How are you reacting to the coronavirus?

BoiseB

I am very worried about the coronavirus possible pandemic. Not only for myself but also for my children. I spoke with my daughter last night. We decided that we would avoid public places as much as possible. Carry a bottle of hand sanitizer in our purses I also am carrying some handy wipes in my purse as I need to use public transportation. Still it keeps me awake at night. I feel it is necessary to watch the news reports because they give necessary information. Does anyone have any ideas?

cllinda

There are some nose gels that are in the market now that are supposed to help prevent colds and flu. I was given a tube of antibiotic cream to put in my nose twice a day before I had my knee surgery. It worked. My grandkids had colds and I did not get them.
Also, lots of handwashing! Not just hand sanitizer but real washing with soap and warm water.
Use tissues and throw them away. I hope more people can jump on here with suggestions.

po18guy

Check the Center For Disease Control webpage on the virus. I think it prudent to carry and wear mask (N95 rated), gloves and eye protection if you are around anyone infected. Lysol, among others, make wipes etc. that supposedly kill viruses. Carry some to wipe down shopping cart handles and your hands after you touch door handles and other public items. The viruses are not bacteria, in that they do not die when exposed to the air. So, use disposable gloves if possible, cotton gloves laundered regularly, and masks that you can dispose of after each use.

Having spent 7 months of last year down with viruses due to my suppressed immune system, this has been my standard procedure.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Bengal

I' m somewhat concerned. I live "in the middle of nowhere" but we have 4 colleges and universities locally with a fairly large number of foreign students so there is the potential of people traveling in and out from all points of the globe. Yesterday I was having lunch at a restaurant in town and two Asian boys came in. I know it's racial profiling but I did think about coronavirus. I wash my hands frequently and just try to be aware.

NeckCancer

I am not worried about it yet. But if it lands in our rural town, then I'll start getting concerned.

BoiseB

I have moved to a small city that has a very large Asian community. In fact it is know for its Asian cuisine. That being said the person from our area who tested positive from our area was on the cruise ship that was quarantined. She is still in the hospital in San Diego.
However, you did mention lunching at a restaurant. Eating out is one thing I am avoiding until the coronavirus is dead, dead, dead. Last Sunday I took my son to Red Robin for his birthday. He still had a few sneezes left over from a cold he had ten days ago. He was very careful to cover his mouth when he sneezed and sniffled. It is the custom of Red Robin to put an extra basket of fries on your table when you have eaten half your original serving. My son ignored the second basket and was not finishing the first. The waitress came by and asked him if he wanted the second basket. He thought she was just going to clear the table of dishes and ask about desert. Instead she whisked the uneaten basket of fries away and deposited it on a table three tables away.
I am never going to that restaurant again even after the virus is dead.

BuckeyeShelby

Just because someone is of Asian descent doesn't mean that they are more likely to have Corona. My best friend is Japanese American and has never left the US. He's no more a threat than blonde haired, blued eyed me. And I live in a large college city, with a large Asian population. I live in a condo complex, and my next door neighbor sold his unit to a young Chinese man. I don't have any more fear of him, than I did from the older gentleman from Argentina who used to live there. Yes, we should be cautious around folks coughing, sneezing and sniffling, but...

Kp2018

I'm prepping (hopefully unnecessarily) for an extended period of staying pretty much at home. My husband and I are both "elderly" (I hate to refer to us with that word, but we're definitely in that age group). The fatality rate is highest in the elderly, so neither of us wants to be infected.

I don't like the prospect of having to do this since I love my group cardio and yoga classes so much. But, if there's any indication of the infection reaching my neck of the woods, you'll find me exercising and practicing yoga at home.

I was at my local hospital for a bone density scan earlier this week. At registration, they are asking everybody if they have a fever, if they've been to China lately, and if they've had contact with anyone diagnosed with Covid19. I have no idea of what they'd do if anyone answered the questions in the affirmative. But, at least they're recognizing that the virus exists.

Interestingly, I saw my oncologist for follow up yesterday. The visit was at a center for chemotherapy infusion . I asked her what precautions are being planned at the center for the possibility of the infection coming to the area. She said she wasn't aware of any. That shocked me. I cannot think of a more vulnerable population. I'm thankful that I'm not scheduled for any chemo this year.

My best to all of our WhatNext community during this time of uncertainty. BoiseB, if you're interested in more information about the virus and ideas for preparation, I encourage you to visit www.peakprosperity.com. They have been producing excellent videos daily on virus spread updates, information on the nature of the virus, as well as articles on sensibly preparing for it's possible spread to your community.

cllinda

Kp2018, you. Would think that the oncologist community would really be in top of this. Everyone during chemo has such a low resistance to germs and this one can be a disaster in a chemo center.
I'm going in for the second knee replacement surgery and I'm just a bit worried about being in the hospital right now.

Bengal

Buckeye, we have alot of foreign students, including Chinese, who may have been traveling out of this country over the mid-semester break. I have no problem with anyone but the potential threat must be recognized.

BoiseB

Everyone here has some great ideas. I love those links. I have found that Washington State Dept of Health has the best information on local resources. I have also been thinking about raw food. I remember that there was a disinfectant that you could spray on vegetables but I can't remember what is was. I don't eat many raw vegetables I like to cook most my fruit also. I warm my salad dressing and pour it over my salad however I don't think this is enough to kill viruses.

