The Prequel
December 2019-Mid March 2020
At this point, we have no idea what is going with the COVID-19 situation and it is still a "foreign issue" and does not concern us. These are just some things we noticed during this prequel to our soon-to-be madness!
December 2019-Mid March 2020
At this point, we have no idea what is going with the COVID-19 situation and it is still a "foreign issue" and does not concern us. These are just some things we noticed during this prequel to our soon-to-be madness!
December
2019
In late December 2019, a new pneumonia type of virus had been recognized and
spread in China. I remember being on Christmas break and seeing news stories and
articles about this new ‘Coronavirus”. At that point, it was
just a news story on the morning news, which we watch in the mornings as we get
ready.
We begin to see these type of images but literally had no idea what was really going on!
January
2020
As the beginning days of 2020 pressed on, we were continuing to see news
stories about this new disease and it seemed as if the cases in China were
rising daily. However, the stories on the news casts were still treated like “Nightly World News” type of stories and
focused more on what was happening “over there”. We read the articles and listened
to the stories, but we were not worried.
January 31
President Trump bans all travel to China and all foreign nations having
traveled to China. Essentially closing our borders to/ from China.
February
2020
As the days continued… So, did this virus and it was starting to get very
interesting.
February 4
The Diamond Princess
was flagged as a passenger from Japan from a PREVIOUS VOYAGE tested positive
for this virus. The Japanese Government immediately flagged the ship and would
not allow them to disembark in Yokohama. That day they tested many and 10 came back positive.
The ship immediately went into a true quarantine. As an avid cruiser, I almost instantaneously became very intrigued in
this whole ordeal.
February 5-8
I continued to read up on the stories of the passengers aboard the Diamond Princess. They had been completely
quarantined to their cabins and not allowed out, even to walk. Imagine if you had an inside cabin (Which is
what we usually book for cruises… just so we can cruise more often).
The Diamond Princess in Yokohama, Japan in Quarantine.
The Diamond Princess in Yokohama, Japan in Quarantine.
February 9-14
By this time, the positive tests on the Diamond Princess were staggering and rising daily. I had been
following the story daily and that became my nightly reading. A couple from the
UK who travel by cruise ship frequently started posting videos about life on
board a quarantined cruise ship. Diamond Dave (David Abel) and Princess Sally
became their known names. They made Facebook Live videos and posts about what
was happening on the ship. It was fascinating with the food that was being
delivered and the arts and crafts that were sent to keep them occupied.
Chris and I had a cruise booked and planned the following
week and joking discussed how the quarantine would work with us. We were in an
inside cabin and I jokingly said, “Only one of us would survive”. Now
it sounds rude but be honest with YOURSELF, you wouldn’t survive in an INSIDE
cabin (no windows, no open natural light) with your significant other. I
LOVE Chris Davis but NOPE. NOPE… Just shoot me now!
February 15
Royal Caribbean
sent us an email stating new requirements for boarding a cruise ship. No
guest who had traveled to China in the past 14 days or Chinese passport holders.
Detailed health questionnaires would be done at the port at check in.
February 17
Chris and I board the Enchantment of the Seas in Galveston,
TX for a 4-day cruise. There was a long fog delay and due to the delay and the
push to get passengers on board, the authorities in Galveston and Royal Caribbean
did not thoroughly investigate us as passengers prior to boarding the
ship. In fact, the worker in the terminal just quickly asked us “Have you been to China in the last 14 days?
Have you been around anyone who has been to China during that time? Are you
feeling sick or have diarrhea?” Of course, we were perfectly healthy and
answered no but the push and rush that was happening, I truly believe ANYONE could
have just answered no and gotten on the ship.
Fog delayed Enchantment sitting in Galveston!
February 17-21
We sailed on the Enchantment of the Seas to Progreso, Mexico but we did not get off the
ship. While on board, the crew worked VERY HARD to keep guests happy and the
ship overall clean. However, we did not notice any extra cleaning, or anything that would
go above and beyond Royal Caribbean’s already
high standards for clean ships.
Happy Anniversary Cruise to us! We LOVE cruising!
Happy Anniversary Cruise to us! We LOVE cruising!
While on our cruise, the Diamond
Princess had ended it’s 14-day
mandatory quarantine and had started to disembark its passengers based off
medical needs. By February 21, there were over 600 cases of Coronavirus on board
the Diamond Princess.
February 21
We got off the ship having had a great cruise and I thought little about the
coronavirus. Once we got home I checked
up on my UK Cruising friend, David Abel, and learned he and his wife had tested
positive for the virus and had been taken off the ship to a Japanese hospital for
treatment.
Their last "Vlog" before debarking the ship for hospitalization!
Get well soon, y'all!
