I’ll admit that during the first grocery trip I made during the pandemic, I scoffed a bit at those who wore masks and two- layered plastic gloves. Sometimes I see people wearing them on the trail where I still walk (gratefully). But I hesitated to get on the mask train.
First I read that it would not protect me from the virus, unless it was the medical grade mask that the healthcare workers so desperately need. Wearing a mask seemed more of a reminder to not touch your face, rather than protect your fate. And then there were the stories about South Korea and mask wearing. Later, Dr. Fauci made a statement (yesterday) on CBS evening news about if there were enough masks for everyone, especially those on the front lines, then he would suggest we should all wear one (my paraphrasing).
What? What did he mean? It seems he was concerned that if he made the recommendation for everyone to wear masks, then those who needed them the most wouldn’t get one. I could conclude that human greed prevented Dr. Fauci from making the suggestion. But did that mean that I should make/buy one?
I spent a bit of time looking on line on how to DIY a mask. And the biggest problem I have is one: my lack of sewing skill, and two: the lack of available materials.
Remember when hand sanitizer and its components flew off the shelves?
Eventually, I settled on Etsy.
Hopefully they will show up soon. But I didn’t order enough for the entire family. I wasn’t thinking about that until today I read that De Blasio recommended New Yorkers to begin wearing masks regularly.
I bet if I went on Etsy now, I wouldn’t be able to buy masks anymore.
And that is part of the problem with how we are dealing with this pandemic. It seems that the information one day contradicts the information the next. There doesn’t seem to be a real plan, or even a long term plan, on how we are going to get through this.
Instead, if you watch the news, or read it, preferably not from social media, you see the grim stats. Today there were one million infected humans. 6.5 million Americans have filed for unemployment. And 537 people from New Jersey have died from the virus making corona virus the most common death in the state today.
25, 590 of us are infected in NJ.
We need a better plan.
Stay well readers.
Meandering Through Midlife 
Oh goodness, I was depressed when I saw that number, and the fact that the U.S. rates keep climbing WAY faster than any other country, it seems. I don’t think the social distancing started soon enough. According to my sister (a nurse for a rural hospital) her theory is that this has been here longer than we realized. She had some “mystery cases” in January/Feb that they didn’t know how to diagnose. But since nobody was testing, we will never know.
I’ve been scoffing at face masks too. But now I’ve read contradictory advice. So I’m debating whether it is a good idea or not. I certainly hope my sister will have personal protective gear in the hospital. Deep breaths to everyone. We can only do our best. And wash our hands, and keep our distance.
LikeLike