That wouldnt be offensive at all. I assume they wear thick rubber gloves, as I do while cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms. If you have access to thinner gloves for the rest of the rooms, I would offer those as well. I am not picking up anything while dusting as I dont want to transfer anything. I’m not a fan of swiffer type dusters, but now I would reccomend them. A bit of furniture spray on them should at least do a decent job around everything without touching your stuff. Also, ask them to do the wet rooms with the thick gloves and then put them into a utility or kichen sink that already has a water/bleach solution in it. After they leave, i would still take Clorox wipes to all faucet handles, door knobs, light switches. If they use your vacuum and mop as opposed to their own, i would wipe the handles on those as well. Sounds like alot to do after they leave, but it shouldnt take more than a few minutes.
Passing along a tip I discovered on my own. I’ve been using clips to keep my hair off my face and it has stopped me from touching face to push it back.
I’ve barely touched my face since I started doing this a few days ago.
“Everything we do before a pandemic will seem alarmist. Everything we do after will seem inadequate.”
– Michael Leavitt
The grocery stores were busier than normal probably because schools will be closed as of Monday. Paper goods in general are out of stock. (I wish they wouldn’t hoard.)
We are hunkering down in our area of SoCal. I don’t feel that we’re overreacting. If this disruption helps the greater good then it will have been worth it. Tue only bummer is more rain is in the forecast possibly adding to the cabin fever.
@emilybee. Please tell you husband he needs some rest. 20 hours of working is going to decrease his immune system… Take care of him and thank him for his work for me.
What we discussed 2 weeks ago seems to be changing about Passover. My wife and I are reading many articles (I am getting many from these threads so thank you in advance to those that post them). We will discuss it more today and this week.
@ams5796. This is why I asked if people can state where they are from so we can get different perspectives from around the United States and the world. We can learn from each other.
It’s finally gotten real to my teens as they watch everything shut down around them. The only thing left for them to go to is one final clay class at an art studio in Manchester, NH (younger daughter, plenty of space, they use their own tools, everything is scrubbed all the time and there are just a few people in thelarge room) and my older daughter’s dual credit college classes at NHTI (which I am sure is going move everything online right after their spring break this week anyway). The other college where my older daughter has dual-credit courses went online recently, and I am pulling them from their part-time jobs (ski resort, which should really close but hasn’t…yet) and one volunteer job (working with elderly). Their sports classes and tournaments are now cancelled. Their main extracurricular can still go on because it is outside and they can do it without being around other people. Same with some of their volunteer work and research projects. Those specific things can be as social or as away-from-others as they like, fortunately. They have quite a few activities than can continue in an adapted fashion so as not to encounter others. They much prefer it when they do work with others, but now is not the time.
My ex and I are now on the same page as to how we handle this. Our kids usually visit him at his Boston-area property two days a week (they have a lot of friends in the Boston area which they see when they are with him). Now he is renting a place in the country not far from where I live to see our kids – no more MA visits. He himself – and now his girlfriend – are staying and working from home 24/7. They have enough supplies to last at least six months. He won’t leave his property except to go to the place he is renting to visit our kids.
We are lucky to live in a place with plenty of nature, fresh air, and scenery. Getting walks everyday and being outside won’t be an issue.
DD is flying back to her university today, loading up her car and will return home. We have booked a home at the beach next week and are planning to hole up and rest. We will drive there.
Last night DS came in talking about meeting a friend in Florida and hanging out. Last night I had to force him to stay away from a pick up basketball game, so I can see what’s coming when we get to Florida.
His friend’s parents (both highly educated) aren’t really taking Coronavirus seriously, see it as a being exaggerated by the “mainstream media.” I am immuno-supressed as well. We may well punt by the end of the week.
My D’s flight from Morocco to JFK is airborne! I’m a happy mom!
One of my iPad games has players from around the world who actively participate in chat. One of them from the U.K. posted that she thought it was crazy that everyone wanted “loo roll” and was the shortage only in her country. I thought, what a great term, loo roll instead of toilet paper!
