Here in Wisconsin, visits to state parks and forests have increased significantly since last March. It wasn't all good, as the DNR had to briefly close some facilities due to people leaving their trash around. Come on people! Still, my hope is there will be a renewed (and sustained) interest in getting back to nature. Every January several of our friends get together and have a "Living Room Adventure," where we show pictures and talk about the places we visited the past year. Due to Covid, it was done via Zoom last month. Normally these annual get togethers center around far away places some of us have visited. This year the theme was overwhelmingly centered on places closer to home...in some cases our back yard or local woods. I see this as a positive. :)

gardengal, in your statement, were you quoting an authority or were you summarizing in your own words? I assumed the latter. I have seen nothing definitive yet on incidence of getting the disease from touching contaminated surfaces esp since they only recently came out with estimates of survival rates of the virus on various surfaces. But Johns Hopkins does say it's possible: The new coronavirus can survive for hours or even days on some surfaces. Touching a contaminated surface and then touching your face is one of the ways to become infected. Source: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/how-can-i-protect-myself-from-coronavirus If you have something that is more definitive, I'd love to see it.

I had never heard of ivermectin. FASCINATING research review. Took me back to my college days in entomology class and remembering the truly gross and shocking review lecture given by our African teaching assistant about insect transmitted diseases in tropical regions. I vividly remember him saying, "People stereotype black people as not liking nature and nature recreation. You have to realize that in Africa, there is so much more stuff out in nature that can kill you in so many horrible ways . . . . " Also interesting that ivermectin is a derivative of a compound found in soil. There is a universe in a teaspoon of soil! If I could get my PhD, it would be something regarding soil health and its relationship to plant health. Of course we are seeing now that the same holds true for animal health and human health. Lots of "big picture" thinkers in biology say it all boils down to soil . . . "dust thou art" and all . . . . Also fascinating that so much of what works for AIDS shows promise of being therapeutic for Sars-covid-19. We are so blessed to have the same folks who fought AIDS working to combat sars-covid-19. Seems like ivermectin is one of those things that stimulates the immune system, but just enough to help and not hurt . . . As a side note, supposedly olive leaf is also one of those compounds that modulates the immune response. I have a an odd relationship to it. Sometimes it seems to make me sick, and other times no effect, and sometimes a positive one . . . I am weird, I know . . . . Fascinating how these doctors are trying to modulate the immune system. Really amazing people fighting this thing . . . .

Wishing your girl WELL! Hoping the fatigue will lift soon. Eat, even if that means just small bites throughout the day. Eat *anything*; this is no time for dieting! Breathe like an opera singer -- from the diaphram, not raising shoulders. Fill your lungs, then take a few more 'sips' of air before exhaling. Regarding the asthma...what kind of inhaler are you talking about? A 'rescue' inhaler is albuterol, not intended for extensive use. Does she have a routine maitenance inhaler (like Advair)? I have a home nebulizer to help clear lungs.