# Coronavirus - what do YOU intend to do differently?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266
**Category:** The Quarantine Zone
**Tags:** covid-quarantine
**Created:** [March 11, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266 "2020-03-11T13:33:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/1 "2020-03-11T13:33:42Z")
I know there are MANY threads, but I didn’t readily see one where Dopers shared their ideas of what specific steps they were going to take WRT to coronavirus. Might be useful to post general location, age, health, etc.
Me, I’m not planning on doing much differently, other than washing my hands more, trying to avoid touching my face, and less physical contact w/ others - shaking hands/hugging… I don’t tend to go to a bunch of crowded places, but for the present, I don’t intend to change much that I do. Will still shop in stores, meet to play music at coffee shops…
My wife and I tend to prefer our home and our company, and we just got a new puppy, so spending time at home is no burden - especially as the weather gets nicer.
She teaches, and my job has some public contact. Both of our employers have discussed potential “work-at-home” expansion.
No travel planner until May-June, but no current plans to change those. I think 2 of 3 trips in May-June will be driving, rather than flying.
Don’t know that we have any concert/play/lecture tickets for a couple of months, but if someone came to town I really wanted to see, I suspect I’d go. Went to a lecture last night, and have tentative plans to go to a movie tonight.
I live and work in a suburb of Chicago. I’m 59 and reasonably healthy.
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### Author:  [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/2 "2020-03-11T13:36:09Z")
I’m thinking more of my elderly relatives whom I might have to do food deliveries for if they need to stay at home.
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### Author:  [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/3 "2020-03-11T13:44:24Z")
Isolate as much as possible.
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### Author:  [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/4 "2020-03-11T13:54:37Z")
I’ve tried to stop touching the hand rails and poles on the Metro.
I use the hand sanitizer provided by my work when I come into work in the morning.
That’s about all the changes I’ve made.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/5 "2020-03-11T14:24:37Z")
Washing hands more frequently. Getting my home office set up enhanced so I can be more productive working from home. Buying painting supplies so if quarantined we can repaint the living and dining rooms.
Keeping an eye on our April travel destination and making contingency plans. Getting extra prescription meds so we’re set in case of a quarantine away from home.
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### Author:  [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/6 "2020-03-11T14:25:07Z")
I’m really not doing anything, currently. No cases yet in my state, but most surrounding states have some. I don’t have any travel plans until June, when I’m flying to Alaska by way of an airport in a city that does have a case, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed about that. I don’t plan on cancelling, so unless the airport does I am absolutely going.
I’m 31 and am lucky enough to have always been in good health. I’ve never even gotten the regular flu. Sickest I ever remember being is when I caught some sort of stomach bug or food poisoning while at GDC in San Francisco. It was horrible, and I won’t give out the gross details, but it lasted less than 24 hrs, so I’m leaning toward food poisoning. I also don’t believe any fever was involved.
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/7 "2020-03-11T14:27:19Z")
We’re not eating out, and we bought enough groceries to last us 4-6 weeks, as opposed to the usual 2, so we’re going to the store less. Washing our hands immediately upon returning home, wiping down our doorknobs and steering wheels with Clorox wipes regularly. Running errands for my mom when needed.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/8 "2020-03-11T14:48:45Z")
I brought in some extra food supplies. Things like Peanut Butter & Jelly, cereal, bread flour, canned goods, pasta, frozen veggies. Nothing excessive, but extra.
I’m washing my hands more often, especially as soon as I get home from ventures out.
I start a new job in \< 2 weeks. So that will be a whole lot of new exposure, hooray.
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### Author:  [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/9 "2020-03-11T14:50:16Z")
Basically, nothing. Wash my hands? I do that already. Sneeze into my sleeve? Likewise. Wipe down the equipment at the gym? Same same.
Regards,
Shodan
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/10 "2020-03-11T14:52:20Z")
> [@Shodan](#):
>
> Basically, nothing. Wash my hands? I do that already. Sneeze into my sleeve? Likewise. Wipe down the equipment at the gym? Same same.
>
> Regards,
> Shodan
Ditto. And I’m dreading allergy season because it tends to hit me hard with lots of sneezing, the same type of sneezing I’ve had every spring since I was an infant. I’m sure everyone will look at me like I’m on my deathbed
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### Author:  [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/11 "2020-03-11T14:56:05Z")
My wife and I stocked up on staples to get us through a two week quarantine the day before the first case was found in Colorado.
Besides that not much. I’m planning on going to Panama/Paraguay/New Orleans for two weeks at the end of the month which includes speaking at a conference in New Orleans. We are going to avoid people (mainly the grandparents) over 60 for two weeks after I get back from my trip.
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### Author:  [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/12 "2020-03-11T15:13:04Z")
> [@PastTense](#):
>
> Isolate as much as possible.
But what does that mean - in practical terms? What will it take for you to leave your room/apt/house?
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/13 "2020-03-11T15:51:59Z")
We keep a pretty well-stocked pantry and chest freezer all the time, so we won’t have to do much different wrt food - just make sure the supplies stay topped up.
I assume that at some point, the Federal government will tell its employees that can do their jobs by telework that they _should_ telework as much as possible, in which case we will do that - we’re both government statisticians.
