Coronavirus prep
Replies
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T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »We are at probably less than 1% mask use in public here. This is frustrating because it works best when everyone takes precautions.
https://www.sfgate.com/news/editorspicks/article/Study-100-face-mask-use-could-crush-second-15333170.php
Weird, we are probably at about 75% here from what I observe and indoor public space is required. Then again, I find the talk about second wave ironic as it's not clear anyone is out of the first wave, I don't think we are, and after the past couple weeks no way. But we are opening. (I realize again I'm being bitchy but I find it so unfair that I see so much more compliance around me than others report yet our numbers are so much worse, which until recently I just assumed was density and now is likely also protests, etc.)
We are a bit lagging and the first wave here has not yet peaked. I have heard that mask use is very different in different places, but many areas are not seeing much (if any) mask use.2 -
"Can we hit the 'reset button' on 2020 yet? I'd like my money back. :pCan we hit the 'reset button' on 2020 yet? I'd like my money back.
"
This has been the worst year or so in my whole life and I'm no spring chicken. My whole house was flooded and we had to live in a crappy dark flat for a year( oh and I also lost my car too) , I've just got out of the cardiac unit last week when I was out for the first time in months because of Covid having a BBQ with the family and nope I didn't get to eat the cake I made at 6am because an ambulance took me away. There is more but thank god I forget the rest now... been never ending. Right now we are allowed to go away so have been in a very nice quiet spot inland in our caravan. Very happy now. We caught 13 redclaw crayfish too in the river. Even more happy lol.
Hugs Sue.. you've certainly been through the wringer. Enjoy the peace and quiet.. yummmm crayfish 🤤0 -
Thanks Jo and Em. Word of warning. Double check your medications. They stuck a wrong label on mine and almost killed me. Blue lips and nose and the rest of it. Not good.13
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paperpudding wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »trying very hard to keep this non political......
If testing costs money, especially if you are uninsured, then obviously your actual number of cases would be much higher than the official stats and this would be disproportionately more so in the most at risk poor communities.
Here in South Australia, our official number of active cases is 0.
I am confident that is accurate as anyone can get tested at no cost - and they are. Anyone who has the slightest little sniffle gets tested and is self isolated until results come back (usually next day, 2 days at most)
Anyone here (IL) who thinks they have it can be tested for free. The antibody tests are different (and I haven't researched them), and the protests plus looting have set back the testing in general. The test seems unpleasant so I'm sure lots who might have it don't test, although they could, given how much the mild symptoms overlap other things.
I dont think the test is that unpleasant.
I havent had it but I have had respiratory nasal swabs in the past testing for influenza and whooping cough and it is basically the same test method.
Lots of people have been tested here, including children, and I'm not getting feedback that the test was horrible.
It looks and sounds unpleasant to me.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/test-for-coronavirus.html
1.17 million people have been tested in my state at this point, and it looks like about 1.8 m in Australia. (My state has about half the population of Australia.) So clearly lots of people here have been tested too, but I certainly wouldn't go test without having good reason to think I had it (it could be I'm a big baby about medical procedures of some kinds, though). If they were doing a study or something, I'd participate, of course. And I'd love to have the antibodies test, although I would be surprised if it turned out I'd had it.
Oh I wouldnt go test randomly just for the fun of it either - as I said, I have not been tested for it.
Nor have I watched youtubes about testing
But have had same nasal swab tests done in the past for other things - so my comment about it not being that bad was based on that as well as working in a medical centre where we follow up on many people who have had respiratory nasal swabs, both for covid19 and in past years for influenza or whooping cough.
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My son had a few years of nose issues at doctor’s offices (wouldn’t let them come near him!) due to one horrendous nasal swab flu test as a toddler. I think the lady was digging for gold, or taking a brain biopsy or something. It was awful!! Definitely depends on the person doing the swabbing...8
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paperpudding wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »trying very hard to keep this non political......
