Hi. I’ll start at the beginning. I’m a elementary school teacher. A little more than two weeks ago I started to feel bad. Like I had the flu times 10. I wasn’t surprised because my children have been sick for over 3 weeks with the same symptoms as we’re talking about now. One I sent to the nurse had a high fever, wheezing, could barely stand up. He went home, and went to the hospital where they kept him overnight. He was out the next two days, then back in school, still sick. So, I started to have the same symptoms, minus the fever. Since then I’ve seen two doctors, two different rounds of antibiotics and no effect. I tested negative for the flu. Last Sunday I felt so bad, extremely weak, like I could barely walk. At the suggestion of the health department, I went to the hospital. My goal was to get tested. They quickly informed me that they had no testing kits and that no hospital in Palm Beach County had testing kits and that they didn’t even know of a drive thru place and that I probably wouldn’t be tested anyway because I’m not over 65 and have no underlying health conditions. They drew blood, took a chest xray, and told me I was basically healthy. I said, If I’m so healthy, why do I feel like crap? They said, Well, you probably have some kind of virus. They gave me a bag of IV fluids and after a while sent me on my way. They told me to come back if I started to turn blue. Yes, they really said that because those are the patients they are seeing now. Scary. Since Sunday, I’ve slowly started to feel better. Until last night. It’s like a wave. I am completely congested, coughing again, (dry cough) back pain like a knife, extremely tired, etc…. While this is all going on, I’ve had to order a new laptop because my current one isn’t up to par with what the school district is expecting us to accomplish. I’ve been watching countless live and recorded seminars on creating virtual classrooms, setting up links to assignments, hosting virtual meetings, participating in virtual meetings sometimes 2-3 day with my fellow teachers, calling, emailing and messaging my parents and students, trying to get them into my Google classroom. It’s exhausting. I’ve been on the computer until 11 every night looking at what my students are doing now, creating reading and math lessons for them, and learning a new format I didn’t expect to do, at least right now. But, I think we will all be a lot better at tech when this is all over. So, I’m grateful for that. I don’t want to sound like I’m whining. My brother-in-law got laid off this week from a job he’d been at for 20 years. There are people a lot worse off. I saw it when I was in the emergency room myself. I am grateful to still have my job, still be able to communicate with my friends and family, and still be able to hug my dog. Even though I’ve been completely isolated for over two weeks now and counting, it could be worse. Thank you for reading my story…..

My job tasks have changed, putting aside usual management tasks. I am completely focused on helping keep our programs operational and filling in where needed. I try to keep up to date on changes and new services to share with staff.

My family and I have been affected in a few ways. First, I lost my job with first transit( Trolly) second, my car broke down and it was our only means of transportation. 3rd my son (17) suffers with mental health issues and wasn’t able to get his 30 day meds, instead they gave him 15. Now we are waiting on a appointment so he’ll be able to get the rest of his meds, and as you know no one is taking clients. We both suffer from anxiety, and he also suffers with severe depression. Inspite of EVERYTHING that is going on,we are trusting God to see us through.

I live in downtown Lake Worth Beach… I’M SINGLE..SENIOR CITIZEN..AND GENERALLY A VERY POSITIVE PERSON…TAKE CARE OF MY MOM IN BOYNTON WHO’S 92.. LOVE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND LOVE MY LAKE WORTHS BEACHSIDE COMMUNITY… MONEY’S STRESSFUL RIGHT NOW FOR MOST PEOPLE..AS IS THE FEAR OF CONTAMINATION… WE ARE NEAR THE BEACH (JUST A BRIDGE) BUT AREN’T ALOUD TO GO THERE.. I’M A SINGLE SENIOR LIVING ON NOW VERY DIMINISHED RESOURCES OF MONEY..WITH LOANS TAXES ELECTRIC ETC. IN A ONE BEDROOM RENTAL OF ONLY 450 SQ.FT. …I’VE SEEN EVERY MOVIE I OWN .. READ ALOT..FB ALOT.. COOK, CLEAN,FOOD SHOP, WALK OUR EMPTY TOWN..WHICH IS ALL SHUT DOWN EXCEPT FOR TAKE OUT FOOD WHICH I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD..AND HUMAN CONTACTS ARE RARE EXCEPT FOR SOME WHO DON’T BELIEVE IN SOCIAL DISTANCING… SO BASICALLY I ,FRIENDS , AND LOVED ONES BASICALLY ARE GETTING VERY BORED, EMOTIONLESS, SCARED, WORRIED AND GETTING NUMB… HOWEVER NOW THEY’VE ALSO SHUT DOWN A QUAINT AND LOVELY PARK ON THE INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY… BECAUSE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING… AND IT ANGERS ME THAT THIS ONCE VIBRANT AND QUIRKY TOWN IS NOT ALLOWING THE USE OF THE PARK BECAUSE SOME DON’T FOLLOW THE RULES… IN OTHER WORDS WE’RE ALL SUFFERING LONELINESS AND DEPRESSION FOR THE FEW BREAKING THE RULES… SUGGESTION: HOW LITTLE WILL IT COST TO HAVE VOLUNTEERED POLICING TO MAKE SURE SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES ARE FOLLOWED WITH BACK UP OF CALLING POLICE IF THE NEED ARISES? OR BETTER YET HAVE ONE OFFICER IN A PATROL CAR AT OR NEARBY THE PARK JUST TILL SUNDOWN… OR EVEN BETTER LET THE RESTAURANTS STAY OPEN WITH A 10 FT LIMIT BETWEEN CUSTOMERS AND STAFF STRICTLY ENFORCED BY OUR WONDERFUL AND CARING L.W.B. POLICE DEPT.. RULEBREAKERS.. GET SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY…NO IFS ANDS OR BUTS… TOMORROW THEY WILL KNOW THE SERIOUSNESS OF THEIR ACTIONS.. ESPECIALLY IF EVERYONE HAD TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY… SOME NOT PAYING THEIR BILLS… WHAT SAY YOU? WHY ARE THE RULE FOLLOWERS ALWAYS GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK? WHICH CREATES MORE ANGER… AND LONELINESS…DEPRESSION… I’VE SEEN IT ALL OVER EVEN IN OUR CITY HALL.. IT’S THE FEELING OF POWERLESSNESS.. NOT THE AGENDA THAT MAKES US WANT TO FIGHT , REBEL, AND USE LAUGUAGE TO DEBASE ANOTHER HUMAN BEING… IT’S DEPRESSION , LONELINESS, FEAR AND NOT BEING LOVED AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SHOW AND RECIPROCATE THAT LOVE BACK TO OUR LITTLE DOWNTOWN IN Lake Worth Beach… What say you… Please share… It might be tour last time to share….

My boyfriend just moved to Florida and was excited to find a job. But can’t find any openings. My sister works as a waitress. She lost her job as they closed. I am very fortunate to still have a job and am fortunate I can help them through this time, whether that is buying fresh veggies or paying for rent this month.

At Macy’s i work on commission… And everyday i must cover my $9.00 an hour draw.. 7 hrs ×9 equals $63 a day that Macys is paying us right now.. I’m one of the lucky ones… That’s $315 minus taxes, fico, and s.s.(at 25 %) equals $227.25 a week… I cannot pay rent food, auto loan, insurance, gas (taking care of mom in Boynton) ,dentist loan, electric, capital 1(when times are tough) and going out( to support our local economy.. Take out etc..)… Made $32,000 in taxable income 1918.. Devided by 50 weeks is $640 per week… Minus taxes etc. Equals $480 after taxes..so there’s a shortfall of $252.75 or approximately $1008 amonth.. Will unemployment insurance cover any of this?