Coronavirus – The New Normal

Changed and / or updated information in blue

The coronavirus has arrived. There is no waiting, wondering and thinking it is a hoax. So, how is it going for you? Kids at home (yikes), no social time, super market shelves looking a little raggedy (assuming you can find what you want) and to quote the Carpenters…we’ve only just begun. But we will get through this. This is the new normal. After taking some time getting prepared, reading up and researching a lot, and get used to days that seem as if your head will explode with bad news and too much information it is time to get back to business. Keeping up with what you need to know. And right now it really isn’t politics. So for a while the focus here will shift on finding useful things to help you through, giving relevant information to make life and your days a little better.

Hopefully by now everyone has got on top of the basics, has an understanding and stocked up on medications, food, essential things to get you through a few weeks. If you need a reminder read this. Except it probably won’t be a few weeks but will be longer. July and August have been mentioned. Supermarkets have undertaken to keep stocked. Amazon is hiring 100,000 workers to keep deliveries going, and has suspended non-essential shipments to warehouses to ensure priority is given to household essentials.

With this in mind, we are temporarily prioritizing household staples, medical supplies and other high-demand products coming into our fulfillment centers so we can more quickly receive, restock and ship these products to customers.

Walmart and Target also are working hard to keep the public supplied. This is the time to be an online shopper.

**Some retailers list their updated offerings and policy on their front page. Others do not which is really unhelpful. Others put changes on the their Facebook page. A little too much searching for information, and the feeling that they aren’t working to help you.

Supermarkets

Local supermarkets have started shortening hours a little, and some like Shop Rite are offering early morning shopping for seniors so they can avoid the crowds and have a chance at the toilet rolls.

All listed below offer either delivery or Instacart so you don’t have to actually go shopping at the store. Check the websites for information. However, be aware that slots for Wegmans are full until April!! Which may be the same for some of the others.

• Wegmans
  • 7am – 10pm 8pm Have a 2 item limit on many items including dairy, meat, cleaners Website says many items aren’t available
  • Offering curbside pick up / delivery – Slots are virtually impossible to get
• Shop Rite 
  • Most 7am – 11pm but check store.
  • First hour for elderly and at risk.  Have great video of how to sign up for online shopping on their front page. Limiting purchases of in demand items. Offering text alerts for out of stock items – texting SRFH to 20669
• Fresh Market
  • 8am – 9pm
  • 8am – 9am for those at higher risk
• Acme
  • 7am – 10pm
• Kings 7am – 10 8 (weekdays)
• Fairway
  • 7am- 10pm 9am – 10pm Right now offering free delivery on first online order Not sure if this is still available  PERMANENTLY CLOSED
• Trader Joe’s
  • 9am – 7pm
  • 8am – 9am for customers 60+ and disabled and those needing assistance
• Uncle Guiseppe’s
  • 7am – 11pm
  • 7am – 8am for seniors and those at risk
  • Offering curbside pickup: 48 – 72 hours for confirmation $10 service charge
• Stew Leonards
  • 7:30am – 9pm 8am – 8pm 
  • 7am – 8am for seniors

Fresh Fish Sources

• Anchor Seafood Park Ridge (no website) 10 S Kinderkamack Rd, Montvale – (201) 930-9170 Takes phone order / has curbside pickup / Cash – credit card
• Peters Fish Market Has curbside pick up / Cash – check

Other Stores

• Home Depot
  • 6am – 6pm
  • Free curbside pickup  – Paramus not Mahwah
  • Free store pick up
  • Delivery service
• Home Hardware Waldwick
  • 9am – 3pm  OPEN SUNDAYS!!
  • Offers curbside pickup
• Nordstrom
  • Physical locations closed OPEN
  • Offers free curbside pickup 11am – 5pm
• Macy’s Closed
• TJ Maxx   – Closed
• Marshall’s – Closed
• Home Goods – Closed
• Sierra Trading – Closed
• Barnes and Noble
  • 9am – 6pm Open and Curbside
• The Container Store – Closed
• Crate And Barrel – Closed
• CB2 – Closed
• Pottery Barn – Closed
• West Elm – Closed
• Williams Sonoma – Closed
• Talbots – Closed
• Gap – Closed
• Old Navy – Closed
• Apple – Closed
• IKEA – Closed
  •  some locations open for Click and Collect (Paramus – call for confirm) 
  • All services are suspended except deliver which is contactless and only to covered porch, garage, front door
  • NO task rabbit available 
• Garden State Plaza – Most stores have closed
• Paramus Park Mall – Common store area is closed
• Outlets at Bergen Town Center – Interior section closed. Stores with exterior doors may be open.