If testing costs money, especially if you are uninsured, then obviously your actual number of cases would be much higher than the official stats and this would be disproportionately more so in the most at risk poor communities.
Here in South Australia, our official number of active cases is 0.
I am confident that is accurate as anyone can get tested at no cost - and they are. Anyone who has the slightest little sniffle gets tested and is self isolated until results come back (usually next day, 2 days at most)
Anyone here (IL) who thinks they have it can be tested for free. The antibody tests are different (and I haven't researched them), and the protests plus looting have set back the testing in general. The test seems unpleasant so I'm sure lots who might have it don't test, although they could, given how much the mild symptoms overlap other things.
I dont think the test is that unpleasant.
I havent had it but I have had respiratory nasal swabs in the past testing for influenza and whooping cough and it is basically the same test method.
Lots of people have been tested here, including children, and I'm not getting feedback that the test was horrible.
It looks and sounds unpleasant to me.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/test-for-coronavirus.html
1.17 million people have been tested in my state at this point, and it looks like about 1.8 m in Australia. (My state has about half the population of Australia.) So clearly lots of people here have been tested too, but I certainly wouldn't go test without having good reason to think I had it (it could be I'm a big baby about medical procedures of some kinds, though). If they were doing a study or something, I'd participate, of course. And I'd love to have the antibodies test, although I would be surprised if it turned out I'd had it.
Oh I wouldnt go test randomly just for the fun of it either - as I said, I have not been tested for it.
Nor have I watched youtubes about testing
But have had same nasal swab tests done in the past for other things - so my comment about it not being that bad was based on that as well as working in a medical centre where we follow up on many people who have had respiratory nasal swabs, both for covid19 and in past years for influenza or whooping cough.
I really think they need to figure out how everyone can be tested and with some frequency. Since so many new cases are coming from people who don't show any symptoms, this is one of a few ways to cut down on new cases. But like with mask usage, it only helps if enough people do it.3 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »
I really think they need to figure out how everyone can be tested and with some frequency. Since so many new cases are coming from people who don't show any symptoms, this is one of a few ways to cut down on new cases. But like with mask usage, it only helps if enough people do it.
My city is allowing any resident to get free testing (the Covid 19 test not the antibody test) even if they have been tested before. So if you got tested, but then have a reason you would like to be retested, you can do it. They want to collect data to see how the community is doing. I am so glad I live here and will admit this is an area with a higher income but I am happy to see the money being used like this. They even started their own health department this year in response! I do wish we could get the antibody testing as I am seriously curious. I was very ill in February with negative flu and strep tests. I had all the symptoms and was pretty much bed bound for awhile and still had issues a month later with fatigue. I know having antibodies means nothing besides the fact you have been exposed, but I just want to know.
I am still work from home. The group before mine has not even gone back yet. They were supposed to right before the protests started but were told not to with no new date given. So who knows when they will go back and my group is after them. I doubt I will be in the office before July 4 when the state "fully" reopens. It will suck because I am in such a good routine here at home! They are looking at ways to change how the office is used and the possibility of work form home options in the future. If this pandemic did anything positive in my life, it has made the higher ups aware that work from home is a GOOD IDEA. Before this, we had been fighting them to get it as a perk and had even tested it awhile back, but someone in the government hierarchy wasn't a fan of it. Now it is back on the table so fingers crossed. Not sure I would want to do every single day work from home, but 2-3 days a week? Sign me up now!5 -
Update from AZ. Cases rising at alarming rates. People still not wearing masks, nearly all the ICU Beds now taken. People still in denial.
Even though it's hot in AZ, people are pretty much trapped inside this time of year. My wife and I went out to eat on Saturday and sat out on the patio -- 105F. I was baking but we won't eat inside.
