Wegmans is closing at midnight, rather than stay open 24 hours, to clean thoroughly and restock. That is a smart move, keeping only the Taco Bell drive through open. I hope other fast food restaurants follow suit.

I noticed a very long line at the McDonald's drive thru yesterday afternoon, so perhaps they too had closed indoor dining. I would try to minimize having my food prepped by strangers right now, but that may be a knee jerk reaction on my part.

I'm now working from home for at least the next three weeks. I work for state government and this is an unprecedented move for them. In reality, I could likely always work from home, but this has never been an option. It is now mandatory and I'm glad they are being proactive.

My local fb groups have added threads for businesses to advertise in one place, how they are adjusting their services to meet the new needs. Such as, curbside delivery for shops as well as restaurants, home delivery, and phone or video consultations. I‘ve mainly seen our independents and local chains.

A local storage facility is offering specials for the students from our two colleges who have to put things in storage early.

thank you for starting this thread--- and thanks for everyone who had something to add.

Our Nextdoor has a site for people needing childcare ( college kids are available), needing food/ supplies, or whatever. It is nice to see people willing to help,

A local preschool and kindergarten teacher is starting a morning FB page with a daily live video at 9am. She will, she says, do all the things that are usually done in early childhood ed at about that time, like Calendar, Weather, a Letter or Color of the day, etc. Not as a replacement for education, but to give structure and something “outside” of home. I think it’s a great idea. I’d been wondering if our teachers were planning on anything like this? Some of our high school math classes already do a daily video component that the students are supposed to watch for a short lecture, then try to do some problems, then in class they actually go into more detail. (And yes, this works for some students and not for others). Live feeds are surely easier with younger students, because you don’t have to coordinate with other teachers.

I don’t have kids in school anymore, so I’ll find out more next week as my friends’ kids start the e-learning. DS is on break from college, and in this coming week student break continues while the faculty work on e-learning where possible. It will be very interesting to see what solutions emerge!

I've been getting emails from retailers whose mailing lists I'm on. A local sports store, my hair salon, BB&B. etc. outlining what extra precautions they are taking. They all also address that one of their primary concerns is the health of their employees.

I'm pleasantly surprised at the professionalism of the notices from all of them.

I got one from the tree guys. For them, it’s basically “we don’t shake your hand when we get to your property.” In addition, of course, to keeping their base site clean, and cleaning their tools (which, of course, I hope they do anyway to prevent the spread of tree diseases, funguses, and bugs).

As of Monday, our whole town is pretty much closed. Schools, libraries, senior center, town hall, etc. We have to move my dad from rehab to assisted living on one day but otherwise I think we’re pretty much homebound for the next two weeks at least, except for walks. Sadly, we seem to be returning to wintery weather in the Boston area. Thanks a lot, Mother Nature. ☹️

We also have Publix and Harris Teeter announced that they will close at 9 p.m. each night. The supermarket employees are the unsung heroes in all of this.

Nothing like keep social distance but not even being able to go for a walk outside. We’ve been walking but the snow was off and on today, so we stayed in. I hope all goes well with the AL move.

I got an email from Warby Parker they are closing all retail locations until the end of the month and continuing to pay their employees.

And I dropped off my bike to a local bike shop so that I can go out on the greenway. I wonder if they will see an uptick in bicycle repairs? Weather just needs to cooperate this week. It's been cool and wet.

Like so many open space venues, Longwood Gardens has shut down for two weeks. I’m missing my job terribly, but it was the right decision.

Yesterday I received an email telling me my gym was closing for two weeks. Not going to lie, part of me was more than ok with skipping workouts. Two hours later PA announced that all the liquor stores in PA will close indefinitely on Tues. see what I get for my hedonistic celebration?

Those state liquor stores will be mobbed on Monday!

I just received an email from my close friends at Carhardt, who announced they are closing their stores for two weeks, and who then proceeded to heap effusive praise on farmers, ranchers, truck drivers, etc, all the people who wear their clothing on the regular, which is fine, and laudable, but they didn’t say if they are paying their retail workers, who also work very hard. So, I replied and asked. These large companies need to step up and take care of their service workers. The Carhardt family are billionaires, they can afford to pay their retail staff.

