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@erinbaderin: Do you have any nearby parks where there are walking trails and big outdoor spaces? I wouldn't plan anything indoors, and I wouldn't ask my parents to go anywhere that they couldn't stay quite far away from anyone else except the children.
It's only a week. It's not a big deal to skip the indoor activities activities for that short a period of time. And it would likely be a lot of fun to do things like go for an easy hike/walk and maybe a picnic, or do something similar. Even if they went back to the exact same spot and did the same walk and picnic spot for 5 days straight, it would probably be pretty fun just because it was with Grandma and Grandpa, you know?
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@erinbaderin: I’d be hesitant to go to indoor play places. Can they visit playgrounds and the library instead? We tend to avoid indoor play places as much as possible in general, but especially during flu season. Over breaks that I’m home for I’m more likely to plan a simple daily craft project, some baking, a visit to the library, a bakery or ice cream outing, and definitely playground visits (and sledding if you have snow on the ground!).
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@honeybear: @Becky: I'm in Ontario, so it's still hovering around 0 degrees here - it's basically not really warm enough for parks and not really cold enough for sledding. The skating rink would probably be ok though, right? Nobody's really putting their mouths on the ice. What are your thoughts on the public pool? Extra disgusting, or will all the chemicals kill any germs?
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@erinbaderin: We’re just outside Buffalo and go to the playground/play outside in all weather so I’d focus on that. Skating would be good too! Idk the public health perspective on pools and coronavirus but I’d be more comfortable there than a crowded play place.
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@erinbaderin: I'm in northern Minnesota. I still head out on walks twice a day and frequent the playground. It's not too cold! I'd stick to the outside activities, personally.
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@Lahela017: I agree, and the kids agree, but my parents are in their 70s and may not want to spend an hour in below 0 weather watching my kids run around a field.
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@erinbaderin: The main transmission mechanism to my understanding is airborne, and chemicals in the water won't help with that aspect of it. It's more about trying to stay a few feet away from others, which is why Italy has implemented those rules about not coming within three feet of others in public spaces. So if the pool might be crowded I'd stay on the safe side and have your parents avoid.
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@erinbaderin: That's really tough! I'd ask them what degree of outdoor stuff they're comfortable with and plan around that.
I personally wouldn't be comfortable with an indoor pool. Even if you can generally stay away from others in the space, which seems unlikely if this is an area-wide spring break, there are the changing rooms and lots of communal stuff that you really can't avoid touching in places like that. Skating rinks feel like kind of the same thing to me, unfortunately. Like I said, I don't think that indoor spots, even big ones, are a good idea and I'd do everything I can to avoid them.
Maybe plan for morning and afternoon walks that are super close to home (like, just in the neighborhood) so that they could head home easily when anyone gets cold or tired? That would get everyone out regularly, but not be quite as much of a commitment to staying out as a hike/park. Simple and very local is good, I think.
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I’m a teacher in a large urban district and I finally feel like we are starting to put a plan in place, which is helping a little. (I did literally find out a plan had been made when I heard our CEO on national radio, no prior communication whatsoever). It has felt really frustrating with no one having any idea what’s going on, no soap in our bathrooms except what we buy and bring in, and children in tears because other people are telling them they have the virus.
Like a lot of you have said, I mostly feel stressed now by not knowing what’s overkill and what isn’t. I’m pregnant, so technically high risk, but nobody at my OBs office has said anything. I’m much more worried about not being cautious enough about life and being a responsible member of society. Also stressed that my parents are both older and health care workers. Anyway, this has been my rambling. Thank you for “listening”
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This whole thing is starting to really stress me out and I am by no means a stresser. I just wish the country would get on the same page and do something. This whole wait it out and some places are doing things and others aren't is driving me bonkers. I feel like we should have a massive shut down for one-two weeks but as far as i can see that's not happening.. and who knows what that would even mean or entail. I'm feeling like we are very ill prepared for this when I feel like we shouldn't be.
Like aren't there plans somewhere for this type of thing? And if there are why aren't they being shared/used/passed around.
