Coronavirus prep

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Replies

  • Diatonic12
    Diatonic12 Posts: 32,344 Member
    Happy, Happy Father's Day

    In all the things we try to do
    Your kids want to be just like you
    We watch every move you make
    We try to take every step you take

    We used to be sort of small
    But when we were with you
    We felt 10 feet tall

    We all want to be brave and smart
    'Cause we love you Dads
    With all our hearts



  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,622 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    About Trump, Tulsa, and corona.
    On June 19th, Tulsa county had reported 2070 corona cases since the pandemic started. Tulsa town spills out into other counties, but we report by county, and Tulsa town is mainly in Tulsa county. 721 of those cases were reported within the last 2 weeks, so an average of 51.5 people per day. 125 of those were reported on June 19th, 136 more were reported on June 20.

    6 people who came to Tulsa early to set up for the Trump rally tested positive for corona.

    How many Trump people took the virus home with them, and how many Tulsa people caught it from Trump people.

    Pictures show many people without masks and very little social distancing.

    Why shut down so many businesses to keep people from coming into direct contact with each other, then get together a group
    Of several thousand people in one building, sitting next to each other?

    Social distancing or not? If so, why? If not, why shut down business? Please help me understand.

    When I expressed this point months ago, many reminded me that the point never was to stop the spread. It was to slow the spread / flatten the curve to give the healthcare system sufficient time to prepare. Except our healthcare system is no better prepared than it was in Feb. and Mar.

    This to me is the crux of the issue. The point of flattening the curve is to take pressure off the healthcare system AND to buy time to set up policies and procedures to deal better with the outbreak. Here in the US we did the first part and not the second. So other than some tennuous medical advances, FL TX and AZ are no better prepared for their first wave than NY was for theirs. And we have no strategy for how to handle a second wave in states that have successfully beaten back the first wave.

    We should've been developing national protocols for data collection, treatment, contact tracing, triggers for future local shutdowns, strict guidelines for nursing homes, medical pandemic committees, etc and instead we're still arguing about whether Walmart can force you to wear a mask inside their stores. It's tragic.

    Many of the people I know who were being careful are starting to lose their patience, mostly because they feel like theyre getting mixed messages and they don't personally know anyone whose gotten sick. Unfortunately this is another case where not knowing how to vet sources leaves smart people thinking there is no consensus, and there's no one trusted figure standing up and getting everyone rowing in the same direction.

    To the bolded, I'm unclear whether it was part of the experts' intent up front - though I expect it was: Slowing things down has also allowed for a lot of both formal research and experiential best-practice guidelines to evolve in the treatment realm. Those things should help save lives in later waves, or incontinuations of the current wave; and perhaps also reduce transmission somewhat.

    I'm thinking about things like when to use oxygen and when to use ventilators, how to share ventilators between 2 people (not ideal, but potentially helpful if supplies are again short), the protocols now in place for isolating possibly-infected people from probably-uninfected ones in health care facilities**, and that sort of thing.

    ** A local example I found interesting was that here, a hospital system has set up a multi-lane drive-through lab facility in a former Sears auto repair building. It's really popular/busy, so far. Some of my immunocompromised friends really appreciate that they can go get the essential blood draws to monitor complex health conditions, without even having to get out of their car. Obviously, there's still contact with at least one suited-up lab tech, but very limited contact with anyone else or things others recently breathed on/touched.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    That is interesting reusable bags are not allowed in your stores. Here they are encouraged.

    At wegmans they suggest using the scan app. It is AWESOME! It is so much faster and easier. You just log into the app when you get to the store and scan your own groceries as you go and put them into your reusable bags. Then you go through the self checkout and just scan the screen and it loads your order and you pay and are done. No human contact at all.

    I am really amazed they are doing this because it is completely based on honesty that you scan and pay for everything. Wegmans is awesome.

    We are still required to wear masks in all buildings here and I see everyone wearing masks. However I work in healthcare and when we are in the small office and break room, everyone takes their masks off.

    I am surprised, but very happy that majority of people I see have been continuing to wear masks everywhere even though our cases have been trending down in NY.
  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,498 Member
    That is interesting reusable bags are not allowed in your stores. Here they are encouraged.

    At wegmans they suggest using the scan app. It is AWESOME! It is so much faster and easier. You just log into the app when you get to the store and scan your own groceries as you go and put them into your reusable bags. Then you go through the self checkout and just scan the screen and it loads your order and you pay and are done. No human contact at all.

    I am really amazed they are doing this because it is completely based on honesty that you scan and pay for everything. Wegmans is awesome.

    We are still required to wear masks in all buildings here and I see everyone wearing masks. However I work in healthcare and when we are in the small office and break room, everyone takes their masks off.

    I am surprised, but very happy that majority of people I see have been continuing to wear masks everywhere even though our cases have been trending down in NY.

    The reusable bags were encouraged up until the virus hit, then they were outlawed.

