How is the Virus affecting you personally?

[Initech]

I think that this would be a good way for us to keep track of each other during this time of crisis.

As for me:

- My mom has a compromised immune system and severe respiratory problems, she's in isolation

- My brother has severe lung problems, he's in isolation

- My work is telling everyone to work from home

- I'm going to be living out of a hotel for a week and can't go home

- Every event that I've had tickets to is getting canceled or postponed

- I have a trip to Vancouver in two weeks, that's getting canceled

- My classes are canceled for the week

This nightmare can't end soon enough. I just hope that life will return to some kind of normalcy soon.

[elleng]

1. Not at all (fortunately,)

but my daughter, 200 miles away, calls and/or texts more often than before to find out how I am!

[Sucha NastyWoman]

2. It will

Just try to accept it for now. This won’t last forever.

[Initech]

3. It could have been prevented if we had competent people in charge.

But Trump's incompetence has made it that much much worse. And the dipshit MAGAs will cheerlead his stupidity to "own the libs".

[Sucha NastyWoman]

7. Well, just like this corona virus being over relatively soon,

So will our other disaster, Trumps term in office

[Initech]

13. I certainly hope so!

We will not forget this!

[nolabear]

4. We sure aren't going anywhere any time soon. And our kids are screwed.

We’re just north of Seattle and east of Kirkland so everything is on hold. We’ve stocked up a bit though we can get most—not all—things at stores. Amazon is so taxed they can’t deliver groceries for days if at all. The institute where I’m board President has had to go to Zoom classes and meetings. So I’m home trying to write for my MFA program amid huge anxiety and distraction.

My sons are both in industries where their earnings depend on people being able to do social things. They’re freaked out. One is in the middle of adopting a baby and they’re scared to death something is going to fall through. We’ll all pull together to get through it but there’s a lot at stake, whether we stay healthy or not.

[Initech]

16. Yeah I've heard it's bad in Seattle.

And Seattle is right next to Vancouver which is why my trip is canceled.

[at140]

67. If you remove the infections in just one nursing home in Seattle

it starts to look much better.

[madville]

5. Can't visit my grandmother at her FL assisted living facility

Her 96th birthday is this month and it is on lock down, no visitors.

[smirkymonkey]

6. Other than having to WFH until the end of March and not being able to order TP, not very much

right now. I have still been able to have groceries delivered. I might get a little bored, but I think I have enough to keep me busy and I plan to go out for little walks here and there. My parents are in Florida for the winter and I don't think they are really taking this seriously, so I am a little worried about them, but they are in pretty good health for their age. Still, you never know.

The rest of my family appears to be healthy and I hope it stays that way. I hope everyone here is doing well despite the minor inconveniences.

Sorry to hear about your family, Initech. I hope they stay well and get through this with out any complications.

[MissB]

8. I probably won't watch my son graduate

Dh and I have paid for the trip back east to watch him graduate from college. Like all other universities, his is going online after spring break. We suspect they won’t hold graduation ceremonies.

I still have to go to work. Even if they close the building, I’m considered essential personnel. I’ll get paid. I’d rather telecommute, but I may be the one that helps all my coworkers continue to work. Dh will continue to telecommute.

On the plus side- both my kids are coming home from college! One arrives tonight and one on Monday. Dh and I are looking forward to having them here. And watching our groceries just....vanish.

[femmedem]

9. My mother with Alzheimer's and a recently broken hip can't receive visitors.

Last edited Fri Mar 13, 2020, 10:33 PM - Edit history (1)

My stepson, who works in a hotel, was just laid off.
I cancelled the event where I work that normally kicks off our annual membership drive.
I told the woman I supervise to work from home.

And as of today, I have a low grade fever, no nasal congestion, tightness in my chest, the very occasional cough. Hoping it's no big deal, but I've got enough of everything so that I don't need supplies for several weeks and I'm staying home.

[MLAA]

56. Take care of yourself, and if things get worse get help! 😍

[femmedem]

112. Thanks. No fever today!

I'm still staying home but I'm feeling more confident that it's just allergies or a light cold. But just in case, I'm planning on watching a lot of Netflix this weekend.

[MLAA]

113. Glad to hear it!

I loved Grace and Frankie on Netflix! Great binging

[Massacure]

10. I'm being forced to work from home starting Monday

I'm a young bachelor who works in IT, and usually eat breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria at work. I'm not looking forward to working from home and will probably persist on peanut butter and jelly for the next several weeks, but if that's the only impact on me I guess I'm lucky.

[Lochloosa]

24. I lived alone for 13 years. Eggs are your savior.

So many things you can do with them.

[KentuckyWoman]

76. If you can find them.

I'm told around here there's not an egg to be had.

[canetoad]

29. Pretend I'm your mother

And make sure you eat some fresh fruit and vegetables! Look after your immune system.

[Midnight Writer]

64. That fresh fruit and vegetables that people are picking up and putting back down all day?

That are being handled by lord knows who in the lowest paid production model in the world.

Then all those goodies end up in an open air display at Walmart, sharing the air with hundreds of people from all walks.

I'll stick to my Budweiser and Chef Boyardee, thank you. At least they are sanitized at some step along the way.

And I recycle the cans.




Just playing, canetoad, but I don't know how to use these emojis.

