The world feels like a weird place to be right now. So it seemed like an appropriate week to give our snarky feathered friend a break, put the canary in quarantine to chill out a little bit so I could talk to the Sun’s readers directly.
As of press time, Santa Barbara County’s Public Health Department had confirmed a second case of coronavirus in North County and was waiting on tests for several other individuals. The number will likely grow, along with the restraints placed on us by local, state, and federal governments eager to stem the pandemic and prevent it from overwhelming our health care system.
It seems strange to say this when the future looks so uncertain, but I believe we will get through this, together, knowing that short-term economic losses and discomfort are better than the alternative. Much like all of you, we are taking it day by day as we wait for news of what comes next.
Updates constantly stream into my email inbox from city and county agencies, businesses, entertainment venues, people in need, those offering aid to others, and sources of misinformation. News alerts are by the minute. It’s hard to keep up with, as well as take the time to parse through, to determine what’s real and what isn’t.
For now, Gov. Gavin Newsom has recommended suspension of group gatherings and the closure of bars, night clubs, and large events. Movie theaters, gyms, and restaurants are next. Because of this, the Sun is taking a revenue hit, similar to other area businesses. With a chunk of our income coming from events-related advertising and more than a few pages dedicated to promoting arts and entertainment in the area, we will be reducing the size of that section of our paper. The Sun office is also temporarily closed to the public, but we are working and available by email or phone.
The situation is fluid and uncertain, but we will do our best to share what we know with you in the way that we’ve always done it. With a thoughtful, big-picture view of the situation and an eye for what’s important—knowing there is more happening than virus spread. We aren’t a breaking news kind of a paper, and we have a tendency to look for things that aren’t being covered by other local news outlets. But you already knew that, and hopefully you know to expect that in the coming weeks.
I think we can all agree that everyone will be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, whether directly through infection, hospitalization, or self-monitored quarantine and/or indirectly through business and school closures, travel restrictions, and the economic hit that will accompany them. The measure of a community’s strength comes after we’ve weathered the storm of uncertainty and all that it brings.
How we come together, lean on one another, support our neighbors, and deal with adversity—even through the obstacle of social distancing—will be the yardstick with which this crisis is measured. We want to help this happen in any way that we can.
We want you to let us know what you’re concerned about, what you need help with, and what you’re willing to help with. The Sun wants to be able to let the community know what’s open, closed, and in the works; what’s out there to help, to connect, and to share.
Email slowthevirus@santamariasun.com with information.
Reach Editor Camillia Lanham at clanham@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Mar 19-26, 2020.