Quarantine Life

Hey there. I’ve got a quick question regarding the quarantine rules for cross-border commuters. From what I understand, I’m allowed to head straight to work every day, then go directly home to isolate myself right after.
I shouldn't be hanging out in public spaces or wandering through parks, but I assume stopping at a gas station is fine, though I'm not entirely certain.
Every single day when we cross back into the States, they have us sign in, which is causing massive bottlenecks because the smaller checkpoints have been shut down.
This might sound a little paranoid, but since they collect our phone numbers during check-in, is it possible for them to track my location in real-time? Just to be clear, I haven't broken any isolation rules, nor would I ever dream of doing so.

Just a quick heads-up for everyone—local law enforcement is currently conducting checks to ensure those on the mandatory quarantine list are actually following the protocols.

I was just contacted by someone whose isolation period officially wraps up at midnight tonight, and they mentioned that officers actually showed up at their doorstep to perform a check.

Karen Patel41 said:Just a quick heads-up for everyone—local law enforcement is currently conducting checks to ensure those on the mandatory quarantine list are actually following the protocols.

I was just contacted by someone whose isolation period officially wraps up at midnight tonight, and they mentioned that officers actually showed up at their doorstep to perform a check.

Around here, they do regular checks, though since we live in a smaller town and there aren't tons of people in isolation, it doesn't happen constantly, but they definitely show up at your door.

One question.

We’re facing a bit of a situation soon... Has anyone dealt with picking someone up from the airport who is arriving from abroad and driving them straight into quarantine? We called 911 and were told it's allowed, and everything else—wearing masks, staying quiet, having them sit in the back seat—is just a recommendation rather than a strict mandate.

My plan is to wrap half the car in plastic sheeting and wear both a mask and gloves, and I'll make sure the person I'm picking up does the same, just so I can minimize or basically neutralize any chance of catching something. After that, I'll disinfect the whole vehicle and leave it alone for a while; we actually have another family house ready as a backup if things go south. We've already secured an entire floor for the person to stay on, where they can head straight in without greeting anyone, and we'll just leave the key in the lock.

Right now, I'm the only one in the house who isn't considered high-risk, and I really want to protect everyone else while doing my best to protect myself too, because if we end up stuck in quarantine, I'll be the one responsible for heading out whenever we need supplies.

Adam Doyle63 said:Around here, they do regular checks, though since we live in a smaller town and there aren't tons of people in isolation, it doesn't happen constantly, but they definitely show up at your door.

One question.

We’re facing a bit of a situation soon... Has anyone dealt with picking someone up from the airport who is arriving from abroad and driving them straight into quarantine? We called 911 and were told it's allowed, and everything else—wearing masks, staying quiet, having them sit in the back seat—is just a recommendation rather than a strict mandate.

My plan is to wrap half the car in plastic sheeting and wear both a mask and gloves, and I'll make sure the person I'm picking up does the same, just so I can minimize or basically neutralize any chance of catching something. After that, I'll disinfect the whole vehicle and leave it alone for a while; we actually have another family house ready as a backup if things go south. We've already secured an entire floor for the person to stay on, where they can head straight in without greeting anyone, and we'll just leave the key in the lock.

Right now, I'm the only one in the house who isn't considered high-risk, and I really want to protect everyone else while doing my best to protect myself too, because if we end up stuck in quarantine, I'll be the one responsible for heading out whenever we need supplies.

Are you kidding me? Just wrap the person up in cling wrap or grab a body bag from the local morgue.😂
Just kidding, but seriously, the most important thing is that the person touches as little as possible, so just hand them some gloves and a mask right away, put yours on too, spray down the whole car later, and call it a day. Honestly, the virus should die off in a few days anyway; it can't possibly survive on plastic or glass for weeks, right???

Nancy Howard4 said:Are you kidding me? Just wrap the person up in cling wrap or grab a body bag from the local morgue.😂
Just kidding, but seriously, the most important thing is that the person touches as little as possible, so just hand them some gloves and a mask right away, put yours on too, spray down the whole car later, and call it a day. Honestly, the virus should die off in a few days anyway; it can't possibly survive on plastic or glass for weeks, right???

😬

I have a pretty decent-sized trunk, so I'm actually considering 😁

Jokes aside, the gloves and mask idea makes sense. Personally, I'll probably go a step further and cover the entire front interior with protective film, then take photos of everything just in case someone tries to claim I'm a biohazard—because after being stuck in isolation myself, I’m making sure if a quarantine hits, I'm the only one allowed out with my grocery list.