[Demonaut]

69. just wash it, apples have a long shelf life, bananas though..not so much

[at140]

71. The hardest route for any virus to enter your body is.....

your stomach! The acid in our stomachs is so strong, it will burn your fingers. Virus has no chance to survive there.
Which is why we don't get sick eating fruits and vegetables handled by so many before you get them.

Th easiest route for the virus to enter your body is your nose. So stop picking the nose!
Next in line is eyes. So do not rub eyes with unwashed hands. And of course the mouth is the 3rd best route because the throat is the weak link before reaching stomach.

[Midnight Writer]

73. I don't get how you are disputing me by saying "the throat is the weak link".

And we do get sick from eating fruits and vegetables, although I do believe that is more a bacterial thing than a viral one.

But I can take my Chef Boyardee right out of the can, just like my Bud Light. I don't don't even have to heat it up, though it tastes better if it is.

[Beartracks]

88. Sounds like camping.

===========

[at140]

90. correct, some bacteria can survive, viruses have a much harder time

in stomach acid.

[at140]

91. those tonsils in throat are like sponges..

they are designed to catch and imprison bacteria.

[jpak]

103. R U my clone?

Cold ChefB outta can is my go2 disaster ration.

Lol

[Midnight Writer]

110. Better than the survivalist "food" crap pushed by Jim Bakker and Alex Jones.

[Renew Deal]

80. Find a deli, bagel place, or diner that serves breakfast, and go there before working.

It will be a slight change, and you will probably like it.

[Demovictory9]

121. Drove to Aldi at 6pm to find it closed.. Posted hours are to 9pm

[NRaleighLiberal]

11. In my neck of the woods...

Got a grandson in WA state with asthma, which is a concern - my daughter (his mom) is struggling with the stress of it.

My speaking events are getting cancelled (not a surprise) - so far, two of them (April and May). Beyond that, they are watching closely - it wouldn't surprise me if all of them got cancelled this year. Not a huge deal in that in times like these I'd rather not be on a plane, or in a crowd - I'd rather be home with my wife and dogs.

That's about it - we are settling into our new home, and it is gardening time - so I am keeping my brain and senses busy (we don't watch TV or listen to the radio, so are not spending big chunks of the day pondering this).

[Lochloosa]

12. 4th row seats for the Stones in May. Don't see it happening.

[Initech]

18. Yeah I have a trip Maui also planned.

I don't see that happening any time soon.

[kacekwl]

14. Schools closed so no work for me.

My wife and I were going to Colorado to see my son and his wife but most of all our grand daughter. Haven't seen them in over a year. Hope to still be able to go.

[Initech]

20. My mom is a school district supervisor.

Someone died in her district last week which is why her paranoia level has been amplified. That one is hitting way too close to home.

[kacekwl]

95. Was the death due

to the virus ?

[Initech]

105. Yup.

[Marrah_Goodman]

15. I have elderly parents

Well into their 80's. My daughter is a CNA who works in a big hospital. I have diabetes and HBP. Housemates work at Walmart. my bf's son is a college coach who's season was canceled and now worried about his job. My sister-in-law works in a lab in seattle....

However, I am in much better shape now then last summer since I have had weight loss surgery and am down 70 pounds. My worry is more about others then myself. My anxiety disorder makes not worrying very difficult.

[Luciferous]

17. Schools closed so out of work for a month. My son's school is

doing online classes so he'll be home as well. So far that's about it.

[Vivienne235729]

19. Have to reschedule our spring break trip, all our events have been canceled

My mom is self quarantined in her home. We are going to go skiing for a couple days before hunkering down.

[Skittles]

21. I live alone, work alone

no family in my state, and I have always avoided crowds

so.....not at all

[mountain grammy]

22. We were camping at Elephant Butte State Park

Planned to stay tonight after camping the last three and the state of New Mexico shut down all state parks. We’re now in an Albuquerque parking lot on our way home.
It’s a bummer, but we have a home to go to..to many campers, the parks are their homes.
Beautiful parks in NM. Closing my eyes and dreaming myself there..

[lapfog_1]

40. love elephant butte

this time of the year should start having beautiful sunsets there.

[mountain grammy]

57. It was beautiful until today.

Pouring rain while we packed up. Sunshine as we drove out. Hope to get back this year.

[hamsterjill]

23. Lost my job (which I hated anyway) two weeks ago.

I’m 61 and not sure about going to job interviews, etc. I am applying online and will see where this goes.

I’m grateful to have food stocked, etc., and I know that life WILL get better; the virus just adds another stressor.

I have seen acts of kindness when I’ve ventured out for items and that gives me hope in humanity. I helped a couple of people myself in very small ways yesterday and that made me feel good - worth something perhaps. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t ready for this nightmare to end. We are all weary.

We need to hold one another up right now.

[Generic Brad]

25. I am quarantined for the next 60 days

My job is mission critical at my company and I am one of a handful of people being asked to be home bound after this weekend. I will be forced to work off a little laptop that will slow me way down, but so be it. I have to be available to cover 9 different jobs if one of them goes down. I expect to be working 15 hours a day instead of the usual 10 if a wave of illness hits my staff. Under no circumstances am I to leave my home.

I knew our pandemic plan, so I’m not caught off guard. I have been quietly stocking up 2 months of food over the last few weeks and have a few final things to get tomorrow. This will be harder on my wife than me. She’s stir crazy already and I’ve only been home from work for three hours.

[Initech]

30. Holy shit.

I don't even think I could last 5days without losing my mind. 60 would destroy me.