    And to to honest, the scan and pay is not based on trust. Retailers have various ways of checking and/or passing the additional theft costs on to everyone.

    https://www.grocerydive.com/news/theft-is-a-major-risk-for-retailers-using-scan-and-go-expert-says/563702/
  • corinasue1143
    corinasue1143 Posts: 7,460 Member
    Thanks @galehawkins for the reminder to take my probiotics. Someone suggested earlier that if you weren’t sure if you needed a multivitamin or not, now just might be a good time to experiment and take one, so I am.

    Here, since Corona hit, you can use reusable grocery bags, but you can’t put them on the counter, you have to leave them
    In your basket and bag your groceries yourself, so no one touches them but you.

    As for hospitals, we had over 4,000 empty beds available when the pandemic started, and we have over 4000 empty beds now. But God help you if you need a Dr. or to go to the hospital. And I mean that quite sincerely. I don’t think our medical community has learned much yet. I’m sure there are exceptions. But everything I’ve seen, heard, and experienced says don’t get sick in Oklahoma now.

    So thank you again Gale. I’ll take my vitamins, probiotics, eat healthy, get some exercise, and try to avoid corona and her friends.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    SeanD2407 wrote: »
    Still hardly anyone wearing masks in stores, and florida is about to close again. Getting scared.

    I don't like wearing masks, but I can't get in to some stores and other public institutions without wearing one, so I have one available in the car to use when needed.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    Our state has directed no reusable grocey bags and all the stores have large signs reflecting this guidance. Going through the store a couple had their entire cart filled with stuff in reusable bags..

    Hopefully cashier tells them sorry can't check out.

    Some of our stores are spraying the reusable bags on entry, just as they spray our hands as we enter the building.
  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,498 Member
    TonyB0588 wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    Our state has directed no reusable grocey bags and all the stores have large signs reflecting this guidance. Going through the store a couple had their entire cart filled with stuff in reusable bags..

    Hopefully cashier tells them sorry can't check out.

    Some of our stores are spraying the reusable bags on entry, just as they spray our hands as we enter the building.

    Haven't heard of spraying hands when entering a store. I'd think that would be an issue should someone show up as allergic to something in the spray they use.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    mockchoc wrote: »
    "LOL yeah, but it also means I spend more time in the store around other people, and those extra steps cause me to walk past more people, where if I just walked where I needed, I might not pass those people. So, does it really cut down risk? Or make it riskier?"

    Write a list and stick to it is safest. Get in and out as fast as possible. We have almost zero active cases here and I still am doing that for now.

    We have low cases in our county too.

    We try to make a list. I was having trouble making a list this time because I'm on a special diet for 7-10 days and I literally had to shop for stuff to find stuff I could eat.

    Whether or not you have a list, you might not realize something on your list is down an aisle until you pass it. I guess if you went up and down ever aisle so you didn't miss one, but that seems kind of excessive too.

    I'm totally incapable of doing this myself, but my mom used to put her grocery list in order by aisle, routinely. (She could remember what was where in her customary store, so it wasn't a huge effort; and she was Just. That. Organized. I didn't get that gene.)
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    ReenieHJ wrote: »
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    jenilla1 wrote: »
    jenilla1 wrote: »
    Here's a fun story for you. This is by far the stupidest thing I've seen so far. I was at the store and this guy standing near me literally pulled his mask down to sneeze out into the open air and then pulled it back on. I guess he didn't want to breathe in his own sneeze and mess up his mask with sneeze juices. Thanks, buddy. 🤧 I navigated away from him ASAP, but I couldn't freaking believe it. And there was an elderly woman standing right in his sneeze zone.

    Not only are more than half the people not wearing masks anymore, since the local leadership caved to the complainers and made masks optional but recommended, some of those who are wearing them are doing crap like that.

    Opening things up wouldn't be so bad if people would behave themselves and follow recommended guidelines. Especially when we're living in a covid hot zone.

    When we make things optional, like wearing masks in stores, people seem to choose poorly. It seems to be all or nothing with people. They are acting like it has to be a complete shut down OR completely open and throwing all caution to the wind. Why can't we open things up AND use precautions?
    Jeez Louise. I feel like they need to issue everyone with official 6’ long sticks - if I can reach you with my stick, I am legally allowed to hit you with my stick...

    Bwahahhahahaha!

    Issue the order - I'm ready for battle! My staff training may finally pay off... ;)

    5l43djttapa1.png
    z6oq5clvj4ar.png

    I've seen video of myself doing staff training. Sadly, it did not look like that. :grimace:;)

    Some of the behavior in stores does have me thinking again about exploiting li'l ol' lady privilege to carry a (gratefully, so far) physically unnnecessary cane, so I have the option of whacking people with it at an extreme.

    I was out again today at 3 stores (local health food grocery, Whole Foods, Costco), and again the experience varied some (in terms of number wearing masks) and how people behaved, as compared with other times. That mouth-only mask thing was more common today, for example.