Supposedly the virus can linger on surfaces in the car for a few days, but I'll just have the vehicle professionally detailed and let it sit idle for a week once it's back.

Adam Doyle63 said:😬

I have a pretty decent-sized trunk, so I'm actually considering 😁

Jokes aside, the gloves and mask idea makes sense. Personally, I'll probably go a step further and cover the entire front interior with protective film, then take photos of everything just in case someone tries to claim I'm a biohazard—because after being stuck in isolation myself, I’m making sure if a quarantine hits, I'm the only one allowed out with my grocery list.

Supposedly the virus can linger on surfaces in the car for a few days, but I'll just have the vehicle professionally detailed and let it sit idle for a week once it's back.

Honestly, if you can actually isolate all of that, it’s a solid plan.
The best move is to drop that person off later, spray everything down, and then toss all your gear and yourself straight into the wash. The virus is contagious, but it needs a way into our bodies—like through the nose, eyes, or mouth; it won't get through your skin, but if that skin touches our "sensitive areas," then yeah, there's definitely a chance.
The virus is pretty hardy on surfaces like glass or plastic, but rubbing alcohol will absolutely wreck it.

We actually drove out to the airport in two separate cars, leaving one behind with the friend we were picking up—who, naturally, was the designated driver for the trip. Since that second vehicle isn't exactly our daily driver anyway, it’s currently just sitting in the driveway waiting for some better weather to roll around.

So, I just ran into this total absurdity with self-isolation rules. Last week, my job slapped a "preventative" isolation period on me because my wife had been visiting the USA within the last eight days (since last Thursday, to be exact). My managers told me—strictly following corporate protocol, of course—that I had to stay home for the next 14 days, just as a precaution. It’s all on the company's dime, though, since they're still paying my full salary. Even my doctor couldn't officially put me on medical leave because, technically, I haven't even been in contact with someone who was actually confirmed positive.
Now, I've heard through the grapevine that my wife is perfectly fine—she didn't have a single symptom! So, it turns out we were all just blowing smoke. People were panicking for absolutely no reason. I asked my boss if I could just head back to work normally, but they insisted I wait out the full 14 days, which feels totally pointless... but hey, I'm getting paid to sit here, so I guess I can't complain too much. For the past week, I've been playing by the rules and staying isolated—not because there was an official order from the health department (I didn't even have one, so I wouldn't have risked any fines if I went out!), but just because of my own conscience. But starting today? I’m living like I’m on vacation. There is just zero logic to this whole thing. Honestly, most of these mandates the government has rolled out over what's basically just a nasty cold feel pretty ridiculous to me.

It’s pretty obvious the company decided it makes more sense to just pay you to stay home for 14 days rather than gambling on a mass wave of sick calls. Honestly, there isn't any logic missing here if their business model and risk assessment suggest that paying you to sit on your couch is actually the more profitable move. It’s the more responsible way to handle things, too. Besides, she could have been an asymptomatic carrier of the virus; just because she didn't show symptoms during her own 14-day stretch doesn't mean she wasn't spreading it to you. Sure, the odds might be lower, but they aren't zero.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to risk management. Take our approach here in the States, for example: once someone goes through 14 symptom-free days, they can usually wrap up their self-isolation and get back to life. But look at medical professionals—they don't just walk back onto the floor after two weeks. They have to get tested first, and they only return once they have a negative result because the stakes are incredibly high and they simply cannot afford to take that risk.

Matthew Jackson2 said:It’s pretty obvious the company decided it makes more sense to just pay you to stay home for 14 days rather than gambling on a mass wave of sick calls. Honestly, there isn't any logic missing here if their business model and risk assessment suggest that paying you to sit on your couch is actually the more profitable move. It’s the more responsible way to handle things, too. Besides, she could have been an asymptomatic carrier of the virus; just because she didn't show symptoms during her own 14-day stretch doesn't mean she wasn't spreading it to you. Sure, the odds might be lower, but they aren't zero.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to risk management. Take our approach here in the States, for example: once someone goes through 14 symptom-free days, they can usually wrap up their self-isolation and get back to life. But look at medical professionals—they don't just walk back onto the floor after two weeks. They have to get tested first, and they only return once they have a negative result because the stakes are incredibly high and they simply cannot afford to take that risk.