February 29
Nationally
President Trump orders more travel bans, to now include Iran, Italy and South Korea. The stock market begins to see the effects of this virus and closes with 1K dip. Furthermore, the first death in the US is recorded in Washington state.
President Trump orders more travel bans, to now include Iran, Italy and South Korea. The stock market begins to see the effects of this virus and closes with 1K dip. Furthermore, the first death in the US is recorded in Washington state.
Chris receives notification that his Math Conference in Dallas
on March 12-14 is now canceled due to concerns and precautions for the
Coronavirus. He was so upset and at the time we laughed about it being cancelled for something "like the flu".
March
2020
Wow… Almost as if a ticking time bomb was going off. It got
crazier and crazier by the day.
March 3
President Trump signs a $8.3 BILLION emergency spending package to combat the
virus.
Its all fun and games (and memes) at this point!
March 6
Austin’s famous South BY Southwest is CANCELLED amid the COVID-19 concerns. Also,
VP Pence announces that the Grand Princess had 21 positive test results (19 crew and 2
passengers) all stemming from a passenger who debarked the week before. The Port
of San Francisco denies entry of the Grand Princess and
it sails away. The anxiety starts to rise in America.
Supplies dropped off on the Grand Princess off the California coast!
In the meantime, all cruise lines announce their new “Cruise with Confidence” cancellation
policy. Guests can cancel up to 48 hours prior to sailing for a Future Cruise Credit.
None of the cruise lines offered full refunds (meaning back to the original
form of payment) but Carnival had the best option, which included a $100-300 On
Board Credit if you choose to KEEP
your booking. But all lines offered a 100% Future Cruise Credit if you chose to
cancel. This was GREAT news for cruisers.
This was a GREAT move by the Cruise Industry and all us cruisers truly THANK YOU!
March 7
America is feeling the concerns for Covid-19 and stores are beginning to run
low on Toilet Paper and Hand Sanitizer especially. Chris noticed this before the
huge panic ensued and told us to find these. Natalie and I luckily find some hand
sanitizer at a Target in between baseball games of Luke’s.
Luke and his team play in another tournament and DOMINATE it! They end up winning and Luke hit another HOME RUN! More and more news is coming out about this virus but we are more than happy to be at the baseball field!
Way to go #LuketheDuke
Luke and his team play in another tournament and DOMINATE it! They end up winning and Luke hit another HOME RUN! More and more news is coming out about this virus but we are more than happy to be at the baseball field!
Way to go #LuketheDuke
March 9
Italy issues complete LOCKDOWN on 16+ MILLION citizens. I read this as I am
about to go in HEB for weekly groceries and decide to get the essentials like
Toilet Paper, Paper Towels and soap. I was able to get all these as well as
essentials like meat, dairy and fresh fruit. It was just a regular Monday night at the store and I was able to get
it all.
March 11- Happy
Anniversary AND the Day it all GOT REAL
This day started like any other day but by lunch time, we could tell it was all
getting real. Around noon, central time, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced
Covid-19 as a “pandemic”. Shortly there after the first case of the virus was announced
in Montgomery
County (where we live) and that the case was tied to the Houston Livestock
Show and Rodeo Cook-off. The patient attended the cook-off on February 29th.
Houston Mayor, Sylvester Turner, decides to completely cancel the Rodeo as of
that moment. Attendees were asked to leave immediately. The rodeo shut down and
this includes all livestock shows and the selling/ buying of all livestock. A
VERY sad day for all in this industry.
Around 2PM Montgomery ISD (locally) announces it will start
its SPRING BREAK early beginning on March 12, the very next day, due to “precautionary measures due to Coronavirus”.
We knew this was the beginning of school closures.
Chris and I celebrated our Anniversary for the 1st
time in 5 years, NOT ON A CRUISE SHIP!
It was a sad day, but we made the most of it with our kids at Saltgrass Steak
House. For 5:30PM on a Wednesday, you would never know that the Houston metro
was in a whirlwind state.
Happy 14 Years Babe! I LOVE YOU!
Nationally
By 7PM, the NBA Announced it was cancelling its season due
to a Utah Jazz player testing positive for COVID-19. Shortly to follow was the NCAA March Madness tournament
was postponed. Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson announced they tested positive
while filming a new movie in Australia.
Around 8PM CST, President Trump announced a travel ban to
and from Europe beginning on Friday, March 13 at Midnight.
President Trumps address to the nation about the travel ban.
March 12
It was a regular teaching day for us at this point as most district were ON Spring Break and currently making decisions. By mid-day, almost all of the districts had cancelled for the following week. NOT OUR DISTRICT... Nope, we reported the next day! (And honestly, at this point... we HAD NO IDEA what all was happening and I didn't really think our district would cancel)
The best COVID19 meme to date...
