I was just pondering the known cases and thinking of the economic group that seems most affected. The majority of the cases in LA County are a group of men who went skiing in Italy recently.
That’s one of the reasons why I am worried about going to Indian Wells. That tournament attracts a largely well to do population who are more likely to have traveled to Italy, etc. It also attracts international fans who may come from countries more affected than ours.
I’ve been contemplating the same for several groups I am involved in as Chair or Vice Chair. Much business can be conducted via conference call, email, etc. Don’t need to meet in person. Also, most members are in the 50-80 year old range.
Talked to my parents last night. They are in their mid-80s. Still go out for groceries and such but they have drastically cut back on social things out of caution. Smart I think for their demographic.
Mechanics can travel, too. 
Many make good $.
Many locations in the US are reporting community contact. You don’t need to travel to be at risk.
Mr. went to Total Wine yesterday to look for some wines with doomsday labels (hosting a few friends this weekend). He also picked up a jug of 75% grain alcohol (ethyl alcohol) because we were getting low on rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol), and of course isopropyl alcohol can’t be found anywhere now. All 95% and 100% alcohol was already sold out. At the checkout, Mr. mentioned that he would use this jug for wiping door handles etc. The cashier took it as a personal insult!! What?! You are going to use this holy water for what?!! This is not some Lysol, this is the good stuff! He told Mr. to remember to wipe the jug because the store employees might have touched it.
? we don’t drink any liquor, just beer and wine.
I feel like each poster’s attitude is affected by where they live. Here in the midwest, there are very few confirmed cases. High school trips were a go today - even those flying to CA for Model UN. Hand sanitizer gone from shelves but I couldn’t even find a parking lot in our town this morning to meet friends for coffee so people are not keeping to themselves.
My friend in Seattle is feeling very different of course.
The case in our state (in my town, actually) was a person who had NOT traveled out of the country, but had flown from Tennessee to Boston and back. He had mild symptoms and tested positive. He quarantined himself. The whole state went into a panic and the school district closed for 2 days for “cleaning”. This- even though his kids go to a private school! Further testing revealed that his family members tested negative. I suspect this is a common progression, despite the hysteria out there. So @TatinG , no, it isn’t just the international jet setters who are exposed.
No one lives alone on an island. The virus has spread to at least 85 countries (probably more as some haven’t begun testing). No place in the US is likely to be spared.
People around here are perking up now that MD and PA have cases. Still waiting to see if our students go to France. They definitely want to and are ok staying home two weeks post trip.
Lots of discussion in school today about teaching online if required. A good bit is done online already at the high school level. Apparently that’s not true for our elementary grades.
This isn’t what you are doing to prepare. rather what not to do. Scammers are coming out to exploit the virus offering free cruises. Beware.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-coronavirus-robocall-scams-are-emerging-162020669.html
“We’ve seen feedback around ‘free cruises,’ because they’ve taken a hit [from the coronavirus],” Tyrell said. “A lot of calls seem to be more on the west coast in the California region.”
@1NJParent oh I agree but the urgency seems to only be felt in places where the virus is affecting school closings, etc. I’m not saying it won’t eventually be a big deal in our state. All that I’m saying is that most people I’ve spoken to in our town aren’t changing their daily activity. And many feel like maybe it’s being blown out of proportion. Just reporting what I’ve seen and heard.
For example, parents here in the midwest were pretty upset that Northwestern cancelled Dance Marathon but those parents in Washington with kids at NU (well, at the least the two I know) thought it was a good move.
I receive daily updates from our synagogue (which houses a school that is closed because of person with exposure to COVID-19) and our school district (I have no kids still in school). The synagogue is closed until the exposure period has passed (it’s related to the New Rochelle case), and the school district announced a rumor about a student with COVID-19 that has been dispelled, but apparently a local youth hockey team (with students from our district) played a team from a neighboring community that had a player who had been exposed. No changes in our district except to keep everyone informed and to encourage self-isolation if anyone has or had travelled to high risk locales.
