As we all experience larger changes to our world than many of us in the States experienced with the dot-com crash, 9/11, or the Great Recession, I am documenting what it is like to live during this time.
Friday, March 13, 2020
The past week has been stressful. The coronavirus COVID-19 has begun spreading in the US, and the stock market has begun its steepest decent since 2008. Washington and New York has over 300 cases, and Texas has 23 cases. Overall the US had 1,215 cases and 36 deaths, all in Washington. The Washington outbreak began in a nursing home.
Life is Still “Normal.” I am in a work training class with colleagues from Indonesia, Russia, England, and possibly other countries flying to Houston for this class. All of us were in a normal classroom sitting a couple feet away sharing the same table. All virus cases in Houston are being reported as due to international travelers returning home to Houston. We also have a teacher who had walking pneumonia for the past month with a dry cough, very similar to COVID-19 symptoms. This is not reassuring as he approaches our desk and talks two feet from us. Meanwhile, by Friday we are being told at work to maintain six feet from others. I feel like I am at higher risk based on all the information we have now, but it seems I would be overreacting to skip the class and return to my desk. I was encouraged this past week to ask our supervisor to work from home if we feel this is necessary given the virus, but the company has not provided official guidance on working from home. By the end of the day, I hear that class members are having to rebook their flights to return to their home countries amid tightening travel restrictions.
In the prior month, President Trump placed a ban on non-resident travelers from China on February 1 and quarantined US resident travelers from Wuhan. We have seen 80,000+ people infected and 3,000+ deaths in China though we find later that these numbers are underreported. I read in the WSJ about Wuhan medical workers wearing hazmat suits all day and had family members trapped outside Wuhan due to a quarantine.
Church Services. By Thursday evening our church had given guidance that the Sunday service would be online, and other Sunday classes are cancelled. Meanwhile some classes at church still planned smaller weekly gatherings. Our church was ahead of government restrictions which would come later.
Monday, March 16, 2020
Working from Home. The past weekend has seemed like a whirlwind of increasing restrictions. On Friday, I was debating whether to request to work from home as some colleagues had done. By Sunday evening our workplace sent an email stating that only essential employees be asked to come into work this week. In the past two weeks I attended the IADC conference in Galveston and a training class with international travelers. I managed to complete these just before the restrictions would have stopped both.
The President also issued guidance called “15 Days to Slow the Spread.” The federal guidance generally was to stay home if you feel sick, are elderly, or are otherwise at increased risk. It also recommended to attend work or school from home as possible unless you are in a critical industry as defined by DHS and avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people, avoid dining out, and practice good hygiene.
Official gatherings at church are generally cancelled now since they usually involve more than 10 people.
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Schools and Restaurants. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued the first public health disaster order in Texas since 1901. Schools will be closed, public gatherings are limited to 10 people or fewer, restaurants are limited to take-out orders only, and non-essential state employees are called to telework.
The California governor Newsom issued one of the strictest lockdown orders outside of China and Italy which limits Californians to their homes except for exercise and essential needs and would not allow gatherings of up to 10 people.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Stay at Home. The Harris County Judge Hidalgo issued an order for residents to stay at home similar to the California order and other orders since issued. The main restriction now is that people should not be interacting within six feet of others outside their household unless caring for a friend or family member. Groups of up to 10 people are no longer permitted.
Since I live at home, this restriction was particularly difficult, but we are allowed to go out for walks and visit parks with friends as long as we mind social distancing guidelines. The order also closed “non-essential” businesses like barbers, gun ranges, and church business besides preparing for services.
Government officials repeat that masks will not help prevent you from contracting the virus. I cannot believe they recommend not wearing masks in good faith. The virus is spread by respiratory droplets that exit the body through the mouth and nose. Some masks like surgical masks may not filter the virus well but will hinder the sick from spreading it and create some marginal barrier for inhaling the virus.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Interstate Travel Restrictions. Texas Governor Abbott ordered drivers from Louisiana to self-quarantine for 14 days. He also expanded the self-quarantine for airline travelers from Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, California, and Washington state. The Texas DPS is enforcing checks at airports and along highways.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
I trimmed my hair for the first time, and it actually looks good. A friend in person and colleagues on videochats gave their approval. No barbers are open with the social distancing lockdowns.
April. The federal and state stay-at-home orders were extended through end of April. Our company likewise extended working from home orders through the end of April.
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Masks. The CDC has finally changed their position and now recommend that the general public wear non-medical, cloth masks to hinder the spread of the virus. Many people do not show symptoms, maybe up to 50%, and wearing a mask will reduce the spread from asymptomatic people. The President said it is voluntary and that he would not be wearing a mask.
United States. The US has by far the most cases worldwide now with 275,000 confirmed cases and 7,100 deaths, 1,100 today alone. Texas has 6,050 confirmed cases while New York is at 102,000 confirmed cases. Spain has the largest number of cases outside the US at 124,700.
Houston. The number of cases in Harris County continues to increase. I hear reports of hospitals having their COVID units already full and placing patients showing COVID symptoms in other units. Houston Methodist is seeing patients double every 3 to 4 days. The hospital currently has 116 patients testing positive, not all requiring the ICU, and can handle 450 ICU patients. Texas is still far behind other states with testing. I read that the 25 county SE Texas region has about 1,000 hospital cases. Since about 10-20% of those infected require hospitalization, we could have 5,000-10,000 in SE Texas actual cases alone. Masks and ventilators are in short supply in New York already for hospital workers. Large hospital systems in Houston are not reporting shortages, but smaller providers are.
Life Changes. Besides what I have already noted, a few other life changes are:
Family members and friends have experienced layoffs or furloughs.
87 gas prices at $1.50 in Spring, TX.
Tape on the floor of stores to encourage social distancing.
Standing line at grocery stores in the morning especially in hopes of getting a pack of toilet paper or paper towels. This has improved somewhat, but at the peak I could not get most of my frozen vegetables even after waiting in a line for 45 minutes before HEB opened.
Parks are closed in other states like SC, NC, CA, … but not in TX.
Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since WW II. I had tickets to the theater on March 20 and the Rodeo on March 22 cancelled and still waiting on refunds for the latter one.
Weddings have been postponed including a brother’s wedding. Funerals are having limited or no attendance permitted in some states.
Manufacturers have switched their production lines to making ventilators (auto companies) and sanitizer (distillers). ExxonMobil has ramped their IPA production and is helping with a new mask design which uses less polypropylene.
We have daily press conferences by the President, state and local authorities. In a recent mayor conference, Mayor Turner said the city has a right to take over a former hospital building for sale regardless of the owner’s preference.