Coronavirus prep

snowflake954 · June 2020

Italy is doing free antibody testing of selective people all over the country to get data. They call you and tell you where to go to be tested. Problem is, the response hasn't been what was expected. Reading the paper today the reason given is fear that testing positive will result in quaranteening, and people don't want that. So, about a third agree to have it done.

ReenieHJ · June 2020

I see less and less people wearing masks.

I guess people think life is getting better because things are starting to reopen a bit. They're letting down their guard.

One of our thrift stores' websites said when they reopen they expect their customers to wear a mask. A reply asked 'so if I'm not able to wear a mask due to my health, I can't come into your store?' Umm, yeh, if your health is telling you that you cannot wear a mask, maybe being in a thrift store isn't the best place to be anyways??

My niece and her dh run a neurology office in Maine and she says they've been given plenty of grief about having to wear masks. They're only reopened for a few weeks now.

Get over yourselves people. Life isn't just all about you. Think of others too. And no, these were not people who, due to health problems, couldn't wear masks. Another thought to those who cannot wear masks due to health issues....get a shield. I've seen some people using those lately.

moonangel12 · June 2020

Our area is still considered a hot spot yet I see very few people wearing masks... seems to be site specific. The outdoor custard trailer? We are normally the only ones wearing them both while waiting and ordering... them we take our stuff back to the vehicle. Very few people following the distancing suggestions, large groups congregating. Aldi (grocery store) is 50/50 probably. They have taken up their directional stickers, but still limiting numbers in the store, wiping down carts between customers, limiting check out contact (you have to wait until the other person’s items have cleared the belt before loading yours, wiping down pin pad, etc), and I have noticed most everywhere that more stuff is packaged now (produce) which is good for contamination purposes but stinks in terms of added packaging to throw away and also not be able to choose items or amounts now.

janejellyroll · June 2020

GaleHawkins wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

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).

I am talking about people very likely to die if they get COVID-19 should not be out in public places in this pandemic. Since most of us do not think, eat and sleep the way we know we "should" often then we know acting in our best interest concerning COVID-19 is viewed by most has highly optional.

You wrote "If one is having trouble breathing due to wearing a mask . . . " If you were also referring to people likely to die if they get COVID-19, then you should have made that clear. Even then, it sounds like you're arguing that people who have pre-existing conditions should shut themselves off from the world to due to emotional infants who don't want to take simple steps to protect their fellow humans.

lemurcat2 · June 2020

I'm downtown today, rather than in my neighborhood, and outdoors it seems like fewer people are wearing masks and many who are are wearing them around their chin (or occasionally over the mouth but not nose). There is NO difficulty getting masks here.

The good thing is that the buildings are being very strict about social distancing and masks -- you can't go in them without masks -- and there are few enough people downtown that social distancing isn't hard, but it still seems odd. Partly it's probably because it's hot, partly because the people walking around outside are from a much broader range of areas than those you see in my neighborhood.

Not bothersome, but odd.

Diatonic12 · June 2020

Ayup. ^^The imaginary mask thing. Wear it down below your nose and mouth. I saw this at the hospital when my relative was getting a blood test and it was the nurse. Why bother.

cmriverside · June 2020

Here's something I just thought about (maybe you guys have too...)

IF someone has already had the virus they likely won't be offered the first round of vaccines I wouldn't think, unless they are "essential workers" [cough].

What do you think? Do you think they will test people before vaccinating? That would be the sensible thing to do with vaccines being in such high demand when they get to market. It seems like several companies could have vaccines in six months or so...wonder who gets them after first responders/medical personnel? Of course I'd like it to be people over 65...

corinasue1143 · June 2020

Diatonic12 wrote: »

Ayup. ^^The imaginary mask thing. Wear it down below your nose and mouth. I saw this at the hospital when my relative was getting a blood test and it was the nurse. Why bother.

Most or all hospitals here wouldn’t have let you in.

kimny72 · June 2020

cmriverside wrote: »

Here's something I just thought about (maybe you guys have too...)

IF someone has already had the virus they likely won't be offered the first round of vaccines I wouldn't think, unless they are "essential workers" [cough].

What do you think? Do you think they will test people before vaccinating? That would be the sensible thing to do with vaccines being in such high demand when they get to market. It seems like several companies could have vaccines in six months or so...wonder who gets them after first responders/medical personnel? Of course I'd like it to be people over 65...

