You know how infantrymen on a foot patrol will travel a few meters apart from each other so that a single grenade or shell will minimize casualties? This is like that.
Your callous mindset doesn’t just put you at risk, it puts you and a few other people at risk. And it’s not just a risk of contracting a disease that (by all accounts) is a lot like the common cold (except for more elderly people). We’re talking about huge chunks of the world calling in sick all at once, people you depend upon for goods and services. Economic shock travels even faster than a virus.
We were out at a brewery last night. I told my gf I was watching other people, amazed at how frequently they touched their faces. She told me I was high (I was), but then she started watching as well.
I’ve begun washing my hands far more thoroughly than I used to (this whole thing has exposed gaps in my own hygiene) and have been regularly wiping down things like doorknobs and light switches with clorox wipes. My bigger concern is for my mom, who had a liver transplant a few years ago. She’s visiting us right now and if I were to be responsible for exposing her to the virus I’d never forgive myself. We’ve already nearly lost her twice to minor infections, and those were actually treatable.
I’m also planning to run the half marathon I was going to run in two weeks virtually. Runners are pretty gross sometimes (I’ve been guilty of spitting in bushes myself and I sweat like a mofo when I run), so the thought of being exposed to all those bodily fluids and coming home as a mobile distribution center for other people’s cooties makes me shudder.
If it weren’t for my mom I’d probably just wash my hands more and avoid crowds if needed.
I’m not going to be visiting my mother at her nursing home for awhile.
We just got the call, they are stopping all visitation until further notice. I’m not happy about this although I expected it. I was hoping I could talk my way in in order to tell her myself, but I didn’t have any luck with that.
I’m going to do a little bit of stocking up on groceries today. They cupboard is pretty bare, a few weeks ago we threw out a lot of expired stuff and vowed not to …do what I’m going to do today.
I’m not going crazy with shopping, though… I just want to have enough food on hand in case we get ill and can’t go out for two weeks.
My parents both live close by my family. 4 of the 6 of us are have underlying health issues. We’re beginning self-isolation now, with the exception of walking the dogs and medical appointments (if they don’t get cancelled).
I have:
-verified that we all have a minimum of 30 days of each prescription
-verified that we have pet food
-laid in some pantry staples, but should get more
-stocked up on wipes, sanitizer
The kids will stop going to school after today. My son’s school is closed, and my daughter’s school is offering video instruction. My husband’s company has told everyone to work from home, cancel all travel, and cancel all face-to-face meetings.
I just realized that I should put gas in both cars. d’oh
I need more toilet paper (truly, we’re almost out).
I realize we’re in a different situation from most people, but everything everyone is doing to “flatten the curve” is greatly appreciated.
Regarding washing hands. Everyone knows about washing you hands after using the bathroom. My recommendation is to wash your hands before using the bathroom in addition to after. I’m going to be more rigorous on that myself and recommend the same to my loved ones.
Oh, I’m sorry, I’ll just stay at home then. What should I do, wash my hands a hundred times instead of merely 90? Hey, I could wear a mask demonstrated to achieve absolutely nothing. No, wait, what I need to do is hoard stuff like everyone else is for when Captain Trips comes for them.
As I said, aside from isolation there’s nothing to be accomplished by “preparing”. I’m not traveling, I’m not going to sporting events, I’m not in large groups, and I’m nowhere near a high density city. But that’s not good enough, I suppose. I really ought to be panicking. Damn, I screwed up again.
I’m going to try a few restaurants out that I haven’t tried before because they are usually too crowded for my taste.
I’m taking my son out to a high end steakhouse tonight for his birthday. I called today to make reservations. The lady on the phone told me there’s no need to. Lol
The activities related to the COVID-19 virus fall into three categories:
[ol]
[li]Actions based on rational analysis of the latest data and data driven guidance from the medical community[/li]
[li]Panic based on irrational conclusions, or false information, or assumptions of apocalyptic scenarios based on concatenation of worst case fears.[/li]
[li]Theater designed to play to the population’s panic, usually perpetrated by government or commercial interests for political or financial gains.[/li][/ol]
The tricky task is to recognize which is which and stick as much as one can to category 1.
I’m trying to stick to category 1. I hope I’m succeeding.
I am operating on the assumption that at some point I will be exposed to this virus, since it simply isn’t possible to live a life of complete isolation.
I’m trying to stay as healthy and ready for this exposure as I can (diet, sleep, exercise, etc.) and doing rational things to limit the number of exposures I might have to the virus (increased handwashing, avoiding crowds, less air travel, etc.). I’m also trying to be prepared to self-quarantine if exposure to the virus requires it (plenty of canned food, some bottled water, but tap is plentiful, other supplies for a two week “isolation”), but I am not preparing for a breakdown of society, services, or months of isolation, which don’t seem, IMHO, to fit in category 1 above.
Isolation is the key…everything all of us do with respect to social distancing helps flatten the curve. One way to help accomplish this is to avoid any and all unnecessary contact with other people for the time being.
For my part, I’m doing the following. I have initiated virtually all of this very recently (some just in the last day or so):
[ul]
[li]Cancel or reschedule all upcoming travel. We were supposed to go on an Alaska cruise at the end of August. I’ve already booked a replacement cruise for the following year. Also, my ski season is probably over (only had a couple of weekends left anyway).[/li][li]Stocked up on medication, food, and essentials to last at least two weeks.[/li][li]Stopped eating out in restaurants.[/li][li]Stopped shaking hands with people.[/li][li]At work, changed all meeting from in-person to conference calls.[/li][li]Stopped all volunteer activities.[/li][/ul]
I’ve been washing my hands a bit more thoroughly than before, and utilizing the hand sanitizer my employer provides in the conference rooms and stairwells. That’s about it. The “social distancing” thing was something I already did anyway.
With more and more “shut downs” going into effect today, it occurred to me that I have pretty much the perfect job for the state of things we find ourselves in. I work for a hospital: absolutely the last business that will be shut down in a “healthcare crisis”. And I work in IT, so a) I don’t actually work *in *the hospital, and b) I can do 100% of my job from home should I need to.
I’m lucky to be in such a position; we’ll be able to ride things out for as long as it takes, with no real impact. But there are going to be a lot of people in big, big trouble after a couple of weeks of “shut down”…and if it takes a couple months for things to start to return to normal, I’m afraid a lot of folks just won’t make it.
I am only making minimal changes. I will stay in on my off days and try my best not to touch too many things and wash my hands a lot.
I work for a non-profit, that helps people find work and thus the people I work with are more concerned about Friday’s paycheck or next month’s rent than a virus they probably won’t get.
So I am going to come into contact with it most likely.
I’m sure its happpened already but we may not have heard about it…how soon til a server refuses to serve someone who is sweating profusely…or a delivery service refuses to serve someone who tells them to leave it on the porch and sign for them?