    Does anyone else find themselves getting more short-tempered? (I assume in my case it's from isolation, either unacknowledged stress, "cabin fever" or atrophy of social skills from exercising them less.) A woman behnd me in the exit line at Costco was very impatient - I'd almost swear she clicked at me at one point, like some form of indoor horn-honking. (I admit to being a li'l ol' lady, but more spry than doddering physically, truly.) At one point, behind me, she muttered "does she have to be so slow", either about the receipt-checker at the door, or the woman just finishing being checked, who was getting her stuff together. I admit, I turned around, looked her in the face, and raised an eyebrow at her (above my mask :lol: ) quite emphatically, though I did keep my mouth shut. This is really not like me. I rarely get irritated, and pretty much never broadcast it. (In my particular Scandinavian Midwestern subculture, a raised eyebrow is a very strong expression of emotion. :lol: ).

    Oh, I'm bitchy in normal times, but last time I went to my closest grocery and some were just disregarding the posted rules (not masks, but the cart rules, and the arrows), I was muttering to myself about it. I realized I was being a freak and doing no good, but still. I decided just not to go there vs. becoming a nutjob.

    Lately I've been going to my office with strict rules but few are there yet, so have been a bit on the non compliant side (doors are labeled exit and entrance but there aren't enough there yet for you to meet up with anyone).

    I've found the one-way foot traffic in the stores to be the trickiest to adhere to. :) They need bigger arrows. I'm constantly back-tracking because I forgot something or have to substitute, etc. That's when I notice I'm going the wrong way. Oops.

    I feel like I have to go up and down every aisle, even ones I don't need anything in, because I don't want to deal with skipping to an aisle I do need something in, and finding myself at the wrong end of it.

    I kept passing an isle, looking down and seeing something I need, then having to go forward to the next isle and double back (or back up, to the isle before), it sure did create a lot of extra steps.

    I feel like I should link this comment to the "NEAT Improvement Strategies to Improve Weight Loss" thread: Burning extra calories via confusing arrow-triggered backtracks while grocery shopping. :wink: :lol:

    LOL yeah, but it also means I spend more time in the store around other people, and those extra steps cause me to walk past more people, where if I just walked where I needed, I might not pass those people. So, does it really cut down risk? Or make it riskier?

    Oh, absolutely. It was a joke, just that we're on a calorie counting site with so many people wanting to burn more of the little suckers. I wasn't saying anything about the risk, just the "exercise" - Pollyanna looking for a tiny bright side in the Corona mess, I guess. :)

    Concerning risk:

    There was an interesting interview on NPR's Fresh Air this week, with Michaael Osterholm the founder/director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at UMinnesota, and author of "Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs". His center is doing research specifically now on what circumstances have what risk of exposure to sufficient viral load to be dangerous, and related topics. (Link at the bottom to the story/audio. There's much more in the audio (41 minutes) than the text. Interesting guy, long experience.

    From memory, I think he was saying that these "quick pass by" situations are less risky than a few minutes actually in close space with another person. Now, obviously, the risk is still non-zero, and I totally hear what you're saying about the numbers of people we pass being a multiplier of that risk. Still, I found the interview somewhat reassuring about the practical risk levels in grocery stores and the like.

    https://www.npr.org/2020/06/17/879255417/amid-confusion-about-reopening-an-expert-explains-how-to-assess-covid-risk

    Here the contact tracers ask who you have been in close contact with for at least 15 minutes. I guess because you don't know the names of everyone you passed at Walmart.

    I want to underscore this after some subsequent posts:

    Truly, the information I'm reading/hearing lately is suggesting that length of exposure to an affected person is one important variable, along with others like proximity, and conditions (masks, airflow, etc.). That's why the "15 minute" idea comes into assessing statistical probability of infection. Length of contact changes the odds of transmission meaningfully, IMU.

    IIRC, the interview whose link I posted earlier (https://www.npr.org/2020/06/17/879255417/amid-confusion-about-reopening-an-expert-explains-how-to-assess-covid-risk) was one that made this point.

    Essentially, an epidemiologist (I think that one in that interview) said that people are imagining the virus as a sort of particle that kind of hops off one person (via droplets/mist kind of thing) in passing or at random, and that's it, you're infected. But it's more realistic (as I understand it) to think of it as needing to get to a certain viral load in the exposure, a certain volume of viral particles. Oversimplifying, that can happen in brief time if (say) an unmasked infected person sneezes or yells right at my unmasked face, or it can happen if I sit a few feet away from someone in an indoor area for a longer time period with the ventilation/breeze directing their exhalates toward me, so that viral bits accumulate gradually over a period of time.

    Sure, without contact tracing apps, we don't know who was passing by us at the grocery store, so we can't contact and warn them. But, as a practical matter, and statistically speaking, those contacts are at a much lower risk than (say) the title company agent who sat across the table from us for half an hour at the closing for our house purchase/sale, if we turn out to be infected (or they do).

