Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

Let me start by saying I feel no fear about corona virus. No anxiety. I do feel the necessity for prudence and precautions, though, to prevent coronavirus. I’m exercising both, even while I hang on, because this is already a pretty bumpy ride.

Looking around social media I see a couple of camps. One is the “media hysteria” group, where scary stories are meant to mislead because they serve as clickbait. Still, buried within are nuggets of real news, real information. You just have to dig past the fear-mongering.

Don’t be frightened–knowledge is power, so get as much as you can from respected sources. Double-check anything that feels like hysteria. Don’t let anxiety take hold.

I also see those who discredit the news about coronavirus: “it’s just like the flu, why is everyone going crazy?”  Well, it’s NOT like the flu for many reasons, most important that its mortality rate is significantly higher, according to respected infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, MD.

You can only prevent coronavirus if you know the facts. And ignore those who feel they have to arrogantly discredit everything.

There’s no need to feel anxious. Not if you take common-sense precautions. Here’s what I’m doing –maybe it’ll give you ideas, too.

Special note: My older friends & those with underlying conditions really do need to take these precautions. It could be a matter of life or death for them.

1. I’m steering clear of close gatherings and crowds. Crowds aren’t my favorite thing, anyway, but I am not going to the movies or plays or even museums right now. Why should I, when I can read or stream entertainment? Play with my dogs? Talk to friends? Write?

I weigh the risk factors of every gathering I’m invited to. Closed rooms with no air circulation and bunches of people? No. That’s ok—I have lots to do at home. No gathering is so important that I absolutely have to go.

2. I’m eating out less. This weekend we’re having our adopted nephews over for a meal, while two weeks ago we all went out. No one will suffer–I’m a good cook –making my famous and delicious lasagna. As a Sicilian-American, I know my way around the kitchen. Oh and pay attention to good nutrition!

3. Not going to the gym. The gym is a hotbed of germs. Fifteen years ago I got RINGWORM on my leg from gym equipment. So no gym right now. But that’s ok–we’ve been for great walks in this beautiful weather. Rain is due all next week and that will be a bummer. But no gym.

4. I do have a dental appointment next week but overall I’m staying out of hospitals and doctors’ offices at present. God willing! Routine appointments can wait.

5. Did you know the average shopping cart has 361 times more bacteria than bathroom door knobs? Research showed 73,000 colony-forming units of bacteria per square inch. Filthy. I routinely use latex gloves for food prep and around the house and have them on hand. So I wear them when I push a cart. I don’t think it’s overkill right now–it’s prudent. Those cart wipes were installed for a reason. I strip the gloves off and discard before I drive home, use hand sanitizer in the car–and wash my hands really well at home. My car has always had a bottle hand sanitizer and so has my handbag. Nothing new for me.

6. I flush public toilets with my foot or a paper towel. That’s not new, either.

7.  I wash my hands so much I could perform surgery at any given time. Skin gets dry, though. So at night I use an emollient hand cream and glove up so it really sinks in.

Prevent coronavirus by being prudent and taking common-sense precautions. This, too shall pass.

And it’s always good to remember that there is no worst-case-scenario because there is life after this life. And yes, that IS something I think about and the reason I am not afraid of this virus. You don’t have to be afraid either.