Hello from the U.S. epicenter of the coronavirus: Bothell/Kirkland/Seattle. While many people here are working 24/7 to deal with the unfolding consequences of the coronavirus, life has slowed to a crawl for those of us under self-quarantine. As someone “at high risk,” I have been under self-quarantine for six days and already have cabin fever.
In just the first week, Washington State has recorded 19 deaths from coronavirus, schools serving nearly 30,000 are closed, universities have moved classes on-line, county executives have directed everyone who can do so to work from home, businesses are laying off employees for lack of work, and the coronavirus virus is popping up in new communities every day. Friday afternoon rush hour in Seattle looked like 9:00 A.M. on a Saturday instead.
As the U.S. epicenter for coronavirus, we’re a few days ahead of the rest of the country in developing a community-wide response. Here’s some of what we’ve learned so far about dealing with the coronavirus.
Healthy people who come into contact with the virus can shed it as they go about their day–shaking hands and touching tabletops, keyboards, and card readers. They probably don’t know they are carriers of the virus. This is how it is spreading so quickly in communities and around the world. It is also why people at high risk of dying from the coronavirus must self-quarantine and people around them must be extra careful.
If you can’t find a hand-sanitizer to buy, make your own with these recipes. Keep hand sanitizers in your vehicle, handbag, and pack, Use them at the grocery, every time you use a keypad, pump gas, or exchange currency. Don’t shake hands or fist bump. Elbow bumping is safer. Open doors with your elbow or hip, if possible.
Work from home if you can. Get ready for quarantine–either mandated or self-quarantine. See below for tips.
People at higher risk of severe illness must stay home completely because the health consequences for us are severe. If you’re in a high risk group, the virus is hard to treat and deadly. Do not go into public spaces or touch surfaces that members of the public may have touched. Stay away from places with lots of people and large gatherings where there will be close contact with others, including concert venues, conventions, sporting events, religious services, and crowded social gatherings.
People at higher risk include Those:
- Over 60 years of age
- With underlying health conditions including include heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes
- With weakened immune systems
- Who are pregnant
Caregivers of children with underlying health conditions should consult with healthcare providers about whether their children should stay home. Anyone who has questions about whether their condition puts them at risk for novel coronavirus should consult with their healthcare providers.
If family members or close friends are at high-risk, read this article about steps you can take to keep them safe.
Where to Find Information
Read updates and follow the recommendations of public health officials, doctors, and scientists such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) and local and state officials. Many of President Donald Trump’s current comments about the coronavirus are misleading, untrustworthy, and even untrue. This is not a matter of whether one likes the President or not, it is a matter of keeping yourself, loved ones, and your community safe. As one on the ground at the epicenter, I have found the following sources accurate and trustworthy regarding the coronavirus: the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Seattle Times, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, King County Public Health and Snohomish County Public Health.
How To Stay Healthy and Sane During Self-Quarantine
Stay calm. There is no need to panic. Check coronavirus updates no more than hourly for peace of mind. Think of what you can control and then do it. Here are some possibilities.
1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Time yourself by counting to 20 slowly, sing the Happy Birthday song twice, or the Alphabet Song once. Have other members of your household do so, as well. Use a hand sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable.
2. Clean all surfaces that people may have touched or where they may have rested their hands, Clean them frequently in case the virus migrated there from a purse, toys, keys, or grocery bags.
3. Make sure you have 14 days of food available. Stock up on frozen vegetables and non-perishable foods. Buy snacks. See here for what to stock in your pantry for quarantine.
4. Buy enough pet food for 14 days. If you have dogs, get extra bones and treats to help manage their cabin fever and yours.
5. Make soups, stews, and pasta sauces. Freeze them in quart-sized containers.
6. Design a walking route inside your house and walk it several times each day. Or walk outside without touching anything that anyone else might touch. Do a few lunges, squats, and donkey kicks every day. Do stretching exercises. Movement counteracts depression and keeps the body limber.
7. Do projects for which you don’t have to go to the store. Clean the garage, spice cupboard or pantry. Sort through a closet or throw away old magazines. Do a woodworking or craft project you’ve put off. Detail your car. You’ll feel productive during the quarantine and pleased about what you accomplished.
8. Stream movies and T.V. shows. If you don’t have Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu, you can get a 7-day free trial and cancel it at the end of the week. Try watching Cheers on Netflix and Hunters on Amazon for laughs and tension, respectively.
9. Get a library card and borrow e-books from home. Libraries have their catalogs available online. Read Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and News of the World by Paulette Giles to be transported to a different world.
10. Work in your yard or garden. Fresh air, trees, sunshine, and gardening help create calm and relieve depression.
11. Watch online classes on Bluprint (formerly Craftsy) or YouTube. Blueprint has low-cost cooking, decorating, sewing, woodworking, gardening, knitting, and exercise classes taught by well-known instructors. After foot surgery last year, I passed many an hour learning how to use a table saw, refine my sewing techniques, bake flaky pie crusts and make awesome pizza.
12. Call friends and family to stay in touch. Call people who are under self-quarantine. Skype and FaceTime for face-to-face contact. Go for a drive but don’t get out of your car.
If you are high risk, don’t go out in public, ever, until the coronavirus until you have medical clearance. Thinking you won’t be infected or infect anyone else if you do it just once is like thinking you can have sex once without protection and not get pregnant. You might get lucky, but you might not. Don’t risk it. Ever.
Good to see you on FB. I have enjoyed reading your blog.
Thanks for the report from the center of the storm. Please do continue to practice self-care, and for the meantime self-quarantine. The world needs you.
I have been attending the church here in Louisville where Cynthia Campbell is senior pastor, and have been interested to see that community’s response to the fact that there are now coronavirus -afflicted people in Kentucky (one just reported in Louisville). At the passing of the peace people waved the old “peace sign” or bumped elbows, or put hands on hearts and kind of bowed. What someone online pointed out about all of these it that it meant one was not looking at the hand one was shaking, but into people’s faces. It was actually a benefit we would not have discovered otherwise.
Thanks for the advice about cabin fever too. I am not self-quarantined, but I am stuck at home a lot as my knee strengthens after replacement, and I do find myself bouncing off the walls on occasion (and Cynthia does too, burdened with my care). I will suggest some of what you listed.
Thanks for the good advice! Because my MS has compromised my immune symptoms, we’re taking all precautions. Our congregation is taking all advice.
We also lock all exterior doors after the service begins. Scary world☹️
Your ground zero news is awesome! Our church service began with instructions for alternative interactions @ virtual hugs, elbow bump greetings, shoe touches (my favorite! Saying hello with a little toe tapping dance!).
Each pew had tissues and sanitizers, and lined waste baskets were strategically placed. No hand holding for final “I will pray for you” song. We placed R hand on neighbor’s shoulder instead. I rather liked that better! Some good WILL come from this !!
Keep us informed, Barbara. I am feeling a bit disconnected as Rev Bobbi Neason left a few weeks ago to a call in Alaska. Our visiting pastor today was Rev Brad Kent w wife Ali from Bend, OR. He served as our interim before Bobbi arrived 14 years ago. (Have I really been in zBandon 14 years?)
Be Well. Be Safe. Be Strong. and keep the faith❤️
Sandi Schwarm
Great timing! UMass and our Presbyterian hosts in WV and NC are not falling for the hysteria as we start our service-learning mission trips Friday!
Have a great time. Stay calm and carry on.