Post 15 - March 26, 2020
Day 15…
The USNC Ship Comfort is about to be deployed to NY. It will have 1000 beds and will deal with cases that are NOT a result of the virus. It is the largest trauma facility on the planet. It will reduce the load on NY hospitals who are starting to become overwhelmed.
I took a long walk yesterday. It wasn’t difficult to social distance because the city was… empty. Most everything is closed.
Grocery stores are open. People are lining up on the street to get in - 6 feet apart. They are only letting a limited number of people into stores at a time so that everyone can keep their distance. Food is being delivered. For the most part, shelves are stocked.
Cleaning products are in short supply.
Somewhere downtown, I scored a couple of large cans of Lysol. Mango-Hibiscus scent. Truly disgusting but if that’s why they were sitting on the shelf, I’ll take them!
When you leave the store, wash your hands.
We have a couple of little bottles of purell left over from swag bags and international flight bags. We are using it while we have it, but it’s one of the things absolutely unavailable anywhere in the city.
When we get home, we take off our shoes at the door.
We disinfect each thing that we bought by wiping them down with Lysol and then wash our hands again.
Here’s what I have learned about the virus (thank you Rajika Puri):
The Covid virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular (eye), nasal (nose) or buccal (mouth) changes their genetic code (mutates) and converts them into aggressor and multiplier cells. Since the virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule, it is not killed. Rather it decays on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material upon which it rests.
The virus is very fragile - the only thing that protects it is that layer of fat. That’s why we are all washing our hands with soap. The soap dissolves the fat layer and destroys the protein molecule.
Soap melts fat.
Heat melts fat. Use hot water.
Alcohol over 25% dissolves fat.
A mixture of 1 part bleach to 5 parts water dissolves fat.
White vinegar does NOT dissolve fat. It is not useful as a cleaning agent.
Don’t shake clothes. While the virus is lying on cloth it is quite inert. It will take 3-6 hours to degenerate on its own.
4 hours on copper surfaces (copper is naturally anticeptic - SO glad we went with copper kitchen counters!)
4 hours on wood.
24 hours on cardboard (wipe down boxes that come into the house)
42 hours on metals other than copper.
72 hours on plastics.
What to do with this information?
Panic?
Become obsessed?
No. Please don’t.
Use common sense.
Keep your living space clean and well-ventilated.
Open your blinds - UV light (from the sun) breaks this molecule down.
Wash your hands. Several times a day for 20 seconds at a time.
Wipe down groceries and packages that come into your living space.
Moisturize your hands.
Keep your nails clipped so the virus can’t lodge in there.
Live your life.
People are staying at home especially because yesterday was cold and rainy.
Despite the gloom yesterday, however, there were signs of spring everywhere.
Everything is in bloom - flowers are up, all of New York City’s trees are in full flower.
Because the city is so quiet, you can really hear the birds.
Today is cold but bright and sunny. A beautiful day.
More people will go out to exercise.
Be smart - stay away from each other out there.
Physically distance yourself from everybody who isn’t in your immediate household.
This includes neighbors.
This includes friends.
This includes family.
Stay home and pick up the phone.
Reach out.
People are starting to call what we are doing Physical Distancing rather than Social Distancing. This is a much better idea.
This is not the time to be apart from each other in any way other than physically.
Reach out to friends and neighbors and family.
Check in.
People are fine one day then freak out the next.
Up one day then down the next.
Stay home and pick up the phone.