As the old saying goes, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

And that’s what the people of Kentucky and in our own community have done amidst a global pandemic that has presented unprecedented circumstances.

Life hasn’t been easy since March, when the first case of the coronavirus was reported in Kentucky and the state all but shut down to try to slow the spread of the potentially deadly virus.

After weeks of business shutdowns, the state slowly began to reopen, and its people have been able to adapt to try to go about life as normally as possible while still protecting those we love and our neighbors from the danger of the virus, which spreads through respiratory droplets that might be in the air from talking, coughing, or sneezing.

Times have been confusing, but well-meaning citizens can only do what is recommended, and that’s listen to what health professionals are advising us to do.

Those recommendations are easy: wash your hands, don’t touch your face, wear a mask in public places, keep your distance from others, and stay home if you’re sick.

They’re small sacrifices to make to protect the lives of our neighbors, and so many people in our community have risen to the occasion to do just that.

Some have done so more reluctantly than others, but still, they do it.

Taking these steps not only protects our neighbors from the virus, it also made reopening our economy a possibility, and hopefully that lasts.

Businesses face huge hurdles because of the necessary shutdown from the virus, and we need to do whatever we can as good citizens to allow them to stay open. That includes practicing the safety measures outlined above, but also patronizing local businesses and industries as much as possible.

Keeping these businesses open not only helps the owners, it means many more people can get back to work and stay at work. After unemployment reach record highs in the state, that is more important than ever.

And while we’re thanking our readers and our neighbors for the sacrifices they are making, we would be remiss for not recognizing those frontline workers, especially those in the health care field, that are making it possible for us to go about our lives with as much normalcy as possible.

While we can’t anticipate when COVID will no longer be a daily fear in our lives, we know that there are things each of us can do to alleviate the pressures that come with living in a global pandemic.

Thank you for being responsible and compassionate, and please continue to live in such a way so that our economy can remain open and we can protect the lives of those around us.