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Analysis: as thousands of us face a period of quarantine or Isolation, here's what to expect and how to cope

Thousands of people on this island are in or facing a period of quarantine or Isolation as a result of coronavirus risk or infection. At the best of times, staying away from loved ones, peers and colleagues would be a challenge, but adding the spectre of a life threatening infection to the mix elevates this to a high stress experience. Thankfully, psychological research during other disaster situations such as SARS, Zika virus, Ebola andthe Boston Marathon bombinghas delivered some instructive insights on how we react to these situations and how best to manage them.

Those who have experienced quarantine or Isolation speak of a series of burdens that take their toll on feeling of well-being. The limiting of natural social contact, the cessation of a natural daily routine and the experience of a lack of control over one's life can be debilitating and exhausting. The consequences experienced include the following.

Fear and anxiety: Being in quarantine or Isolation means a loss of control over normal life routine. When we feel things are beyond our control our levels of fear increases because of the risk we perceive. Our anxiety is exacerbated by the worry, not just about one's own health and well-being, but also that of family, particularly if you are a chief carer or bread winner. Can I provide the natural nurture and care for my loved ones, how do I ensure my loved ones will have the everyday essentials? What will the future hold for me, my loved ones, for my community? The daily announcements of the bounce in numbers infected can heighten our sense of lack of control.

RT Brainstorm podcast on5 tips to mind your mental health during self-isolation, social distancing, quarantine and a national lockdown

Boredom to depression: our work roles form an important part of our personal and social identity and purpose. Being without work, or at least not having our normal rhythm, can lead to feelings of ineffectiveness. The lack of opportunities to use our abilities can dampen moods leading to a general sense of sadness. For many, being deprived of their natural physical activity regime, be that sport or gym visits, means unfamiliar lethargy and depressed energy levels which are not positive for well-being.

Frustration and anger:enforced confinement, restricted movement and not being able to engage in everyday activities elevates frustration levels. This frustration may spillover not just to loved ones in our environs, but also to those not heeding official guidelines, or others not subject to quarantine or Isolation

Stigmatisation: being identified as being in quarantine or Isolation, whether self-imposed or not, can lead to the experience of feeling stigmatised. Guilt and fear not just about the unknown but how others might perceive us now or in the future adds to the malaise.

From RT 2fm's Game On, Olympic sailor Annalise Murphy discusses what isolation at sea is like and gives some tips on coping with isolation.

Thankfully psychological research offers some insights on how to cope with the feelings associated with this adversity.

Making a plan and identifying what we can control is associated with sense of purpose and progress. Sketch a daily timetable or routine and post it where you and others can see it, as doing so increases our probability of sticking to it. Ensure variety in the schedule, work, leisure, exercise, learning, etc. Consider engaging in something new a project that sparks your intrinsic motivation and curiosity. We can manage our moods and feelings, so try to be aware of what you are feeling, and understanding why you are experiencing these feelings is the first step to putting one back in control.

Whether one is extrovert or introvert, we are a social species and connecting with friends and family has positive effects on our well-being. Whether it's text, video chat, social media or phone, just staying connected keeps us centred. In particular, it is good to share what you feel. While a problem shared may not be a problem halved, there is a host of research to support that sharing concerns with trusted others has significant positive psychological benefits.

From RT Radio 1's Ray D'Arcy Show, astronaut Chris Hadfield on dealing with isolation

While obvious, we sometimes fail to control what we can with reference to our health. Quarantine and isolation s stressful and stress weakens our immune system, so being proactive about staying healthy becomes even more important. Stick to regular meals with the correct nutritional variety and avoid snacking. Anxiety can sometimes prompt us to comfort eat, so we need to manage these urges. Daily exercise will help regularise sleep patterns all of which boosts psychological health. Needless to say,the misuse of alcohol and drugs will not help longer term adjustment despite howthe relaxing effect of alcohol may be appealing in a time of stress.

We have learned from the Zika virus crisis in 2016 that those who relied on social media sources such as Twitter recorded higher levels of stress and anxiety than those who depended on traditional media sources for their news updates. In fact, consuming too much media in a crisis situation is associated with increased levels of experienced stress. Restrict your consumption of news and avoid social media and depend on traditional national media with direct lines to the trustworthy medical decision-makers when accessing news.

If you are subject to quarantine or isolation, remember you are doing so not just for your own good, but that of your community. It is the ultimate act of altruism and it might be said you are among our nation's silent heroes.We owe you and thank you!

The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RT

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How to cope with self-isolation and quarantine - RTE.ie

Iceland was hailed as a leading example for how to control the spread of coronavirus by MSNBC on Tuesday during a segment that criticized the United States for failing to match the efforts of the Nordic island nation.

MSNBC's Ari Melber hailed Iceland for "taking far bolder action to stay ahead of the so-called curve" than the United States.

"Iceland has been out front, and they're testing a much larger portion of their population than basically any other country in order to learn about the virus and stay ahead of its spread," Melber said.