[Generic Brad]

63. I'll make the best of it

I have an exercise bike. If I get real stir crazy I’ll drive around in my car during time off. I just have to avoid all physical contact with people.

[blaze]

98. and I've only been home from work for three hours.

Thanks for the laugh!

[LuckyCharms]

26. Self-quarantined. Several chronic illnesses. But I did go...

to a deserted park today and walked a few miles. There was absolutely no one there, and I encountered no people going to or coming back from.

[Turin_C3PO]

27. I'm in self-quarantine.

My classes are cancelled. The Indian Wells tennis tournament I was going to is cancelled. I have cystic fibrosis, hypertension and diabetes so I’m very at-risk. If I contract this disease, I’m history.

[Freethinker65]

28. Part time retail sales at an upscale mall. All hours cut for 10 days.

Then I am tentatively back on schedule for two 4 hour shifts/week for the next two weeks. I am aware that could change. We are open with a skeletal crew 2 to 3 employees maximum.
Son going to college had next two weeks completely cancelled, then will be finishing semester online. His full time hourly mall job involves filling Internet orders and so far he has milked almost full shifts though admits much of time is spent just talking to coworkers as there are often no orders to pull. Husband is working from home for first time which required clearing out the spare room so he could spread his work out and have two screens available. I volunteer with some community groups and all meetings/events have been cancelled. One is a food pantry and the city refused to let us distribute food from their city hall (which is where they let us store the food for free in unused back offices). We serve some very needy areas in near suburbs of Chicago. I hope by next week they figure something out.
Much of this just happened today!

[Initech]

34. Mine all happened in the last 24 hours too.

I landed in Vegas on Wednesday and everything just started spiraling out of control. Calling this a nightmare is an understatement.

[PETRUS]

31. The containment effort is ramping up fast where I live.

Almost all publicly funded operations (schools, libraries, etc.) are closed or very limited. Among those who can, most everyone has been told (or is choosing) to work from home. Some private businesses that are open to the public are closing. I own such a place, and am currently agonizing over what to do. Today was very stressful for that reason; my sweetheart has been crying.

[canetoad]

32. Mostly retired

But still do a little work remotely, so no issues there.

Live in a smallish town, couple of hours from Melbourne, Australia. No confirmed cases here yet but Melbourne reported the first batch of person-to-person infection just yesterday. I'm very aware of the infection curves in other countries and honestly don't expect ours to be any different in time.

The difference is, we are going into winter; I'm already leery of sitting in the waiting room of one of our two clinics. I expect them to become petri dishes.

I tend not to like travel at the best of times, preferring to spend my time walking the beaches and bush track with the dogs.

I've stepped up the hand-washing, duck into Aldi or supermarket for essentials and take my temperature daily. Have COPD which is managed but don't fancy my chances if I contract coronavirus.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

33. Everything I normally do has been canceled,

which is fine with me. I'm retired but was taking classes and have been involved with some organizations and everything is shut down. So I'll be hanging out at home with my cats for the foreseeable future. I'm over 60 but in pretty good health - but I think I'll stay home anyhow. I have a surprisingly robust 95-year-old aunt in another state but she's in her own home and not in a nursing home, so I think she'll be OK. I'm not too worried about my brothers but I have a couple of older friends whose health is not good, hope they'll be all right.

I'm afraid this will last for a couple of months or more.

[PETRUS]

42. Mind if I ask?

What kind of classes have you been taking? Academic? I'm too busy with work for that, but it's the kind of thing I'm likely to do when and if I can (and I read as much as possible in the meantime).

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

44. Art, music (voice and choir), Norwegian, some adult ed classes relating to the arts.

I've always been into the arts but my jobs before retiring were much more technical. It's nice to be able to get arty again.

[PETRUS]

48. Cool.

Music is also something I do. I'm not singing these days (I have multiple instruments handy, but concentrate on classical guitar), although I did from a young age through college. To me, choirs are amazing, both as a member or a listener. Are you producing art, or studying it from a critical or historical perspective, or both?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

51. I paint, mostly oils. It's just for fun; my stuff will never make the Louvre.

But it keeps me off the street.

I've wanted to take guitar lessons but I already suck at piano so I'll just stick to singing.

[PETRUS]

60. Just for fun is good enough.

I'm of the opinion that indulging in some creative medium is tremendously beneficial. It's personally rewarding and is also part of community. There are only going to be so many Mozarts or Rembrandts but who cares?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

62. Just for fun is the best reason I can think of.

[OAITW r.2.0]

35. So far, so not.

fingers crossed. Semi isolating as I just came back from FL this week.

[lunasun]

36. I just came home from work travel . Left 2/20 . Now glad to be back home except abhorred by my

kids’ lack of attention to it at home .
Schools got canceled today til 4/1 + lucky to wfh -Chicago
Saturday morning family meeting because
hand washing food picking flu type reminders etc review

Annoyed by jackasses

I posted that earlier
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213090024

[BamaRefugee]

37. My gf just texted me that the guy she sits next to at work went home to self quarantine after his

wife called him and told him that she had been sent home from her work (for the same company but at a different location) because the IT guy she works with closely tested positive for coronavirus.

So Friday night is usually our night to sit together on the couch and watch a movie and I’m not really wanting to do it. She’s only like 2° of separation from an active coronavirus patient right? And they hand each other their phones all day to look at stuff.

