COVID-19: It’s time to come together — virtually

Mar 16, 2020 | Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Comments (26)

COVID-19 woman connecting virtually with others

In these rapidly changing times, you may feel uncertain and anxious with the COVID-19 virus looming. At the same time, our society is more fragmented than ever before. You may be cut off from some of your normal support systems, with businesses closing or directing employees to remote work, mass gatherings no longer occurring and activities cancelled. Recognizing that these conditions can easily produce social isolation — and perhaps a degree of loneliness and fear — the Mayo Clinic Connect community is here to offer you virtual support and interaction, through online community discussion.

It’s time to come together, virtually, to talk about anything that’s affecting you related to COVID-19, with a brand new Connect group, simply called COVID-19. This is a space to talk about topics such as:

Closings in your community and how it affects you
What you are doing to cope
Whether keeping up your book club or running group makes sense
How you can pass the time
Housekeeping and disinfecting your home
How to deal with your own or your children’s fears
Being helpful to others in a challenging time

It’s also a space to congregate and be socially active. You can:

Join the virtual walking group
Tour virtual museums together
Share art, music and books
Find daily escapes and inspirations

Additionally, Mayo Clinic Connect would like to point you to reliable sources of COVID-19:

Mayo Clinic News Network’s up-to-date news and information https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/category/covid-19/
Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
The World Health Organization’s updates and resources https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

You can stay informed and also socially connected by chatting with others on Mayo Clinic Connect about COVID-19 and any other health issue concerning you right now. You can continue to connect with your Connect friends in the groups you already follow. And you can also get inspiration and information, and talk with others in the new COVID-19 Support Group.

How might connecting virtually help you stay socially active? What topic would you like to start?

Interested in more newsfeed posts like this? Go to the About Connect: Who, What & Why blog.

lioness | @lioness | Mar 19, 2020

In reply to @sto "What do you do after you put in the proper. Word?" + (show)

@sto Put the word in on the subject like walking or neuropathy this will take you to. pages on that subject

JK | @contentandwell | Mar 19, 2020

In reply to @sto "What do you do after you put in the proper. Word?" + (show)

@sto. After you put a word into the search field, just hit “”enter” or “go” whichever is on your keyboard.
JK

Nancy, Alumna Mentor | @1nan | Mar 22, 2020

In reply to @sto "What do you do to pass the time. I am bored stiff and don’t know what..." + (show)

My sister used to like to hand piece quilts but got busy with life and hadn't done that for years. She has downsized this past year and has little to do so she ordered a quilt kit to pick up an old favorite hobby. It reminded me I have two unfinished projects on a shelf and they would make great gift items. We all can reach back in our minds and find those things that used to make us happy "when we had time" to do them. It also might be a good time to start a new project with items ordered online.

lioness | @lioness | Mar 22, 2020

@1nan That made me think of what I wanted to do when I retired . I did ceramic and loved it also pottery but guess I cant to that till we are out of the house again. OUr senior center has a pottery area think I,ll check it out . Thanks for reminder

sto | @sto | Mar 28, 2020

In reply to @sto "What do you do to pass the time. I am bored stiff and don’t know what..." + (show)

I walk three times a day sometimes, clean the house, the garage, rake the lawn, read, watch tv, do puzzles and anything else to keep me occupied. Sometimes even all that is enough. I really miss my regular schedule, but we have to do what we have to do.