BuckeyeShelby

Bengal, I live in Columbus, Ohio, literally less than 10 minutes from the Ohio State campus. Lots of international students. And faculty. And the guy I share a carport with.

Lynne-I-Am

Speaking from California, I am taking some steps to lessen my husband’s and my exposure to the virus. It was recently announced that “it is not if but when “ the Corona virus will be widespread in our country. Vacaville, where the latest Corona Virus tested patient was recently diagnosed is only a couple of hours away from me. It is especially unsettling since they are at present , clueless on how this individual contracted the virus.I also live on the I5 corridor a major freeway through California. I am taking the recommendation I heard on the news tonight to keep on hand at least two weeks of food and medicine . I am not panicky but think this is a sensible recommendation. None of us have ever been through a pandemic so I am listening to the experts..I am retired, I have no commitment to a job nor depend on a job for my income. I am more concerned for my children ,two of whom work in stores and the third on a college campus.

BoiseB

I moved to Olympia Washington, which is about an hour away where the first US case was diagnosed. Also a women from our community was diagnosed from the cruise ship.
I am going to talk to my Dr. Monday about my medications. There is some concern that the pharmaceutical companies may not be able to get some components of certain medications because they come from factories that have been shut down or partially shut down because of sickness.

Dawsonsmom

It sounds like the single most important thing to do is wash your hands frequently and to always wash when you come home. Also start practicing not touching your face....never realized how often I do this until I became more mindful about it!

Dawsonsmom

A doc from CDC also strongly encouraged avoiding public restrooms if possible.

BoiseB

Some things that I haven't thought about:
My financial advisor emailed me yesterday asking if I wanted to schedule a conference to review my financial situation in light of the coronavirus.
My prayer group obtained the funeral booklets from the church and we all got a copy. I plan to fill mine out and give it to my son. Because if I contracted the virus I would be isolated so my son would not be able to see me before I died

BoiseB

A news just flashed up on the screen that the first person to die of the coronavirus was infected by an unknown cause. That case was very close to where I live about an hour's drive. There is also lots of people that I know who make frequent business trips to that community, Perhaps I am going off the deep end but I am terrified.

BoiseB

At this time the coronavirus is causing me to have panic attacks

Lynne-I-Am

Oh gosh BoiseB , do not panic. You are both smart and retired. We retirees can hunker down . I heard it described as preparing for a big storm. I am sure you had some blizzards and heavy snow situations back in Idaho. Think of the preparations you made during those occurrences. Less traveling and being out and about, more food in the pantry and making sure you have the medications you may need the next two or three weeks.

BoiseB

I am not fearful for myself but also for my friends and family. My sister in Idaho said that many the the people believe the coronavirus is a "HOAX". I am only going to the Washington Board of Health website for information.

Dawsonsmom

This is a HOAX??? Really? I’m taking my info from the CDC, not the President, Congress, or anyone else with no medical training. Good luck to those who are going with the hoax theory.

Dawsonsmom

Boise, my husband is a CPA and financial advisor. He is advising people to leave their investment/401’s etc alone. The market always recovers and if you look at the chart over time you can see this is true.

BoiseB

Governor Inslee has just a state of emergency. He has consulted with the Board of Health. I think he is more reliable than the President. Shout it loud and clear CORONAVIRUS IS NOT A HOAX.

Lynne-I-Am

There are always people who say things are a hoax. They do not believe unless it hits them between the eyes. Same people who do not believe we stepped foot on the moon. Yes, my fears are for family, friends and anyone else who is 9-5. This morning parents voiced concern if schools close who will watch their children when they are at work. Many people have to work, I know I did before retirement. I doubt employers will pay people to stay home, but some high tech companies might. @Dawsonsmom, totally agree with your husband about the market. However , the older you get the less available time you have ,to wait for a recovery. Everyone’s circumstances are different.

BoiseB

My concern about finances is that I need some liquidity in case one of my children becomes infected my daughter's insurance has a very high deductible and there are other expenses to be thought about such as if I die would those funds cover funeral expenses. I am also double checking my will.

Dawsonsmom

Boise, that certainly would be concerning. Hoping you and your family all stay Coronavirus free. I’m so sorry this is making you even more anxious. Try to stay out of public as much as possible and breathe, breathe, breathe.

BoiseB

I have my groceries delivered. I will be wiping all the containers with disinfectant before putting them away.

Carool

Even though I worry about almost everything, I’m not (yet) too worried about this. My partner and I are in our seventies, and he’ll be 77 next month, so when I worry at all about this virus, I worry more about him. And I have thought about all those on chemo and other immunosuppressants. But, for me right now, if it’s not cancer, I don’t worry about it. I’d be terrified if it were, say, Ebola.

LiveWithCancer

I am doing absolutely nothing different than I ever have ... and I'm not a very careful person. There are several things I think about the coronavirus ... the first is that I am sick to death of hearing about it. The second is that there have been any number of people who have it and don't even feel bad, much less suffer mightily from it.

The flu kills 10s of 1000s every year ... but I don't get a flu shot. And, the news doesn't go on and on and on and on about it. It is, at least at this point, far more deadly than the coronavirus.

With all of that being said, if I am around someone who seems to be sick and didn't stay home like they should have, I probably am not going to give them a big hug (though, given the right circumstances, I might).

BoiseB

I was really encouraged by Governor Inslee's speech yesterday. One of his actions was to buy a motel that was for sale and begin fitting it out as an isolation hospital. I am following all the instructions to stay safe. I told the Dr. that I am in a state of "functional panic"