I understand where you are coming from Karen. We are all such social animals, I hardly realised how much I touch people until I had to stop doing it. Or how many times I touch my face, when I never realised I did it at all before.

I’m in country NSW and I’m still reeling from the massive changes in the last five weeks or so, since Covid-19 became serious. I’ve also just lost my mother, which is horrid, though it wasn’t from the virus but typical old age.

The restrictions on 9 guests at her funeral were so hard to abide by. I wasn’t supposed to hug or kiss my Dad when he had just lost the love of his life after 65 years of marriage. I did touch and cuddle and kiss and pat my Dad’s back. I couldn’t stand there next to Mum’s coffin and not do that. It wasn’t possible to keep social distance when our hearts were breaking.

There are always reasons to be hopeful, and if you abide by the rules as you said you did and stay away from others. Washing your hands with anti-bacterial soap after touching anything when out shopping, or putting it away, you should be fine.

The Buddha said: Why worry? After going through many bushfires on my farm from last December through to the end of January, I realise that worry only makes things so much worse. It really does.

Use this time as a wonderful opportunity to write and read, relax and meditate. Great minds around the world are working their butts off to create both vaccine and medicine to bolster out immune systems. I think it will come sooner.

Try not to stress out, Karen. I did that with a bushfire near my house and made myself sick and obsessed through worry. I never want to go there again. If anything reduces your physical health in detrimental ways it is worry and stress and anxiety. Honestly, with too much of that you will leave yourself vulnerable. And, if you do get the virus, your immune system will already be suppressed because of it.

Remember that Australia has brilliant health care, really, especially if you compare it to anywhere else in the world. We’re okay. Good luck with staying in. Try and use it as a chance to do what you please when you please, without having to answer to anybody.

Good wishes, stay well and be happy.