I have not traveled to a place that is at-risk to the 2019 lung virus nor have I been in contact with anyone who has the 2019 viruses but I am choosing to stay at home for two weeks on a voluntary quarantine. My state as of this time has only 10 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and only 5 of them are in my town. So I bet you are questioning why I would choose to stay home when I really don't have to. The state has taken some precautions like closing the schools for three weeks and canceling events that have 100 or more people in attendance. The state has not recommended that people stay home but I am bunkering down at home with my kids for 2-3 weeks. I will be self-quarantining myself because of the virus called the Corona. I am not doing this out of panic but for other reasons. My previous post How I Am Preparing For The 2019 Epidemic explains about things I was doing already but now I added self-quarantine to the list.
Information about Virus Disease of 2019
There is so much information about the lung virus on the internet and some of it may be false. People are so worried and confused about the virus state of emergency and they may not have their facts straight. The CDC has a website where you can learn about the virus. This link has answers to many common questions about the respiratory virus. So check it out.
Why I am doing a self-quarantine?
There are many reasons that I am choosing to stay at home during this epidemic. I am not that much at risk for this disease caused by a virus unless you consider the fact that I have asthma. My asthma is not that bad and I am able to manage asthma with natural herbal supplements. I am not concerned about the virus affecting my asthma that much but it what stores and people are doing that is making my asthma flare-up. That is one of the reasons I am staying at home for two weeks.
The chemical cleaners and hand sanitizer are harming me
All the stores are cleaning and people are using hand sanitizer so I have had some asthma attacks the past couple of days. So my breathing has been affected in a round-about way from the virus. The chemicals in the cleaners and hand sanitizer trigger my asthma so I need to avoid them. That is the main reason I am staying at home during the virus outbreak. It is important that places are cleaning and sanitizing surfaces from the coronavirus. So since the chemicals cause me to have an asthmatic cough and struggle with breathing I am staying away from places. I am also avoiding people as they are overdoing the hand sanitizer in place of handwashing.
I went grocery shopping the other day to stock up on three weeks of food. I am so thankful that I have the money to do that. While I was in the store I was coughing from all the cleaning products. The next day I woke up with breathing problems. I had to go to one more store to get other food items and while in the check out lane, I again had an asthma attack. Part of me is regretting my decision to go food shopping but my family has to eat. I am now doing lots of home remedies like my lemon ginger cold and flu tea to get all the mucus out of my lungs. I don't want a repeat of what happened to me 2 years ago when I discovered that dairy products were causing my severe asthma symptoms.
I am thinking of the elderly and immune-compromised
Another reason I am staying home is that I don't want the elderly and immune-compromised to catch this deadly disease. For most people, the virus is just like a bad case of the flu and they will recover. Those at risk, like the old people, can die from the respiratory virus. So I don't want to risk catching the virus and spreading it to someone who might die from pneumonia or other lung complications that the coronavirus causes. The elderly already have to be concerned about dying from the flu so I don't want them to have to worry about the respiratory virus. There is no vaccine at this time for the respiratory virus.
Staying at home might stop the spread of the respiratory virus
If we this virus to stop spreading and see more confirmed respiratory virus cases, we need to stay home so we don't catch it. It is scary to see places like Italy having to make decisions on who to treat for the respiratory virus confirmed cases keep growing. So I will suffer from staying at home to help stop the Corona disease from growing. The below graphic shows how with protective measures the number of cases of virus dropped. This is a good article to read about flattening the curve.
Helping health care workers
People like doctors and nurses are already over-worked with helping sick people. If more people get sick with the virus, this will affect the health care workers. My husband works for the health department and has been super busy the past week. My husband is not dealing with sick people but he is helping places like hotels and restaurants practice safe procedures so the virus does not spread. So he has been busy and I am worried about his health from the stress.
Keeping hospital beds open for the sick
Since the virus cleaning procedures are affecting my asthma, I am staying home so I don't end up having an asthma attack that needs medical attention. If I need to go to the emergency room for my asthma that means that someone else will not get the needed medical care if they have virus symptoms. So I will avoid all public places and friends places right now so I don't have an asthma attack from chemical fragrances and chemical cleaners. I may even stay home from church as people are using hand sanitizer that also triggers me to have an asthmatic cough that affects my lungs and breathing. The reality is there are not enough beds and equipment to help people if the virus gets out of control. So that may mean people can die while waiting for a bed in the ICU or for a machine that will help them breathe.
I am concerned about my asthma
Since my lungs are sensitive from asthma and allergies, I am staying home so I do not have contact with the lung virus. A week ago I was not worried about the virus with my history of asthma as I was ok when I got a cough a month ago when my husband had the flu. After visiting the grocery store and other places this week, I saw how sensitive my lungs were to the chemicals from the cleaners and hand sanitizer. Then waking up today with a bad asthma cough and breathing problems, I knew that this virus could affect me with having asthma. I will be playing it safe so I do have lung and breathing difficulties. I also want to stay healthy so I can visit my grandbaby and daughter, who has asthma and is pregnant.
What I am doing to self-quarantine myself and family
I will only be leaving the house to go running outside so I will not be in contact with other people or chemicals that affect my asthma. I have made the decision to not go to the gym either. My gym is small and I know the days that they clean the gym but I want to minimize my risk of the virus. Someone may be at the gym with the virus. I will also not be attending church, which is a hard one for me, but I have to avoid the hand sanitizer so I do not have an asthma attack. I bought plenty of food so I have no need to go to the store. I also have all the herbal supplements that I need for my asthma. I will be making a batch of my homemade elderberry syrup to boost my immunity.
