Those of you who are in states where schools haven’t started to close, the school closures seem to have triggered super extreme panic buying. I recommend you consider stocking up with at least some extra necessities now before you end up with empty shelves like we have here. At the least, I would buy a little bit extra each time you got to the store for a while, including some things that can last longer (canned, boxed, etc goods).
Well Chicagoland… The Jewel on 2900 Ashland just got toliet paper in… People are opening boxes now but just taking 1 mega roll package each… The stock clerk just moved back out of the way… Lol… The worst part… I paid full price!! OK won’t complain. The market is like normal right now normal lines. Had to get some Roses and Birthday cake for my wife (Long stem White Roses $9.99… Can’t beat that and got 2 compliments on them)…
With our company tomorrow, I think I should wrap the mega roll and give it to her as a present ?.
Trust me my friends will think it’s funny. Never said she would…
@Artist2233 I think most of us are going to get it. I just hope that either I’m a lucky one who avoids it or at least that I don’t get it until I’m back to stronger health than I am now just having had the flu and still tired out from it. I hope to get it in the summer when the weather is warm or at least when it isn’t the peak and hospitals are overflowing. I am guessing you are likely not over 60 and hope you don’t have other issues that put you at higher risk. The data from China show that over 60 is the biggest risk factor from what I understand, more so that other health issues. Over 80 is a huge risk factor. The statistics are that most of us will be fine. So, try to not worry too much.
My son, who lives with us, works at Target. Yeah, we worry about exposure since both of us are 60+ with conditions. But it’s important that he work for a number of reasons. What are we supposed to do? Tell him to quit? We all try to wash hands and take other precautions. And hope for the best.
my husband is 65 
and I am 56
so this is a concern in a big way.
What’s worse - my husband works part time at walmart as well and refuses to take a leave of absence. Walmart said yesterday they are allowing this.
Why are these people so stubborn?
I work for a retail company in leadership. I can assure you that the retail companies are doing everything possible to keep the stores sanitary and the employees safe. I’ve been on about 5 webinars this past 10 days and get multiple newsletters from law firms and retail industry associations every day. The key is hand washing, not touching your face, stepping way back (if possible) from obviously sick people and a lot of praying! :). Many retail companies are offering enhanced sick leave to try to keep employees from coming in if they feel at all sick.
Our D has told us we should try not to touch her or S and only she and S go out, leaving H and I home, since we are higher risk. She’s using lots of clorax wipes and showers as soon as she gets home. S
H is nearly 80 and I am over 60. I have very low lung function and we all have asthma in this household.
H went to five stores to look for TP - no dice. We found everything else though including the OTC meds that are recommended if we should get sick.
My mom passed away this afternoon. We are definitely postponing funeral services. Hard not to be together right now but too many elderly relatives and too much air travel involved.
As of now, we’ve cancelled spring break plans, my D’s spring production has been cancelled, and the opera cancelled the rest of the season. We’re also scrapping our trip to Europe.
Not a good news week
@momofsenior1 , so sorry for your loss.
@momofsenior1 - my deepest condolences. And virtual hugs.
“My S is wondering how long it’s going to be until people start buying and selling toilet paper and clorox/lysol on the black market”
I use latex gloves in the garden. I mostly use them when cleaning out the gutters and when spraying the fruit trees. I very recently bought some and have quite a few left right now (total coincidence).
I am wondering whether I can trade my extra latex gloves for toilet paper. Barter may be back.
We are also thinking about postponing or eliminating some travel.
@momofsenior1 I am very sorry to hear of your loss.
@momofsenior1 , I am so sorry for your loss.
Really, the older a person is, the higher chance of a worse outcome. It isn’t a steady line after 60. It goes up steeply, with the most severe cases in people 80 and over, especially with health issues. In your age range the % with severe issues is still a small percent and odds are on your side for sure.
I just had the flu and managed to not give it to my son or husband. I washed my hands a million times! I kept cleaning surfaces and I stayed away from them. I hope and think that if people were similarly careful, it would be possible to avoid the spread at home between family members with this new virus as well. I think and hope once people get it, we will not be able to get it again. There will be herd immunity that builds and protects people. Treatments are nearly developed that will make survival rates improve and symptoms less severe. Hang in there and try to not worry. It is scary to contemplate but I think we have a good chance to either not get it, not get it severely, or get it once there are viable treatments ready to help lesson the impact.
I can get sick easily and each cold and flu season I get more stressed and have to be a lot more careful and stay home more than the average person. I found not touching my face goes a very long way in not getting sick. Yes, I just had the flu but that’s the first time in decades. I am frequently the only one who doesn’t get the flu or strep or other things that everyone else at work gets. I have only been super sick twice in the past 5 years. Not touching your face, washing your hands, cleaning surfaces at home, these are things you can control which will help you stay healthy. so, I could worry each winter about sickness but instead I try to focus on what I can do and not think about it beyond that. Hang in there!
So sorry @momofsenior1 Even when expected, it’s a hard loss.
momofsenior1 I’m so sorry.
Thanks everyone for the condolences. It was harder than I expected.
I think giving each other space does help. i hope you all stay healthy. It is nice she is being so careful.
FWIW, it was for me to when it happened to my mom this past summer (totally expected death - totally unexpected how hard it was/is to deal with). The feeling hasn’t yet gone away completely either. I’m not sure it ever will. One adjusts somewhat to the new normal with time, but the feelings are still there.
Sometimes knowing what you are feeling is “normal” is somehow reassuring - at least it was for me.
Sending hugs - esp for it happening during this outbreak.
Tried to get into Trader Joe’s this morning but the parking lot was crazy. I figured if the lot was that bad they would probably be out of what I wanted. Went to Costco mid afternoon and it was a zoo. No TP, water, clorex wipes or paper towels. Weirdest was no quinoa! I just finished my huge bag. Lots of empty shelves and full carts. No social distancing but I did see a lot of Asian students in masks. Later went to Gelson’s grocery store for chicken and they were sold out of all chicken and all turkey. They should get more tomorrow around noon so I might venture out or wait till Monday. I bought the last two small bags of quinoa and a small lone bag of jasmine rice. I wanted yeast in case I decided to bake bread and they were sold out of regular yeast just had the rapid rise which I’ve not used before.
My son and DIL are working from home as of today. My D’s boyfriend is also now working from home. They announced schools will close starting Monday. I have two library systems nearby, one has closed and the other is still open but I am assuming they will close. I picked up a hold today just in case. I assume it’s only a matter of time till the gyms close. My oldest said her gym was packed today at noon.
My niece had planned a family gathering for Sunday. My father in law talked to her and the get together has been postponed till summer.
One D is freaking out that she will get less hours at work.
It’s crazy times.
Haha must be a Freudian slip!