Is anyone here in one of the states affected by coronavirus shutdowns?

Oh, I can believe it. I live in Massachusetts. We're in the #4 position as far as # of COVID-19 infections. Additionally, I work in the life sciences/pharma industry. This virus is HIGHLY contagious - way more so than the seasonal flu. Additionally, you can be completely asymptomatic (no symptoms) and be contagious.

How do you know you're not a carrier? You very well could be. And the mortality rate for elderly is between 15-20%. That's very high for a viral infection.

I haven't been able to visit my mother in almost a week because her facility is in lock down. It's for the best. My mom has congestive heart failure too and it's likely she wouldn't survive the infection.

YES. But is there a state that isn't now? We are in the North East. Unfortunately, it seems like the most vulnerable people in my life are not taking the precautions they should.

Our family (husband, myself, and kids) are self-quarantining for the next two weeks. Most of our local small business have chosen to shut down for two weeks and my kids schools are closed. Some of their afterschool activities don't even reopen until late-April (and those organizers tell us that is pending).

We still do activities outside (walking, going to trails, etc...), but we are avoiding other people, and we don't plan to hit a grocery store until the panic shopping mellows out.

I've been reading a lot of international news. If the US follows the cycle Italy is going through it will be okay to go to a grocery store in about a week, but only 1 person from each household at a time—preferably with protection (gloves and maybe a mask—though it is debatable how well they work based on fit and type). By that time, though, hospitals will possibly be overloaded.

Currently, I'm cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. I don't know why. I'm not a domestic kind of person, but it seems to bring me...comfort... I'm nervous we could end up with a lock down as so many people in our region are not taking this seriously (besides clearing out the grocery stores—from what I hear).

I am in California and my mother is in a SNF in the Bay Area. It was closed to visitors on Friday.

It’s not just the Bay Area. Multiple counties just south of the bay are also going in to shelter-in-place, meetings are happening now to get it authorized. Reno has just ordered all non essential businesses to close By 10am tomorrow.

The SF Bay Area is going into lockdown tonight. A shelter in place order was issued today.

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/shelter-in-place-San-Francisco-Mayor-London-Breed-15135075.php

I live in Ct. Schools have shuttered restaurants are open for take out only. Bars are closed and stores have limited hours if they remain open. Hospitals are not allowing visitors. I'm sure more restrictions will follow. While it's sad you are unable visit with your mom, please understand this is for her own safety. We are at the cusp of potentially overwhelming our hospitals and lives will be lost from the sheer volume of patients. Extreme measures are necessary to fight this and I think a national shutdown is the only viable solution to fight this and save lives. Doing this in a state by state fashion will only prolong the inevitable. A two week hiatus will allow us the time to get a grip on COVID19 in the form of testing and to be better equipped to handle the influx. This isn't about me....it's about we. Hope both you and your mom stay safe and that you will be able to visit with her soon.

Yes, cwillie, that’s what I meant! A pre-paid phone! I’ve never used one. I’ll look them up. Thank you, TNtechie, for the suggestion of the jitterbug flip. I’ll look that one up too.
I just talked to the nursing facility and they are setting up an ipad to allow family members to talk to residents at a designated time.

That's the problem with all the recommendations to keep in touch through facetime or any other modern technology Treeartist, many, many seniors have lost the ability to use even a simple land line and lots of facilities don't have any staff willing or able to figure out other options.
And as far as I can figure out a "burner phone" is simply a prepaid phone, supposedly they are readily available and cheap enough to be disposable but my "cheap" phone cost me $160 (plus tax).... but then maybe you Americans can get stuff cheaper.

I think I am going to go see my mom tomorrow. If they let me, I’ll talk to her through the window, though she probably won’t be able to hear me nor I, her. It is a one floor facility, and each room has a large window. She does not have a phone in the room. I wonder if there are inexpensive phones we could buy for short term. Something I could call her on and she would only have to press a button to answer. I’m always seeing on TV shows about criminals using “burner” phones which can’t be traced and are throw away devices. Or walkie-talkie set! There we go! She could see and hear me. Anyone have any suggestions! She could not handle Facetime or even figure out how to use a cellphone.

Artist,

Over a hundred in my state as well. Two deaths in New Orleans 😞.

My daughter is graduating this year and her graduation was canceled (LSU) so they will mail out diploma. My husband is at home too.

Our governor asked everyone 60 and over to self quarantine. Places are closing earlier than normal. Restrictions placed on how many can eat in restaurants and so on.

Yes, colleges have gone online, all schools closed, and most events are canceled. My husband will be working from home. We're in our 70's. I'm already on break from the college where I teach. I had decided for myself to not visit my mom in assisted living and two days later they said no visitors. If this goes on too long I'm afraid she will forget me. Right now I'm the only person she knows. I've tried talking to her on the phone, but she gets confused about who she's talking to and thinks I want someone else in the kitchen where they give her the phone. I'm going to have to ask them to take her to her room and I will call on her own phone. Maybe they can set up a face time on the facility laptop for us. I've been pretty much self isolated for two weeks, except to go for walks, get food, and buy art supplies. I might start having everything delivered. Over a hundred cases in my state, but none in my county.