    I'm not an expert, just my understanding, blah blah blah all standard disclaimers.

    I guess this explains the logic behind our churches being allowed to reopen with shorter services and wider spaces between persons. Less time in close contact.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    I just went to Lowe’s where I think every single person I saw had on a mask. Didn’t find what I wanted so I went to Lowe’s 10 miles away. I was the only shopper there with a mask. One employee had hers around her neck and one had hers sitting on her chin, just barely below her mouth. What’s up with people?

    People get tired of being careful. If there's a second or third round of this virus, we'll all have to learn to do the right things again.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    Ate at Los Portales for lunch with wife, kids and daughter in law for first dine in event since things went bat crazy. Some of the staff were wearing masks but not one person dining was wearing a mask. There were some missing tables.

    Obviously not possible to dine with a mask on. The stipulations for restaurants reopening here included greater distancing, so some tables had to be removed, and less diners accommodated in the same space.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    I have not seen any arrows at stores. Like others, I am concerned that would send me to areas of the store I wouldn't otherwise visit. As a carnivore, I don't visit most aisles anyway. I go to the meat section (usually in the back of stores) and often the frozen meat section (some have it in the back or side and other stores have it in frozen aisles). The only aisles (aside from frozen) I need to visit usually are for non-groceries... cat food, cleaning supplies. No need to go down every single aisle.

    We don't have directional arrows. Just 6 foot spaced markers on the floor going towards the cashiers.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    mockchoc wrote: »
    "LOL yeah, but it also means I spend more time in the store around other people, and those extra steps cause me to walk past more people, where if I just walked where I needed, I might not pass those people. So, does it really cut down risk? Or make it riskier?"

    Write a list and stick to it is safest. Get in and out as fast as possible. We have almost zero active cases here and I still am doing that for now.

    We have low cases in our county too.

    We try to make a list. I was having trouble making a list this time because I'm on a special diet for 7-10 days and I literally had to shop for stuff to find stuff I could eat.

    Whether or not you have a list, you might not realize something on your list is down an aisle until you pass it. I guess if you went up and down ever aisle so you didn't miss one, but that seems kind of excessive too.

    I'm totally incapable of doing this myself, but my mom used to put her grocery list in order by aisle, routinely. (She could remember what was where in her customary store, so it wasn't a huge effort; and she was Just. That. Organized. I didn't get that gene.)
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    ReenieHJ wrote: »
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    jenilla1 wrote: »
    jenilla1 wrote: »
    Here's a fun story for you. This is by far the stupidest thing I've seen so far. I was at the store and this guy standing near me literally pulled his mask down to sneeze out into the open air and then pulled it back on. I guess he didn't want to breathe in his own sneeze and mess up his mask with sneeze juices. Thanks, buddy. 🤧 I navigated away from him ASAP, but I couldn't freaking believe it. And there was an elderly woman standing right in his sneeze zone.

    Not only are more than half the people not wearing masks anymore, since the local leadership caved to the complainers and made masks optional but recommended, some of those who are wearing them are doing crap like that.

    Opening things up wouldn't be so bad if people would behave themselves and follow recommended guidelines. Especially when we're living in a covid hot zone.

    When we make things optional, like wearing masks in stores, people seem to choose poorly. It seems to be all or nothing with people. They are acting like it has to be a complete shut down OR completely open and throwing all caution to the wind. Why can't we open things up AND use precautions?
    Jeez Louise. I feel like they need to issue everyone with official 6’ long sticks - if I can reach you with my stick, I am legally allowed to hit you with my stick...

    Bwahahhahahaha!

    Issue the order - I'm ready for battle! My staff training may finally pay off... ;)

    5l43djttapa1.png
    z6oq5clvj4ar.png

    I've seen video of myself doing staff training. Sadly, it did not look like that. :grimace:;)

    Some of the behavior in stores does have me thinking again about exploiting li'l ol' lady privilege to carry a (gratefully, so far) physically unnnecessary cane, so I have the option of whacking people with it at an extreme.

    I was out again today at 3 stores (local health food grocery, Whole Foods, Costco), and again the experience varied some (in terms of number wearing masks) and how people behaved, as compared with other times. That mouth-only mask thing was more common today, for example.

    Does anyone else find themselves getting more short-tempered? (I assume in my case it's from isolation, either unacknowledged stress, "cabin fever" or atrophy of social skills from exercising them less.) A woman behnd me in the exit line at Costco was very impatient - I'd almost swear she clicked at me at one point, like some form of indoor horn-honking. (I admit to being a li'l ol' lady, but more spry than doddering physically, truly.) At one point, behind me, she muttered "does she have to be so slow", either about the receipt-checker at the door, or the woman just finishing being checked, who was getting her stuff together. I admit, I turned around, looked her in the face, and raised an eyebrow at her (above my mask :lol: ) quite emphatically, though I did keep my mouth shut. This is really not like me. I rarely get irritated, and pretty much never broadcast it. (In my particular Scandinavian Midwestern subculture, a raised eyebrow is a very strong expression of emotion. :lol: ).

