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Adjustments inevitable with COVID-19, but solid reporting shouldn’t be one of them


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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced all of us to make significant adjustments to our lifestyles. Gasoline now is calculated by weeks to the gallon. We no longer fear anyone walking into a convenience store at 3 a.m. wearing a mask. We ration toilet paper. And much like a calculator that displays the mounting national debt, we’ve become more immune to the rolling numbers of the dead and infected.

At the same time, the novel coronavirus has allowed us to focus our attention to other things. Who knew we were so desperate to work and be outside in fresh air? We spend a lifetime eager for nothing to do, only to become agitated and restless when the opportunity is forced upon us.

Nearly 12,000 residents signed a petition recently to demand St. Johns County officials to re-open their beaches. Shortly after Duval relented and made the sand and surf available once again, St. Johns did the same. Now the beaches have become a sacred ground for the masses who are tired of playing by the rules, no matter how well-intended and necessary they were.

Protesters are camped outside of governor’s mansions and city halls, demanding to go back to work. Some of the worst jobs in the world now seem suitable compared to standing in line at food pantries.

We’ve also learned it’s impossible to get your cellphone to unlock using facial recognition if you’re wearing a mask. It clearly takes more than alluring eyes to make a cellphone flinch.

Another thing that’s COVID-19 has affected are arrests. In a seven-day stretch starting April 15, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office has only made 49 arrests. That’s compared to 88 made during the same timeframe a year ago.

The virus doesn’t mean deputies suddenly are more forgiving. Sheriff Darryl Daniels staked his reputation on being a no-nonsense law enforcement guy. A pandemic isn’t going to change that.

It simply means there’s been less reported crime.

“I reached out to our chief of patrol and told him we’re not slowing down our enforcement of the law,” Daniels said. “The criminals just aren’t committing the crimes.”

Apparently when they hear words like “isolation,” “quarantine” and “lockdown,” it has a more-profound meaning.

“We’re averaging about 400 [inmates a night] and the majority of them are felons,” Daniels said. “I like to see things slow down. Although we’re not making as many arrests, we’re being just as productive.”

Some of his officers check on businesses to make sure they’re in compliance with the state and county guidelines that limit the number of people and the types of services provided by the few stores that still are open. Walmart calculates the number of customers inside the store to make sure there’s enough room to provide the mandated six-foot separation. Employees at the front doors said deputies often stop to check on their numbers.

In the world of media, especially newspapers, COVID-19 has made a significant impact. There are no games, meetings, press conferences, awards banquets, graduation ceremonies or retirements to cover. Real stories now start with an inspired thought, followed by hard work, interviews and thoughtful writing. That’s much harder than re-writing a press release or pulling stories off social media like some do to cut corners.

No matter how much COVID-19 will change the way everyone else moves forward, we will rely on old-fashioned hard work and solid reporting at Clay Today. If our name is on it, it means we believe our readers deserve an honest accounting.

Some lifestyles just weren’t meant to be changed.