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Loved ones, community bridge gaps amid social distancing

Loved ones, community bridge gaps amid social distancing

By Angie Antonopoulos

For the last few weeks, Johnson County residents have made major adjustments to their lives, implementing social distancing measures to keep themselves and loved ones safe during the outbreak of COVID-19.

Dede Phillips, who lives in Greenwood, has three boys, a husband and her mom living under one roof. “We are really doing all we can to keep ourselves well, and especially mom, who is now 88 and has COPD and congestive heart failure,” Phillips said. “We really enjoy having her here and hope to keep ourselves and her as healthy as possible.”

Phillips’ mother has her own room, but also enjoys the patio with family from a distance. While her husband and oldest son work from home, she is concerned about her middle son’s potential exposure to COVID-19. “He installs overhead sprinkler systems for new businesses and is around a lot of different workers,” Phillips said.

Dede Phillips and her grandson Jake Hobson enjoy quality time on the patio, while keeping a safe distance. (Submitted photo)

Currently, she instructs him to remove his shoes and clothes and to put them in the washer and has him shower when he returns. Phillips also wipes doorknobs, faucets, light switches, remotes and countertops about three times a day.

Suzanne Carr, who lives with her husband, Steve and two teenagers, is firm about social distancing.

“We really have put the hammer down on interaction with people coming to the home,” Carr said. “Friends are not allowed to come into the house. My son has talked to neighbor boys his age in our driveway. My daughter will ride her bike.”

When it comes to schoolwork, Carr said her kids are well disciplined and work independently. “I wake them up to log in (for school) and they get their breakfast and start right away.”

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