****It's getting real***

[uglymike]

My wife and I, after much preparation and consideration, have decided to self isolate. I'm in my late 60's, with an immune system that isn't where it should be, 100% disabled. If I get it, it may not go well for me. We are fortunate enough to own 2 houses, about 250 miles apart. She just left for the other house for who knows how long. 3 of our children are either RNs or law enforcement, 3 grandchildren all school age. My wife retired after 40 years of teaching; a masters degree w/admin. certificate. She's qualified on many levels. Our other house is within 20 minutes of both of our kids/grandkids homes. My wife fills a LOT of boxes for them in a "what if" situation.
I've been super cautious the last week, going overboard as far as minimizing my contact with anyone/anything but my wife. I feel fine, have no symptoms. Gonna hunker down, do a lot of shooting and fishing by myself, and be smart about things. I'm hoping for the best, prepared for the worst. Will of course check in daily with you folks.
C....Y.....A  my GTA friends. It's a National Emergency. 

[Back_Roads]

 I work 15 miles from some reported cases, only work with one person who lives in said city, hope he stays away from the infestation 

[FuzzyGrub]

We now have confirmed cases in our county and surrounding ones.   Once they can catch up with testing, expect to see 100 or more cases, even though rural.

All schools are closed to students, but I'll be going in to help my wife.  She had to come up with a food distribution plan to the community, that will start on Monday.

My son's fiancé's relative, is a doctor in Rome Italy.  The story's she is telling are absolutely heartbreaking!   Doctor's are working without masks, and other ppe, and they are forced to make decisions on who will receive care.  Their hospitals are absolutely overloaded, and we need to do whatever we can to minimize what will happen here.

 

[mac]

Best wishes and take care Mike. I think what you are doing is a good move.

[anti-squirrel]

Mike, be safe and take care of you and your wife.  Think of it as a chance to be one with nature!


Amidst the craziness, I dropped this gem on a few people in the Wal-Mart parking lot (I was getting a new network switch for The Wife)… I washed my hands using soap and water in the parking lot.  Bar of soap + a water bottle.  Think about it, folks.  The best prevention is handwashing, not alcohol-based hand-cleaner.  That why medical professionals wash with soap and water, not hand cleaner.  Soap and water, by nature of the chemistry of the acid+fat mix that comprises a soap, will penetrate, surround, and destroy the oils the coronavirus is wrapped in.  It is why surgeons wash with soap and water.

[Mole2017]

Mike, be safe and take care of you and your wife.  Think of it as a chance to be one with nature!

Amidst the craziness, I dropped this gem on a few people in the Wal-Mart parking lot (I was getting a new network switch for The Wife)… I washed my hands using soap and water in the parking lot.  Bar of soap + a water bottle.  Think about it, folks.  The best prevention is handwashing, not alcohol-based hand-cleaner.  That why medical professionals wash with soap and water, not hand cleaner.  Soap and water, by nature of the chemistry of the acid+fat mix that comprises a soap, will penetrate, surround, and destroy the oils the coronavirus is wrapped in.  It is why surgeons wash with soap and water.

Good point Peter! Info I saw also stressed that soap and water was more effective than alcohol based stuff. My daughter freaks if I don't go for the full 20 seconds, front, back, between, underneath...but I know I'm not doing surgery on anybody either so I'm happy to at least used soap and water.


Our governor just shut SC schools down and then the university president has decided to close campus too. My department chair is trying to get a clarification about whether an individual here and there can still work, as opposed to those in any cubicle farms and office suites with other coworkers. I might be getting a day off whether I want to or not (a rainy one at that...).

[Artie]

It's real and the older we are the realer it gets. Soldier on.

[Blowpipe Sam]

We are pretty isolated here to start.  We are preppers who homestead a small farm.  My 80+ year old parents are across the street.  My wife's 91 year old father is on his farm in south Texas.  Our concern is our daughter who works in food service in San Antonio.  We feel pretty well set and we intend to weather this.  I think everyone who has decided to go into isolation is making a prudent choice.  It's time.  God bless us all.  Remember your friends and neighbors who are less fortunate.  Now is the time for the best of our American values to shine.  Be kind, generous, and tolerant but most of all be safe.

[wolverine]

My wife has an impaired immune system.  She has decided to remain in the house and there isn't any reason for me to go anywhere.  If i was still working in corrections I'd be staying in a motel.

[WesBob]

All the best wishes to everyone! It is getting real isn't it. Schools haven't shut down here yet but the universities have in the two main cities in my province. Pretty tough finding any toilet paper that's for sure, but that's nothing compared to the story in Italy and now Spain etc. Blessings and safety to each one of you.
Regards,
Wes

[Yarp]

My area's low infection rate will increase dramatically in the next few weeks as spring break revelers continue to congregate shoulder to shoulder in our streets. I'm keeping my head down, having fresh groceries delivered, using an IR lamp to disinfect anything brought into the house, and hoping that the coming bolus of illness is not disruptive enough to necessitate tapping emergency supplies.

[bear air]

Good luck Mike, enjoy the fishing and shooting. Sounds like a great time.

