With 565 COVID-19 cases now confirmed in nearly two-thirds of the state’s 77 counties, many local residents question the wisdom of not instituting mandatory statewide shelter-in-place rules now.

City Manager Dave Slezickey’s advice? Don’t wait for the government to act – take precautions now.

“Preventing the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s individual responsibility,” he said. “Governmental agencies provide guidance and advice, but there simply are not enough governmental resources to fully enforce compliance.”

He said the lack of complete information, due to testing scarcities as well as just “the newness of COVID-19 and the idea of a modern pandemic,” is causing both confusion and complacency.

“One of the most challenging issues with COVID-19 is the unknown,” Slezickey said. “We are so used to instant access to information at our fingertips, but in this case, reliable and credible expert advice is often mingled with opinions from less reliable sources.”

Practicing reasonable preventative measures now – and not waiting until the county has a verified case to trigger the government mandate – is a challenge, but also critical, he added.

“I think it’s a struggle to practice good preventative measures while trying to maintain a limited sense of normalcy since socialization is a key element in our lives,” Slezickey said. “However, it is imperative to limit contact and practice social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

He encourages using the technology available to maintain social connections while also keeping a safe distance.

“The same technology that gives us instant access to all kinds of information enables us to communicate from a distance with applications such as FaceTime, Google Duo, Zoom and other live interactive communication tools,” Slezickey said.

He also urges families to get outside to relieve the boredom and stress of indoor isolation, but he asks that they do so responsibly.

“Getting out of the house your outing with care,” Slezickey said. “Loading up the family for a drive or a picnic is a great idea. Loading the family up for a trip to Walmart, Atwoods or United isn’t a good idea.”

Between the city’s parks and Kingfisher Trails system, Lake Elmer and other outdoor venues, the city offers plenty of opportunities for families to get out and enjoy the nice weather and shake off a little cabin fever.

“As the Kingfisher Trails system navigates almost every neighborhood in town, it’s easy for everyone to access them,” Slezickey said. “We love for people to make use of all our outdoor facilities, as long as they do so safely, maintaining distance between their families and others and avoiding gathering in large groups.”