Huh. So our governor is a billionaire, from basically Chicago’s equivalent of the Kennedy family. He is actually putting up a few of his own personal millions to start a fund to help IL nonprofits.
I know that for him this is probably the equivalent of dropping $5 on a fancy coffee and he won’t feel a thing, but I admit it is a nice gesture.
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Those both sound good. You probably are ahead of me on this one, but of course you can’t go be with them, because they’ve been exposed. Lonely for all involved. Maybe semi-frequent phone calls to keep them from feeling too alone?
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Oh I can’t go anywhere at all ever. they’ve not just been exposed, they also have it, as does their 4 year old. But their SO is in the ER.
My friend who is a child learning expert/former preschool teacher has been doing virtual storytime for all the young kiddos in our friend circle via google hangout and it is very very cute.
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Ik very sorry.
I’d ask if they or the partner in ER have anyone they’ve been watching out for that you could take responsibility for.
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My boss has decided that after two weeks of working at home, we are going to return to the office on Monday. Just our team, which is 3 people, because we have a new person starting, and she wants to spend the next 3 weeks getting to know each other as a team, I guess. I am so frustrated by this. My state has not given a “stay at home” order yet, but I know it’s coming. She said even if that happens, she will be going into the office anyway. We are considered “essential” and so are not required to stay home. I am terrified of this virus, and have been quarantining for the past 3 weeks already, and have no desire to begin working around people when we haven’t nearly hit peak infection in my state. It seems so weird to me that after working from home the past two weeks, we would return to the office and take more risks, when things haven’t gotten any better?? She said no one is going to get in trouble for not wanting to come in, but it is the ideal situation that we are all there. So basically, there isn’t an option. I don’t know what to do! I am terrified of this virus, and do not trust others to take the precautions I have been taking. But I am new to this job, and don’t want to start things off in a negative way only 2 months in.
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Are you in a higher risk category and could get a medical note?
No, I am not higher risk. My roommate is, but is not too worried about me infecting her. I am mostly just terrified and extremely anxious of getting sick. I have no reason to fear being sick more than any other normal person, I just think I am taking this whole social distancing much more seriously than other members of my work team, from what I’ve been hearing.
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Tell your boss you live with a high-risk person and you can’t risk coming in. Your boss won’t interview your roommate to make sure that’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth (and if she does you have bigger problems with your job).
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I know the American health system is very different from the Aussie one, but I believe that doctors here are pretty free and easy with “must work from home for medical reasons!!” letters, because they recognise the public health benefits of as many people as possible staying home.
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I’m not seeing this. I’m seeing that she prefers that you come in, but understands if you don’t.
Do what feels right to you, these are extreme times. Take her at her word that you won’t get in trouble for staying home, and then do your damned best to show that you can do a good job. You’ve got this! 
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I’m about to find out if we could get enough groceries to have a 2 week quarantine.
ETA: only 2 UHT milk, and Duckling goes through 1/2 every day. Hmmmm well we’re having more water…
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Does your IGA enforce the same limits?
I’ve been looking at the limits enforced by the big two and I don’t think we could get by only shopping once a week, with our standard eating habits (lots of milk, lots of pesto and passata).
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I don’t know about the big one or the small one. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow when Ponder visits as part of the trip to the butcher.
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Oh goodness BoJo just tested positive. Well, definitely an encouragement to take this seriously.
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I agree - yeah, sure, you all being butt in seat is an ideal situation, but, OMG, this is SO far from an ideal situation in any way.
It sounds like your boss is giving you an out - I would take her at her word. If she later is like “no, I meant, get your butt here,” if it were me i would probably talk with her about saying what she means… but then that’s me.
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CNN says there’s going to be a huge spike in cases in Chicago next week.
We’re trying to go at least 1 more week before stepping foot in a grocery store, but if it’s going to be that bad, is it better to go now, even if we don’t strictly NEED anything (other than, Boyfriend’s out of his preferred booze mixer*)?
Probably not, because all those people who are going to get sick next week likely are already sick and contagious. So I guess it doesn’t really matter.
*literal quote overheard in my house: “If you die of coronavirus because you just HAD to have some goddamned Coke, I am going to be really, really angry at you!”
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And now Matt Hancock (Health Secretary for non UK types). Everyone is now sharing the footage of BoJo saying he was still shaking hands (WTF)
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For US friends, this very useful chart from one of our local academic units shows likely trends over the coming months by state. Total # of hospital beds, ICU beds and ventilator capacity as mapped against caseloads over time. It is scary for some places. I am grateful to be in a state that started taking measures early – we at least have no shortage of hospital beds, though ICU and ventilator capacity will be exceeded at the peak:
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Lots of photos and personal tragedy stories from the heart of the Italy outbreak:
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