The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 6, 20 20 | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@theifp.ca IndependentAndFreePress @IFP_11 WHO WE ARE Publisher Kelly Montague Regional General Manager Steve Foreman Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Distribution Representative Iouliana Polar Real Estate Kristie Pells Regional Production Manager Manuel Garcia Production Shelli Harrison Halton Media General Manager Vicki Dillane CONTACT US The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 77 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 Phone: 905-873-0301 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-873-0398 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at theifp.ca Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail lpolar@miltoncanadianchampion.com or call 905-234-1019. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT THEIFP.CA It's here. Recently Canadians learned the lethal virus they have been fearing, the one now spreading across China, has arrived on our shores. Since the start of this year, Canadian health officials have been bracing the country to withstand an outbreak of this virus. At this early stage, at least, there are reasons to hope Canada is prepared. This fortunate state of affairs is largely because of an- other deadly epidemic 17 years ago. In 2003, an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) claimed 44 lives in Canada, made nearly 400 others ill, overstressed our health care system and cost the economy an estimated $4 billion. But the bitter lessons learned from SARS -- and that includes from the mistakes made responding to it -- are instructing us now. As it was in the SARS epidemic, today's enemy is a novel coronavirus. This one is called 2019-nCoV. And as it was in the SARS epidemic, the epicentre of the outbreak lies in China, this time in the city of Wuhan. There is some comfort in knowing China also learned from SARS and is taking extraordinary measures to control the current outbreak. The world has never seen the likes of the lockdown of 18 Chinese cities with 56 million residents that is now going on. Despite these efforts many people have died in China and thousands of others have fallen ill. And the virus is spreading abroad. The Toronto man infected with Canada's first case of the coronavirus showed symptoms of being ill on an airplane while returning from China. He called 9-1-1 after feeling ill. The strategy for coping with this virus is clear -- identi- fying people entering the country who might have the vi- rus, working to stop it from spreading through the general population and treating those who become ill while making every effort to protect health-care workers. It's good to know the Public Health Agency of Canada -- which was created post-SARS -- has put up signs at air- ports in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal instructing travellers from China's Wuhan region to report to border agents if they have flu-like symptoms. Also reassuring is the fact that doctors and public health officials have been taking specimens from people who have travelled here from anywhere in China, not just Wuhan. Meanwhile, hospitals across the country have been getting ready by stocking supplies and educating workers. Hospital staff dealing with suspected cases of the virus are protecting themselves by wearing proper face-fitting masks, gloves and gowns. Such precautions are another lesson from SARS, which spread to doctors and nurses and made that crisis even harder to deal with. But will all this be enough? No one knows. Yet the best way for health officials to allay fears and guide the public is to provide people with comprehensive, understandable and timely updates about the virus, as well as instructions on how to prevent its spread. There will likely be more cases of the virus. Nor are we invulnerable to another epidemic. But all those better preparations should leave us better protected. LESSONS FROM SARS GUIDE CANADA NOW As we settle into 2020, let's turn our thoughts to our hope for this new de- cade. Perhaps you've made New Year's resolutions or goals to improve your health, or you are taking up a new hobby as we move into the new year. One thing that can truly improve your outlook on life, as well as raise the for- tunes of those in need, is the choice to become di- rectly involved in helping others. You can choose to build the social safety net that al- lows everyone to have a sense of belonging, pur- pose and dignity. Doesn't that feel good? This year, more than 200,000 people will rely on the programs supported by your United Way. With community assis- tance, we are aiming to raise $11.1 million by March 31 to meet the baseline needs of 129 local programs serving Burlington, Halton Hills, Hamilton, Milton and Oakville. The need is urgent. The reality is that fund- ing pressures are enor- mous. In the midst of rising need, reductions in both corporate and government funding threaten pro- grams and services. This is where United Way plays a vital role, help- ing to offset the financial challenges local programs face. All told, at our current trajectory, United Way is projecting a shortfall of $400,000 in the communi- ty's campaign goal. United Way funding is critical to tackling #UNIG- NORABLE issues in our community, including mental illness, at-risk youth, hunger, homeless- ness, domestic violence and social isolation, among others. These problems belong to all of us, and will take the dedication and commit- ment of everyone to help solve them. Consider the following: one in four children experi- ence a mental health issue by the time they are 18; more than three-quarters of children from low-in- come backgrounds are un- able to read at their grade level by the time they reach Grade 3; and the rate of se- niors living in isolation is skyrocketing. Without targeted inter- ventions, these issues and many others will only grow in scope, holding more children, adults and fami- lies back from reaching their full potential. We know the love and generosity of those living in our community shines bright, and that together we can build neighbour- hoods that leave no one be- hind. Please donate today. Brad Park is the presi- dent and CEO of United Way Halton and Hamilton. HELP US HELP THOSE IN NEED PLEASE DON'T LET UNITED WAY'S PROJECTED SHORTFALL BECOME REALITY, WRITES BRAD PARK BRAD PARK Column EDITORIAL