This is a great article!

These underlying conditions make coronavirus more severe, and they're surprisingly common
A wide array of people are at risk, including those with high blood pressure and diabetes. Here's how they can prepare.

https://www.nationalgeographic...

And moisturizing your hands is extremely important too!

Before you go spending big $$$ on Aquaphor, take a look at the ingredients. Mostly vaseline. I find plain old Vaseline petroleum jelly, applied liberally just before bed, slip some soft comfy socks over your hands & go to sleep. You would be amazed how quickly this can heal cracked, bleeding skin. Also works on your feet but right now we're concerned with hand cleanliness.

Here's a good article:

Don't just wash your hands to prevent coronavirus. Moisturize them, too.

https://www.washingtonpost.com...

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Don't assume all anti-bacterial wipes will do the job. Benzalkonium chloride, the active ingredient in Wet Ones, was found to be less effective than ethanol (as in alcohol, the active ingredient in some sanitizers), hydrogen peroxide, or sodium hypochlorite on coronaviruses in an analysis of 22 studies published in February 2020.
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Do wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. This is the smartest thing you can do to prevent the spread of viruses.

Do make sure that if you are able to buy a lesser-known brand of hand sanitizer, it's made of at least 60% alcohol, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (C.D.C.) That rules out some of the so-called "botanical" options and popular kid-friendly options.

Do make sure that if you decide to try and make your own hand sanitizer, it also contains at least 60% alcohol. This recipe (two parts rubbing alcohol, one part aloe) sounds like it should achieve 60% alcohol. Keep in mind that some recipes call for using liquor (like vodka), which is usually 40% alcohol, and might not reach the threshold you need. For instance, Tito's Vodka has been urging people not to use its product in DIY sanitizer solutions.

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Those from:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/0...


How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer
No Purell? No problem! When disinfecting gel sells out everywhere, you can just make some yourself with stuff you (maybe) already have at home.

https://www.wired.com/story/ho...

I guess I will have to go shopping tomorrow and dreading it. I usually order from the store but they told me the soonest they could deliver is the 29th. Not only just the shortage of cleaning supplies now there are food shortages at the stores. On the way home tonight you could see the parking lots at the stores were jammed.

New York declared a state of emergency , so no gatherings of over 500 allowed. Broadway closed. All the major pro sports are shut down. And locally many of the schools in the area are shutting going to online teaching. Some areas are proposing that you will need to sign in if you go out to eat so if anyone comes up positive they can contact anyone who was there. I know some are asking for leave of absence from work till this is over and a few are just not showing up.

Oh Bob. Make a grocery list so it takes you less time in the store.

Major events are finally starting to get cancelled over here. Mass closures of schools, etc. can't be too far away.

I'm betting the universities are going to hold out as long as they can (at least until the census date at the end of the month when the students' fees are non-refundable).

I think it is going to be just get what they have and live with it. I really do not need cleaning supplies and they are saying out of luck with canned food but not really a fan of it anyway. Hopefully they have some fresh and frozen left. Went to order dog food and even they said they are way behind.

Some of our major festivals down here in Tasmania have been cancelled too. Dark Mofo was to be held in June but is now cancelled. I assume other peripheral events that used to be at the same time, like the winter solstice nude swim in Hobart, will also not proceed. Our own local Stringfest was cancelled today. Stringfest is a festival in celebration of all stringed musical instruments and is a very popular autumn event with musicians from all over the world attending. This year there was going to be a bush doof (country dance) in our village hall at the end of Stringfest as well, so that is fairly disappointing. There are other events (dances, dinners, etc,) scheduled for this winter in our hall as well but I assume they will be postponed until much later in the year now. Thankfully there were no local weddings booked that would need to be put off.

Today a customer said he went by to visit his Dad at the nursing home. They wouldn't let him in. All three nursing homes here are locked down. But he said he brought his Dad a milk shake and they took it, saying they would give it to his father.
I wonder what the protocol is for the staff. They could spread this as easily as visitors.


Listening to the shopping frenzy, pandemonium has set in. If folks don't get a grip, it will get out of bounds quickly.

Thanks all for sharing some good links.

