After more than two months of quarantine — some on a cruise ship, some in a CDC hospital, and some within his own home — KHTS co-owner Carl Goldman is back with another installment of his Coronavirus Journals.

The Guinness Book Of Records For Quarantines – DAY 68 (Sunday,  4/12/20)

I’ve been quarantined for 68 days. The coronavirus stayed with me for at least 29 of those days. I’m now home in Santa Clarita entering my third week of self-quarantine. Our adventure started on January 17th when my wife, Jeri and I, along with our friends Mark and Jerri Jorgensen flew from Los Angeles to Tokyo to board the Diamond Princess for a 16-day cruise.

On the 15th day of a wonderful vacation, a passenger who had days earlier disembarked in Hong Kong tested positive for the coronavirus, COVID-19. He was our “ground zero”. That’s when our real journey began.

I’ve applied to the Guinness Book of Records. They have no categories set up for the virus yet. I’m going for the quarantine record, although I could probably qualify for many other categories including the most Gatorade consumed inside a Nebraska bio-containment unit and the most swabs stuck up my butt.

Either way, Guinness could be a huge accomplishment. Quarantine does have its perks.

For us, being quarantined has been an adjustment, but we turned lemons into lemonade. I exercise, get dressed and work in my home office with my two dogs napping by my feet. Jeri heads into our KHTS office on Main Street in Old Town Newhall. Most of our staff is working remotely, but being a 24/7 news operation for the Santa Clarita Valley, we do require a few bodies at our office and studios.

Now that I’m home, I appreciate all the things I didn’t have while quarantined for 29-days in Omaha. There, I was completely isolated. I couldn’t leave my room. My window was sealed. I kidded with my nurse about hitting me with a snowball after several inches of powder fell overnight in Omaha. I grew nostalgic about cleaning up the dog poop in my backyard. So many things I took for granted had new meaning.

This should become true for all of us as we work our way through our nationwide quarantine. We all get to look at the glass half full instead of half empty. By remaining quarantined it will hopefully begin leveling off the numbers of the outbreak so we can get the economy rolling again and all return to a new normal for our lives.

My wife, members of our staff, friends and business associates created a Santa Clarita coronavirus updates Facebook page.

It’s well worth following. Anyone struggling with their isolation should go back and read my post “9 Things Not To Do In Coronavirus Quarantine.”

Every interviewer Jeri and I have spoken with has asked us if we’d cruise again. The answer is absolutely. We love cruising. We’ve been on many Princess Cruises. We love only unpacking one time, spending days relaxing at sea, then embarking to visit exotic destinations. Our challenge will be to see if any of our friends or family will volunteer to ever travel with us again.

CNN ran a story the other day about the hate and death threats we’ve received. They’ve subsided now but reading the CNN story it sounds like it’s still happening. Now our entire country is quarantined, so no one any longer worries about either of us spreading the virus. We’re the two safest people in the world.

Tomorrow, Jeri and I will be donating our blood and platelets. Providence Hospital will be coming to our house on Monday morning to do the collection. Our specimens will go overnight to Providence Cancer Institute in Portland, Oregon. Hopefully, they’ll provide more clues about COVID-19, especially why Jeri never got the virus. My platelets will be used to try and save lives because I am currently immune to the virus. Nebraska Medicine has also been asking for my platelets. I am waiting for them to make final arrangements.

Last week, my good friend Jeffrey Lurie, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles donated $1 million to Penn Medicine to establish a COVID-19 Immunology Defense Fund. That was very generous of him.  It’s typical of his kind and giving personality.

Carl and Jeri with Jeffrey Lurie

I wore my Eagles cap during most of my time in quarantine, first because I love Jeffrey and his team and second because I’m usually having a very bad hair day if my wife isn’t around to fix it, as was the case at Nebraska Medicine. A reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote a story after seeing me wearing an Eagles’ hat in so many interviews. Then when Jeffrey made that generous donation, Sports Illustrated published an article and talked about our Diamond Princess saga.

My sports skills diminished considerably after playing infield for the Hastings-on-Hudson Redwings in Little League. The thought I’d ever be mentioned in a Sports Illustrated story and an upcoming article in GQ magazine is baffling. Now I just need an appearance in MAD Magazine to complete the hat trick.

I realize some readers will alert me to the fact that MAD Magazine stopped publishing last year, however they are still releasing some special editions. So, I have a chance. I can’t wait to see how ‘Spy versus Spy’ handles COVID-19. Hmmm.

I also better mention Robert Kraft. The owner of the New England Patriots had his team’s 747 flown to China. It brought back one million masks to be used by front-line health care workers.

So many people are doing wonderful things throughout our country and here in Santa Clarita. Last night our radio station broadcast a one hour of prayer and music for our valley’s first responders. Many of our local churches band together to participate. It was very powerful as neighbors gathered in their cars to listen over our airwaves. In case you missed it, you can hear it here.

https://www.facebook.com/khtsradio/videos/2408158355952547/

Presto Pasta donated over 40 meals to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital

Restaurants who are struggling with revenues are delivering hundreds of free meals to Henry Mayo Hospital first responders. Salt Creek Grille, Burger King, Jersey Mike’s, Chick Fil-A, Presto Pasta and many others.

There are so many caring businesses and individuals in Santa Clarita. We created a special portal on our website, “Finding the Good In Santa Clarita.”

A 14-year old Saugus student is one of many who are sponsoring fundraisers for local non-profits or assisting in so many other ways. It’s heartwarming to see how our valley is responding to the crisis.

We will make it through these challenging times with the support of each other. Let’s all stay positive and stay strong.

Read All Of Carl’s Journals Here: Carl Goldman Coronavirus Journals

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

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