NPR

Opinion: There Is No 'Get Tough' With Coronavirus; We Need A New Slogan

NPR's Scott Simon says slogans and bromides fall short when it comes to dealing with the new coronavirus.
A man crosses an empty street in Detroit, Michigan on March, 24, 2020. - At 12:01 am Tuesday March 24,2020 Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered a 'Stay at Home and Stay Safe Order' to slow the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the State of Michigan which now has 1,791 confirmed cases and 24 deaths due to the virus.

Americans like to think of ourselves as rolling up our sleeves to do a hard job.

But these days, we have to remind ourselves first: wash your hands!

The coronavirus has made some of our long-time slogans and clichés about confronting a crisis sound

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