The City of Marshall is continuously monitoring and responding to coronavirus (COVID-19) information, reacting on how best to respond related to safeguarding the public and knowing that some of the responses will evolve as more information is gained. With you, we will continue to provide leadership in these extraordinary times.

Mayor Bob Byrnes has been responsible for providing overall direction of the city’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) In addition, the Mayor has provided guidance and directives to the Council and staff on specific actions taken since the EOP was activated on March 17.

Director of Public Safety Jim Marshall ensures the management of emergency operations including resource coordination between government agencies and people in the private sector. Director Marshall also lends support to the city’s Continuity of Business Operations Plan which details how the city will continue to operate if facing reductions in staff due to infection or required isolation.

Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center provided early on guidance to the city on potential impact of COVID-19 on the community by sharing their action steps and vital information. Avera Marshall Regional President and CEO Mary Maertens was one of the first to express to city leaders how this could become a pandemic, which eventually was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11th. Councilmember and Avera Doctor Steve Meister has been the city’s go-to in sharing his knowledge of the virus to our community in a common-sense easy to understand approach through the many video updates to date posted on the city’s social media sites.

Our residents’ leadership has been demonstrated by adhering to the governor’s direction to stay at home with the goal to keep people away from each other and common spaces, depriving the virus of its ability to infect people.

One area of future attention is reducing stigma related to this virus. Public health emergencies, such as COVID-19, can lead to stigma of people, places, and things believed to be associated with the virus. For example, people from a specific nationality, population, or region of the world, may be discriminated against even though they may not be at increased risk of having the virus. Likewise, people who have been released from COVID-19 quarantine may be stigmatized, even though they are no longer contagious or at risk of spreading the virus.

One community outside of Marshall that recently had a positive case faced gossip on how the infection could have occurred with the answer all dependent on who you asked. Another resident from a southeast Minnesota county, who contracted COVID-19 and fully recovered, was turned into the local Sheriff for being out in the community even though he had been cleared to do so by medical professionals. Suspicion and speculation painful to both families involved.

As we face community spread in our own community, we must ensure we reduce stigma and provide support to one another.

Some COVID-19 Facts to Combat Stigma from Harvard School of Public Health:

• Coronavirus doesn’t recognize race, nationality, or ethnicity. COVID-19 started in Wuhan, China. That is just a location. Chinese ancestry — or any other ancestry — does not make a person more vulnerable to COVID-19.

• Wearing a mask does not mean a person is sick with COVID-19. People wear masks for a number of reasons, such as cultural or social reasons and to avoid pollen and air pollution. We should not assume someone has COVID-19 just because they are wearing a mask.

• Combat stigma by sharing accurate information about COVID-19. Avoid spreading misinformation. Stay informed through reliable, trusted sources, such as the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

• Say something if you see, read, or hear, misinformation or discriminatory information. Politely correct the misinformation and remind the speaker that stigmatized language and behaviors increase fear and make us all less safe.

•Show empathy and support for those most closely impacted. Listen, be empathetic, and, with permission, share the stories of people experiencing stigma, along with a message that discrimination is not acceptable.

Thank you Marshall community for cultivating resiliency by your actions and leadership.

Sharon Hansen is the city

administrator for the City

of Marshall