03/21/2020
Our Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic Emergency
Dear Customers,
As of this writing, we are seeing more and more government restrictions and advisories relative to the novel Coronavirus, a dangerous virus which is new to the world, and which the human race has no immunity to.
It is estimated with 80% confidence by Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch, head of the NIH-funded Center of Communicable Disease Dynamics, that 40 to 70% of the world population will become infected. He is not the only credentialed person to make similar estimations.
It appears that the lack of immunity means that the epidemic may not die out until “herd immunity” is achieved, when 70 to 80% have become infected. Weeks ago, Lipsitch estimated that 2.5 to 3.5 million Americans will die of this, and over 70 million worldwide, possibly surpassing the deaths of the 1918 Influenza pandemic.
Because the number of cases is expected to increase exponentially, it is estimated by some that US hospitals will be overwhelmed by early to mid May. Some of Italy’s hospitals are already in triage mode, and according to major media reports, allowing patients in their 80’s to die, as the resources there are not sufficient to treat all patients.
Major media reports indicate that crematoria are operating 24/7 in Northern Italy, but are overwhelmed. The Italian military is tasked with moving bodies to other locations for cremation. Similar, unverified reports, were coming out of China. This is the likely fate of nations that to fail to respond early to the pandemic.
It is said that COVID-19 will show up in 80% of infected persons in a “mild” way. However a “mild” case of this disease involves everything that does not require oxygen therapy, ranging from no symptoms to high fever, cough, and pneumonia. A “severe” case requires oxygen therapy, sometimes a breathing tube and ventilator. “Critical” cases involve respiratory failure or multiple organ failure.
The most affected are the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions/risk factors. About 10% of known cases require intensive care, and about 15 to 20% require hospitalization. Some risk factors include being a cigarette smoker and obesity. Elderly are by no means the only ones affected. A doctor at Milan, Italy’s major hospital reported an alarming number of patients in their 40s with very bad cases.
The above is not to scare you out of your wits, but to scare you into your wits. We need to be serious about taking precautions to avoid becoming infected.
Here is what you should do, and what you should know about our policies during this national pandemic emergency:
1) If you are experiencing a cough, fever, or unusual shortness of breath, absolutely do not come to the laundromat. Stay home and/or seek medical treatment. If we notice persons with chronic coughs or other relevant symptoms, our staff is instructed to ask them to leave. We have a notice posted relative to this;
2) My recommendation, based on information from public sources, is to wash or sanitize your hands on a regular basis. If you do cough, cover your cough;
3) Keep 6 to 10 feet from people when possible;
4) Our preference is that persons wear masks. You could be sick and not know it, and if you do cough, you will thereby reduce the likelihood of infecting others;
5) If you come to the laundromat by car, please return to your car after you have started your washers. The typical washer cycle is 30 minutes. This will help to minimize your contact with other customers and staff;
6) After your dryer cycle is complete, please unload your dryer and drape your clothes into your laundry basket and take it home for folding. Again, this will reduce your time at our facility, and will reduce the likelihood that you will contract or pass on the virus;
7) During this time of medical emergency, we will not be polishing washers. Instead we will be disinfecting those same washer surfaces, as well as tables and chairs, doorknobs, and other objects that customers come in contact with;
8) For your protection, we have removed the tables and chairs from the customer lobby/seating area to reduce close face-to-face contact.
We have automatic sanitizing stations on order that will hopefully be available to customers in the coming weeks. Due to high demand, there is a delay in acquiring these items;
If anyone has any other additional suggestions for improving safety, please let me know.
As of now, it is not evident that we will be shut down, and I don’t think it is likely, as laundromats are deemed essential services by some; San Francisco just imposed strict quarantine restrictions, but they exempt laundromats. The same is true for the statewide quarantine ordered by the California governor. There is a good chance that this will be the pattern of upcoming government shutdown/quarantine orders.
President Trump mentioned in a recent press conference that the pandemic could continue to impact us until July or August, although this is an estimate that is subject to change. It is possible that the disruption will only be severe during a part of the period of the time between now and August.
We are all in this together, and, God willing, we will get through this together.
Thank you for your patronage!
