By Al Stilley
Editor
We are all in this fight against Coronavirus-19. As we have discovered, the landscape changes virtually every hour on the hour. What started as school closings on Friday, March 13, for a limited time led to the statewide closing of all public schools. Indiana colleges and universities are closed.
Learning for all school ages continues at home through online learning. Many fast-food locations, restaurants and bars were trying to stay open but a state ban Monday on dine-in patrons leaves them with drive-thru, delivery or pick-up service for customers. Grocery stores, besieged by hoarders, struggled to keep shelves stocked with essential hygiene products and paper products and have placed limits on those products that can be purchased.
Many stores have trimmed hours to allow more time for restocking shelves and also set aside the first hour for shoppers 60 years or older. Office employees are encouraged to work from home. Meanwhile, gatherings of no more than 50 persons were recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hospitals have limited access and are canceling or postponing patients who have elective or surgery.
To level the dynamic spread of COVID-19, health authorities urge everyone to:
*Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
*Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
*Avoid close contact with people are sick; also staying six-feet from other individuals and not shaking hands. *Stay home when you are sick.
*Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
*Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home.
COVID-19 and other coronaviruses are spread by respiratory droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing; close personal contact, like shaking hands (use and elbow bump); and touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands. Health authorities say human coronaviruses include fever, cough, fatigue and/or shortness of breath and recovery after about two weeks.
Health authorities caution that individuals, 60 years and older, who have lung disease, diabetes or heart disease are at a higher risk for COVID-19 and should stay at home. What do we do now? We hunker down. The CDC has extended its “social distancing” policy for eight weeks until May 10. Family resources will be stretched. Set aside a specific time for school-age children and older students to learn at home and keep up with their studies.
A few ways to utilize leisure time for all at home:
*Read books or novels, most are available online.
*Go biking or walking in the neighborhood. *Learn to draw, sketch or paint, solve jigsaw puzzles or play board games.
*Learn how to cook. *If there is a musical instrument in the home, learn how to play or improve musical skills.
*Learn how to dance.
*Work on exterior and/or interior home improvements.
*Develop a light exercise routine that can be done daily, many age-proper exercise programs are free online.
*Work on yard and garden improvements.
*By all means, parents should limit video-game time for their kids.
The “war against COVID-19” is an ongoing situation and is evolving rapidly. The Indiana State Department of Health has a new toll-free number for general questions about COVID-19, call 877-8260011. Info can be found online at: CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/index. html. I
ndiana State Department of Health at https://www.in.gov/ isdh/28470.htm. Marion County Public Health Department at http:// marionhealth.org/homeslider/ coronavirus-faqs/ Indiana Department of Education at https://www.doe. in.gov/safety/health/covid-19resources-indiana-schools.
Editor
We are all in this fight against Coronavirus-19. As we have discovered, the landscape changes virtually every hour on the hour. What started as school closings on Friday, March 13, for a limited time led to the statewide closing of all public schools. Indiana colleges and universities are closed.
Learning for all school ages continues at home through online learning. Many fast-food locations, restaurants and bars were trying to stay open but a state ban Monday on dine-in patrons leaves them with drive-thru, delivery or pick-up service for customers. Grocery stores, besieged by hoarders, struggled to keep shelves stocked with essential hygiene products and paper products and have placed limits on those products that can be purchased.
Many stores have trimmed hours to allow more time for restocking shelves and also set aside the first hour for shoppers 60 years or older. Office employees are encouraged to work from home. Meanwhile, gatherings of no more than 50 persons were recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hospitals have limited access and are canceling or postponing patients who have elective or surgery.
To level the dynamic spread of COVID-19, health authorities urge everyone to:
*Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
*Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
*Avoid close contact with people are sick; also staying six-feet from other individuals and not shaking hands. *Stay home when you are sick.
*Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
*Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home.
COVID-19 and other coronaviruses are spread by respiratory droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing; close personal contact, like shaking hands (use and elbow bump); and touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands. Health authorities say human coronaviruses include fever, cough, fatigue and/or shortness of breath and recovery after about two weeks.
Health authorities caution that individuals, 60 years and older, who have lung disease, diabetes or heart disease are at a higher risk for COVID-19 and should stay at home. What do we do now? We hunker down. The CDC has extended its “social distancing” policy for eight weeks until May 10. Family resources will be stretched. Set aside a specific time for school-age children and older students to learn at home and keep up with their studies.
A few ways to utilize leisure time for all at home:
*Read books or novels, most are available online.
*Go biking or walking in the neighborhood. *Learn to draw, sketch or paint, solve jigsaw puzzles or play board games.
*Learn how to cook. *If there is a musical instrument in the home, learn how to play or improve musical skills.
*Learn how to dance.
*Work on exterior and/or interior home improvements.
*Develop a light exercise routine that can be done daily, many age-proper exercise programs are free online.
*Work on yard and garden improvements.
*By all means, parents should limit video-game time for their kids.
The “war against COVID-19” is an ongoing situation and is evolving rapidly. The Indiana State Department of Health has a new toll-free number for general questions about COVID-19, call 877-8260011. Info can be found online at: CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/index. html. I
ndiana State Department of Health at https://www.in.gov/ isdh/28470.htm. Marion County Public Health Department at http:// marionhealth.org/homeslider/ coronavirus-faqs/ Indiana Department of Education at https://www.doe. in.gov/safety/health/covid-19resources-indiana-schools.
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