And I have to be in a crowded, sweaty, no windows, recirculated air courtroom Monday morning to be a witness in a trial, ( I had to testify in a different dank courtroom on Wednesday) and one of the guys who does the same line of work that I do showed me a notice issued by the Superior Court this morning 830am, that beginning Monday morning witnesses should not appear for trials if they don’t feel well. And that they should call the court and let them know that they wouldn’t be appearing. But I know from my experience it’s very limited odds that you’ll get through to the clerk of the court before you’re supposed to appear and if you don’t appear you’re going to be liable for legal penalties for non appearance. Everything is gonna go haywire, this is just one tiny corner of the world that’s heading for chaos.

NOBODY wants to appear in court. Giving people a free pass is gonna be unworkable. No trials can go forward with no witnesses.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

45. The federal district courts in my state have canceled all trials for a few weeks.

It doesn't seem sensible to be having trials under these circumstances.

[BamaRefugee]

47. Unfortunately that means innocent people may be festering in a cell for a much longer time.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

49. That is definitely the down side.

However, a few extra weeks in a cell beats getting or spreading this thing. Because of the Speedy Trial Act I assume the criminal trials have been postponed with the consent of the defendants.

[BamaRefugee]

50. I would imagine a jail would be a petri dish of infection.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

52. We'll soon find out, I'm afraid.

In federal court, most criminal trials are for white-collar offenses, and most of those defendants would be out on bail. The exceptions are mostly major drug crimes (the lesser drug offenses usually get handed off to the state court system).

[tavernier]

38. A whole bunch of stuff like everyone else.

Probably after all is said and done, if I live (I’m in the “good luck, loser” age group), the worst will be any loss of friends or family. Everything else is tolerable. Although I was really looking forward to a little vaca with my 401k this fall. Oh well.

[Aquaria]

39. How it's affecting us...

My mother (who doesn't live with me, but still...) is 80. She's in isolation.

I'm in the high risk group (diabetic, cardiopulmonary condition, recent former cancer patient), and in isolation. I had a bunch of semi-elective tests I was supposed to get run, but I've canceled them all until further notice. I need them...but not enough to risk death for them.

My husband is moderately high risk (asthma but only in his 40s), but the breadwinner. So he's going to work, still. At a grocery store. He's about to start putting in massive amounts of overtime. I'll make sure he still gets his rest, and he's super-paranoid about protecting his health on the job.

My son is a freelance programmer, and works from home.

His wife is a cyber security guru for the government. She's mostly working from home since last week, but there are some things she must inspect in real space.

Close friends who are both transplant survivors have always worked from home. They're quite social, but they're now in isolation.

My gorgeous kitty is blissfully unaware that anything is going on. Since I've had her only a few weeks now, she probably thinks it's normal that I stay home so much, and she's so indifferent to my husband that I doubt she'll miss him while he works OT.

I wish I could be like her. You know, blissfully unaware of how awful the world can be.

[onecaliberal]

41. They closed all schools in the district this evening for a month.

They have not told employees what will happen. My husband who is a stroke patient has been socially distancing for over a month. He will not be leaving the house except for the occasional walk. Hopefully I will be here with him. They closed the university three days ago so my younger children will be home as well.

[doc03]

43. So far I have decided to avoid the gym for a while and just walk or

go biking. Was going to go to Myrtle Beach for a week I cancelled that.

[samplegirl]

46. I'm scared

I hope D.U. is a shelter.

[Tink41]

53. Suddenly sick family members

No shot at employment til this thing "blows" over. Convention center has cancelled all events, actually banned from holding them per Governor on Thursday. This is a huge disruption to the trades in my area. Difficulty getting material for projects. My local in the last 3 weeks has "lost" 37000 man hours due to the trade show stoppage.

[MFM008]

54. My daughter in law

And son most likely were exposed to this.
Neither could get tested.
She's a bus driver in King County Wa.
Shes been layed off indefinitely.
3 family members work at big box stores
and a restaurant.
My brother cook says there's no buisness.
Me. Im 61. Lungs arent great. To overweight.

[sop]

55. I'm going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

My frequent trips to the cancer center probably have exposed me to this virus, but it's unavoidable. The rest of the time I'm hiding out in my room. God help us all.

[apcalc]

58. Sounds about right... am self isolating

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

59. My wife is post op amputee (two weeks home)

Was in hospital 37 days low immune system so I'm being extra careful.

[MLAA]

61. Worried about my high risk husband

I’ve grounded my dear husband who is 85 and has respiratory issues. I am going out only for essentials. We have what we need in terms of food and over the counter drugs and paper goods. I am taking his temperature daily but since I am so worried I might get it and pass it to him that I take my temp several times a day.

[at140]

65. Making me more deteremined than ever to visit Gym 4 times every week

because if my lungs get weak, covid-19 will kill me quickly at age 79.

[Tikki]

66. We have tickets to take our granddaughter to her first club concert mid-April.

in Los Angeles. This has been planned for some time.

Big deal; dinner out, then show, then night at a hotel in Hollywood.

The band we were going to see has cancelled. They are from another Country.

We are not mad at them, just sad...we get it though.

The Tikkis

p.s. they are supposed to be back in October..hopefully that will work.

[mrs_p]

68. Husband went to ER last night

On immunosuppressants for ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis and came down with low grade fever and dry cough. Resp panel all negative. Some “congestion” on the chest rad (whatever that is supposed to mean - I haven’t seen the rad report yet and that’s not a technical term we use in vet med). Not testing for COVID19.

