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I am going to talk about what seems to the current biggest news story - COVID-19, aka Coronavirus.
Currently I am checking reliable & trusted websites, such as Health Canada or Public Health Ontario for information. Facts not Fear is their slogan. There are many FaceBook feeds passing on what my Gran would call tripe. And while there is still a lot that is not known about the virus, I will trust HC or PHO to get the information I need asap.
I want choices & decisions based on facts not fear. I am not watching the 24 hour news shows where that minute by minute scrolling news banner flashes by statistics which may or may not be accurate. I avoid so as to keep my own anxiety in check. There's no risk of me traveling, so I'm not concerned about deciding to go or cancel a trip. Even the wandering sister has put all travel plans on hold for now.
Currently many local public or sports programs, where large numbers of people gather, have been either cancelled or postponed. Some of these decisions are based on the WHO recommendations regarding social separation. WHO is World Health Organization (who also have a Fact nor Fear website). So far, our local schools & malls (shopping) are open. Thankfully a lot of my course work is now at a stage of self direction & online information, so I can avoid the herd of students.
Our church Bishop has mandated that for the next 90 days, during The Peace, there is to be no hand shaking or hugging to help curb the possibility of passing COVID-19 or the flu virus. For now, the communal communion cup is still in service. But that may change.
Some of the facts on Health Canada's website is to be prepared for a possible need for quarantine. I normally keep a stock of dried & canned goods along with some
items in the freezer but I have not gone into panic mode & buying out the
supermarket. During the winter months,
in our area, we are encouraged for readiness for power outages & serve
winter storms, so for years I’ve had that kind of mind set, be prepared. I am making sure that we are prepared should mandatory
or self-isolation is required for those 14 days. The Fur Girls are also taken into this
preparation.
Some of the facts are about personal hygiene as a key method of prevention; I already wash my hands often with soap & water & sing “happy birthday” to myself – twice as 20 seconds is the recommended length of time for lathering. I either cough or sneeze into a tissue which is disposed of or into my elbow, then wash my hands. We take lots of those winter recommended vitamins. Don't touch your face, your eyes, your nose or your mouth. This is harder than you think. We are trying to get enough sleep, drink lots of water, eat well, which are many of the things we do all winter long to help prevent colds & flu. And after the Great Sickness of December, I am more than cautious about being around people that are already sick. Even if it's not COVID-19, colds & flu put many other people at risk - if you are sick stay home!
Some of the facts are about personal hygiene as a key method of prevention; I already wash my hands often with soap & water & sing “happy birthday” to myself – twice as 20 seconds is the recommended length of time for lathering. I either cough or sneeze into a tissue which is disposed of or into my elbow, then wash my hands. We take lots of those winter recommended vitamins. Don't touch your face, your eyes, your nose or your mouth. This is harder than you think. We are trying to get enough sleep, drink lots of water, eat well, which are many of the things we do all winter long to help prevent colds & flu. And after the Great Sickness of December, I am more than cautious about being around people that are already sick. Even if it's not COVID-19, colds & flu put many other people at risk - if you are sick stay home!
Have you taken any precautions should the need for self isolation be required? Are you worried about COVID-19? Did you get the flu shot?
Oh there is certainly a lot of scaremongering about isn't there? Maybe I'm being naive but I'm thinking that we should be following these sensible hygiene precautions anyway, the 'normal' flu is just as contagious as this new one is and equally risky.
ReplyDeleteYou don't realise how often you touch your face until someone tells you not to do it! When I was chatting to a neighbour at the weekend she said she tries to remember the rhyme 'keep you elbows into your waist, it'll keep your fingers off your face' and it's true, you can't reach your face if you keep your elbows next to your waist!
I like that rhyme. I am also very surprised with all the experts on line! I just wish the media would stop with the worse case of everything. There's lots of people recovering from COVID-19 & Flu. So this week for us it's the time change, loss of 1 hour of sleep, a full moon & then Friday the 13th - mix this with all the news doom & gloom & you have a recipe for stress.
DeleteThat sounds a very sensible approach: doing what you can, keeping healthy, and avoiding the hype. I read a reliable newspaper online first thing and again at 6 p.m. and do not watch any news programmes. We have had a 'Brexit box' for over a year now, so it may come in handy. Bigger decisions, like visiting my daughter in London next week, I will make in conjunction with her closer to the time. And it's lovely to be able to keep in touch with all our regular blog friends online :).
ReplyDeleteI read on the HC site that Italy has locked down more towns & villages in northern Italy, I think that is what scares people, the mandatory lock downs. I just keep wondering what the news media can do to stop the panic because they are the ones hyping everyone up. Start giving the good news, that the numbers in China are dropping, more people are leaving the hospitals.