[WallOfGreen]

Isolation is about the only way you can avoid getting Covid-19. It's been confirmed by virologists that it's highly contagious by remaining in the throat and is transmitted via just breathing the same air as someone else recently infected and showing no symptoms, no coughing is needed, masks won't help, washing your hands isn't enough. The death rate is projected at 15 times higher than the common flu... we are just seeing the Start of this, this will go on for Months and Months. Just take a look at Italy to see the future, one death every 4 minutes due to corona virus, whole country is shut down, hospitals overrun, medical supplies depleted... I expect the US and Canada to announce similar shut downs, freezing prices, and martial law with curfews being enforced by the National Guard. I'd be very surprised if this wasn't announced sometime today. It's going to get ugly, than even uglier. (If someone at this time doesn't think, hrm... this might be a good time to take all them guns away from law abiding citizens that kindly registered them... well I wouldn't be surprised at that as well. Just remember they will enact a media black out before they come for you, so if your internet, cell service, and land line goes out.. they are coming, that's about the best early warning you will get.)

[maraudinglizard]

Mike, be safe and take care of you and your wife.  Think of it as a chance to be one with nature!


Amidst the craziness, I dropped this gem on a few people in the Wal-Mart parking lot (I was getting a new network switch for The Wife)… I washed my hands using soap and water in the parking lot.  Bar of soap + a water bottle.  Think about it, folks.  The best prevention is handwashing, not alcohol-based hand-cleaner.  That why medical professionals wash with soap and water, not hand cleaner.  Soap and water, by nature of the chemistry of the acid+fat mix that comprises a soap, will penetrate, surround, and destroy the oils the coronavirus is wrapped in.  It is why surgeons wash with soap and water.

Here is another handy tip for virus defense, good ol' vinegar.  Any will do but the apple cider with mother is even better.  I bet there is a ton of that still on the shelves. I can not use the other stuff because my skin problems and I am allergic to chlorine.

https://wellnessmama.com/2610/four-thieves-vinegar-tonic/

[avator]

Stay safe Mike...
It went from 1 to 22 confirmed cases here in Alabama over the weekend. I work for a supplier for Hyundai. I'm expecting them to shut it all down at just any time. Meantime I'll be taking the usual precautions.... wash hands frequently and avoid direct contact with people.

[Springrrrr]

The part that scares me is that some "experts" are saying that if you get it and recover, it still does permanent damage to your lungs.  If so, that really is a bad one.  It may be like having a form of COPD from that point on.  Don't know for sure if true or not.

Another one is, what happens when it dies down, will it be back next year?  Hopefully a vaccine will be out by then if it does come around again.

[mobilemail]

When you read history, do you ever wonder what it would have actually been like in the moment?  I think this one will be one for the history books.

[anti-squirrel]

Mike, be safe and take care of you and your wife.  Think of it as a chance to be one with nature!


Amidst the craziness, I dropped this gem on a few people in the Wal-Mart parking lot (I was getting a new network switch for The Wife)… I washed my hands using soap and water in the parking lot.  Bar of soap + a water bottle.  Think about it, folks.  The best prevention is handwashing, not alcohol-based hand-cleaner.  That why medical professionals wash with soap and water, not hand cleaner.  Soap and water, by nature of the chemistry of the acid+fat mix that comprises a soap, will penetrate, surround, and destroy the oils the coronavirus is wrapped in.  It is why surgeons wash with soap and water.

Here is another handy tip for virus defense, good ol' vinegar.  Any will do but the apple cider with mother is even better.  I bet there is a ton of that still on the shelves. I can not use the other stuff because my skin problems and I am allergic to chlorine.

https://wellnessmama.com/2610/four-thieves-vinegar-tonic/

You know, I totally forgot about that.  I'll probably grab some this evening.  Apple cider vinegar is one of those household items everybody has but still ends up being underutilized.

Also have some castile soap... I realized I could mix it up in a spray bottle with water and have a hand-spray soap with water built in.  Keep an another bottle for rinsing and then no need to carry a bar.


Bill- 1 to 22?  Jeepers- good thing you got the RV and and I bet you keep a collection of paper maps of various KOAs within 1 tank of gas.  Otherwise, stay safe.


Heh, blows my mind that most folks need a reminder to be told to wash their hands often.

[FuzzyGrub]

The part that scares me is that some "experts" are saying that if you get it and recover, it still does permanent damage to your lungs.  If so, that really is a bad one.  It may be like having a form of COPD from that point on.  Don't know for sure if true or not.

Another one is, what happens when it dies down, will it be back next year?  Hopefully a vaccine will be out by then if it does come around again.

I have seen the reports of the permanent lung damage, along with the scans of the lungs.  I have not seen any data on the percentage that get that from those that do have lower respiratory symptoms. 

I’ll be happy to see that the warm weather will at least help slow it down, and we can’t assume it won’t come back in the fall.

There seems to be a number of reports today, that indicate that you are contagious before showing any symptoms.  Up till now, they had thought that was only happening on a minimal basis.  Also, data from France is showing that middle age people are more succeptable than the data from China.  There is still allot we don’t know about this and how it will specifically impact Americans.   Isolation seems to be very prudent to me. 
 

[cootertwo]

I understand Mike. I turned 70 last September. Have COPD, and have been on prednisone for years for rheumatoid arthritis, so my immune system is shot to hades. However, I am usually a hermit, so have no problem hibernating. But I do worry about supplies. It has gotten as quiet as a ghost around here where I live, S.W. Florida.