Yeah, I know – even as I type this I’m tired of coronavirus as well.
At the same time I realize I’m witnessing history in the making so I feel like I ought to document it. And that history is happening really damn fast. Most of the time coverage of a news story consists of the original story followed by hours of tail-chasing analysis but Covid-19 gives us something new several times a day.
My 9 year old said, “It’s like we’re living through history, but not good history.”
And all I could think was, “Yeah. Most of the time when you realize you’re living through history, it isn’t because it’s a good part.”
— Emily Thiede (@ethiedee) March 12, 2020
So I feel like I ought to document some of this. As I finish this post on the evening of St. Patrick’s Day it’s remarkable the dramatic changes in just a week, not just in the news but in my own life and the attitudes of people and organizations around me. I’m not a super social person, so most of my observations have to do with work and fencing:
3/8: Participated in 7 person fencing competition with generous slatherings of hand sanitizer. U.S. cases: 504*
3/9: Still going to the office, though washing my hands and sanitizing. Psychologist appointment, at which she advises me of her efforts to keep her office disinfected and contingency plans if she or I get sick. Start taking work laptop home at night, just in case. U.S. cases: 663
3/10: Went to the office. Planned to take a fencing lesson after work but my coach canceled (nothing to do with coronavirus). U.S. cases: 949
3/11: Went to the office. Considered and decided against going to fencing practice as Wednesday is always the busiest foil night (definitely something to do with coronavirus, because WHO finally calls covid-19 a pandemic**). Around half my Facebook friends are starting to this as seriously as I am so I feel less like I’m crying wolf. U.S. cases: 1,248
3/12: Still going to the office, with increasing doubts. Dentist called asking for my recent travel and health history for an appointment next Tuesday. I checked out so my appointment is still on. Governor calls a state emergency. Among other actions he closes the ports, forbids gatherings of over 250 people, and mandates telework for MD state employees. U.S. cases: 1,625
3/13: Work from home to help test network capacity but leadership doesn’t make telework mandatory. Supporting the closure of county schools my fencing club stops classes, but not free fencing. U.S. cases: 2,157
3/14: Today’s competition postponed until May. Picked up a sewing machine from the repair shop, only because sewing machine repair is such a niche business that I’ve usually been the only person in the shop other than the owner. U.S. cases: 2,830
3/15: Dentist cancels my appointment and will call me when they open up again. Governor closes casinos and racetracks. U.S. cases: 3,553
3/16: I telework – it’s mandatory starting tomorrow but highly recommended to start today if possible. Governor closes restaurants, bars, movie theaters, and gyms. U.S. cases (as of 6 pm): 4,287
3/17: First official day of mandatory telework. My fencing club formally closes, though in reality no went to open fencing over the weekend. U.S. cases as of 7:30 pm: 6,330.
*All numbers taken from Worldometer except 3/16-17 because it has archival data. I pulled today’s numbers from Johns Hopkins’ Coronavirus tracker , which is damn near up to the second but doesn’t keep a history (that I can find).
**I’m not commenting on the U.S. federal government’s (mis)handling of the crisis because it’s been adequately covered elsewhere.
Timelines like this are valuable records.
Still going in to work; fortunately the place is huge so we had the physical distance thing happening already. Virtually every library we serve is closed to the public but some are still accepting book shipments so the cataloguing continues. I can do part of my work from home (and will be doing so on Friday getting data ready for a big project) but that depends on what I can get prepped in advance.
At least I have enough yarn that I’m in no danger of boredom. Plus planning to watch my DVD of “Panic in the Streets” tonight; it’s an excellent film noir plus the in-movie explanation of how humans spread epidemics is very clear and accurate. Title is appropriate though misleading as it’s about avoiding having panic in the streets happen. Won an Oscar for best writing, directed by Elia Kazan, stars Richard Widmark, Paul Douglas, Barbara Bel Geddes, Zero Mostel, and a very young Jack Palance.
I’m glad to hear you’re still working, even gladder to know that you can do at least some of it from home. I have no doubt you have a ton of knitting projects backed up that you can do. Indeed, most of my friends are very good at entertaining themselves, and have inquisitive enough minds that they will find plenty to do!
The public libraries here closed Monday through the 27th, though frankly news changes so quickly I will not be surprised if it’s longer. I’ve got to say I love online checkout of ebooks right now. Not like I don’t have a never-ending to-read pile!
And just as I read your comment today I found this article about the value of documenting these strange times: https://news.virginia.edu/content/write-it-down-historian-suggests-keeping-record-life-during-pandemic?fbclid=IwAR1Pg6DxPQtHB23iGGigAH73tyHQ2OH0ecAvIeHo0yihSXU4QeFsWC7KxyQ This blog is largely about writing and weird stuff, and coronavirus has made my world pretty goddamn weird. Guess I’ll keep writing about it as the impulse strikes.