Central Maryland is feeling it. Stores very busy near me today. Public school in my state just announced it will close for two weeks starting Monday (I bet many who can will keep their kids home tomorrow) My library system today canceled all programs and meetings (includes canceling any meeting that local groups were to have in our meeting rooms) thru end of April. Library systems in two counties very nearby going to close on Monday till further notice or at least thru 3-27 (they had the first Maryland cases).

Testing for COVID-19 is now restricted to the risk groups and healthcare workers in Sweden. There are not enough test kits available. Other medical supplies are also at critical levels.

I would like to extend a special thanks to @crawgarden for posting the Cidrap/Dr Osterholm links, because it is the most comprehensive info I found so far. I now subscribe to their newsletter.

William said:Testing for COVID-19 is now restricted to the risk groups and healthcare workers in Sweden. There are not enough test kits available. Other medical supplies are also at critical levels.

I would like to extend a special thanks to @crawgarden for posting the Cidrap/Dr Osterholm links, because it is the most comprehensive info I found so far. I now subscribe to their newsletter.

I'm going today for some Kale. I forgot it yesterday

William said:Testing for COVID-19 is now restricted to the risk groups and healthcare workers in Sweden. There are not enough test kits available. Other medical supplies are also at critical levels.

I would like to extend a special thanks to @crawgarden for posting the Cidrap/Dr Osterholm links, because it is the most comprehensive info I found so far. I now subscribe to their newsletter.

Absolutely! I concur and subscribed as well.

William said:Testing for COVID-19 is now restricted to the risk groups and healthcare workers in Sweden. There are not enough test kits available. Other medical supplies are also at critical levels.

It is the same situation here. PPE shortages have already been flagged (and Australia is barely at 200 cases... not very encouraging; to be fair, though, the shortage was probably triggered by the demand for masks a couple of months ago with the fires).

I would like to encourage anyone who is sick in any way at all to stay home right now. It can't hurt you, and you never know how vulnerable others might be. Even catching the common cold can lower a person's resistance, making them more vulnerable to complications or to becoming sick when exposed to something like COVID 19. But I do understand that it can be difficult to stay home if your income depends on your showing up to work (mine does), and you need that income to cover your bills.

I'm happy to show something that Boston is doing to support artists, many of whom have a difficult time financially in the best of circumstances:
https://www.boston.gov/news/bo...

AND, a few suggestions for things to do if you find that it's best for you to stay home for a bit.

Gardening (of course!)

Do a free, online course (MOOC). Coursera has great ones from major colleges and universities, and there are others online too:
https://www.coursera.org/

Search Youtube for tutorials or lessons.
Beginning Ukulele:
https://www.youtube.com/result...

Beginning Guitar:
https://www.youtube.com/result...

I love cooking videos from all sorts of people. Want to learn how to make outstanding pita bread? Hummus? Braise or roast something? Yup, Youtube! Here's a great video with Gordon Ramsey, very elementary. 5 basic skills:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Research your family history, or organize all those family photos you have accumulated (I have a big box of them). Maybe finally scan them and send some out to family members!

Learn to use a new type of technology. Especially good for communicating with family members! Lots of tutorials online, or you can just use the user guide from whatever you've already purchased. My two favorites are audio-recording software and graphics. Have you been thinking about creating your own video? Lots of free apps for that!

Anyone else have ideas? Suggestions?

Please keep in mind that many pharmacies will deliver straight to your door. And I know that some people feel Amazon is a dirty word these days, but if you join Amazon Prime, they promise next-day delivery. If you happen to receive SNAP or if you're on Medicaid, their membership fee is very low. And please don't underestimate your friends. I know it's not easy to ask for help, but they may need you in the future and it's a lot easier for people who have helped to ask for help when they need it.

Just some thoughts. Stay well everyone.

Trump to declare national emergency:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news...

O that ought to help the grocery store which already doesnt have any food.

gardenglory said:O that ought to help the grocery store which already doesnt have any food.

Seriously? No food at all?

This timely article is making the rounds:
A Teacher Did an Experiment to Show the Power of Handwashing, and You Can't Stay Unimpressed
https://brightside.me/inspirat...