All the rest of our family is in Seattle and we were out there 4 weeks ago. MIL in retirement home on lock down. Mom and grandma not going out in public. Sister and BIL working from home. No daycare.

We cancelled a trip back west to see friends. Supposed to go on Thurs. Postponed until August.

Hoping to goddess, husband doesn’t have anything more severe.

[Freethinker65]

83. Yikes! I have been having a UC flare. Not fun ever.

Lucky that GI doc phoned in Rx instead of requiring an office visit for me. And I also have psoriasis and suffered from psoriatic arthritis. Had been on immunosuppressants in past but am now on different meds. Was always curious if these autoimmune issues were tied together.

[mrs_p]

109. Sorry you suffer from UC too

He is in the middle of a horrendous RA flare up.

Your inclination that auto immune diseases being tied together is probably correct. It is not unusual for a person to have multiple autoimmune diseases, despite different immune targets in different diseases. But I’m not a human doc, so don’t quote me.

Hope you feel better soon!

[catbyte]

70. Nothing yet except my grocery store was out of TP which I don't need anyway. I'm so glad I got

back from my trip to Maui before everything started getting canceled. I flew Delta and they announced they're cutting back by 40%. There are worse things than being stranded in paradise but with my luck, I'd be stuck at LAX. Our governor has shut down all the public K-12 schools until April 5 & canceled any gathering with more than 250 people. A lot of places are canceling things on their own. I have enough meds to last at least a month, cat food to last twice that long and a lot of food. It's concerning, though because I'll be 65 in June and even though I'm in good health, the virus is hitting us old folks hard. I guess I'll just hunker down, ride it out & hope for the best.

[mnhtnbb]

97. I wondered if you were back!

I was on Bonaire (in the Caribbean) and flew back a week early out of concern I'd get stuck in Miami with canceled flights. Flying American.

[catbyte]

114. I'm sorry you had to cut your trip short but I guess it's better than living in an airport for

who knows how long. I've heard Bonaire is gorgeous. Do you dive or snorkel? I hear it's some of the best in the Caribbean. I've never been, but would like to sometime. Maui was paradise as usual. A mama and playful baby Humpback whale graced us with their presence while on a whale-watching trip (Pacific Whale Foundation) and hung out about 10 yards from our boat for about an hour. Then, a pod of about 20 dolphins paid us a visit as we were heading back to Lahaina. Utter magic. If I get this virus, at least I'll die happy. I hit it just right because the first case was diagnosed on Oahu two days before I left. Panic hadn't set in yet but places like the Maui Ocean Center were taking prudent precautions.

Glad you made it home safely!

[woodsprite]

72. OK, so far. Delaware is just starting to see cases.

Our son is 19yo UD student living at home. So far, his PT customer service job is still calling him in, but I'd be fine if that stopped. His spring break was moved up, and when it's over on the 23rd, it will be only online classes. His GF, who lives about 15 min away with her extended family, has a compromised immune system, is diabetic, has asthma -- so multi-high risk.

My 26yo daughter lives at home and commutes to her last class at Rutgers. The prof doesn't want to do it online since he brings in samples of stuff for hands on, etc. He also lamented how they'd do their final projects (Zoom, WebEx - just pick one).

As for hubby and I, we both have HBP and I'm T2 diabetic. We set up home workstations today, got the freezer cleared out and inventoried. Made a list of easy meals and freezer meals to pull together for our family of 4 (45 days worth). Will go shopping for any missing ingredients tomorrow. I've stocked up on vitamins, leg cramp pills, Tylenol, Advil, and Coricidin HBP Cold/Flu meds, dog food, and dog meds. Hubby and I will both be working from home full time starting on Monday until further notice.

Our choral group has cancelled the rest of our concert season. Church is shuttered at least until March 31st.

My 64yo widowed brother lives about 5 miles away, has emphysema, is on oxygen, and still insists on smoking.

My SIL and BIL live nearby with their families. One's a prepper. One's a prayer. Both families are Trumpers and gun humpers.

MIL/FIL are in the 80s and live in FL. They're fairly active, but Dad has mid-stage Alzheimer's and Mom is starting with macular degeneration. We called to check on them tonight. She said their grocery stock is on the way from Winn-Dixie and that they were isolating themselves.

It feels like a runaway freight train is heading right toward us. Worried about the health of us, all our family and friends. Afraid the GOP is cooking up some way to cancel the elections.

We have plenty to keep us occupied when we're not working as long as we don't get down/out sick. We have exercise equipment, crafts, Hulu/Disney+/Netflix/Prime subscriptions, almost any video game system available, and plenty of difficult puzzles and fun board and card games to play. The pup is going to need to go out for walks, etc. If we get bored with all that, we can always clean and go through old family photos.

[cry baby]

74. Sole caregiver to 92 yr old mom in home hospice.

If I get sick, so will she. She won’t survive and I’ll feel guilty for the rest of my life that I didn’t do more to keep from getting it.

Of course, I don’t think she would survive if I caught the flu and she got it from me, either. I’ve been careful for quite a while.

I’m 62, so f the worst case scenario happens, I may not survive either. If the health care system is overwhelmed, they might decide not to treat people over 60...like in Italy.

[emmaverybo]

84. Praying you stay able to take care of your mom. People do survive! So good you are there for

her. God bless you.