Wildfire also doubled in size over the weekend. They say that the fireline between my immediate area and the fire is pretty solid now but it's growing up the mountain toward Summerhaven, a quaint ski resort -- just a lovely town. Those folks are on "standby" right now. I don't know how they are going to stop the fire from burning the town down again. The whole town got burned to the ground in 2003.
Depressing week seeing the news, not being able to go outside much with the heat. We did manage to swim a bit yesterday when the smoke was blowing the other way. Overall, we have food and a roof and I'm working, so we can't complain.
Today is the first official day of "Monsoon Season", where it's our rainy season, though traditionally we don't see much till July. But there is a very slight chance of rain today for the mountainous areas, so we're all hoping that we get some.18 -
@MikePfirrman We have a fire, too. Winds blowing like a zephyr are making it difficult for the helicopters to fly.
Pesky tourists all over the place and not a mask in sight. It's a dry tinderbox and a setup for fire danger everywhere. They say it's beginning to look a lot like 1988 all over again. We've had temps in the 90's in early June. That's crazytown for this place.
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It seems like sooner or later most cities will have their NYC like peaks. I consider risks are higher in KY than any time so far but the numbers are not wild in my rural part of the state. I am hoping the peaking comes before school time this fall.
I do not going in and setting down in places like churches and restaurants. I get in and out. If I want to eat in the car I just look for a shade tree. Enjoying the AC in the Leaf and no engine running when parked. I prefer the windows down but that does not work out well if others have their windows down and are smoking and or running their engines. Exhaust fumes and pumping gas fumes now flip me out like in a double line drive thru getting food.
The wild fires look very damaging in the news.
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GaleHawkins wrote: »It seems like sooner or later most cities will have their NYC like peaks. I consider risks are higher in KY than any time so far but the numbers are not wild in my rural part of the state. I am hoping the peaking comes before school time this fall.
I do not going in and setting down in places like churches and restaurants. I get in and out. If I want to eat in the car I just look for a shade tree. Enjoying the AC in the Leaf and no engine running when parked. I prefer the windows down but that does not work out well if others have their windows down and are smoking and or running their engines. Exhaust fumes and pumping gas fumes now flip me out like in a double line drive thru getting food.
The wild fires look very damaging in the news.
Problem with the numbers is that we don't know how bad it is spreading until 2 weeks after it happened. I'm in rural TN (not terribly far from KY) and we may have a lot of spread happening now without even realizing it. More and more people are back to work (including me) and more and more places are open and expanding the number of people there. I heard 12 bars / clubs in Nashville got fined over the weekend, but I bet there were dozens more in Nashville and hundreds across the state that were just as bad about filling up wall-to-wall and nobody noticed or cared. Good thing I am not a drinker, I guess.5 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »It seems like sooner or later most cities will have their NYC like peaks. I consider risks are higher in KY than any time so far but the numbers are not wild in my rural part of the state. I am hoping the peaking comes before school time this fall.
I do not going in and setting down in places like churches and restaurants. I get in and out. If I want to eat in the car I just look for a shade tree. Enjoying the AC in the Leaf and no engine running when parked. I prefer the windows down but that does not work out well if others have their windows down and are smoking and or running their engines. Exhaust fumes and pumping gas fumes now flip me out like in a double line drive thru getting food.
The wild fires look very damaging in the news.
Problem with the numbers is that we don't know how bad it is spreading until 2 weeks after it happened. I'm in rural TN (not terribly far from KY) and we may have a lot of spread happening now without even realizing it. More and more people are back to work (including me) and more and more places are open and expanding the number of people there. I heard 12 bars / clubs in Nashville got fined over the weekend, but I bet there were dozens more in Nashville and hundreds across the state that were just as bad about filling up wall-to-wall and nobody noticed or cared. Good thing I am not a drinker, I guess.
I agree about the spreading unknowns. I plan to look at the numbers the first and fifteenth of July to see what the trend looks like.
