HANCOCK COUNTY — Two men, who didn’t know each other, where shopping at a county grocery store two weeks ago and ended up in a fight because of an issue with social distancing. One of the men breached what the other thought was a safe distance barrier, and the two briefly came to blows.
No one was arrested, and the incident is more of an exception than the rule in this time of stay-at-home orders and demands that people do everything from a distance of at least 6 feet. But it is an indication of the anxiety and uncertainty that surrounds the whole issue of social distancing. Now that the federal government is making a recommendation that people wear masks if they go out, that anxiety is likely to increase.
How well Hancock County has adapted to the need to stay apart is an open question. The number of positive cases of COVID-19 — the county was at 41 as of early Friday morning, April 3 — is not a good barometer because identifying cases is dependent on the availability of hard-to-get tests, experts warn. But on the north side of Greenfield one afternoon earlier this week, it looked like a normal spring day: The parking lot at Walmart in Greenfield looked just as crowded as it normally does on a weekday. Traffic at New Road and State Street — Greenfield’s busiest intersection, was not as congested as usual, but it still was busy.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryPeople were still going about their business, as different as that might be in a pandemic.
Steve Long, the president and CEO of Hancock Regional Hospital, thinks the community has done a good job maintaining distancing. The closing of churches, schools, non-essential businesses and dine-in restaurants has made a big difference, he said, despite the pain they have caused.
But people are naturally inclined to congregate, he pointed out, which makes distancing that much more important.
“It’s difficult to think that this is real,” Long said, offering a theory on human nature in the midst of crisis. “Especially if you don’t know anyone who has it (COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel corona virus).”
Added Craig Felty, vice president, chief nursing officer and chief operating officer of Hancock Regional Hospital: “I can’t emphasize enough to the general public: If you social distance, you are going to save lives. People are going to die if you don’t social distance. I know it sounds very harsh, but we know that to be true.”
The coronavirus is thought to mainly spread from close person-to-person contact through respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes, health officials say. That’s why social distancing is more than a guideline and should be taken seriously.
People must leave their homes to get food, go to work, get medicine and possibly see a doctor during this time of social distancing. Felty said that when they do, they should go alone and wear a mask, even if it’s a cloth mask or a scarf thrown over their nose and mouth.
Businesses have taken steps to enforce distancing. Some have marked their floors with tape showing customers where they are allowed to stand when waiting to check out. Those guidelines aren’t always followed.
Post offices, considered essential operations, have taken a few measures to try and keep their employees and customers safe. In New Palestine, workers put up a special protective sheet of plastic over the customer counter.
“That way if someone is coughing or sneezing, it won’t be right in our faces,” postal worker Chris Macy said one day this week, talking through the plastic barrier.
The floor of the New Palestine post office also is marked with tape to keep people separated. But Macy noted that the steady streams of customers rarely are paying attention to the clearly placed social distancing markings.
“I’m a little surprised because even some of the older folks in our community are out here without any protective masks or anything,” Macy said.
He said most people who come in to buy stamps, pick up mail and ship packages think they will not catch the virus and are just continuing about their normal business.
Just down Main Street at what is normally one of the town’s most popular gathering spots in the spring, Frosty Boy, crowds were plentiful as normal on a sunny spring day. The only difference is people are not allowed to sit and eat at the tables in front of the store. The sidewalk and counter area are also marked to indicate spots for people to stand to ensure safe social distancing.
Curt and Jessica Risch brought their two young daughters and Curt’s sister from Franklin Township to Frosty Boy for a treat. They gathered and ate the ice cream near the back of their vehicle. Jessica, who is a nurse at Community Hospital South, said while they were all standing close, they were practicing social distancing if they’re among strangers.
“We know we don’t have anything and we’re being really careful about where we go and what we do so none of us get it,” Jessica said. “We feel pretty safe out here in the fresh air, but we’ll all wash our hands and clean off when we get home.”
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So what does “social distancing” mean? According to public health officials, social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness.
Here’s how you can help:
Stay home if you can and avoid any non-essential travel.
Keep at least 6 feet away from other people if you must go out in public.
Stay connected virtually with loved ones through video calls, phone calls, texts or social media. It’s best not to meet with other relatives in person.
If you must be in public and can’t avoid contact with others:
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
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