The COVID-19 virus is now in 160 countries and territories. There are 190 countries and territories in the world. So, it’s pretty much everywhere.
Here in Massachusetts, the governor has mobilized the National Guard to assist local municipalities. The state has up to 2,000 National Guard members who will support requests from state agencies for equipment, logistics, warehousing, and related duties. Local municipalities can submit requests for support.
No, the liquor stores are not ordered to close, and there is no indication that the governor will close them. HOWEVER, things have been changing very quickly. So, if booze is your main concern, have at it. Just…leave some for the rest of us, okay?
And that goes for everything.
By all means, stock up on stuff so you don’t have to go out as often, but don’t be greedy. I had to go to four places looking for something the other day. That means my exposure, and my exposure to other people was quadruple what it needed to be if people had just not gotten greedy. You are not going to USE this stuff any faster, you’re just going to have some for a year.
Here’s something fun you can do while you’re a shut-in.
Many of the video conferencing programs are available for free, and some of the paid ones are being offered for free. Some offer a time limit on free use; and many of those are adding extra free time during this crisis.
I used Google Hangouts and Zoom with my cousins. Both of them were really fun to use, but Zoom was, by far, the better quality, less drag, easier to use, etc.
For Google Hangouts, you’ll need the Chrome web browser, or you can use the app on your phone. It was impossible for me to get a generic kind of link to include here. You’ll have to open Chrome and do a search. If someone starts a hangout session, they’ll send you the link. So, yeah, have someone else do it first!
Zoom (https://zoom.us) was easier to use. One of my cousins initiated the conference and sent the link, meeting ID and password.
It was very cool to hang out with my niece and a few cousins using Zoom. The program showed all the people in the conference in little thumbnails on the top (not sure how that would work with more people).
There are lots of other apps to use, too.
According to CNN’s Reliable Sources, the top 10 apps in Apple’s App Store on Thursday were: Zoom, TikTok, Google Classroom, News Break, Hangouts Meet by Google, Microsoft Teams, Gmail, Disney+, Hangouts, and Instagram. So that should give you some options to check out.
Also, I urge you to listen to the smart people who are not minimizing this threat or screaming for panic, either. Our Governor has been good, Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York has been unbelievable. He is pragmatic, has laid out the problems without being patronizing, and then immediately points out the ways to solve those problems.
If you’re looking for some comfort amid the mess, without the panic-inducing hyperbole, seek out comments from Gov. Cuomo, our own Governor Charlie Baker, and, of course, the newest medical star in America and a national treasure: Dr. Anthony Fauci.
If you don’t believe Fauci, you’re too far down the rabbit hole to be helped. Just get drunk and leave the rest of us alone.
Well, going to take my own advice. Gov. Cuomo is speaking. Gotta go.
Stay tuned. I’ll try to keep you updated at least once a day, but I’m going to try for twice a day.
I hate to promise because….well, I want to be realistic.
Please, everyone, KEEP YOUR DISTANCE! We are all in this together. Everything we each do individually will affect everyone around us and the whole community.
Stay home if you can. If you can’t, keep it quick. Get what you need and go back home.
Use the phone. If you do see people in person, no kisses and handshakes.
We can do this. We are Americans, after all. We can do anything. This is our time to show our patriotism, our character as individuals and as a community and as a country.
Here’s to us and our collective spirit.
See ya (from a distance),
bd
