My health is compromised right now, so I’m feeling a bit apprehensive but not panicked. I have a very weak immune system due to leukemia, and just came out of 5 days in the hospital for pneumonia. This virus would likely be devastating for me, but I’m resolved to stay positive and not freak out. I do get a bit frustrated by those who say this is all a hoax...but recognize that we all have our own unique worldview. I mostly worry about my older brother who is flying for a visit, and my son and his girlfriend who are in the workplace every day surrounded by people. Meanwhile, I’ll talk with my doctor today about what special precautions, if any, I should be taking to stay healthy and safe. It’s a trying time for us all.

Oh, Kyle, I am so sorry to hear this. I will keep you in my thoughts/prayers daily. ❤️

I’m glad you are home , but those of us who are elderly ..haha. (over 50). Need to be extra cautious,

Glory and Kyle - so sorry to hear of your illnesses. Hoping that you stay safe - I know my Mother was in intensive care at the time of the swine flu epidemic and the hospital was very good at keeping the infection contained to an isolated and entirely separate section of intensive care.

Well, it is now official - our company advised everyone who can work from home to do so immediately. They think probably for 3 weeks or so.
I worked from home before, one day at the time. This is going to be a completely new experience for me.

So sorry, Kyle, didn't see your message. Hope you will be OK. Stay safe, away from people. Wish you all the best.

Glory and Kyle - I am very sorry to hear that you are going through such a difficult times, wishing you full recovery.

There are 82 cases here in Vienna at the moment and we are having complete shutdown - schools, offices, cinemas, restaurants, shops, weddings, funerals, games, pools, spas, travel, museums, churches, borders.. Only basics like groceries, pharmacies, post and banks will stay open. Even my DD’s PT and dental appointments are canceled. They are currently converting exhibitions halls into hospital in preparations. Austria is considering every other country as dangerous, and calling people to return home and not to travel anywhere, I have a feeling flights will be cut next.

But I feel strangely calm. Because of my back problem I was already quarantined for last 6 weeks, and I can’t go anywhere anyway. My biggest worry is my son who is studying in London, and I don’t know when I will be able to see him again. I worry about my parents too, but they live in small town in an isolated house, and have full pantry, I hope they will be OK. But again, I don’t know when I will be able to see them again.

We are all in this together and we will get through. Keep safe.

Lisa P and Echo, thanks for the compassion about my Dad. He cannot remember to wash his hands and use soap, but thankfully stays at home most of the time when we are nor there. It's all in the carer's and the government's hands now - and I am staying positive about it.

Nemosmom, thanks for the kind words

Kyle, oh sweet Kyle. My heart goes out to you. My eyes welled up when I read your comment. I am soooo sorry that you have to go through this. It's very stressful and difficult. As always, your level head, positive outlook on life, and strong persona are an asset to your beautiful self and those around you. You will come out on top because you are very special Kyle. You are very much in my thoughts. Lots of love, and know that YLF will support you in any way. xo

Kyle, I’m so sorry — sending all the best wishes for you to stay safe from further complications and dangers. Big hugs to you.

Kyle! All right. Your in my prayers too. I think your attitude is smart. And Angie! That’s tough, not being able to see your dad. One feels damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

I’m waiting for us to do a national shut down I am. This country, the US, it’s like the Wild West all over.

Glory and Kyle, take care of yourselves and know that you're in our thoughts.

Things are starting to 'get real' here in the Carolinas - 30 something cases and the NC governor asked for all gatherings of >100 people be canceled/postponed. Stores etc. are busy but not out of control. I'm most concerned about my parents, who are currently healthy but in their mid 70s. They've already canceled some travel plans and may have to cancel more. Fortunately I live with them and my brother and his family are nearby so if they have to stay home for a while we can manage.