Several local places have posted they are delivery and/or doing curbside pick up.

In addition to Frozen 2, the newest Star Wars movie is going to be released early.

I’m not really sure where to post this, but if you have a favorite locally owned restaurant or store, purchase a t-shirt, hat or other item they sell, they likely paid for those items a long time ago, so the $$ a bonus.

As mentioned, the Publix stores, and now Kroger and local WalMart have announced different hours. Publix and a Kroger are closing at 8pm each night to do thorough cleanings. WalMart is closing from 11 pm til 5 or 6 am (not sure) until further notice. A few locally owned restaurants are closing for 2 weeks, and one is offering limited evening call-ahead orders and delivery service in a certain zip code.

Many churches here did online services today.

Just a nice thing I stumbled upon while browsing on FB. The Metropolitan Opera is going to have free HD starting tomorrow .Met Opera -- Carmen, La Boheme, and others.

Lots of restaurants offering curbside p/u and some offering free delivery within a certain area. But the 2 I really commend are a local pie place and a taco place who are both offering free bagged lunches for kids who won't be getting their free meals at school. The organizations that cover that normally during xmas break and the summer are gearing up but don't have things in place yet - and that may prove difficult to get the crews together who normally do that.

A local dairy owner delivers milk to the area schools each morning, and he sees the many kids eating their free breakfast. Since the schools have closed he has set up cooking facilities outside his dairy store and is coking breakfast for any kids who come by each morning. Many local people have been donating supplies and cash to the cause since he has undertaken such a kind gesture. He will donate any supplies/ money to the local food bank if anything is leftover. Other organizations are handing out bagged lunches to kids. There are many kind people in this world.

With the schools closed, a local mom was thinking of ways to get kids outside, and do something kind of social without coming into contact.

Her delightful idea is a Shamrock Hunt! Put a Shamrock in your window, on your door, in your yard. Families can go out and look for them, maybe take a picture and post on the thread. Could move on to other spring themes.

Cute, huh?

This!

“ Major luxury brand company LVMH is converting its perfume and cosmetics factories to instead produce hand sanitizer during the coronavirus outbreak, which it plans to give free to French authorities and France's largest hospital system.

The France-based company, which is behind brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior and Givenchy, said in a press release Sunday that it hoped to begin making hydroalcoholic gel in its factories starting Monday, as the coronavirus pandemic results in stores worldwide being cleared of the product.

“Through this initiative, LVMH intends to help address the risk of a lack of product in France and enable a greater number of people to continue to take the right action to protect themselves from the spread of the virus,” the company said in a statement. ”

I posted this over at the Kitchen Table but it’s very appropriate for this thread.

Our state closed restaurants for 2 weeks. One of our local restaurants was started by a retired firefighter, and they posted this today:

Well we might as well go out with a bang! Any and all veterans, active military, active firefighter, active police officer, nurse, Dr, first responder. Come in for for half priced EVERYTHING! Every menu item is half priced. I don’t want to waste fresh food.

(neighboring town) stations 1 &2 I’m bringing lunch tomorrow.

(our town) stations 1&2, I’m bring lunch dinner tomorrow.

(neighboring town) station I’m dropping off pizzas for you guys to cook whenever.

But get this: another local restaurant who always has carry out is adding gift cards to THAT restaurant to their menu, so you can support both restaurants at the same time.

We have a couple of very active local Facebook groups. Members are great about sharing what local businesses are doing right now, some ideas you never would have thought of, or businesses you maybe had forgotten about.

Not only restaurants, but packaged food stores, services like tutoring and healing services, consultations, and more.

Former teachers are doing classes and activities (because most current teachers are moving to online).

Some restaurants are creating a special menu for pickup/delivery, such as dinner for 4. We used to order from an Italian restaurant that had a ”Pronto Pack”, dinner for 4 that would feed our family of 6 with leftovers! It’s certainly easier than ordering 6 separate meals.

Folks are sharing other ideas they find, like zoos and museums and performance venues that are streaming or have virtual tours.

Our local FB groups are always a good source for recommendations, information, and social interaction, and now more than ever, to support our local communities.

