For those who will have family/college kids staying with you over the holidays, how are preparing your homes?
We bought this last year for one daughter’s bedroom because she complained of allergies. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VGIGVY
DH thinks it’s all placebo and actually does nothing. It purports to have UV radiation in addition to hepa filter. My dentist put them in all his exam rooms after reopening. I’m wondering if it would help to have one in each person’s room, just to minimize circulation of anything that they might exhale. When anyone in our family had to quarantine during the summer, they spent ALL their time in their room or outside. (With room service provided by moi.) we also worked on making outdoor spaces better for colder weather.
What do you guys think? Do the stand alone air filters make a difference?
Im also interested in how you’re preparing mentally.
I'm interested in the answers about air filters. I've been hearing about them being used in schools, etc.
I was very sick with chemical sensitivity 20 years ago and bought two very expensive ones, which may have helped with chemicals, but I also developed noise sensitivity and could not stand the fan noise
I found one when I was cleaning out Mom's barn and was wondering if I should hang on to it and if I can get a filter for it that would do something for the coronavirus, but can't imagine a situation where I'd actually use it - we're just spending the holidays with my mother and brother, with whom we've been maskless around this whole time (and we are not out in the world much at all.)
'Rona messes with your head even when you're not thinking about it. It's running in the background. My priorities have changed. The small things don't matter and don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep. We've got more important things to do than worry our heads over things that will not matter two weeks from now.
For those who will have family/college kids staying with you over the holidays, how are preparing your homes?
We bought this last year for one daughter’s bedroom because she complained of allergies. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VGIGVY
DH thinks it’s all placebo and actually does nothing. It purports to have UV radiation in addition to hepa filter. My dentist put them in all his exam rooms after reopening. I’m wondering if it would help to have one in each person’s room, just to minimize circulation of anything that they might exhale. When anyone in our family had to quarantine during the summer, they spent ALL their time in their room or outside. (With room service provided by moi.) we also worked on making outdoor spaces better for colder weather.
What do you guys think? Do the stand alone air filters make a difference?
Im also interested in how you’re preparing mentally.
I'm interested in the answers about air filters. I've been hearing about them being used in schools, etc.
I was very sick with chemical sensitivity 20 years ago and bought two very expensive ones, which may have helped with chemicals, but I also developed noise sensitivity and could not stand the fan noise
I found one when I was cleaning out Mom's barn and was wondering if I should hang on to it and if I can get a filter for it that would do something for the coronavirus, but can't imagine a situation where I'd actually use it - we're just spending the holidays with my mother and brother, with whom we've been maskless around this whole time (and we are not out in the world much at all.)
My understanding is the filter isn't effective on viral particles but the UV radiation is. I would not like the fan noise, either, but my daughters learned to prefer white noise for sleep when they lived in dorms. I hope your holidays are nice with your small crew. :flowerforyou:
I have an opportunity to be an Election Judge on Tuesday. Indoors all day, and I would be wearing a mask, but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings. Social distancing would be encouraged, but I imagine if you're helping someone with a voting machine, there's only so much you can do to stay 6 feet apart.
I live in an area where mask-wearing is very common and expected everywhere, so I doubt there would be many (if any) un-masked people there to vote. I am not in a high-risk group, but I have family members (not in my household) who are. I guess I'm most worried about the length of time in an indoor space with potentially thousands of different people. Our COVID positivity rates have been spiking in the last few weeks.
It's a dilemma for me, because I want very much to do what I can to help people vote. But, I'm also very nervous about the risks.
I'll obviously have to make my own best decision on this, but just curious as to what you all would do.
I have an opportunity to be an Election Judge on Tuesday. Indoors all day, and I would be wearing a mask, but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings. Social distancing would be encouraged, but I imagine if you're helping someone with a voting machine, there's only so much you can do to stay 6 feet apart.
I live in an area where mask-wearing is very common and expected everywhere, so I doubt there would be many (if any) un-masked people there to vote. I am not in a high-risk group, but I have family members (not in my household) who are. I guess I'm most worried about the length of time in an indoor space with potentially thousands of different people. Our COVID positivity rates have been spiking in the last few weeks.
It's a dilemma for me, because I want very much to do what I can to help people vote. But, I'm also very nervous about the risks.
I'll obviously have to make my own best decision on this, but just curious as to what you all would do.
This would personally be too much risk for me, but I can also see the value in helping others vote and I wouldn't think someone else was being foolhardy if their priorities led them to make a different call.
I have an opportunity to be an Election Judge on Tuesday. Indoors all day, and I would be wearing a mask, but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings. Social distancing would be encouraged, but I imagine if you're helping someone with a voting machine, there's only so much you can do to stay 6 feet apart.