DeleteFacts are important. I don't want fear-mongering, but I also don't want dismissive handling of this. Testing would be helpful, but it's just not available. We've had one case confirmed here so far, and our local authorities are handling it well, which is encouraging. I've always been a hand-washing fan, so I'm good there :)
ReplyDeleteI think the international airports have to be doing a better job of screening. So far the closest confirmed cases are in Toronto or London, both cities are a fair distance from me. I agree more testing kits or those mobile drive thru test sites are going to be needed quickly.
DeleteI'm considering avoiding the Tube network unless the journey is really important.
ReplyDeleteI think Deb's comment about personal hygiene is spot on ...
I am still amazed at the number of women I see in public bathrooms not washing their hands regardless of any virus scares. Personal hygiene is probably the most important.
DeleteI haven't taken any extra precautions against the threat of coronavirus and I have no plans to stockpile food either. I've just done my normal monthly shop so can stay away from crowded shops for at least four weeks ... not to do with the risk of the virus, I just don't like crowds!
ReplyDeleteI've said before shopping is not a favourite activity & I really don't have space for a lot of extra. I cannot stress to my family & friends enough about facts, not "did you hear" info. This constant news feed is the downside of technology.
DeleteI personally haven't done anything out of the ordinary other than a concerted effort to not touch any surfaces with my bare hands in public. Easy enough - just leave my driving gloves on! My spouse did buy more TP and water, neither of which we needed just yet. The whole cleaning out the store shelves thing is ridiculous. No flu shot for me. Other than the gym and grocery store I am at home most of the time!
ReplyDeleteWe were at Costco yesterday & there's someone at the front wiping cart handles down before you can take. Staying home for me is never a problem or issue. And not to take from any of the seriousness of the situation, but staying home is an introverts dream.
DeleteI've been improving on my hand washing, and working very hard to keep my hands away from my face. The hardest thing we've had to do is decide not to take our long-awaited trip to California and Hawaii. We planned it all ourselves which means we have to cancel all the moving parts ourselves, and probably at a pretty stiff cost. Nonetheless, it's entirely too risky for so many reasons. Not planning any stockpiling as Tracy is probably correct, we could eat from our pantry and freezer for several weeks. There are no known cases in Rochester, but the RPO just cancelled all the concerts for the next month, and I'm thinking avoiding crowds is probably a good idea.
ReplyDeleteKaren I'm sorry to hear that you had to cancel your trip, but I'm sure for now, it is a wise decision. The only thing I thought about getting was some powdered milk but then my friend reminded me we can freeze the milk in the bags, so I'm good for that. I agree avoiding crowds of people is best. Our provincial Health website is updating twice a day now, which I think is maybe giving rise to the growing anxiety. All the social media hype is getting the young kids worked up.
DeleteI'm definitely for the Facts Not Fear scenario. We haven't done anything to prepare; however, like many of you, we could probably eat what we have on hand for a long time & always have bottled water here. Fortunately, Robbie is not currently traveling for business and his company has ceased all except the most important business travel as they are based overseas. Many of the offices there are working from home at this point. After having the flu and pneumonia last year (despite getting a flu shot), I've been very cautious anyway. It really knocked my energy level down for months.
ReplyDeleteWe've had one "presumed" case of COVID-19 in the city next to ours. We received an informative email yesterday letting us know there was a case, the individual is self-quarantined, all family & others he came in contact with after a return from traveling to California have been notified/tested. We're a huge metroplex with one of the biggest international airports, so there's rarely a doubt that things will end up here in some form or other. There's been a little panicking at the stores, I guess - Robbie came home from grocery shopping and mentioned the aisle of cleaners was nearly bare.
Seems to me this is a great time to stay home and scrapbook! :)
After my Great Sickness of last December which was never given a define diagnosis, I am SO VERY cautious about being around others that are coughing or sneezing. I am still SO surprised that people don't stay home when sneezing & coughing even before all the scare tactics about COVID-19. Colds & flu are so infectious. Yes let's stay home & scrapbook.
DeleteDoing all the same things, but thanks to a suggestion by a lady at the scrapbook gathering I started saying a prayer while washing my hands. It cannot hurt,right?
ReplyDeleteI like that idea of a prayer. I think Happy Birthday is used because everyone knows it & it's at least 20 seconds. I've also heard that many are washing to "I will survive" by Gloria Gainer.
DeleteI am still reading (or, in some instances, re-reading the more recent of your old blog posts). It is interesting to look back on those posts from when the pandemic first started, isn't it? The State of California opened up to "business as usual" a couple of days ago (June 15). I am still staying home for the most part and will continue to wear a mask when I do go out!
ReplyDelete