The Columbia Restaurant Group (13 restaurants) sent out the following notice. They seem to be taking steps that could be used by many restaurants large and small. I especially like the change to individual condiments and single use menu.

“Along with existing policies, the Columbia group is taking additional steps to thoroughly clean and sanitize each restaurant location. We’re in frequent conversation with the Centers for Disease Control.

* To help with social distancing, we are removing tables, bar stools and/or seating guests farther apart.

* We’re encouraging take-out orders for those who want to eat at home.

* We temporarily have suspended our table-side presentations for sangria, Original “1905” Salad®, etc.

* We’re switching to a single-use menu.

* We’ve scheduled different staffers for plate delivery and removal, respectively.

* We’ve changing to individual servings of butter, salt and pepper and other condiments.

* We’ve reminded employees to wash their hands often with soap, water and sanitizer, and to refrain from handshakes and hugging.

* We’re even more frequently scheduling bathroom sanitation and cleanliness checks.

* We’re installing hand sanitizers by the exit door of each guest restroom.

* We’re installing hand sanitizers next to the hostess stands for guest use.

* We’re paying even closer attention to sanitizing door handles, doorknobs, light switches, etc.”

One of our local restaurants, who has always done delivery, is now delivering for other restaurants, too, and for seniors will pick up from the grocery store next to the restaurant and deliver along with your food order. (Many grocery stores have delivery, but it’s kind of hard to justify when all you need is milk and bananas.) Another restaurant will pick up from the drugstore next door and deliver with your food order.

I love our community.

I think the Columbia Restaurant Group is in a state of denial. They, and the rest of Florida, need to realize it's time to shut down restaurants, bars, etc. and stop serving in house - for the greater good of the country.

It’s a fine line, (about restaurants) the tourists are already here. Is it better to feed them with precautions or let them pick up and go where?

Plus trying to do the right thing for the employees.???

my nephew has a restaurant in Colorado. He has over 100 employees. The state has closed all dining rooms. He is offering take out but knows that take out alone won’t even cover the water bill.

What about people who are still going into grocery stores? Are they doing what is right?

The Beaches in my area are staying open, crowded with Spring Breakers. If the beaches were closed, all those folks will have to go somewhere.

Who knows what the right thing to do is?

I remain astounded at the shots of spring break revelers on Florida's beaches. WTH is wrong with that state's leadership?! Close the beaches! People need to go home.

Our state parks and trails and DNR areas are closed, as is our botanic garden. I’m sure our local forest preserves will follow, but this must be hard to enforce. Most of the trails have many access points and most of the preserves are not “manned”. Fresh air and sunshine are good for you, right? We are seeing more families out for a walk in the neighborhood, but not groups of unrelated people, and that’s a good thing. But there’s nothing like the solitude of an open field or riverside trail to soothe the spirit.

The right thing to do is to shut down everything but essential services. If you study what has happened in the countries that got this under control (China, South Korea) and those who didn't (Europe) you know that is what needs to be done. I just heard from a friend in Germany today. Here's an excerpt: I hope, that you find good solutions in the US, and that the responsible persons in your country react quickly. It seemed, that in Germany it had been a bad reaction to wait days and even weeks before they told people to stay at home....

The beaches are slowly closing, some in the Miami area have shut down. To close all the beaches at once would be a logistical nightmare. Tourists would crowd airports, the college kids would likely move their parties to somewhere more confining. Pinellas beaches are being patrolled, people reminded to not group close together. Once the tourists head back home it will be easier to shut down more areas.

It's just really hard to see those photos of young people literally hip to hip, bodily fluids everywhere, and not imagine the virus spreading like wildfire among them. I think we all understand that this has all unfolded so suddenly, but it is hard not to want to place blame on the powers that be for allowing the throngs to descend on the beaches as usual.

I shudder to think of all the Minnesotans returning from their spring break in Florida....

I imagine that if restaurants, bars, and beaches close, there will be a lot of hotel rooms trashed with alcohol, pizza, and bad behavior. Those kids need to suck it up. At least they are in the open air.

It is spreading like wildfire, no doubt. Just yesterday 4 cases were reportedly found on campus at University of Florida, while the school is closed.

Spend some time doodling!

Lunch doodles with Mo