[cry baby]

94. ❤️

[KentuckyWoman]

75. I am in the highest risk group.

I am not afraid, but I am making more careful choices. I've got library books, Netflix, enough food and medicine for about a month so I don't need to go out. But that's no more than I usually keep during the flu season.

My heart is with medical people and grocery, pharmacy staff of all sorts.

The hoarding is upsetting me, and I mouthed off to someone in the store last week who was emptying the shelf of baby wipes thinking they could replace the lysol wipes. Idiot. People like that can just rot for all I care.

[trackfan]

77. I can work from home now, which is good.

I'm 60 with a compromised immune system, so that's not good.

Other than that, just inconvenience in the stores right now.

[Hekate]

78. Unknowingly, I got in under the wire for elective surgery & have been recovering since...

Last edited Sat Mar 14, 2020, 01:09 AM - Edit history (1)

Total knee replacement; not any fun. It hurts. Also I've had almost continuous nausea & have been losing weight.

On the one hand, my husband is taking excellent care of me & doing all the shopping and simple cooking, and now to the outpatient Physical Therapy every other day. Today I noticed the studio was virtually empty, and as I was getting ready to leave, hubby was advising the woman at the front desk about using Chrome Books to guide people through their exercises remotely if they are afraid to come in. He mentioned a local library that checks them out to kids a couple of days at a time. Anyway, old teachers never retire.

On the other hand, I have been unable so far to organize my pantry and inventory it. Early on I tried giving him the start of a comprehensive list, but it freaked him out so I realized I'd have to try another tack. He did get me the pack of tp from Costco though.

And one hand sanitizer from Winco: as a man was taking the last four 8 oz bottles, he turned to hubby and asked if he wanted one. I put it on the table in the foyer for visitors, should we have any. Unfortunately, this just missed the cleaning ladies, who I asked to please scrub their hands with hand wipes before starting their chores. As they left, I thought one sounded like she had a cold. Jesus.

Speaking of Winco, my dear one who hates to shop adores Winco. So once or twice a week he ventures forth to bring things home, which I thank him for even as I wish I had the energy to wipe down all the surfaces. He is on immunosuppressants for ulcerative colitis.

Prepping for Coronavirus has provided the occasion for the most agreeable conversations I have had with my daughter since I can't remember when. She lives 60 miles away in the woods in a dead zone for electronics, though the phone provided by the landlady will take incoming calls (apparently there is some requirement about that, but I don't understand).

We've had many disagreements in our lives, to the extent that her becoming an anti-vaxxer was just the frosting on the cake. However, I have always believed in disaster preparedness, and this is just another disaster (altho one I might die from). Also, like many of my generation I planned at one time to go back to the land and wait out the great global economic crash we thought was going to happen in the late-60s early-70s. (And never did. But I still have a great book about raising small farm animals. ) (I'm pretty sure that had something to do with Bernie going to Vermont when he did. Just a guess. ) Daughter has always had a garden going, and this new location is no different -- fruit trees, veg garden. No chickens this time tho, due to the aggressive wildlife. She's going to try goats.

So there she is, prepping for 6 weeks -- and turns out worried about me and her stepdad. Because we are in our 70s and compromised. That's ... touching, that is. Anyway, I'm fairly certain we are good for 2 weeks -- but certainly not six.

And the virus is in our town, last I heard.

[madamesilverspurs]

79. I'm 72 with COPD

and a history of asthma, lost part of a lung to cancer in '07. Even though I don't go anywhere without my oxygen rig, I'm quite used to shortness of breath, take multiple inhaled meds, and use a bipap to sleep. I'm fortunate to have an excellent relationship with my GP, and he doesn't hesitate to email me if he thinks there's something to deal with. Meanwhile, my nephew and his wife live just a couple blocks from the hospital in Kirkland WA; they're young, and (so far) healthy, both now working from home. My brother and his wife live on Marrowstone Island WA, he's 75 with heart issues and his wife has advancing MS. My sister lives on the Olympic peninsula; so far she's symptom free, but her husband has been in declining health for a few years and his immune system is not doing well. Gotta say, this ain't how any of us thought to spending our "golden" years!

.

[ecstatic]

81. I have to get my hand on tests for my parents today

My 65 year old mom is having flu like symptoms following a long flight (14 hrs + 2.5 hrs), cruise, and the same long flight home. My dad isn't showing symptoms but they're in close proximity all the time. They are both overweight with high blood pressure. My mom is brushing the whole thing off and blaming her symptoms on stress. She thinks I'm overreacting and says I'm ruining her ability to self heal.

I was with them for the trip, so it's possible that I and/or others who were with us have it too, but, unlike my mom, I have no symptoms and I'm perfectly OK with self quarantining whereas she's itching to get out there and potentially infect others.

I just dropped off Nyquil and Dayquil cold and flu softgels. Now off to google testing options.

[moniss]

82. I am old

and to a degree I accept my having medication for blood pressure and cholesterol. I think about that I am supposed to see my grand-kids this weekend and how much I want to see them and be strong for them. I also realize that I may put myself at risk doing so. I know they are worried too as well as their parents. So I do not know. So I distract myself with thinking about other things or reading. Like I think about small clubs that used to have small tables and small lamps on them while I sipped a drink and we all listened to someone like Nina Simone or Carmen McRae play the piano and sing some smoky jazz. Wondering about how all those clubs are gone and does anybody get dressed up real nice anymore to go out? Probably not. But this old man is here to tell you there was nothing like looking your best and sitting at that table with your date all dressed up just the two of you in the low light and then you would reach for her hand and ask if she would like to dance. It was magic if you let it be. Just a distraction of thoughts from a big bag of memories.

