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The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has nearly shattered the American economy, spread to all fifty states and has all but overwhelmed the healthcare system. As a result, many governors are going beyond the White House’s official recommendation of social distancing and have instead moved to officially urging residents to shelter in place.
What does this mean for you if you live in a state with such orders? What are you supposed to do if you can’t work from home or get to a grocery store for supplies? Here are a few basics to help you through this confusing era.
California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and West Virginia all either have shelter in place orders or will be implementing them within days. These orders largely call for nonessential businesses to shut down, including dine-in restaurants, bars, convention centers and other establishments.
Places like grocery stores, law enforcement offices and other “essential” buildings are not affected by this order, meaning that many retail workers will still be on the front line of the virus. On the other hand, millions of people who work in the service industry and other sectors impacted by the business closures now find themselves without work.
If you’re being ordered to shelter in place, remember, this is a temporary measure. While there is no official timetable yet as to how long these measures are likely to stay in effect, this scenario isn’t going to be a permanent arrangement. As scary as the COVID-19 illness is, it will not bring about the end of the world.
That doesn’t mean that these measures aren’t important, though. Make sure you stay indoors unless you need to leave for supplies. It’s okay to go for walks, and even exercise outdoors, just make sure you stay at least six feet away from other people. The disease spreads through respiratory droplets, so make sure you don’t get close enough for this to become an issue.
Stock up on good books, fun video games and get ready to watch a lot of TV on streaming services. There’s never been an incident quite like this in the modern era, so we’re all in uncharted territory. Try to keep a positive attitude, and, remember, this won’t last forever. One day things will return to normal.
