Handy hints for the coronavirus pandemicOur lives continue to take interesting turns during this coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis. Many companies are having their employees work from home while others are cutting hours, reducing pay, and in danger of sliding right out of business as they continue to lose money as customers stay away. Lots of folks are panicking clearing the shelves of the grocery and dollar stores. None of us are certain that stocking up is even warranted—on one hand, we’re not sure whether North Carolina (or the entire country) will go into lockdown; but on the other hand, we see that Italian grocery stores have continued to stay open while the country is under quarantine.
No one really knows how long the pandemic will last and how many people it will affect. What I’m going to do with the Durham Skywriter is to provide as much information as I can gather in one spot to help you and your family get through this. I’ll divide the info into categories and also provide info (sometimes repeated) on the interior pages (To Your Health, Zooom! (the kids’ page), SeniorScope, etc). 
CLICK ON THE BUTTON TO GET THE LATEST INFORMATION AND RESOURCES AS GATHERED BY THE DURHAM COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
AlertsThe City of Durham and Durham County’s Safer-at-Home Order goes into effect on Monday, June 1, 8am, and will be in effect until further notice. The City and County are pretty much following Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order but have added a few extra requirements.
In Durham, there’s a 10-person group limit for both indoors and outdoors, with social distancing and sanitary practices. (The State is allowing for a 25-person limit outdoors.) This refers to gatherings at meeting/event venues, theaters, sports venues, and parks. In Durham face coverings are required (but are only encouraged in the rest of the state). In Durham, there’s a 6-person group limit in restaurants and breweries (10 throughout the rest of the state). In Durham’s real-estate arena, clients can view occupied dwellings while practicing social distancing and hygiene procedures. (There are no restrictions around the rest of the state.) Many people are using items like Clorox Wipes® for the first time. These paperlike sheets are almost always made of synthetic materials and aren’t made to be flushed down the toilet. Lots of plumbers have been called throughout the country to unclog toilet drains in response to this growing problem. Please note that cleanser sheets should be tossed in the trash, even if they’re labeled “flushable.” Very often, that misleading label means that they will simply go down your toilet drain; however, because they’re not biodegradable, they get stuck in the drainpipes and clog up the works. Paper towels often suffer the same fate. Be especially careful when filling up your vehicle’s tank at the gas station. Doctors are warning about the usually-dirty-but-now-downright-dangerous gas pump handles. Use gloves or paper towel while pumping gas, and then toss the gloves or paper towel into the trash before touching your door handle. Clean your hands with sanitizer once you enter your vehicle. Local criminals are already trying to take advantage of the situation. Neighbors have reported people arriving at their doors with fake-official-looking notebooks and asking for the names and Social Security numbers of residents. They claim that they”re gathering data for preparing coronavirus testing kits. Don’t give out your info—these people are frauds and out trying to steal identities. Here’s some disturbing information shared by Chinese doctors who have performed autopsies on victims of coronavirus: The lungs of people with coronavirus fill with thick mucus, which solidifies and prevents them from breathing properly. In a way, you could say they’re drowning. This explains why the elderly and smokers are suffering at greater rates than more vigorous and healthy individuals. Some people are suggesting that we sip warm/hot beverages throughout the day to break up any invading mucus. This sounds reasonable but it’s unproven that it will actually work. Keep in mind that if you develop any symptoms that include breathing difficulties, you shouldn’t hesitate to get that checked out. Some people have resorted to wearing surgical gloves to protect themselves. CBC health consultant and respirologist/pulmonologist Dr Samir Gupta advises against that. As it turns out, germs/viruses remain on the surface of such gloves much longer than they do to our skin and add nothing to the most common problem on hand: the fact that we continuously touch our faces. Dr Gupta suggests that it’s best to skip the gloves and remember to wash our hands often. The ideal situation is to slow down the rate of coronavirus infection so that those who need hospitalization can be admitted and cared for. On an average day, most hospitals are already at 85% capacity, so naturally, hospital staff aren’t looking forward to handling a sudden surge of new patients. There’s currently a shortage of PPE (personal protective equipment, which consists of masks, gloves, and gowns). Even though local hospitals have made sizable orders, many of these items are on backorder. Staff members are coming up with ways to clean and reuse equipment (which is not ideal), and hospitals are able to accept homemade masks donated by neighbors and PPE made by manufacturing firms (which aren’y actually in the medical business). This is why it is absolutely imperative that we take this seriously and do what we can (stay home and avoid unnecessary interaction!) to protect ourselves and our loved-ones. The City of Durham is suspending curbside yard waste and bulk-item pickup services until further notice. Yard-waste customers will not be billed for the time that the service is down. Curbside solid-waste collectors are having some trouble getting to some garbage bins because people who otherwise wouldn't be at home are blocking access to them. Please remember to park in such a way that you don't block access to your trash bins. Household supplies and groceriesThe Animal Protection Society of Durham (2117 E Club Blvd) offers dog and cat food (and kitty litter) for pet owners in the City of Durham/Durham County facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for more info and the link to the online application. You’ll need to be able to pick up your order after being approved and letting them know when you’re available.
