To the Editor:

These are dark and difficult days.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has shaken our world to the core and put countless lives into sudden turmoil.  

In the blink of an eye, the Coronavirus has left thousands of reputable Massachusetts businesses without customers and thousands of hardworking Massachusetts employees without jobs. 

This ruthless contagion has already invaded nearly every aspect of our daily lives. It has disrupted how we eat, how we drink, how we work, how we pay rent, how we buy food, how we care for our children and our elderly, how we vote, how we exercise, how we express ourselves, and how we operate as a community. 

On a call with the White House yesterday afternoon, I had the chance to hear directly from Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).  He provided a detailed overview of the pandemic's course in the United States. I left that call with two key points in mind:

(1) The bad news is – this threat to our public health is far from over.

(2) The good news is – you and I really can do something about it.

The next two weeks are absolutely critical for preventing a spike in COVID-19-related hospital visits. That is why I am taking this opportunity to urge everyone – please, follow the advice of our healthcare experts regarding COVID-19 prevention:

—Stay Home- maintain social distancing and avoid unnecessary contact with others 

—Wash Your Hands frequently with soap and water; sanitize frequently-used surfaces

—Cover Your Cough or Sneeze with your inner elbow or a disposable tissue

—Avoid Touching Your Face with unwashed hands – especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.

—Avoid Contact With At-Risk Groups– i.e. the elderly and those with immunodeficiencies

Please keep in mind that these precautions are not only intended to protect you from infection, they are meant to protect others as well.

Over the next two weeks, preventing the spread of COVID-19 is of the utmost importance. 

With medical facilities across Massachusetts bracing for an oncoming surge of critical-care patients, thousands of dedicated professionals are fighting day-and-night to combat the virus, care for the sick, and save lives. 

I would like to convey my overwhelming gratitude and appreciation to our healthcare professionals, first responders, food suppliers, transportation workers, and all the other Massachusetts employees still striving around the clock to provide essential services.  Words cannot express how much I appreciate your incredible determination and miraculous perseverance in the face of such daunting obstacles. Thank you all so much for your commitment to containing the virus and keeping us all safe.

I urge everyone else to do your part by following the recommendations of our medical experts and doing everything within your power to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. 

Stay home.  Stay Safe. Save lives. 

Sen. Marc R. Pacheco