Cavendish Update 3/14/20: Cavendish in the Time of Covid-19

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3/14/20: Special Post: Cavendish in the time of Covid-19

1. What’s changed in the last 24 hours

2. Be Safe: Practice the 4 S’s + 1

3. Getting What You Need in Cavendish

4. We’ve Got This

1. WHAT’S CHANGED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS: While the national news is covering stories of an empty New York City, our Facebook pages are filled with pictures of bare shelves in Ludlow, Springfield and Rutland.

Warm temps, rain and mid-March, isn’t exactly a skier’s weekend. As one person commented on the Cavendish VT Facebook page, Shaw's was packed first thing and ALL day today. Not just skiers... 2nd homeowners coming to stay while schools and workplaces are closed at home. Since many of these people are coming from areas that are more likely to have cases of Covid-19, it’s important to follow the 4 S’s + 1 outlined in item 2 below.

• Both Governor Scott and the President have declared states of emergency. For Vermont, it bans “all large non-essential mass gatherings of more than 250 people in a single room or single space at the same time for social and recreational activities.” It places restrictions on visitors to medical and elder care facilities and expands unemployment insurance to Vermonters who are required to self-isolate or quarantine. Read the Governor’s Executive Order which remains in effect until April 15. So far, the only ski areas to close are Jay Peak and Burke.

 The president’s declared emergency, under several different provisions of the law, frees up as much as $50 billion in federal assistance to state and local governments, and makes it easier to bring medical resources to areas that need them most. Learn more.

• The Vermont Legislature is adjourned until March 24.

• VT Supreme Court is postponing some jury trials

• VT Schools are open for now but parents are strongly encouraged to make back up plans. The TRSU issued the following statement yesterday. In response to the growing concerns around exposure to the COVID-19 virus, the following Southeast Regional Supervisory Unions and school districts are making the collective decision to implement the following procedures in their schools. These procedures are subject to change given the fluctuating nature of this situation. We will be constantly monitoring this situation and will update communities as needed.

As of Friday, March 13, 2020 at 5 p.m., all school related community gatherings will be canceled.

As of Friday, March 13, 2020, any public events scheduled in our schools will be canceled. We will hold meetings electronically whenever possible. This is a cautionary measure. The administrators at the school your child attends will send out details on specific activities. We will reassess this decision on an ongoing basis and update as new facts present themselves.

• Europe is now the epicenter of the pandemic. As such, anyone returning from Europe will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. Call Health Department epidemiology and infectious disease staff at 802-863-7240 for monitoring information.

• The FDA has just approved a new test from Roche, with  400,000 tests being shipped this weekend with 1.5 million being manufactured per month. Target, Walmart, CVS and Walgreen have pledged to make parking lots available for drive-through testing. This will take several weeks to ramp up.

• Cancellations and re schedulings are literally changing by the hour so call ahead before heading out to an event.

2. BE SAFE: PRACTICE THE 4 S’s + 1: The goal is to increase social distancing in order to slow the spread of the virus, thereby avoiding a huge spike in the number of people getting sick all at once. The U.S. healthcare system doesn’t have the hospital beds, ventilators or staff if that were to happen and would be overwhelmed much in the same way Italy is right now.  Learn more about this Flattening a Pandemic’s Curve: Why Staying Home Now Can Save Lives.

• Social distancing: Avoid crowds. Give people their personal space by staying 6 feet away. Avoid sick people. Don’t shake hands. Instead try any of the following: Namaste bow, “jazz hands,” wave, use the gong shou gesture-a fist in the opposite palm (think Jet Lee), or the Vulcan live long and prosper greeting. Fist bumps, elbow bumps and leg shakes aren’t recommended since they require being closer than 6 feet.

As far as shopping, go at times, such as early morning, before there are a lot of other shoppers. Market Basket opens at 7 am.

Telecommute when possible.

• Soap: Use plenty of it to wash your hands. Wash your hands throughout the day with soap & water, using hand sanitizer when that’s not available. Proper hand washing includes using soap (either bar or liquid), rubbing the backs of hands, between your fingers and under your nails for 20 seconds. Water temperature doesn’t matter, but cooler water helps to reduce the drying effect. Use lotion to avoid dry/cracked skin.

Your phone is your third hand so wipe it down often.

New research indicates that the virus can stay on hard surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours. Use ammonia or alcohol based products for cleaning.

 • Stay at home if you are sick. Keep your child out of school if they are sick

 • Safely cough by doing so in a tissue or on your arm.

 The fifth S is staying sane. If you are feeling anxious that is a perfectly normal reaction to an abnormal situation. You can help to reduce those feelings by:

• Not overdoing the information. Know enough to be safe, but not so much that you are obsessed.

• Limit screen time

• Take necessary and recommended precautions, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

• Keep up daily routines and make changes when necessary

• Stay physically active, preferably outdoors. Spring is on the way so get outside for long walks, early gardening etc.

