I knew what was coming but kept praying that it wouldn’t happen. Now it has; thanks to Covid 19, almost all my communal activities have ceased, and most other things as well. At the beginning of the week, however, I was still trying to pretend that life might continue on its predictable path, and that I could do the things I love. I was foolish, and I am sorry.
For example, on Monday afternoon I attended a brief ceremony to celebrate the city’s partnership with the Friends of Cold Spring Park to repair and improve the park’s eroding trails. Mayor Fuller, other city officials and councilors, and some of us activists were on hand for a brief mayoral speech and quick photo shoot. We knew better than to hug or make contact, but at times we were probably closer together than was advisable- especially at the photo op.
Next came a more foolish event involving a greater number of people. I coach girls’ tennis at Newton South, a spring sport, and our season was to have started this upcoming Monday, March 16. On Monday at 6 PM our league, the DCL, held a preseason meeting for all coaches and athletic directors at Concord Carlisle High School. Our numbers were perhaps fifty. We had dinner together and then broke up by sport into different rooms to discuss the coming season.
To be sure, I had my qualms about attending. I am a healthy 69 year-old with no underlying immunological issues or respiratory conditions. I kept my social distance but watched in horror as many younger coaches hugged and shook hands. They felt, perhaps, that the threat of spreading the virus had been overblown, and that the symptoms for their demographic would be mild. I tried in vain to explain that the goal of social distancing was to slow the spread of sickness so that medical facilities wouldn’t be overwhelmed. It seems that this message has yet to sink deeply into the public’s psyche. Should I have opted out of this mandatory meeting?
I drove directly from the coaches’ meeting to Hebrew College to attend my religious group’s Purim celebration. I stayed less than an hour, and I tried not to draw too close to anyone. But I won’t deny that at least 100 people were in the hall listening to the traditional reading of the Purim story and laughing at comical sketches put on by members of the congregation. In retrospect, that was probably another act of folly, given my age. By now my group has suspended services going forward.
The trend of times prevented me from doing much else this week that might have placed in me in groups of people. On Wednesday 8th Grade Sports Step-Up Night at South was postponed, as was the meeting of the Bike Newton steering committee. On Thursday the Newton Transportation meeting on putting bike lanes on Beacon Street was put off, as was the monthly meeting of the Waban Area Council, on which I serve.
I did play doubles tennis with friends twice this week, once outside and once at my club. I did not linger at the club or shake anyone’s hand in either instance. Should I not have played?
This brave new world in which we now live begs clarity. Perhaps I should just stay home and avoid all direct human contact save with my wife until the Covid 19 nightmare has passed. What about shopping? Any opinions?
My recommendation is stay safe. Limit outside contact and unnecessary large groups. Work from home when you can. Particularly limit contact with those people in your life who are at high risk of more serious symptoms to protect them (50+, pre-existing conditions).
I realize 50+ seems young. For this purpose, it is when your risk starts going up significantly from the charts I’ve seen.
You can go shopping, you can see other people. For my purposes, I’m planning to limit the number of people I see in person to a small number, to limit the spread of the virus. We’re all making individual decisions, and need to decide how much risk we’re willing to take on personally, and how much we are willing to limit our interactions for the benefit of society.
I am hoping that one of the very knowledgeable posters (Meredith?) knows the answer to this question:
– how long do virus germs stay on a tennis ball?
I can do without going to museums or church for a while but I love tennis. It makes the rest of the world disappear. while I concentrate on hitting the ball. In fact, I was playing on the court next to Bob today and we were all careful to keep our distances (3ft) . However, we picked up balls that other players had touched and other balls left by the previous players. Were we foolish?
@Isabelle – No one has yet determined how long the virus stays viable on most surfaces. My advice would be to keep your hand away from your face and avoid touching anything other than your tennis equipment until after you’ve thoroughly washed your hands after playing. Also wash them well once you get home before touching anything in the house.
Since I’m in a higher risk group, I’m probably going to avoid shopping and have groceries delivered, or else go near closing when there are few people there. My synagogue has canceled services. Phone calls and chatting online will give me social contact. I had practice last year when I broke my tibial plateau and wasn’t allowed any weight-bearing for 3 months. 🙂
@Isabelle — Good odds the virus survives on a surface in the timescale of a tennis match. We have to watch out for all surfaces we touch and basically stay away from our faces with all but freshly washed hands.
@Bob — In terms of putting your life on hold, I think this analogy is the one to start thinking about: Have you ever heard the math problem about calculating the odds of having two people with the same birthday in the same room? It always comes out much more likely than you’d think.
Now it is about the odds that you are in a large group that is entirely free of anyone with the virus. The odds are starting to get much worst than you would think. For example, let’s say just 85 of Newton’s 85,000 residents have an undetected virus infection in the near future and you are in a crowd of 100 people — back of the envelope there is a greater than 10% chance one of the infected residents is in the group. Go to three of those gatherings and there is a greater than 1 in 4 chance you will get unlucky.