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Anyone else on here feel like this is starting to bring out their inherent hypochondriac tendencies? I know it's a minor problem compared to actually being sick, but... Feel a little winded walking up stairs because my butt is out of shape from not exercising during a recent pregnancy? And I can't help but think - omg, am I experiencing shortness of breath? And the fact that I have had a chronic mild cold since my son was born over two years ago plus allergies, I find myself wondering "can I even tell the difference between when I have cold symptoms and not anymore?"
Please tell me I'm not the only one...
Doesn't help that there's now a presumptive positive case in my DH's office building. Not surprising because it's a huge building with thousands of employees - not on his floor and no one on his floor is being told to work from home (but he is today).
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@periwinklebee: Uh, yes! I've had a cold for a month now and I've been googling symptoms to make sure I didn't unknowingly have it! (i have a very wet cough, not a dry one, nor have I been around anyone who has traveled).
My boss is currently in Vegas for ConExpo - 140,000 people from all over the world - I feel like its inevitable, he's going to get it and then give it to our whole office - just in time for my sister's wedding in 3 weeks.
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@periwinklebee: I woke up with a runny nose this morning and my husband was freaking out. It really felt like allergies and I feel fine now. He’s like you caught it at work! I work in a peds hospital but we haven’t had any positive cases in my floor and barely any suspected or possible cases.
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@Ajsmommy: You're not alone. I am so beyond frustrated with both the federal response and the people around me. WA state response has been great, I'm really proud of my local health department, we are starting to lock down social spaces and actually RESPONDING to this global public health emergency...and then our preschool sent out an email encouraging group playdates while the school is closed.
Can someone please explain the logic of encouraging playdates when our health department recommends keeping 3-6 feet away from people? I get that my kids are going to go stir crazy over the next few months...but if this were, say, smallpox, would you send your kids out to play in a large group with other kids???
The ambivalence around me does not help my feeling like I'm paranoid and overreacting.
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@josina: @mrsbubbletea: ugh, yeah, I think I may turn into my great-grandmother, who was a hard core hypochondriac who was convinced she was dying until she actually did at the age of 96. I'm sure it must be really stressful to work in healthcare now - thank you @mrsbubbletea: for everyone you serve.
@helloperidot: I just can't go on social media now, people are being ridiculous and of course they are probably going to be the asymptomatic ones who spread it to vulnerable people who are trying as best they can to be cautious. My facebook feed is full of people saying all sorts of things, from it's a fake news conspiracy to "steal" Trump's reelection to it's just a mild cold that won't hurt anyone, etc etc... I'm really glad your public health department is working well, I don't have much confidence in ours, some stories coming out are pretty bad...And you are not being paranoid, ugh, I think some people just don't even understand that handwashing isn't a guarantee you won't get it or that asymptomatic people can spread it...
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I generally am very very non-stressed about this kind of stuff. But as the days go on I am getting more and more anxious. About everything . I feel good my province is responding very strongly to this, but I feel it is just prolonging the inevitable.
I went and stocked up on canned goods, water, etc this afternoon and I didn’t even recognize myself . This is Atypical behaviour for me, but these are atypical times I guess.
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@periwinklebee: the partisan politics stuff is driving me bananas. I’m pretty sure Italy didn’t go into lockdown to make trump “look bad.” 🙄 they don’t give a crap about trump. I’m also pretty sure that a 14 day quarantine before entering Israel is not to make trump look bad..... people are idiots.
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Sooo...my state of Ohio just closed all k-12 schools effective Monday for 3 weeks. My kiddo is still in preschool but I imagine they are the next ones to potentially close.
Logically I know it will be fine because I can WAH and flex and split time with my mom and DH. Internally I'm freaking out and thinking I need to go to Target and buy all the things in case we're stuck in the house for a month.
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@macintosh: Wow, that seems extreme with only 2 cases in the state? I think so far we're on a county-by-county basis as far as k-12 schools and I haven't heard of any closing yet.
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@josina: I agree it’s extreme, but they already closed all the universities too. We now have 5 cases in the state. A bigger issue I feel is the economy. My employer does a lot of in home visits as our business model and it seems plausible that they will have to suspend that work.
