Coronavirus in the US, nervous binge eating from the storage pantry

My pantry items are growing

Over the last several days, I've been stocking up groceries and paper goods in preparation of a possible coronavirus outbreak in our area. Fear breeds panic and local stores could be temporarily wiped out of some key items. Minimizing your shopping trips can reduce the odds of infection. If you do get the virus in your household and have to isolate, game on, no trips to the grocery store! It certainly looks as if a community outbreak can happen anywhere. I'm particularly concerned because we live 15 miles from a large state medical facility, UVA (University of Virginia Hospital) and if someone needs urgent care, that's where they will be sent!

Only half of a Donut and a little Ice Cream blob.

As we wait for the virus to strike, my greatest concern is not eating my safety stash!! Having excess food tends to make one feel as if they can eat MORE! I decided to treat myself to a pint of Ice Cream and some Donuts, just in case there is no way to get SUGAR when in crisis mode. Might as well console myself and enjoy the top of the food chain delights before all hell breaks loose.

Nervous eating, obsessive thoughts, and worry does make you want to devour all that is bad for you!

Spirits must be booming right now!

It's normal to fear the unknown but it is not time to panic shop. First of all it's just plain rude and secondly there is no need for it. Read my prior blog post on what to stock up. If you get the virus, hopefully it will be a mild case and you will become somewhat immune to it. Of course the long term effects have yet to be determined because this is a totally new virus. I am concerned about my elderly mom and in-laws, not to mention that I have an auto-immune disease which makes it more possible that I could get really sick.

After we consume the fun foods, I'll eventually go retrieve some more of the boring stuff that can actually be saved for disaster use when the time comes. Be prepared but remember, this is not the end of the world and this too shall pass or at least become the norm.

~Rebecca

Preparing and survival of the Coronavirus COVID-19 in the US

It's time to keep it clean!

COVID-19 has now been in the United States, North America (NA) specifically, for 40 days. The first confirmed case in NA was on January 21, 2020 in Washington state by a man that returned on January 15 from traveling to Wahun China. As of today, sixty-eight cases are presumed or positive tested in NA. As of yet, test kits have not been made available nationwide so it is possible that other less symptomatic cases have been in communities or symptoms are waiting to present. Incubation can take 7 days or longer. This is a new virus and until more analysis, conclusions are based on what has occurred thus far mainly in China.

The good news is that 81% of those infected will have flu like symptoms and weeks of in home isolation can aid in the non-transmission of the virus to others. It doesn't seem to impact children as badly as adults but they can be carriers. The bad news is that the other 19% often with with depressed immune systems, respiratory disorders, diabetes, or other existing illnesses can become victim to a case requiring hospitalization or even death.

Treat yourself, get some goodies while you are stocking up.

So far, it appears the virus is very stable which is good, unlike the influenza virus which mutates. It is not yet been proven that it is seasonal like influenza. It is concerning that Singapore has 100 reported cases and the temperate is around 90 degrees right now! It is believed that it can stay alive on surfaces for 9 days which is not good as this makes it easier to pick up off of droplets left by those infected from sneezing, wiping nose, going to the bathroom, etc.

The CDC has stated that the best way to avoid contracting the virus is to wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Even wearing a face mask has not proven to be as effective or possibly even wearing a damp face mask is even worse than none at all. Masks are becoming a hard commodity to find and in a pinch, one can be handmade for short term use. It may or may not be helpful. It probably would help to remind oneself to not put hands near your mouth, which is helpful.

I'll wear my vintage gauze witch mask

Another tip is to keep tissue with you at all times and to use as a buffer between any signature or number pads, door knobs, etc. Then carefully disposing of the tissue without touching the exterior surface which could transfer the virus to your hands.

Public bathroom use, especially in high volume areas should be avoided if at all possible as the virus can be transferred by excrement droplets that could be on toilet seats, door handles, sink knobs, etc.

It is estimated that 30% of the world population will get the virus. If strict measures and test kits are readily available and used, it can be controlled to some degree. Cases have been lowered in China with strict home confinement, closure of public events and schools, and restriction of travel. In South Korea citizens can be tested in their car and results sent to them in 2 days, which sounds like a much better idea than forcing people to go into a hospital to be tested, potentially spreading the virus to surfaces and others, especially those that are sick in the hospital with another ailment!

Air travel from infected countries such as Italy and South Korea are still permitted into North America which is problematic. Some restrictions seem to finally be coming.

Population density could certainly make community outbreaks more significant. Also the lack of test kits and availability of treatment facilities could exacerbate death rates. Asia, Europe, Africa and India have some of the denser populations on the planet.  

