I think the reality of the situation is beginning to sink in for more people. Certainly there are those who still somehow believe that magically, the virus danger will be behind us in a couple of weeks. These are the people counting the days in their social posts – “Day 4 of Social Distancing.” That is an unwise and unsustainable practice. The reality is that we will be grappling for many months with the virus, with social distancing and with the knowledge that as the virus continues its exponential spread,
It’s been called the “new normal” but honestly, most of us are making it up on the fly. There’s no handbook or protocol. No one can determine for you what your risk tolerance is. Each of us must define our own modus operandi in this new, unfamiliar and ever-unfolding situation. We must establish and adhere to rules that determine which social excursions are justifiable. From grocery pickups and pharmacy runs to medical visits – what are the rules for such interactions? Do we wear a mask or not? Is hand sani
And with interpersonal relationships, who is okay to see in person? Certainly the immediate family in our own homes – with the exception of those exhibiting tell-tale symptoms and even then, when they rely on your care, there’s little choice. But what about extended family that live elsewhere and may have a different set of rules guiding their interactions? How can we be certain that they are as careful as we are? The weakest link in our personal social network determines our risk of contracting the virus.