It is a stressful time as you can also get the virus from just being in the path of one cough or sneeze from a family member, or touching a surface and then your mouth with nobody around. But we need to minimize the virus’s shots on goal.
Be well.
Jack
“should we put our life entirely on hold” – NO!
Yes. We need to radically change the details of how we live our lives for the next weeks or months. That said, it’s incredibly important for everyone to continue to live their lives, not stop in their tracks and freeze.
In the coming days, and weeks we’ll all be figuring out how to keep our selves and our loved one’s safe … without putting our lives on hold.
We are resourceful. Circumstances have changed dramatically. Our job now is to continue to live our lives, love and laugh, connect with our friends, entertain ourselves, and not become paralyzed by this very unpleasant new challenge.
There will be snowstorm-like opportunities to take a break – enjoy them. They are a great thing.
Bring your close people closer.
Grab a bit of technology. Connect with your distant loved ones that you’ve been meaning to – now do it.
It’s bad situation, but its not all bad. Find the good stuff and enjoy it.
I am under 50, with two social teens at home. I calmly explained that they can FaceTime and HouseParty with their friends, but we will NOT be socializing in person with anyone.
I will go grocery shopping once a week during an off peak time.
We will take walks and sit outside on our own property.
We will wash our hands.
We will bleach our tables, counters and sinks after each meal.
But we are limiting contact with outsiders for their protection and ours. We are really lucky to go through this now and not in 1980 when there was no work from home, Iphone, etc.
Here’s a wonderful new group of Newton neighbors helping each other:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/newtonneighborshelping/?ref=share
@Meredith Thank you for your response: I washed my hands …but forgot to clean my racquet handle!
For those of you who may think tennis is pretty trivial compared to, let’s say, nurses need to work but who don’t know what to do with their kids at home. It is. But if it keeps me happy (and therefore healthy!), my kids won’t be so worried about their 70ish parents. And that counts for something.
I hope this causes us to examine our health care system and gig economy. Yesterday on NPR a doctor was saying the US had to create their own testing kits, we couldn’t just import the instructions from China or Australia. Why? I can see the FDA wanting to ensure the testing kits work, but why did we need to build them from scratch? The doctor said this, and the initial failure of the US created testing kits led to a delay. Is someone making money off these US kits?
Likewise, how many people who should be home are out working because they can’t afford to stay home? I just saw a grocery delivery service with a man, well over 60, making deliveries in my neighborhood.
We can’t beat up on ourselves for activities we engaged in on Monday when the circumstances changed so dramatically almost overnight. That being said, everyone needs to do his/her part to contain this virus, if not for yourself and family, then for strangers you may come in contact with if you are infected but asymptomatic.
As for what to do? For those who are really stuck at home, one possibility is to make a list of household projects you never seem to have time for. Our living room molding may finally get the paint job we planned 12 years ago! It can still be a productive time.
The big thing is that we all have to be in this together.
Bob, I like you have had to reconfigure what I can do after being out on Monday. Now everything I read or hear says for me to stay at home, including from my kids and grandkids, so I’m doing my best to do just that.
Isabelle and Bob, I understand the feeling that avid tennis players have when in the middle of a match because it has been an important part of my life and I have hated having to give that up the most. Since you are healthy I see no reason to stop playing singles, at least, because of COVID 19 as long as practicing social distancing – not so easy in doubles – and making sure to wash your hands immediately after and before touching your face in addition to cleaning your equipment as soon as you get home.
My son, a math teacher, not a problem now since schools are closed, and a microbiology technician, carries travel size 70% alcohol hand sanitizer in his pocket to use before coming in the house and takes a shower before touching anything else in the house. Highly recommend having the 70% alcohol hand sanitizer with you all the time – in your pocket and in your car – mainly to use until you can wash your hands.
I am 70 and am mostly healthy but I recently was in the hospital with a bout of Sarcoidosis in the lymph nodes of my lungs and fluid that had to be drained – all of which is now being controlled by medication. I have controlled high blood pressure. All of this makes me at a higher risk.
Something I suggest is talking to your doctor if you have any underlying condition needing medication. My doctors have been great about doubling medication I might need in case delivery has to stop or medications run low.
The Newton Food Pantry is fully stocked now, unlike some grocery stores, but is looking for drivers to deliver to those who need it. They usually deliver to about 40-45 people but it continues to increase.
Stay healthy and keep in touch with your elderly family members, friends and neighbors.
Hey well when things get better we could have a v14 tennis match! I play 4 times a week ( doubles and singles) at 2 different clubs.
We can duke it out on the courts as well as the intertubes!
Nice to know we have one thing in common!
Aww Rick, I think we have more than tennis in common.