Ken DeFurio

Jan. 31, 2020. That is the first day I remember having a discussion at Butler Health System about the novel coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, and the impact that it would have on Butler County and the people who live here. Here we are, nearly a year later, and some of our biggest worries from those early days have come true.

Can you imagine going to work every day — you're just doing your job — worrying that you may become sick, or even worse, you may go home and make your family sick? Can you imagine going to work every day, and on a regular basis, watch people die in front of you? It sounds beyond comprehension, doesn't it?

Yet this is the reality of the nurses, respiratory therapists and doctors working at Butler Memorial Hospital and Clarion Hospital. Right now. This is the reality of health care professionals at any hospital in the country. This is the reality of a multitude of health care workers who work with and support nurses and doctors — housekeepers, dietary workers, laboratory personnel, radiology technologists, rehabilitation professionals, IT, registration. ... The list goes on and on. Everybody is working hard. They are tired. And they are at risk.

Butler Health System is committed to caring for our community. That commitment will never end. We have been open and transparent about what is happening and what we are doing. We want you to know what is happening. We want you to know how you can help.

And that is the point: COVID-19 is a deadly virus. And it can make people very, very sick. It is a respiratory pathogen, spread by you breathing air that others have breathed. You spread virus to others when they breathe air that you have breathed. I will say this for what feels like the 10 millionth time: Wear a mask. Keep your distance. Avoid gatherings.

In medicine, we are driven by science, data and facts. It is not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing. It's a matter of being educated and being open to that education. Every time you leave your house and you do not wear a mask around others, you are putting yourself and the people around you at risk. That is how the virus spreads.

Individual opinions on social media and the internet are just that: opinions. The reason that this is called a “novel” coronavirus is because it is new. Everybody in the world who is treating this disease wishes we knew more about it. But for sure we do know a lot more about it now than we did just 10 months ago. And what we know is based on science, evidence-based medicine, and legitimate research.

As you have heard, there are several vaccines on the horizon that show promising results. They will likely soon receive emergency use authorization. This is great news. The development of these vaccines is unprecedented in speed to market and apparent effectiveness. But it will take many months for widespread distribution of the vaccines.

This battle is not over. We will continue to fight for the foreseeable future. Please do your part. Protect yourself. Protect health care workers. Allow them to remain healthy and available to care for you and your loved ones when you need it.

Wear a mask.

Ken DeFurio is president and CEO of Butler Health System.