[Ready2Transform]

My city is like Brain's. We've had a few cases (first death in the state) in my county, and the metro area is taking it very seriously. Most friends working in live music, service industries, etc. are heavily impacted financially for the next few months as venues and dine-in have been halted from operating as normal. We're innovating a lot around here to come up with solutions, and I think in that way it will be a silver lining moving forward.

I thank everyone who is taking the quarantine seriously, as my father is high risk. So far so good for both of us, but so far we're both still living in our own places.

In many ways this mirrors my experience around BD. That hasn't been so much of a trigger, and I hope it doesn't become one. That shows more healing than I thought! But I was both emotionally and financially devastated at that time, and completely isolated (I might even go so far to say imprisoned, since I was gaslighted into keeping the whole thing a secret or else he "wouldn't come back", and had no means of transportation outside of xH, who limited where he would take me for necessities and always required money). So I am rolling with it this time a lot easier. I just want the best for everyone around me to weather it with as little fallout financially, stability-wise, and health-wise, as possible.

[Enyo]

Crazy chaotic busy at work - I manage a GP practice (UK) which provides medical services to 14000 patients.  We currently have 26% of our staff either sick or self isolating.  The situation and guidance is changing hourly and I am spending my days trouble shooting - think I'm getting too old for this lark though not quite in the elderly age bracket yet.

We changed all our face to face routine appointments to telephone consultations earlier in the week but now we have had to cancel all our routine service.  We are still dealing with non-COVID-19 acute illness (though you would be surprised what some people think is acute!) but stretched with staff of sick or self isolating, we are rushing through home working - self isolating doctors working from home but hampered by a shortage of laptops (we have desktop PCs in consulting rooms) and (as understand it - but not a tech geek) a lack of VPN service, in practice struggling with a lack of phone lines - more than adequate number normally but now trying to carry out a lot of work over the phone its a problem, BT and our IT dept is working on this so hopefully this will be OK soon.  The UK 111 service is dealing with the patients who think they have the virus, though now unsure who has it as currently they are only testing those admitted into hospital as part of the triage process - testing in the community was wound down though I hear it is to start up again soon - the 111 service is completely overrun and extremely stretched.  I think this week we will be moving to collective working pattern in our area,   GP Practices working collectively to set up 'dirty' units where we can assess patients and either admit them to hospital (if there are beds) or send them home with advise, whilst patients who are just non-virus unwell will be seen elsewhere.  We are low on PPE and have no hand gel left - some people seem to think they can help themselves when no one is looking,  I think we need to put a warning sign up that we have CCTV, we have actually passed information onto the police!  Just a note - we are having as much trouble getting hand gel as everyone else!

In my area there is a lot a deprivation and  the closure of schools this Friday is going to mean that lots of children who rely on school meals  could go without food - here's a plea - food banks are really struggling at the moment if you have anything spare think of donating.

Personally I have one son who is just over 7 days into a 14 self isolation after a weekend in Rome and one son on the other side of the world in Australia doing his 'farm work' and living in a hostel, he hears they will be moving to lock down there and with no global travel and no work it looks like the bank of mum and dad will be making donations - we're extremely lucky we can do this.

MLCer working from home as of last Tuesday (his home  ) but checking in regularly - kept me company on the phone for 45 minutes last night as I drove home from a toilet paper mercy mission to S28 (self-isolating)- dropped a few other essentials whilst I was at it.

Haven't been hording though as I batch cook I have plenty of meals already prepared - great  at the moment with the long days at work and all I want to do when I get home is sleep - but have made sure I have fence panel paints and other DIY stuff in the house to keep me occupied for when we go in to lock down like Italy and Spain - only allowed out for work and essential shopping (and I hope to walk the dog!)  - and I want to make sure I have something to do.

Sorry for the moan but after being positive at work all day just needed to download!  and I can't even but danish pastries for our full staff briefing tomorrow as our local shops won't allow you to buy that many  ,  A member of staff today went into Lidl and picked up 3 pieces of plaice for dinner for her, her husband and son - she was told that she was only allowed one piece and to put two back - the worlds gone made!

