The following address was delivered by Ariel Gonzalez, Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 2, explaining the rationale behind federal, state and local governments’ decisions to implement “stay-at-home” orders in response to the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to mitigate the spread of the virus. In these uncertain times, it is imperative that we not become overwhelmed with anxiety, but instead confront our fears with optimism and hope for a better tomorrow.

*Note: The statistics cited in the transcript below reflect the number of positive coronavirus cases in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as of Sunday, April 12. For real-time updates of COVID-19 cases both nationwide and by locality, consult the Johns Hopkins Corona Virus Resource Center.

Brethren,
These are indeed uncertain times.
As of Sunday April 12 there are now 23,000 cases of COVID-19 in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 6,386 of which are in the city of Philadelphia, with the number of hospitalizations on the rise. New Jersey currently has over 61,850 cases and is second only to New York state in the number of positive coronavirus cases in the United States. Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware have all been named major disaster areas. The viral outbreak we are currently experiencing is unparalleled in both scope and magnitude to anything we have ever encountered. In response to this global pandemic, federal, state and local officials have instituted policies out of an abundance of caution in an effort to mitigate the spread of the virus and to protect the welfare of our most vulnerable citizens. There is no question that these policies have disrupted our daily lives, inciting fear, anxiety, doubt and panic as we continue to grapple with a national crisis that has closed schools, workplaces, houses of worship and public spaces; crippled the stock market; and contributed to widespread unemployment, leaving many to wonder how they will be able to provide for themselves and their families in these uncertain times. The goal of this broadcast is to provide context as to why the measures taken by government officials were implemented and why they should be followed. In so doing, it is my sincere hope that providing context to the situation will yield some measure of comfort as we grapple with a pandemic that has manifested into a global economic and public health crisis.
At the heart of this crisis is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, often abbreviated as SARS-CoV-2, but more commonly referred to in the news as simply “coronavirus”. The coronavirus belongs to a family of viruses that have been known to science for decades, however, this particular strain has never been seen before and is therefore referred to as “novel coronavirus” in that it is “novel” to our body’s immune systems. As a result, it is not possible to develop immunity to the virus without first contracting it. It is thought that the coronavirus originated in bats and was transmitted to humans via the pangolin. When humans are infected with the coronavirus, they are said to have acquired COVID-19 which stands for “coronavirus disease 2019”—the year in which the virus was first identified. Although the vast majority of those who contract the virus will show mild symptoms and will recover, it is particularly hazardous to the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions, whose immune systems are not sufficiently strong to fend off the virus, resulting in medical complications that can ultimately lead to death.
What makes this virus so dangerous is three-fold: (1) most of the individuals who contract the virus are asymptomatic and display no signs of illness; (2) even if one were to develop symptoms, it can take up to 14 days for those symptoms to manifest; and (3) the virus is transmitted from person to person via respiratory droplets that are spread via breathing, coughing and sneezing. Although the overwhelming majority of people who contract the virus will recover, they may unknowingly become carriers of the virus and therefore can spread it to others who are elderly or immunocompromised and might later require hospitalization. In short, this virus is incredibly easy to transfer from person to person and there is still much about the virus we have yet to fully understand. It is estimated that each person who contracts the virus could potentially spread it to up to 3 other people before they themselves develop symptoms, if they ever do at all. Each of those 3 individuals could in turn spread the virus to 3 more people, causing the number of positive coronavirus cases to grow exponentially. Further complicating matters is the fact that due to a shortage of available testing kits, it is not yet possible to discern who has contracted virus and who has not, leaving us with no other option but to self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution.
The concern for medical professionals is that if too many people from these vulnerable populations become infected at the same time and require hospitalization simultaneously, the result would overwhelm the hospital system. To slow the spread of the virus and “flatten the curve”, governments in the Tri-State area and around the country have instituted mandatory “stay-at-home” orders to reduce the chance that people unknowingly spread the virus to one another. To date, over 97% of the U.S. population is under some variation of “shelter in place” or “stay at home” order, with exemptions granted only to first responders, medical professionals and those employed at businesses deemed by the state as “life-sustaining”. As a result, businesses have been shuttered, and school districts closed in an effort to slow the spread of the virus so to prevent the collapse of the country’s healthcare system from an overload of patients. Furthermore, when people do go out to purchase groceries, visit their pharmacy or purchase gas, they are encouraged to practice “social distancing” in which we stand at least 6 feet apart from one another. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has encouraged all U.S. Citizens to improvise face masks out of scarves, handkerchiefs, bandanas and other common household items to be worn when going out in public in an effort to minimize the spread of respiratory droplets.
