As many of you may know, I have spent most of my adult life as a chef. I have been a small business owner with two restaurants, one of which is right here in Gorham. Currently I am a small food producer, and I am the house chef at Carter’s Green Market here in town. In the summertime I also sell my goods at the Greater Gorham farmers market. It’s no exaggeration to say that providing food for others is one of my primary passions. As a result of working so long in this field, I have come to understand a fundamental truth – those working in the food service industry come from all walks of life, political affiliations and religious beliefs, but one common practice unites us all: obsessive hand washing. I can wholeheartedly attest to the importance of cleanliness when it comes to food safety standards and transmission of germs.
The recent outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has us all thinking about hand washing and other basic healthy habits much more these days. Unfortunately, there has been considerable misinformation and fear surrounding this outbreak and best practices. Earlier this month my colleagues and I received a very informative briefing from Dr. Nirav Shah, the director of the Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC), and Peter Rogers, acting director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency, about what Maine is doing to keep us safe in light of the coronavirus.
Dr. Shah had two requests of the public at large: stay healthy and stay informed. We can stay healthy by washing our hands with soap and running water and by avoiding touching our faces; this is a difficult habit to break, but we really have to break it. Shah further emphasized the importance of practicing other healthy behaviors during this time, including exercising and eating and sleeping well. All factors that contribute to overall health will assist in strengthening our immune systems and allow us to guard against this new virus.
Shah and Rogers also emphasized the importance of staying up to date on accurate information. One way members of the public can stay informed is by signing up for Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) press releases by clicking here.
Aside from practical pieces of information about how the virus is spread and what we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones, we also learned that we are in extremely good hands at the Maine CDC. Shah and others have been meeting since before Christmas in preparation for this outbreak and have continued to ramp up efforts to keep Mainers safe and informed.
Sometimes, government involvement can feel burdensome or invasive. But at the heart of our system of government is a responsibility to the people. It is tasked with making sure our schools, roads, general infrastructure and so much more are functioning to the best degree possible. These are the services for which we pay taxes. Another important function of the government that we often overlook is its duty to ensure public safety. As this new virus sets in around the world, the role that governments play in protecting the general public is brought to the forefront. This is a perfect example of when government can really help make a difference and keep people safe. I am confident in the non-partisan experts working for the Maine CDC and DHHS.
However, at the end of the day, it appears the most useful thing we can all do is something I learned back when I was first training in food service: wash your hands! I encourage constituents to visit the US CDC website to stay abreast of this situation as it unfolds and feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have.
Rep. Maureen “Mo” Terry is serving her second term in the Maine House of Representatives. She is a chef and small business owner with more than 25 years of experience in the food service industry. She serves on the Taxation Committee.
(207) 712- 9735 | (800) 423-2900 | maureen.terry@legislature.maine.gov