The best way to protect yourself is to not attend public events, not use public restrooms, wash your hands and at a minimum use tissues as surface contact barrier and keep hand gel on hand (which is not proven to work on virus germs but in a pinch might be better than nothing). Interestingly bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and possibly even vinegar might kill the COVID-19 virus but none have been specifically tested (they have been proven to kill other bad germs).

Time to make good use of the Tupperware

As more cases emerge in NA it can be anticipated that some shortages will occur. It is a good idea to begin stocking up on canned goods and the things you normally eat to avoid multiple trips to the grocery, thus reducing the possibility of picking up a contaminated item. As time goes on, stores will potentially have more shoppers with the virus and therefor fixtures and goods have the potential to harbor the virus. It's not time to hoard or panic, but it is time to stock up a little in order to minimize your exposure.

Stocking up your pantry, my beginning.

Extra pantry item ideas: canned beans, rice, instant potatoes, instant coffee (for desperate times), tea bags, canned fruit, pasta, nut butter, crackers, soup, dried milk, and water if you don't have good tap water. Stock the freezer with homemade soups and casseroles - remember the good old days! Rice, bread, and nuts can be stored in the freezer to extend their life. Certain items may be in short supply so get a little extra hand soap, bleach, toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels. You may have to make your own mask or shield.   

Time to hide out for awhile, rest, or recover?

It's not too early to ask your employer or school system if they will allow work from home, realizing that this is impossible for public service jobs. In this situation, it's not too early to ask for protective gear (disposable gloves, face masks, face shields) and to inquire about strict sanitary cleaning of surfaces and bathrooms. 

To watch a daily world briefing about the virus, I particularly like retired Dr John Campbell in the UK. If you are into data, Peak Prosperity is another good website that is tracking this virus worldwide.  

On a final note, life goes on, it's not the end of the world or the planet, look at it as an inconvenience but do your part to be prepared in a methodical way and if you think you are sick do not continue on as if "it will pass" and risk contaminating your community.

When employed in the food service industry, I learned that NOTHING replaces proper hand washing! Keep strong and carry on.

~Rebecca

      

North American Butterfly Count

The Crozet Team on the hunt

Yesterday thirty nature lovers broke into 3 teams to participate in the annual North American Butterfly Count for Albemarle County. Taking 4 hours in temps reaching 90 degrees each team covered a different area of the county to record each species of butterfly spotted. I was on the Crozet area team with 12 others.

This spider web was hanging over a creek.

Most of those participating are Virginia Master Naturalists (I sadly am not one) so going out into nature with such a broad knowledge base is quite fun. Plants, birds, and insects can readily be identified. You can't help but encounter other interesting things along the way.

Orange Sulphur Butterfly in purple Knapweed.

Several weeks ago the Ivy Creek Nature Center Education Room was packed with enthused nature lovers to be trained in butterfly identification. The program was prepared by Nancy Weiss and Terri Keffert of the Rivanna Master Naturalists. This was the first part of preparation to participate in today's count.

A Viceroy, sadly not a Monarch, but still exciting to see

The final numbers have yet to be tallied but hundreds of butterflies were spotted. It sounds like an easy task to identify a particular butterfly but many butterflies mimic each other to resemble bad tasting species. It takes a trained eye often looking through a good set of binoculars in order to accurately id. The topside and underside of one butterfly can be very different which also makes things complicated. Sometimes it comes down to just how the butterfly flies or what is referred to the flight pattern. There are around 20,000 butterfly species on our planet but luckily in Albemarle County Virginia there are "only" about 70.

Spicebush Swallowtail

You may wonder why the count is necessary, other than it's just plain interesting and fun to do... it can be a barometer of the health of the area. There is a lot of talk of the decline of bees but we need to remember that many other insects pollinate such as butterflies and moths. Butterflies are also a major part of the food chain being a main food for birds when in the caterpillar stage. Habitat loss, pesticide usage, and climate change can impact butterfly numbers killing off species. Twenty are on the current endangered list.

Deep in the wildflowers in Old Trail

The count was great fun and I was so fortunate to be able to participate. Several area residents came over to ask what in the world we were doing poking around in the brush as if we were trying to find something elusive. Fortunately this year there was plenty of action but sadly, we never saw a Monarch.

Mushrooms growing near a creek

You can help by not using toxic chemicals and by growing native plants which often provide food for caterpillars and attract adult butterflies. Each year I add more and more native plants (in part thanks to the Native Plant Society annual plant sale) and my yard has been a butterfly bonanza this year!

Lovely wildflowers and pond in Crozet

Often we do not understand the relationship between one species and another until we study it. We see a plant that has chewed leaves and think our plant is doomed when often it's just part of the normal course of things. The worm eats the leaves but turns into a beautiful butterfly that turns around and pollinates the plant it chewed.

-Rebecca