All I’m doing to prepare is worry about the wedding in 2 weeks. I know there’s nothing I can do (we have sanitizer, are washing religiously, and have plenty of toilet paper(!)) but it’s going to be a long two weeks.
I’ve been reading a popular travel forum about “Travel Shaming”. Co-workers are arguing with each other over whether it is irresponsible to travel anywhere near an affected area. The travelers say “it’s inconvenient to change my plans, I’ve been saving for years for this trip, I may not get my money back, my risk is low” and a host of other reasons. Those voting in favor of staying home say ‘you are risking our health if you come back to work too soon, you are risking the health of older people, you are being selfish’.
H is an infectious disease dr., and nothing here has changed. I can’t even get him to take his germy shoes off before coming in the house! And, he thinks stocking up is ridiculous. (Watch, we’ll be the starving family without toilet paper!). He’s just big on hand washing. The problem is, if you have a habit of touching your eyes, etc., (for sure my S does), it’s hard to stop. I suggested that our S wipe his desks at school down with Clorox wipes and he refused.
Just heard UW cancelled all in person classes, and the rest of the quarter will be online.
It’s not necessary to have disposable gloves, properly sanitized waterproof sturdy gloves will provide just as much protection. My daughter works at a middle school and did not want to start wearing disposable gloves. She went online and found a pair of somewhat fashionable black waterproof gloves that she will be able to wear at the school if the virus becomes widespread in our California city. Another advantage of gloves is that you don’t need to seek out expensive hand sanitizer, a brief dip in 10% Clorox or 70% rubbing alcohol, followed by a rinse in tap water will suffice.
RE; Zinc lozenges. They seem to be sold out at online retailers. I’ve had a couple of orders cancelled.
Not sure if it will work, but it’s better than nothing and I can’t see how it would hurt…I’m taking TJ’s ginger candy and softening it. Roll the softened candy around a zinc tablet and slowly chew it to integrate the two then let it all dissolve in mouth.
Tastes icky.
Just got back from DMV, crowded as usual.
No hand sanitizer to be found at all ! ?
Gah. It hit home for us in the wallet. D19 was supposed to leave on a crew team training trip for spring break tomorrow morning. Around lunch time today they found out it’s canceled because the coach down there is an at-risk person and isn’t willing to take the risk of training anyone, especially since there have now been two cases in the state were D goes to school. But, the Airbnb the team was staying in is non-refundable. So there goes the money we paid toward that. Not a huge some to most people but it was hard to scrape up for us. And now I need to figure out getting her home on super short notice too. Sigh.
Just got back from Costco. There were no samples anywhere. Have they stopped sampling due to virus fears? I should have asked a clerk but needed to get home.
The Indian Wells tournament is offering ticket refunds to anyone who wants one but they emphasized that every surface will be swabbed with anti virals every day. They will also have hand sanitizer stations. The balk kids will wear gloves and won’t be touching the player’s towels.
Couple hours outside Boston in northern New England here. Went to my grocery store to stock up on non-perishables my husband would eat. No problems finding canned meats and fish of all kinds. Several types of thermometers to choose from.
Husband and I were at attorney’s office this morning. People shook hands. Sanitizer was right on the end table in the conference room.
This whole thing is sooooooo blown out of proportion. I’m with @homerdog . Unscrupulous profiteers are selling bottles of rubbing alcohol for $35 on Amazon. I just talked to a friend who knows a man who bought $700, yes, $700 worth of canned food. That is literally the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. People buying extra supplies of water? Is a category 5 hurricane is coming? Do they think nuclear war is at hand?
People, life is going to go on. The overwhelming majority of people are not going to get sick. It’s already clear that the majority of people will have few to no symptoms. I feel terribly worried for those who will, but the nation freaking out helps no one. And in fact, the freaking out hurts everyone.