Melber and his guest, the Harvard Global Health Institute's Dr. Ashish Jha, credited Iceland's ability to get out in front of the virus to its decision to start testing early, criticizing the United States for its failure to beat back the virus as effectively as Iceland.

"We know how to beat the virus, it's actually not a mystery," Dr. Jha said. "Unfortunately, we started late, we don't have a good testing infrastructure, and we still can't do a lot of the things that Iceland is doing."

Mentioned only as an aside was that Iceland boasts a population of just 364,260about 0.1 percent of the 327.2 million people in the United States and about half the population of Wyoming, the country's least populated state. Iceland also benefits from being a remote island, with its closest neighbor Greenland a 186-mile swim away.

Melber said the case of Iceland should make viewers in the the United States question why "the richest country on earth" failed to match the effort in Iceland,which, according to the segment, has managed to test more than 10,000 people, turning up 648 cases of the coronavirus so far.

"Someone listening would say, Oh great, we actually have the solutions and we're the richest country on earth. And we talk about health care constantly, every presidential election, 10 years running with Obamacare,'" Melber said, asking Dr. Jha why the United States has failed to match countries like Iceland.

Dr. Jha said the reason was the United States got started too slow. "We wasted two months," Dr. Jha said, without any mention of the major differences between Iceland and the United States.

The coronavirus, as with other viral outbreaks, has proven to be more manageable in small, low-population areas. Iceland's chief epidemiologist has said the country has a unique ability to do wide scale testing because of its population.

"Icelands population puts it in the unique position of having very high testing capabilities with help from the Icelandic medical research company deCode Genetics, who are offering to perform large scale testing," Thorolfur Gunason told BuzzFeed News.

Similarly, Colorado's San Miguel County, due to its population of just about 8,000, was able to offer coronavirus tests to all of its residents.

Even with its small population, however, Iceland's health system is beginning to feel the strains of its aggressive testing. The government announced last Friday that it was running out of testing swabs, with only 2,000 remaining in the country.

The United States meanwhile says it has stepped up its testing. Dr. Deborah Birx, who heads the White House coronavirus task force, said Tuesday that the United States has likely conducted more tests in the past eight days than South Korea conducted in the past eight weeks.

The United States has thus far tested about 358,000 peopleand will soon have conducted more tests than there are people in Iceland.

Brent Scher is executive editor for the Washington Free Beacon. He graduated from the University of Virginia, where he studied foreign affairs and politics. Brent is originally from New York City and now lives in Washington, D.C. He can be reached at scher@freebeacon.com.

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MSNBC Criticizes U.S. for Failing to Control Virus as Effectively as Iceland, an Island of Just 364,000 - Washington Free Beacon

Former coronavirus patient Jerri Jorgensen said Friday that the hysteria surrounding the coronavirus has gotten out of control, recalling when she was barred from a gym after undergoing quarantine.

All the toilet paper being gone -- I dont get the toilet paper, Jorgensen told Fox & Friends.

Jorgensen said that when she went to a gym after her recovery, she was bombarded with hugs from friends and also from strangers.

FORMER DIAMOND PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP CORONAVIRUS PATIENT DESCRIBES LIFE UNDER QUARANTINE

Jorgensen said that afterward when she got home, the gyms management called her to tell her to stay away to keep the senior citizens safe.

I go, I am a senior citizen! Wait, what about me?' Jorgensen said. And I am the safest one in the gym, probably the safest one in Utah because Ive been through quarantine and tested more than once negative.

And I have a letter from the Centers for Disease Control so it is what it is, she added.

Jorgensen -- who contracted the virus onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan -- said she exhibited zero symptoms when she was diagnosed.

My case was I had a slight fever the night before they took me off the cruise ship -- very slight, it wasnt even 100 degrees," Jorgensen told Fox & Friends. "Felt a little bit off for about twoto threehours and that was my only symptom throughout the whole time -- the whole quarantine up to now.

Although Jorgensen was being treated and monitored by the doctors on the ship, she never had to take any medications while aboard the Diamond Princess.

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Jorgensen described her experience in quarantine at a hospital very positive. She said that those who are staying in their houses for safety shouldkeep doing things that you love, such as reading and exercising.

I was quarantined in a hospital and they didnt have a lot for me, especially those that dont speak English, Jorgensen said.

I did get a yoga mat," she said, "and its so important to stay active.

Fox News Julia Musto contributed to this report.

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Woman who recovered from coronavirus says hysteria 'out of control': I don't get why the toilet paper is gone - Fox News

Cannuscio: I would recommend that people minimize social contact, and that means limiting all social engagements. That includes intimate gatherings among friends. I think the exception is if two households are in strict agreement that they are also going to reduce all outside contact and then those two households socialize together, to support one another. I can see social and mental-health advantages to that kind of approach.

Ko: Dating is usually one person and another person. What were really worried about in terms of public health are these large gatherings where you have people crowded together, and you can have what we call super-spreading events. The risk of those goes up exponentially the larger the size of the gathering. Dating is at the other end. I think you can still date.

