Stores have bare shelves where Disposable Vinyl Gloves, hand sanitizer and face masks used to be. Ok, I get that! Kind of a helpful barrier to ward off causal exposure to this new virus - that NO ONE has resistance to! And then there is the bottled water and toilet paper shortage! What is with that? Someone please explain those two items to me - and why I should be hoarding them. That reaction seems to be connected to extreme weather events - not illnesses! Unless I am missing something ... that is just crazy behavior!
And washing your hands! Well, yes, we should have ALREADY been doing this because of the flu - which I think I am at greater risk of catching even with my flu shot from last October!
But still the warnings about this virus are rampant and listening to them just makes good sense. It is highly infectious with a higher mortality rate especially among folks my age. So I listen and make some changes! I upped my hand washing. I believe social distancing is a good idea. I buy some appropriate items when they are available: a box of disposable gloves and some antibacterial soap. I am pretty much set with hand sanitizer because of last spring's flu event! I always have an ample supply of Clorox wipes. I try (in vain) to keep from touching my face! (Seriously, is anyone completely successful at that?) We always have too much food in the house (I am a food hoarder who hates to cook ... go figure!) So I think I am prepared should COVID-19 pop up in my local county - which it hasn't yet! But who is to know - the thinking is that COVID-19 is already present in the population generally at lower levels and the only "popping up" that will be reported will be someone who gets really sick, is tested and maybe hospitalized.
But here is the REAL dilemma. Warnings abound about avoiding large crowds. Events are being cancelled. Schools are making arrangements for 'distance' learning in our area (despite the fact that there are only 20 confirmed cases in our state. Flights are being cancelled because they are empty.
And I have plans this weekend to attend an event.
To go or not to go! This weekend I have plans to go to Ocean City where the Delmara Wool and Fiber Fair is held. This is a yearly event - small in nature - maybe 35 vendors. I'll be driving (no public transportation) and I planned to attend the event on the first day - Friday - when attendance will be smallest as it is a work day for most. In fact I am hoping to arrive as it opens. In the past it is not a 'sardine event' like Maryland Sheep and Wool in May where people are shoulder to shoulder at times. Social distancing should be easy to achieve at this March event. I so look forward to going to these kinds of Fairs - especially since they take the place of any real vacationing - my husband won't travel any more.
At present I intend to go as planned. After all, COVID-19 will be with us probably now as a regular "visitor" like the flu into the future. I can't lead a life that is always filled with avoidance until a vaccine is available! My practical voice says that a few simple measures at a small event should be enough. But then you turn on the TV or radio and the news seems a bit grim. And my practical voice changes its message saying - is it worth the risk?
But ... oh, woe is me
if this impacts Maryland Sheep and Wool in May!
How are things in your small part of the world?
Are you spending any time
'preparing,'
fretting,
assessing?
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