I'm currently working retail without sick leave or benefits and I expect that all of our hours are going to get cut severely. I don't want to bring anything home to my parents so that's the silver lining there. Fortunately I've got some money saved up and a place to live so I'm better off than a lot of folks. I hope that this crisis brings to a head some of the issues about retail hours and scheduling and the lack of sick leave and vacation time, not to mention the problems of employer-sponsored health care.

My best wishes to Kyle and Glory - take care and keep in touch.

It is tough times for so many in different ways - it is worrying indeed.

My Dad lives nearby and whilst 80 is very fit luckily. My older son is within NZ but on a different island. He is due to visit soon so we will see what evolves.

Our remoteness has bought us a bit more time.

As a company owner we are considering options as to how to manage this. My plan from three weeks ago is out of date - I was planning for supply chain disruption from China - now it is everywhere. Our workflow won’t stop but could and probably will slow - and we have capacity for shift work and/or work from home and possibly reduced hours for some. How and when to act is tricky. I don’t want to act too soon nor too late.

I have a son and Japanese student in my house. My son has hay fever and gets snuffles every morning. The rugby player seems the same. He has been checked by the team doctor before coming to NZ and since and is very healthy but every time he sneezes I feel on edge. Crazy!!

Glory, Kyle -- I'm so sorry that you are both facing serious illness at a time like this. It makes everything so much harder. Thank you for sharing your stories. It brings home that message that we need to protect our most vulnerable and follow health guidelines.

My step-daughter is in Spain, which looks to be following Italy. Her city is in a state of emergency and she is in isolation. Not ill but beginning to feel lonely for her family.

I'm due to travel (within my province) for a retreat late next week. So far, we're still planning to go. We'll be a very small group of 10, and we'd be the only people at the venue, which is isolated and without cases -- so the risks seem manageable. But things could change at any time. In the meantime, we're doing our best to maintain calm. Many events have been cancelled. My husband cancelled a trip to see family in Israel. I may have to cancel a trip to Toronto in May -- it's all up in the air at this point.

Sending warm thoughts to all who are struggling emotionally and practically and in any other way.

I know it may not be popular opinion but it seems it would be best for everyone to stop non-essential travel immediately (at least for a short time) as a way to help keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed - esp. in places where it's getting out of control in parts of Europe. I'm hearing (not just here but in many forums) many people feel it's still okay to go about life as usual because they think they are strong and can handle it -- but then they can and likely are unknowingly passing the virus on to many others who are not strong enough to handle it. Just because you feel fine doesn't mean you aren't a carrier.

Staying home when you are not sick is not fun but it is a more responsible and compassionate thing to do right now. A large percentage of people in larger cities can order online for groceries, restaurants, drugstores etc. yet they have insisted on going out. I have family members out of state who seem insistent on "living life as usual" - even elderly members - and it's very frustrating to hear and see. A couple of weeks of social interaction is not so much to give up.

Thanks so much for starting this thread, Barbara Diane!

On a positive note:

China IS recovering. They have done an almost impossible job of containing the virus. Their cases have been substantially reduced over the last few weeks. Life is normalizing. Factories are re-opening. Life is becoming a little more social.

My friends in Hong Kong say the same. Everyone is wearing a mask, but life is becoming more social. Grocery stores and pharmacies are restocked. People are carefully going back to work. Retail and restaurants are normalizing.

We will get through this. It's a 2-3 month cycle. The most important thing is for countries to flatten the curve of the spread of the virus so that the healthcare systems can cope. That means social distancing as far as we can cope with.

I loved hearing how the younger people in Hong Kong are doing groceries for the elderly who are very scared to leave their homes and aren't technically savvy enough to order online. It makes my heart happy that communities and people are helping each other in times of crises. We can learn from that.

Thanks, Angie. Yes, the positive news is, as with all viruses, they do eventually fizzle.

Glory and Kyle, I am so sorry to hear you are seriously ill. It is so hard especially at a time like this. You are in my thoughts and my heart goes out to you.

