With a pandemic gripping the world and governments and residents scrambling to try to find ways to slow the spread of this new disease, life as we know it has changed.

We here at the Times News are working round-the-clock to try and keep up with this ever-changing storyline, which as the days tick by becomes more and more like a page out of a Stephen King novel rather than everyday life.

Many of us are working from home to keep you as informed as possible, both in print and online. Some are risking it and heading into the office to put in their shifts.

We are watching live­streams of conferences and meetings; calling and emailing our contacts for updates to municipal and county government actions; putting together lists of cancellations and what businesses are still open; combing through social media for story ideas and finding stories of those helping others to bring some sort of light in this seemingly endless darkness that is engulfing the world.

We are tired, we are working longer than normal hours, but we are here. And we will continue to be here to keep you all as informed as possible with what we all need to do to end this pandemic and bring normalcy back into our lives.

Most of us are rattled with the daily developments as the numbers of cases and deaths rise, while the number of available necessary resources for our first responders and hospital staff diminish.

I’m not going to lie. I am scared mainly because of what I see flying around the big news stations. I am scared and I am not afraid to admit it.

But, at the same time, I know that if we all band together, we as a nation and as a world will get through this just like we got through 9/11 19 years ago.

We must all do our part, not just as the media informing you, but as a person, a family member, a friend and a neighbor that we must follow the guidelines to flatten the curve.

Remember that this is only as temporary as we make it by washing our hands, staying away from others and working to slow the spread so our health care workers, who are working tirelessly on the front lines, can keep up with demand and hopefully show us the best scenario outcome instead of the worst.

But until life returns to normal, our schoolchildren go back to class and our new worlds shift back to old ways, remember, we are here to serve you.

Stay safe and God bless.

If you have an interesting story, whether it be one of something you or someone you know doing something kind for someone else, or on how you are helping children in this time of matter, we want to hear from you. Please email news tips, cancellations and announcements to tneditor@tnonline.com.