Yes, these “state-at-home” policies are disruptive. Yes, the closure of businesses and workplaces have contributed to economic uncertainty for millions of our neighbors. Yes, these policies limit what we can do, who we can associate with, where we can travel, and how we go about living our lives. But consider this: The virus is already here in the United States; over 20,000 lives have already been lost to the disease with hundreds of thousands more confirmed positive for the coronavirus. This is not the flu. There is no vaccine, nor will there be one commercially available for the next 18 months, at the earliest. (For context, the typical vaccine can take up to a decade from discovery through multiple phases of clinical trials and rigorous testing before it can even be considered suitable for the marketplace.) The only strategy we have to combat the virus is to not contract it in the first place which requires that we fundamentally re-evaluate how we govern ourselves. Federal, state and local officials recommend the following guidelines in order to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus:
1.     Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds especially after you have been out in public
2.     Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
3.     Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible
4.    Sneeze or cough into a tissue, or the inside of your elbow
5.     If you feel sick, stay at home. Do NOT go to work.
6.     If your children are sick, keep them at home. Contact your medical provider.
7.     Avoid close contact with people who are sick
8.     Practice “social distancing” by keeping yourself about 6 ft. away from the nearest person in public
9.     Work or study from home whenever possible
10.   Avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people
11.    Avoid non-essential travel
12.    Do NOT visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities
As of now, federal, state and local government officials anticipate that New York City—the current epicenter of the pandemic—will approach its peak number of positive coronavirus cases by Easter Sunday, with Philadelphia’s number of confirmed cases expected to peak about one week later. You have no doubt heard for some time of the government’s prerogative to “flatten the curve”. The apex of this “curve” refers to the peak number of new positive COVID-19 cases. It is the hope that by following the aforementioned guidelines instituted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), that this peak number of cases will not exceed local hospital systems’ abilities to provide emergency care to those who suffer hospitalizations as a result of contracting the coronavirus. With that in mind, it is imperative that each and every one of us adhere to these guidelines to mitigate the spread of this virus. Although the number of confirmed cases in the Tri-State area are anticipated to plateau over the next few weeks, we must continue to be vigilant now more than ever, in complying with the state’s orders to maintain social distancing. Numerous statistical models have shown social distancing’s effectiveness in containing the spread of the virus. To relax these policies now could inadvertently undermine weeks’ worth of efforts to contain the virus and possibly jeopardize the health and safety of our most vulnerable members.
The coronavirus is an invisible foe that can and will infect individuals regardless of sex, gender, age, race, sexual orientation, disability, geography, religion, socioeconomic status, class, national origin or political ideology. This pandemic is not limited in scope to any one nation, continent or even hemisphere. It is a global pandemic targeting all of humanity, and as such requires a global response. This pandemic has roiled our lives in ways we could never imagine, underscoring the underlying weaknesses of our country’s financial and healthcare systems, showcasing the fragility of even the world’s greatest economy. Despite these challenges, now is not the time to panic for panic is the true enemy. Panic compels us to stockpile resources, leaving others with little. Panic causes us to meet strangers with fear and suspicion, rather than with compassion and empathy. Panic sows division in a time when we must show unity—as fathers, brothers, sons, Pennsylvanians, Americans, global citizens and Freemasons. Panic implores us to give in to our darkest desires rather than appeal to our better angels. Do NOT succumb to Panic. Panic is the enemy. You are strong. Through your strength you shall persevere. Despite the nationwide shutdown, the economic slowdown, the self-imposed isolation and quarantines, know this: You are not alone. We are in this together. We will get through this.
As a reminder: under the authority of Thomas Gamon IV, Right Worshipful Grand Master of Pennsylvania, any and all Masonic activities including, but not limited to: Stated, Special and Extra Meetings, Schools of Instruction and social functions will be cancelled until June 1. This directive was issued by our Grand Master out of an abundance of caution to promote the health safety and welfare of the Lodge membership in response to the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) pandemic. Although, all Masonic activities have been postponed until June, please take comfort in knowing that the fraternity is alive and well. Freemasonry in this country has survived the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Great Depression, the Great Recession, two World Wars, as well as countless other national crises, tragedies, and geopolitical struggles. In like manner, we will survive this. In uncertain times such as these, when the world appears to be at the fringe, it’s helpful to pause and take stock of what’s most important: the health, safety and welfare of our family, our friends, our neighbors and our countrymen. When all seems lost and hopeless, we must pause to count our blessings and realize that more valuable than all the riches in the world, are the bonds we share as brothers. If there is one certainty that may be gleamed from this pandemic—it is that despite our differences, we are united in our shared humanity. As was famously said by President John F. Kennedy, “So, let us not be blind to our differences--but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.”
Be safe.
Be healthy.
Be thou for the people.
Good night.

To explore an in-depth analysis of how the coronavirus propagates as well as learn more about the coronavirus’s epidemiology, pathophysiology, and the diagnostic tools used by medical professionals to screen for the virus, consult the video below:

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Lodge No. 2 COVID-19 Address