People and the Coronavirus

~ humoringthegoddess

Wednesday or Thursday evening has become my grocery shopping night. I’m either on my way back from cleaning the Chicago house or spending some time with the grandkids, so why not stop on my way home and save a trip tomorrow?

So hubby and I stopped in a big superstore in Waukesha, a fairly big and bubbling city in Wisconsin.

The above picture was the scene for the check out line. It ended at the far wall of the superstore, in the last frozen food aisle. See where the arrow is pointing? That is the beginning of the check out turnstyles.

People kept falling in line behind the last one in line. And on and on. We wandered to the front of the store where there were way shorter lines and got out in a jiffy.

But everyone was buying water and disinfectant. And toilet paper.

Toilet paper.

Standing in line for over an hour just for toilet paper. Limit 2.

People, people, people. What is going on?

I understand using caution with the coronavirus. People are popping up with this infection all over the place. In the U.S., everything from March Madness basketball games to local choral concerts to music concerts to Little League Championship Baseball Tournaments have been cancelled. Universities are closing immediately until further notice. (My niece is one who is being sent home today).

Cases in the U.S: (updated on March 13 at 9:30 .a.m., WebMD)

Deaths in the U.S.:

Washington state: 31. Twenty-two are associated with the Life Care Center skilled nursing facility in King County, Washington
Florida: 2. One is a previously known patient in Santa Rosa County who had recently been on an international trip The other is a person in their 70s who tested positive in Lee County, also after an international trip.California: 4. One was in an elderly person from Placer County who had recently gone on a Princess cruise to Mexico. The other is a woman in her 60s from Santa Clara County. The third was in a woman in her 90s who lived in assisted living. The fourth was in a woman in her 60s who had traveled overseas. She died in Los Angeles County but is not a resident there.

New Jersey: 1. The state’s first death is in a man in his 60s from Bergen County.

Georgia: 1. The state’s first death is in a man in his 60s with underlying conditions.

South Dakota: 1. A man in his 60s from Pennington County. Gov. Kristi Noem said he had underlying health conditions.

Compare that to:

So far, the CDC has estimated (based on weekly influenza surveillance data) that at least 12,000 people have died from influenza between Oct. 1, 2019 through Feb. 1, 2020, and the number of deaths may be as high as 30,000.    (Health, 2020).

I am not downplaying the seriousness of any virus. Not at all. I’m old and am at risk just like everyone else.

But PLEASE. Standing in line for an hour just in case you are kept in your house for a week or two? Stocking up on water — like your faucet won’t work?

I was amazed, appalled, astounded, astonished, alarmed, and basically just freaked out by how many people were stockpiling. Each one looked at the forever-line and just fell in behind them.

What is happening?

It’s as easy to catch the flu as it is to catch the coronavirus. And just as easy to prevent it. We’re not talking about those who are weakened by another condition, just to be taken by the flu or the virus. We are not talking about those with weak immune systems.

We are talking about John Q. Public.

Wash your hands. All the time. Sanitize the air if you must. Stay away from large crowds if you must. Even if you get the virus, the chances are ENORMOUSLY RARE that will you die from it. You probably will get hit by a car before expiring from the virus.

All I’m saying — I think many of us are saying — is just use COMMON SENSE and we will all get through this.

Now excuse me while  I sanitize my insides with a little Moscato Wine….

 

Published by humoringthegoddess

I am a writer of fantasy fiction that often surrounds middle-aged women. I am a married mother of two and granny to three, a BoHo Chic kinda gal. I am recently retired and busier than when I worked 9-5. But writing and blogging is my main game.

15 thoughts on “People and the Coronavirus”

  2. You are so right. So many countries, so many people. They say stay home; stay home. They say don’t hoard, don’t hoard. Why do people have to clean out stores and all that nonsense? Help someone who can’t make it to the store themselves. The healthworkers and truck drivers are the heroes, here. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Congratulations! Your blog has been included in INTERESTING BLOGS in FRIDAY FOSSICKING at

    https://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com/2020/03/friday-fossicking-20th-mar-2020.html

    Thank you, Chris

    The worst affect of the virus on many of those who haven’t contracted it, in many cases, seems to be selfishness, accompanied by greed, and plain stupidity…

    The best affect has been the kindness of so many who are reaching out to help others less fortunate, or less able… along with so many health workers, who are working tirelessly to care for the ill and the worried…

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  6. I am befuddled as to what people are stocking up on, too. Lysol wipes, yes. Hand sanitizer — okay. For when you’re not home. But at home — soap soap soap. Fresh air. Aspirin or ibuprofen. Take care of your children and your oldsters and spend a few days inside playing games with them. Don’t make a run and empty out the store just because others are doing it.

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  7. Common sense will get us farther than extra rolls of toilet paper. Keep away from crowds, wash often, and stay home if you feel flue-like symptoms. Go to the doctor. Let the people who are trained to help you HELP YOU.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. I don’t want to see anyone die from this. But I don’t want to see anyone die of cancer, either. We just have to be smart about all of this. Not let panic run over our common sense.

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  11. It’s crazy here in Virginia, too. All the toilet paper is gone, but the food shelves are stocked. I’m much more concerned with not starving than wiping my butt. 🤣

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  14. Reblogged this on Blue Dragon Journal and commented:
    Yep… it’s pretty crazy, although not too bad when I hit the market last Wednesday. Still — the TP was practically wiped (LOL) out. People have been told to stockpile for about 20 years and now they’re doing it all at once and straining the system. A lot of MSM hysteria ON PURPOSE to bring down the economy. Keep calm. And use common sense if you have any!

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  15. It’s nuts out there. Took my wife over an hour to just get a few small things we wanted for the weekend and she said it took her 15 minutes just to find a parking place.

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