Spin Control: What’s right term for those social distancing orders?

When the coronavirus hit and people were told to limit their movement to prevent the spread of COVID-19, government officials searched for the right term for their order.

Quarantine? Not medically accurate. Lockdown? Connotations of a prison riot. Isolation? Not true if you’re with family.

For a while, some used the term “shelter in place.” But that’s a term used for natural disasters like tornadoes or hurricanes, and COVID-19 isn’t that kind of disaster. Plus it means you don’t move until the disaster is over, and that’s not in the cards, considering the pandemic is a long-term situation and folks have to get out for essentials.

Washington went with “Stay Home, Stay Healthy,” a bit of double alliteration. Oregon has the slightly more emphatic “Stay Home, Save Lives.” California added a preposition for its “Stay-At-Home Order.” Idaho, which runs a much more stripped down state government and probably doesn’t need no stinking prepositions, went for the basic: Stay-Home Order.

Vermont has “Stay Home, Stay Safe,” while Utah called its campaign – not an order, mind you – “Stay Safe, Stay Home.”

Oklahoma and Wisconsin have “Safer At Home.” Kentucky went with “Healthy At Home.” Maine has “Stay Healthy at Home.” Then there’s “Stay Home Missouri” to make it clear to the residents of that state “Yeah, you. We’re talking to you.”

Playlists for the pandemic

The coronavirus might be touching every aspect of life, down to the playlists on cell phones and iPods, prompting discussions of what titles should go on, and what should come off.

For social distancing, you might add “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” by The Police. Probably want to eighty-six “Come a Little Bit Closer” by Jay and the Americans for a while, and “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles, considering Dr. Anthony Fauci says handshaking may be a no-no for a while.

For those tired of the shelter in place orders, try “Stay, Just a Little Bit Longer,” but probably the original version by Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs, or covers by the Hollies or Four Seasons. The Jackson Browne version usually starts with “Load Out,” which is about rock concerts and it might just remind you that all of them are canceled.

For anxiety for any reason, “Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright” by Bob Marley and The Wailers is always a good listen.

If you have suggestions, email them to the address at the end of the column.

Say what?

Don’t feel bad if you’re losing track of days while adhering to the stay-home order. It’s happening to everyone.

Including Gov. Jay Inslee. During a news conference last week he was saying he didn’t have a crystal ball to answer questions like when and how sporting events would start back up because too much was out of his control. Focus on one day, today, he said.

“That’s the day that’s important. And I think it’s April 15th. If it isn’t April 15th, it’s close to April 15th.”

It was, in fact, April 15th.