On that note I'm going to open a bottle of wine

Take care, stay safe
Enyo X

[MyBrainIsBroken]

Thanks for the interesting and informative update Enyo. Here's another plea. The American Red Cross is reporting a critical shortage of blood due to canceled blood drives. You can still donate by calling and scheduling an appointment. I would imagine other countries are also experiencing this.

[AlvinTheMaker]

Corona is way overblown. It's surreal to watch, but this is a teaching moment.....

Someday, something really bad will come out and it'll look a lot like this (at the beginning).
Keep your eyes open, listen, observe. See what is in short supply and what is needed to keep going. Have a plan for either hunkering down, or running away.
This Corona will pass, and then it's time to make sure you're ready for next time.

Just like MLC, this is a blessing in disguise (IMO).

-SS

I rarely disagree with you Standing, but I've seen this creature affecting friends and their families in China, Korea, Italy, Spain and many other countries. I also know folks who battle against this at WHO... The R factor of virus is much higher than most diseases we face. That is what makes it a serious killer.  Imagine of 5% of US population needing hospital care at same time, and you can treat only say 0.25%...that is why all these precautions are done.

None of us can't escape this disease. But we can make a difference by stalling how quickly it spreads. Without action it will go through country like US in month or two, with stalling measures it can take 3-8 months. Every month stalled saves more lives .

Alvin.

[Tyks]

Here in Canada is much the same as brain. Schools are closed, restaurants and bars are take out only. The prime Minister just closed our borders. No travel at all. Our doctors are wanting phone consults. Even our courts are closed. Never thought I'd see that day.

Sad times for sure. Global economy is going to take a very hard hit.

[Thunder]

I have been following everyone's post and concerns, but I have to say I was most confused over Strawberry's post.

I hope I misunderstood some of what you said.
Can you please explain what you meant by what you said?

"The mortality rate is very high in the elderly but the latest numbers I’m seeing for the whole infected population are now estimated to be much closer to the flu.  Everyone keeps pointing to Italy for how bad it will get and I keep asking what the population there looks like compared to other nations?  Is it older?  More smokers?  Those facts matter.

So I keep coming back to “at what cost”. Are we actually saving lives by destroying the global economy?  And how many lives?  Does even one life saved justify the financial ruin of millions?  It’s the retired those just starting out that will suffer the most though lower retirement funds and future necessary tax increases to pay for all the bailouts being talked about.

[3Boys4Me]

W e are in Seattle, WA ground zero of the virus in the US. My s15’s girlfriend’s grandfather is in ICU with it - last night they said he wasn’t likely to make it through, he is part of an experimental drug trial and hoping that he will pull through. Because of the exposure through the girlfriend and her family, we are in quarantine for two weeks. Our schools are out until at least end of April. I began exhibiting symptoms last Tuesday and my S14 came down with a fever/cough/body aches two  weeks ago. They are rationing the tests out here for only severe cases because the demand is so high. So we got tested for the flu in order to rule that out - with a negative flu test, then essentially means it is likely we have the virus. So far s15 seems good and s27 and his fiancé are downtown in the city in quarantine without symptoms. I have felt very ill and my youngest feels pretty crummy too - but we are otherwise healthy so unlikely for it to get much worse.

But ugh. No other human beings around for two weeks - we can go for walks, bike rides, etc, and we have some great activities at home for school and fun / we’ll be fine. Stay safe and healthy all.

[MyBrainIsBroken]

Take care of yourselves 3Boys. I hope you all recover quickly.

Sending prayers and best wishes for S15's girlfriend's grandfather. How is S15's girlfriend's family other than her grandfather? Are they ok?

[xyzcf]

Sorry 3Boys.  Take good care of yourself and your family

[Finding Joy]

Yes, 3 boys I hope you recover quickly!