Let's discuss...COVID-19 and staying safe

Although I plan to double bubble with a friend in the building,  we will still need to maintain a safe distance and wear face masks when that is not possible. We need to protect ourselves and also her 90+ year old mom who is in a seniors home. For now the best thing to do is wait and see how the soft opening impacts the number of new cases. I am very concerned about a second wave. We will not be safe until there is an approved vaccine. 

I'm keeping safe by limiting my interactions with the public.  I only venture out for grocery shopping, bike riding and walking our dog.  

Thanks

Just 3 changes:
      Coffee outside in the sun or on the patio
      A short walk every day
      Playing virtual bridge with another senior couple on our phones or tablets, instead of going to each others’ houses and using real cards every  2 weeks. 

Other than that,  we are self-isolating (except for my nurse twice weekly).  Keeping in contact by phone or text!

Clarke Edward, cancer survivor 

 

Hi  I have a palliative cancer friend staying with us. Her condo building was badly flooded on April 28 th. 
 Because of her immune issues we order groceries on line and pick it up.  We wear mask when out and  about.
Hygiene and house cleaning are also paramount for us.

Because I am in a very high risk category being over 70, being a Cancer Survivor and having additional health issues I am going to stay isolated as best I can.
I walk the court and talk to neighbors however keep distancing in place at all times.
I am driving tomorrow to have new lenses put in my glasses. Wearing my mask and taking hand sanitizer with me. The proceedure is to go in through the front door. The second set of doors are locked and you shove your glasses through a slot. Then when they are done you pick them up at the back door.
I will not go anywhere there are people like grocery shopping.
It is a challenge to get other people to pick up groceries however I have managed so far.
We are not out of the woods yet so none of us should let our guard down, no matter who says it is safe. Those same people who "don't get it".
Stay Safe Everyone the journey continues
Speedystill 
 

I find it hard to social distance on the bus or when buying groceries...soon the buses in my city will become more crowded as people go back to work, and it will not be safe to ride the buses...it was suggested to not ride the bus during rush hours...
I try to stay home as much as I can and only go out when I have to or to take a walk in my neighbourhood...I am always trying to distance myself from others but this is not always possible...I can not wear a mask because my lungs do not function at full capacity...

We learned yesterday that Manitoba is relaxing the restrictions, and just working out what that means. I’m looking forward to being able to visit a friend who had both knees replaced last week and is recovering at home.

My husband and I both wear home made cloth facemasks when we go into stores. We know these don’t protect us, but reduce our chances of transmitting disease to others. The masks don’t interfere with our breathing at all, but they do steam up our glasses! We always use the hand sanitizer provided and keep our distance, and we use a list to minimize our bumbling around the store.

I continue to work from home, my workplace remains closed for the time being.

We are venturing further for hikes and canoe trips. Last weekend, we took the canoe for its first trip of the year. We explored lakes we haven’t been to before. We would normally stop for fries on the way home, and it felt a little different to have take out rather than eat in, but it felt good to maintain this routine.

I keep my distance, I wear a mask and gloves, I go for a walk every day for over an hour and then exercise at home. 
My biggest challenge is that although I survived breast cancer and am on a pill for another 3 years, I have a cough every winter as soon as I catch the flu, even though I am taking the super flu shot (first time last year). doctors are baffled by it - I went to a respiratory dr - x ray and ct scan of my lungs - nothing. No asthma either. I went to 2 ENTs and nothing. I went to a gastro/endo specialist - no acid reflux and nothing wrong - (checking why I cough through colonoscopy and endoscopy). The situation now is that I am on acid reflux medication for a month (only 4 days left) and I am still coughing. Next comes allergy testing on June 3rd, well I have been taking allergy medication and nasal spray and a puffer - and still I am coughing so it can't be that. After a month of this, I have to take a stronger puffer - instructed by a new respiratory specialist.
So the issue is - A. I constantly have cough candy in my mouth - manuka honey drops to stop the cough and it helps a bit but it has to be constant. so when I go anywhere and I cough a bit, people look at me like they want to kill me and I have to keep apologizing saying - it's allergies. (I don't even know what it is so far)
B. I will have to go back to work when spas are allowed to reopen and I work closely with people - body and face. Even though I will be wearing a mask and a faceshield and take all the sanitation precautions, I am still exposed to people in a very close range, but there is no choice here - I have to work otherwise I won't be able to pay my bills. So what can I do? I guess i have to rely on God and my strong faith and take my chances and what will be will be:( 
I even went to a chinese herb store and the guy mixed some herbs for me to boil and drink for 3 days - nothing!! still coughing. I am running out of ideas
So if anyone has any suggestions - please do!!!!!!!!!!

Another great video!!

