It is a lonely drive to work. No school buses backing up traffic as they pause to pick up passengers. One or two other cars — far ahead — traverse the road. The rare bicyclist pedals at the side, no longer nervously glancing behind to ensure they will not be forced into a ditch by a line of vehicles eager to get…. Somewhere. A lone woman walks two dogs; several feet behind her, another single soul steps along. Then the sidewalk stretches for blocks, empty.

It is a strange world, this world molded by COVID-19. The isolation of workers and families has left not only emptiness in our streets, but emptiness in our daily lives.

This is true for those who work at and call The Newtown Bee “home,” as well. With the shuttering of our physical office and plant as of Friday evening, April 3, in compliance with the governor’s directive to “Stay Safe-Stay Home,” and to keep our staff safe, we cannot produce the print paper that so many rely upon for local news. However, we are resolute to return to production as swiftly as is practical; in the meantime, we will keep you in the know at newtownbee.com, on our Facebook page, and Twitter. Subscriptions will be extended for each week the print edition is not published.

We cannot celebrate or mourn,we cannot console each other’s losses as we would have just weeks ago. The touch we crave is put on hold, our fear of unwittingly sharing a deadly virus overriding our natural instincts to comfort in bear hugs, to embrace the people we know. Those we love are held only in our hands, our cell phones alight with photos and videos.

It is a world of hardships, but one that we respect, knowing that not to do so could mean calamity for ourselves, our town.

As the numbers of confirmed cases in our county, in Newtown, tick up every day, we begin to put names and faces to the afflicted. Coronavirus has become a reality. We reel with the realization that this, for the time being, is our universe.

In this darkness, though, how lovely to know that Newtown residents continue to reach out to each other as best can be done in this age of social distancing. And you can still reach our office at 203-426-3141, as calls will be monitored regularly. Questions and concerns can be directed, as well, to editor@thebee.com or sherri@thebee.com.

We wait patiently for this plight to pass. If we can recall, in future days, the sense of aloneness, our job will be to see that those who remain alone and lonely are finally offered a chance to pull close another human being, hands clasped, hearts aglow.

We wish only your safe travels through this unsettled period, and look forward to a day when we wheel out the dolly to the front of 5 Church Hill Road, loaded once again with the news you need and want.

Blessings be on each one of you, today and always.