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Post by Miss Terri Novelle on Mar 6, 2020 22:55:52 GMT -5
I had the flu vac for SARS. Got SARS anyway. Was not a good week or two.
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Post by Rinelle Grey on Mar 7, 2020 21:01:37 GMT -5
I have to admit, I’m one of those who doesn’t get the flu vaccine. I’ve literally never had the flu in my life, so either my immune system is already immune, or I’m just not in places to catch it. Then again, around here someone gets a common cold and calls it flu!
I agree with djmills, I’m concerned for those who don’t have a bit of a stockpile, and can’t get any toilet paper on their normal shops! My mum managed to grab a few packs right before they ran out, but the shelves have been completely empty since! It’s a little crazy. Apparently toilet paper takes up a fair bit of room, so supermarket stocks of it are quite low, and don’t cope in these situations.
I did a big shop, but that had nothing to do with Covid, and everything to do with me trying to get more organised to cope with only being paid monthly! I did get hand sanitiser, as it’s not something we normally buy, but hubby has some work events coming up where everyone likes to shake hands, and I want him to have something to deal with that. I could hope that people were sensible enough to avoid that in this climate, but I’m by no means convinced!
Otherwise, life as normal here!
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Post by Suzy on Mar 12, 2020 9:10:41 GMT -5
So now Ireland is in lock-down- all schools and colleges closed until the end of the month and people told to keep social contacts to a minimum. It feels so strange, as if world war III has broken out or something. Only the enemy is a virus. We're trying to self isolate as much as we can here in rural Ireland, not going to other people's houses, no pub or restaurant. I went shopping yesterday but only bought my usual weekly supplies. I think hoarding is so selfish and stupid. All the shops will have plenty of supplies all through this- even toilet paper.
Stay safe and be careful all of you!
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Post by Miss Terri Novelle on Mar 12, 2020 14:06:31 GMT -5
We haven't had a run on toilet paper at my local store. They've had plenty. I can't even think where I'd keep more than a dozen rolls and that's enough for the two of us for close to two months.
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Post by Daniel on Mar 13, 2020 7:55:10 GMT -5
I went grocery shopping yesterday. The store was mostly stocked as usual although the toilet paper shelves were nearly empty and the sanitizing products were pretty cleaned out (so to speak). Self isolation is a way of life for us, so it will pretty much be business as usual. I will be volunteering at the library book store today, but I'm guessing we won't have too many patrons.
No cases have been reported in our county, but one has been confirmed in the next county over. If it gets into our area, it has the potential to wreak havoc as this is mostly a retirement community. The community library where I volunteer serves a population of age 60+ residents with the average probably around 70-75. On the other hand, most of them are reasonably healthy and still living independently.
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Post by Miss Terri Novelle on Mar 13, 2020 13:01:42 GMT -5
I honestly think there's a lot of hype. My freezer is full, it's always full. I will stock up my pet food again tomorrow, but otherwise, I'm good to stay home.
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Post by ameliasmith on Mar 15, 2020 6:41:12 GMT -5
I did a big shop on Tuesday, because we'd run out of a lot of things during my father-in-law's visit (he is back in Ireland now). I came home and instantly had a list of 6 more things we needed, so I wound up going out again on Thursday at 1 in the afternoon, just as the panic was beginning to build here. Everyone was whispering "corona virus corona virus corona virus" and a lot of the people in the store were not from here. They were summer people coming from New York, Boston, etc.
After school on Friday, the school district finally announced a two-week closing. The kids think it will be like vacation and I'm not so sure. I did do some substitute teaching this past week, and I have to say that high school is a petri dish. Kids were physically all over each other, not a germ un-shared. I mean, not all of them, but enough that it's a real problem.
I have a very good supply of books. The library here is closed to the public, but you can call in and they'll bring books to the curb or porch for pickup. I have to pry myself away from Facebook more often.
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Post by Pru Freda on Mar 15, 2020 7:37:53 GMT -5
Both Sir and I are in high-risk groups and these days we are elderly (htf did that happen?) We are trying to go about our daily lives, but it is scary. We had twin appointments booked at the opticians last week, but I bailed, too scared to go out, although he went.
I've been pushing on to get the next book out there - editors and betas booked for the end of this month - but the news is so depressing I'm no longer sure it's worth it. How are people's sales and page reads holding up? I'm hearing that a lot of us are seeing a downturn.
In our small town someone has recently set up a group to help the elderly and the vulnerable, and those self-isolating (and ain't that going to be the word of 2020?). Members have volunteered to fetch shopping and medicines and be there at the end of the phone to offer support and a friendly chat if needed. It's a lovely gesture, just a little short on practicalities. If I ask someone to fetch me groceries, how will I pay them? We don't keep a lot of cash in the house, and they won't be geared up for card payments. I still have a few cheques left in an old cheque book, but they won't last forever, especially now our moron of a prime minister is about to decree that everyone over 70, or in a high risk group has to stay housebound - for up to 3 months.
