Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston: how much, home, high school)

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

Looks like medical community in nursing home residents may be first in line, which makes sense.

It should really be all nursing home staff and contractors rather than just the medical people. The person washing the floors or cleaning the toilets needs to be vaccinated.

[NewfieMama]

Originally Posted by bostongymjunkie

You're not alone. This is an interesting article I read recently that you may find useful.


https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article...ial.link.email

That is interesting, thanks for sharing. This all makes sense. I am a person who likes process and routine, so the required flexibility of every facet of my life changing has definitely been a challenge. I am still very routine-oriented, so things like my morning routine helps me feel more centered. I understand why people say to prioritize self-care, but it's honestly very, very difficult to find the time to do that without something else giving, which is stressful in itself. It's all a balancing act for all of us...we are all just balancing different things.

[NewfieMama]

Thanks for all of you who shared about how you're feeling...especially now as we head into month 9 of this and I think overall it's a different feeling now than in the spring. I find it interesting to read about everybody's experiences and how we are all facing unique challenges.

I could not agree more that I am ready to be on the other side of this. I try to think about where we'll be in a year. In five years. What parts we'll remember the most in 10 years. Even though we all don't agree, I have enjoyed reading this thread and hearing others' insights since March.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

It should really be all nursing home staff and contractors rather than just the medical people. The person washing the floors or cleaning the toilets needs to be vaccinated.

That's true, anyone on campus can be part of the chain of transmission.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

It should really be all nursing home staff and contractors rather than just the medical people. The person washing the floors or cleaning the toilets needs to be vaccinated.

I agree with that logic, and sort of assumed nursing home residents might also include the staff? But then again we all know what happens when you assume.

[OutdoorLover]

I am divorced, and my ex-wife and son live all the way down in TN. Other family is in NJ and DE. It was a bad marriage and I never really re-established my social life here. As a result I feel fairly isolated. Being outdoors in nature is therapeutic for me, and I appreciate the suggestion of listening to music.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by NewfieMama

. What parts we'll remember the most in 10 years.

I've been working on our 3-season enclosed porch this fall, and am about to insulate it, and put up interior walls. I joked with the wife about putting a time-capsule in the wall for someone else to open up down the road. I stated we should make it Covid themed and put some items from our time in 2020 in there.

Imagine tearing down a wall in your house and finding a box of items from the Spanish Flu time period? I don't know if this will ever rival that, but as a history buff I would find it interesting.

[CaseyB]

The time has come to leave the little island and travel home for Christmas. I'll be braving the airports today...

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

I agree with that logic, and sort of assumed nursing home residents might also include the staff? But then again we all know what happens when you assume.

I sure hope so. My mother is in a memory care building that is part of a CCRC. They've managed to keep COVID-19 out of the memory care building. Really good infection control process but it's also some luck. I sure hope they have a process where by February/March, nobody is allowed in the building without a vaccination certificate.


They had a harder time controlling it in their skilled nursing and rehab. It's a section of "the big building" so much harder to lock it down; plus a lot more direct contact with the residents since they have far less mobility.

[lrfox]

Since we've talked almost exhaustively of risks around holidays and multi-household gatherings, here's my family update:

My mother (late 60s), brother, and his fiance spent Thanksgiving together at my mother's house. They live close by and have seen each other many, many times during the pandemic (my brother and fiance are two of the people my girlfriend and I have seen the most as well). My brother works in Hospital administration south of Boston and his fiance is a nurse in RI. Both are obviously working in person and are tested frequently (in her case, it's a requirement). They've always taken tests and other precautions before visiting us or my mother. However, they weren't able to schedule tests in the days before Thanksgiving, so they decided to chance it just this once.

Well, the fiance felt a little sick the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, my mother was moderately ill Fri-Monday (extreme fatigue, fever, chills, headache, etc.) of this week, my brother had mild symptoms Sun/Mon. My mother still feels a little fatigued and has a persistent headache. The fiancee was tested yesterday and received her results this morning - positive for COVID-19. My mother was tested this morning and my brother is getting tested this evening, but it's more likely than not that they have it too. We'll know for sure tomorrow or Friday.

On one hand, I'm glad my mother's symptoms aren't worse. She's old enough with some health complications (smoker, some minor heart problems years ago) that she's definitely at an elevated risk level. But it's also a pretty good example of how slight lapses can have major consequences. My mother is terrified of COVID and has essentially been isolated since March - the lone exception being visits from us after negative tests. My brother and his fiance have witnessed the worst of this first hand and have been extremely careful as well. One lapse in judgement is all it took.