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Things have been pretty stable in my neck of the woods - new covid cases daily, but not rising exponentially, in my WI county. However, I felt played out yesterday (napped a lot) and woke up with a headache and sore throat today so I went to a testing site and will get results back sometime within a week. In the meantime - not leaving the house, and I'm sleeping in the guest room. Our house is too tiny to really isolate from partner but we'll do our best
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A thought I had... as almost everyone refuses to wear a mask properly and consistently, one of the most common reasons I hear is because it is hard to breathe through a thin paper mask. These are people who are sometimes just sitting, sometimes standing, and sometimes walking at a leisurely pace. In other words, not activities that one would expect to require a significant amount of oxygen as would an activity like running. It makes me think:
1. Almost nobody is very fit here apparently because such a minimal barrier shouldn't cause almost everyone so much difficulty that they can't wear it.
2. If people find it that hard to breathe through a simple paper mask, what would they think it is like if they have a respiratory disease that actually makes it difficult to get oxygen?! And given that, how is the mortality rate not 50 times higher than has been reported?!7 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »A thought I had... as almost everyone refuses to wear a mask properly and consistently, one of the most common reasons I hear is because it is hard to breathe through a thin paper mask. These are people who are sometimes just sitting, sometimes standing, and sometimes walking at a leisurely pace. In other words, not activities that one would expect to require a significant amount of oxygen as would an activity like running. It makes me think:
1. Almost nobody is very fit here apparently because such a minimal barrier shouldn't cause almost everyone so much difficulty that they can't wear it.
2. If people find it that hard to breathe through a simple paper mask, what would they think it is like if they have a respiratory disease that actually makes it difficult to get oxygen?! And given that, how is the mortality rate not 50 times higher than has been reported?!
I'm tempted to believe "hard to breathe" is more excuse (or a psychological side effect of perceived confinement, bascically micro-claustrophobia), in some cases. Clearly, some people do have breathing disorders, and that's a different issue.
They tell me, now, that I have COPD (still very mild). I have no trouble breathing for whole grocery expeditions, sometimes through multiple stores, leaving the mask on the whole time including in the car (for less face-touching), and I'm wearing a doubled (sometimes quadrupled) cotton tight-weave bandana bandit-style, with a home-shop dust mask behind it, on tight (dents in face after). Admittedly, I'm thin and moderately fit, and the COPD is mild. But it makes me skeptical about the commonness of the "can't breathe" explanation.
I'm certain that for some, there's a bit of "Princess and the pea" going on here - not saying people are lying, but more that some are very sensitive, and that there's a psychological dimension.16 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »A thought I had... as almost everyone refuses to wear a mask properly and consistently, one of the most common reasons I hear is because it is hard to breathe through a thin paper mask. These are people who are sometimes just sitting, sometimes standing, and sometimes walking at a leisurely pace. In other words, not activities that one would expect to require a significant amount of oxygen as would an activity like running. It makes me think:
1. Almost nobody is very fit here apparently because such a minimal barrier shouldn't cause almost everyone so much difficulty that they can't wear it.
2. If people find it that hard to breathe through a simple paper mask, what would they think it is like if they have a respiratory disease that actually makes it difficult to get oxygen?! And given that, how is the mortality rate not 50 times higher than has been reported?!
I'm tempted to believe "hard to breathe" is more excuse (or a psychological side effect of perceived confinement, bascically micro-claustrophobia), in some cases. Clearly, some people do have breathing disorders, and that's a different issue.
They tell me, now, that I have COPD (still very mild). I have no trouble breathing for whole grocery expeditions, sometimes through multiple stores, leaving the mask on the whole time including in the car (for less face-touching), and I'm wearing a doubled (sometimes quadrupled) cotton tight-weave bandana bandit-style, with a home-shop dust mask behind it, on tight (dents in face after). Admittedly, I'm thin and moderately fit, and the COPD is mild. But it makes me skeptical about the commonness of the "can't breathe" explanation.