Lord, I despair. I should stop reading the news - but then, how will I stay informed?
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Post by Miss Terri Novelle on Mar 15, 2020 9:29:14 GMT -5
I've seen a slight downturn but not a major landslide in sales and reads, though I've been hearing people are seeing worse. I think we'll see an uptick as people settle into being isolated and find they need things to do.
I'm also at risk because I have an autoimmune disease and the meds I take are to suppress my immune system. I have cold symptoms at the moment, and I had flu symptoms after my dad's last treatment, but I'm not really all that worried. I hope I don't have it, but if I do, there's nothing I can do about it, and I'll survive or I won't. My only concern is that if I do have it, we went to my parent's house yesterday to help my dad with his car, and if I gave it to them, it won't be good. My mother has COPD and my father is high risk because of his heart and the cancer and his age and he has bronchial susceptibilities on top of all of those.
Schools have closed and my husband is on the phone with his boss talking about what they're going to do. The jobs they're currently on are basically isolated anyway, so as long as materials are available, they'll keep working from the sounds of things. There's a question whether unemployment will kick in if they have to close down. We're fine if they do. We have savings, and my book money is more than enough to keep us from dipping into it.
I'm going to just keep writing and hope for the best.
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Post by Miss Terri Novelle on Mar 15, 2020 22:33:33 GMT -5
My sister-in-law made it back from her trip. The tour wasn't allowed to go to Morocco as planned, and they ended up in Portugal before moving on to Madrid, and then ended up getting on a plane in London. They weren't allowed to go anywhere in London, and I refrained from telling her she was an idiot.
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Post by Daniel on Mar 16, 2020 7:28:39 GMT -5
My sister-in-law made it back from her trip. The tour wasn't allowed to go to Morocco as planned, and they ended up in Portugal before moving on to Madrid, and then ended up getting on a plane in London. They weren't allowed to go anywhere in London, and I refrained from telling her she was an idiot. Such restraint.  My best wishes to all my friends here at the Pub. Stay safe, stay healthy, and write on. |
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Post by Miss Terri Novelle on Mar 16, 2020 15:48:42 GMT -5
It took all my resources. And it did help that she admitted it was a stupid thing to do.
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Post by carlos on Mar 16, 2020 18:31:23 GMT -5
Living, as we do, in an 'independent living facility' (formerly known as an 'old folks home') we are surrounded daily, and are part of, one of the most vulnerable populations. So far, nobody has been reported ill, but the place is in virtual lock-down. Deliveries are made to the front door, only, not to individual apartments. An elaborate time schedule has been imposed on meals to assure that there are fewer than 10 residents in each half of a dining room designed to serve about 150. All the social activities have been cancelled, except those initiated by the residents themselves (I guess the management despaired of telling all these old ladies that they can't visit each other.)
I call it "Hotel California'--in reference to the ominous last verse, which I remember runs approximately as follows: "We are programmed to receive. You can check out when you want, but you can never leave." |
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Post by Miss Terri Novelle on Mar 16, 2020 22:43:14 GMT -5
That sounds both scary and annoying. I hope there's a lot of disinfecting going on!
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Post by elephantsbookshelf on Mar 22, 2020 9:15:26 GMT -5
Here in NJ (USA), we just went into a full lock down. I'm an EMT, and am one of the few people who's able to drive anywhere other than a super market or other essential business (e.g., pharmacy, laundromat). I'm on first aid duty as I type this.
Things have gotten eerie here in the states (and I'm sure it's strange in Europe too, perhaps moreso than here!), and I think people have started to realize this isn't some "liberal hoax" as some fools were led to believe. This is killing people!
I've done some mental math for those who have expressed disbelief or lacked the capacity to understand the scope of this. And when I tell them that it could easily mean 2 million deaths in the US within a year -- conservatively -- and I walk them through the simple math, they start to get it. And they become afraid.
Fear is good. It's a survival skill. We need to be aware of that which can kill us.
My writing has suffered. I've barely written anything outside of my day job, and so far no fiction has been written or edited in almost two weeks. But the ideas are still flowing, and I'm grateful for that.
I hope you're all keeping safe. I appreciate this writing community very much, even though I'm not here too often.
Be well.
Matt
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Post by Miss Terri Novelle on Mar 22, 2020 10:07:14 GMT -5
Thanks for all you do, Matt! I think you're in for a rough ride for the next little while.
