I was waiting for the usual one week of spring break, and got two weeks! This is going to disrupt the class schedule and final exams, but for now we don't plan to offer classes online.  I have seen how some people complain about the closures, but I think it is wise to minimize large public gatherings. No matter how much experts try to warn, there are people who stubbornly refuse to listen. 

Yesterday I went for a scheduled medical test. I had made the appointment two months ago, wanting to get it done before the spring break. I noticed that there was less traffic and the clinic was almost empty. At the clinic, everyone had to fill out a form with 3 questions. Whether you have fever, cough, and if you have traveled within the last 14 days.  With all the announcements about washing hands, and covering your month when you sneeze and cough, you would think that people would take these advice seriously. But, the lady who sat several chairs away just coughed freely. I was glad that the nurse called me right away, so I didn't have to sit in the waiting room longer. As soon as I came home, I washed everything including my handbag. 

You would think that I'm paranoid. 😉  But what I see and hear around me have confirmed that there are very irresponsible people out there. There's this guy who flew from New York to Florida, while waiting for his COVID -19 results. Some are complaining about having to change their holiday plans, while others insist that they are going ahead with their plans because this is just another flu. Ignoring experts' advice is foolish. China did it in the very beginning, ignoring a doctor's concerns about an outbreak. By the time they locked down areas, it was too late. Italians ignored warnings and finally had to lock down the entire country. Large groups of Sri Lankans left Italy before the lock down, and went to Sri Lanka. There's a mandatory quarantine period for anyone traveling from affected countries, but some went to Sri Lanka before it was implemented. Now, there are 6 confirmed cases in Sri Lanka. 

I think it’s wise to avoid large crowds if possible. I read that some church leaders chose to close churches. They are very responsible. What if one person without even knowing carries the virus and spread it around? That’s what happened in S. Korea , where one person - now known as patient 31- infected hundreds of churchgoers. She thought she had cold, and because she hadn’t traveled recently,  refused to get tested and attended church services and went out.  People can be asymptotic , or can self-diagnose inaccurately.

This morning I woke up with a slight headache. Thinking about the coughing lady at the clinic, I checked my temperature. It was normal. Whew! I'm not in the high risk group. But I don't want to be an asymptotic carrier and infect innocent people who are at risk. While at the clinic I asked how to get tested for COVID-19 if needed. I thought every medical clinic would be able to do the tests. However they told me that you have to contact the county health department, and only if you have severe symptoms you would get a test. So, you cannot get a test just because you want to, at least where I live. 

If we all can avoid unnecessary gatherings, people who must be working outside will be safer. Hospitals won't be overwhelmed with patients as in Italy. 

So I'm staying home.  I've always been a homebody anyway. 😊

Take care everyone,  and be safe.


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