What you said at the start would totally make sense if I were running my own show, but I didn't even get the notice to stay home until late in the evening!—I'd already finished my shift, had plenty of contact with my coworkers, went grocery shopping, and even hit the gym. It wasn't until I was right in the middle of my workout, maybe around 7 PM, that I finally got the confirmation to stay home.
So, for this first week, I stayed put and just hung out at the house, but starting today, I'm getting back to my normal routine!

Lawrence Reed3 said:What you said at the start would totally make sense if I were running my own show, but I didn't even get the notice to stay home until late in the evening!—I'd already finished my shift, had plenty of contact with my coworkers, went grocery shopping, and even hit the gym. It wasn't until I was right in the middle of my workout, maybe around 7 PM, that I finally got the confirmation to stay home.
So, for this first week, I stayed put and just hung out at the house, but starting today, I'm getting back to my normal routine!

Look, on the very first day, even if you are contagious, the risk is negligible. You might even be more likely to pick it up indirectly—say, from touching a surface where someone else's saliva lingered—rather than through direct contact with your own secretions. At the end of the day, the virus still has to breach your primary mucosal defenses and replicate enough within your system before you actually become a carrier yourself.

I live alone here in Washington, D.C., and I’m wondering if it’s alright to hang out with a friend who also lives by himself. Neither of us is sick, nor do we know anyone dealing with coronavirus, or would it be better if we both just stayed put unless we absolutely had to head to the grocery store or the pharmacy?

I stopped by his place yesterday for a quick drink and some food, but now my friends are telling me that even that wasn't allowed...

Look, I know it’s technically against the unwritten rules of social etiquette, but if you’re absolutely determined to go down this path, then you might as well commit to it fully. If you're going to be that close, you should be hanging out exclusively with him, and he should be spending his time solely with you. Honestly, if you can manage it, just start hitting up the exact same grocery store—maybe even a local Trader Joe's—and ideally, one of you just picks up the supplies for both of you. That way, you aren't just acting as some sort of bridge connecting two separate social circles; instead, those circles actually merge into one single, unified group.

Matthew Jackson2 said:Look, on the very first day, even if you are contagious, the risk is negligible. You might even be more likely to pick it up indirectly—say, from touching a surface where someone else's saliva lingered—rather than through direct contact with your own secretions. At the end of the day, the virus still has to breach your primary mucosal defenses and replicate enough within your system before you actually become a carrier yourself.

My family doctor actually mentioned a patient who was right next to someone with a confirmed case and didn't catch it at all! So, I guess there are definitely certain conditions where the virus just doesn't jump from person to person.

mistydrifter2 said:I live alone here in Washington, D.C., and I’m wondering if it’s alright to hang out with a friend who also lives by himself. Neither of us is sick, nor do we know anyone dealing with coronavirus, or would it be better if we both just stayed put unless we absolutely had to head to the grocery store or the pharmacy?

I stopped by his place yesterday for a quick drink and some food, but now my friends are telling me that even that wasn't allowed...

Nobody is stopping you, really—not if you feel like there isn't any actual risk to you. I still hang out with my best friend; we head out to hit the gym together at least once a week.

Jeffrey Fisher5 said:That’s quite a lot to take in, but this part caught my eye:

And the cats too.

It seems rather odd that amidst all the various advice and guidelines, there was such a strange emphasis on avoiding contact with pets and wildlife.

I mean, only a complete fool would go out of their way to touch wild animals, but still... 🤔

Animals don't catch USA.

Which implies your cats are either stuck in quarantine with you or simply being deprived of your attention.

The virus jumps from an infected person to a pet—researchers in Europe have actually demonstrated this, mostly in wealthy nations where owners have the means to test their pets. The reverse vector—pet to human—hasn't been proven yet, though there’s some talk about a potential reverse vector in places like Italy, but nothing has been confirmed.

https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/20...a-cat-belgium/

Lawrence Reed3 said:What you said at the start would totally make sense if I were running my own show, but I didn't even get the notice to stay home until late in the evening!—I'd already finished my shift, had plenty of contact with my coworkers, went grocery shopping, and even hit the gym. It wasn't until I was right in the middle of my workout, maybe around 7 PM, that I finally got the confirmation to stay home.
So, for this first week, I stayed put and just hung out at the house, but starting today, I'm getting back to my normal routine!

How do you think the virus works? A sick person touches a healthy one, or a healthy person touches a colleague and becomes infected immediately. Even if you do catch it, you aren't spreading the illness for 1 to 7 days. It all depends on when you accumulate enough of the virus to actually become ill; the incubation period is anywhere from 2 to 27 days, which is why this virus is so dangerous. Many people catch it in their upper respiratory tract and their immune systems handle it so effectively that they never even suspect they were sick or show any symptoms at all. That accounts for anywhere from 30% to xx%.