    Oh, I'm bitchy in normal times, but last time I went to my closest grocery and some were just disregarding the posted rules (not masks, but the cart rules, and the arrows), I was muttering to myself about it. I realized I was being a freak and doing no good, but still. I decided just not to go there vs. becoming a nutjob.

    Lately I've been going to my office with strict rules but few are there yet, so have been a bit on the non compliant side (doors are labeled exit and entrance but there aren't enough there yet for you to meet up with anyone).

    I've found the one-way foot traffic in the stores to be the trickiest to adhere to. :) They need bigger arrows. I'm constantly back-tracking because I forgot something or have to substitute, etc. That's when I notice I'm going the wrong way. Oops.

    I feel like I have to go up and down every aisle, even ones I don't need anything in, because I don't want to deal with skipping to an aisle I do need something in, and finding myself at the wrong end of it.

    I kept passing an isle, looking down and seeing something I need, then having to go forward to the next isle and double back (or back up, to the isle before), it sure did create a lot of extra steps.

    I feel like I should link this comment to the "NEAT Improvement Strategies to Improve Weight Loss" thread: Burning extra calories via confusing arrow-triggered backtracks while grocery shopping. :wink: :lol:

    LOL yeah, but it also means I spend more time in the store around other people, and those extra steps cause me to walk past more people, where if I just walked where I needed, I might not pass those people. So, does it really cut down risk? Or make it riskier?

    Oh, absolutely. It was a joke, just that we're on a calorie counting site with so many people wanting to burn more of the little suckers. I wasn't saying anything about the risk, just the "exercise" - Pollyanna looking for a tiny bright side in the Corona mess, I guess. :)

    Concerning risk:

    There was an interesting interview on NPR's Fresh Air this week, with Michaael Osterholm the founder/director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at UMinnesota, and author of "Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs". His center is doing research specifically now on what circumstances have what risk of exposure to sufficient viral load to be dangerous, and related topics. (Link at the bottom to the story/audio. There's much more in the audio (41 minutes) than the text. Interesting guy, long experience.

    From memory, I think he was saying that these "quick pass by" situations are less risky than a few minutes actually in close space with another person. Now, obviously, the risk is still non-zero, and I totally hear what you're saying about the numbers of people we pass being a multiplier of that risk. Still, I found the interview somewhat reassuring about the practical risk levels in grocery stores and the like.

    https://www.npr.org/2020/06/17/879255417/amid-confusion-about-reopening-an-expert-explains-how-to-assess-covid-risk

    Here the contact tracers ask who you have been in close contact with for at least 15 minutes. I guess because you don't know the names of everyone you passed at Walmart.

    Based on the interview link I posted . . . it may go beyond that, to the probabilities.

    Contact tracing is going to have to cut off at some point. Practicality (can you identify them) is one part of that, as you say. Probability of transmission is another.

    To use an intentionally absurd/extreme example: If someone has Covid & licks a stamp and puts the envelope in their mailbox, then a mail deliverer handles the envelope and immediately touches their face, I suppose maybe there's a small chance of viral transfer in sufficient quantities to cause infection . . . but I doubt the contact tracers will be trying to identify who our mail deliverer is, even though it could be done in most cases.

    Timing is also relevant. The virus has various lifespans on different types of surfaces. It is unlikely that the letter will be collected from the mailbox immediately after the stamp was licked by the infected person.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,622 Member
    TonyB0588 wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    mockchoc wrote: »
    "LOL yeah, but it also means I spend more time in the store around other people, and those extra steps cause me to walk past more people, where if I just walked where I needed, I might not pass those people. So, does it really cut down risk? Or make it riskier?"

    Write a list and stick to it is safest. Get in and out as fast as possible. We have almost zero active cases here and I still am doing that for now.

    We have low cases in our county too.

    We try to make a list. I was having trouble making a list this time because I'm on a special diet for 7-10 days and I literally had to shop for stuff to find stuff I could eat.

    Whether or not you have a list, you might not realize something on your list is down an aisle until you pass it. I guess if you went up and down ever aisle so you didn't miss one, but that seems kind of excessive too.

    I'm totally incapable of doing this myself, but my mom used to put her grocery list in order by aisle, routinely. (She could remember what was where in her customary store, so it wasn't a huge effort; and she was Just. That. Organized. I didn't get that gene.)
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    ReenieHJ wrote: »
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    jenilla1 wrote: »
    jenilla1 wrote: »
    Here's a fun story for you. This is by far the stupidest thing I've seen so far. I was at the store and this guy standing near me literally pulled his mask down to sneeze out into the open air and then pulled it back on. I guess he didn't want to breathe in his own sneeze and mess up his mask with sneeze juices. Thanks, buddy. 🤧 I navigated away from him ASAP, but I couldn't freaking believe it. And there was an elderly woman standing right in his sneeze zone.