While I think that would be a great idea, it basically doubles the amount of work and personnel required to get people vaccinated, and I doubt that will be possible in the US, at least not in many places. Also, I'm not sure the antibody testing is covered by insurance or not, and if not you wouldn't want a situation where someone who should be first in line can't afford the antibody test that proves they should be there. Maybe I'm wrong and that won't be an issue.

I would think they could start with over 65, then go with some parameters that make you high risk that would be pretty easy to determine right there in line for the jab.

There's also still a question of how long you might get immunity for once you've had the virus, so if we are talking about say February of next year, there might already be a large group of people who got it in the first wave and already have waning immunity. Meh, hopefully we'll understand all of this better by then anyway!

I've also heard as much as 25% of Americans polled said they won't get a vaccine once it's available so maybe it won't be as high a demand as you'd assume.

jo_nz · June 2020

cmriverside wrote: »

Here's something I just thought about (maybe you guys have too...)

IF someone has already had the virus they likely won't be offered the first round of vaccines I wouldn't think, unless they are "essential workers" [cough].

What do you think? Do you think they will test people before vaccinating? That would be the sensible thing to do with vaccines being in such high demand when they get to market. It seems like several companies could have vaccines in six months or so...wonder who gets them after first responders/medical personnel? Of course I'd like it to be people over 65...

We already have that with flu vaccinations here - over 65, or with a pre-existing condition get it first. Then this year it was essential workers next, and then the rest of the population.
So I am guessing it would be similar.

Our covid-free status has ended. 2 people who came into the country and were released early from quarantine to see a dying family member have now tested positive.

cmriverside · June 2020

So, yay for being old, right? I'm all about cutting in line. I haven't had a face-to-face friendly conversation in months. I'm OVER this whole social distancing thing. I live alone and have no family and I miss the small social life I had, the stores, I'm even afraid to get my teeth cleaned.

I agree @kimny72 - we don't pre-test flu shot candidates and then there's the whole anti-vaxxer thing.

Well, Oregon does have a low infection rate, may as well just tick that state's box as, "Don't need it." (There is a significant anti-vax contingency in OR.)

Time will tell. Bring on the needles, I say.

..and @jo_nz , we do have 360 Million people here and well over 2 million cases, so our situation is decidedly different.

kimny72 · June 2020

cmriverside wrote: »

So, yay for being old, right? I'm all about cutting in line. I haven't had a face-to-face friendly conversation in months. I'm OVER this whole social distancing thing. I live alone and have no family and I miss the small social life I had, the stores, I'm even afraid to get my teeth cleaned.

I agree @kimny72 - we don't pre-test flu shot candidates and then there's the whole anti-vaxxer thing. Well, Oregon does have a low infection rate, may as well just tick that state's box as, "Don't need it." (There is a significant anti-vax contingency in OR.)

Time will tell. Bring on the needles, I say.

I don't make the age cutoff, but I'll be as right behind you as they'll let me. I'm all for better living through science, especially as bizarre as this virus is!

RetiredAndLovingIt · June 2020

I’m a senior..I plan to get it as soon as I can!

cmriverside · June 2020

But I'm even wondering if they will ask people, "Have you tested positive?" Of course, Public Health will have us on record if we did and that would probably mean being disqualified from the vaccine? I don't know. I guess it is all a wait-and-see thing.

I mean, the push to get enough vaccine out there for the billions of at-risk people in the world is pretty intense. Not everyone will get the vaccine in time.

autumnblade75 · June 2020

I'll be interested in a vaccine, eventually. I don't think I necessarily want to be first in line for the new "skip some steps to rush to market" vaccine. I don't do a lot of social stuff, so I'm just risking myself and my husband, here. He's not much more social than me, either. I guess my coworkers, too - but they can't be bothered to wear masks, and don't seem to understand social distancing. I think they're endangering me more than I am them. We'll see how risky the vaccine is, compared to the disease.

snowflake954 · June 2020

cmriverside wrote: »

But I'm even wondering if they will ask people, "Have you tested positive?" Of course, Public Health will have us on record if we did and that would probably mean being disqualified from the vaccine? I don't know. I guess it is all a wait-and-see thing.

I mean, the push to get enough vaccine out there for the billions of at-risk people in the world is pretty intense. Not everyone will get the vaccine in time.

Ah, but there are many that are working on it and will produce it. I'm hopeful. In Italy, we should have it by Fall. Yes, I know the vaccine itself can be a risk. We will evaluate when the time comes.

cmriverside · June 2020

snowflake954 wrote: »

cmriverside wrote: »

But I'm even wondering if they will ask people, "Have you tested positive?" Of course, Public Health will have us on record if we did and that would probably mean being disqualified from the vaccine? I don't know. I guess it is all a wait-and-see thing.

