Despite early CDC advice, the folks behind https://www.maskssavelives.org/ promoted
universal mask wearing to protect everyone, citing South Korea’s stats to back
up their position. By early April the CDC acknowledged there was sufficient
evidence to support a change in guidance.
Since then several states
have adopted mask requirements. Winston
Salem and Greensboro,
among many other communities, have taken bold steps to provide masks to
residents, focusing initial efforts on vulnerable populations.
The Masks Now
organization is a coalition of volunteers helping to create and deliver home
crafted masks to hospitals in need around the country. Their logo features an adaptation
of the iconic Rosie the
Riveter wearing a mask.
Masks Now logo
Though surgical masks and N95 ventilator masks are
still in short supply, anyone can buy or sell handcrafted fabric masks through Etsy. There are multiple sources
for chic,
fashion
forward, and novelty
masks.
I purchased four washable cotton masks for Greg
and me from Kelly Mock, the daughter of a friend. She utilized a heavy plaid flannel
fabric generously sized for full coverage yet easy to breathe through. The tie
string is long, black and stretchy like a boot sized elastic shoelace. Her pattern
includes pockets for replaceable filters and wire inserts for a better fit
around the nose. We use blue
shop towels for filters since Greg had a few rolls left over from when he
owned an automotive repair business. A friend living at Carolina Beach purchased
her blue shop towels from a local auto parts store which she said was faster
and cheaper than purchasing online. Before cleaning the masks I pulled out and
tossed the paper towel filters and then removed the wire inserts with tweezers for reuse
later. I placed the masks inside a lingerie bag and washed them on a sanitize cycle
with towels. After drying the masks with the towels in our electric clothes
dryer, I re-inserted the wire into the nose pockets and folded new blue shop
towels to insert into the filter pockets. The clean masks are stored in a plastic zip top bag until we need them. You can see samples of Kelly’s handiwork and contact her
via Instagram at misskellymock. Also, there is a photo of me wearing a mask below toward the end of this post.
Wearing a mask for prolonged periods of time can be irritating to skin, as evidenced by Dove beauty bar’s campaign to salute health care workers, as well as a myriad of posts on social media. One doc found a creative way to protect his ears by utilizing a Spider Man action figure to fasten his mask elastic bands.
photo of Spider Man action figure holding mask
As people around the world contemplate wearing
masks to protect themselves from infections, the Daily Show’s Trevor Noah thinks
African Americans are faced with more complicated decisions compared to the
rest of us.
Daily Show meme of black man wearing mask
with white face printed on it
Doubtful of CDC and state recommendations, some
people still don’t believe masks are helpful. President
Trump refuses to wear a mask despite his wife Melania’s
efforts to promote masks as a health precaution. The majority of protesters tend to agree with the president.
photo of defiant protester
Masks will likely continue to be in the news for a
while longer, as evident by the headlines below:
- Face mask do’s and don’ts.
- FEMA reportedly seized 5 million face masks intended for veterans, moved to stockpile.
- FL Gov DeSantis does not know how to properly wear a mask or gloves.
- How often to wash a fabric face mask.
- How to make a no-sew mask from a T-shirt or handkerchief.
- How to wear a face mask without fogging up your glasses.
- Lego retooled to make PPE face shields.
- Michaels donated $1 million worth of fabric to help crafters make masks.
- US accused of piracy in Berlin over masks confiscated in Bangkok.
- US Surgeon General Jerome Adams demonstrated how to make your own cloth face covering.
- Using blue shop towels in home crafted masks filter particles better than cotton.
In the
spirit of sharing softer news and/or silly vibes:
- SGN episode 5: Some Good News potluck with John Krasinski.
- Somendra’s quick clay creations will amaze and delight.
- T-Rex Tuesday: dancing dinosaur delivers root beer in Vermont.
Daily
pandemic update:
Sydney's Bondi Beach and two neighbouring beaches
have been reopened as the government of New South Wales, Australia's most
populous state, began to loosen coronavirus restrictions. Countries including
Australia, New Zealand, Iran and Spain moved to ease coronavirus lockdowns as
daily infections and deaths slowed. However, the number of cases and
deaths continue to increase for most countries around the world. Aljazeera.com
timeline
28 Apr
2020
|
Cases
|
Deaths
|
Recovered
|
|||
15:12
GMT*
|
Yesterday
|
Today
|
Yesterday
|
Today
|
Yesterday
|
Today
|
World
|
3,018,038
|
3,088,278
|
207,725
|
212,801
|
894,705
|
935,168
|
US
|
987,322
|
1,013,290
|
55,415
|
57,043
|
118,705
|
139,422
|
NY
|
293,696
|
293,696
|
22,365
|
22,365
|
31,943
|
31,943
|
CT
|
25,269
|
25,269
|
1,924
|
1,924
|
63
|
63
|
NC
|
8,987
|
9,279
|
324
|
327
|
1,472
|
1,472
|
*Documenting time of day because real time data
updates continuously.
