How is your COVID-19 Quarantine going?
Quarantine is a bit of a broad misnomer, as I think (don’t quote me on this) technically the word quarantine applies to those who are experiencing symptoms, have been confirmed positive, have been exposed to a confirmed case, or who have recently traveled to certain high risk areas. But it’s close enough to what is recommended for everyone and especially those in high risk groups (elderly and those with complicating health conditions) that we’ll go with it. Many states and municipalities across the US have issued stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders. Nationally we’ve been hearing similar guidance, but often the official orders are more appropriately issued at the state and local levels.
Choose whatever terminology is most meaningful to you. In areas that experience hurricanes and those in proximity to chemical plants and refineries, “shelter-in-place” is a well-known term. Maybe not so much in other parts of the country.
It has been a scramble on everyone’s part to adapt to this unprecedented (in my lifetime anyway) situation. Governments, companies, teachers, healthcare workers, individuals and many others I don’t have space to list out are figuring out the new normal day by day and sometimes hour by hour. There are always critics (and hoarders, don’t even get me started), but by and large I’ve seen the American spirit alive and well. An American spirit that perhaps we weren’t sure we still had.
We are not where we need to be yet – I still observe people not taking the threat seriously. Personally I have reduced my trips to town. I’m limiting the adventure of foraging for groceries and supplies to once a week. I do frequent my favorite local coffeeshop for takeout to keep supporting them, but I take precautions … I make sure not to touch the door handle with my bare hand, use a credit card so the barista doesn’t have to handle cash, put some cash directly in the tip jar, use hand sanitizer when I get back to my car, and wait to add cream and sweetener until I’m home and have washed my hands. All the while touching as few door handles with bare hands as possible.
Some days I just get my afternoon caffeine fix at home.
I have used antibacterial wipes or cleaner daily on high touch surfaces around the house. Doorknobs, light switches, remotes, phones, countertops, computer keyboards, faucets. I have taken an antibacterial wipe to steering wheels, buttons and switches and turn signals, inside car door handles (outside painted ones might not be able to handle the chemicals, use your judgment), and even my credit card.
I’m encouraging the older folks in my family to opt for delivery of groceries and takeout, offering to help with the ordering process. We live in a semi-rural area, so delivery isn’t available from a ton of businesses. There are enough, though, and Amazon Prime is quite familiar with where we live. Curbside pickup is the next best thing. Staying at home as much as possible like the experts said is ideal, especially if you’re high risk and not an essential employee.
Speaking of essential. The definition of essential by government orders has been intentionally broad. There are lots of dominos in the supply chain to what most people would consider obviously essential businesses.
Auto repair is an essential business here in Ohio. Commercial vehicles need to be in working order to move supplies around. Personal vehicles need to be in working order to get essential employees where they need to be and to enable the general public to obtain essential supplies if they can’t be delivered. When the alternator on my aging personal vehicle started doing the death rattle over the weekend (while on my once a week foraging expedition last Friday … ack!), I was grateful to be able to leave it with my favorite mom and pop (okay, pop) repair shop this week. After an overnight stay for a new alternator and some other much needed TLC, my little SUV is happy again.
If it is safe for you to be out and you have the time / funds to do so, now would be a great time to drop off your vehicle for any attention it needs. Don’t plan on hanging out in a waiting area – get another member of your household to pick you up and drop you off … and if that is not an option, think carefully about whether public transportation or a courtesy shuttle is advisable. If you are high risk, maybe have a low risk relative, friend, or neighbor take your car in. If you are low risk, still take precautions. This virus survives for a while on surfaces. Touch an infected surface … then touch your face … and guess what.
Okay, enough preaching on stay at home, disinfect, sanitize, and stop touching everything.
There has been an overwhelming glut of online viewing and streaming options popping up. Don’t feel like you need to watch everything. Choose some. And know when to step away from the screens. That being said, here are links to my suggestions this week:
My friend Traci started a blog about her experience living in Italy during this virus crisis.
My friend Andrew released new music this week. He says he was trying to recreate the sound of peace, and I think he nailed it.
Ragamuffin Sundays is livestreaming every … surprise, Sunday … at 4pm eastern / 1pm pacific on Ragamuffin TV’s free YouTube channel. Join in whether or not you’re connected to a local church, and join the live chat. (It may prompt you to “create a channel”, which only takes a couple clicks.) Playback is also available.
That’s all for now. Remember … sanitize … social distance … and keep looking up.