[emmaverybo]

85. Wow. Thank you. Enjoyed that.

[Hekate]

86. Thanks for the memories...

[Beartracks]

87. My work closed up shop today after SOMEONE came to work sick.

We get to do telework. But omg, really: the day AFTER we have a big coronavirus update meeting and protocol review, why would anyone come to work SICK???? So they closed as a very cautious maneuver, and will update us by Monday.

Other than that, I'm very aware now of how often i touch my face; I'm worried about my spouse who catches EVERYthing, and our Wal-Mart is running out of some staple goods.n

=========

[Initech]

89. I'm worried about how I'm going to feed myself or get basic supplies.

Every store where my parents live has been just ransacked. Living in a hotel too, it's not like I will be able to call Uber Eats either. At least I hope not.

[cannabis_flower]

92. Here goes...

I'm an substitute teacher and an Uber driver. School has been canceled till after spring break Went and stocked up yesterday with canned soup, ramen, eggs and tuna.

I've started feeling sick. No fever but every other symptom except breathing difficulty. Achy, fatigue, dry cough (but not very frequent), sore throat, chest pain . Maybe just a cold. Maybe flu. Maybe Covid. Don't know. Picked people up at the Houston Rodeo and there's been at least a couple of people who were there that tested positive. Worried and hoping it doesn't get worse.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

93. Not too bad so far

The worse thing was the lack of toilet paper in the stores, but I went out at 6AM this morning and found some at Walmart. There's a couple shows I bought tickets to that have been postponed to who knows when. Schools are still open in my area.

[mnhtnbb]

96. Huh. Let's see...

Changed travel plans I'd had for over a year to spend my 69th birthday on Bonaire (island in the Caribbean).

I decided to make the trip--left March 2nd and planned to stay 2 weeks. My son and his partner were booked to join me March 7-14. They literally texted from the airport at 4 am on the 7th and decided not to make the trip. My son's partner has a fear of flying anyway, add in coronavirus anxiety, and he just couldn't bring himself to check his bag.

OK. That was disappointing. Then I started getting texts from the pet sitter that my elderly dog was having problems. Tracking the exponential growth of cases and worrying I could get stuck--due to canceled flights--I bit the bullet and decided to come home a week early. Took 3 hours to get through to American--which only has 3 flights/week to/from Bonaire--to change my seat. So I ended up home a week early.

Yes, everything is being canceled. Ballet tickets, art museum special exhibit tickets, musical theater tickets. I paid for tickets to Hamilton at the Pantages in Los Angeles for my nephew and his wife--tomorrow were their seats--canceled and they might be able to book seats for another performance later in the year. Might. I suspect that money is gone.

It remains to be seen what will happen to the ballet and symphony performances for which I have tickets locally in April and May.

I have tickets/plans to go to the Spoleto Festival in Charleston Memorial Day weekend. I wouldn't be surprised to see that end up canceled, either. At least I haven't prepaid the hotel.

My best friend is mid 80's. Her husband is late 80's. I probably won't get together with her in person for some time, at least until 2 weeks has passed since I flew home to make sure I'm not sick with anything. Who knows what I might have picked up traveling?

Frankly, I expect life to be seriously different for at least a year, until there is a vaccine and treatment for C-19.

The silver lining? I think Trump is toast, and I think the majority Republican Senate will be toast, too.

[Mossfern]

99. Our Town Hall closed as well all other public buildings

Schools are closed for at least 2 weeks.
The County just notified us that all County buildings will be closed for at least two weeks.
All my Master Gardener programs and projects have been cancelled until further notice
I think we have enough food and paper goods to last for a month.
I have a coronary aneurysm and ground glass nodules in my lungs. (71years old)
I'm slated for a D&C for the 24th - checked - we're still on.

One of my sons is a financial planner and thinking of disconnecting his phone (just joking)
My daughter is looking for employment, has interviews but companies don't know whether they'll be hiring
One son is a bartender in DC - business is gone, so he's a bit stressed.
Youngest son is in horticulture, but in contact with clients - his boss is pregnant so operations may shut down
Both of the above younger sons are working on opening up a bar in April - looks like opening day will have to wait

Husband is oblivious and is just pissed because sports are cancelled and I won't let him go to the gym

[leftyladyfrommo]

100. I have a small pet sitting business so I am dead

in the water right now.

[beachbumbob]

101. leaving florida a month early as we don't want to be caught in a travel restriction scenario

[Historic NY]

102. Well had a winter reprieve planned at Epcot food & flower

for my birthday with my late brothers family....not many left. I'm heading down in the morning anyway we have some points to use so were going to the hotel/condo there and chill for a couple day. The rest I guess heading to the beach and out on the water. I bring my laptop so I might as well fit in some things that need to be done.

We have another trip planned to Williamsburg in late April. I see the college has had a case or two, don't know how that's going to work out. Its all booked normally I'd would have use a townhouse we have but, family booked at a resort complex.

