Coronavirus prep

acpgee · May 2020

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/11/colorado-restaurant-illegal-reopening/

cwolfman13 · May 2020

New Mexico is anxiously awaiting news from the governor this Friday as that is when our current restrictions are set to expire. The natives are definitely getting restless and even people who have been highly supportive of the governors actions (including myself) are starting to feel as though the restrictions are starting to go beyond their original purpose and intent which was to flatten the curve.

By all accounts we've done that but we keep getting messages that the decisions made Friday will depend on the actions of New Mexican's today...social distance, stay home, etc. The problem is that in total, our cases are still going up or staying relatively static, but it is attributable largely to McKinley County and San Juan County. The Albuquerque metro area has seen a sharp decline in new cases and has very few new cases...and this can be said for the vast majority of the state. I think the governor may have some big problems on her hands if she decides to further extend the current orders based on numbers that are coming from two rural counties.

It's getting to the point where the appearance at least is overreach and these restrictions are going from "flatten the curve" to trying to completely mitigate the virus into non existence. We're at the point where I think that if current restrictions are extended past Friday that the governor will lose a lot of even her most ardent supporters and I think a lot of mayors will just start doing their own thing. Politically, that could be interesting for the metro area as Albuquerque is fairly blue with a mayor closely allied with the governor and Rio Rancho being decidedly a republican city. I could definitely see a scenario where the mayor of Rio Rancho decides to open things up and Albuquerque would remain shuttered...and while these are two separate cities, they bump right up to one another so basically it would be like having 1/2 of the metro open and half closed. I also think that the governor would start losing control of the phasing with mayors just doing their own thing.

If the governor moves to start phase 1 re-open, which would still have many restrictions, that would go a long way in keeping the state unified moving forward...obviously there will still be proponents that want to open more, but by and large I think a phase 1 re-open would go a long way...if not, I see anarchy on the horizon.

GaleHawkins · May 2020

cwolfman13 wrote: »

New Mexico is anxiously awaiting news from the governor this Friday as that is when our current restrictions are set to expire. The natives are definitely getting restless and even people who have been highly supportive of the governors actions (including myself) are starting to feel as though the restrictions are starting to go beyond their original purpose and intent which was to flatten the curve.

By all accounts we've done that but we keep getting messages that the decisions made Friday will depend on the actions of New Mexican's today...social distance, stay home, etc. The problem is that in total, our cases are still going up or staying relatively static, but it is attributable largely to McKinley County and San Juan County. The Albuquerque metro area has seen a sharp decline in new cases and has very few new cases...and this can be said for the vast majority of the state. I think the governor may have some big problems on her hands if she decides to further extend the current orders based on numbers that are coming from two rural counties.

It's getting to the point where the appearance at least is overreach and these restrictions are going from "flatten the curve" to trying to completely mitigate the virus into non existence. We're at the point where I think that if current restrictions are extended past Friday that the governor will lose a lot of even her most ardent supporters and I think a lot of mayors will just start doing their own thing. Politically, that could be interesting for the metro area as Albuquerque is fairly blue with a mayor closely allied with the governor and Rio Rancho being decidedly a republican city. I could definitely see a scenario where the mayor of Rio Rancho decides to open things up and Albuquerque would remain shuttered...and while these are two separate cities, they bump right up to one another so basically it would be like having 1/2 of the metro open and half closed. I also think that the governor would start losing control of the phasing with mayors just doing their own thing.

If the governor moves to start phase 1 re-open, which would still have many restrictions, that would go a long way in keeping the state unified moving forward...obviously there will still be proponents that want to open more, but by and large I think a phase 1 re-open would go a long way...if not, I see anarchy on the horizon.

KY never limited travel and more businesses opened up today. We can get a haircut on the 25th but I cut mine and carved out some of my face on the deck last week. After about 30 days people start asking Are we there yet? After 45 days beach/marching protests makes the leaders take note after a few shootings.

The lock down was to help make sure there was a free respirator in case we needed one. Locally the ICU's have free beds. Nursing homes break outs are becoming less deadly it seems.

Theoldguy1 · May 2020

Our county (pop 170,000) in Central IL is closing down the drive through testing centers and local officials are talking to the governor (who put in some of the most restrictive guidelines in the country) about more regional opening plans.

mkculs13 · May 2020

Why do people assume flattening the curve is a one-time thing? It only makes sense that an unchecked spread can and will climb steeply. Failure to maintain social distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing are a gift to the virus. I would expect it to be worse now b/c so many more people have it--not enough for any potential immunity, but more than enough to create a disaster for all those who get ill in the period of reopening done so carelessly.

cmriverside · May 2020

I've seen anarchy on the horizon since the end of March. Frankly I think most people have been incredibly restrained. My worst fear is revolt. I'll take my chances with Covid.

