I was coming home on a bike ride this afternoon, in Silicon Valley. I didn’t even realize it was rush hour, because the usual traffic was just not there. On the dot of 6 pm, I crossed over Highway 280, normally backed up and bumper to bumper at that time. I’ve seen more cars on 280 on Saturday morning at 8.
In other news, the local Santa Clara County Department of Public Health has closed down all mass gatherings, defined as more than 1000 people. That means YOU, irresponsible professional sports teams.
Here’s an article on the psychology of people hoarding TP. The part that resonates with me is the recommendation of hand washing not feeling commensurate with the level of danger (getting sick and dying).
Anyway, I bought 4 bags of potato chips over the weekend so I’m ready for quarantine. Or a Saturday night, whichever comes first.
I cough a lot due to cardiac meds and pulmonary arterial hypertension (side effect of chemo). Am trying to be more discreet about it since people are jumpy. I’m in the multifactorial risk group.
Am in Georgia for a funeral and was thinking of stopping off to see a couple relatives on the way home. It adds a couple of hours to the trip, including an overnight. Not sure it makes sense, though we could all use some together time as we process our loss. Part of me wants to just go home and hibernate.
Earlier my husband had been chatting with one of the managers of his health club and asked if he could buy a small bottle of their hand sanitizer. The guy said to just bring in our bottle and he could fill it. So now our 12 oz bottle is full ;). Nice to have a husband who makes friends easily!
Unless they are bailed out by the government, all cruise companies will be in bankruptcy within a month or two, because they are going to be forced to stop sailing for at least several months. So I don’t think it’s remotely possible to predict that any trip will still take place as planned next January. Also I noted that as of today at least one cruise line is now refusing to refund your money (other than as credit against a future trip) if your cruise is cancelled.
So my synagogue in Chicago sent out a notice yesterday, since we have a day school combined that a parent was being tested but that parent had not been to the shul in a month. But their kid goes to school there. So Purim events went on last night. I stayed home, tired from driving back from Detroit but my wife went. Now a notice late last night that the building is closed since they are awaiting testing on his children that go there. The city /state officials actually said they can open but they decided to close to have a meeting with them on steps going forward. So no Purim events today for the children
About the food samples; why are stores stopping them? The virus is not a tummy issue. Is it to prevent people gathering around the sample table? Or are they concerned that the virus may land on the sample surface and you inhale when you eat? Am I right thinking it is ok eat the virus and it is breathing the virus that is not ok?
Ohio State has cancelled in person classes until end of March - for now. D is a grad student and is freaking out about labs and any hands on stuff that she has scheduled. I told her it’s a problem her department has to figure out and she just needs to hold on. Luckily she finished one clinical before spring break that most of her peers still have to finish throughout the semester.
Since OSU is the big public in the state (or nation!) I’m wondering how many others will start following suit. Including the mid-American univ I work for.
The SUNY where I got my MSW (Stony Brook) posted on Facebook yesterday that they will close campus and go online. NYC announced that if a public school discovers a student or teacher exposed to COV13 it will close for 24 hours to disinfect and evaluate the risk. There are around 500 public school buildings, some of which have several different schools inside. Some buildings have fewer than 400 students and one, my daughter’s alma mater, has over 6000.
@Iglooo When food samples are out, people touch, cough, and breathe on them. If you then eat one, you are putting their bacteria and viruses in your mouth. Even viruses that cause respiratory illness can be introduced orally. This is why there are all the public health warnings not to touch your face. You can introduce a virus through any mucus membrane.
Both American and United followed Delta’s lead. All three major airlines now waive change fees for all previously issued tickets for travel through April 30.
As for food samples, I have read that it is unlikely to be spread through food. But I also read people get infected from touching contaminated things and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. If touching your mouth can infect you, why not food? I get that cooked food would kill the virus (I guess it could get sneezed on before a person eats it), but it seems that going through the digestive system is not the usual way for a person to get this type of virus.
