Are you totally freaked out by the Coronavirus?

Are your freaked out about what is happening in our world today? How the Coronavirus seems to be taking over….well, everything! I’ve been thinking about all of this and I seem to have questions and no answers. Same with you? Here are some of my questions:

• How do we discern fact from fiction as it pertains to the virus?
• What is going to happen to our economy? 
• How long will it take for the stock market to recover?
• Should we shut down ALL venues where there is shoulder-to-shouldercontact?  Would that help lessen the spread of the Coronavirus?
• Do we need to become more aggressive in the shutting down of venues?
• Why do we need someone to tell us what to do? Why can’t we just figure it out and do it ourselves? I.e. stay home
• How long do I need to stay at home?  How will I get my medications? Food?
  • And even if I stay at home someone else touched my mail, packages and groceries.
• What if my husband is sick? Do I need to be in a separate room for 14 days?
• Do we need to buy every roll of toilet paper and stock up on rice and beans for the next 60 days?
• Should people be quarantined until their test results come back?
• Why, oh why, do we not have tests?
• Will my little doggie get sick?
• Should I cancel my Italy vacation in May or just wait and see?
• If I get the virus can I get it again?

And the Coronavirus question list goes on and on and on. 

Same thing with you? Do you have all of the same questions plus a million more?  Are you scared, worried, pragmatic? Are you just going about doing your regular routine or are you staying at home? (My mom self-quarantined herself for 30 days.  She is about 10 days in and very lonely but feels safe).

Now, I do NOT have any answers to any questions. Not one!  What I do know is this – we, as a nation, need to pull together and figure out how to stop the spread of the virus.  Does it make sense to go to the concert just because you bought the ticket? Does it make sense to go out to dinner just because you don’t want to cook? Does it make sense to get on that airplane just because you want to go on vacation? Don’t get me wrong – I am NOT telling you what to do or judging you if you do any of those things….I am just wondering how we, as individuals, can stop the spread of the virus PLUS limit our own exposure. Did I really have to get my nails done today?

In Biblical times if someone had a skin disease they were ‘set aside’. Once the disease had run it’s course they had to prove that they were better and then they could be back in main stream society again. Do we need to do something like that? That is one thing they did in China and the virus has gone down from 3,500 cases a day in late January to 24 on Tuesday.

My sister sent me an excerpt from a NY times article and I loved this quote:

“We’re used to enjoying our civil liberties, But if what you’re hoping for is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, you have to preserve life, or the other two just aren’t there.”  Donald G. McNeil Jr.
(Infectious disease reporter).

My husband is currently sick. We went to the emergency room yesterday and he tested negative for pneumonia, flu and strep throat. Because his oxygen levels were ok they did NOT test him for Coronavirus. They told him to take over the counter meds and stay home until he felt better . As his wife, I sure wish we had more tests in the US so we would know one way or the other. I am sleeping on the sofa but I am sure my home is a germ fest right now.

Typically I think ‘you gotta live life and just be careful’. I am not so sure right now. How about you? I have cancelled anyone coming to the house for anything that is not an emergency. Just in case.

As I read what I just wrote I realize that I really don’t have a point to this blog post. I think I just wanted to let you know how I am feeling. Maybe you are feeling the same. I wanted to let you know that I am here with you. We are all in this together. It’s scary and annoying and nerve wracking.

I can’t say that I am stress ball (at the moment). I know that I am in God’s hands and I trust everything He does. But, being the human that I am, I just want to reach out and take control. You too?

I will admit that I am a tad frustrated because we have a 3 week trip to Italy planned for our 40th wedding anniversary. We also have a trip to Orlando planned and Disney just closed the Florida park. Yes, we can reschedule…it’s just sad.

My husband’s favorite bumper sticker said: ‘If you want to make God laugh, tell Him what you have planned’. Well, that certainly applies right now.

If worry has you by the throat please read – ‘What is Worry and Where Does it Come From’.

PS – On a lighter note, COVID-19 goes right along with the song ‘Come On Eileen’.