    Not only are more than half the people not wearing masks anymore, since the local leadership caved to the complainers and made masks optional but recommended, some of those who are wearing them are doing crap like that.

    Opening things up wouldn't be so bad if people would behave themselves and follow recommended guidelines. Especially when we're living in a covid hot zone.

    When we make things optional, like wearing masks in stores, people seem to choose poorly. It seems to be all or nothing with people. They are acting like it has to be a complete shut down OR completely open and throwing all caution to the wind. Why can't we open things up AND use precautions?
    Jeez Louise. I feel like they need to issue everyone with official 6’ long sticks - if I can reach you with my stick, I am legally allowed to hit you with my stick...

    Bwahahhahahaha!

    Issue the order - I'm ready for battle! My staff training may finally pay off... ;)

    5l43djttapa1.png
    z6oq5clvj4ar.png

    I've seen video of myself doing staff training. Sadly, it did not look like that. :grimace:;)

    Some of the behavior in stores does have me thinking again about exploiting li'l ol' lady privilege to carry a (gratefully, so far) physically unnnecessary cane, so I have the option of whacking people with it at an extreme.

    I was out again today at 3 stores (local health food grocery, Whole Foods, Costco), and again the experience varied some (in terms of number wearing masks) and how people behaved, as compared with other times. That mouth-only mask thing was more common today, for example.

    Does anyone else find themselves getting more short-tempered? (I assume in my case it's from isolation, either unacknowledged stress, "cabin fever" or atrophy of social skills from exercising them less.) A woman behnd me in the exit line at Costco was very impatient - I'd almost swear she clicked at me at one point, like some form of indoor horn-honking. (I admit to being a li'l ol' lady, but more spry than doddering physically, truly.) At one point, behind me, she muttered "does she have to be so slow", either about the receipt-checker at the door, or the woman just finishing being checked, who was getting her stuff together. I admit, I turned around, looked her in the face, and raised an eyebrow at her (above my mask :lol: ) quite emphatically, though I did keep my mouth shut. This is really not like me. I rarely get irritated, and pretty much never broadcast it. (In my particular Scandinavian Midwestern subculture, a raised eyebrow is a very strong expression of emotion. :lol: ).

    Oh, I'm bitchy in normal times, but last time I went to my closest grocery and some were just disregarding the posted rules (not masks, but the cart rules, and the arrows), I was muttering to myself about it. I realized I was being a freak and doing no good, but still. I decided just not to go there vs. becoming a nutjob.

    Lately I've been going to my office with strict rules but few are there yet, so have been a bit on the non compliant side (doors are labeled exit and entrance but there aren't enough there yet for you to meet up with anyone).

    I've found the one-way foot traffic in the stores to be the trickiest to adhere to. :) They need bigger arrows. I'm constantly back-tracking because I forgot something or have to substitute, etc. That's when I notice I'm going the wrong way. Oops.

    I feel like I have to go up and down every aisle, even ones I don't need anything in, because I don't want to deal with skipping to an aisle I do need something in, and finding myself at the wrong end of it.

    I kept passing an isle, looking down and seeing something I need, then having to go forward to the next isle and double back (or back up, to the isle before), it sure did create a lot of extra steps.

    I feel like I should link this comment to the "NEAT Improvement Strategies to Improve Weight Loss" thread: Burning extra calories via confusing arrow-triggered backtracks while grocery shopping. :wink: :lol:

    LOL yeah, but it also means I spend more time in the store around other people, and those extra steps cause me to walk past more people, where if I just walked where I needed, I might not pass those people. So, does it really cut down risk? Or make it riskier?

    Oh, absolutely. It was a joke, just that we're on a calorie counting site with so many people wanting to burn more of the little suckers. I wasn't saying anything about the risk, just the "exercise" - Pollyanna looking for a tiny bright side in the Corona mess, I guess. :)

    Concerning risk:

    There was an interesting interview on NPR's Fresh Air this week, with Michaael Osterholm the founder/director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at UMinnesota, and author of "Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs". His center is doing research specifically now on what circumstances have what risk of exposure to sufficient viral load to be dangerous, and related topics. (Link at the bottom to the story/audio. There's much more in the audio (41 minutes) than the text. Interesting guy, long experience.

    From memory, I think he was saying that these "quick pass by" situations are less risky than a few minutes actually in close space with another person. Now, obviously, the risk is still non-zero, and I totally hear what you're saying about the numbers of people we pass being a multiplier of that risk. Still, I found the interview somewhat reassuring about the practical risk levels in grocery stores and the like.

    https://www.npr.org/2020/06/17/879255417/amid-confusion-about-reopening-an-expert-explains-how-to-assess-covid-risk

    Here the contact tracers ask who you have been in close contact with for at least 15 minutes. I guess because you don't know the names of everyone you passed at Walmart.

    Based on the interview link I posted . . . it may go beyond that, to the probabilities.