Watson: I think dating is okay, if you believe with reasonable confidence that youre both well. I think were humans and we need human interaction; I think thats important for our sanity. Its important to focus on [avoiding] large crowds and indoor activities where you have lots of people touching the same surfaces.

Cannuscio: It is a time to be very cautious about initiating contact with new people. This seems like a great time to get creative with your text messages. [Or] take it to FaceTime or a phone call.

Ko: If you do go to the gym, again, maintain distances. Disinfect places in the gym people are always touching. Wash your hands regularly. Much of the transmission is person to person with people coughing, sneezing, or touching their nose and mouth and touching somebody else. You can get transmission on surfaces; thats probably a little bit lower-risk, but we still should disinfect surfaces that we touch.

Cannuscio: If youre going to go to the gym, try to go at a time when there are very few people there and definitely wipe down the equipment. However, as the weather warms in many parts of the United States, I would instead recommend that people go outside for walks or runs or bike rides in areas where there are not other people. This is really about depriving the virus the opportunity to move from one person to another.

Read: Heres who should be avoiding crowds right now

Cannuscio: I would say try to shop at times when there are very few other shoppers there. That [could mean] going first thing in the morning when the store opens, or late at night. I think many people will rely on delivery, and thats just the nature of our lives right now. For delivery workers, I would say, leave the food on the doorstep and ring the bell, rather than interacting face-to-face with the person whos ordered the food.

Cannuscio: First of all, people who have the opportunity or the option of working at home should absolutely use that option right now. For people who have essential functions and have to be at work, if they have any flexibility in their schedules they should try to ride at non-peak hours. On subways or buses, people should try to stand as far away from other people as possible. I think its important for planners to think about, for example, putting more buses on the most heavily traveled routes, to maybe thin out the crowds on those buses. In cities where its possible to walk, that would be a better option.

Read more here:
The Dos and Donts of Social Distancing - The Atlantic

Ever since the coronavirus exploded outside of China at the end of January, Donald Trump has treated the public health crisis as a media war that he could win with the right messaging. But with cases now documented in 34 states and markets plunging, Republicans close to Trump fear his rosy assessments are fundamentally detached from reality in ways that will make the epidemic worse. He is trying to control the narrative and he cant, a former West Wing official told me.

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The problem is that the crisis fits into his preexisting and deeply held worldviewthat the media is always searching for a story to bring him down. Covid-19 is merely the latest instance, and hes reacting in familiar ways. So much FAKE NEWS! Trump tweeted this morning. He wants Justice to open investigations of the media for market manipulation, a source close to the White House told me. Trump is also frustrated with his West Wing for not getting a handle on the news cycle. Hes very frustrated he doesnt have a good team around him, a former White House official said. On Friday he forced out acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and replaced him with former House Freedom Caucus chair Mark Meadows. Trump thought the virus was getting beyond Mick, a person briefed on the internal discussions said. Trump has also complained that economic adviser Larry Kudlow is not doing enough to calm jittery markets. Last week Kudlow refused Trumps request that Kudlow hold an on-camera press briefing, sources said. Larry didnt want to have to take questions about coronavirus, a person close to Kudlow told me. Larrys not a doctor. How can he answer questions about something he doesnt know?

Trump found a willing surrogate in Kellyanne Conway, but Conways dubious claim on Friday that the virus is being contained only made the P.R. situation worse.

Trumps efforts to take control of the story himself have so far failed. A source said Trump was pleased with ratings for the Fox News town hall last Thursday, but he was furious with how he looked on television. Trump said afterwards that the lighting was bad, a source briefed on the conversation said. He said, We need Bill Shine back in here. Bill would never allow this.

Trumps press conference on Friday at the CDC was a Trumpian classic, heavy on braggadocio and almost entirely lacking a sense of the seriousness of the crisis. I like this stuff. I really get it, Trump told reporters, his face partly hidden under a red Keep America Great hat. People are surprised that I understand it. Every one of these doctors say, How do you know so much about this? Maybe I have a natural ability. Maybe I shouldve done that instead of running for president. At another point Trump compared the situation to the Ukraine shakedown. The [coronavirus] tests are all perfect. Like the letter was perfect. The transcription was perfect, he said.

By now many of the presidents advisers are numb to this kind of performance. Theres very little that fazes anyone now, a former official said. But one person who spoke to the president over the weekend saw the press conference as an ominous sign. Hes just now waking up to the fact that this is bad, and he doesnt know how to respond.

As Trump pushes a nothing-to-see-here message in public, sources said hes privately terrified about getting the virus. Donald is a famous germaphobe. He hates it if someone is eating nachos and dips a chip back in after taking a bite. He calls them double dippers, a prominent Republican said. Former Trump aide Sam Nunberg recalled Trumps response to the last major outbreak in 2014. When I worked for Trump, he was obsessed with Ebola, Nunberg told me. (One Mar-a-Lago guest disputed this and said Trump was handshaking with gusto this past weekend. He was acting like the opposite of a germaphobe, the source said.)

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Hes Definitely Melting Down Over This: Trump, Germaphobe in Chief, Struggles to Control the Covid-19 Story - Vanity Fair