How are you all dealing with coronavirus and the restrictions many of us have to live

I'm currently spending 23.5 hours a day in my apartment. I leave only long enough to walk my dogs and a weekly trip to get groceries. I went to get coffee with a friend a couple of days ago. We each went through the drive thru and met outside of a local library before it opened, so no people were around at first. Was nice to get out and be around an actual human. Mostly I just avoid being near anyone when we walk. That's not different, I didn't like that before the whole virus thing. But I am a lot more hypervigilant about it, freaking out a little if someone gets too close before I see them. Not fun.

All of this has really helped me clarify what I want out of life. Corporate America has never been great and now I'm thinking of ways to get out of it and live a vastly different life. No more American dream and keeping up with the Jones for me.

I'm terrified to be around people. I never been like that before.

I think I am doing better now. I'm moving forward with medical appointments. I'm just sure to social distance and wear a mask.

I think a lot of people feel this way. Even here, cases are down but I still prefer people keep their distance.

I don't know what to think now. They released several more areas prone to high infection rates with high profile mayors from quarantine into the transition period. We continue to have low rates where I am and, yes, still locked down.

So, I recently read that today at the press conference, the health subsecretary praised our municipality as one of the municipalities in transition with great testing and traceability numbers. I had my doubts since I didn't see the conference. A friend that did recently texted me to ask since she was sure we were still locked down here. Yep, we are NOT IN TRANSITION. The same ministry has never announced we are in transition. You can look at the lists, we aren't there. We are on the quarantine list. Although, if our numbers are so great, why aren't we transitioning out? Basically, high-level government officials seem to never move out of the Santiago high-rent district and can't find our area on a map. The big question is, if the government doesn't know if we are quarantined or not, will they ever transition us out?

According to two symptom checkers, I really need a covid-19 test. But I'm afraid to drive downtown and line up for one. I have a fear of driving to unknown places. I just can't bring myself to do it. I will just self-isolate.

I live in a small town on the outskirts of a city where they're reportedly considering lockdown for a second time. It's bank holiday in most the UK this weekend. As usual, the weather will be rubbish!! Have timed shopping trips well recently, with no queues outside and reasonably polite people.

I'm waiting for better weather and kids returning to school next week before going out. I'm a lady plane spotter and blog writer, so can't wait to get out and indulge in my hobby again. That's my idea of freedom and I've waited long enough for it.

Before anyone reminds me about social distancing, I'm probably going in the car and there are plenty of benches.

I'm feeling better this morning. I think I got about 8 hours of sleep, which is rare. If I get worse, I will go to urgent care. They are testing at that facility and it's an easier drive. So all is good. I will just try to relax and rest for the next 2 weeks.

Yesterday was awful.

The car had been acting up earlier in quarantine. It had been fine the last times we took it out, since it is not too hot out. The guy that towed it said the problem is that the ignition coil is overheating, but quarantine restrictions won't let us get it fixed right now. Anyways, my husband decided to go to the store. Unfortunately he waited until it was afternoon, so it was kind of warm. The car wouldn't start when he went to leave the store. He had brought some gel packs to put over the area that overheats to try and cool it down. It worked enough for him to get about halfway home and started having issues again. At least he was near a gas station and was able to leave it there. He walked home with the groceries.

Then we weren't sure what to do as far as getting the car. we decided to get permits to walk the dog (that is his second permit this week, he gets no more). Anyways, we started walking and I realized I forgot my ID. We are under a constitutional exception until September, you can be arrested if you are asked for ID and can't show it. So, I had to go back home and get my ID and then take a shared taxi (eek!) to meet up with him. We both had to go, since we were worried he might have to push the car. I had a mask and hand sanitizer in the taxi. The driver had a plastic barrier and only let two people ride, at least.

Fortunately, the car made it home and we weren't stopped for any ID checks, etc. But, the whole thing was stressful. We tried to take the car out to bring the recycling to the bins, but then it wouldn't start. Basically we are carless until they loosen up the restrictions and who knows when that will be. There is some talk that they may announce it tomorrow for my area, but I have learned not to get my hopes up.

I'm still sick. My doctor won't treat me until I get a Covid test. So I'm going to a drive up facility tomorrow morning. I found a place right across the street from me. So that is good news.

Awful. Quarantine was renewed for our area again. At the same time a few areas with more active cases per capita are seeing restrictions loosened up and another area that has about the same number of active cases as here just entered into phase 3 with bars and restaurants allowed to be open for outdoor seating. I have lost any faith that the government is making decisions based on logic and numbers.

I did my Covid test yesterday. All went well. I'll get the results in a couple of days. Today I am feeling a little better. I slept about 10 hours last night off and on. I'm able to do some chores but it wears me out. My biggest hurdle is cleaning the litter boxes. Hope everyone is doing well!

@Deilla - yeah, I hear you on the litter boxes! I always think of that line from the Faith No More Song We Care a Lot - "It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it!"

