Back...to...Business? Moving forward while dealing with COVID
I was tempted to begin this article by stating the obvious. Instead, I will begin by turning back the pages of time to a seemingly ordinary day in March. Though it was only three months ago, it feels like forever ago in my mind.
Sunday, March 8th was a normal day. I did what I almost always do. I cleaned my apartment, called my mother, did laundry, and went grocery shopping. And that’s where the day hit a snafu. I needed rubbing alcohol, but there was none. Not at Wal-Mart. Not at Kroger. Not even at CVS.
I shouldn’t have been surprised—there was already news of the lockdown in northern Italy as well as positive COVID cases in Florida and Washington state. But I was surprised. My mind could just barely make the connection. What did a few cases of respiratory illness in Washington have to do with empty pharmacy shelves in Texas?
But as we all know, that was only the beginning. Within a matter of days, life as we knew it would change completely.
Not even a week later, I would return to the grocery store to find more empty shelves. Refrigerated trays empty of meat. Cleaning aisles barren of bleach and disinfectant wipes. Toiletry aisles cleared of every scrap of toilet paper. (Thank GOD I’d stocked up on Sunday!) Multiple U.S. cities were beginning to announce quarantine and shelter-in-place restrictions. Major events, summits, and conferences were canceled, including professional sporting events. Schools closed, many hoping to re-open by mid-April.
Of course, quarantine experiences varied person-to-person and state-to-state. For me, there was a soft start to quarantine. I left work on March 13th for a scheduled break and spent a week relaxing. Not much was open because the county had declared a public health emergency, limiting the size of community gatherings and encouraging (but not yet requiring) residents to stay home. Then, on March 16th, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued the official stay-at-home order. When all was said and done, I spent about two months (58 days exactly) in true quarantine. And even with businesses in Texas reopening, I’ve still been reluctant to venture out.
Not surprisingly, I’ve picked up some bad habits while at home. I’ve been watching way too much TV, drinking more wine and less water each day. I’ve been spending way too much money on groceries, in part because of the hike in prices, but mostly because I can’t stop eating. I exercise sporadically at best. And since I stay up as late as 3 a.m. some nights, I spend my workdays in a fog-like haze until the first opportunity to take a nap presents itself.
I’ve also become increasingly forgetful. I keep forgetting to take my reusable canvas bags to the grocery store. I forget or simply fail to check the mail. And, like many of us, I’m constantly misremembering or second-guessing which day of the week it is.
Lately, I find myself falling into the “after COVID” state of mind. I’ve both heard friends say and seen posts on my newsfeeds about things people wish or want or hope to accomplish “after COVID.” And I’m guilty of this too. Once the fitness center reopens, I’ll start exercising more regularly, I tell myself. After COVID, I can actually start exploring new career options.
What I’m beginning to realize is that this imaginary marker may not exist. With department stores and retailers selling face masks in cute and convenient packs of three and five, with businesses and even major theme parks reopening, with people gathering to protest or to celebrate summer holidays, it’s very possible that there is no such thing as “after corona.” It’s very possible that this is the new normal, at least for the foreseeable future.
Though products are returning to grocery store shelves and most businesses have reopened, the number of COVID cases have continued to rise in some states. So how should we proceed? How do we safely un-pause our lives and regain some sense of normality while keeping ourselves and our families safe? While I certainly can’t claim to have all the answers, here are the steps I’m taking during these tumultuous times.
Know the facts
Do you have to wear a face mask? Should you be wearing gloves? Some cities are requiring residents to wear face masks in public settings. Others are strongly suggesting that residents wear masks but aren’t requiring it. But even if you aren’t required to wear a face mask, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be.
Since the shelter-in-place order was lifted in Dallas County, I’ve purchased a total of four custom face masks, including these (mud navy on top; mud black on bottom) by DIOP.
Personally, I will continue to follow the guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in addition to the regulations enacted by my county or city. Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, according to the CDC. Yes, the mask can be uncomfortable, especially for those of us who wear glasses. But it’s necessary. Plus, minimizing the amount of time in public spaces will also minimize the amount of time you have to spend wearing a mask. 🤗 You can also buy customized face masks to brighten up and accessorize your outfit.
I don’t wear gloves. But I do carry a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer everywhere I go. Wearing gloves when using a shopping cart or using an ATM will not necessarily protect you from getting COVID-19 and may still lead to the spread of germs, according to the CDC. You should wear gloves while you are cleaning and disinfecting your home, when you are caring for someone who is sick, or if your work requires it. And always wash your hands after removing your gloves.
And finally, the trickiest one: social distancing. Many stores have tape or signs or markers of some sort to help you measure the six feet that should be kept between you and others. So far, I’ve gone to Denny’s and Ninja Ramen in Arlington. Denny’s did an excellent job of maintaining the required distance between its customers and most customers came in with a mask and removed them once they were seated. Ninja Ramen was pretty much the opposite.
Personally, my only recommendations are to do your best to maintain a social distance of six feet, resist the urge to Deebo those who get too close, and go home if you enter an establishment where you feel uncomfortable.
If you’re experiencing symptoms or have been exposed to the virus, get tested
Admittedly, getting tested can be tricky. You can reach out to your primary care physician if you are experiencing symptoms to schedule an appointment or inquire about testing options. Walgreens and CVS are also offering coronavirus testing, but customers must qualify by completing a COVID screening or assessment. After a co-worker of mine came into contact with someone who had the coronavirus, I decided to get tested.
When I took the CVS assessment, I did not qualify to receive a COVID-19 test. However, I did qualify using the Walgreens screening questionnaire. Unfortunately, due to the demand for testing, they didn’t have any appointments open for two weeks. Thankfully, I was able to take advantage of free testing provided by the city, but I did have to wait in line for two hours.
Lastly, be aware that a negative test result isn’t a free pass. The coronavirus is a new and novel disease, and so are the test used to detect it. Public-health officials advise getting tested about four days after exposure because getting tested too soon could produce a false negative, according to the Atlantic.
There is also no FDA-approved COVID-19 for asymptomatic carriers. Therefore, the FDA recommends that you weigh your negative test results within the context of your recent exposures, medical history, and the clinical signs and symptoms of COVID-19. And when in doubt, don’t go out.
Set goals and hold yourself accountable
I definitely let myself relax during quarantine. Even though I’ve been working from home, my schedule has naturally been less demanding. I created my own daily schedule that incorporates my personal goals to help me refocus.
I use a habit tracker to hold myself accountable and measure my progress. I’ve limited my TV time and included blocks of time for certain activities, like writing or working out. My problem area right now is getting to sleep on time. Even though I have an established bedtime and turn off all my devices at that time, sleep is a fickle mistress. The problem is, I need an adequate amount of sleep in order to be productive during the day.
Expecting perfection is counterproductive, but it’s imperative that we shake off the rust of quarantine and make an effort to move forward as best we can.
VOTE
Depending on where you live, you may be praising or criticizing your governor and other local leaders regarding their response to the coronavirus. And, of course, hundreds of op-eds have been written about the federal government’s response to COVID-19.
Thankfully, it’s an election year and not just for the office of president. If you don’t like how your representatives have dealt with the coronavirus pandemic, now is the time to figure out who is up for re-election. Visit vote.org and make sure you are registered to vote in your state. Then you can hop over to vote411.org to preview, plan, and even print your choices for the upcoming elections.
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Even if businesses are reopening in your state and even if you see people out and about without face coverings, this pandemic is far from over. While we are all eager to return to some sense of normal, we must also do our part to keep each other safe.
