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The 'P' Word Is Coming — That Is Pandemic

I can't see how the 'P' word is to be avoided.

The definition of a pandemic is a worldwide disease that has spread to all continents. I expect the World Health Organization (WHO) to be making that announcement this coming week. 

We are seeing the spread of the disease and and cases increasing in every country where they have been detected. As testing kits become more widely available here in the United States, I'm sure we will see a great increase in the number and the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19. 

It is highly contagious so where there is one known case, there are bound to be more found. 

What drastic measures might state public health or national command authorities (president) take concerning an attempt to contain the spread of the virus. The people of the United States are not like the Chinese who are used to top-down dictatorial instructions coming from our nation's leaders. The value of "American freedom" has much to to with people and how they might react to constraints being put on their personal movements. 

Then there are the conspiracy theorists. They will be having a field day with possible scenarios. I should dedicate a separate blog post to that topic. 

Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.