I'm certain that for some, there's a bit of "Princess and the pea" going on here - not saying people are lying, but more that some are very sensitive, and that there's a psychological dimension.
Yes, I think this is it. I hate the sensation of having a mask over my nose and mouth. It reminds me that I'm breathing and the more humid it is, the more I dislike it. It feels "hard" to be that conscious of my breath, even though I'm never close to actually struggling for air. It feels like restriction, which is especially unsettling for something that is a basic need for survival.
(Obviously, I wear the mask because my comfort is not the primary priority at this time).11 -
I went to the lab today for a blood draw. They were taking temps before you could go in the building. The guy in front of me in line was pulled to the side with a 101 degree temp. He said, "but I don't feel sick..." Some guys in full covid gear came and took him away, like a scene out of a sci-fi movie...I assume they were taking him off for a swab (covid test) but I didn't ask...👀14
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The worse part about the mask is when I get hot, bothered and mad.
I got a thinner one that works better but when I am near others I wear a mask like when at Lowes, WM, etc which is seldom. When I walk down the road or out bush hogging in a field there is not a need protect me from getting Covid-19. While most do not wear them in stores around here it does give me peace of mind that I am not stressing out another person due to not wearing a mask. Masks are a non issue just like wearing pants on a hot day is non issue. It is just something you to better fit into society.
If one is having trouble breathing due to wearing a mask most likely should not be out in public places period.6 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »The worse part about the mask is when I get hot, bothered and mad.
I got a thinner one that works better but when I am near others I wear a mask when at Lowes, WM, etc which is seldom. When I walk down the road or out bush hogging in a field there is not need protect me from getting Covid-19. While most do not wear them in stores around here it does give me peace of that I am not stressing out another person due to not wearing a mask. Masks are a non issue just like wearing pants on a hot day is non issue. It is just something you to better fit into society.
If one is having trouble breathing due to wearing a mask most likely should not be out in public places period.
If someone has a legitimate medical restriction from wearing a mask, I don't think they should be expected to completely withdraw from society. The rest of us who can should wear masks to help account for the few who cannot, just as we don't expect those who cannot be vaccinated to withdraw from society . . . we get our vaccinations so that herd immunity helps protect them.
If those of us who can do what we *should*, then we will not have many instances of forcing others into lives of unnecessary restriction. It's such a tiny thing to ask of us (and I say this as someone who hates the mask for the psychological reasons listed above).8 -
moonangel12 wrote: »My heart is breaking for my 94 (almost 95) year old grandmother. She was in an apartment style living arrangement - not full assisted living. Something happened on Tuesday - she was in a lot of pain, couldn’t walk or communicate, maybe a fall. They took her to the hospital and they finally figured out she had a UTI (I never would have imagined the changes they can trigger in the elderly until she experienced one while staying with us a few years back - they mimick her stroke symptoms!). But because of the slow decline of her mental health (they have fought to keep at this same facility for about a year now) she can’t go back, so today she is going to a new place to live. My cousin can’t go with her or even ride in the van because of COVID, and because of the hospital visit, they (cousin or gma) can’t go back to her apt to get her stuff because COVID. So you have a confused, often depressed 94 year old woman who was abruptly uprooted from the little she knows in life and plopped in a new place with new people and next to nothing familiar in her surroundings - and no option for visitors. My husband is ready to drive 12 hours and pick her up to come stay with us for a little while (she lived with us for a few months before an unexpected move 3 years ago).
I hate COVID.
Sorry about what your grandmother, you, and your family are experiencing
My OH's mother passed away in 2017. She was depressed and anxious and my OH visited her in her nursing home daily. I can't imagine how this would have been for her...3 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »A thought I had... as almost everyone refuses to wear a mask properly and consistently, one of the most common reasons I hear is because it is hard to breathe through a thin paper mask. These are people who are sometimes just sitting, sometimes standing, and sometimes walking at a leisurely pace. In other words, not activities that one would expect to require a significant amount of oxygen as would an activity like running. It makes me think:
1. Almost nobody is very fit here apparently because such a minimal barrier shouldn't cause almost everyone so much difficulty that they can't wear it.
