Craig Hoffman is a former Ada resident, a graduate of Ada High School and ONU. Craig now lives in Japan with his wife and daughter. Last week he sent the Icon an update on the coronavirus from Japan. His story follows here:

So, most folks in America are waiting for the coronavirus to come their way, but it is already here in Japan.

As of Monday, there were nearly 1,200 people infected with the new coronavirus in Japan, with about 700 of them from a cruise ship. Hokkaido had the largest group of those infected at over 100 according to “Japan Today.” That doesn’t seem like many cases, but it has affected daily life here. 

Most schools have closed across Japan. In fact, my daughter will not return to classes until early April. By chance, my main job contract ended, and most of my other work has been suspended due to the outbreak. So, I, too, am hanging out at home every day. This disruption is not expected to be a short term problem.

The battle to contain the new coronavirus could take months or even last beyond year-end, a Japanese government panel of experts on communicable diseases warned Monday in the Japanese Mainichi newspaper. 

In fact, Japanese health officials stated: “Using the equations and the government's demographic estimate as of October 2018, Tokyo is estimated to see 45,400 outpatients and 20,500 inpatients per day, of whom 700 will be in severe condition.”

As of this writing, 27 countries and regions are restricting entry of visitors from Japan in response to the novel coronavirus epidemic. And, the coronavirus threatens to push the Japanese economy straight into a recession. Thankfully, my life, outside of the school closing has remained much the same.

My family, with masks on, goes shopping daily. There was an early run on things like toilet paper and masks. People raided stores for emergency supplies and food. But, the general flow of merchandise, save for the masks, has returned to normal. Yet, there is a general feeling of uneasiness. 

People are worried about the coronavirus. The economic impact on tourism in this country has been enormous. Of course, too, everyone wonders, “Are the Olympics going to be cancelled?” But, the reality is nobody knows.

Certainly, I don’t think I am going to die from the coronavirus. I do wear a mask now in public places. And, no doubt, I am taking an extra moment to thoroughly wash my hands every day. But, that is more about trying to avoid spreading the disease to at risk segments of the Japanese population rather than fearing for my life.  

I write this letter not to scare anybody in America. Instead, I hope to tell everyone that things are likely going to get tougher for folks in the States as the disease inevitably spreads across the country, but life will go on for everybody. But, it is important to stay calm and come together as a nation, state, town, and most of all as family, friends, and neighbors.
--