A Quick Note From Central WA as we Prepare for Enforced Quarantine.
Washington is a hot spot for Covid19. We have community circulation as well as many deaths here. Our Governor, Jay Inslee has been warning us for days to prepare for enforced quarantines.
With the announcement of closing schools and the President declaring a State of National Emergency today was the day everyone took it seriously.
The bulk of my shopping was done a few days ago. However, Today I was babysitting a 6 year-old member of my family and we needed to run into Safeway for a few last minute, but important items.
The lines at the checkout counters reached out the doors and the store was packed. There were many empty shelves and store employees continued to stock shelves while locals politely waited in line, talking about Virus the potential shut downs etc. The mood was an acknowledgement of a serious and unusual situation, but without panic.
With our items gathered we joined the long lines to check out stands. People were visiting with each other and although things were serious, there was an attitude of acceptance that no one involved was at fault.
The lady in line behind us revealed that she is 76 and lives with and cares for her mother. She needed a few things before heading home. The man behind us, upon hearing this information offered his phone number and offered to help if they needed anything.
Over the next hour everyone in our line shared personal stories, offered assistance to each other and we all knew each other's names. By the time we were checking out there were air hugs (no one wants to touch anyone) and wishes wellness and calm.
I'm not going to comment on how serious or not I think the virus is, but clearly the response has been serious and possibly dangerous as we prepare for lock downs, closed schools and a shortage of supplies, here in Central WA decency and a spirit of cooperation prevails.
If there are true food shortages that may change, but remember those crazy people who are always on the news? There wasn't so much a one rude person in Safeway today.
For a bit of time I plan to use my blog to capture little stories about how the Virus and resulting government actions are impacting the people I see and know.
How are things where you are? Let's document this unprecedented event and share with each other real stories.
Where I live we have been through quite a few "states of emergency" where the government comes in to royally fuck everything up worse than just letting us fend for ourselves. The one thing I'd offer as advice to anyone is if you own firearms and they come to collect... don't lie or try to hide them unless you acquired them without background checks. They can and will likely come into your house and tear it apart looking for them and if you went through the system to get them then they know you have them.
That could get interesting around here. :) They would have a real problem doing that here I think. time will tell.
That shit right there is crazy.
When the government says jump, the sheep bleet 'how high, master?'...
If I shake my head commensurate to the level of bemusement I feel, my head would fall off...
It's pretty crazy, they now control sports, school opening and closing, when we can leave our houses.
Whenever you choose to....
❤️ Stay safe, sing loud (at the balcony party) ❤️
Stay safe, I bought that mushroom power and am using it.
Stay safe don't get to bored!
Florida had bike week which is kind of shocking. Then Disney closed. Alot of my family are in the tourism industry or are deeply affected by it like many are in this state. So some hard times are going come with so many places closing for a while.
Yeah, I have seriously considered whether or not the financial crisis is going to be as bad as the virus. Extreme conditions are possibly just as dangerous.
Oh fuck. Enforced quarantine. Thats gonna be some shit.
I'm down in Portland Oregon and things are about the same here except no quarantine yet. I kinda wish they would! The kids are on spring break now so at least there is that.
I work in the grocery department at Whole Foods and that has been a complete shitshow. We are understaffed and our loading dock is broken so every thing needs to be hauled in from the street. Not ideal, but hopefully things calm down soon.
Keep calm and be nice to others. Stay safe out there Steemians! :)
Best of luck. There was an eeriness in my office yesterday, with a sense that we may not be coming in on Monday. We mostly can work from home, there isn't a quarantine here but we're probably not so far away from it happening. Lots of panic buying, though I stocked up ages ago.
Wonderful community you have there. We are a nation of good people, let's not forget that! I see that is indeed the case there. Good news in all this is we are still the same old Americans inside. This is what makes us resilient.
LA is going to get interesting. I'm prep'n for them to start zoning us all off. Crazy times Wu, crazy times!
Stay safe Qa.
It's become insane here. First the toilet paper, now the paper towels, canned goods and much of the freezer goods. Dairy and milk too. BJs got a delivery in this morning and sold out on the TP in 12 minutes they said. Not sure on the full ramifications on the pandemic, but an economic one unlike anything I have witnessed is taking place, and will be curious to see how much worse it will get. I went back last night when I saw then what was happening and stocked up on some canned goods (not enough, but a good start for any forced quarantines they might have coming).
Stay safe, so far they are feeding the people locked down in New York, but it's a concern.