The novel Coronavirus, to which no one has natural immunity, is a threat to our society unlike anything since the Spanish Flu of 1918. Because there is no vaccine and no currently available treatment to help with disease mitigation, personal hygiene and social distancing are required to reduce the transmission and propagation of a virus that is likely to kill thousands, overwhelm our medical system, and devastate our economy in a way that is hard to fathom.

Our current medical infrastructure has more than adequate capacity to treat our ongoing medical and surgical needs; however, there is absolute unanimity amongst leading public health, infectious disease specialists, and epidemiologists that our system simply cannot handle the impending surge of critical cases. This will create havoc in the medical system, will lead to much death, and will displace all of the other critically ill patients that have non-virus related diseases that need attention. The collateral damage this will create is hard to imagine, but it has been modeled by experts, leading to the unprecedented steps already taken by local, state, and federal authorities. New Trier should follow suit.

Social distancing is proven to be one of the most effective defenses against viruses. New Trier High School should follow the lead of multiple other colleges, high schools, the NCAA tournament, NBA, political rallies, parades, and other social gatherings.

Given the potential damage this virus can cause, we should not continue to wait patiently for things to get worse. To ensure the safety of our community, we must be proactive. We cannot afford to wait around any longer.