The COVID-19 pandemic can lead to heated arguments and pointed fingers at differing viewpoints on social distancing and other restrictions, but a Guthrie County official says it’s best to worry about your own lifestyle than that of others.

Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf says that while it’s recommended for residents to wear face masks in public, it’s not a requirement. Kempf mentions that everyone has their own personal situation and beliefs and that we should be respectful of others’ opinions. Kempf emphasizes that COVID-19 doesn’t originate in a certain place, “If we get it as an individual then once we have it, we have the potential that even before we have the symptoms that we could spread it to someone else. So it’s not so much about taking care of the other person as it is taking care of ourselves. Because the last thing that we want to do as an individual is bring it back into our home or bring it back into our business or give it to someone else that is in possibly the healthcare field that might take into one of our long term care facilities.”

Kempf advises the top priority should be to take responsibility for yourself, such as keeping a mask with you when going out in public in case of situations when you don’t think you can keep six feet away from other people. Residents should also remember that gatherings of 10 or more people are still prohibited until May 27th, as per the latest Governor proclamation.