In my red State, there are several blue counties. I happen to live in one of these, and our chief commissioner issued a stay-at-home order on March 25, 2020. On the same day, the county health department determined that there were too few coronavirus test kits, and the intensive care unit was at full capacity.

On March 26, 2020, the mayor of the county seat followed suit, issuing a” Stay at Home” executive order. The other nearby blue county has a blue city in it. You may know of this city, as it is home to the world’s busiest airport and the state capitol. The mayor there issued a stay-at-home order on March 24, 2020. She also made the decision based on the warnings of health officials. They stated that being too close and in constant contact with others would increase the duration and severity of deaths associated with this pandemic.

It’s baffling that the State’s governor allegedly told the press yesterday he didn’t know asymptomatic carriers could spread the novel coronavirus, which experts say causes COVID-19. My State also houses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, so the governor’s confusion was surprising. This is especially odd since, on March 14, 2020, he signed a “public health state of emergency” outlining the dangers of the virus.

Well, maybe he wasn’t clueless. Perhaps the governor was referring to the CDC’s April 2 report regarding presymptomatic transmission when he mentioned:

“Well, we didn’t know that until the last 24 hours“. 

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp

In an early release on April 2, 2020, the CDC reported that COVID-19 can be transmitted by individuals before they exhibit any symptoms.

Asymptomatic means the infected may never show symptoms at any stage.

Presymptomatic means that the newly infected person has not yet exhibited any signs or symptoms of the disease. Eventually, the infected will experience symptoms.

The CDC released the presymptomatic report within those 24 hours that the governor referenced. Whether it was the slip of the tongue or ignorance, the governor still made the call to announce the state-ordered Shelter-in-Place protocol. The order is in effect from 6 pm on April 3 to April 13, 2020. Consequently, the latter is the same end date as the March 14 public health emergency declaration.  

So, perhaps what’s giving me pause is why the news media focused their reporting on what he allegedly said, rather than his actions.  

Honestly, that’s not entirely true.

I know why. It’s “because – ratings.”  

Sensationalism for high ratings was one of many aspects I disliked about broadcast news, and I refused to play that role while reporting. Destroying someone’s reputation had no place in my work. Controversy and character assassination only distract from what is truly important to the public.

As a news reporter, I had to fact-check my stories and use primary sources whenever possible. This approach is especially important in mainstream news media. Journalists are expected to research and gather facts directly, rather than relying on other media, to obtain information from the source.

Before running the story, a conscientious reporter could have asked for clarification, though it might mean not being first.

Still, fast and wrong is wrong.

And wrong, in this case, meant they missed the plot twist that the newly infected can pass on the virus before they exhibit their first symptoms.

We can spread this potentially fatal virus as presymptomatic, asymptomatic, and symptomatic carriers. This new information leads us to today’s protocol of wearing masks in public.

So, don’t let the news media use legerdemain on you to fatten their bottom line. The governor’s “I didn’t know” was a titillating talking point. Still, once you fact-checked his assumption against his actions, you quickly realized his response was in direct opposition to his actions.  

Ergo, the reporting wasn’t “fake,” but in their haste to get a provocative news angle, they missed an opportunity to update this still-developing story.

How can we get the story when reporting goes awry? Focus on what affects your health and safety, especially when news distracts.

• If you’re privileged to have access to the internet, use it! You can fact-check the news gatherers. Begin with primary sources. If your state, county, and municipality are like mine, you will have access to an interactive government website or websites.  
  
  If your government is advanced, it may offer a public access television station for local information.
  
  For example, during today’s viewing of this direct, unfiltered information, I learned the Secretary of State sent out absentee ballot applications. All 6.9 million eligible voters can vote in the May 19 presidential primary election by mail or in person.  
• If you prefer filtered news, hyperlocal media can help. Hyperlocal outlets are growing and share community information directly from your area.
• The two hyperlocal media groups I am aware of are Patch and Tapinto, which deliver local news directly to your email inbox as it happens.

Now, back to the governor, whose possible misquote landed him and his 2018 Democratic gubernatorial opponent as a top trending topic on Twitter from Thursday into Friday.

He also held the front-page headline of every primary news website. If I were his press secretary, I’d take the loss. His blunder turned into a big win for the State of Georgia. For a short time, we had the nation’s attention.

According to Patch News, we have more than 1000 residents hospitalized. In my county, as of Tuesday, March 31, 2020, we’ve had three reported deaths and 66 cases related to COVID-19. For our health and well-being, we’re on lockdown until after Easter Sunday.

In today’s climate, not looking out for your interest could be a matter of life or death. Don’t let the news media or politicians manipulate you for their own gain. You have the power at your fingertips.

Be Safe, Be Well.

Question of the day. Is it just me, or have you taken an unusual interest in UFO documentaries during this stay at home period?