[duforsure]

104. Staying home ,

Having several serious health conditions, being older, and a little overweight puts me in a dangerous position if I were to get this virus, so I stay home, watch the news, and hope other family members don"t get it , especially my wife , who I have to depend on , sometimes a lot. Everyone needs to be safe, and be considerate of others.

[LAS14]

106. Not a lot of change because we (75 and 84) don't typically socialize much.

We won't visit with children and grandchildren and a few concerts and ballet have been cancelled. We wash our hands whenever we enter the house and hand sanitize whenever we get in the car after travelling out. I'm switching from library trips to Kindle. We take a walk in the cemetery for exercise and I make infrequent trips to the grocery store as soon as it opens.

We'll be going to virtual church tomorrow, using the same software that failed for Biden's town hall. Well, I don't actually know what failed, but they were using Zoom, I understand.

We're hoping to be among the 30% to 40% who don't get it. If we were younger, I'd be looking for ways to volunteer.

We did cancel our once a month cleaning people, but will send them half the normal amount for the duration.

We are lucky to have acquired some face masks a while ago, to be used by the sick one when the caretaker is in the room, should one of us get sick anyway.

[a la izquierda]

107. Trip to London and Glasgow was canceled. My university is moving to online...

which means I have three classes to convert, plus training my colleagues how to move their classes online.
I'm already bored out of my mind when I take work breaks. I wanted to travel to see my sister, but was afraid I'd have to self-quarantine since our governor has banned any sort of business travel for state employees and is actively discouraging personal travel.
Soccer is canceled everywhere (which is also making me slightly unhinged), so I cannot watch my beloved Liverpool or Eintracht Frankfurt.
But I'm healthy as a horse, my gym is still open (though we all workout in separate areas); the yoga studio where I teach and practice is open for now so I guess that's good (though I doubt for much longer since it's hot yoga). I'm avoiding bars, restaurants for the time being.
So I'm lucky, though antsy that this blows over soon.

[Tracer]

108. It's not affecting me in any way except for

some bare shelves at my grocery this morning. No fish, meat or chicken, and no paper goods. I wasn't looking to stock up, just doing my regular weekly run.

I'll say it.

I think the media is absolutely overhyping and overreacting to this outbreak. Almost every story in this morning's Boston Globe was about the virus.

Think about this: there are about 120 proven cases of Covid-19 in MA. There are also 6,000,000 other people in MA who DON'T have the virus. My chances of contracting the virus from one of those 120 people, is statistically zero.

It's a nice day here, and there are plenty of people out and about --- dog walking, biking, hiking, playing with the kids etc.

[mnhtnbb]

115. Excuse me, but the only reason

there are only 120 cases in MA is because the diagnostics are not available to confirm it, which I believe is due to criminal negligence on the part of this administration.

This virus is deadly. Very contagious and there is no treatment. Italian doctors are now choosing who gets to live and who dies because the hospital resources to support people sick with it needing acute, intensive care, are over run.

It's not all about you. Look at some charts of the explosive, exponential growth of cases once the virus is in the community. The only way to stop that growth, to flatten the curve, and give our medical resources the hope of being able to handle the acute cases, is to limit the spread of the disease.

Enjoy your day, but keep your distance from other people. Wash your hands. Cover your mouth when you cough, because you may already have it and don't need to spread it around.

[GOFM]

111. I'm a freelance videographer

I mostly work as a camera operator for events and concerts. No public events, no paycheck. I’ve already lost five jobs. No idea how I’m going to make rent.

[marble falls]

116. Our Democratic House has pushed through a bill that will help you and got Donnie Two Scoops ...

support. Moscow's Mitch decided to take a long weekend, but help is on the way.

[kpete]

117. Surreal Times

So along with all of this, my dad had a mild heart attack (with some complications) this last weekend. He is 97 years old and has been living on his own since my mom died.

We visited on Thursday and while we were there were told this would be the last time we would be allowed to see him (Nursing Homes are restricting guests even family). We are hoping he will be discharged from skilled nursing very soon.

We have to make arrangements in the meantime for his future care.

I am trying to remain calm and helpful. My brothers & I have been in constant communication trying to figure out what to do next.

Not the best time to be making these kinds of decisions.

I am still trying to process all of this while making sure the rest of my family is safe, fed and healthy.


Crazy times,
kp

[Initech]

118. That sucks.

This week has been the definition of a living hell. Though I can't imagine hell is much worse than this.

[treestar]

119. Washing hands more conscientiously

Teachers and students in my family have no school for 2 weeks. So far that's about it.

[meadowlander]

120. I have family in the Seattle area.

My parents are in their 70s with serious underlying health conditions and both have "colds". My brother is self-isolating because someone at his job tested positive. He and his family all have "colds" as well. I'm pretty sure all of them have already been infected.

They seem to be getting better but it's still a worry. I live overseas fortunately in a place with a sane leader and a national health care system and 10 days paid sick leave so I'm not really worried for myself but I'd have some really hard choices to make if I suddenly had to fly back to the States for very ill family members.

We can volunteer to work at home and I'm probably going to do it next week at least, maybe longer. I have asthma and work for a place with thousands of employees. There's no known community transmission where I live but I'd rather be on the safe side. I had pneumonia last year which knocked me on my ass for six weeks and I'm not in a hurry to get it again. The inhalers I have to use for the asthma hold my lung passages open so every single tiny bug I'm exposed to now turns into a massive chest infection.

I'm deliberately not catching up on a few of my favourite shows so I can binge watch them when I get sick.