COVID-19 update: Wednesday, November 4th

No news today, just some tips.

The world has so much bad news and with numbers increasing and the election results pending I thought perhaps we have all had enough bad news - you don't need more. So today I want to forgo the news per se and just offer some tips and advice. Let's just chat about COVID for a minute.

Numbers around the country are on the rise. So I thought I might offer some practical tips as we tread into some rougher waters.

1. Track the numbers in your specific county. Yes, the numbers nationally are going up but what is happening in your county? In many ways that is far more important to know. I recommend following 3 different reporting sources for your county. One of those should be your county's health department's covid tracking website. The other two can be anything you find useful - but if you have children in school I would recommend one be the numbers for your school district. I think 3 is important so you can watch for variance, have affirmation of quality and you will undoubtedly see different data being reported on each. Bookmark the ones you select and check them regularly.

2. You want to monitor the positivity rate in your county. The positivity rate tells you how many people that are testing are actually positive for COVID. An area with a 5% or lower positivity rate is doing really well and you can consider that a Green zone - meaning a small risk of catching the virus. I would consider 10-14% yellow, 15-20 orange, and over 20% red. But that will vary based on where you live and your personal risk factors and risk tolerance. I offer these numbers as a starting point for you. One reason to monitor this is that as it increases (watch for the 14-day average, not the day-to-day fluctuations) it will give you a sense of the amount of spread in your community, and it will help you know the types of precautions you need to take.

3. When your county reaches the red level as you determine it - then you will want to start limiting your outings more. For example, my county was at 46% yesterday with a 14 day average of 19% - so I am thinking we may start having the groceries delivered again instead of going to the store myself. Some of you may live in places that are still on very strict restrictions so there is nothing to change. Others of you may be in areas where restrictions are pretty limited other than wearing masks. Just develop a plan, that plan will look different for every family and every person. We have a circle of people who we interact with (as I hope you all do) but as the positivity rate increases, we may have to limit that circle even further. But, if you are single, or live alone, you may opt not to take that route because isolation is extremely difficult. Instead, you may keep seeing your circle but stop going out unless you are going to work or school. Your plan has to be reasonable and has to work for you. Communicate the plan with your household.

4. I hate to say this, but we need to anticipate that things will get bleak and we need to prepare, as much as we can, for that. As cases increase, are you prepared for schools to close down again? Are you prepared to be quarantined if you are exposed? Do you have resources on hand to spend 2-3 weeks at home should you get COVID or need to quarantine? If you burned through your quarantine TP you may want to get a 2 week supply on hand. But more importantly, develop a buddy system right now. Your buddy system, or people in your circle, will be someone who, if you should become quarantined for any reason - will be able to drop off groceries, supplies, medicines etc. to you. They can leave them on the doorstep and text you that they are there. You will do the same for them should they need it. I recommend you have 3 households in your buddy system so that if two of you are quarantined there is still another option. Don't wait until your medicines are empty to call the Rx.

5. If you enter the orange or red zone you need to think very strongly about your Thanksgiving plans.

FINAL THOUGHTS: when this all started we were caught a bit by surprise in that it had been 100 years since we had experienced something like this. But as we head into round two we walk into it with our eyes open and a bit stronger than before. Oh sure we are tired, but we are more educated, more informed, and more prepared this time. This time we have time to plan and make informed decisions. Take control of this situation. Make a plan. Put some things in reserve and be ready. If it doesn't get bad where you are, count your blessings. If it does, know that you have done what you could and the rest is simply out of your control. You may recall when this all started we reminded each other that we were in this together - although apart. Those words are true. We are all experiencing this differently but we are all experiencing it, we have to look out for each other, support each other and love each other. There is enough anger and sorrow right now - let's vow that we will not add to it.