2. If people find it that hard to breathe through a simple paper mask, what would they think it is like if they have a respiratory disease that actually makes it difficult to get oxygen?! And given that, how is the mortality rate not 50 times higher than has been reported?!
I'm tempted to believe "hard to breathe" is more excuse (or a psychological side effect of perceived confinement, bascically micro-claustrophobia), in some cases. Clearly, some people do have breathing disorders, and that's a different issue.
They tell me, now, that I have COPD (still very mild). I have no trouble breathing for whole grocery expeditions, sometimes through multiple stores, leaving the mask on the whole time including in the car (for less face-touching), and I'm wearing a doubled (sometimes quadrupled) cotton tight-weave bandana bandit-style, with a home-shop dust mask behind it, on tight (dents in face after). Admittedly, I'm thin and moderately fit, and the COPD is mild. But it makes me skeptical about the commonness of the "can't breathe" explanation.
I'm certain that for some, there's a bit of "Princess and the pea" going on here - not saying people are lying, but more that some are very sensitive, and that there's a psychological dimension.
I don't have COPD or problems with confinement/claustrophobia, but was unable to wear the KN95 mask that I got for cost as my company sells them. I gave some to my mother, brother, and neighbors, and they don't have problems with them.
I suspect my issue with the mask was partly due to my chemical/environmental sensitivity. I have problem with certain fabrics touching me in general, let alone if I am trying to breathe through them.
For food shopping, I wear an sextuple-fold cotton bandana, and while it's a bit annoying because I can only get enough air if I breath through my mouth, it doesn't bother me like the KN95 did.6 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »We are at probably less than 1% mask use in public here. This is frustrating because it works best when everyone takes precautions.
https://www.sfgate.com/news/editorspicks/article/Study-100-face-mask-use-could-crush-second-15333170.php
Weird, we are probably at about 75% here from what I observe and indoor public space is required. Then again, I find the talk about second wave ironic as it's not clear anyone is out of the first wave, I don't think we are, and after the past couple weeks no way. But we are opening. (I realize again I'm being bitchy but I find it so unfair that I see so much more compliance around me than others report yet our numbers are so much worse, which until recently I just assumed was density and now is likely also protests, etc.)
I'm south of Boston and have seen 100% mask/face covering usage in grocery stores for some time. I almost saw 100% usage everywhere else, but my OH saw two men at Home Depot not wearing masks, so that broke the streak, but we are still in the very high 90s in my area.
My state took major action in March, and our chart has been going in the right direction for some time.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/massachusetts-coronavirus-cases.html
IL as a state is heading in the right direction as well: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/illinois-coronavirus-cases.html
Cook County is following along with that.3 -
It's crazy how different the mask situation is based on where you are. Even just in my area, the Food Lion has no signage or enforcement and I was one of the few people in the store wearing a mask. The Walmart right down the street has signage, floor arrows, hand sanitizer stations, and all but a few were wearing masks.
I do fine wearing the basic cloth masks I have under normal circumstances. I mean it's annoying and I'm happy to take it off once I can, but that's it. But I'll admit the other day it was quite humid out and I had to book it up a hill to the back door of the building, and man was I sucking air. I typically don't seem to breathe as deep when the humidity is high so I guess it just compounded the issue. Still better than the mystery that still is covid-19 though.8 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »A thought I had... as almost everyone refuses to wear a mask properly and consistently, one of the most common reasons I hear is because it is hard to breathe through a thin paper mask. These are people who are sometimes just sitting, sometimes standing, and sometimes walking at a leisurely pace. In other words, not activities that one would expect to require a significant amount of oxygen as would an activity like running. It makes me think:
1. Almost nobody is very fit here apparently because such a minimal barrier shouldn't cause almost everyone so much difficulty that they can't wear it.
