The one thing I've learned, especially over the past week, is that what I learn today won't necessarily be true the next day or even the next hour or so.
As everybody scrambles to make decisions about how to react to the coronavirus COVID-19 things change on an hourly basis.
Friday afternoon I sat down with Escambia County (Ala.) Circuit Judge Dave Jordan to see what the court system was going to do. At the time they had a court session scheduled to start Monday morning with hundreds of people being summoned to the courthouse for jury duty.
As we talked, I told him I wasn't taking notes because I figured whatever he told me Friday afternoon would be different that what he was going to tell me Monday morning.
He sent me a text Saturday morning saying the court session had been called off. He received that word later Friday from the Alabama Supreme Court to halt court cases. He was quick to say and point out that the court system wasn't shutting down, only trials.
During an emergency meeting Tuesday afternoon of the Escambia County (Ala.) County Commission, Circuit Clerk John Robert Fountain and Probate Judge Doug Agerton had real issues if the state of Alabama moved ahead with the March 31 runoff elections.
Fountain's concerns centered around absentee voting if the courthouse was closed; Agerton said a March 31 runoff would be a 'train wreck' because many of the elderly poll workers had already said they would not be working.
Things changed Wednesday morning when Gov. Kay Ivey announced the runoff would be held July 14.
Cities and counties across this nation and world have been gathering across the world to make decisions on how to treat the virus and how to keep their citizens safe.
In addition to the commission meeting Tuesday, I attended an emergency meeting of the Flomaton Town Council Monday afternoon where they declared a state of emergency and closed all its parks, shut down the library, the welcome center and the senior citizen building. The council also voted to lock the doors at town hall but leave the drive thru window open.
Atmore, Brewton, East Brewton, Jay, Century and others have done the same thing.
I've also seen a lot of dates posted about when certain things would re-open, such as schools opening as early March 27 in Escambia County Fla., April 6 across Escambia County, Ala., and April 15 in Santa Rosa County, Fla.
Keep in mind, those are estimates at best. I doubt any will open any earlier, but I won't be surprised to see some school systems stay closed longer.
Flomaton baseball coach Keith Nall has been getting conflicting dates as to when he may be able to get his team back on the practice field or play a game. He understands there is still a possibility that the 2020 baseball season may be lost.
I've heard a lot of people say we are all overreacting to this virus. They talk about the thousands and thousands of people who die every year from the flu and we don't shut down anything.
I'm no medical doctor but I've talked to some, listened to some on TV and radio and read their comments in multiple newspapers. Like these time frames people keep putting out about re-openings or holding elections on this date, doctors see a lot of unknowns associated with the virus.
The one thing they do agree with is that it spreads rapidly and can be fatal to the elderly and others who have other health issues. As of now there are no known antibiotics to kill the virus and no known vaccines to prevent it. Scientists are working around the clock to find these things but now it's up to us to try and control the spread.
All the doctors I've heard from also agree that the three most important things are washing your hands, avoiding large crowds and practicing social distancing. The list could go on to staying home if you have a fever or feel bad.
I heard some complaints about shutting down youth sports like Little League. At this point I don't have a real concern with the players, but I do have a concern with their grandparents coming to watch.
Escambia County (Ala.) Clerk Administrator said it best when he said we are in unchartered territory.
“It's not time to panic, it's time to make smart decisions,” Sanks said.
That's the best advice I've heard and that's advice that won't change.
Sanks delivered that advice to the county commission, but it's advice we should all take.
Most of the things you read in the Tri-City Ledger were either written Tuesday or Wednesday. Some things are set in stone, others are not. But it's important for all of us to make smart decisions to not infect ourselves and not infect others.