• Stay social. There is a lot you can do while still not violating personal space. Texting, messaging, Facetime, Skype, e-mail, and phone calls all help. A message about social media-please, please use good judgement and check before you “share” or “post.” There are outrageous items being posted that are truly fake news and could ultimately harm someone. Using checkers like snopes.com can help to reduce some of this.

3. GETTING WHAT YOU NEED IN CAVENDISH

• If you are unable to prepare due to lack of resources, lost wages etc. contact Black River Good Neighbor who issued a letter yesterday that states, “As businesses close and people have no paychecks, their ability to put food on the table or to pay rent will diminish. We have been planning for such an emergency and expect that our services will continue uninterrupted. We will be there to help residents of Ludlow, Cavendish, Proctorsville, Mount Holly, Belmont and Plymouth. Anyone needing help may call 802-228-3663 and ask what to do. If you are feeling well and not under quarantine, come to the food shelf at 37B Main Street in Ludlow…our children’s Food shelf is available if your child is out of school and needs food.”

• If you are not safe where you live: At a time when people are being asked to stay home, this can be particularly difficult for anyone who is dealing with domestic violence. Call the Vermont Network Against Domestic Violence 800-228-7395 for help.

• Working/Studying Remotely -Internet Connectivity: Free Wi-Fi is available at the Cavendish Library in Proctorsville and the Ludlow Public Library. Both have free Wi-fi inside and outside in their respective parking lots. Ludlow has no password, just select the network “FML-Public.” The Cavendish Library Wi-Fi requires a password, which  is available from the Librarian 802-226-7503 or Town Office 802-226-7291.

• Library Resources: Both Cavendish and Ludlow Libraries are a great resource for our community, particularly when you need some entertainment. They are disinfecting constantly to reduce the spread of germs. Cavendish Library posted the following message We are sanitizing all items which come and go into and out of the library, and regularly wiping down high touch areas of the library. Further, we have installed sanitizing stations at both library entrances. We expect that all patrons will use these or wash their hands when they enter the library.

                                 Do Not go to the library if you are sick.

Cavendish Library is providing the following services

-       With notice, library volunteers will pick items up from or deliver items to your home. Patrons may call (226-7503) or Facebook message the library to arrange this.

-       The library will relax borrowing limits during this time, to allow patrons extra items.

-       Cavendish Cares Bags: The library has a limited number of bags with such supplies as tissues, wipes and non-perishables to support community members during their illness. There is a limit of one per family.

-       Movie Bags: We have mixed bags of various DVDs from our sale section that may be borrowed for an indeterminate amount of time.

-       Online E-Books and Audio Books: Patrons may download free e-books and audio books through the library website using the “Libby” app.

Ludlow Public Library: If you prefer not to go in-check out their on-line catalog, give them a call 802-228-8921, and they will place a hold. You will receive an e-mail or phone when your items are ready for pick-up.

Dinning Out or In: Murdock’s has posted that they are happy to provide take out if you don’t want to eat “in.” However they are thoroughly disinfecting between seatings. Check Facebook or call for other restaurants. As “take outs” are going to be more popular, call ahead to place your order and don’t wait thinking they can easily accommodate an order for 10 at 6:30.

Cavendish Cares Bags are filled with  items to provide comfort for those who are sick. Obtain a bag by stopping by the Cavendish Library or calling 802-226-7131. If you have been asked to quarantine in place, please call-DO NOT STOP by the library. 

Health Care: If you are feeling sick, please call your primary care provider or any of the local emergency rooms before going in. They will advise you how to proceed. Contact numbers are as follows:

• Ludlow Health Center 802-228-8867.

• Springfield Hospital 802-885-7540

• Rutland Regional Medical Center 802-775-7111

• Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center 603-650-7000

• Mt. Ascutney Hospital 802-674-6711

If you have an emergency, call 911.

4. WE GOT THIS: While the state’s slogan is “Vermont Strong,” Cavendish’s is more like “Cavendish Tough.”

 Our history shows that we know how to take care of one another be it from flooding-most recently Irene; disease-a small pox epidemic caused numerous cancellations, just as Covid-19 is doing; or other natural disasters-our fire fighters were on the front lines of putting out the Hawk’s Mountain fire that lasted close to a week.

Everybody is feeling a certain level of anxiety about what lies ahead, which could be week, a month or even longer. Keep in mind we’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again in the same manner as we’ve always done -together, with respect, encouragement and humor.

As always, check on your neighbors being mindful of personal space (6 feet) and make phone calls, e-mail, text, message etc. Be sure to check on 2nd homeowners, some of whom are coming from challenging situations, as resources are limited where they may be coming from. We’re all connected and the world could use some of our Cavendish toughness.

While many remember from Irene, everyone went to the shelter, due to social distancing, we’re asking people to go to the Cavendish VT Facebook page for information. You don’t have to be a subscriber to see this page.

Finally, if your feeling particularly stressed, check out “one of our own,” Ignat Solzhenitsyn’s on-line videos. There is nothing like a piano concerto to sooth the nerves.

 Stay healthy to protect yourself and our community.

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