Shutdown of facilities has been recommended by the CDC now, I believe so most facilities will be doing this. In your mother's case, how much care does she actually need? I know you were spending weekends and evenings with her but how much hands on does she need. Ask the facility she is in what their plan is to provide the care you have been providing for her. Are you still able to have the nurse with her? Can you extend her hours a little? I am a retired nurse and I know that when family was present, we did not need to attend to patients as much but when family was not available, we did take care of them. This has to be very scary for you.

Yes. Here in northern California the senior community where my mother lives has now banned all visitors, including family members. My 92 year old mom lives in the independent living section but is on Home Health care due to a recent fall and injury and now also has a caretaker 8 hours a day every day until she recovers enough to be independent again, and that is a lifesaver because I've also been isolating myself for the last week because I'm over 60 and am vulnerable also due to underlying medical issues. A little over a week ago I let my adult children and grandchildren know I'd not be visiting nor want visits because of this vulnerability. My husband had been working as a rideshare driver but stopped because of the risk of exposure to the virus from passengers. He switched to food delivery (thank heaven he was already signed up with them so it was an easy transition) and has been very careful but starting tomorrow he will also be hunkering down with me. He's always been a germ phobe and good about disinfecting his vehicle and washing his hands, so our fingers crossed that he won't have contracted the virus and pass it to me. We will be in dire financial straits quickly, but no amount of income is worth risking our health or that of others. I call my mom every day and she also calls me. Keeping in touch by phone helps! I don't know if that would work for your mom with Alzheimer's. Wishing you and your mom the very best in this trying situation.

Academy of country music awards postponed.

I’m so sorry, River. It’s sad. We love our kids. If they hurt, we hurt. Just how it is.

This coronavirus crap is reminding me of the devastation that our city dealt with during Hurricane Katrina. Okay, yeah it’s nothing compared to Katrina. Our city was under water and it looked like a freakin war zone where bombs went off with the destruction from the high winds and all. Some businesses weren’t able to recover, others slowly made their way back. Others came back with a vengeance and became better than they ever were.

I don’t know, bad memories from the devastation. Good memories from our city pulling together. Dealing with this situation, a different kind of crisis, still kind of brings it all back. People struggling to cope. Know what I mean?

I better shut up. I don’t want to depress you. I am wishing for the very best for your daughter and my daughters. We love our kids so very much, don’t we? 😊

I feel for all those missing graduations and once in a lifetime events. What is incredibly hard to process is having your adult child's livelihood decimated so quickly. My daughter and her husband own their own small business. They are entering their normally busy time after a slow winter. They have a mortgage,rent and numerous other expenses and a young family to support.

With all the closings they are one family amongst millions if likely not more that will bear great loss. The big stores can manage especially as they are selling out of so much. All the restaurants closing will also affect so many. I understand the need for safety but I fear greatly that an isolating affect will triple down for a long long time. Will all landlords turn into understanding citizens?

As I write this she and her husband are being shamed into staying open even though they are not in a hot spot for the disease. They need to stay open for any possible business they might have. Who has that audacity to be critical of them?

I realize that the world is in this together. Some businesses will survive given their prominence in the marketplace as well as certain benefits employees may be entitled to. What will happen to countless others once reserves dry up?

This particular daughter of mine is generally of the mindset that a glass is always half full. To hear her in tears with great fear is beyond heartbreaking. There is no way I can find positivity for my life knowing what she is going through. Yes there is help out there but there is tremendous red tape to go through to find that relief.

I am sorry to say this but if a person at an advanced age with compromising circumstances passes from this disease perhaps it is for the best. I wish the ages of those succumbing was reported more accurately. There are so many here sharing stories of great sacrifice caring for the elderly with little to no quality of life left. I understand I am not God but how much despair can we expect to feel in those cases. The youth represent the future,both in our lives and hopefully for the good in the world moving forward. To witness so many of them suffering is catastrophic.

I know, right Needhelpwithmom? It does feel like a sci-fi movie. My son is 32 and lives in NYC so he will miss going to bars and restaurants with his friends. I am in Upstate NY and they are closing schools this week but haven’t closed bars or restaurants. We haven’t had anybody who tested positive for the virus in my county, YET. Hopefully we will have a vaccine soon and with the warm weather coming maybe the virus will disappear. I’m just hoping.

Elaine,

It’s starting to feel like a freakin sci-fi novel or movie, right? I get the safety aspect but it’s a strange feeling.

In New York City the Mayor announced all schools, bars and restaurants to close. Restaurants will be limited to takeout and food delivery.

Our governor recently announced that he wants anyone over the age of 60 to voluntarily self quarantine. I am 64, hubby is 65.