That’s great news, @collage1. Please come back and let us know how things go at JFK for your daughter.
And our friends who host us at seder each year came over for dinner last night (just the 4 of us) and they haven’t cancelled. We all think this is such a dynamic situation that, while it very well may be cancelled, it’s hard to know for certain what things will look like 3 weeks from now.
While they were over, I received a text from our county that all gatherings over 50 are banned and groups of 10-49 must adhere to certain rules (distancing, etc.) or are prohibited. I was supposed to go to one last meeting of a group of 18 on Tuesday (a few people planned to call in but the majority indicated they’d be there in person as of 2 days ago) but now that will move to a virtual meeting.
I just exchanged texts with our housekeeper and she will continue to come.
I’m in the Bay Area.
Offering fresh masks out of an unopened packet that you suggest they keep to reassure other customers sounds like a good idea. Conversely if someone offered me a mask and I had no idea where it had been, I’d refuse (and likely run away as fast as possible).
@collage1 , are you in Santa Clara County? I’m asking because my younger daughter is at Stanford (grad student). Thanks.
Free robo car washes near my house so I went and got one. No need to touch anything or anybody.
Good question about Passover. We usually have big ones, too. This year? We are waiting and seeing.
I saw a meme with a man offering to play “shake hands” with his dog. And the dog looks back like they are crazy and answers the human parent - no bleeping way. Lol.
@collage1, my brother must be on the same flight! He emailed and said he had boarded what they were told was the last flight out. Was that the case with your D?
I’ve been worrying about the plane not getting off the tarmac.
This is typical work hours for him during budget negotiation season, before State of the State address and before release of Governors budget. And every crisis.
He was Director of NYS Emergency Communications during Hurricanes Lee and Sandy. During Sandy. He wasn’t home for six weeks, except to catch a few hours sleep every few days. Now he is in charge of all budgets for Public Safety agencies and a bunch of smaller ones - like State Board of Elections.
His main COVID19 responsibilities are coordinating Federal funds coming in and State funds to the agencies and local govt entities.
Plus, because he has so much experience from his time at DHSEC and 30 years with the State - he is a crucial person. He has enormous amounts of institutional knowledge.
Thank you to your husband, @emilybee!
Northern Michigan where the only cases I’ve seen so far are concentrated in the Detroit area. One resident from northern Michigan has the virus from traveling but has not returned to the area.
H and I are self isolating because it’s the right thing to do. H works for a public utility so he’s still going to work.
@privatebanker tagging you because you asked. My H’s employer is taking this threat very seriously. They already did many of their meetings over Skype and H indicated that many who can are working from home.
I personally don’t see an interruption to gas and electric. This is a time of low demand and there are plenty of generation sources. Demand will be even lower as businesses close so I’m not feeling at all concerned that we won’t have electricity to use or gas to heat our homes.
Trying to decide what to do about an upcoming dental appointment. It’s just for a filling, but I already had to postpone once. The dentist’s office emailed all patients, outlining their sanitation procedures and asking that patients not keep appointments if they’re ill or have been exposed to covid-19.
Social distancing will have to go on far longer than 2 or 3 weeks, it seems, so I don’t even know when I should reschedule for. The dental staff is always gloved, masked, gowned, etc. What are you folks doing about med/dental appointments?
I’m going to cancel an upcoming hair appointment. It’s only a big deal because I’ve had the same stylist for 30 years, she’s a wonderful person, and I know she really needs the money. I think it could embarrass her if I send her a check anyway.
Driving home last night with our pizza, we saw a new cruise ship in town (San Diego) - the Seven Seas Splendor. After reading the boards, I learned it was supposed to leave for Miami tomorrow but was cancelled at the last minute. Tons of passengers had arrived early and had to find a way home, including a number catching the one direct evening flight to Heathrow. But better than being quarantined for sure. No idea where they plan to keep the ship but it looks great in port. Not a good time to break out your new luxury ship.