I mean, the push to get enough vaccine out there for the billions of at-risk people in the world is pretty intense. Not everyone will get the vaccine in time.

Ah, but there are many that are working on it and will produce it. I'm hopeful. In Italy, we should have it by Fall. Yes, I know the vaccine itself can be a risk. We will evaluate when the time comes.

Oh, I am with you snowflake. I'm pretty amazed at how quickly it seems to be going. I was pretty skeptical that a vaccine would be produced this quickly. I guess time will tell as to its effectiveness. It's an awfully large "experiment."

cwolfman13 · June 2020

Diatonic12 wrote: »

Ayup. ^^The imaginary mask thing. Wear it down below your nose and mouth. I saw this at the hospital when my relative was getting a blood test and it was the nurse. Why bother.

You wouldn't even get in the door at a hospital or clinic here without a mask and if you removed it once inside you would promptly be escorted out by security. I had blood work done a couple weeks ago and had to check in outside getting my temperature taken and a host of questions, then moved to another station where I filled out a little card with my phone number, etc and had to go wait in my car until they called me into the lobby. The lobby was limited to 4 people.

Mask use is high in New Mexico, at least in the urban centers...I think it may be a little more lax in rural areas...but definitely required for entering a healthcare facility as we do not have the healthcare resources here to handle a whole lot outside of what is normal. We just don't have much capacity for something like this.

jenilla1 · June 2020

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?

lemurcat2 · June 2020

COVID Response Tracking Study:
https://www.norc.org/PDFs/COVID Response Tracking Study/Historic Shift in Americans Happiness Amid Pandemic.pdf

"In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the public’s happiness is at a five-decade low despite most Americans being satisfied with their financial situation, according to a new survey from NORC at the University of Chicago.

The study highlights how Americans’ outlook and emotional health compare to nearly 50 years of trends in public opinion data from the General Social Survey (GSS). The historical context reveals unique impacts of the outbreak on public sentiment: an all-time low in people saying they are very happy (14%) combined with an all-time high in people saying they are satisfied with their family’s financial situation (80%). These contrasting findings suggest that people are comparing their happiness to their own psychological well-being before the pandemic while assessing their finances in relation to the millions of fellow Americans who have lost jobs, wages, or investments following the outbreak....

With many social distancing guidelines in place, about twice as many Americans report feeling isolated at least sometimes compared to two years ago (50% vs. 23%). Since 2018, fewer people are also now satisfied with their social relationships, and more are reporting a fair or poor ability to carry out their social activities....

People who live in a county with a high number of COVID-19 deaths are lonelier than those living in less
impacted counties. In addition, those in high-impact counties are more likely to say they are not happy than
are those living in less-impacted counties (32% vs. 21%).

Other key findings from the study include:

■ Forty-two percent of Americans believe that their children’s standard of living when they are older will
be better than their own standard of living—a sharp decline from 57% in 2018 and the lowest level of
optimism for the next generation since first measured in 1994....

■ More Americans say they have lost their temper more often after the COVID outbreak (30%) than said
the same after 9/11 (20%) or the Kennedy assassination (19%).

■ More Americans currently report that they often feel anxious, depressed, or irritable compared to two
years ago (18% vs. 13%).

■ Those who say they have likely been exposed to someone with the coronavirus are nearly twice as
likely to feel like difficulties are piling up so high that they cannot overcome them (21% vs. 11%)....

For about two decades, 3 in 10 Americans said that, taken all together, they are very happy. In 2020, the
number of people who say they are very happy hit a historical low of 14%, a 17 percentage-point drop since
2018. The percentage of people who described themselves as not too happy also spiked to an all-time high
since the question was first asked in 1972....

Optimism for the future generation has also fallen. In the wake of the outbreak, only 42% believe that when
their children are their age their standard of living will be better than their own, whereas 57% said the same
in 2018. Since the question was asked in 1994, the previous low was 45% in 1994."

T1DCarnivoreRunner · June 2020

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?

We need a "WTF?!" reaction here.

Diatonic12 · June 2020

It was the nurse at the hospital taking blood who was wearing her mask below her nose and mouth, sitting directly in front of patients.

'Ayup. ^^The imaginary mask thing. Wear it down below your nose and mouth. I saw this at the hospital when my relative was getting a blood test and it was the nurse. Why bother.'

