TrulyGrace

SUN 01 MAR 2020 to FRI 06 MAR 2020 and COVID-19 a.k.a. Corona Virus

SUN 01 MAR 2020- Slept in today and D and M and I met k and K, WA and SC, MM in Monroeville for hibachi to celebrate D's birthday. M and I shared our  love of shellfish in our selection of hibachi dinner. BF elected to stay away.
SC rode with k,K, and we celebrated D and K's joint birthdays. WA joined us after a student-led event. Food and snackage and games ensued. I went to the Oakland drugstore to get supplies, including eye care and candy.

We watched Marcelito Pomoy and were enchanted by his voice. Time to type, then time for bed.

MON 02 MAR 2020- Slow day. Talked to the ophthalmology tech. Have an appointment for tomorrow.

TUE 03 MAR 2020= Served on a panel for funding during the morning. Took a bus to Eye and Ear Clinic. Was directed to continue to use artificial tears with no preservatives.
Went to the monthly ~as meeting, with plenteous new committee members! We agreed to meet twice a month.

WED 04 MAR 2020- Bible Study for the 2nd Sunday of Lent, Cycle A. Fr Mike Darcy led the discussion, with ~10 secular Oratorians and Br Joel Hammer. The Gospel reading was from Matthew 17: 1-9--his account of the Transfiguration.

THU 05 MAR 2020- Art: Repaired a necklace of large wood beads from Auntie Cindy. Looked at and commented on Whistler being the antipodes of Turner in their later years. KC stopped by to reassess.
Choir practice, with a discussion of interest with MLG right before we left. Started practicing (in addition to Lenten tunes) Holy Week music and Easter liturgical tunes.

FRI 06 MAR 2020- Met up with a friend. Did goal-planning and a "To Do" list. Picked up groceries. Today is/was a fish day, being a Friday in Lent.

COVID-19, AKA the Corona virus (the killer virus given that vernacular name, due to its crown-shaped structure) has people the world over rethinking travel, conferences, social interactions, and this week, how the rituals of the Catholic Mass are celebrated in the Diocese of Pittsburgh:

https://diopitt.org/news/diocese-announces-coronavirus-precautions

https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-diocese-suspends-communion-wine-distribution-as-coronavirus-spreads/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pittsburgh-diocese-takes-precautions-against-coronavirus/ar-BB10Gs4y

Reminders that handwashing---and how to (and how long to) wash one's hands---often include detailed videos, such as this one, by Dr. John Campbell, a UK independent health analyst:

https://youtu.be/1AGW3bbcb3Y

This early in the game it is not known how exactly the virus is transmitted.There are hypotheses that the virus was transferred to humans via animal contact. Some thought the animal may have been a pangolin, an Asian anteater-appearing creature with keratin scales covering its body.

Despite not knowing how human-to-human transmission occurs, people are making a run for face masks, putting hospital and other health care facilities in short supply. Another mode of infection control is handwashing---it brings to mind my mantra for all my students at the end of each laboratory session:

"Wash your hands before you touch your face, touch your hair, eat, or drink."
This simple action would lift and remove chemicals and biologicals from their hands before the budding scientists contiue on their way.

And, of course, I taught them how to wash/scrub their hands properly, as my Dad had taught me, and how to turn off the water afterwards.

Such a simple act, but what a difference it makes!

posted by Grace @ 3/01/2020 09:26:00 PM