by Tom Chillemi
Attempts to contain the COVID-19 coronavirus have had far-reaching effects. Most group activities have been canceled or postponed in the wake of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declaring a state of emergency.
All Middlesex County Public Schools closed on March 16 and are expected to remain shuttered until at least March 30.
Church services have been suspended.
Middlesex County and Town of Urbanna government offices are closed to walk-in traffic through March 29.
“What isn’t going to stop is my bills,” said Chris Marshall of Middlesex. “I promise you they won’t close them.”
A sign on a local business door sums it up: “No walk-in traffic.”
Health officials advise staying clear of large groups, washing hands and covering coughs.
Staying home or “social distancing” is recommended and many employers are allowing employees to work from home.
Meanwhile, the uncertainty grows. People are stocking up on essentials. The meat case at Urbanna Market was almost empty on Monday morning, said Becky Bullock, who along with her husband Harry, own the grocery store.
A truck delivered stocks of meat, paper towels and toilet paper Monday morning. Mrs. Bullock put the news on Facebook. By 2 p.m. all but a few rolls of toilet paper were gone.
“I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,” said Mr. Bullock, explaining that customers will stock up on food and water for hurricanes and snowstorms, but toilet paper hoarding is something new. One customer bought 144 rolls—enough to last a family of five for six months, he added.
“I almost passed out when I saw toilet paper,” said Kerry Robusto, who said she learned from her father what to do when the store-bought variety is not available.
In the space of 15 minutes, Urbanna Market employee Heather Burnette of Topping received two text messages asking her to put aside some toilet paper. One was for an elderly customer, and Burnette was happy to help.
Mrs. Bullock said the store’s supply warehouse is limiting some things and the store is experiencing challenges keeping hand sanitizer solutions, alcohol and bleach in stock. “It’s crazy,” she said.
The store is being sanitized mornings and evenings and cashiers are wearing medical-style gloves, said Mrs. Bullock.
Customers are buying more than usual, said Mrs. Bullock, who said she suspects some are worried the government will impose a quarantine requiring people to stay home for 30 days.
A Stormont couple having a late lunch on Monday agreed that erring on the side of caution and staying home was reasonable. “The worst that could happen is we get a nice vacation. It’s not going to kill us to slow down,” they said.
