Social Distancing: Corona's march to madness

The news and the sportscasts and the conversations around the water cooler are filled with coronavirus, Covid-19, and statistics about the numbers of countries and people and closures. We have turned into information gluttons and Facebook junkies interested in the origin and the terminus of the pandemic. Some aver conspiracies. Some allege fake news. No matter what your opinions on that, everyone is affected. 

There is no toilet paper in the shops. Stores are now limiting purchases of rice and flour and staples. The ABC in the US reported "Measures to prevent the spread of navel coronavirus are underway with schools closed, sports events canceled and business conferences postponed. These measures, considered "social distancing," may be key in containing the spread of the coronavirus”   

That term "social distancing" caught my ear. And maybe it's catching yours as well. The whole business of socialization is linkage and growing closer as humans. We gather in society; we gather into societies. But something about this virus has caused us to pull apart, to sit further away, to look with suspicion on the guy in the next seat at the cafe or on the subway in the morning. 

The ABC report continues with the definition. "Social distancing is a public health intervention in which people are discouraged from convening in groups and encouraged to keep physical distance from others in order to slow the spread of illness," said Dr. Neha Chaudhary, child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Brainstorm, Stanford’s lab for mental health innovation."

As a result, Scott Morrison, prime minister of Australia, announced that no gathering of more than 500 people is allowed as of today. Some schools will remain open; university lectures continued in person, and public transport remains open. BUT the Royal Easter Show, the Grand Prix, and other major events are canceled. All schools may be next.

An Australian Department of Health study on social distancing (https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/519F9392797E2DDCCA257D47001B9948/$File/Social-2019.PDF) doesn't exactly commend the need for such closures, as secondary concerns like revenue lost and other costs should weigh into the conversation. 

The Sydney Morning Herald reports (https://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-schools-offices-should-be-closed-immediately-experts-20200312-p549gi.html ) that the best way to stop the pandemic is to shut schools and have employees of all businesses working from home rather than gathering on the transport systems and in the offices of the major cities. 

The Herald said, "Closing schools could cut virus spread by up to 50 percent, according to the federal government's influenza pandemic plan. But that would cause extreme disruption as parents would be forced to take time off work. And some of those parents are doctors and nurses, so we lose twice.

The number of people allowed on public transport would likely to be severely limited. "In a pandemic situation, you'd cut the number of people down to one person per seat," said Associate Professor Adam Kamradt-Scott, who helped author the federal government's influenza pandemic strategy."

It's clear that social distancing will have a positive effect on the prevention of the spread of coronavirus. Or at least the slowdown of the spread. There is much talk saying that the slower the spread the longer the disease lasts. In other words, the shorter, the more explosive. And yet, the longer it lasts, the more hope people have to get in beds at clinics and hospitals and have a higher likelihood of survival.

My friend Kathy wrote to me about this: ""social distancing" seems an unfortunate terminology for it. Maybe "physical distancing" would be better. I think the "six-foot" rule - staying 6 feet away from other people - is a good one. You can still have a conversation - though not a private one! - at that distance.

The Bible has something to say about ‘social distancing. In the opening book, Genesis, Jacob, and his father-in-law had distance between them, but that was based on mistrust and conniving. Later, the brothers of Joseph distanced themselves from Joseph and plotted his death at that time. Moses' sister Miriam stood at a distance from the baby Moses to observe what would happen to him as he floated in a basket. Distance had to do with safety for her.  

When the Jewish people received the Torah at Mt Sinai, they were afraid and stood at a distance so they wouldn't be crushed in the earthquake and lightning storm. Similarly, Peter stayed at a distance after Yeshua was arrested, lest he be caught as one of the followers of the messianic hopeful. 

Social distancing is sensible, but as Kathy wrote above, "it's an unfortunate term." Really the 1.8-meter distance that is recommended in the public is not really possible to maintain in queues at the airport or at the grocery stores. 

When you hear the term later today and tomorrow and for the months to come, will you think of airports and grocery stores? Or will you think of the Bible and those people who tried to hide for fear? Will you think about God and be socially distant from him or will this be a time when you draw near to him? 

The Bible says "draw near to God" and more importantly it tells us why. This from the epistle to the Hebrews: "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." 

Yeshua (Jesus in Hebrew) is that high priest who can sympathize with us in our viral situations. He was tempted in every way just like we are, to horde and to be hostile and angry with our neighbors. He was tempted to hate government impositions, yet he was without sin. Because of his success, we can have confidence to draw near to God. That gives me hope in these troubling times.

God's arms are open wide to you. James wrote this, "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." That sounds like the plan. No six-foot rule. He's longing to be with you. Won't you trust him now?