FYI, if anyone is planning travel and worried about uncertainty, it looks like American Airline is now giving free flight changes to any flights booked before 3/31. You can change the flight once for free and travel within the next year. Prices are low today, too.
waiting for Delta to do the same. I had 3 conferences cancelled.
I believe that’s only for tickets purchased since March 1.
I am waiting to hear from Gartner conference if they will be cancelled. If they are on, i will go. I plan to meet a couple of friends there, would be disappointed if they cancel.
I don’t know if this is nationwide but I saw on a reputable Instagram page that Costco was suspending samples until further notice.
I mean, this news is devastating. 
@abasket what does “suspending samples” mean?
Eating the virus doesn’t infect you. Breathing does. I don’t normally eat them but not sure why food samples should be avoided.
Costco typically has staff set up all around the store with food product samples - like on a typical day you can go in and sample a dozen or more products - it’s something they are really known for and I’ll bet, make LOTS of profit off the products they are sampling.
But there is a lot of hands and food grabbing in this scenario. It makes sense.
There doesn’t seem to be any real concern in my area and we don’t get a lot of international travelers, nearest good size airport is almost 2 hours away. I have always been OCD about handwashing and keep hand sanitizer in my purse if I am not where I can wash my hands.
On the other hand, we have a large amount of people at school out with the flu, teachers are having to watch multiple classes because there aren’t enough subs for all the teachers that are out(either sick themselves or sick kids). They just had cheerleader tryouts and I think at least 3 girls had to come to the school with the flu(wearing a mask) because there was no alternate date to tryout.
Regarding the AA policy, yes, that is what I meant, for anyone making future travel plans:
“If you purchased a ticket on American Airlines between March 5, 2020 at 9 a.m. CT and March 31, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. CT, you may change your flight once without paying a change fee*. Tickets must be purchased for travel between March 5, 2020 and January 30, 2021.” *For tickets purchased between March 1, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. CT and March 4, 2020, you may change your flight once without paying a change fee if the change is made at least 14 days in before your original travel date. Any difference in fare will apply."
A nearby school district has closed 5 schools for extensive cleaning because multiple individuals were in contact with someone confirmed to have corona virus.
Interesting that this school district will travel to large sport and band events in surrounding districts this weekend. I wonder if schools will start canceling such events?
Just returned from a national field hockey tournament. No one in masks there although saw a gentleman ordering at a fast food rest. with gloves and a mask!
Wondering about timeline - April we have several college admitted student day visits planned - all of which are hundreds of miles away. Even if we end up driving we are wondering if we should go - will it be worse etc? Kind of need to plan work/life around going there! So many in same boat.
We also have a concert we would like to attend in two weeks - waiting to see what is recommended then.
We are contemplating cancelling our March neighborhood meeting. It’s in a couple of weeks. No one in our neighborhood is sick, but it is certainly possible people could have been exposed, if not first hand, at least second hand.
At a medical conference right now. Doing cadaver surgery this afternoon… (how we learn new procedures)… Just not shaking hands… But saw some of my old residents that are female and they all want to hug… OK… More Purell… Lol
Delta is also offering lots of options https://news.delta.com/what-were-doing-delta-takes-action-customers-following-covid-19-outbreak I held off buying tickets yesterday (the fares dropped like a rock) to my college reunion in June for if I don’t end up going, there is no reason to have tickets to that airport, so a “change” won’t help. And, they are cancelling a lot of flights, so if I book one and it gets cancelled, the alternative times might not work out. Sigh…
Had a mammogram last week. Check-in procedures consisted of showing insurance card etc.
Had to come back this week for extra imagining. This morning, check-in required answering questions first - Have I traveled outside the US in the past month? Have I been around anyone with a communicable disease? Do I have any symptoms of a cold or the flu?
Lots of hand sanitizer everywhere for visitors to use. Lots of people using it. Lots of folks (including me) protecting their fingers and hands when they open doors and press elevator buttons. This is at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. (Wonderful hospital btw - I have health issues and have been here many many times).
Currently, United has been the most generous among the major airlines regarding ticket changes and cancellations. Any ticket (even award ticket), to any destination, issued this month can be changed or cancelled without fees.
I had to drop my car off at the dealer yesterday for service. I was the only one in the waiting room using hand sanitizer or (trying) to open the door without touching it.
So today when I pick up the car, I will have to swab down the steering wheel, the arm rest, the console etc.
(Although I doubt the mechanics have had any exposure to anyone with the virus. It seems to be mostly people who can afford trips to Italy, Iran or China or who take cruise vacations and those people’s family and friends. Then a few unknown exposures.) Am I right in this?
Car mechanics don’t have family or friends who can afford a trip abroad??? Yikes.
The main point is you don’t catch a/the virus only from people you know. A car mechanic or anyone else could come in contact with that well off person who traveled abroad at the grocery store, at the car dealer - or anywhere.
If you are concerned, wipe the dashboard and door handles let the car sit unused for a couple of days. 