#FlattenTheCurve

Via:

News about the COVID-19 coronavirus is breaking all around us at an unprecedented speed: Thousands of new cases in the U.S. have been discovered so far, hospitals are bracing for a massive influx of people needing care, schools are being closed, businesses are temporarily closing or moving online, and more. And new guidelines are being released daily on how we can stop the spread of the virus.

Social distancing is the biggest way that we can make a difference, because it will help "flatten the curve" of the virus—interrupting the spread of the virus and ensuring that masses of people don't get sick at once, which would overwhelm our fragile health care system and cost an unknown number of lives.

How social distancing flattens the curve of coronavirus and saves lives.

Many of us are already practicing social distancing, but too many people are still gathering in groups. If you have not yet, will you commit to social distance now? And if you are already social distancing, will you sign the commitment and share it with your friends and family?

Will you commit to #FlattenTheCurve? Click here to make and share the commitment now. act.moveon.org/survey/flatten-the-curve/

We know it's possible to spread the virus for days before showing symptoms. It's our responsibility to protect ourselves and others—especially those who are elderly or immunocompromised. Our commitment to stay home now is essential to stopping the virus and saving lives.

Together, here's how we're going to #FlattenTheCurve:

Follow the lead of health experts and regularly wash our hands for 20 seconds with soap and keep our hands away from our faces.

Stay home and avoid public places if we can, which will help keep people who cannot—medical staff, grocery workers, and others—safer. This is called "social distancing," and we all need to do as much as we are able.

If we do go outside, we'll keep our distance! Health officials are recommending we limit contact with each other, remaining at least 6 feet apart. It's important that we all do this when we can to account for those in our community who cannot: frontline health care workers, service workers, and others.

Call on our local officials and demand that they implement social distancing policies—or start a petition now. moveon.org/petition/new

Call on our members of Congress to pass urgently needed economic relief legislation so that when people follow the direction of leading health officials, they aren't forced to make a decision between a paycheck and stopping the spread of this coronavirus. Some people that you might not expect are more vulnerable in this moment, and anyone can get sick from this virus or be a carrier. We can all take action by social distancing to decrease the threat.

This is also about social justice and equity. Communities of color are more likely to have respiratory problems like asthma, because they are more likely to have harmful environmental pollution from things like factories. People with chronic or acute health challenges or disabilities are at a higher risk if they can't get the care they need because hospitals are devoting 100% of their care to coronavirus patients.

That's why it's crucial that everyone do their part to interrupt the spread of this virus and stop our health care systems from becoming overwhelmed. But we need to act now.

MoveOn members have played a meaningful role in responding to many crises facing our nation and the world. We've come together to support communities devastated by climate disasters, including raising more than $3 million for victims of Hurricane Maria, providing housing for families displaced by Hurricane Katrina, and more. Together, we've prevented seemingly inevitable marches to war and repeatedly saved the Affordable Care Act. And now we must meet this moment.

When we practice social distancing, we prevent the trajectory of the virus from skyrocketing, which can ensure that our hospitals won't be overwhelmed and people will be able to receive the care they need to survive this virus.

Will you commit to step up and do everything you can to #FlattenTheCurve? Once you've committed, please share with us how you're planning to create social distance—and we'll share these ideas and commitments over social media to give other members ideas and show solidarity in social distancing and flattening the curve.

Thanks for all you do.

–Corinne, Isbah, Ann, Amy, and the rest of the team

P.S. For the most up-to-date information on how you can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your community, visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

P.P.S. MoveOn has been a virtual workspace for more than 20 years. If you now find yourself unexpectedly working remotely or know others who are in the midst of this crisis, here are some tips from members of our team that you may find useful.