I'm in Washington State and we've seen declining numbers for at least two weeks, if you take into account the increased testing. I mean, the early numbers partly reflected the low numbers of tests in the beginning and the percentages have actually gone down. Apparently there was a spike this week. We were supposed to be starting to reopen on May 7, so part of that may have been people jumping the gun. Indeed traffic and activity is way up. Might just be the nice weather. Still.

Hospitals are half empty now (ICU/Covid) The curve is not only flattened, but trending down for a couple weeks. Then I don't have access to all the numbers, just the ones they give us. If things are opened it may get ugly, deaths-wise. I just don't see another way. Unless the Feds are gonna keep sending us all checks. Even then...can only print so much money - what could possibly go wrong?

corinasue1143 · May 2020

Just curious. Why were barber shops among the first to open here, among the last in other states? Did our governor need a haircut and your governor has a private barber?

BZAH10 · May 2020

corinasue1143 wrote: »

Just curious. Why were barber shops among the first to open here, among the last in other states? Did our governor need a haircut and your governor has a private barber?

Funny you say that. This was my son's gripe, too. He was supposed to get a haircut right before the shutdown and was annoyed he couldn't get a haircut for who knows how long yet our governor giving daily briefings on TV has had nicely cut hair the entire time.

Theoldguy1 · May 2020

BZAH10 wrote: »

corinasue1143 wrote: »

Just curious. Why were barber shops among the first to open here, among the last in other states? Did our governor need a haircut and your governor has a private barber?

Funny you say that. This was my son's gripe, too. He was supposed to get a haircut right before the shutdown and was annoyed he couldn't get a haircut for who knows how long yet our governor giving daily briefings on TV has had nicely cut hair the entire time.

Chicago mayor got crap for having her hair done during closures.

corinasue1143 · May 2020

I n

corinasue1143 · May 2020

i need a haircut and my shop is still closed. Do I go elsewhere? Where? Or wait?

kimny72 · May 2020

mkculs13 wrote: »

Why do people assume flattening the curve is a one-time thing? It only makes sense that an unchecked spread can and will climb steeply. Failure to maintain social distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing are a gift to the virus. I would expect it to be worse now b/c so many more people have it--not enough for any potential immunity, but more than enough to create a disaster for all those who get ill in the period of reopening done so carelessly.

Agreed. I think unfortunately alot of people simply don't understand how a novel virus works. Anyone who's been studying pandemics and contagious disease professionally has been saying the most likely scenario is a series of tightening and loosening restrictions based on hospitalization numbers until a vaccine or treatment is widely available globally, which yes could be more than another year. Unfortunately, very few places around the world have leadership giving people a clear and realistic message of that. And people can't process the numbers - who can imagine what 200,000 people in the US dying of something in a 6 month period looks like? I don't know anyone whose lost someone to this, whose witnessed what a person who ends up in the ICU with this goes through and is left with even if they recover, who subscribes to others taking their chances with it.

I also think most people don't understand economics. Hundreds of thousands of people dying, more hundreds of thousands of people being sick or hospitalized for weeks, and more hundreds of thousands of people knowing they are at great risk so they should isolate themselves, means the economy isn't going to recover any time soon, open or closed. It can improve a little, but we're in a global recession now because of the pandemic, not because of social distancing. More than a third of Americans are obese, and obesity has been shown to be a pretty predictable vulnerability with this thing. Whatever policies we follow, it's going to be dicey until we get the virus generally under control somehow.

Sorry if I sound really negative, I'm just so disappointed right now. I'm trying to imagine some of these people 100 or so years ago, being drafted into a war happening on another continent, being told by the government to contribute to war supplies being manufactured rather than their usual jobs, standing in bread lines during the Depression. It required strong leadership and people willing to be asked to make sacrifices for the good of the nation and the world. Can you imagine if that happened today? People are fuming at the idea that their government might try to force them to wear a cloth mask in public.

cwolfman13 · May 2020

mkculs13 wrote: »

Why do people assume flattening the curve is a one-time thing? It only makes sense that an unchecked spread can and will climb steeply. Failure to maintain social distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing are a gift to the virus. I would expect it to be worse now b/c so many more people have it--not enough for any potential immunity, but more than enough to create a disaster for all those who get ill in the period of reopening done so carelessly.

I am in no way an advocate for carelessly re-opening...I don't know about other states, but NM has a plan for phased re-opening...it's not like the flood gates will just be opened. It is already mandatory for employees of any business that is currently operating whether curbside or in store to wear masks and to keep the 6' social distance, and those things will go well into the multiple phases of re-open. I'm pretty sure social distancing, hand washing and mask wearing aren't going anywhere.

In regards to flattening the curve and there being a rebound once things start to open up...well, that is inevitable. A lot more people are going to get sick and a lot more people are going to die over the coming months and likely years. You can't quarantine the virus into oblivion. The virus is with us...it will be with us...it's not just going to vanish off the face of the earth. You can't shutter economies into perpetuity in some vain attempt to quarantine the virus away.