I got my test results back. It's negative! I'm so happy. And I feel much better today. I must have had a really bad flu. I'm glad it's all over with. I think today I will celebrate life and celebrate good health. Wishing everyone well!

That's great to hear.

My husband just found out that a co-worker had covid. He's mostly recovered, but he is having issues with his lungs. I'm glad their office is still working from home!

I took my car in to the dealership to be serviced. I thought since I'm free now, I would take care of something important, like my car. It was due for it's annual service appointment. Things went well Everyone was spaced out in the lobby. I was there for a little over an hour. I'm glad it's done. Next is my back appointment. That is in two weeks. I won't schedule anymore appointments for a while.

I guess we really don't have it that bad over here. Never really had a lockdown and now we can travel again. I went to visit my hometown for a bit. I did get picked up by car though, didn't feel like sitting in a train with air conditioning and no windows for hours.

But the concert I had a ticket for got cancelled. It was planned during the crisis so outside, limited number of people, plenty of distance. Really sad

And now numbers in my hometown are on the rise as well, probably due to students coming here. And I thought it'd be safer here than where I live

People don't wear masks in stores here and it feels weird. And they don't even keep any distance, either. Everyone actst as if there is no pandemic. Yet one of the biggest arguments used against masks here is "it gives a false sense of security" and "people won't keep their distance anymore when they wear a mask " uuuhhhmmm, it can't get much worse than it already is. I wish they'd make asks mandatory, maybe it'd be a good reminder for people to be more careful.

Not being able to do anything fun wasn’t really bugging me until now. I was supposed to be on my Labor Day trip and some of my family is on the trip and my mom might be going on Wednesday for a bit since it’s a week long thing for my family. I can’t go because of the stuff I have going on in October and I am just too high risk to be going. Usually this Labor Day trip would be at least 2 out of 3 of the trips I’d have gone on this year. I go on a few mini ones each year. It’s just starting to get to me now.

@Mountaindewed - I am feeling like that too.

For the last few years we didn't travel much because we were trying to save the last money we needed to buy our house. Now, financially we are in a position to travel but can't. I'm very glad at least that we at least got to do a short trip in February. A friend stayed at the house with the pets. It was better than nothing, at least. But, I really wanted to do something bigger this year.

Masks protect everyone (if they’re properly worn... even where I work, in a nursing home of all places, you still see people leaving them off the nose) - they do provide a physical barrier against germs so the argument about them providing a false sense of security is just dumb. I know you’re not making that argument yourself, BreakForTheLight, but it really gets on my nerves when people disregard the science (and even common sense) behind controlling the transmission of any virus.
Things aren’t quite that bad where I live, it doesn’t feel like anything’s going on but I still go shopping and socialise as little as possible, staying at home the majority of the time. Online grocery shopping has been a lifesaver for my family.

Tomorrow, I will have a junk removal service enter my home and take a pile of stuff away. The pile is by the front door and the workers will wear masks. I'll wear a mask too. So I feel pretty safe doing this. Plus I really need to. Physically I'm not capable of taking all this to the dumpster. I have to rely on others. They will take my payment over the phone. So that is good.

I didn’t get to travel on my annual two week trip to the beach because the positivity rate was too high there but I did get to take a week’s vacation to the mountains to visit my daughter. I had a great time.

I didn’t think our neighborhood pool would get to open this summer but it did with strict COVID rules. I’m very grateful that it was able to open and I’ve enjoyed the summer. Nobody connected to the pool caught the virus. I’ll miss having somewhere to go this fall/winter and all my pool friends.

Well, they renewed quarantine, AGAIN. They finally also quarantined the municipality directly to the south of us. In my opinion that should have been done from the start since there is a lot of movement between the two. We are the bigger town in terms of population so most services like government offices and banks are here. That area doesn't have a hospital either, so people that get sick there end up in the hospital here. They have had similar case rates to here for a while, but were in phase three while we were locked down (phase1). Again, things that make no sense. The thing is, I think we will come out of quarantine as the same time as that area. And, places usually aren't quarantined for less than 4 weeks. So, we're probably looking at another 4 weeks of lockdown.


The area to the north will be released next week. Yet another place that is likely to have a rebound of cases due to overcrowded, unhealthy living situations. Apparently their mayor was constantly meeting with the Health Minister.

It's rising here again. I feel reasonably safe but not happy. Most people I know are feeling the stress and life has changed so much.

The thing that I find hardest is other non covid bad stuff still happens - coping with that stuff is so much harder now. Appointments etc.

I am coping less well than I was and I'm finding it hard to stay positive.

I'm having a hard time, too. For me it's mostly the loneliness. I'm trying to pay more attention to self care but I feel sad a lot of the time.

I'm lucky that I found a new job almost immediately after getting fired from the last one and I haven't lost anyone to covid but I'm really struggling now.