I am also worried about relatives and friends who are elderly and have health issues. I wish people in general would behave more responsibly and think of the vulnerable. Unfortunately, where I live, there are still some people who compare the Coronavirus to a common flu and insist on meetings, living as normal etc., while others are more careful trying to limit social contacts.

It is wonderful to be able to share with you friends on YLF in these difficult and confusing times.

We just we just got home from the airport where we were finally able to cancel our dream vacation to Mexico (celebrating lots of milestones this year). Our province is on March break this week and our schools are closed for the two weeks after that. Libraries are closed as are most major tourist attractions, AGO, the ROM, Ontario Science Centre. All city-run March Break camps are closed too.

I've been in such a fog about this whole thing that it's taken me a long time to post on this thread. I tend to respond to stress with brain fog rather than fear or anxiety.

More importantly, sending healing vibes to Glory and Kyle, hope we can provide you some support and comfort. What a rough spot you are each in, I don't think I can even imagine.

I am counting my blessings. DH and I are in good health, I've been spending a lot of time at home due to my back rehab so a little more won't be too awful, I have no travel planned for the same reason, we always stockpile essentials (I will never tease DH again for his proclivities there), my financial situation will be ok.

Most of my friends/family are ok too, but I do think a lot about my 91 year old mom. She lives independently and alone, has a few medical issues, and has meals on wheels deliveries and elder services people come in to do housecleaning, and I'm concerned about how careful those people will be. I've decided to mostly self-isolate myself for at least a few weeks in case I need to take over any of those things for her - I want to make sure I don't catch it myself. I also have a good friend who's going through a second bout of endometrial cancer which already looked pretty bad before this all happened, she's in a bad way. I think the isolation will be tough for a LOT of people, especially anyone who ends up in the hospital in a plastic cocoon, being visited only by medical staff also in their own cocoons. A few nights ago I could not sleep at all, when I realized this could the situation my Mom would be in if she caught it, like those people in the nursing homes in Washington.

I'm still doing a little online shopping which will keep the UPS drivers busy but I'm going to wait a little before doing returns via UPS drop off store or taking stuff back to a mall. I think the realities of the economic impact on small businesses/contractors/people without health insurance/etc will become much more visible a few months from now so I'm thinking I need to remember to get back to going to local restaurants etc at that time.

In my musical trio we decided to cancel our performances at the hospital where we entertain Huntington's disease patients (talk about an at-risk population), and my larger musical group has cancelled rehearsals and our next concert in April. Disappointing but hardly important.

I've got a little experience in the kinds of numbers involved in the spread of disease (although not in the medical field) and I'm SO glad that my state and country are taking drastic measures now. (Both have declared a state of emergency) I'm sure many of you heard about the Biogen-related outbreak in Boston in late Feb (not quite three weeks ago) , which has led to Mass being one of the areas with the most cases (125 right now), although not as bad as Washington or NYC. Some of those Biogen employees have kids who attend schools in Boston suburbs and have tested positive, including the town my Mom lives in (my home town). (All this info is available in local newspapers, I'm not revealing anything secret). Lots of schools are closed for a few weeks. The way the numbers explode is stunning, and the only way to stop it is getting people isolated from each other. Of course it would be good to not have many people get it, but the ultimate goal is to prevent overwhelming the medical care systems so that those who need hospital/doctor care can get it. Italy unfortunately got to a point this past week (or maybe the week before) where their medical care systems can't keep up. Texstyle said it well.

On the up side, people are resilient and things will eventually turn around, as many others here have said. And as Angie said, things are turning around in China, which is so encouraging. I'm trying to get myself out of the mental fog and into a "moving ahead" state of mind but it's been tough. Small potatoes compared to what some are dealing with.

I know there are a LOT of people worse off than I am.

Angie thanks again for providing such a safe and calm corner of the internet. Truly social media at it's best.