Tracking specific states: NY is US epicenter, son Reid lives in CT, and I live in NC. Interesting to see no overnight change in NY and CT, likely due to data lag.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ https://www.coronainusa.com/
Tracking specific states: NY is US epicenter, son Reid lives in CT, and I live in NC. Interesting to see no overnight change in NY and CT, likely due to data lag.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ https://www.coronainusa.com/
A moment of silence for those
we’ve lost to coronavirus, including the first
100 in the US.
In the
news:
- Bill Gates offered his best case scenario for the economy.
- GA men drank cleaning products in attempt to stop spread of coronavirus.
- Mitch McConnell acknowledged most people prefer updates from Fauci and Birx rather than Trump.
- NCHS data showed US total deaths spiked well above coronavirus death counts during early months of pandemic, likely another example of data lag.
- Trump canceled then rescheduled Monday briefing; still needed fact check.
- Trump told governors to seriously consider reopening schools.
Following Kenny Beck’s lead to
share a few signs of hope:
- Dress maker switched to making masks during shutdown.
- Families are using short form video app Tik Tok to cope during quarantine.
- Germany produced record solar power as skies cleared during lockdown.
In my
personal life…
Monday turned out much better than I had
anticipated it might when I woke up yesterday. After drinking a Carnation
Instant Breakfast, I joined Greg for a leisurely drive through Yadkin County.
The weather was nearly perfect except for a few strong gusts of wind. We
chatted a little in the car but not much. Mostly I was mesmerized by lush green
landscapes all around us and sunny Carolina blue sky above us as we meandered
through the countryside. Our quiet time together was exceptionally enjoyable,
almost tranquil.
Noticed a sign for DesiLu Photography and was so
intrigued that I looked them up on my phone while Greg drove. Reading about owners
David and Lauren Clark on their website I learned they live in a tiny house on
wheels. They seem like a cool couple and their online photos are beautiful and
fun storytelling works of art.
Our first stop was the Yadkin County courthouse where
the DMV is located. Greg wanted to turn in the license plate tags from his 55 Chevy and truck so he could temporarily cancel insurance
and save a little money during the crisis. He put on a mask and gloves before going
inside. I waited in the car with the windows down so I could
enjoy the fresh air. Saw a few people out and about downtown but no one wearing
masks or gloves except for us. Greg was back in a flash, said there wasn’t
anyone inside except the DMV clerks, neither of whom wore masks or gloves.
We continued driving. Next stop was the local
branch of the State Employees Credit Union to cash two small checks. Noticed an antique fire truck parked next to a big bright red building; turned
out to be Tractor
Brown’s Museum and event center. We didn’t stop but might come back when rona
is no longer a concern, assuming that day eventually comes.
I wanted to pick up some lettuce and marigolds while
we were out so we did a Google maps search for “garden stores near me.” No good
results popped up so next we tried “feed and seed stores near me” which yielded
several options. The Courtney
General Store looked the most promising so we headed that way. I breathed a
sigh of relief as Greg pulled into the parking lot. The store was idyllic,
exactly what I was hoping for.
I put on my mask and Greg waited patiently in the
car as I browsed an impressive selection of live plants, carefully choosing a
flat full of favorites. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed an older man staring
at me while whispering to a younger man as they stifled chuckles. They were not
remotely discreet. I was the only person wearing a mask so that was likely the
reason. I continued shopping undeterred. The old man looked like he could have
been a character on Duck
Dynasty; perhaps he was the patriarch of the family who owned the store.
photo of me wearing a mask and gloves, taken
at home prior to shopping
After selecting more plants than I had been
looking for, I walked inside the store in search of seeds. The woman behind the
counter seemed a bit surly so I looked around on my own before tentatively
asking if she had any lettuce seeds. She said she did and offered to help me in
a few minutes, after she finished helping a man standing nearby. I hadn’t
noticed him until that moment so I apologized for interrupting and told her to
take her time. I walked around the store a little more while waiting for my
turn. An older couple approached the counter about the same time as me and I
offered for them to go first since I wasn’t in a hurry. The older lady customer
asked the store clerk, “How’s your mamma?” The clerk replied that her mom was
well, had been in the store earlier in the morning but went home when shoppers began
arriving. A few minutes later it was my turn.
