Words matter…
In recent weeks, and in the coming months you will hear a lot of words that you may not have heard as a common part of your day. This article is a storehouse of links, references, and definitions related to the COVID-19 incident. We hope it helps to clear up our conversations and provide a foundation for us to speak with hope, love, and peace as we strive to demonstrate God’s love to our neighbors.
Definitions:
Epidemic: A rapid spread of an infectious disease to a large number of people in a given population within a short period of time.
Pandemic: An infectious disease epidemic that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents, or worldwide.
Containment: A set of actions that persons and communities can take to help to contain the spread of infectious diseases.
Isolation: Used to separate ill persons who have a communicable disease from those who are healthy. Isolation restricts the movement of ill persons to help stop the spread of certain diseases.
Quarantine: Used to separate and restrict the movement of well persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease to see if they become ill. These people may have been exposed to a disease and do not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms. Quarantine can also help limit the spread of communicable disease.
Mitigation: A set of actions that persons and communities can take to help slow the spread of respiratory virus infections. Community mitigation is especially important before a vaccine or drug becomes widely available. Some of mitigation strategies include movement restrictions, social distancing, event closures, etc.
Lock-down/Shut-down: A vague misleading statement used by media with little to no correlation to actual technical terms. (Link is of a clarification press release after a public health order).
Important authorities that enable the government to respond to the pandemic:
Stafford Act: designed to bring an orderly and systematic means of federal natural disaster assistance for state and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to aid citizens. A presidential disaster declaration or an emergency declaration triggers financial and physical assistance to States, and in some instances, individuals.
Defense Production Act: A broad set of authorities to influence domestic industry in the interest of national emergencies. The authorities can be used across the federal government to shape the domestic industrial base so that, when called upon, it is capable of providing essential materials and goods needed for the national emergencies.
Public Health Service Act: Authorizes the HHS Secretary to take measures to prevent the entry and spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States and between states. The CDC can detain, medically examine, and release persons arriving into the United States and traveling between states who are suspected of carrying these communicable diseases. List of Diseases.
Public Health Orders: Legally enforceable orders (fines and imprisonment) from the medical director of a jurisdiction (federal/state/tribe/county/city) for the public to take actions that address a significant health issue. Examples include shutting down public events, public spaces, ordering businesses to operate with unique conditions, etc. This can also include isolation and quarantine.
Marshal Law: Not applicable unless the local government either collapses or loses the ability to enforce its authority within its jurisdiction. A very extreme measure and not advisable in most cases.
Links to verifiable accurate information to help you stay informed:
CDC World Map: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/world-map.html
CDC Situation Reports: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/
DHS Updates: https://www.dhs.gov/coronavirus
FEMA Emergency Declaration: https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2020/03/13/covid-19-emergency-declaration
As needed, we will update this article to reflect more terms and sources in order to keep you well informed.
Now go, and be prepared to demonstrate God’s love at all times, especially now, during this crisis.