I was mostly looking for ideas for people who are sent home to work and college students doing online classes who are otherwise healthy (as far as they know).
But even if one has been exposed but not showing symptoms (self-quarantined) - a walk in the woods or sitting alone by a lake is a no? Where we live you could do that without someone else around for a half mile or so.
My youngest son and I were supposed to leave for Paris tomorrow. Guess not. 
So this morning, we took a long, scenic walk (gorgeous bayfront, bridge) then washed our hands, picked up cafe au lait and croissants from a local French bakery (which was almost empty - unheard of during this time of year, peak tourist season), washed our hands and got ingredients to make a special dinner. Now we’re home washing our hands again and relaxing. He’s practicing his oboe, I’ll probably ride my exercise bike for a bit. Then we’ll make a special dinner and hang out. I’m thinking most of our social distancing days will look like this. We’ll still sometimes venture out to pick up food/supplies but mostly stick to home or outdoor activities where there’s nobody within touching/sneezing/coughing distance. DS has also ordered some supplies to try out a new hobby - cheesemaking. And I’ll probably keep experimenting with getting my sourdough bread recipes down.
We’ll miss eating out. And - I don’t even want to think about it, but at some point my regular exercise class will be cancelled. It’s not that there’s anything in the class I can’t do at home, I just have so many close friends in there it’s painful to think about not getting to hang with them each week.
On the bright side, my son at college got a screaming deal on his one way plane ticket to come home ($79!) and we’re all looking forward to having him back home for a bit. He’s an introvert type so is in heaven with the very idea of social distancing and cocooning at home, so if anything this will be a great time for him as well.
If you really live in a semi-wilderness area, I think going outside is fine. (But I’m not a medical professional, so don’t take this as CDC- or WHO-level advice.) I understand the concern about having five people, all of whom might have to get work done, in one house.
@compmom, you seem to be extremely essential! Your mom is fortunate to have you.
What are your plans for maintaining sanity during this phase of social distancing, cancelled programs, closed colleges, travel bans, self-quarantines, work from home, science fiction reality ?
I went to Wegman today and it was a zoo. TP is still available, limit to one (6 rolls) per person. I picked up one.
Everyone caved - just yesterday the kids were still going for soccer practice, and coaches sent out rosters for the 2 games this weekend. As of today everything is cancelled until further notice.
One of our office locations is shut down until further notice due to 1 confirmed case. They literally announced that everyone must pack up and go home. Not like a drill where you have to leave everything behind and run out of the building like a fire, but they must vacate the building immediately. I have been working from home for weeks now and haven’t been at that site for months but I could have.
Most if not all of our meetings are moved to teleconference now. The office is a ghost town. It’s a good thing that most of us can work from home.
Mean while my kiddo is taking online class with not a care in the world. It makes me calm when I look at her.
I don’t think you need to live in a semi-wilderness area to be able to safely walk around outside. As long as you have enough space that you can avoid walking within 6’ or so of most people, that should be fine. And you want to avoid touching things or your face (I would have thought that went without saying, but given how many people think it’s reasonable practice to lick their hands while shopping, I’ve reassessed my understanding of what people think is reasonable.) Of course for those that still want to lick their fingers and do things like that, they should also avoid touching any rails, crosswalk buttons, etc. Best guess is that in crowded cities like New York, it would be tough to walk around and know you could maintain enough distance from people to be safe, but in many less densely populated cities and neighborhoods you’d be fine.
I think you’re right, @milee30. Thanks for the better-thought-out and written response.
Our governor (Ohio) just closed all K-12 schools for a three week break, starting Monday.
Shared by a friend who lives in the Seattle area:
As our community confronts a current global health crisis, the Seattle Symphony will continue sharing performances that provide strength, comfort and joy through video rebroadcasts and livestreams throughout the month.
The first rebroadcast will be the live performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 led by Music Director Thomas Dausgaard on Thursday, March 12, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. PDT and Saturday, March 14, 2020, at 8 p.m. PDT on YouTube and Facebook. This concert was originally performed on September 19, 2019.
The Seattle Symphony is organizing additional free livestreams and rebroadcasts until the orchestra can return to the Benaroya Hall stage. More details will be shared in the coming days at seattlesymphony.org/live.
Up in a quiet part of New England here. We have a handful of cases. Business as mostly usual so far. Disinfectant wipes in short supply, but I haven’t had trouble finding anything else – except for dry milk, which I need for the granola I make!
I said “business as usual” above. I suspect it will be. Until it’s not.
Both adult kids live in more impacted parts of the country. I’ve mailed them each a couple boxes of non-perishables. And beefed up our home inventory, as well as my mother’s. Been working on that for almost two weeks and still feel like I’m behind.
Because my mother’s 89 and had TB decades ago, I’m already socially isolating to some degree so that she’s at less risk. That’s not too much of a hardship; as others have said, I’m an introverted homebody and like a quiet life anyway.
I’m so heartened by all the low-risk people in their prime who are working from home, avoiding events and crowds, etc. They’re – at this point – least likely to suffer much from this but are making huge changes out of concern for the greater good.
My son sent me a photo of the main concourse at Grand Central at rush hour, it was virtually empty. He said starting tomorrow he will work from home. He works in midtown at an open concept office and lives in Greenwich Village.
I am worried about my son-in-law who commutes the LIRR to Penn Station. His law firm just moved into new offices at Hudson Yards and the company has no plans to work from home.Last Saturday he played a series of hockey games for the annual Lawyer’s Cup in Chelsea Piers and at night took a client to a hockey game at Madison Square Garden albeit in the firm’s box.
He is now cognizant of cross contamination, hopefully his activities last week won’t be repeated.
More than 50 infections can be traced back to that one lawyer in New Rochelle. His daughter’s school closed immediately after he was diagnosed but the school had at least 29 Covid19 cases.
My dad is 94 and due to renew his driver’s license. Yes, he can still drive. I’ve ridden with him and he does alright around his small town.
But…is it safe for him to go to the DMV? Putting his face close to those eye testers? Standing there with all those other people.
I wonder if states will give driver’s license extensions so that people don’t have to be exposed at the DMV.
Do any of you have family members working in retail stores?
What precautions - if any - are they taking or are you taking?
I am very concerned with all the people contact in these jobs.
Advice
Personally, I would not have a 94 year old relative go to the DMV.
Call and ask if there is an extension, or another option…besides not driving until he can renew.
@Artist2233 , my older daughter works in a NYC bar that also serves food. She is a server. She is very concerned about the situation. No paid sick leave, owner and managers expect employees to work even when sick (that’s not unusual for these types of jobs), potential exposure to sick customers. Ugh.
Any shopping that is not urgent will be postponed. So malls will be deserted, restaurants mostly empty and the employees will probably see reduced hours pretty quickly. Supermarkets are a different matter for now, but even there after the initial rush I think in person visits will drop dramatically by next week as people think more carefully about going out and shift towards home delivery (and may even have more time to cook if they stay at home).
At this point I’d be much more concerned about the financial consequences of being laid off than about the person to person contact.
Being a healthcare worker on the other hand would be a completely different matter.
@marast so sorry for your loss.
Oh, my daughter also is worried about the lost income if she can’t work or her hours are cut. She’s in a no-win situation.
Patients are showing me pictures of the lines out the door at the Costco in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. My wife said our local (in Chicago) is out of toliet paper and her favorite $2.99 wine…lol(actually a decent wine, not great but decent).