Wednesday, April 29, 2020

COVID-19 and the imaginary nature of county lines



My friend Mary Ellen shared this chart overnight --- one of the more useful among countless items shared on social media during the COVID-19 crisis; and after passing it along in turn I decided this morning to plant it here.

I love to know where stuff comes from, but the source of this chart remains elusive. It seems to be based upon a learning zone model put forward ca. 2000 by a Tom Senninger, usually described as a German academic. I tried following it down that rabbit hole --- and gave up.

I suspect we'll never know who recast the model in this form --- many agencies, organizations and individuals have stamped their mark on various reproductions of it. The wording differs slightly in some.

But it's a useful way to think about how we're reacting to the current situation and perhaps an aid to the task of setting goals.

The situation in Lucas County has been unchanged --- no confirmed cases of COVID-19. But then testing in Iowa is just getting off the ground.

The governor is attempting to "re-open" those counties with fewer (or no) COVID-19 cases while continuing to impose stricter rules in "hot spots." She seems to have ignored advice from the medical community in doing this. It seems like a hazardous --- politicized --- thing to do.

But the thing of it is, no one really knows for sure --- we will find out in the coming days.

Meanwhile, ignore your social media (and other) friends who tell you extreme precautions are the stuff of sissies --- they're insecure and feel threatened now in situations beyond their control. And remember that there is no anti-COVID-19 vaccine, there are no anti-viral medications, medical personnel can do little more than treat symptoms and the virus has no idea what a county line is.

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