Today my friend Jill and her dog Sachi join me at Lake Atalanta for a social-distanced jaunt and discussion about how the world has changed recently and how the COVID-19 virus has affected how we live, exercise and try to keep ourselves healthy.

The latest list of COVID-19 symptoms includes a dry cough, fever, and fatigue. It sounds like to me the same list of symptoms of a cold or the flu. Since the last time I checked, fatigue has replaced shortness of breath on the list of the top three symptoms. Remember this is a brand new virus, less than a year old. Of course there is a whole list of other symptoms, see the Wikipedia page for more. If you have these symptoms you should check with your doctor.

As of this recording, testing supplies are so short that you will not be tested unless you have at least two of these symptoms.

Jill’s sister caught the virus at work. She self-quarantined herself for 14 days, and caught it again after moving to Tennessee from Washington state. She was not tested the first time because she only had the fever. Fortunately she is recovering, but she did get the cough the second time around. So now for the first time I know someone with two degrees of separation from me (I know someone who knows someone).

But even if you don’t have the virus, or know someone who has it or are working with people who have it, your life has changed. Our society is different. The changes have affected us all. Today as we walk, we are staying on either side of the walkway, at least six feet apart.

One of the things about getting out today is that it helps keep us psychologically healthy, by allowing us to socialize a little bit and just be outside. I have had three solid weeks of working from home and that is not going to end soon. I keep in touch through zoom meetings and the usual texting, etc. People who are not comfortable with this kind of technology are at a disadvantage, like some of the people Jill meets with on a regular basis.

Video meetings are better than nothing, but it is not the same as being there in person. So no one is going to church or school. Of course we are still getting what we need (mostly) from the grocery store. I still don’t understand what it is about the virus that makes people require more toilet paper!

Life is different in different states. Some states have “stay at home orders” and these are all different. Currently in Arkansas there are no curfews, but we are encouraged not to get out unless it is necessary. Restaurants, gyms, schools, and churches are closed. With schools closed, many people must stay home from work to attend to their children. My company has corporate staff like myself working from home until further notice.

Another issue is that some people in essential jobs are afraid to go to work, like at my parents’ assisted living facility. The staff are stressed as it is, because residents are not dining in the dining hall or gathering for activities, so the staff have to take meals and activities to each apartment. Add to that the fact that some of the staff are not coming to work for fear of their own health, and you have a stressful situation for all concerned.

In New York City they are closing playgrounds. It is a hotspot and so is all of New York state. But here we are still able to go out to the lake. The danger of infection is less outside as long as distancing is maintained. Jill informs me, however, that state parks are closed. Lake Atalanta is a city park of course.

Shopping is necessary, though I am, as suggested, only getting my groceries once every two weeks. We also need to disinfect our groceries, and here’s a video of a doctor explaining how:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjDuwc9KBps

I was surprised to hear that in the United States, 30% of our calories come from restaurants. But I used to eat out every day, sometimes for both breakfast and lunch, so it shouldn’t surprise me. I have also heard that sales of chocolate and frozen pizza have increased. Perhaps that is due to stress. These foods are a quick and easy way to deal with stress, but not a healthy way. But certain avenues of stress relief are not available to us as much: gyms are closed.

I am doing what I can to help the economy. I continue to pay my gym fees. I still have my job and I want that business to stay around and its employees to keep their jobs.

It’s a mess. But today we are taking a stand and we’re trying to get outside and social distance and get our exercise at the same time.

The guidelines stay the same:
1. Keep a distance of six feet between yourself and others.
2. Don’t touch your face.
3. Wash your hands often. Use soap and run water over them for at least 20 seconds. I have also been doing this with fruits and vegetables.

Take care and stay safe!