I assume the public schools in our area will decide to end the school year early, and I’m just wondering how early that might turn out to be. Summer camp for the Firebug probably won’t be a thing this year. So I expect to be teleworking a lot, while I have a bored kid underfoot. I may have to do some planning here.
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/14 "2020-03-11T16:45:10Z")
I’ve decreased my in-person meetings. A couple would be too difficult to change (unless an isolation order is issued). I’m having work done in the house later today, so I’ll go grade at a coffee shop if I can find one that’s not crowded. I teach later this week and have a few clients, though our office is regularly cleansed because three of us work with medically fragile clients. My MIL is in a care facility and visits were just curtailed, so we’ll meet her at her front door only to wave and collect her tax documents so my wife can prepare her return. After that, I plan to grade at home for a number of days. Then, other than clients (and I’ll telehealth with them if Medicare decides to permit it), I plan to sleep in, write, and cook elaborate meals for a week. Then we’ll see.
ETA: It’s tree pollen season here and I’m coughing. No need to scare anyone by going out more than necessary.
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/15 "2020-03-11T17:00:02Z")
I already work from home so that’s good. When I do go out, I’m using hand sanitizer more (everyone has bottles or wall dispensers around, and i have some in my car).
I’m going to the pool tonight and I was going to encourage my 68-year-old mom to go too but instead I’m leaving her at home. I suspect it’ll be sparse at the gym, which is fine by me. I probably won’t go visit my grandma in the nursing home this month.
I’m in my 40s and so far have proven to be healthy this flu season. Everyone in my family got Influenza A except me. I was at a hospital a couple times visiting my dad and managed to stay healthy. I’ve got a city council meeting tomorrow but nobody comes to those anyway so we’ll be safe!
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/16 "2020-03-11T17:40:55Z")
We skipped going to a monologue last Sunday because we didn’t want to be with so many people - and we weren’t all that interested anyway.
We have a trip East scheduled in April which we’re probably going to cancel. The airline tickets can be changed without penalty (hurray, Southwest) the AirBnB can be cancelled up until early April and I just got mail from AmTrak saying they are waiving change fees.
I’m in a critique group that meets in a retirement home. I’m going to suggest meeting in my house to protect the people there. And us. Only one of us isn’t retired already.
Aside from that, not much different.
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### Author:  [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/17 "2020-03-11T18:02:53Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> Ditto. And I’m dreading allergy season because it tends to hit me hard with lots of sneezing, the same type of sneezing I’ve had every spring since I was an infant. I’m sure everyone will look at me like I’m on my deathbed
I have random allergy-related sneezing attacks all year round (not related to pollen). Not looking forward to having one in public, for fear of being stoned to death.
I already don’t go out much, and my volunteer work has been suspended for at least two weeks, so that means even less. But I’m not doing anything in particular voluntarily. Even though if I get it I’m at higher risk of death than average (70 years old with asthma). Maybe in a week or two if the exponential growth continues I’ll change my practices, but not yet.
I have a friend who’s going (to my mind) a little nuts with precautions; she’s the one who, when we had the No. Cal. wildfires last year was wearing a mask all the time, while I, who have asthma, never had a problem without a mask. Now she’s wearing a mask in public even though they don’t help, she’s self-isolating for two weeks because she just came back from a trip (and who knows where those other people have been) and who takes other peoples’ hysteria as validation of her own. She’s the kind of person who has to do the latest and “right” thing so she can look down on, and shake her mental finger at, those of us who don’t. Watching this makes me more of a contrarian than I already am.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/18 "2020-03-11T18:21:30Z")
Happy Hour is still happening and attendance was up Monday evening.
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### Author:  [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/19 "2020-03-11T18:52:01Z")
I probably won’t visit my elderly parents as much until there is a vaccine. I will encourage them to eat at home and order food for them online.
That’s about it. Nobody in my immediate family is particularly high risk for a corona virus death, so I’m not going to make many personal changes. I’m not particularly afraid of getting it.
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### Author:  [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-what-do-you-intend-to-do-differently/849266/20 "2020-03-11T19:35:38Z")
The big thing for me and my wife is that we decided last night to cancel our planned 3 weeks in Barbados starting Saturday. We live in a condo and have plenty of food in the freezer. Every week we get a load of veggies delivered that comes from a local company with roof-top green houses, who also supply a couple of things like milk (also locally sourced). The last time we ventured out we got extra flour. We have plenty of toilet paper and could stay inside for a couple of weeks, if necessary. We do have a concert Sunday that we would have missed and now have to decide on.
We are both in our early 80s and in decent health with no respiratory problems. My DIL is a physician in a public clinic and hospital. Her mother lives with my son and her and has COPD (respiratory disease) and DIL keeps far away from her mother, but is seriously worried. My daughter is a free-lance editor and works from home, while her husband, who works for Amazon, has been told to work from home. This is in NYC.
While I was writing the above, I got an email from my other son who was about to take his 18 year old to visit U. Ill. that the “Illini days” have been cancelled, so don’t come. And his 21 year old and senior at Lafayette College was told not to come back after next week’s break–the rest of the term would be online.
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