2. If people find it that hard to breathe through a simple paper mask, what would they think it is like if they have a respiratory disease that actually makes it difficult to get oxygen?! And given that, how is the mortality rate not 50 times higher than has been reported?!
Yep unfortunately if someone is having trouble breathing through a paper/thin cloth mask their *kitten* better be at home in self-isolation because if they get it, chances are it won't end well.
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It's crazy how different the mask situation is based on where you are. Even just in my area, the Food Lion has no signage or enforcement and I was one of the few people in the store wearing a mask. The Walmart right down the street has signage, floor arrows, hand sanitizer stations, and all but a few were wearing masks.
I do fine wearing the basic cloth masks I have under normal circumstances. I mean it's annoying and I'm happy to take it off once I can, but that's it. But I'll admit the other day it was quite humid out and I had to book it up a hill to the back door of the building, and man was I sucking air. I typically don't seem to breathe as deep when the humidity is high so I guess it just compounded the issue. Still better than the mystery that still is covid-19 though.
That's interesting because I've seen signs at every store. Wal-Mart admittedly has the most signs and the most complicated setup. It was confusing the first time I went in months because it looks like one door is blocked off with no signs at all. But as it turns out, they were just trying to separate the In vs. the Out doors. As I approached the store, I just saw barricades over the In door and assumed it was broken or something and they were trying to block it off until it could be fixed. So I went in through the Out doors and I noticed there were barricades between the 2 doors inside. On my way out, I saw some people coming in through the In doors. So I followed the barricades and it turned out that there were an opening off to the side of the store, so you have to go about 100-200 feet over to the side, then enter through the opening in the barricades and follow the side of the building back to the door. It would have been helpful if they actually had signs for that. I assume they had employees directing traffic at one time and now assume everyone knows. But not everyone shops at Wal-Mart often enough (people like me) to have been there early on with this setup and to have learned the new system. Signs would help there.
Anyway, nobody else at Wal-Mart last week was wearing a mask. Not even employees. Nobody seemed to adhere to the signs about keeping distance either. It was just like everywhere else.3 -
Two anecdotes from mid-Michigan:
1. I made an emergency run to buy a new cell phone at a local store on Friday. That's a low-traffic place. Had 2 staff on duty, one other customer who overlapped with me, many feet away. Didn't notice if other customer was masked (I think so), but staff and I were. Near the end of the interchange, I asked the staffer who was helping me if she'd do an extra sanitation step before handing me stuff.
She was super nice about it, and something in how she discussed it (like how she actually thanked me for caring) led me to believe that some customers are being real jerks to service people who are under corporate orders to enforce masks and such (she obliquely said as much). This is a place where many customers are staying in front of an individual staff person for multiple minutes at a time, besides. Yeesh.
2. I've been in my local big-box home improvement store multiple times recently (late night, a teenager flattened my rural-style mailbox, so I have to completely replace it, pole & all, which I don't really know how to do or completely what I need, so multiple trips).
It's all been trips on weekday afternoons, but there's suprising variation - as I subjectively see it, anyway - in the percentage of the customers wearing masks & keeping distance. (I'd say it was 80%-ish this trip, but maybe only 50% or so on the last one). Maybe it's just that this is not as high-traffic as a grocery store, so more random-looking variation when small numbers.
