Impact of the Coronavirus and Self-Isolation

[Lanthanotus]

A day of rain after a week of sunshine. I was grounded from work for the week so I used the time to work and build stuff in my garden. Visitd several hardware stores and for sure the supermarket two times this week, also was at my work place to pick some "homework" up, and we took a stroll through the woods as a family. Now, several regions in Germany announced a curfew and it may be, that we are under nationwide curfew in a few days, maybe monday. Seems a lot of people used their off-work time to enjoy the weather in parks and cafés and so rendered the meaning of the measures obsolete to some degree. From monday on I have to work for a week, then, maybe another three weeks off, I`ll see. All the while I do some work around the house (there`s still plenty to do) and despite a week off work I found no chance to try out my newly ordered airbrush, cause each time I got a free minute my son shouts for attention as he`s bored, after all he did not see another child for a week, especially not any of his friends, and isn`t even allowed to see his grandparents. Well, well, we`ll see where that goes, but I guess as long as we do not feel the urgent need for noodles or toilet paper, (as both is permanently sold out, even if you want just a single package of each) we should be fine.

[Lanthanotus]

Oh, just an add on.... all my Borneo Earless monitors are still with a friend of mine who cared for them while I was in Australia. Couldn`t pick them up yet as of the Corona virus and unfortunately, one of them got a fungus infection.... bugger. Hope I can pick them up soon to take care o`them, but it seems I need to practice in patience.

[SidB]

I placed an eBay order with a vendor in South Korea Thursday night. Got a notification late yesterday that nothing was being allowed out of the country and that I was getting a refund. Things keep tightening up.

[Shonisaurus]

In Spain things are going to get worse according to our president has commented that the worst is yet to come and we are already the fourth nation with the most deaths in the world. I am confined to my home and the infections do not stop. Hospitals in Madrid are saturated and the same is happening in the rest of Spain, everything that is happening both in Spain and globally seems apocalyptic.

[DinoToyForum]

In Spain things are going to get worse according to our president has commented that the worst is yet to come and we are already the fourth nation with the most deaths in the world. I am confined to my home and the infections do not stop. Hospitals in Madrid are saturated and the same is happening in the rest of Spain, everything that is happening both in Spain and globally seems apocalyptic.

Things might have to get worse before they get better, such is the nature of pandemics, but hopefully our continued efforts to stay home and isolate will mean we're nearing the peak and not still in the foothills.

Given the scale of the crisis, it is hardly important to think about buying dinosaur toys, but we have to try to keep some degree of normality in our lives. I won two Ebay lots of dinosaurs yesterday but I'm not expecting them to be dispatched any time soon - a trip to the post office rightly isn't high priority at the moment, and I'd rather the sellers stay home. If they do arrive I'm not worried about the virus. I usually give second hand toys a good clean anyway, because they can often be grubby, and who knows where they may have been.

[TaranUlas]

Yeah, things are very rough for myself as well. I was right in middle of job hunting when everything got shut down so I don't have a job to get back to when this is over and nobody worthwhile is hiring during this. My income has frozen and I'm with my family for the whole of this crisis to save any and all money I can. My parents are in the 60-69 age range and my father is on Immuno-suppressants so if they get sick, the odds are not against them dying. Also they're both doctors with a selflessness streak that I would normally admire, but right now it's mostly making me stressed out. Anxiety is making me very stressed out during this and obviously my zoo volunteer job is canceled for the next two months at best. Also my computer broke on the first day of lockdown so I've ordered a new one. Seeing that the order started in China is making me attempt to figure out how many wipes I can use on a computer and cords.

Medically, we all should be very nervous about this illness. The ERs in the US were already having a rough time prior to Coronavirus. Now? I'm getting talk from my mom about how the hospital she works at is debating sending the pediatric oncology unit she works in to help relieve the ER doctors and nurses. They are using every bed, current policy is that only children get visitor (no, I am not forgetting an S. Kids get a visitor and that is the visitor who brings them in. That visitor also has to stay with them the entire time or they will not be allowed back in with their kid. It is harsh and it is also completely neccessary), all medical labs have been shut down to provide equipment for hospitals during this crisis, and there is barely, just barely any room left for the normal patients in ERs. In addition, anyone saying that this is mild or that we can stop social distancing after this week is completely and utterly full of crap. Coronavirus is extremely terrible to have (we are needing ventilators for a reason and for everyone regardless of age) and we will be lucky to not have to socially isolate by the end of May in the US (and no, heat does nothing to stop this. Australia has Coronavirus just as much as we do.) I have not even mentioned the economic disaster this will be and to be quite honest, getting into that will just make myself depressed so I'm not going to.