I am also putting my kids on a semi-quarantine and allowing them to play at the park with friends or do yardwork for the neighbors. They might be able to go to church with my husband but not the church youth group. My husband is also kind of staying home as he has to still work. My husband works for the health department as he is a restaurant inspector. So that means he is helping places with proper procedures for cleaning. He has been assigned extra duties as is an essential worker for the city at this time. My husband is able to work from home but may need to go to the office or to a facility. I am glad that my husband can work from home so he will have less contact with the risk of exposure to the virus.
It seems excessive but necessary to protect my health
I know that self-quarantine may be hard but it is necessary for my health and other's health. Two weeks is not that bad and I have plenty to do so I doubt I will go crazy. I am hoping that others start thinking about how they can do their part in stopping the spread of the disease. If you are able to work from home, that is good but not everyone is able to. So be smart and wash your hands often with these handwashing practices. If you feel sick, stay home. Cough and sneeze into your arm. Keep your distance from those at risk like the elderly. Did you know that when you sneeze the germs can travel up to ten feet? Germs can also live on surfaces for quite some time. So maybe don't visit people who are immune-compromised. Now is the time to take care of your health with healthy food and exercise. You can exercise outside by walking or even exercise inside. Check out some different ways to exercise that don't involve a gym.
If the people who are able to work from home make a choice to do so, that will make a difference. All these people who stock up on groceries should now stay home. Making choices to eat at home will protect you from the virus too as the person preparing your food may be infected. By choosing to stay home that may stop the spread of the virus and it will not become a mandatory quarantine that may last longer.
What are you doing to help stop the spread of the respiratory virus?
30 comments:
Yes, I am hoping that people will start taking measures before they are forced to.
We are working to stay home! I do have to get out now and again for groceries though. I haven't been able to find toilet paper so I have to keep going out to search. But for the most part, we'll be at home.
Glad to hear that you are staying home. I bought toilet paper several weeks ago so I am good.
Quarantining ourselves is the best strategy to protect both ourselves and the population at large. My family is relatively free of the major contributing factors to death caused by the corona virus, but if we get it, we could give it to someone who isn't.
I think more people should self quarantine. I know that there are some reasons to go out but it should be quick deliberate.
I am quarantined at home for the the next 15 days at least because my country is in a lockdown. It is forbidden to get out of the house for anything else but urgent matters. I hope things will get better soon.
I hope more people here get serious about staying home before we are forced to stay home.
Like you I wish even I could self quarantining myself. I also had an ashthma attack last week. Please stay safe and take care.
I think it's so important for all of us to do what is best for ourselves and our families at this time. Obey all the rules, but if you want to go over and above, that's great too.
Right now my workplace is not offering anything for those of us that can still go to work. So until I know if I'll be paid if I don't go in I HAVE to go to work. It's awful.
Great tips for those that need it!! It's scary to think about the ones who are really vulnerable! Stay safe, and healthy!
Honestly, I couldn't agree with you more on this. A lot of places are using harmful chemicals to get the job done and it's not only harmful for them, but harmful to the people being exposed to it as well.
We are spending time at home, walking in our neighborhood. We've got all the food and supplies. Just working and going to school – all virtually.
My family and I are doing the same. There is no reason for us to go out (except to the store when we absolutely need to).
We are staying home even though there are no cases within 45 minutes of our city. You just never know. I hope your asthma gets better soon and you get some relief!
I think it's important for everyone to quarantine as best as they possibly can. If we all follow the plan hopefully the professionals can get the virus under control fast.
I think this is so wise. I'd been taking my son to the gym a few times a week for exercise, but I've decided to just stick to kayaking for now. I can get some fresh air and exercise without ever coming close to another person.
I am so agree with you. I think that all of us, except doctors or other professionals that need to work, everyone should do a self quarantine for a month. It's the only way to get rid of this virus.
I totally agree! I think it is everyone's responsibility to stay safe from the virus as much as possible. I hope this will end very soon.
Here, so far there is no quarantine. I am on a break. So i am in a semi quarantine from before the Corona hit.
Thank you for being so responsible and also, for thinking of others. I hope your asthma gets better soon and you give yourself just a chance to rest and relax at home.
We agree with flattening the curve! We are staying home, safe and healthy in Chicago.
We still have our schools open but we are avoiding close contact with people as much as we can. You made good decision. Stay safe and healthy.
We should honestly all self quarantine, there is no need for people to be out besides work. Stay home
I am working in office tomorrow, and from then until mid April, I will be working from home with my kids at home from school. We will be only going out to get groceries when we need them. It may be an annoyance, but a worthwhile one to keep the at risk population safe and healthy.
This is me! I have chosen to self quarantine for this very reason. It definitely can't hurt! I am getting work done and getting in some quality time with myself and my business.
I have a part-time job so when I am not there (3 days/week) I'm staying home, ordering groceries online, etc.
I recently been told that I need to self isolate. I've considered not listening in favour of appearing helpful but I also don't want to die. My family don't seem to care & want me to keep working despite being in ill health. But I have to think of everyone else too & by going in I could potentially be spreading the virus more.
It's hard to know what to do.
I am so sorry about your asthma. People never think washing hands with soap and water is just as affective as the hand sanitizer. Be safe and cert blessed.
Love this. It's so important because even if you are fine, you can still bring it to someone else.
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