Pet peeve: Everywhere, the non-mask-wearers in general seem to be more aggressive about ignoring distancing rules (arrows, proximity, etc.). This logically follows, I suppose - if a person thinks the precautions are unnecessary and annoying, they think it across the board, I suppose. It annoys me anyway. (Today's bold example: A young-ish woman with multiple (4? 5?) trailing dirty-looking kids, no masks in sight, winding their collective wide-swath way through the checkout area, one side or other of the mini-troop brushing near other patrons trying to stay on the 6-foot-apart markers as the woman/kids gawked (and yammered, and breathed) in all directions. Ugh. )
Thanks for letting me vent.19 -
Just interesting. Mom and dad=no masks with 2 kids, maybe 8 & 12, both masked. Why?2
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I'm in Nebraska, and not much of the daily grind has changed here. It did for about 6-8 weeks, but now things are opening back up. I work at 3 COVID testing facilities, so I have dealt with a lot of the highs and lows. Personally, other than my kids having online learning, I still go about business as usual.
The frustrating thing right now is that the schools still don't know how they are going to operate come fall. They allowed families to vote on 3 options, all of which are ugly....either A. We continue remote learning (which was a complete joke and left many kids, mine included, feeling set back) B. Schools split students down by 50% by rotating every other week. Again, not a great option since many parents will be back to work and daycare costs are outrages. C. Split the school day in half, with 50% of the kids going in the morning and the other 50% in the afternoon.
As for prep, our shelves are well stocked in the stores, with the exception of Lysol wipes. Most businesses are back up and running, and more and more people are starting to come out. As of yesterday's press conference, the hospitals in my area still have 80% vents available, and 75% of beds available.
I was incredibly sick in February, and testing negative for the FLU. One of the gals I was training just had an antibody test done because he mom was sick in January....they both had antibodies. If had the extra cash, I'd get tested because I am pretty much convinced I had it.
Huh? You have to pay to be tested for Covid? We don't.
I meant for the antibody testing, but yes....we have had people calling stating that they thought the COVID test was free. We send the tests through LabCorp and they have been charging nearly $100 for the test.
I haven't seen a bill for mine yet (antibody) - dr office made me sign a form saying I understood it may not be covered. Now my insurance says on their website that they will cover all covid related treatment and testing with no copays. They also refunded my copay for therapy because I did teletherapy.
Now if you give blood, they will give you a free antibody test. I think because they want to know if your blood has antibodies anyway, so they'll be testing anyway, and just give you the result.4 -
I haven't read all the replies.
For those who say mask usage is low where you are, what is the availability of masks?
I saw low mask usage in the last couple of weeks, probably since we went into phase 1 on May 4th. Suddenly, mask usage is going up. But also, I JUST started seeing masks for sale in regular stores - Target, Kroger, etc. I bought some.
I think this may have something to do with low usage, not everyone can sew. Not everyone goes on etsy to buy masks. But if you can pick up a pack at your local store? When you are buying groceries? Maybe that will help with usage. It is a little sucky of the government to ask everyone (or require everyone) to wear masks but not PROVIDE them, and not only are they not provided they aren't available to the average person, what with doctor's offices and hair salons buying a bunch (I mean, they need them too).
That said, usage is way up this week. I'm glad to see more people wearing masks!5 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »A thought I had... as almost everyone refuses to wear a mask properly and consistently, one of the most common reasons I hear is because it is hard to breathe through a thin paper mask. These are people who are sometimes just sitting, sometimes standing, and sometimes walking at a leisurely pace. In other words, not activities that one would expect to require a significant amount of oxygen as would an activity like running. It makes me think:
1. Almost nobody is very fit here apparently because such a minimal barrier shouldn't cause almost everyone so much difficulty that they can't wear it.
2. If people find it that hard to breathe through a simple paper mask, what would they think it is like if they have a respiratory disease that actually makes it difficult to get oxygen?! And given that, how is the mortality rate not 50 times higher than has been reported?!
I think some people have a psychological thing about it.
I had a haircut last weekend, I wore my mask the whole time and it was just me and the stylist in the building. She left me under the hood for a while and when she got back she said she was shocked I wore my mask the whole time under the hood while she wasn't even around, she said she had to step outside and take hers off she was dying with it on.
I don't think the thought even crossed my mind to take it off while I was under the hood, I was just chillin and playing on my phone.7
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