TL;DR: There needs to be a dedicated, centrally located section accessible to every member of the Christian Forums community to serve as a repository for updates; information; guidance for sensible preparation; and support (practically, emotionally, and spiritually) pertaining to COVID-19 (coronavirus) and other significant issues impacting public health. Unifying as a community can have individual and collective benefit. Well-meaning dismissal can be as detrimental as panic. The ramifications of coronavirus will extend far beyond the virus itself, necessitating changes to daily life, and that needs to be discussed and prepared for proactively. Since disinformation and misinformation can be virulent, there needs to be clear rules in place to help reduce transmission and facilitate calm and productive dialogue (such as not spreading conspiracy theories or posting about "miracle cures.")
Though there are numerous existing sections where important issues pertaining to public health - including but not limited to COVID-19 - are frequently discussed, some are restricted to members of a specific faith, denomination, or age, and therefore inaccessible to many members. There may be knowledgeable and experienced people here who could provide valuable and timely input on how to sensibly and effectively prepare for the impact of communicable diseases, but if they don't have the Christian label they will not be able to post it in some of the most logical places for such guidance, such as Christian Preppers. An atheist, humanist, agnostic, etc. may be able to give and gain sage insight for a thread topic relating to public health but be prohibited from doing so if it's in an area designated as Christians-only.
To me the nature of infectious disease is paradoxically wondrous in that it reveals our deep interconnectedness. Our lives are interwoven with people we may never meet face-to-face.
COVID-19 reminds us we're exponentially more similar to each other than we are different. There is so much that divides us - geographically, ideologically, religiously, politically, socioeconomically - but we are unified in profound ways. This is the time to bond together and marshal our ingenuity, resources, education, and empathy. I think if everyone could be encouraged to create their threads in a specified area for public health it could enable more unity and increase access to useful content relevant to us all.
One of the conundrums of public health is the very same action that might seem like a drastic overreaction early in a crisis could end up being woefully inadequate if delayed too long.
Today the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic, and WHO's chief said “we’re deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction." It's essential that we not thwart productive dialogue about how to take appropriate action by diminishing or ridiculing concerns or attempting to shift the narrative to another topic. We cannot postpone in making preparations; it is prudent to be informed and proactive. Let's help one another!
To any nurses, doctors, epidemiologists, social workers, orderlies, researchers, paramedics, or others here who are rushing in to combat the coronavirus at risk to their own health, thank you for your service and sacrifice!!!