Tons of cancellations of events, school closures, graduation ceremonies cancelled, limiting number of people in public places such as restaurants and bars, etc. Earlier closing of bars and restaurants too. Our zoo closed, museums are closed and Sanger Theatre closing too.

We are going to take a hit. We rely on tourism. Travel is not going to occur during this virus outbreak.

My University has just cancelled all classes for next week and is trying to find a way to finish the term through remote lessons.

As of yesterday nursing homes in BC were allowing one family member in to visit. My former mil has her birthday on St Patrick's Day and I had planned to surprise her with her first great grandson for a visit. It is not safe for either of them, so I will send a card.

Most are on lockdown here in Utah. No one in or out is really the responsible thing to do for the residents right now.

I’m in NY and on Sunday’s I still visit the NH my Mom was in to see her old roommate. It closed down to visitors 3 days ago. Their policy was that unless the resident is “actively dying” or very extenuating circumstances, visitors can not enter. Then Friday the governor shut down all NY NH to visitors, with the same a exceptions. When I went today to drop off the goodies I usually bring on sundays to Moms roommate, the head nurse was stationed at the door, taking temps of all the staff entering the building. I knew I couldn’t go in, so I handed over the large bag and thanked them all for keeping everyone safe. We don’t have any confirmed cases in our county yet, and I hope we don’t. I am impressed with our governor and local responses.

TreeArtist, your mother sounds like a real sweetheart!

I've lost track of the shutdowns  in my state, but they don't affect me anyway.    They're for public places, gatherings, etc., but so far don't seem to affect very small businesses.  

I did receive an automated call this evening from one of the county execs advising of a phone call session tomorrow addressing safety and care for elderly people (which includes me even though I don't always consider myself in that category).

Apparently it's some type of county wide phone call-in and/or advice section.   I will call, but I suspect that most of the questions will reflect situations already addressed, or raise issues that can't be answered such as length of shutdowns.

Still, I'm impressed that the county is reaching out to the older folks in this area.   Thus far the elected officials in my state seem to be very proactive.

My mother’s nursing home shut down to visitors starting Friday. I just had the sweetest phone call from my mother who is used to getting daily visitors. She asked me to sing “I’m a Little Teapot”, a song that I entertained family and guests with when I was very small. Of course, I obliged. I asked her if she knew why nobody had come to see her, and she said, “Oh, yeah. The virus.” I told her that they were keeping her safe from it.

I am confused by all this though. I understand that this is a new virus which is little understood and which is highly contagious, but so far this season in the US, the regular flu has caused over 12,000 deaths compared to 63 for covid-19. 12,000! According to the CDC, there were over 35,000 deaths in the US during the 2018-2019 flu season. Globally, the flu causes up to 650,000 deaths annually. Why don’t we have the shutdowns and quarantines for regular flu season? Do we just accept that there will be this high death rate for our garden variety flu? If anything, I suspect the covid-19 measures are going to provide a huge reduction in influenza deaths world-wide.

California just instituted anyone over 65 is to stay at home. I would make it clear to the care center that you are on weekend acting as really a caregiver for your Mom in place of the hired ones on weekdays. There are exceptions being made by need, at end of life, and etc.

the governor of California just asked all bars and wineries to close closing But not restaurants. He is also telling people 65 and older to stay home. Starbucks in my city is “grab & go” only, no sitting inside or out anymore, you can get your drink but have to leave. The grocery store in my parents small town just announced that they are only letting in 25 people at a time.

i went to Costco today, on a Sunday and was surprised it wasn’t that crowded and feel like I won the lottery because I got 2 cases of water!! If I had gotten my hands on some TP I would have ran out and bought a lottery ticket LOL!

All schools in my county are closed until 3/31 at least. All care facilities are locked down, no visitors. Can’t get in to the ER without first going in to white tents in the hospital parking lot first. The city has closed the libraries and rec centers. I believe the police department is closing the lobby starting tomorrow. All sports have been postponed.

We are affected here in MD,, even the libraries are shut down now. All schools and senior centers,, now casinos and next will be restaurants and bars like NYC. Our hospitals are limiting visitors to one each,, others can not even be in the hospital. It is hard for families but probably needed right now

By now the entire USA is affected by shut downs of various kinds. The MC where I work as well as my mother's MC is not allowing visitors at all; only medical and essential personnel at this point.

We, as a country, are trying to 'flatten the curve' by keeping this virus from hitting everyone at once. Check out this article to gain a better understanding of the intent behind social distancing in situations such as we're facing:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/?fbclid=IwAR3__I7HldG2ZBaUwGHdDuhUjlnFbHUyErFaCQRgB9sIHmxPYsukY62JO2o

We certainly do not want to carry this virus into the elder care communities, so most people are fine with taking a break from visiting their loved ones. It can be hard, but no harder than trying to save their lives once the virus hits them!

Good luck