Most of the store closures are until the end of March. Decisions beyond that will be taken then. As directives from city, county and states are changing frequently – to the point they are not helpful and are confusing. Best advice to check individuals stores.

Also know that most of the closed stores have great sales going on so you can purchase things you want or need, help the business and engage in some retail therapy.

Restaurants

This is a tough one. With readers in Bergen, Ocean, Rockland, Monmouth counties there is no blanket answer. Some are doing takeout, some are closed. Call and find out.

Doctor / Pharmacy

They are swamped, as in drowning. If you think you are sick you need to call your doctor who will either give you a video call, or speak to you and find out if you need a coronavirus test. You will then be directed where to go. If you aren’t sick, but need some medical attention for something non-urgent you probably won’t be seen by your doctor. If you need a prescription refill in the near future you would be smart to get working on it asap. Certain pharmacies have been running low on stock of regular mediations, unclear why, but the system is stressed. Think ahead. If you have children and you are running low on bandaids, etc. get ordering, don’t wait until you have run out. Think carefully what you need to make your life run.

Worship

Many, if not all churches and places of worship have suspended services. Some have gone to online services. At at time of great stress if you are suffering from this loss reach out to your religions person and make contact. They are missing their flock too.

Staying Safe

You know about the hand washing. As soon as you are home 2o seconds thoroughly, all fingers up to wrists. But you also need to know some other things.

When you arrive home you need to take off outside clothing AND shoes. Don’t bring them into the house. Virus can live on clothing and be spread into the home. Put your outside clothes into the washer and give a quick wash. The coronavirus has a thin membrane and is destroyed quickly with detergent and water.

Coronavirus can live on cardboard for 24 hours.

Metal and hard surfaces (tables, doorknobs, countertops, etc) – might last for 4 hours. Can last from several hours to days depending on the temperature and humidity.

Mail….waiting for updated information from USPS. ***Dr Joseph Fair – twitter @curefinder (Science Contributor, Virologist, Epidemiologist NBC Special Correspondent) advises mail should be dealt with carefully, not put on surfaces and cleaned. Wash hands thoroughly after touching.

Ultra-violet: there is evidence that the virus is killed by sunlight. Put your clothes outside perhaps? Might help.

If you think you have been in contact with someone who is infected as a precaution avoid them at home. As in move into another space and eat separately.

General Advice

There is a lot of information out there about what is going on. There is some confusion, some denial, some sheer idiocy. The information from the White House is no groups of more than 10 people. Stay 6 feet away. Wash your hands for 20 seconds. Remember this is not playdate time. This is not spring break time. This is not standing on the street chatting while your kids play. Every person who is exposed has the potential, in the incubation period, to infect approximately 200 people. The jury is out on the severity of the infection for young people – initial information indicated millennials were lightly affected. Until France and Italy reported otherwise. Don’t take chances.

Update: New York Times report today (March 19. 2020)

of the 508 patients known to have been hospitalized, 38 percent were notably younger — between 20 and 54. And nearly half of the 121 patients who were admitted to intensive care units were adults under 65, the C.D.C. reported.

Here.

If you are interested in what it is like to actually get the disease you can one person’s experience here.

And patient 1 in New York state is doing better. He was brought out of the medically induced coma yesterday.

This is serious.

This is also the time to pick up the phone, Face Time, Skype, whatever and reach out to others. People are feeling very lost, frightened, confused and isolated. Elderly, single people, families with mom ripping her hair out, everyone needs some support and comfort. A friendly voice. While we have been asked to social distance that doesn’t have to mean completely isolate. Forget the stock market, the depressing news, the disappearance of sports, politics. Everyone is suffering, we don’t have to do it alone.

Feeling Overwhelmed

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed know you are in good company. This is a situation no one has gone through. Nothing has prepared us for this. Don’t suffer alone. There are organizations to help.

Crisis Text Line  An excellent place to find confidential, trained counsellors. Available in US, Cananda, UK.

Text HOME to 741741 for free, 24/7 support in the US from a trained Crisis Counselor

This is a texting service providing excellent support and is free. Give this to your kids, grandkids, parents, grandparents, family, friends, anyone who you think might need this.

 

 

Lifeline Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-8255

For anyone feeling overwhelmed and depressed. Trained and experienced counsellors who specialize in numerous areas. They have noted the mental health impact of this virus and are prepared to help anyone suffering.

Take care of yourself.