March 15, 2020. As I read the headlines this morning I thought of Thomas Paine’s opening line from The Crisis: “THESE ARE the times that test men’s souls.” The world is changing rapidly since our last meeting. Before I go into the news and links of the day, I want to say something: TAKE CARE SELF. Reduce stress. Breathe. Reach out. Tomorrow, I will share some tips to help you get through it. It’s going to be very difficult. Facebook will soon be filled with stories about sick friends, unlike the old posts about cats and babies. It’s already happened to me on my Facebook — one of my good friends is currently in a Florida hospital with symptoms. Remember this: We are all in this together, even though we may be separated. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You can reach me via the links at my blog’s bottom. And you can email me at mramsey@mississippitoday.org. QUESTION OF DAY: How do you reduce stress? Return to the show. NEWS & STUFFF Mississippi Today’s COVID-19 coverage is available here. All over the world, more travel bans are being implemented. The president was negative for COVID-19. The airports are jammed, which is not a sign of social distancing. Both the U.S. and Mississippi are currently in a state of emergency, allowing for funding to flow and laws to not be followed if needed. What does this mean? What does that mean? Reeves’ family is currently in 14-day quarantine after being in Spain, which has a high rate of COVID-19 patients (Spain and France are following Italy into total lockdown). I wish him and his loved ones well. The state is doing everything possible to increase testing, which allows us to pinpoint the exact location of the disease. It is best to assume that the disease is present in your area and take precautions until we can confirm it. Let’s get to the bottom of it: (If you’re looking for an example of how to behave, this is it. Schools are closed in every school district for at least two weeks. Here’s the Mississippi Department of Education list: I said “at least,” because it is rapidly changing. Keep in touch with your local district. The governor advised that worship services not be held in public places. Mississippi’s public universities have extended spring break and are now going online. Events were cancelled. People are increasingly working from home. Yesterday, I joked that 2020 would be the year we realize how much our families are to us. This is necessary to slow down the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve. The Washington Post has a great story that demonstrates the various types of social distancing. It’s eye-opening. It’s both liberating and frustrating to work from home, even if it’s something you have never done before. These are some tips that I borrowed from Emily Gatlin’s Instagram. This list is not sourced, but it contains good ideas. Me? I will create a detailed plan for the day and email it to my boss. Then, I’ll stick to it like glue. I will probably skip my daily happy hour. I asked people how they deal with being at home. Many people are looking for ways to reconnect with their families, such as cleaning out their closets or reading a book. It’s important not to treat it like a snow day. Our new reality requires us to avoid certain groups of people. The spread of the disease may be being driven by people who have no symptoms but are infected. Stay home as much as possible. Here are some people who share their thoughts on how they are making more family time. Wash your hands. Do not touch your feet. If you can, stay at least six feet from other people. Don’t forget your breath. Link: Mississippi Today’s COVID-19 Stories. Remember the Question of The Day: How can you reduce stress? Email: mramsey@mississippitoday.com On Twitter: MarshallRamsey On Facebook: Marshall Ramsey Fanpagepalooza. MarshallRamsey on Instagram: Support this work, and make a regular donation today to celebrate our Spring Member Drive.