After a trip to the grocery or department store, it becomes abundantly clear that many are in panic mode over the coronavirus.

The shelves are not only devoid of hand sanitizer, but medical mask and toilet paper supplies have been decimated.

Just scrolling down one’s timeline on social media can produce panic. From warnings so dire that even would push the most hard-hearted cynic over the edge to memes – like CNN’s Wolf Blitzer reporting Chuck Norris has killed coronavirus – COVID-19 is dominating the local, state and national conversations.

First off, coronavirus is no laughing matter. Nearly 1,000 cases – five in New Hampshire – have been reported throughout the country. A total of 30 people have died, including 24 in Washington state.

On Tuesday, Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker officially declared a state of emergency in the Bay State and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a one-mile contamination zone around New Rochelle, a town hit hard by COVID-19.

Locally, the city of Nashua, multiple school districts, the Nashua Transit System, the Nashua Senior Activity Center and others have put precautions in place because of the virus.

That said, though, these are precautions brought about by an abundance of caution. There is no local outbreak, only isolated cases in New Hampshire.

We must keep a level head about coronavirus. It’s not all doom and gloom. In fact, most cases have been very mild, symptom-wise. What we must do, is keep a vigilant watch out for the elderly, young and those with pre-existing conditions.

We also need to take as many precautions as possible, washing our hands thoroughly and staying home from work, school and outside activities if we are feeling under the weather.

Panic won’t accomplish anything. Stay calm and stay safe by following guidelines set by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s how we need to deal with coronavirus.

Links to COVID-19 resources can be found online at www.nashuatelegraph.com.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This content is being provided for free as a public service to our community during the coronavirus outbreak. Please support local journalism by subscribing to The Telegraph at https://home.nashuatelegraph.com/clickshare/checkDelivery.do;jsessionid=40C089D96583CD7318C1C1D9317B6162.

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