We have 5 new cases this morning in town.

rheddmobile · June 2020

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.

Memphis yesterday passed an ordinance making masks required indoors in public places. They are optional but recommended when walking or exercising outdoors, but you have to carry one even if you don’t wear it. Exceptions for small children and people with a doctor’s note saying they can’t wear a mask.

My husband and I went for a trail run at dawn at a park in a suburb, and were passed by 15 people who refused to social distance - that would be all of them, with the exception of one very polite cyclist who thanked us for getting over, and an old man who was walking way out on the grass whenever anyone came near. No masks anywhere.

earlnabby · June 2020

Wisconsin in proving to be an interesting case. Back in May, the state Supreme Court ruled that stay-at-home orders were illegal, leaving it up to cities and counties to determine how to handle the crisis and opening up. We are a state with a lot of small towns and farmland, with a few big cities. When covid first hit, the cities were hit the hardest which was not a surprise.

After the ruling, the two largest cities (actually the entire county they were in) declared that they were still following stay at home but many of the more rural counties opened up. We had a small spike in some places but the state average actually has been going down. I guess this is a good demonstration that avoiding large groups of people works, whether it is your normal behavior or by government decree.

The court ruling was May 13.

lemurcat2 · June 2020

earlnabby wrote: »

Wisconsin in proving to be an interesting case. Back in May, the state Supreme Court ruled that stay-at-home orders were illegal, leaving it up to cities and counties to determine how to handle the crisis and opening up. We are a state with a lot of small towns and farmland, with a few big cities. When covid first hit, the cities were hit the hardest which was not a surprise.

After the ruling, the two largest cities (actually the entire county they were in) declared that they were still following stay at home but many of the more rural counties opened up. We had a small spike in some places but the state average actually has been going down. I guess this is a good demonstration that avoiding large groups of people works, whether it is your normal behavior or by government decree.

The court ruling was May 13.

Yeah, it does seem to me that despite a generally lax attitude to the stay at home orders and masks that smaller and more rural areas are doing just fine, which is why I'm not that bothered by it. It's definitely true throughout much of IL.

More dense urban areas (cities and counties) are the ones that really seem to need to be strict about it. We are finally going down, but I am more frustrated by how many aren't being sensible here given how slowly the decline is. But I also understand that it's hard -- well, I don't understand not wearing the masks when you are in close proximity to others and cannot social distance well -- in that it's just been so long.

SeanD2407 · June 2020

Can't believe i've lost more weight without the gym then i was with it. Insane.

jenilla1 · June 2020

rheddmobile 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...

AnnPT77 · June 2020

jenilla1 wrote: »

rheddmobile 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...

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

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

) 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.

).

ExistingFish · June 2020

Mask usage has gone WAY up here. I have only seen masks for sale in the past two weeks to the public, but I only shop once a week so I could have missed it earlier.

3 weeks ago I was saddened by the low mask usage. I went to the store today and probably saw the highest mask usage to date. I rarely saw people without them, and I don't think I saw a single improperly worn mask either.

I think it is because numbers in our state are going up, but not our area. We want to keep it that way. I mean not going up in our area, not keep going up in our state...you know what I mean. Or maybe it is availability, or social pressure, or that things are opening but businesses can and will refuse to allow you to enter without a mask, so you may as well do it.

AnnPT77 · June 2020

ExistingFish wrote: »

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!

There may be something to that (the bolded), but it seems odd to me in this way: The public health info that's been publicized has been very clear that any reasonable face covering can be used, even a bandana or scarf. Those are and have been pretty universally available in stores, and I'd bet most households had at least one even before this.

I think it's possible that availability of official masks has been a little bit fetishized or "magicalized", though - I've observed some of my friends and acquaintences speaking as if a mask-shaped 2-layer piece of cotton fabric is somehow much superior to a scarf-shaped 2-layer piece of cotton fabric, which seems weird to me (in a case where there's at least equal facial fit/coverage, of course).

I'd say usage here has been 50% and up in most places I've been, but everyone and her sister has been sewing home-made masks here for a couple of months now, and early on I had multiple Facebook friends either offering them to others for free, or for money but not a huge amount. I doubt I'm unique in that, so I think most people probably could've gotten one without much difficulty since the first half of March, at least. A fair percentage of masks I see are home-made cloth ones, at least half, with the rest a mix of the medical-ish-looking commercial ones, fancy fitted commercial ones, or something improvised (bandanas, shop masks, etc.).

Coronavirus prep

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