Nationally
It was a regular teaching day for us at this point as most district were ON Spring Break and currently making decisions. By mid-day, almost all of the districts had cancelled for the following week. NOT OUR DISTRICT... Nope, we reported the next day! (And honestly, at this point... we HAD NO IDEA what all was happening and I didn't really think our district would cancel)
Nationally
MLB cancels spring training and postpones Opening Day and Start of season. (IT JUST GOT REAL Y’ALL). NHL suspends season until further notice and NCAA cancels
the entire Spring Season of all college sports, including March Madness tournaments.
The Masters is canceled as well.
March 13
By 8AM, Princess Cruises announces a 60 day suspension of all of its sailings.
Viking Cruises follows within about 30 minutes. The industry shut down is
inevitable it seems at this point.
Princess Announcement to Suspend Cruises for 60 days
Princess Announcement to Suspend Cruises for 60 days
Locally
Montgomery County issues a note announcing social distancing
and cancels ALL events with 250+ people. Most districts around Houston announce
at least a 1-week closure, including NCISD, where we both work. At this
moment, it is too early to tell what is going on, but we know it is serious. Attendance
was about 50-60 percent at both of our campuses and students were steadily
leaving as the day progressed.
Our Pastor, Jerry Chadick, decides to still have church but limit the 3 services to 250 people each. It is a great stand for “still having church” all while respecting the authorities.
Our Pastor, Jerry Chadick, decides to still have church but limit the 3 services to 250 people each. It is a great stand for “still having church” all while respecting the authorities.
Nationally/ Globally
Italy’s death toll rises to over 1K and Europe is announced as the Epicenter for the virus.
Trump announces a STATE OF EMERGENCY for the United States and opens $50BILLION dollars to help with relief. President Trump also requests for all Cruise Lines to suspend cruising for “at least” 30 days. At first glance, this includes our April 12th cruise on Liberty of the Seas as April 12th would be day 29. Later in the evening we realize that cruises will begin sailing again on April 11th. So now we are still forced with the decision to sail or not to sail.
The FULL State of Emergency declaration by President Trump.
(We watched this live at our school... It was scary)
Italy’s death toll rises to over 1K and Europe is announced as the Epicenter for the virus.
Trump announces a STATE OF EMERGENCY for the United States and opens $50BILLION dollars to help with relief. President Trump also requests for all Cruise Lines to suspend cruising for “at least” 30 days. At first glance, this includes our April 12th cruise on Liberty of the Seas as April 12th would be day 29. Later in the evening we realize that cruises will begin sailing again on April 11th. So now we are still forced with the decision to sail or not to sail.
(We watched this live at our school... It was scary)
March 14
Chris and Luke went to the Kings facility to practice batting and fielding. Within an hour some other teammates arrive. Natalie went to the house of one of the teammates to play with an older sibling. When they got home, we decided we will not do play-dates anymore. We need to practice social distancing, more than we currently were. We HATE it but as the time passes, we realize we need to do this!
Luke and Eli got a GREAT practice in!
Chris and Luke went to the Kings facility to practice batting and fielding. Within an hour some other teammates arrive. Natalie went to the house of one of the teammates to play with an older sibling. When they got home, we decided we will not do play-dates anymore. We need to practice social distancing, more than we currently were. We HATE it but as the time passes, we realize we need to do this!
I call our Travel Agent, Ellie, and think about cancelling
our April 12th cruise. She warns me to wait as she feels there will
be an extension to the suspension of cruises. Most Cruise Lines have put into
place a 48-hour cancellation policy allowing cruisers to call in up to 48 hours
before sailing to get a Future Cruise Credit. After being on hold for 2:48, we
opt to keep our cruise and wait it out, fully knowing we will more than likely not go.
We were on hold so long... I had to plug in my phone!
Nationally
Spain saw 3,000 more cases in less than 24 hours and its healthcare system is in jeopardy. President Trump includes Ireland and UK in the European travel ban.
Trump updates the travel ban and gives more info on the COVID-19 task force.
Nationally
Spain saw 3,000 more cases in less than 24 hours and its healthcare system is in jeopardy. President Trump includes Ireland and UK in the European travel ban.
All of these things happened before we could even realize just how BIG this was going to get! Even as we were sent home for a "week", we had NO IDEA what was coming! I swear things were changing not only by the DAY but by the HOUR! This whole ordeal was about to BLOW UP!
But through it all, we know that GOD is still in CONTROL and HE IS STILL ON HIS THRONE! We will continue to look to HIM for answers and continue to pray for this situation and those it is effecting!
Even in the midst of all of this...
GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME!
But through it all, we know that GOD is still in CONTROL and HE IS STILL ON HIS THRONE! We will continue to look to HIM for answers and continue to pray for this situation and those it is effecting!
Even in the midst of all of this...
GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME!
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