I'm 62 years old and have Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). It sounds worse than it is, it's basically a form of arthritis. I've got calcium deposits building up on the vertebrae in my neck. One of the effects is that it creates a tickle in the back of my throat, so I end up clearing my throat a lot and cough more when pollen is high. Well, I live in NC and pollen is everywhere. I went to a gas station last weekend to buy gas for my mower, and I cleared my throat and coughed, drawing the stare of everybody nearby. I felt like a leper. I've been working from home for the last week to protect myself but to also avoid stressing out co-workers.
I live southwest of Raleigh NC. Five of the first seven cases confirmed in NC were Biogen employees who picked the virus up at a convention in Mass. I'm about 7 - 8 miles away from Biogen, and there are a lot of Research Triangle Park employees living in my area. With my age, I'm not taking any chances and other than daily walks, I have isolated myself since Saturday. I will really miss my trips to Texas Roadhouse, but I'll survive.
My employer has cut all travel, even between local facilities, so some things are just being delayed. I was planning to go to western NC for some product testing, and then to Pittsburg in early summer. Both of those trips have been postponed indefinitely. My management also sent out an email and asked anyone that could work from home to do so, they have implemented nightly disenfecting procedures by the cleaning crew, and anyone with a fever or signs of sickness are being sent home immediately. We have also been told we can take unpaid leave of absence if we would like. During 2008, my employer made everyone take one week a quarter off as an unpaid absence. I'm expecting them to announce a similar policy starting in the second quarter. I think this will end up pushing my retirement out another six months or so, maybe longer. I was mostly out of the stock market when this hit, but the investments I didn't sell have been whacked hard.
I feel for all of the people who earn their income in retail, restaurants, and entertainment industry. I think before this is over, there will be a lot of pain inflicted on those who can least afford it.
Mike
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