    Contact tracing is going to have to cut off at some point. Practicality (can you identify them) is one part of that, as you say. Probability of transmission is another.

    To use an intentionally absurd/extreme example: If someone has Covid & licks a stamp and puts the envelope in their mailbox, then a mail deliverer handles the envelope and immediately touches their face, I suppose maybe there's a small chance of viral transfer in sufficient quantities to cause infection . . . but I doubt the contact tracers will be trying to identify who our mail deliverer is, even though it could be done in most cases.

    Timing is also relevant. The virus has various lifespans on different types of surfaces. It is unlikely that the letter will be collected from the mailbox immediately after the stamp was licked by the infected person.

    Of course. I was intentionally trying to make up a scenario where a contact could be traced (it wouldn't be that hard to find out who my mail carrier is), but the contact tracers would be unlikely to ask about them because the probability of transmission to them is so low.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,304 Member
    TonyB0588 wrote: »
    Ate at Los Portales for lunch with wife, kids and daughter in law for first dine in event since things went bat crazy. Some of the staff were wearing masks but not one person dining was wearing a mask. There were some missing tables.

    Obviously not possible to dine with a mask on. The stipulations for restaurants reopening here included greater distancing, so some tables had to be removed, and less diners accommodated in the same space.


    What happened here in SA was phased re opening of restaurants.

    Initially outdoor dining only, now we are including indoor dining but tables have to be more spaced apart and diners/ drinkers have to stay at their designated table - ie they can't mingle at the bar and we can't have any form of communal eating like salad bars or buffets.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,304 Member
    Re usable bags have been fine at supermarkets here throughout this.

    Most people have them because recycling has been such a big thing here and you have to pay for disposable bags.

    But you had to pack your own bags during Covid , cashiers would only pack new disposable bags. Fair enough.
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    Re usable bags have been fine at supermarkets here throughout this.

    Most people have them because recycling has been such a big thing here and you have to pay for disposable bags.

    But you had to pack your own bags during Covid , cashiers would only pack new disposable bags. Fair enough.

    It was the same here in Queensland but now they are packing all bags again. Same there now?
  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,498 Member
    Masks required, and most people were actually wearing them properly! I am finding that I truly am having trouble with them though. I started getting light headed and dizzy in the store, I walked around holding the bottom open a little and deep breathing through my mouth... almost had to step out for a little while. Not fun :( I might have to compromise and make myself one out of a more open weave fabric. Less protection, but today was not fun.

    I went in a Bass Pro Shop a couple weeks ago. Signs all over place saying masks were required. Guy with 3 little kids, none of the 4 with a mask, walk right by 2 employees standing at the entrance, nothing was said about lack of masks.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,304 Member
    mockchoc wrote: »
    Re usable bags have been fine at supermarkets here throughout this.

    Most people have them because recycling has been such a big thing here and you have to pay for disposable bags.

    But you had to pack your own bags during Covid , cashiers would only pack new disposable bags. Fair enough.

    It was the same here in Queensland but now they are packing all bags again. Same there now?


    Yes they have gone back to packing all bags in SA too now.

    Well at least the supermarkets I go to, but am presuming g it is standard in all of them.
  • moonangel12
    moonangel12 Posts: 971 Member
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    Masks required, and most people were actually wearing them properly! I am finding that I truly am having trouble with them though. I started getting light headed and dizzy in the store, I walked around holding the bottom open a little and deep breathing through my mouth... almost had to step out for a little while. Not fun :( I might have to compromise and make myself one out of a more open weave fabric. Less protection, but today was not fun.

    I went in a Bass Pro Shop a couple weeks ago. Signs all over place saying masks were required. Guy with 3 little kids, none of the 4 with a mask, walk right by 2 employees standing at the entrance, nothing was said about lack of masks.
    Ours said over kids over 10 required to have one, so that might account for the kiddos, but not the adult. I have a feeling “required” is loosely enforced due to risk of altercation... it’s not worth losing a life, and sadly that’s happened. Who knew face masks could be so divisive. It might also be area dependent. The difference between WV and MD regulations is visibly obvious (we live minutes from the border) and that probably translates to different levels of willingness to participate. Mask usage in our immediate area in WV is a joke, 50/50 in stores, maybe. Next to zero in outdoor spaces including the frozen custard stand where people are in relatively close quarters while ordering and waiting. Wording on signs is “recommended” vs. “required” in MD. Restaurant guidelines are evidently much different as well - limited regular service in WV vs. MD still mostly carry out only from what we saw or maybe outdoor seating.

