Coronavirus has hit the USA and Utah and the world has pretty much shut down! This is so crazy, I can't believe it is real life. COVID-19 has brought a lot of anxiety and worry into my life. It is a pulmonary virus that has taken the lives of so many in the world. It's main symptoms are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Although, with how new this virus is, no one truly knows much about it. Luckily, kids haven't been as affected but the elderly and immunocompromised are greatly at risk. This means my parents, Russ' parents, our grandparents, kids with heart or respiratory conditions and the list goes on and on. It is scary what happens to these high risk individuals that get this virus. It is highly contagious and easily transmittable. Hospitals around the world have been flooded with patients. Due to the virus being so contagious, patients are dying along, as their loved ones can't be near them as they will put themselves at too big of a risk. Healthcare workers and Americans around the world don't have enough masks and personal protective equipment to keep themselves safe. We don't have a vaccine for this virus. In fact, we have never seen this virus before. Therefore, no one has immunity to this virus. Everyone is susceptible to getting it and there is no way to know if or when you get it you will be able to fight it. It's not a death sentence but it does cause a lot of stress if you get it. In hopes to decrease the spread of this virus, here are a few things that have happened since Coronavirus entered into the USA from China:
-Schools worldwide have been cancelled. Yes, cancelled for the rest of the school year. Moms have turned into "school teachers" at home trying to teach their kids the rest of the curriculum for the school year. Hallie's preschool was cancelled and we watch videos and do activities from home that her teacher provides us.
-"Social distancing" became a thing and it is recommended that you stay at least 6 feet away from the person next to you. The only people you can be close to are the people that live in your own home.
-Russ is now working from home. In fact, all non-essential stores and businesses were mandated to close. Luckily, being an accountant, is considered "essential" and Russ and I feel so lucky to have the financial security of his job. Sadly, so many Americans have lost their job because of this. I love having Russ work from home. Russ does not like to work from home, however. He says it is less efficient and more distracting.
-There are tape on the floors at grocery stores indicating how close you can get to another shopper. You are encouraged to wear masks when in public. After I go grocery shopping or after my shift at work, I immediately take off my clothes and put them in the washer and then go take a shower.
-Stores are limiting the number of people in their doors at a time, therefore, lineupes outside the store doors.
-Parks, trails, campgrounds have been closed and shut down. All the parks near us have been barricaded with orange gates so that kids can't play at the park.
-Entire sport seasons were cancelled, including the NBA, MLB, and all of college sports.
-Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events-cancelled
-Weddings, family gatherings-cancelled
-Church was cancelled and we are now doing "home church." Temples worldwide have closed. This is when I got nervous. If the church closes things down, that is when I know things are bad. This was also a testimony builder for me though. About 18 months ago, Pres. Nelson integrated a "home centered, church supported" curriculum. Now, here we are, doing home church with the responsibility to do all the teaching and sacrament in our home and now we have all the resources in place to do that. Pres. Nelson is a seer and I have no doubt he received revelation 18 months ago because God knew exactly what was coming....Coronavirus.
-No gatherings of 100 or more, now 50 or more, then 20 or more, now you should only be with people that live in your own home.
-Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers
-Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
-I have to wear a mask all the time at work and take my temperature before I am even allowed to clock in.
-Panic buying set in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towels and no hand santizier.
-Shelves are bare in the grocery store.
-Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
-Fines are established for breaking the rules.
-Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
-Gyms and recreation centers are closed. My volleyball season was cancelled. We literally went from having things to do everyday on our calendar to never having to look at my calendar because everything has been cancelled.
-Daily press conferences from the President. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
-Roads completely empty and now the air is less polluted and cleaner.
-People everywhere are wearing masks and gloves in public.
-Essential service workers are terrified to go to work, and medical field workers are terrified to go home to their families.
Nobody has any idea of when this pandemic will end. Things are unknown and a little bit scary. Russ and I feel incredibly lucky that we both have jobs amidst all this craziness. We are lucky to not have to deal with the stress of a loss of job on top of everything else. I pray everyday for the health of my family and my extended family. I pray for the nurses and doctors. I pray that the scientists can develop a vaccine. I am grateful that God is in charge and that He wouldn't let anything that wasn't absolutely necessary happen in this world, to my family or to me. I am grateful that the place that is consider "safe" according to government officials is in my own home with my most favorite people in this world.
My house is almost always a mess now that Hallie is always home and I don't have much time to clean up. But, I am loving all this time with my kids, and with Russ!
