As someone that works from home quite a bit (and it sounds like it will be more), the biggest recommendation I can make is video conferencing software. The entire time I'm working, I'm on video conference with my entire team. All day, whether we are discussing something or not. My entire team sees my face all day long, and I see them. At first it feels weird, and to be honest, it almost feels invasive. But after a couple weeks, it feels totally normal. The thing it gives you is communication. There is no substitute for communication with your team.

Is that a joke? Or is that really suspected? I hate social media.

There is no emoji that expresses how I feel now.

Because people use their fingers to pick up the samples. They reach into the dish of pretzels or whatever, and dunk into the cheese being sold. If there is a pair of tongs there, and IF they use it, people are all touching the same thing (the tongs). So then it comes down to, what do you do when you have a food sample in your hand? You stuff it in your pie hole. Your pie hole is right under your nose, maybe you are hitting that. If it is on your hand, you will probably be touching your face soon.

Yes, I sound alarmist. I realize that. But transmission is not fully understood. I've heard a lot of different information about how long this stuff lives on plastic and stainless steel. Because I'm in Massachusetts, I'm looking right at the Biogen conference. I've been to conferences, you've been to conferences. They all went to one and 70 people came away with the virus. Has it been tracked down to how many people had it going into the conference?

Yeah, I'll pass on putting my grubby little fingers on free food samples in a store. But that's just me. Feel free to munch out at Sam's.

And all restaurants and bars will close In Massachusetts as well. Takeout only (for the restaurants). No takeout for the bars.

Also no gatherings of more than 25 people. Not in church, not anywhere except the grocery store and pharmacies.

https://boston.eater.com/2020/3/15/21180916/massachusetts-bar-restaurant-shutdown-coronavirus-march-april-2020