Monday, March 23, 2020

Quick Hits: Volume CCXV

- Gee, who could have ever predicted this would happen?

The University of Tampa announced on Saturday that five of its students have tested positive for coronavirus and are recovering after returning from a spring break trip.

The students were not identified and it’s unclear where they traveled or how many people were with them. None have been hospitalized and they are reportedly self-isolating now.

They traveled together with other UT students during the schools' break which took place from March 8 through 15.

"UT has been notified that five UT students, traveling together and with other UT students during Spring Break, have tested positive for COVID-19," the school said on Twitter. "We sincerely wish our students, and any others who may be affected, a full and rapid recovery."

Four of the five students who tested positive returned to campus after their spring break trip, while one did not.

You know the ol' saying: Friends should never let friends drink alcohol out of someone else's ass crack.


- When it was reported that Gov. Tim Walz (now self-quarantined due to someone in his security detail having coronavirus) was going to be making an announcement Monday afternoon, I assumed it was going to be a shelter-in-place order. Despite that not being one of the Executive Orders handed down, my employer nevertheless felt it best to "thin the herd" at our corporate office and thus have as many people work from home as possible. As such, I was one of the chosen.

Starting Tuesday morning, I will be working from my home office. And then on Monday, March 30, the fetching Mrs Carlson (a Science teacher) will be holding class via e-learning, also from our house.

This is gonna be....uhhh....interesting.


- With the coronavirus outbreak in this country, I was very concerned how this would affect Americans who were already enduring mental health issues. With anxiety and depressions seeming to be an epidemic in our society, something like a pandemic to adversely impact one's physical and financial health would only serve to heighten such anxieties.

As such, many of our first responders on high alert.

Growing tensions over job loss and isolation measures are forcing police and paramedics to be prepared for an uptick in domestic violence and mental health calls.

As a result, police departments are ramping up their efforts. Minneapolis Police is one of them. They say they are already seeing a rise in calls related to domestic abuse issues and we are only heading into the second week of this new normal.

Police want people to realize there are plenty of options to reach out for help.

“People are facing major changes in their life,” said MPD spokesperson John Elder. “This adds to a heightened stress level.”

Elder wants residents to know they have outlets in these times of crisis.

First responders are fully prepared to deal with a rise in domestic violence and suicidal calls as people face job loss, staying indoors and an uncertain future.

My wife and I are blessed in that we're able to remain gainfully employed during these times. Heck, we're likely to save significant money given we won't be spending a heckuva lot on gas for the foreseeable future. But that said, we're keenly aware of those who feel helpless right now. These folks will definitely be in our prayers.

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