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@macintosh: my state has closed universities but not k-12 even though we’ve banned gatherings of 250 or more. So I’m not sure what the logic is but I feel like we’re not doing enough
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Ontario just closed all our schools for two weeks after March break, which is next week. This is going to be a problem...
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Washington just closed all K-12 schools in 3 counties, including ours, until April 24th. I work in healthcare and am beyond stressed.
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Our daycare is closed through the 23rd as a second teacher was formally diagnosed.
Luckily I can work from home. Now I think it is just a matter of time before they start closing the schools. I know one private high school near me closed, but so far the public schools have remained open.
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They just closed public schools in San Francisco for 3 weeks. I have a toddler and nanny so doesn’t affect me but I really hope they are going to provide relief to working families and especially kids on free lunch. I think it’s the right thing from a public health perspective but wow.
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My sister heard from the study abroad director that she (and all students part of her program) need to come home immediately. Which means she will need to be in quarantine when she gets back.
Our state had it's first positive test today. I had to go to the grocery store this afternoon for a couple of things and it was INSANE. Parking lot was full, people were frantic inside, and shelves were becoming empty very quickly.
One thing I did this week to make me feel a bit better was to buy everything for DD's Easter basket. Easter is one month from today but who knows what the next month will bring, I wanted to make sure that was ready. Such a silly thing but it brought me a few moments of peace in a crazy time.
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@catgirl: I also have everything for Easter and feel some relief that we can have some “normalcy” as well
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@catgirl: I also finished buying for my daughter's Easter basket today! I just wanted to be ready and it's one less thing to need to do later.
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Both of my kids just spiked a fever this afternoon. 🙃
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@Lilbear: uh oh, any other symptoms? What area r u in?
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@peaches1038: @Lahela017: yes, exactly! Glad I am not the only one - DH thought I was crazy to be thinking about Easter.
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@gotkimchi: I’m in NYC. The odds are in my favor that this is just a stupid cold, but the coronavirus coverage (and it’s explosion in our area) makes me very nervous. I am a teacher and the mayor of NYC is not closing schools, despite declaring a state of emergency and banning large gatherings. My eldest is in an NYC school and the little one is in daycare. We are VERY exposed in this situation.
My daughter is also complaining of a stomach ache and has a slightly runny nose. The little one just has the fever.
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Our governor closed down everything (schools, daycares, malls, gyms, restaurants) for two weeks in one county on the other side of the state. Luckily we were one of the first to know at our daycare so we were able to put a teacher on retainer for nannying if it happens here.
@Lilbear: Oh no!!
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@Lilbear: good luck to you, sick kids are no fun under normal circumstance much less this
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Ugh I just spent 500 dollars at the grocery store...my cart was overflowing. People were staring. I am so concerned that people keep comparing this to the flu. It is AT LEAST 20x more deadly than the flu. I am not really worried about the mortality aspect. but about fighting people for supplies.
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Schools are still open here, but some colleges are starting to close. I was so dd was so, so sad when she found up her soccer practice today had been canceled.
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@macintosh: That’s *smart*!! Early is what prevents the spread!
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@helloperidot: This made me laugh then cry lol. The Chancellor of the university where my spouse works sent an email saying all instruction will be online for the rest of the semester for safety ... then he invited thousands of people to a town hall meeting to discuss. ???
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@Mrs. Carrot: I take back my advice (and I see you canceled anyway). I canceled my trip for next week too. This gets so much scarier every day!! And my wife reminded me it’s not about my safety but the safety of others. She’s right.
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Everything is happening in rapid succession. My school dragged their feet for weeks and FINALLY canceled the international trips (one of which I was ostensibly leading) yesterday afternoon. As of this morning we were still supposed to be having parent-teacher conferences tonight. They canceled those mid morning. And school just got called off for tomorrow in the last hour with returning to school next week TBD. I’m really glad they’re taking it seriously and hoping we can reduce community spread. Relieved my kids don’t have to go to their school tomorrow and uncertain what will happen there bc it housed in same facility as a nursing home. I don’t see how they’ll stay open much longer.
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