It seems like an unusually rough flu season, even for people who got the shot. And the double whammy of the Coronavirus has many of us on edge. The CDC has a robust collection of up-to-the-minute information and tips here.

When I first wrote this post, I think we were all in a zone of disbelief and inclined to believe what would soon become fiction. It’s “there, not here.” It’s “happening to old people with health conditions, not young people.” It’s everywhere, happening to anyone. In a matter of days, this situation turned very serious, very scary, and has most of us grounded at home. School is out for many communities for a TBD amount of time. Non-essential businesses have been asked to close. Who could have imagined a time when we would only be allowed to leave home for the grocery store or doctor?

It’s a good reminder of the importance of hand washing and why we should avoid touching our face. Leave it to Ellen DeGeneres to provide some useful information infused with a great sense of humor at a very stressful time in our lives. This is clearly no joking matter, and I’m not bringing light to the seriousness of the situation, trust me. But if we can learn some new safety habits that will become our new normal for a while and smile along the way, maybe we’ll be part of fighting this battle one step at a time.

Stay safe, and … wash your hands!