The goal for many families is to get enough supplies and groceries to last a quarantine period of two to three weeks. I know you’ve seen people rushing about sweeping toilet paper rolls, loaves of bread, and chicken/fish/beef into their overflowing grocery carts. First off, try not to panic and consider your lifestyle before buying what everybody else is buying. If you think your family can accept eating the same meal every day for a week, then center your meals around dinners that you can make in bulk, such as spaghetti, soups, rice dishes,, and stews. Gather enough for a few weeks and then put them up. Ignore them until they’re really needed. (Obviously you’ll be storing meats in the freezer. Milk and bread can be frozen, too.) Then shop and eat like normal, at least while the grocery stores are open. Keep in mind that they never shut down in Italy, and ideally will continue to stay open. One good way to not waste your grocery money is to put together recipes and shop for the items listed on those recipes. That way, you’re buying what you know you’ll actually use instead of buying too much of one thing or another “just in case.” (You might have to adapt your recipes to what’s available on the shelves. The last time I went to Food Lion, all of the chicken was gone, but beef was still available.) The same goes for toilet paper, paper towels, and the various soaps used around the house. Gather enough to last a few weeks and shop for and use supplies as usual. That way you’ll regain your sense of control, knowing that you’re set to survive being shut in for up to three weeks (some people are preparing for a one- to two-month quarantine period). Keep in mind that lots of toilet paper in manufactured here in the USA, so shortages aren’t really anticipated any time soon. When taking into consideration your lifestyle, remember your unique situation. Do you have pets? Don’t forget to put away food for them, plus any other supplies you might need, like kitty litter, pet shampoo, or trash/pickup bags. Does your family enjoy fresh fruits and veggies? You might want to get a few bags of frozen ones—and in fact, you can freeze some fresh fruits like grapes. They’re sweet like candy when frozen. TipsHopefully, you have a large bottle of hand sanitizer at home. If you do, gather (or buy) smaller bottles to split up your supply. You can keep one bottle in the car, another in your backpack/purse, one by the front door, and other crucial locations. If you’re worried that you’ll soon run out and not have access to more, try not to use it when you’re at home. Many people use hand sanitizer because it’s quicker and more convenient, but try to save it by using soap and water at home. There’s not real substitute for washing your hands for a full 20 seconds with warm water and soap.
Look around your house and see if you have any slim mini sprayers that contain hand sanitizer. They’re a bit wider than typical writing pens and have clips so you can attach them to your collar or jeans pocket. These mini spritzers are usually given away at special events. I rummaged around and came up with three: one each from WNCU radio, Durham Regional Hospital, and Mechanics and Farmers Bank. I never leave the house now without having one of them clipped to my shirt. What’s nice is that you can unscrew the top and fill the empty container with peroxide, which is also a good disinfectant. See if you have one of these mini sprayers tucked away somewhere and put it to good use. Get into the habit of cleaning your hands every time you handle money. Also wipe down your interior and exterior doorknobs, toilet flush handles, bathroom and kitchen sink faucet and handles, TV remote controls, computer keyboards, cellphones and tablets/iPads, washing machine and dryer knobs, drawer knobs, bathroom and kitchen cabinet handles and knobs, and vehicle handles on a regular basis. Scientists tell us that we touch our faces at least 20 times per hour. The most common way viruses enter our bodies is through moist membranes, meaning our eyes, noses, and mouths (and also the genital area). Maybe you can make a game of calling out “Don’t touch your face!” whenever you see a family member absentmindedly reaching up to rub their eyes or whatever. Those of us who have been taught to cover our mouths with our hands when coughing or sneezing have to relearn how to use the crooks of our arms instead. Too many of us have probably passed around colds and flu by coughing into our hands and then handling something that was later handed to or touched by someone else. Make agreements with your neighbors that you’ll be available to shop for each other if someone gets sick. I’m sure you can work out a system for exchanging money and lists and avoid face-to-face exchanges. I helped an elderly neighbor once—he gave me a presigned blank check and shopping list, and of course, when I delivered his groceries, I included the receipt. Ask your elderly neighbors and relatives if they have everything they need. Shopping hintsBe sure to stock up with materials that you use for your favorite hobbies, just in case we do have to be quarantined. You don’t want to run out of yarn, paint, or screws and be stuck in the house and unable to run and make a few purchases. “Nonessential” retail shops like Jo-Ann Fabrics and Michael’s might not be able to stay open as long as grocery stores.
Burger King will include two free kids’ meals with every adult order, once a day, through Monday, April 6. This offer isn’t for walk-ins—download the free app and make your orders online in order to get the extra two (kids’ size) meals. For now, Northgate Mall (1058 W Club Blvd) is closed for the most part. However, you can still get takeout and/or food deliveries from Randy’s Pizza (919-286-7272, website), C&H Cafeteria (919-286-7303), and Sho Nuff Seafood (919-972-9212, website). Essential businesses Gurley’s Medical Supply (919-237-3608), Avis Rent a Car (919-286-0173), and Prime Cleaners (919-416-4871) will remain open but might, like the restaurants, have curtailed hours. Same goes for the Streets at Southpoint Mall (6910 Fayetteville Rd). Takeout/delivery options include Chick-Fil-A (919-806-5557, website), Firebird’s (919-544-6332, website), The Cheesecake Factory (919-206-4082, website), and Maggiano’s (919-572-0070, website). Essential business Lenscrafters (919-361-9488, website) is open by appointment and for emergencies. Tired of spaghetti, leftovers, or do you simply miss your favorite takeout? The Durham Visitors and Convention Bureau has compiled a list of local eateries that offer takeout and delivery. Keep in mind that your favorite spot is probably opening somewhat earlier and closing a bit later than normal. Click here for more info. If you have any tips, please post them in the box below:
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The Durham Skywriter is published and uploaded monthly.
For more information, call patricia A murray at 919-809-9682 or write to durhamskywriter@yahoo.com.
Authors/publishers can send books for review, and artists/managers can send CDs for review to: patricia A murray, 1910 Capps St, Durham NC 27707, USA
©2018 patricia A murray. All rights reserved.
For more information, call patricia A murray at 919-809-9682 or write to durhamskywriter@yahoo.com.
Authors/publishers can send books for review, and artists/managers can send CDs for review to: patricia A murray, 1910 Capps St, Durham NC 27707, USA
©2018 patricia A murray. All rights reserved.
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