So yeah, as you might be able to guess from my post here, I am not enthusiastic about this whole thing and this is one of the few times I am completely terrified for my family's safety (and my... boyfriend/girlfriend's safety. They've thankfully been taking this seriously and to be honest, they are one of the few reasons I'm staying sane in this whole mess.) About the only bright side in this whole mess is that my terrible sleep schedule no longer matters. After all, it doesn't matter if I wake up at 9, 11, or 4 in the morning or afternoon when there is nothing to wake up for beyond being alive (which is nice, but I can do that at any time in the day, which is what I'm trying to get at.)

TLDR: Having so much fun during this mess. /s

[ceratopsian]

My husband's yoga teacher organised a joint video meeting on the phone this morning (in place of their normal church hall sessions) and I joined in.  Practising meditation and breathing.  It seemed to help - anything to bring down my anxiety levels is worth a go.  Plus it gives a bit of structure to the day.  So I shall try to work this into the start of my days and as she suggested, do some mat exercises in the evening.

[PhilSauria]

Well I'm now (almost) out of a job, having been stood down at the end of last week - still holding on by my fingertips but only one step away from not actually having one. I have been at home all this week, as is my wife, also out of work now, being a group fitness instructor she at least will be back in business once the gyms open again, one would like to think, eventually. I might be able to join in some of the workouts that she'll be doing for herself at home to at least keep from going completely to seed, though we have had regular walks every second day.
So, apart from a layby at Mini Zoo that I have one more payment left on there has been and will not be for the weeks and (months?) ahead any Dinosaur buys. None of the new Safaris, CollectAs and Papos that I want are available at Mini Zoo yet anyhow, supply chains affected by this pandemic.
Guess I'll be making a few more bases for Dinos and may even try my hand at sculpting one again but the ease with which some other members seem to come up with very impressive results in that area does make me wonder why I bother with my efforts.
I am impressed with and uplifted by the sense of community that bloggers, Forum contributers and YouTubers are creating with their contributions - something that can be participated in and experienced from our own homes, which I'm thinking we'll all be seeing a lot of for the foreseeable unfortunately. Strange days indeed as John Lennon sang!

[DinoToyForum]

In Spain things are going to get worse according to our president has commented that the worst is yet to come and we are already the fourth nation with the most deaths in the world. I am confined to my home and the infections do not stop. Hospitals in Madrid are saturated and the same is happening in the rest of Spain, everything that is happening both in Spain and globally seems apocalyptic.

Things might have to get worse before they get better, such is the nature of pandemics, but hopefully our continued efforts to stay home and isolate will mean we're nearing the peak and not still in the foothills.

Given the scale of the crisis, it is hardly important to think about buying dinosaur toys, but we have to try to keep some degree of normality in our lives. I won two Ebay lots of dinosaurs yesterday but I'm not expecting them to be dispatched any time soon - a trip to the post office rightly isn't high priority at the moment, and I'd rather the sellers stay home. If they do arrive I'm not worried about the virus. I usually give second hand toys a good clean anyway, because they can often be grubby, and who knows where they may have been.

Surprisingly, both Ebay packages arrived within a couple of days. Most of my deliveries sit unopened for several weeks anyway, until I have time to film the unboxings for the Dinotoyblog Youtube channel. I've been so busy with work for the last few months that I haven't created any videos for a good while, but that's something I can get into if work slows down and I find myself at home for prolonged periods of time.

I hope everyone is doing okay, anyone self-isolating or tested positive? I've had a lump in my throat for a couple of days, which is a little worrying, but no coughing or fever so I guess it is unrelated - it could well be a consequence of stress because I had one of those weeks.

[suspsy]

My wife and I have been dealing with boredom and exhaustion in our efforts to care for an infant and keep a toddler entertained and content all day without parks, toy stores, grocery stores, museums, or relatives to visit. Even after the latter goes to bed in the evening, we still have to deal with the former and his increasing inability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Not to mention all the nighttime feedings.

[DinoToyForum]

My wife and I have been dealing with boredom and exhaustion in our efforts to care for an infant and keep a toddler entertained and content all day without parks, toy stores, grocery stores, museums, or relatives to visit. Even after the latter goes to bed in the evening, we still have to deal with the former and his increasing inability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Not to mention all the nighttime feedings.