In New Mexico we are substantially increasing testing and contact tracing as part of a federal pilot program. If you want to be tested, you can get tested regardless of whether you've had known contact with coronavirus or have symptoms. That will go a long way in quickly isolating outbreaks and I think going forward, the state is going to need to address hot spots in isolation rather than painting the entire state with broad brushed restrictions.

kimny72 · May 2020

cwolfman13 wrote: »

mkculs13 wrote: »

Why do people assume flattening the curve is a one-time thing? It only makes sense that an unchecked spread can and will climb steeply. Failure to maintain social distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing are a gift to the virus. I would expect it to be worse now b/c so many more people have it--not enough for any potential immunity, but more than enough to create a disaster for all those who get ill in the period of reopening done so carelessly.

I am in no way an advocate for carelessly re-opening...I don't know about other states, but NM has a plan for phased re-opening...it's not like the flood gates will just be opened. It is already mandatory for employees of any business that is currently operating whether curbside or in store to wear masks and to keep the 6' social distance, and those things will go well into the multiple phases of re-open. I'm pretty sure social distancing, hand washing and mask wearing aren't going anywhere.

In regards to flattening the curve and there being a rebound once things start to open up...well, that is inevitable. A lot more people are going to get sick and a lot more people are going to die over the coming months and likely years. You can't quarantine the virus into oblivion. The virus is with us...it will be with us...it's not just going to vanish off the face of the earth. You can't shutter economies into perpetuity in some vain attempt to quarantine the virus away.

In New Mexico we are substantially increasing testing and contact tracing as part of a federal pilot program. If you want to be tested, you can get tested regardless of whether you've had known contact with coronavirus or have symptoms. That will go a long way in quickly isolating outbreaks and I think going forward, the state is going to need to address hot spots in isolation rather than painting the entire state with broad brushed restrictions.

I just wish more people understood this. It seems like a lot of people think this is something that will be a memory in a couple of months, and if we just flip the switch and get back to "real life" everything will be fine. Hopefully enough people do understand!

kimny72 · May 2020

corinasue1143 wrote: »

i need a haircut and my shop is still closed. Do I go elsewhere? Where? Or wait?

I think that's a personal risk/reward decision. If you are a low risk person, if both you and the stylist are wearing masks, and you aren't there for an extended period of time, it's probably a lower risk situation. Then you just have to decide what level of risk you are willing to put up with personally for the reward of the visit.

I went to my parent's on Sunday and chatted with them out on the porch for awhile. We sat more than 6 ft apart and it was breezy, so it was probably low risk and we all decided being able to experience that was worth it. All 3 of us have been being super careful this whole time as well. But someone else who might have a different relationship with their parents or who is an essential worker putting them at higher risk of infection might have made a different decision. I think we'll be making a lot of those kinds of decisions going forward.

snowflake954 · May 2020

Getting haircuts, going to restaurants, gym and school reopenings, and going to the beach are going to be a learning curve for awhile. When something doesn't work, 2 weeks later, there'll be more cases. Living with this is going to heighten anxiety. I'm just going to do the best I can and use good sense (I hope). There's no alternative. Somehow have to walk the line between being a recluse and a social butterfly.

whoami67 · May 2020

corinasue1143 wrote: »

i need a haircut and my shop is still closed. Do I go elsewhere? Where? Or wait?

Call your shop or hairdresser. A rather large number of them are still secretly open.

Bry_Fitness70 · May 2020

On the bright side, this pandemic has been excellent for self-discovery, in understanding 1) how self-sufficient you are, 2) how high maintenance you are, and 3) how bored you are with yourself.

I don't have hair, I have been my own barber for over 20 years

I can workout at home.
I have modest tastes in food and drink (I can get by with whatever-friends are like "OMG, I want to eat and drink this and this and this!" I'm like, whatever, I guess a tall draught beer, tacos, beans & rice, and chips & salsa from a cantina would be nice at some point - or not).
I now work 100% from home.
I love to read and listen to audiobooks and podcasts.
I have 4-5 different outlets for watching tv-series and movies.
I can play chess online.

I could honestly sustain doing this as long as necessary 🤷‍♂️. I always knew that my basicness would pay off, lol.

Diatonic12 · May 2020

After this, I think many others will choose to work from home if their company will allow it. A change is gonna come. We're not going back to the same ole same ole or abby normal we're grown accustomed to.

T1DCarnivoreRunner · May 2020

Diatonic12 wrote: »

After this, I think many others will choose to work from home if their company will allow it. A change is gonna come. We're not going back to the same ole same ole or abby normal we're grown accustomed to.

Yes, I would continue working at home if possible. But if this ends up being permanent, I would setup a better space for it. A different desk, chair, screens, etc. setup. As long as it keeps getting extended, but is said to be "temporary," it isn't worthwhile to do that.

Coronavirus prep

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