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Editorial: Precautions - not panic - the right route to addressing coronavirus

Stay calm, the experts tell us. Yet, that's becoming more challenging with each passing day as the number of coronavirus cases climbs and public events are canceled.

We worry about our elderly parents and grandparents. We prep to work from home if necessary. We stock up on soup and toilet paper in case we can't get to the store. We bump elbows - and then laugh about it.

Coronavirus, it seems, is all anyone is talking about. And now Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has issued a disaster proclamation in response to the state's COVID-19 cases - which numbered 19 by Tuesday afternoon.

Stay calm, the experts tell us. But how?

First, we focus on what we can control.

We wash our hands - a lot - and use hand sanitizer when we can't get to a sink.

We clean our cellphones, doorknobs and other frequently touched objects in our homes and offices.

We stay home when we are sick.

We follow quarantines if we are exposed.

We check in on older relatives and friends to make sure they avoid crowded places, have enough food and medicine and seek medical help if they need it.

We reassure our children, address their concerns and show them what they can do to stay healthy.

We don't hole up at home unless we are told to, but we use good sense when we head to the office, shop for groceries or dine out.

We talk with friends - or mental health professionals - if we feel overly stressed or frightened.

We know the facts by following trusted agencies and news sources as the situation evolves.

As journalists, we acknowledge that we have a key role to play. We need to keep people informed, to dispel misconceptions, to remind readers what they need to do to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. But we also need to walk a fine line so we don't contribute to the anxiety or fuel the fear. We hope we are doing that, but we too are venturing into new territory. And we appreciate your feedback and suggestions along the way.

We must all be prepared to watch the numbers rise as more people are tested. While it will be difficult to see that, it's important because knowing how far - and where - the virus has spread is essential to planning and containment efforts. And right now, with a vaccine a year or so away, that is the key to stopping the spread of COVID-19.

We are in this together, as Pritzker stressed Monday in his news conference.

"We are one community here in Illinois, and community members take care of each other," Pritzker said. "Don't let fear replace levelheadedness. You have responsibilities during this crisis too, and it's important to live up to them."

We must do just that. After all, we are looking out for everyone who matters to us. And for everyone else as well.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, right, bumps elbows with a worker at the seafood counter of the Uwajimaya Asian Food and Gift Market, Tuesday in Seattle's International District. Associated Press Photo
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