Difficult, but the right thing to do. Is Canada on full lock-down?

[suspsy]

My wife and I have been dealing with boredom and exhaustion in our efforts to care for an infant and keep a toddler entertained and content all day without parks, toy stores, grocery stores, museums, or relatives to visit. Even after the latter goes to bed in the evening, we still have to deal with the former and his increasing inability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Not to mention all the nighttime feedings.

Difficult, but the right thing to do. Is Canada on full lock-down?

Not completely, but we appear to be steadily approaching that, and long damn past time, if you ask me. We've been going out for brief walks around the neighborhood, and went for a drive into downtown Ottawa last week, and we've been seeing all number of covidiots walking along in large groups, or playing football on fields, or allowing their children to ride around together on their bikes and play as though it was just another normal weekend. It maddens us to no end how clueless and selfish so many people are being.

Anyway, the police are now fining such violators, so the next time I see a football game going on, I'm reporting them immediately.

[UK]

My son has it and is in isolation. He's on day 8 or so and whilst he's not in a great condition, he's avoiding being admitted. So worrying and due to quarantine I can't visit.

My daughter is working in the front line wards as an occupational therapist and my son in law is a paramedic. I work in a hospital too and it's starting to feel very real now. Just doing a food shop now feels very surreal and dangerous.

Take care everyone.

[DinoToyForum]

My son has it and is in isolation. He's on day 8 or so and whilst he's not in a great condition, he's avoiding being admitted. So worrying and due to quarantine I can't visit.

My daughter is working in the front line wards as an occupational therapist and my son in law is a paramedic. I work in a hospital too and it's starting to feel very real now. Just doing a food shop now feels very surreal and dangerous.

Take care everyone.

I wish your son a speedy recovery and thank you and your family for being on the front line.

[Lanthanotus]

It may seem somewhat strange or even arrogant that I personally are not worried about the current situation, but I feel for all the people that are directly affected by the affliction itself or the circumstances it causes. While there`s noone amongst my friends or family who`s got the disease as of yet, several are seriously affected by the circumstances in economic or social/emational ways.
             Currently my main thought about this whole "thing" is, how we, as a global community come out of this challenge, learn from it and hopefully develop our economic and social community further to be prepared for the probably even bigger challenges that await us in the middle and long term future (This is not ment to start a political discussion).

[Bokisaurus]

My son has it and is in isolation. He's on day 8 or so and whilst he's not in a great condition, he's avoiding being admitted. So worrying and due to quarantine I can't visit.

My daughter is working in the front line wards as an occupational therapist and my son in law is a paramedic. I work in a hospital too and it's starting to feel very real now. Just doing a food shop now feels very surreal and dangerous.

Take care everyone.

Sorry to hear that, I hope he recovers quickly! You stay healthy and safe my friend.

This is truly a global problem with far reaching effect!
I have families in countries that are in total lock down. My grandfather who is very sick unfortunately can't have family members visit him due to complete lockdown!

Stay safe everyone!

[Crackington]

Sorry to hear this too UK, it must be a very worrying time for you all.  I wish him all the best too and hope you all stay safe.

We're effectively self-isolating and not going out as my wife and eldest daughter are both vulnerable. We seem to have avoided it so far, though we did all have a nasty bug in early February and there's some research from Oxford suggesting that it's spread in the UK earlier than thought?

Don't want to take any chances anyhow and making sure of reducing our ability to either catch or spread it.

Take care everyone..

[ceratopsian]

Best wishes to you and your family @UK. 

You are not alone in feeling a trip to the supermarket feels dangerous.

[Shonisaurus]

My son has it and is in isolation. He's on day 8 or so and whilst he's not in a great condition, he's avoiding being admitted. So worrying and due to quarantine I can't visit.

My daughter is working in the front line wards as an occupational therapist and my son in law is a paramedic. I work in a hospital too and it's starting to feel very real now. Just doing a food shop now feels very surreal and dangerous.

Take care everyone.

@UK My best wishes for your son I hope he recovers from the coronavirus soon. You already know where you have a friend from Spain.

Take care of yourself and your entire family until this tribulation of pandemic is over!

[Jose S.M.]

@UK i wish you and your family the best in this difficult times, and specially a quick recovery yo your son.