I don not want to spread panic. However, I cannot agree enough with SerenityRUS.

I work in healthcare in CA. We are in week 2 of a "lockdown." Our Gov. acted boldly early, thank God. But there are still too many people who act like this is "Just a bad flu." I understand there are portions of this country who are unaffected and think that Californians are "krazy" or "alarmist." We are not.

The point of this is:
1. Listen to medical professionals only when it comes to this disease.
2. Do everything YOU can to prevent spread - that means acting "As If" you HAVE the disease. As well as wiping all packages, mail, groceries with alcohol wipes BEFORE they sit on your counter!
3. Understand that our hospitals will be overwhelmed... there are not be enough ventilators right now. Period. That is why social distancing and acting "As if" is so important!
4. Build up your immune system, sleep well, do things to reduce the stress and anxiety that can build up.

IF you are healthy and can shop (with precautions) for those who are elderly, please do! What a wonderful way to be of service! But remember...
the largest percentage of age affected by infection and death are 20-60 year old people.

As a country, we will persevere. We will. Don't panic. Don't hoard resources. The goal is to have as many people survive their infection as possible. You can actually help with this!

Stay positive, stay informed, stay healthy!

&

Hey all - I too am fortunate to be in an area where our leadership acted early. I've been home longer than most as my AH is a high-risk person. My area is under stay @ home orders, effective @ midnight last night, yet my state is not - just portions of it. My parents are in a state that is not taking it seriously, and are still going out, golfing, traveling, etc. I am powerless over everyone other than I.

We all have access to the save information, I suggest you use it for your situation. My son is also required to work currently. We are leaving meals out for him and waiving through the windows. I don't intend to do anything that would put myself of my AH in harms way. He is taking added precautions as suggested - gloves, masks, distance, etc. while working.

I have been doing extensive online shopping - Amazon, Sams, Walmart, etc. I am in an exclusive area, so I just leave the packages on the porch for 3 days and still wipe them down as well as everything inside the box/package. I am not one to panic, but rather plan. My biggest concern is I have a flight scheduled for 4/4 to travel to help me aging, at-risk parents who are in a state that's not locked down nor being proactive. I've got decisions to make within the next 8-9 days about that. I am letting go, just for today.

You can stay safe if you must go out, go to work, etc. I do agree that listening to the experts will serve us all way better than listening to the non-experts. My personal perspective is even if/when the stay at home orders are lifted, I'll not make changes until I see the data suggesting I can/should. I am not a panic person, but rather a planning person. We can/will get through this! (((Hugs)))

Good to see you (((serenityrus))) Sorry to hear you're not able to work remotely and hope there's a possibility of that changing for you. Thanks for the suggestion concerning cleaning hard surfaced purchased items. I have been doing this myself since the very beginning. It would seem common sense to me if I am going to sanitize surfaces in my home, I need to clean off hard surfaced items that many people may have handled. I read that the virus can live on hard surfaces for a few days. Whether that's so, I don't know but it only takes a few minutes to clean off things that get delivered to my home. I have been getting rid of cardboard boxes whenever possible. This would mean immediately disposing of the delivery box, removing cello bags of food from their boxes and disposing of those boxes as well. I'm becoming more hesitant about shopping in stores which are enclosed physical spaces. We are healthy so far and I'd like to stay that way. Thankfully, delivery is possible and we can even help others in that process and get things delivered to them as well. 

I'm not a person over sixty-five but will say that at least in my state a person's health, social distancing, sanitizing all seem more an indicator of outcomes concerning the virus. The median age for those testing positive for the virus in this state is forty years old. 

For the most part, people have been pretty good about social distancing here. I choose to continue to go out daily to get exercise, sunshine, see other human beings and wave to them, see and hear birds and feel a part of life. Seeing a basset hound out with it's owner yesterday wagging it's tail and sniffing things was the highlight of my day. Sure it felt a little different not to be able to approach the owner and dog, say hi and pet the dog but I accept this. I'm grateful for the assurance that I can continue on with daily life and take some enjoyment from it while Alanon's awareness, action and acceptance.

It's essential to my well-being - physical, mental and spiritual to act vs react to this situation. Going out is actually recommended here for people of all ages with the understanding that people continue to practice social distancing. It's difficult enough to feel concern about the well-being of loved ones at a distance without being holing up in the house 24/7. For me anyway, that would break my spirit. I feel it's important to take take the virus very seriously, practice caution but until I hear otherwise, I'll continue going out, smiling and waving at a distance to others. Thanks for sharing. Stay well. ((hugs)) TT

 

According to the National Institute For Health's Post:

Scientists found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detectable
in aerosols for up to three hours,
up to four hours on copper,
up to 24 hours on cardboard
and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.
The results provide key information about the stability of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease.

I may be over-the-top, but I take precautions with delivered packages - cardboard, paper bags, and plastic shopping bags too.

Positive thoughts and prayers to all and their loved ones!

There are 7.7 billion people on our planet give or take with just under 20k fatalities which are covid19 related. Unprecedented shutdown measures are in place world wide with armed enforcement officials in some places. Borders are closing. The economy can not sustain this so of course my own fear is not death and illness (which I personally accept is part of life, death without actively looking for it) but what comes when this concludes, which one way or another it logically will. I think right now the staying home part is the easiest. Staying home and staying sane a little harder. Still no confirmed cases here and we dare not leave the house to cross the street to the isolated beach. That's the flip side of freaking out, we stop looking at each other as human and start seeing each other as potential virus spreaders, as threats. Be safe yes, be smart. But for the love of humanity please don't fear the worst case scenario of apocalypse. The figures don't support it and most people I know are good, kind, loving and responsible. Especially employees who are working to feed their families.

I have a WHOLE lot more to say about it. The reality is when the hospitals are having to choose between the 70 year old who's on a ventilator and the 20 year old basically who's going to live longer and have a better quality of life .. there's an overall issue. We should never have to sacrifice one life for another. This is going to scar many of the hospital staffing for their lives.

So no don't panic, however be aware, know your own health and realize no one will advocate for you. Be smart and be proactive in caring for yourself and others.

I have a gaming friend who at the moment has been exposed to the virus through church, his wife and him have 5 kids 2 of them are shared if I remember correctly. The youngest of those children who is 2 years of age is exhibiting signs. They live in NY. I have known both him and his wife for a few years now. Gaming communities are a lot of fun and super supportive. So it's a plague, it's a crisis and we all need to lean into each other and be supportive. Everything else will come back .. the economy will come back, if we don't observe simple common sense during this time .. we will be burying the older community at a high rate as well as the much younger little folks out there. I don't think common sense distancing is to much to ask of every day people.

IF you are in a position to be of service take advantage of it. I worry for my hairdresser of many years, she's a single mom trying to support her and her son who is younger than my kids .. my sponsor used her as well .. I sent her a "gift" in the name of our mutual friend. Next month I will send another from me. If I have extra I share, I think one of the greatest opportunities we have as a society is to really look out for one another. It is a responsibility.

I also realized for the love of God what did people do in the 1800's to relieve their boredom and keep their brains from chewing from the inside out and it's brought home a much simpler way of life for sure and a much better feel for how easy we actually have things.

Hugs stay healthy