Blue Planet Journey

Governor Herbert’s color-coded health guidance system now has Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties in the “yellow” or low risk phase. We know this comes as a relief to many, because it means we “flattened the curve” and avoided overwhelming our local health care system with sick COVID-19 patients.



This outcome came at a terrible cost for many individuals and businesses. Our routines were uprooted, people lost their incomes, businesses suffered major losses, and travel plans were postponed.


And people have suffered. This week, we exceeded 100,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been over 1,700,000 cases, with over 8,800 in Utah. Some cases involved hospitalization, but most people have stayed home with fever or chills, a cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, or a number of other symptoms. Recovery occurs, but we don’t yet know the long-term impact of this disea…

The phrase "social distancing" is now in everyone's vocabulary. Caroline tells me that the phrase is troubling to her, because social interactions are critical to our well-being, and people should avoid social isolation. In the Age of COVID-19, the trick is to socialize safely.  I think we will call it novel distancing... a new normal of distancing.  Socialize, yes.  But watch your spacing!

Novel distancing can be defined as increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. It should have no relationship to the degree of socialization between people.  For COVID-19, the prescribed distance is 6 feet, although I came across a World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of only 3 feet!  The average arm length for an adult male is about 25 inches, and probably a tad less for women.  So in novel distancing, not only should you not be able to touch another person, but neither of you should be able to touch each other with your arms extended.  In other …

At the time I write this, the coronavirus Covid-19 continues its march around the globe. I've written previously about my experience flying to Hawaii after 2 Caribbean cruises with thousands of passengers, including dozens (I assume) from China, and when arriving at HNL, I was "lyfted" home with nary a question on February 3. Later that week, I wrote to Dr. Bruce Anderson, the director of the Hawaii Department of Health, after attending a briefing at the Manoa Neighborhood Board meeting:

"As I listened to your presentation, I reflected that 3 days earlier, I had returned from a Caribbean cruise, with numerous people on board from Asian counties. Yet there was no question for me when I entered Hawaii. Perhaps the agricultural form that all visitors and residents are required to complete before entering the state needs to have a few questions regarding travel and health."

Dr. Anderson replied, "As far as I know, all airline and cruise ship passengers are infor…