Stay Safe, Stay Home

SALT LAKE CITY (March 26, 2020) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert issued a “Stay Safe, Stay Home” directive to all Utahns today. This is not a shelter in place order, but rather the next step in the Urgent Phase laid out in the Utah Leads Together plan. This directive seeks to make clear what individuals and businesses should do to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our state and communities.

“I’m tremendously grateful to all Utahns who are already taking steps to stay at home whenever possible,” the governor said. “While we are seeing positive indications that this is slowing the spread of coronavirus in our communities, we need to do more. The clear directives issued today will help Utahns understand what activities are safe — and if we unite behind these instructions as if our lives depended upon them, we will, in fact, save many lives.”

Goals of the directive are to flatten the curve, reduce the strain on hospitals and the healthcare system, and minimize the impact on medical resources for those with highest need. 

Utahns are expected to stay home whenever possible. The directive includes specific instructions for all individuals, high-risk individuals (60 years and older and those with serious underlying medical conditions), and children. The directives regarding hygiene, gatherings, travel, and outdoor recreation are effective immediately. 

Businesses that remain open are reminded to comply with all public health orders, offer telework options wherever possible, continue following strict hygiene policies, and implement enhanced social distancing measures in the workplace where telework is not an option. 

View the full directive Here

Combating the Effects of Social Isolation

Most of in the valley are participating in social distancing, which is critical to flattening the curve of contagion so that our health-care system can keep up. Yet the social isolation that millions of people are facing is a serious Covid-19 side effect that we need to be aware of and combat as much as possible.

Many residents of Pine Valley are older and it seems isolation can be particularly hard on this population, leading to health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, a weakened immune system, depression, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.

Warding off such conditions requires people to socialize as much as possible. But that’s exactly what public-health measures are advising against. Instead, social centers that we are used to frequenting are closed and community events have been suspended. Timothy Legg, a licensed psychologist and geriatric nurse practitioner in Binghamton, N.Y. said, “we can tolerate anything for a short amount of time but social isolation can lead to major problems.”

Technology can help. People can use computers to find groups of people with like-minded interests. Online games can connect people to others. And social media can help us connect with others. The suggestion has been given that, at least for this time, grandparents need to behave more like their grandchildren.

One of our Pine Valley residents recently shared an example of how technology could help. He and his wife used the Zoom program, which is a web-based video conferencing platform, to create a “meeting” with their grandchildren. They used a built-in white board to play a lively gave of Pictionary, lifting their own spirits as well as their grandchildren’s. Doing something like that isn’t as hard as you think, but if we still feel that’s beyond our technological skills, we can at least go to our email and peck out some messages to family and friend. And even when you’re not doing the writing, it’s a good idea to check email daily to see if messages are coming from others.

If we’ve resisted becoming part of the current technology world, this is the time to do it. Try to reach out digitally to friends, relatives and neighbors. For those of us who aren’t digital natives, it may take us a while to figure it out and we may make mistakes, but we won’t break the computer. If you need help, call a friend or a neighbor, or better yet a call a grandchild!

Parts of this article is taken directly from one written by Mr. Kopp, CEO of Healthline Media.

Getting Out While Staying In

If a person has to be inside for a prolonged period, there is no better place to be than Pine Valley. There are beautiful views outside almost every window, but it's also easy to get out and get some fresh air and exercise without having to be socially close to any other human. Exercise can also build our immune systems so we can better fight bugs that may find us. 

Here are a few pictures from a morning walk to the reservoir. We parked at the pay station and walked up--the road was clear enough to make an easy walk. We then came down the river trail--it was still crunchy and bumpy from freeze and thaw, so not quite as easy, but definitely perfectly passable. 

Something Lighthearted for a Moment :)

We have all been overwhelmed with news, emails and other communications about the coronavirus. Without a doubt, it is a serious threat and not to be made light of. However, in the midst of tension, it's good to insert some humor once in a while. This video showing how rednecks prepare for the virus made me laugh so I thought I would share it. Stay safe; call a friend; check on your neighbors.

A Message from Bob Dalley: Pine Valley Chapel Meetings Suspended and Help Available to Residents

Pine Valley Chapel Meetings Suspended and Help Available to Residents

Pine Valley Residents: My name is Bob Dalley and I am the President of the Pine Valley Branch (congregation) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the historic white chapel). My wife Sharon and I have been home owners in Pine Valley since 2003 and like you, love this beautiful community and our residents. With the recent concerns we all have regarding the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), we wanted to reach out to all residents--both member and non-member-- of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to offer any support, without obligation, that may be needed during this challenging time. We would like you to make you aware of the following information and resources that may be helpful to you in Pine Valley: • For your information and assurance, all worship services, large gatherings, chapel tours and community activities sponsored by the Church have been suspended indefinitely and the chapel closed. • If you do not feel well, are home bound, may need groceries or other help, please feel welcome to contact our adult men’s leader (called the “Elder’s Quorum President”) Frank Davie (435-668-9279) or our adult women’s leader (called the “Relief Society President”) Maxine Davie (435-668-3402.) • If you can’t reach Frank or Maxine Davie, then don’t hesitate to contact me (801-231-5321), Tom Nielsen (760-415-2063), or Lane Christensen (435-862-6029)—we are the presidency of the Church here in Pine Valley. • If you are well enough to go to St George you may want to consider the grocery on –line ordering and “pick-up services” offered by Walmart, Harmon’s and the other major chains to avoid crowds. • Pharmacies now offer mail delivery, drive-thru, and some home delivery. • If you have a serious medical problem or medical emergency please call 9-1-1. Pine Valley EMTs will respond free of charge and you are not obligated to use the ambulance service. • I am attaching an update from Southwest Utah Public Health Department regarding hygiene and other advice which we would advise you read and strongly consider. • As appropriate, we will communicate through Nextdoor and the Pine Valley Blog http://pinevalleyblog.blogspot.com/?m=1 on items that may apply to all of us in the community Please know the community is in everyone’s prayers and may God’s blessings be with us all during this challenging time. “…Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Bible, Old Testament, Joshua 1:9) With respect and affection, Bob Dalley
Link to the update for Southwest Utah from the Southwest Utah Public Health Departmenthttps://swuhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID19-Mar11-1.pdf

We are Always Fooled :)

With the warm days we've had this past week or two and the grass beginning to peek through in places, it is easy to be fooled about the seasons here in Pine Valley. No matter how many years any of us have lived in Pine Valley, it seems nature always find a way to surprise us. I was planning to work in the garden today :)

Coronavirus or COVID-19, Links for Information

We are probably all experiencing an overload of information about the Coronavirus or COVID-19 as it is called, but here are three good links to sites with information that can help us navigate all of the messages.

Southwest Utah Public Health Department Department
https://swuhealth.org/

CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

(this site has good info, but I've found it's usually a couple of days behind statistics)

Utah Department of Health

https://health.utah.gov/

Intermountain Health Care

https://mailchi.mp/imail.org/covid-19-5-things-you-need-to-know-do?e=f60d758e9c