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the difference a week makes

I know if anyone starts to read this today there eyes will glass over and they'll pass on to something else. And that's okay. What I'm writing today is to help me remember years down the road.

One week ago today, I would have never imagined the things that are happening now.

One week ago today, Covid-19 was something we discussed and anticipated. Then it became an issue for two counties. Today it is in 14 counties with 32 cases. Nationwide there are 1694 cases with 41 deaths. Worldwide it is a rapidly changing situation with staggering numbers.

Since Thursday, March 12, the following things have happened:

  • The ACC tournament and the NCAA tournament were cancelled. This has no impact on me whatsoever, but in all of my life, I have never heard of a nationwide sports event of this magnitude being cancelled.
  • Professional basketball teams have cancelled all games and public activities.
  • Universities are closing the campus for the semester and going totally online. Duke University has gone so far as to tell students they will mail or ship important belongings (meds, electronics, etc) but not clothes or furnishings.
  • The Governor went from a suggested closing of large groups to a mandatory closing of any group over 100 for 30 days.
  • All public schools will be closed for the next two weeks.
  • Chik-fil-A has closed the dining halls of at least two of the stores and will only operate drive-thru after that.
  • People have gone crazy with panic buying. Meat, bottled water, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, kleenex and wipes are very difficult to buy, prompting some stores to impose rationing on items such as toilet paper.
  •  Garner's Meals on Wheels will be distribution only (grab-n-go) instead of providing a hot meal at the Senior Center every day. 

And on a slightly funny, not so funny note, a niece who is studying in England was unable to find toilet paper at all in her area of England. She went to the public library and while using the facilities saw they had extra rolls and stole one roll to take home.  It has us all laughing, as we simply cannot see her doing that. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
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