Covid-19

Oh ... the memes!

 *** Cousins Video ***

COVID Limericks:        (by Scott Westra 2020)

Because of the virus Corona

I’ve adopted a different persona

It’s not all that great

To self-isolate

And spend way too much time alona.

It is critical that we all get checked

To insure were not poised to infect

Be up to the task

And wear the darn mask

Or the economy’s sure to get wrecked.

Forgive my cough and my wheeze

Heaven forbid I will sneeze

Just don’t duck for cover

And you will discover

It’s just seasonal allergies!

The March and April Experience ...
This is sort of a timeline of events and things related to Coronavirus...going back to the start here.

•  As of April 30th in the US, there have been approximately 66,000 coronavirus deaths reported nationally and more than 1,100,000 cases of the virus in the US. Globally over 3,000,000 cases with over 200,000 deaths. Utah has just under 5000 confirmed cases (out of 125,000 tested), about 450 hospitalizations, and 50 deaths so far.
• On March 11, 2020, Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz is diagnosed with Coronavirus. NBA season "suspends" the season, and that was just the start. All major and minor league sports competitions have been canceled as well as kids' spring sports seasons. The NFL draft was done virtually.
• By mid-March  panic had officially set in. The shelves in the stores were being cleared. People were stocking up on canned goods, bread, milk, beans, rice, baking supplies (like yeast and flour), toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, soap, bleach, cleaning products, sidewalk chalk, etc. All of these items began to be difficult to come by, and most of them still are...with meat now being added to the list of hard to come by items. If you can find them, most stores have a limit on how many you can buy.
• Almost all businesses that can are transitioning to employees working from home (WFH).
• Schools started with soft closures on March 13th and kids are doing remote/distance learning from home. On April 14th, the Governor announced that school will not reopen for the 2019-2020 school year. All learning for the remainder of the school year will continue to be done online and at home. Class of 2020 graduates most likely will have virtual or delayed commencement ceremonies.
• Places of worship are closed or online. Our Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Temples are all closed. Church at home is the new normal. Many missionaries (almost all out of the country) returned to their home countries to quarantine and await reassignment or are released early. General Conference was held with no congregation.
• Dental and other medical offices close to emergency patients only. Non-elective surgeries are postponed. Doctors offices begin using Teledoc and other phone/online options for many appointments. No visitors are allowed in hospitals, even if you have to take your loved one to the ER, you can’t go in with them, just drop off. There is a shortage of disposable masks and gloves in hospitals.
• Restaurants are open only for takeout, home delivery & drive through - this is encouraged, to support local business. Movie theaters, libraries, and other entertainment venues close. Gyms and salons close. Only "essential" businesses are allowed to continue with walk in sales. Many stores convert to online ordering and contactless pickup. 
• "Essential Worker" is a new buzz word. Grocery stores, hardware stores, gas stations and pharmacies. Amazon delivery windows average 3 - 4 weeks when they used to be max. 2 days. 
• In stores that are open, they are limiting the amount of people who can be in the store, and there are lines / tape inside the stores on the floors to keep people 6 feet apart. Markings on the floors to only go one way down the isles. Stores are closing early to disinfect everything. (24 hour stores are even closing by 6,8 or 9pm) Some stores have special early morning hours for senior citizens or high risk people. Store check outs, pharmacies and even fast food drive thru windows have added plexiglass between the employee and the customer. Have to reach around or under to pay! Some places will not even accept cash! Cards only to limit contact.
• Gatherings of people have been limited to no more than 100 down to 50 and then finally no more than 10. It is recommended that we “social distance” ourselves. Staying 6 ft away from anyone not in your immediate family or living in your home.
• On March 27, 2020, Utah was issued a directive to stay safe and stay at home. It is not an official shelter in place order but we are asked to restrict activities outside the home (except exercise) to only essential trips. No group gatherings bigger than 10 and must maintain social distancing of 6 ft.
• Playgrounds, school fields and sports fields are closed. Most beaches, national parks and some cemeteries are closed to the public. All festivals and entertainment events have been banned. Many summertime events have already been canceled
• Funerals limited to 10 people graveside. Weddings, family celebrations, and graduations have to be reworked.  People are doing drive-by parades, decorating cars, honking, etc. to celebrate birthdays and other big events.
• People are wearing masks out in public to prevent transmission of Covid. Some places REQUIRE that you wear them to enter (Costco as of May 4th). Sewing cloth masks for sale or donation to medical facilities, because there are no masks to be bought online. There’s a shortage of elastic for the homemade masks and most places now selling out of fabric. Face coverings are strongly recommended in public over the age of two.
• Most countries have closed their borders. No one is traveling for leisure. Cruise ships aren't even allowed to dock. Airports empty. Tourism has the worst crisis in history. The Las Vegas strip is closed! Disney has closed all of its theme parks since March, with rumor talks that they may not be reopening until 2021. 
• Wi-Fi and cell phone providers have extended their limits to provide connection to the Internet for people to continue to work from home and for students to learn from their teachers.

As of May ...

• On May 1, 2020, Utah Governor Gary Herbert moved the risk level from red to orange and allowed some stores, gyms, and some other non-essential businesses to open up with major restrictions. Restaurants are now allowed to open up for dine in- if they follow social distancing measures. Small groups of 20 are allowed if you follow social distancing rules. The goal is to be down to low risk (green) probably around fall.
• Society appears to be divided about whether or not we should continue to isolate or open back up and get the economy going. It's an election year and politics are messy and complicating this issue.
• There is talk that we might have a resurgence in the fall (or maybe sooner depending on how quickly we jump back into things). There is also no conclusive evidence that there is even partial or temporary immunity from this once you’ve had it. If we can get a vaccine, it is at least 6 months away if not more.