Over the last few days, I’ve been going to the post office quite frequently to mail out all the orders that have been coming in. And as I wait in line to be helped, I noticed that almost everyone in line is Chinese American. Most of them were filling out customs forms as they wait in line for their turn. It turns out they were mailing care packages to their family and friends in China.
“Face masks are selling for $2,000 USD on the Chinese version of eBay,” one lady exclaimed. People are so worried about becoming infected by the virus, that most of the precautionary staples are sold out at most Chinese retailers – except for a few opportunistic online merchants. These folks were paying over $100 in just shipping to get these supplies to their friends and family back home. And even at those rates, the USPS agent let them know that the Chinese postal system is overwhelmed and backed up, so there’s no guarantee that the packages will arrive in a timely manner.
I really felt their pain. If my loved ones were halfway around the world and dealing with a contagious virus that caused severe illness and death, I would do whatever it took! Some of the folks were sending hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes, full-body suits, protective eyewear, and of course face masks. It makes sense, strengthen the barrier between the environment and the body to minimize exposure to the virus. I can’t imagine what it must be like to live in an environment like that.
The CDC and WHO are doing their part to educate us and to contain the spread of this most recent variation of the virus. Let’s do our part - wash hands with soap, resist the temptation to touch your face, and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. And of course, take care of your health – get enough sleep, eat clean, exercise, and manage your stress levels.
❤️