    Even outdoor activity regulations were completely different. WV waived fishing licenses for a couple of months, encouraged people to get out and enjoy the outdoors, wildlife department was on social media encouraging people to post pics of their adventures. Camp grounds were closed, they did shoo off some larger gatherings at the river while we were there (launching watercrafts was OK). MD shut everything down. Fishing was for sustenance only and people were getting tickets left and right. My husband is tournament director for a chapter of a national tournament series and MD had revoked his permits until the week before the tournament, then sent out a list of guidelines that must be followed (social distancing and masks I believe) or he would risk being banned. We fully expected a game warden to pop in on Saturday.
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    Masks required, and most people were actually wearing them properly! I am finding that I truly am having trouble with them though. I started getting light headed and dizzy in the store, I walked around holding the bottom open a little and deep breathing through my mouth... almost had to step out for a little while. Not fun :( I might have to compromise and make myself one out of a more open weave fabric. Less protection, but today was not fun.

    I went in a Bass Pro Shop a couple weeks ago. Signs all over place saying masks were required. Guy with 3 little kids, none of the 4 with a mask, walk right by 2 employees standing at the entrance, nothing was said about lack of masks.
    Ours said over kids over 10 required to have one, so that might account for the kiddos, but not the adult. I have a feeling “required” is loosely enforced due to risk of altercation... it’s not worth losing a life, and sadly that’s happened. Who knew face masks could be so divisive. It might also be area dependent. The difference between WV and MD regulations is visibly obvious (we live minutes from the border) and that probably translates to different levels of willingness to participate. Mask usage in our immediate area in WV is a joke, 50/50 in stores, maybe. Next to zero in outdoor spaces including the frozen custard stand where people are in relatively close quarters while ordering and waiting. Wording on signs is “recommended” vs. “required” in MD. Restaurant guidelines are evidently much different as well - limited regular service in WV vs. MD still mostly carry out only from what we saw or maybe outdoor seating.

    Even outdoor activity regulations were completely different. WV waived fishing licenses for a couple of months, encouraged people to get out and enjoy the outdoors, wildlife department was on social media encouraging people to post pics of their adventures. Camp grounds were closed, they did shoo off some larger gatherings at the river while we were there (launching watercrafts was OK). MD shut everything down. Fishing was for sustenance only and people were getting tickets left and right. My husband is tournament director for a chapter of a national tournament series and MD had revoked his permits until the week before the tournament, then sent out a list of guidelines that must be followed (social distancing and masks I believe) or he would risk being banned. We fully expected a game warden to pop in on Saturday.

    Menards stores are strictly adhering to the mask rule. They have people at the entrance turning away customers for not having a mask. They will sell one to you if you so desire, but you won’t get in without one. It’s the only place I’ve been with 100% mask wearing.

    The grocery store I most often shop at has always been bag your own groceries, and I’ve been shopping there for over 30 years, so no problem using reusable bags.
  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,498 Member
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    Masks required, and most people were actually wearing them properly! I am finding that I truly am having trouble with them though. I started getting light headed and dizzy in the store, I walked around holding the bottom open a little and deep breathing through my mouth... almost had to step out for a little while. Not fun :( I might have to compromise and make myself one out of a more open weave fabric. Less protection, but today was not fun.

    I went in a Bass Pro Shop a couple weeks ago. Signs all over place saying masks were required. Guy with 3 little kids, none of the 4 with a mask, walk right by 2 employees standing at the entrance, nothing was said about lack of masks.
    Ours said over kids over 10 required to have one, so that might account for the kiddos, but not the adult. I have a feeling “required” is loosely enforced due to risk of altercation... it’s not worth losing a life, and sadly that’s happened. Who knew face masks could be so divisive. It might also be area dependent. The difference between WV and MD regulations is visibly obvious (we live minutes from the border) and that probably translates to different levels of willingness to participate. Mask usage in our immediate area in WV is a joke, 50/50 in stores, maybe. Next to zero in outdoor spaces including the frozen custard stand where people are in relatively close quarters while ordering and waiting. Wording on signs is “recommended” vs. “required” in MD. Restaurant guidelines are evidently much different as well - limited regular service in WV vs. MD still mostly carry out only from what we saw or maybe outdoor seating.

    Even outdoor activity regulations were completely different. WV waived fishing licenses for a couple of months, encouraged people to get out and enjoy the outdoors, wildlife department was on social media encouraging people to post pics of their adventures. Camp grounds were closed, they did shoo off some larger gatherings at the river while we were there (launching watercrafts was OK). MD shut everything down. Fishing was for sustenance only and people were getting tickets left and right. My husband is tournament director for a chapter of a national tournament series and MD had revoked his permits until the week before the tournament, then sent out a list of guidelines that must be followed (social distancing and masks I believe) or he would risk being banned. We fully expected a game warden to pop in on Saturday.

    Menards stores are strictly adhering to the mask rule. They have people at the entrance turning away customers for not having a mask. They will sell one to you if you so desire, but you won’t get in without one. It’s the only place I’ve been with 100% mask wearing.

    The grocery store I most often shop at has always been bag your own groceries, and I’ve been shopping there for over 30 years, so no problem using reusable bags.

    Yep Menarda does enforce a mask for entry,, but at least where I'm at it doesn't stip people from pulling it off once inside.