Recovering news junkie here. I’ve always been a person who loves the news: two newspapers every morning, 3 different TV stations for evening news . That’s over. There is absolutely nothing to read, see, or hear about except the coronavirus. I wake up in the morning, and my iphone has numerous updates which are repeated all day long and everywhere on the internet. By the time 6 o’clock rolls around, I’ve reached the saturation point. What will the media do when COVID-19 is over? Surely, there are other things going on in the world. Stay-At- Home Diary: Week 3

Looked in the basement for a jigsaw puzzle. Threw them away during our de cluttering project last year. Why would we keep something that hasn’t been used for decades? But now, we were sorry. Asked our son to pick one up at Walmart, but they didn’t have much left. The puzzle has 750 teensy, tiny, flimsy pieces. The puzzles I remember were much more substantial. Anyway, our living room is now filled with two card tables covered with puzzle pieces. I helped my husband find the “straight” pieces for the border, but that’s as far as it goes. He’s on his own now, and from the looks of it, he’ll be lucky if it’s finished by Memorial Day..

Washed all the curtains downstairs. We’re talking 10 windows here. When were they last washed? Not sure. It may have been a couple of years. They’re sheer and pale blue, so they don’t show the dirt. But I knew that they were full of dust. Started sneezing as soon as I began. Taking down, washing, drying and re hanging took about 4 hours. At least we’ll remember when we washed them last. How could you forget the coronavirus activities?

Walked in the park a couple of times, weather permitting. Sat outside on sunny days for a short time. . A little ultraviolet light is good for the immune system and raises your spirits.

Gained two pounds. We’ve tried to eat healthy; and watch our calories. But the lack of exercise combined with nervous/bored snacking is taking its toll. Supposedly, it’s good to be a little overweight at our age. It helps get you through sickness. If that’s the case, I’m well prepared.

Consuming plenty of probiotics to boost my immune system: fruit smoothies made with kefir and yogurt. A hearty German meal of Bratwurst and sauerkraut. Did you know sauerkraut is a powerful probiotic?

A bar of fragrance free Ivory Soap would help: Stay-at-home Diary Week 3 — Stay-At-Home Diary: Week 3. I’d give anything for a bar of fragrance free ivory soap for all the hand washing..

Hands getting red and itchy from all the hand washing. I’ve tried different lotions, but nothing can help when you’re washing your hands about every fifteen minutes. Scented, tinted soaps don’t help. I’d give anything for a bar of Ivory.

Spent two hours trying to revive my husband’s kindle. The books wouldn’t download, and I couldn’t figure out why.. Turned out he hasn’t used it for years, and it wasn’t connected to wireless. GRR.

The novelty of staying home is wearing off for parents. The first week, everyone said it was nice to sleep late and not push themselves. But now, they’re missing the office and their old routine. Working from home while taking care of children is a struggle. I hope everyone stays safe and sane. God willing, it will soon be over.

Having been a hospital department manager for over 25 years, I know the importance of patient privacy. It was strictly enforced when my father was in for a stroke. I was banned from reading his chart, due to privacy laws. This meant that people working for me could read his chart, if they were authorized, but I could not. Therefore, they could not share any information about his condition with me. I understood that. However, during this coronavirus epidemic, I think we should make a distinction between patient privacy vs. need to know.

When the crisis first started, we were told the names of some of the patients– where they worshiped, and where they lived. Often, we heard that they had recently been to China or some out of state convention. Many people were willing to self report ( actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson) But now, we aren’t being told much about the patients, except their general age group. Different states are willing to share more information than others. The state of Washington freely reported the number of nursing home patients with the coronavirus.

My county currently has 3 active corona cases, which isn’t too bad, yet. We’re a relatively small town (pop 60,000). But I want to know a bit more. In such a small community, I think we have that right.

This is what I believe the people in this county should know: Where were the patients before coming down with the virus? Did they go to the grocery store where I shop before they were diagnosed? Or to the church I attended? Were they college students? If so, which college? A snowbird returning to Indiana from another state? What state? A nursing home resident? If so, which nursing home? Did they smoke, making them more susceptible to complications?

It's important to know if we've been in the same places as COVID-19 patients.

We have to weigh the importance of Patient Privacy vs. Need to Know. You should know if you’ve recently been in the vicinity of someone with COVID-19.

I suppose the response would be that it doesn’t really make any difference. If we’re washing hands, maintaining social distance, etc. , it’s not important whether or not we’ve been near that person or know when or where he might have contracted the disease. But psychologically, I think it does make a difference. If I have shopped at a different supermarket in another end of town, or haven’t attended their Church, or visited anyone in that nursing home, I can have a little peace of mind, knowing my risk is lower. However, if I have been in the vicinity of the sick person, I’ll need to be extra vigilant regarding any new symptoms. If I get a cough or cold, I have to face the reality that I could have contracted the virus. And get tested if I start feeling worse.

There’s a difference between patient privacy and the need to know. Right now, we’re being given Too Little Information as to where COVID-19 might have been swirling in the air around us.

That being said, I think Indiana’s Governor Holcomb has done a fantastic job of managing the crisis and providing statistics. And I’m proud of my fellow Hoosiers who have social distanced without complaint.