The challenges seem to be the variety of ways each province is now " reopening".

As my husband is immune compromised, we are still trying to be as diligent about self isolating as much as possible.  The silver lining in living in remote areas, is that keeping  a physical distance is our "norm".  That being said, we do live close to a large provincial park, and with the parks opening and tourists/cottagers returning -there is a need to be really mindful of this increased population.

With the better weather, albeit also mosquitoes and blackflies - some activities are easier to remain "safe" - such as biking in small groups, hiking in areas that are not busy, and am hoping that swimming in lakes will soon be possible.

Maintain physical distancing
Wear a fabric face mask for grocery shopping and hospital/pharmacy visits
Keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer in the handbag
Wear disposable gloves when I do grocery shopping
Maintain moderate outdoor activities, i.e., walk around the block and gardening under the sun 
Wash hands, face and eyeglasses as soon as we return home
Whip or rinse grocery items before putting them away in the fridge and cabinets
Listen to my favourite music and songs
Watch "The Show Must Go On"  on YouTube every Friday...awesome musicals
Video calls with friends and extended family...must connect despite distancing
 

Wendy Tea:
Although I plan to double bubble with a friend in the building,  we will still need to maintain a safe distance and wear face masks when that is not possible. We need to protect ourselves and also her 90+ year old mom who is in a seniors home. For now the best thing to do is wait and see how the soft opening impacts the number of new cases. I am very concerned about a second wave. We will not be safe until there is an approved vaccine. 

PearlFran:

Maintain physical distancing
Wear a fabric face mask for grocery shopping and hospital/pharmacy visits
Keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer in the handbag
Wear disposable gloves when I do grocery shopping
Maintain moderate outdoor activities, i.e., walk around the block and gardening under the sun 
Wash hands, face and eyeglasses as soon as we return home
Whip or rinse grocery items before putting them away in the fridge and cabinets
Listen to my favourite music and songs
Watch "The Show Must Go On"  on YouTube every Friday...awesome musicals
Video calls with friends and extended family...must connect despite distancing
 

My husband and I lead a fairly low key life.  We are mostly staying home and only go grocery shopping or to the pharmacy every two weeks.  We've learned to do a bigger shop so we don't have to keep running to the store.  We also order restaurant meals from using delivery services.  It's a little pricey at times but gives us a nice change.  Neither of us needs new clothes.  In fact I just cleaned out my closet and got rid of things I no longer wear or don't fit.  We do as much on line as we can, banking, purchases, etc.  We still have to go to medical appointments.  I have a Zoledronic Acid Infusion appointment coming up in July and will likely go back to finish my dental work in June.  I haven't heard about my mammogram being re booked yet.  We don't have any friends in the area much anymore to really worry about visiting.  We mostly visit by phone or text or the new Zoom meetings.  It's dull at times I must admit but I feel safer at home.  It's kind of funny, because I hated retirement at first but now I'm kind of relieved I don't have to take transit to work.  I miss my water colour painting class but I'm doing some at home.  I exercise almost everyday.  

I feel like I have been in self-isolation since the cancer returned last November  I now call it self-preservation. 😁
Like most of us, I practice self-distancing, wear a mask if I go the hospital. Wash my hands like crazy, which aggravates the dryness of my hands caused by the Xeloda. And clean everything that comes into the house.  There is now this persistent odour of bleach in my house LOL 
My husband is the only one who goes to the grocery store (once a week with a list that follows the plan of the store so he gets done faster) or the pharmacy, anything else is ordered online with no contact delivery. And everything gets wiped down with a bleach soaked cloth before being put away... 
I sometimes feel like a weirdo for being so cautious but it's my way of coping with this epidemic on top of my cancer. 
And really, who cares if I'm a weirdo LOL I don't.
As the warmer weather returns (slowly in Ontario), I started having social distancing visits with friends on the back deck, one usually, sometimes two if it's a couple.  I bought water bottles and pop that I can offer and then they place it in the recycling box on their way out.  I also have paper plates in case I found energy to bake... and they dispose of these as well.  After they leave, out comes the bleach solution to wipe down everything...  I have a very clean patio set these days.
I feel very privileged to have a large backyard that I can use.  I think of the people in condos or apartment buildings where there are no balconies, no where to enjoy the warm weather.  I am lucky, I have an income and a husband and daughter (who moved in temporarily after self-isolating for 14 days when she got laid off in March) who keep me going.
I am normally very social, but these days, I keep mostly to myself, we experiment with cooking, baking, etc. play board games and organize the house.  
I think that this is now my new normal, as they say, and try to make the best of it.  The moments with my husband and daughter are precious and we enjoy the time spent together.
Stay safe everyone and take good care. 

What will a second wave look like?