Some decisions taken out of our hands as across the board cancellations and closures ordered by governments at all levels (national, provincial, and municipal). All our outside activities (gym, bridge, library have been suspended or closed.) DS#1 without work due to a municipal closure of his place of employment. Our family will do its part to ‘flatten the curve’ by practicing social distancing for the foreseeable future (3 weeks?)

First of all, healing thoughts to all of you who are recovering from anything, especially Glory and Kyle. And to all of us affected, whether by worry, or finances, or anything else.

Thanks Angie, for the information from other countries that let us know this too will pass. And for others who mentioned what people have already survived, which puts this in historical perspective. (It always kind of freaks me out to think of things that have happened during our lives as history, but, I realize it is, especially when young people don't know answers on "Jeopardy" about things I lived through.)

I am grateful for all the responses, it was a relief for me to post here. Thanks everyone, for responding and supporting each other. YLF is an amazing community.

Virtual hugs to everyone who wants/needs them.

Glory and Kyle and Angie’s dear Papa, you are in my thoughts and prayers especially at this stressful time. Our county went from 1 person with the virus to over 30 overnight. Everything is closed indefinitely. Our next big trip is a river cruise in Europe and vacation in Italy, all paid for but not scheduled u til late August so we have not cancelled yet. We should go see some older relatives in the US, but that is on hold. Everyone seems not worried for themselves so much as spreading virus to others and jobs.
DS in Japan wants to visit before he finds a new job but that is not happening. Stay strong and well, everyone.

Taylor, thanks for always being upbeat with me!

Barbara Diane and Chris987, thank you for being appreciative of the YLF community. You both enrich it.

Joy, you are a sweetheart. Thanks for your concern. You take care and take every precaution. Much love. xo

Barbara Diane, thanks for asking us, and thanks for reporting from your place. I wonder which part of the world you live in. Found no info in your profile.

I am in Norway, a long country in Northern Europe with a small population of 5 million people. By now, more than 1000 persons here have got the virus, 28 are in hospitals, and 3 have died.

I am not worried about myself, but I do have some worries for my old parents, for my brother, who has cancer, for other dear ones struggling with health problems, and for friends who have just lost their jobs. However, we all find strength in our faith in our caring God, Jehovah, in our loving international fellowship of Christian brothers and sisters, and in the Bible promise of a new world soon to come where all sickness will be gone. - Isaiah 33:24; Revelations 21:3, 4.

Warm thoughts and best wishes for all of you.

I just read your post, Kyle. It must be very worrying for you. I am thinking of you at this time.
I am so sorry about your Dad and your visit to him Angie. I know how much that means to both of you.
We are still in Quebec and are always thinking about what our best option is. The premier of Quebec has suggested that everyone over 70 should stay inside. Mr. SF does not like that idea. He is ready for this to be over. It just started today.
Our home is less than a day's drive away.
Okay, my hands are completely raw.

Hugs Kyle- stay safe!

Kyle, best wishes to you.

I volunteered at the thrift store yesterday. I kept hoping someone would call to tell me we were closing. No such luck. I think we should close for the next several weeks. Nearly all of our members are elderly, and we should be helping with “flattening the curve”. Plus, our local public radio station announced that we have a new case locally that appears to have spread from within the community.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/0.....ticleShare

Counties north and south of me (but I work in both) now have cases. Community spread. Most government buildings closed (except mine- today). Hope they tell me I can work @ home :/
Theresnoplacelikehometheresnoplacelikehome.

I just realized I must not have hit submit on my post yesterday. The Cat, I live in the U.S. I heard all performances in Norway are cancelled through May.

Shelter in place for everyone starts tonight for 3 weeks. Shopping only for groceries, drugs, supplies. Restaurants are only open for pick up and delivery.
We are to stay home. Walks as long as you stay 6 feet away from any non household members.

This is a lot to wrap my head around.

Religious services on Facebook Live went really well. We greeted each other in the comments section so we felt the presence of the community.