Covid-19 Pandemic Thread

Because of an underlying health condition, the British government has decided that I [and all like me] should social distance [stay at home and work] for at least the next 12 weeks. This is one of the busiest times at work, so it will prove interesting. I live alone and have no family nearby so the prospect of 12 weeks alone does not fill me with glee. The Team I work in has agreed to meet over video every day for a chat, even if there is no work need so at least I will see and talk to someone every day. And I've set up a daily schedule to stop me going stir-crazy [Walk, Breakfast, Work, Lunch, Birdwatch, Work, Dinner, Walk]. I'm lucky to have a nature reserve at the end of my road which is usually deserted.
I'm not that worried about the actual disease. I've been ill before and [hopefully] will again. I just want to make life easy for most people by staying out of the way and only going out when needed.
I think it is the fear of the unknown that is scaring a lot of people right now.
The shops still have most of the food I want and all the food I need. Maybe with a little less choice but it is there. And people are smiling. The smiles are a bit thin and a bit nervous but they are there.
Personally I think things will get worse, then better, then worse, then better and then who knows. This is going to be a Long Haul!
On the upside, I will have lots more time to write. Or at least think about writing. Or maybe watching Buffy and the West Wing from start to finish.
All in all, I have it pretty easy and I am grateful to my gods for that.

 

I have already 'self-isolated' during flu season for the past few years. I started doing it when I was a caregiver for my mother, not wishing to bring any infection home and stuck to it after she passed (not being all that young myself). Normally, I'd be coming out of 'hibernation' around this time but I guess it will be postponed this year. I live way out in the country so I'm not confined to my home or anything like that and can hike and bike and generally get outdoors. So no great inconvenience there. I am missing on getting out and listening to and/or performing music.

I do have to run to the grocer every couple weeks (minimum) but I never let that bother me when the flu was a concern so I probably won't now. Still, I'll hurry and go when it is least crowded!

 

As near hermits already, in our small coastal fishing town, not much has changed until you get to the grocery store. Odd to see even one empty shelf in a large store but we have it better than most large cities where the number of people shopping per store is far higher.

As of Friday our county hasn't had a confirmed case but testing here is still/has been minimal. Also odd to see all of the restaurants closed except for take away but we've been cooking nearly every meal at home for the last ten years. We went into town to pick up an oven part the other day and, when we signed the receipt, the woman behind the counter said, "And you can keep the pen". I realized she had a holder with about fifty pens on the counter. I know that's such a small thing but it really struck me as to the level of caution in that one small gesture.

We have an elderly couple as our closest neighbors and we are keeping an eye on them, asking if we can get them anything at the store etc but they are pretty intent on doing for themselves still.

Thus far, there's been no slow down at all in our online businesses but we expect that may still come if it gets worse. It does make me glad that I've always been pretty self sufficient and a true homebody who self-entertains well and not one who craves going out much at all.

Stay safe everyone.

 

With respect, but you had been led by delusional fools for the last 50 years or so (ever since Eisenhower left office, at the very least). Speaking of which, our own delusional fools surprised me - they actually proved to be capable of doing something. Not as much as they should have, perhaps, and definitely less and slower than they could have, but they at least introduced some coherent measures. So situation in Croatia is not that bad, just middling compared to some other countries. We are definitely no China or Russia, though.

Ban Good luck, and as my late grandmother would have recommended, garlic and olive oil.

 

For me personally, it feels like life has slowed down a bit. Impossible work deadlines have been postponed or canceled and a lot of the work now is just finishing things up. And, with working from home added in, my day starts later than before and ends earlier. Taking care of the kids takes a bit of juggling now that schools and daycare are closed. But so far I can manage.

I almost wonder if it's a bit like what writing full time would be like. Make the kids disappear in the morning, sit behind a computer and do stuff, make the kids reappear.

The great unknown for me at the moment is that my wife is a gynacologist. Though most of it has passed her by until now, she will get caught up in the whole treatment of corona patients at some point in the near future I'm sure. We'll see how it goes.

 

Down here in New Zealand the government announced the entire country is going into lock down from Wednesday local time. We will only be allowed to leave home if we go exercising on our own, to get groceries or go to an essential service like the welfare office. Both the police and the military will be out to enforce this lock down. So, for the next four weeks, I will be confined to a tiny fibreglass box on wheels for the most part. The reality of this is just starting to hit home now.

It's been crazy today. Panic buying in the supermarkets that got so bad they had to close. Deserted streets that I was able to walk down the middle of without seeing, let alone being hit by, a car. It's surreal. If I ever have kids (unlikely considering I'm 50 and single) this will definitely be something worth telling them about.

 

I'm very curious how they experience this and what they will remember. My oldest is 5. And she realizes something strange is going on. School is closed, her father is working from home all the time, she's not allowed to visit friends and so on. We explained what's going on as best we could, but it will be interesting to see how she'll remember this whole episode. It must be a weird experience for her.

The youngest is 3, which is still a pretty oblivious age. Stuff might be weird, but that probably goes for most of her life. And her parents will sort it out...

 

It just got real now here in New Zealand. State of emergency declared. Businesses closing down. Tomorrow it'll be a full lock down.

 

Thanks, Sheilawisz.

In many ways, New Zealand is lucky because workers are still being paid via a wage subsidy to employers. Social welfare benefits were increased. People will not be required to pay their mortgages until June. Public transport is now free albeit on Sunday timetables. We've got 203 cases of the coronavirus and, so far, no one has died from it yet.

For me, I'm worried about being able to get to the shops to get groceries as I don't drive. The nearest bus stop is 2km from where I live. The nearest shop is 4km away. Will I be stopped by the police or military? To me, the idea of soldiers on the streets is scary and not something I feel comfortable with even if I do understand why it's happening.

I just noticed something. I live near an expressway that is normally quite noisy. It is absolutely quiet. So quiet that my ears are hurting!

 

At the place I work, This morning they have sent round an email asking people to volunteer to help the NHS, Government, who ever needs it. We have secure building, great comms, lots of computers and people who understand data. The labs are being turned over to testing and facilities like the Sports centre turned over for emergency use. I'd volunteer but I'm also in a vulnerable group so have to stay away from others.
The people I see [from a safe distance on my one daily walk] are actually friendly and say hello.
The weather is cold but bright so you see a lot of washing out drying.