This article is pretty interesting—Supreme Court Justice Andrew Abramov actually voiced some criticisms regarding the measures rolled out by the task force.
Especially intriguing to me is this part about that whole self-isolation thing. It seems kind of senseless, right? I mean, why force someone into a 14-day isolation if they aren't even sick or infected? By that logic, if they happen to break the rule, they aren't even a threat to spread the virus, and they could probably even challenge any fines in court.

"The Supreme Court Justice is also debating how the government defines self-isolation, which the Communicable Disease Act describes simply as “isolating and treating oneself at home.”

It’s totally questionable, according to the Justice, whether constitutional rights can be restricted when there’s clearly a test available to confirm or deny an infection. “Locking people in their own homes without testing puts them in a humiliating position: they're neither healthy nor sick, just stigmatized based on what the majority thinks. We're seeing unauthorized people—like pharmacists—validating this, and apparently, they're even prepping mobile phone tracking measures too.”

Abramov believes this measure prioritizes saving money over testing—basically putting the state's economic interests ahead of fundamental human rights. “That is unacceptable; those two things aren't even in the same league,” the Justice notes."

So, I guess they should just test people first, and then if they actually turn up positive, *then* they go into self-isolation. That would make way more sense!
People really ought to think twice before calling for a public lynching of anyone who breaks isolation rules, especially if they haven't even been confirmed as infected.

How exactly does one wrap up their quarantine?

Do I actually need to notify some government agency or official somewhere, or is it just a matter of waiting out the two weeks until life goes back to normal and that’s that?

Lawrence Reed3 said:This article is pretty interesting—Supreme Court Justice Andrew Abramov actually voiced some criticisms regarding the measures rolled out by the task force.
Especially intriguing to me is this part about that whole self-isolation thing. It seems kind of senseless, right? I mean, why force someone into a 14-day isolation if they aren't even sick or infected? By that logic, if they happen to break the rule, they aren't even a threat to spread the virus, and they could probably even challenge any fines in court.

"The Supreme Court Justice is also debating how the government defines self-isolation, which the Communicable Disease Act describes simply as “isolating and treating oneself at home.”

It’s totally questionable, according to the Justice, whether constitutional rights can be restricted when there’s clearly a test available to confirm or deny an infection. “Locking people in their own homes without testing puts them in a humiliating position: they're neither healthy nor sick, just stigmatized based on what the majority thinks. We're seeing unauthorized people—like pharmacists—validating this, and apparently, they're even prepping mobile phone tracking measures too.”

Abramov believes this measure prioritizes saving money over testing—basically putting the state's economic interests ahead of fundamental human rights. “That is unacceptable; those two things aren't even in the same league,” the Justice notes."

So, I guess they should just test people first, and then if they actually turn up positive, *then* they go into self-isolation. That would make way more sense!
People really ought to think twice before calling for a public lynching of anyone who breaks isolation rules, especially if they haven't even been confirmed as infected.

Look, at its core, the concept of isolation isn't necessarily where the controversy lies, but rather the fact that the government is essentially locking people away without providing the testing necessary to justify it. Fundamental American civil liberties should always carry more weight than the budget concerns of a testing lab, and these kinds of restrictions ought to be kept to an absolute minimum whenever we have the technological capability to just run a quick test instead.

Nicholas King said:How exactly does one wrap up their quarantine?

Do I actually need to notify some government agency or official somewhere, or is it just a matter of waiting out the two weeks until life goes back to normal and that’s that?

At a press conference today, the CDC mentioned that anyone who received an official notice from the health inspectors regarding their isolation needs to notify them when that period is ending so they can issue a formal release. On the other hand, those who were ordered into isolation by public health officials are supposed to contact the epidemiological department directly. It’s all a bit muddled, though. A friend of mine had police officers come by for a wellness check a week ago, and they told her she didn't need to notify anyone at all—that everything would just reset automatically once the 14 days were up. She actually spent several days trying to get a hold of someone from the local health department just to clarify the protocol, but she couldn't get through to anyone.😁

Thanks 🙂.

To be fair, we’re dealing with a situation where there isn't even an official written order regarding self-isolation—it was just some verbal notice given upon landing at the airport.

Anyway, I suppose we'll just have to get in touch with the FAA 🤣