Hey Jazz fans, how are you holding up?

After what’s felt like the longest 9 days of my life, I finally feel able to type out some words. I hadn’t been sick during this thing, but unfortunately that changed a couple nights ago when I started to come down with what I felt was a cold. I took some Nyquil assuming that it was just something run of the mill—after all, I had been at home practicing social distancing this entire time. Unfortunately by the next day I was feeling a burning in my chest, rocking a gnarly dry cough, feeling chills, body aches, and feeling super sleepy and tired. I decided to let it go one more day. Symptoms persisted so I called my local hospital that was starting to do drive-in testing. They asked me my symptoms and said it’d be best if I got tested. I went through the drive-through testing where they put that swab the length of a ruler somehow all the way up my nose and said I’d need to wait 7-10 days for my answer. As my symptoms right now are considered mild—though it feels like one of the worst colds I’ve ever experienced—I think I’m pretty lucky. I’ll be okay.

Like most around the United States right now, I assume that you don’t have to be showing signs of this virus to feel like you’re living some strange dream right now. With every passing day, seeing scenes in movies with crowded malls, busy restaurants, and happening parties feels like a different time. Before I started feeling the symptoms of this virus, days were blending into one another. If you are one of the lucky few who have the ability to work from home like myself, you’re in a constant battle with your boss and your newfound toddler boss. It’s easy to work past your work hours as there’s just not much to do.

For many, there’s another bleak picture. If you’re one of the arena workers or many of those who worked hourly or part-time in industries like tourism, hospitality, restaurants, or just own a small business that isn’t 100% e-commerce, it’s a time of intense struggling. We’re all just holding onto our butts with this trying to navigate this new normal, whatever that means.

My once busy city of Boise, Idaho looks like a ghost town on a good day and a set from the Walking Dead on a bad one now. It’s quiet. Boise State campus which I’m close to is vacant. I’ve heard stories from my cousin who works in an ER in Indiana about what’s starting to hit there. It’s a worrying time.

That’s before I get to the sports part of things.

I honestly have no idea what to write about here on this site moving forward. I have spent a week just trying to get re-adjusted with my full-time job that I thought by now I’d have a plan for this website moving forward. Frankly... I don’t. I honestly don’t want to spend every last second of social distancing writing about Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert’s beef. I don’t want to spend every last bit of digital ink lamenting what could have been or every hypothetical season scenario. It feels silly. It feels hollow.

But at the same time, that type of hollow thing is what I yearn for. I would give a lot for my attention to be diverted by a live basketball game. But looking at the reports, it doesn’t look like it. For those who were around SLC Dunk during the Lockout, you’re now the grizzled veterans of this new Coron-Out.

We’ll be keeping coverage of what’s going on throughout this time, but I understand for some of you, it may ring hollow and you may turn more to your families. That’s okay.

Some of you may feel like it’s becoming one note as there’s not a lot to cover. That’s okay.

Some of you may feel like it’s becoming too focused on non-basketball stuff as it did during the Lockout season. That’s okay.

Some of you may absolutely love the coverage more than when we were covering basketball. That’s okay, a little weird, but okay.

All in all, I have no idea how to really say how we’re moving forward, but we will be. I don’t know what the coverage will be like moving forward, but we will be moving forward. In times of isolation, we need community. Our community will continue to be here whether there’s basketball or not.

---

Coronavirus Symptoms, How it Spreads, Prevention

Below you’ll find the CDC’s information for identifying symptoms, how COVID-19 spreads, and, most importantly, PREVENTION. More information than found below can be found at:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Symptoms

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

⚠️ Call your doctor: If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider immediately.

How it is spread

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Can someone spread the virus without being sick?

• People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
• Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

PREVENTION

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.

CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.

Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.