The sales woman walked over to the seed selection area
of the store and asked me which seeds I wanted and how much. I told her I
wanted a variety of lettuce seeds in fairly small quantities so she offered ½ ounces
of 4 different types. I agreed and thanked her for her help, then walked back
toward the front counter to give her ample safe distance. Noticed Moon Pies near the register so I grabbed one
for Greg and placed it next to my plants.
A man, perhaps the sales woman’s husband, stepped
behind the cash register to ring up my purchases. He was the younger man who
had been staring at me earlier, now looking at me with a glimmer of amusement
in his eyes as he counted plants and made small talk. I told him I knew I
looked ridiculous wearing a mask but would rather be safe than sorry. He smiled
politely and said “yeah, you need to do what you need to do to protect
yourself.” His wife overheard our conversation and added, “we wear masks and
gloves when we go to the grocery store” which made me feel better, less self conscious.
I told them I had a slight cough which was most likely allergies though I didn’t
want to risk spreading any germs just in case it might be something else. The
expression on the man’s face suddenly became more serious as he quickly and quietly
pumped a generous sized glob of Purell.
Then he winced as he said, “this stuff sure ain’t meant for people with cuts on
their hands.” I bit my lip to keep from smiling as I thought about karma.
The total was only $19 so I gave the man a $20
dollar bill and told him to keep the change. He smiled as he handed me back a
dollar, told me to keep it since my purse was still open. I thanked them both
and headed back to the car. Greg hopped out as soon as he saw me and popped the
hatch on his Ford Focus for the plants. I gave him the Moon Pie as a thank you.
He let me know he doesn’t like Moon Pies. Color me shocked! We have been
married nearly 15 years and together as a couple almost 20. I thought I had witnessed
him eat every snack food on the planet over the years but never noticed he
avoided Moon Pies. That man never ceases to amaze me.
By now it was lunch time and we were both getting
hungry. Greg wanted Boone
Doggies but knew there would be a long wait behind dozens of other customers
so we opted for Burger King drive thru instead. He ordered a plain Whopper with
onion rings and a Sprite plus an Impossible
Whopper (no cheese) with onion rings and a root beer for me. For what it’s
worth, I eat regular meat hamburgers at home though enjoy plant based burgers
just as much. We ate the onion rings in the car while they were hot and fresh
and placed the bag of burgers on the sun soaked dash to keep warm during the
drive home.
After lunch I took a nap in the backyard hammock
while Greg watched tv and did some laundry. Occasional wind gusts were a bit
chilly so I moved the hammock into the sun for warmth, and I rolled up my t-shirt
sleeves to avoid getting a farmer’s tan.
Later I coaxed Greg outdoors to help me dig holes for our new plants. On the east
side of the yard among fruit trees and blueberry bushes we planted watermelon, cantaloupe
and zucchini. I sprinkled lettuce seeds in the front raised bed between some spinach
and black
seeded Simpson previously purchased from Myers Greenhouse. We planted the Brussels
sprouts nearby. While Greg mowed the lawn I replaced a dead aster with English lavender.
In the patio herb garden I planted a new citronella
geranium mosquito plant where the lemon verbena had been last year. Also
transplanted some lime mint into a terracotta pot and placed it next to our
lemon balm. Planted a few marigolds
where I could find space for them, then tidied up.
Minerva had been in her outdoor kennel most of the
day while Greg and I ran errands and did chores. When Greg opened the gate to
let her out so he could mow her part of the yard, she ran toward me full
throttle, excited and happy. As she approached the patio, she slyly veered around
me to reach our side door, ready for some air conditioning and dinner. Greg and
I weren’t terribly hungry after eating big lunches so we opted for some
guacamole and chips for dinner instead of cooking a full meal. Afterward Minerva
snuggled with me as Greg and I watched tv and piddled on our laptops to relax
and pass time. Reading friend Dwayne’s latest blog
post was the most enjoyable news of the day. Everything else in my news
feeds made me appreciate time away from the computer even more.
Tuesday is supposed to be another good garden day
according to the almanac. Keeping my fingers crossed Greg will help me hoe a
few more weeds. I like it when we work in the yard together, and I think it
will be a good distraction while he waits to hear from HR regarding the
grievance he filed at work.
