To Our Readers and Park Slope Community,
By now, you are familiar with the novel coronavirus. You’ve read about its emergence in Wuhan, China and watched it spread to South Korea, Japan, and Thailand. You’ve learned that President Trump restricted travel to China a few days after Italy detected its first coronavirus case. You’ve watched the Italian Prime Minister announce a nationwide lockdown, followed by chilling videos of panicked and quarantined residents. You’ve listened to their stories, a disturbing foreshadow of the inevitable. “Don’t say you weren’t warned,” they cautioned Americans.
On March 11, The World Health Organization declared the rapidly spreading coronavirus a global pandemic. After learning this, you probably read the CDC’s recommendations for self-preparedness and researched ways to counter infection. You may have listened to “Ask the Mayor” segments on The Brian Lehrer Show, trusting Mayor de Blasio to keep a sense of normalcy while your world quickly began to unravel. Within a matter of days, your neighborhood was unrecognizable. Your neighbors have left indefinitely, playgrounds are empty, the windows of boutique shops are boarded up, and your favorite café is only serving drip coffee in a to-go cup. As a New Yorker, you’re used to sacrificing your privacy and coexisting in shared spaces, but now what? Now you are on “Pause,” and mandated to practice social distancing in all public places. Recently, you have probably read a headline in all caps: BREAKING NEWS–U.S. LEADS WORLD IN CONFIRMED CORONAVIRUS CASES.
During this time of uncertainty, we at the Park Slope Reader are committed to continuing to serve our community. Please follow us each week as we catalog changes in our neighborhoods while providing the latest medical developments and valuable resources. Park Slope and adjoining areas are unique to the New York City landscape, and we will continue highlighting our neighbors through weekly editorials. This is a challenging and historic time; please know we are committed to getting through this together.
Lastly, we want to know how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting you. If you have a story to share please contact us at office@psreader.com.
In Solidarity,
PSR