Coronavirus Resources

Want to keep an eye on the Coronavirus? Not sure where you can buy groceries? Here are some Coronavirus resources to keep in mind.

I like to keep a check on the spread of the Coronavirus on a daily basis. 

Not because I’m fearful of catching the Coronavirus, because I am fascinated by how one virus can overtake and disrupt classrooms, events and gatherings, sports, marching band competitions, cities, states, countries, and literally the world.

As I am writing this article, I received word that my daughter’s high school and son’s junior high school are now closed for the next 3 weeks (one of which is Spring Break).

Do we have any outbreaks in our local county? No, thankfully.  But we are next door to Los Angeles and Orange Counties, where cases have been identified.

Our school board doesn’t want to take the chance of it spreading throughout the school district.

Our church is closed for the next two weeks.  Concerts, competitions, and sporting events canceled or postponed.  International school trips canceled.

What does this all mean?  A lot of Family Time!  More time for board games.  Dinner together as sports practices are canceled.  Time to spend on hobbies.

As my husband puts it, pressing the pause button on life.

Coronavirus Resources

Last night I went to the store and bought enough food to last two weeks.  I even bought some toilet paper, though not much.  We don’t need a lot.

But I’ve been told other grocery stores are a mess with long lines and shortages.  I think I was lucky with my timing.  

There are plenty of websites you can go to for Coronavirus symptoms and tips for disenfecting.  

The resources we list here will help you with shopping and keeping tabs on the virus’ spread.

Coronavirus Resources

Groceries

I recommend you look into buying your groceries online.  With Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods, you can get some great quality food there.  Other grocery retailers have online groceries you can purchase from.

Personally, I have used and will use:

Sam’s Club – with their plus membership you get free shipping and 2% back on all purchases

Costco – free shipping if over $75

Walmart Grocery Online – just became available in my area.  You order online and schedule an appt.  They will meet you at your car and load your car up with your ordered groceries.  No extra fee.  Trust me, this is the BEST way to shop Walmart!  LOL.

Latest Stats & News

Screen shot of the continuously updated map from the World Health Organization

I use numerous sources, but here are some good ones:

CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – this page is helpful for preparing your family for the virus and getting your household ready.

WHO (World Health Organization) Dashboard – helpful for getting the latest on the number of people identified as having Coronavirus and those who have died per country.

New York Times – has a live Confirmed Cases counter by country as well.  Their numbers are higher than other websites.

New York Times Map – a great up-to-date overview of the virus and how it’s infecting various states.

Washington Post – has interactive maps of the virus for the United States and the World.

TIME – I love their chart, halfway down the page which shows recoveries of the Coronavirus per country.  There are over 60,000 recoveries in China!

State Health websites – like this one in California are helpful in assessing the numbers of people affected and how they think the virus was spread.

Country websites – I searched my county website to find out if there were any Coronavirus cases.  Fortunately, there are none (so far).

School Board websites – California has over 250 people infected.  Ohio has 5.  Both states have areas where schools and colleges have closed down.

There is no shortage of websites out there with the latest in news and statistics. HOWEVER, only go to reputable sources to view Coronavirus statistics.

Some unscrupulous companies are putting up trackers and stats and tell you that they will keep you updated but you need to download their software first.

Don’t do it, they will install malware onto your computer instead to fish for personal information stored there.

Remember, most of the people who have passed away have compromised immune systems or are older in age.  As we saw from the 60k people who survived in China, recovery is mostly expected.

If you have a full-time job and you’re worried about childcare should your school close for a few weeks, start looking now on how you would solve that problem BEFORE it happens, this will decrease your stress level.

Some school districts, like in Los Angeles, are arranging daycare for work-strapped parents.  Students will still carry out lessons at home.

If your school are closing, like ours are, remember, this is every child’s dream.  🙂  Stay calm and family on. 

Be aware that other families might be struggling during this time.  Lend them a hand.  Help them with food, babysitting…and yes, even rolls of toilet paper from your private stash!  Your kids are watching.

May your good health continue and may you enjoy extra time with your family during these topsy-turvy times.

Blessings,