We're not on lockdown yet. I think it's more likely to happen in maybe Portland and Augusta...other coastal areas than here in the hinterlands where I live. Even a statewide lockdown will be exceedingly difficult to enforce in my area as some people have to drive a fair distance just to get to essential businesses.
We went out yesterday to grab what will basically be our last grocery shop for the duration. It was the first time I'd gone out since last Monday and there was no difference in the number of shoppers and people out and about. The population of our town, however is under 2300, so we're pretty rural. Including the county seat which is the next town to us, we're only around 6300 people.
My husband will work tomorrow. He's not exactly considered an essential worker, but he'll be painting in a building with no one else around, a building that no one is living in, and so I think he'll be fairly safe. After that, he's probably going to choose to go on unemployment. His bosses have basically said he can do that at any time.
I still have cold symptoms, I've had them for a month and suspect it's probably allergies. All low grade stuff, but that's really all it takes to spend the entire time wondering if/when they might worsen. Going to the grocery store felt like playing Russian roulette, and our friend that comes over twice a week showed up last night even though we told him we're social distancing. I guess he figured he's not included in social or something. He takes a shower before he comes over and all, but I didn't really want him here. He doesn't knock, either, just walks right in.
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Post by reveries on Mar 23, 2020 5:26:44 GMT -5
I've done some mental math for those who have expressed disbelief or lacked the capacity to understand the scope of this. And when I tell them that it could easily mean 2 million deaths in the US within a year -- conservatively -- and I walk them through the simple math, they start to get it. And they become afraid. Yes, the stats on this were looking scary at the start and they've got worse. The key is to slow the spread of the virus so that the health services don't get totally overwhelmed but it's already too late in some places. The problem is that the people who appear ill today are only the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot more who've already caught coronavirus but will only start showing symptoms over the next few days. I still have cold symptoms, I've had them for a month and suspect it's probably allergies. All low grade stuff, but that's really all it takes to spend the entire time wondering if/when they might worsen. Going to the grocery store felt like playing Russian roulette, and our friend that comes over twice a week showed up last night even though we told him we're social distancing. I guess he figured he's not included in social or something. He takes a shower before he comes over and all, but I didn't really want him here. He doesn't knock, either, just walks right in. Seriously, you need to stop that friend walking in on you. Phone and say he isn't to visit again. Lock and bolt your door in case he does still try and come. You told him you were social distancing. He ignored your wishes. He's likely to be ignoring other simple virus precautions as well, endangering himself, and thereby putting you and others at risk. I hate to sound so negative, but if you look at the stats of what happened in Italy, you'll see that this situation has the potential to get disastrously worse at high speed. |
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Post by Miss Terri Novelle on Mar 23, 2020 18:24:11 GMT -5
He's not coming back. We had a conversation about it, and he's not coming back.
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Post by quinning on Mar 24, 2020 13:37:33 GMT -5
Our state is still free to roam, but our county and surrounding counties (in the Dallas area) are all under Stay At Home orders. A week too late IMO, but I’m not in charge and nobody asked me. So ... *shrug*
We’ve been pretty isolated for just over a week and I’ll need to go out again for food tomorrow. It’s a crap shoot and meal planning is out the window, I have to cook with what I can get. TP, Paper towels, cleaning supplies, and sanitizers fly off the shelf as soon as they are stocked. People are lining up outside Walmart at 6 am to get them. So we have to make what we have last.
Meat is hit or miss, vegetables seem to be holding steady for now, but I am deeply concerned about those because we get most of our fruits and veggies from Mexico and Central America - and the Mexico border is closed. Canned goods are pretty wiped out as are staples like flour and sugar. I am prepared to have to visit multiple stores to get anything that we can cook with, although I really want to avoid that. I’ve had to remind my youngest (12) multiple times now that he really can’t afford to be as picky as he likes to be. There are no chicken nuggets. Hell, there may be no chicken!
I keep thinking the panic buying will have to slow down or stop at some point and yet, it has now carried on for almost two weeks.
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Post by Miss Terri Novelle on Mar 24, 2020 21:20:52 GMT -5
One way I'm lucky is that each of our smaller towns has one grocery store and some have more. We don't have toilet paper anywhere, and the canned goods aisles are a bit skint, but we had plenty of meat on Saturday. We were only restricted to one package of chicken.
We're good to go for at least another 10 days until we have to go buy milk. There's meat in the freezer, though I'm not sure if we actually have chicken, but I can do a lot with fish and pork, so I'm not too concerned.
My husband's boss's wife is sick...presumed positive. We won't know for awhile. The extent of our exposure based on that is that he and my husband worked together last week for 15 minutes, outside. They touched the same ladder and tarp, but Matt wasn't coughing.
It's my grandson's birthday tomorrow. I am not too happy not to get to give him a hug.
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