that we need from him right now. The people - human lives - who put him in office need his direction. They want to know that their safety is his top priority.

If the most effective measure of prevention, isolation, is not on the table, then people believe they are safe to move about, only taking the most basic actions: stay 6 feet from others, frequent hand washing, don’t touch your face or shake hands, and cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.

Those are very important preventative actions and should not be stopped. However, we have seen from the exponential growth that we cannot flatten the curve without even more protective requirements.

We need strong and empathic leadership from our Governor, and all elected officials, now more than ever.

We Tennesseans come together in times of crisis; let's help each other

Many worry about their income and ability to pay bills or even get enough food on the table for their families. There are resources that are being organized, and we will have government support, financially and through other tangible ways.

The most important resource we have is each other. Call your neighbors, call your elderly friends, and generally check in on everyone you can think of. Make sure they have what they need, and tell them not to leave their homes.

As we all know, Tennesseans come together in times of crisis. Help each other right now as the government continues to mobilize everywhere.

Currently, 50% of Tennessee’s infections are coming from the 21-40 years old demographic. That is not the highest risk group for fatalities, however it is the group that is causing the most spread. With every action, each of us must consider who we spread it to next, and then who will they spread it to, and on and on.

Please act as if you are infected. I beg of you, please stay home. No matter what.

And Governor Lee: we need your protection now more than ever. Please save us by putting in a stay-at-home order. We cannot do this without an executive order from you. Please.

Emily Benedict is a Metro Nashville Councilwoman representing District 7.