Experiencing Confinement for the Long Haul

NOTE: KION's Josh Kristianto currently shows no symptoms of COVID-19 (coronavirus). He is self-isolating by his own choice for the benefit of his family and the public after returning from the United Kingdom in a recent trip. News-Press & Gazette Company, who owns KION, has also mandated he stay and work from home to safeguard those working in the newsroom.

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) It has almost been 14 days since I got back from a trip in the UK.

I would be really excited to be back out into normal life after self-quarantining for two weeks per the CDC's recommended time after international travel, but it looks like we're all going to be in this stay-at-home situation for a lot longer.

The experience of it all will stay with me, as I'm sure it will for many of us. We're used to freedom. This is America, after all. If we want to host a dinner party with friends or stroll through downtown, we just do it.

But now we find ourselves restricted, barred from doing things we once took for granted. And what's worse, we could be in this situation for a lot longer. As state, county and local officials in California brace for the number of COVD-19 cases to soar, the light at the end of the tunnel is still looking a bit distant.

So we must brace for the long haul, get down to the basics of life and prepare to take things day by day. That means spending time with your family, video chatting with friends, cleaning up your house and doing all the things you've wanted to do but never had the time to.

I've been trying to remain hopeful. So far, the number of cases in Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties have been relatively low compared to other places in California and around the country, particularly New York state.

But we should be prepared for things to get worse here, just so we're not caught off guard. Be vigilant, stay healthy and we'll get through this together. That's the mantra I hope we'll all follow.