babies and free coffee

I walked into the hospital yesterday for work and was immediately asked, "Have you checked for fever, or do you need your temperature taken?" by a nurse stationed just inside the entrance.

"Uhm...er...", my poised response, "I'm good, thanks"

Well, this was new.  I checked my company email and found that, as of Saturday, we are all to check our temperatures up to 2 hours before our shift.  No go is 100 F or higher.  There will also be nurses stationed at all employee entrances 24/7 if we get the urge to have our temps taken at any time.

This was news to my coworkers who didn't work the weekend as well since the email went out Friday evening and nobody reads company emails when away.  On a side  note, whenever I went past one of these stations, I never saw a temperature being taken, and the  nurses there looked similar to lifeguards at the pool - ready to spring into action, but rather bored in the meantime.

The hospital remains eerily quiet since the strict NO visitors rule.  The labor and delivery unit is totally closed off.  The staff go in and aren't allowed to emerge until the end of their shifts.  They do order food, but it comes to us as a batch order and someone meets the cart outside the door, clearly marked for no one to enter.

On the bright side, I was working front of house, learning to do the barista thing.  My mentor, Hui - pronounced "We" - is a fun woman about my age with a rather thick Chinese accent.  Guy came in for a single shot espresso, and as he reached for his payment, Hui quickly pointed out,

"Is free, someone pay".

She explained that all coffee products are free of charge for all medical staff.  Apparently someone donated a bunch of money to keep them all caffeinated during this COVID-19 chaos.

Classes for Meego are to start this week after last week's spring break, which was extended to last through today.  The university has moved all classes online for the remainder of the semester.  I texted him yesterday to confirm if his classes were starting on Wednesday as noted in an email we got.

"Supposed to, but I'm watching a lecture right now.  I think the professor didn't know that we're still on spring break".

I continue to look for silver linings.  I've begun bicycle commuting to work since the weather's nicer and most of the ice and snow is gone.  Motorized traffic is noticeably lighter, which is lovely.  I have two locks for my bicycle - one is quite secure, but heavy to lug around.  The other travels easier but is less secure than the big lug.

I chose to use the mediocre lock since the bicycle parking at the hospital seems a safe location, and there are cameras around.  And now, it also happens to be right outside the entrance where a temperature taking nurse sits at the ready 24/7.  A somewhat bored nurse, whose chair faces outside right where the bikes are parked, can see anyone messing with my Ariel.  Silver lining for me, anyway.

Today's task:  find our thermometer.