I live in an area where mask-wearing is very common and expected everywhere, so I doubt there would be many (if any) un-masked people there to vote. I am not in a high-risk group, but I have family members (not in my household) who are. I guess I'm most worried about the length of time in an indoor space with potentially thousands of different people. Our COVID positivity rates have been spiking in the last few weeks.
It's a dilemma for me, because I want very much to do what I can to help people vote. But, I'm also very nervous about the risks.
I'll obviously have to make my own best decision on this, but just curious as to what you all would do.
I would do it. I actually was thinking seriously about doing it, but ended up having a work conflict on Tuesday.
I have an opportunity to be an Election Judge on Tuesday. Indoors all day, and I would be wearing a mask, but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings. Social distancing would be encouraged, but I imagine if you're helping someone with a voting machine, there's only so much you can do to stay 6 feet apart.
I live in an area where mask-wearing is very common and expected everywhere, so I doubt there would be many (if any) un-masked people there to vote. I am not in a high-risk group, but I have family members (not in my household) who are. I guess I'm most worried about the length of time in an indoor space with potentially thousands of different people. Our COVID positivity rates have been spiking in the last few weeks.
It's a dilemma for me, because I want very much to do what I can to help people vote. But, I'm also very nervous about the risks.
I'll obviously have to make my own best decision on this, but just curious as to what you all would do.
Personally, I wouldn't do it... but I'm in a high risk group medically. If I wasn't, I would probably see if I could find a mask that is N95 to wear for my protection and then put a fashionable cloth mask over it for additional good measure and appearance.
I have an opportunity to be an Election Judge on Tuesday. Indoors all day, and I would be wearing a mask, but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings. Social distancing would be encouraged, but I imagine if you're helping someone with a voting machine, there's only so much you can do to stay 6 feet apart.
I live in an area where mask-wearing is very common and expected everywhere, so I doubt there would be many (if any) un-masked people there to vote. I am not in a high-risk group, but I have family members (not in my household) who are. I guess I'm most worried about the length of time in an indoor space with potentially thousands of different people. Our COVID positivity rates have been spiking in the last few weeks.
It's a dilemma for me, because I want very much to do what I can to help people vote. But, I'm also very nervous about the risks.
I'll obviously have to make my own best decision on this, but just curious as to what you all would do.
I normally do this every year for the past almost 20 years. This year will be a no for me. The risks outweigh the benefits for me. Not only because of covid but anything else that might pop off.
I would not do it-- either- I am in the age risk category for CoVid and too many people ignore the risk to others-. Maybe next year but not this time-- too many hours in an enclosed building esp. if you don't know about the ventilation of the building
I would do it if I just had myself to worry about. I thought about volunteering when I heard that there were concerns about having enough election volunteers. However, with a high risk spouse, I have to be cautious.
My husband has been working the polls for every local and general election for many years. This year, I told him that it was a No-No. He is 81 years old with some underlying medical conditions and being in an enclosed place for over 12 hours (yes, this is how long it takes from setting the tables early in the morning to the actual delivery of ballots to the corresponding office after closing), was way to risky for him. Time for the younger folks to do it.
I also told him that if he insisted in doing it, he would have to quarantine in the guest room and take a COVID test afterward. He didn't like these options, specially the first one.... If one of us gets sick, chances are that the one will too. We don't have anybody near by to take care of the household or us. So we will probably go inside the rabbit hole, and we maybe never come up again.
I have an opportunity to be an Election Judge on Tuesday. Indoors all day, and I would be wearing a mask, but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings. Social distancing would be encouraged, but I imagine if you're helping someone with a voting machine, there's only so much you can do to stay 6 feet apart.
I live in an area where mask-wearing is very common and expected everywhere, so I doubt there would be many (if any) un-masked people there to vote. I am not in a high-risk group, but I have family members (not in my household) who are. I guess I'm most worried about the length of time in an indoor space with potentially thousands of different people. Our COVID positivity rates have been spiking in the last few weeks.
It's a dilemma for me, because I want very much to do what I can to help people vote. But, I'm also very nervous about the risks.
I'll obviously have to make my own best decision on this, but just curious as to what you all would do.
Personally, I wouldn't do it... but I'm in a high risk group medically. If I wasn't, I would probably see if I could find a mask that is N95 to wear for my protection and then put a fashionable cloth mask over it for additional good measure and appearance.
That's a great idea with the masks, I usually just wear a N95 mask and my cloth mask gets neglected.
You are assuming that this virus was controllable. Viruses like sharks have been around longer than man and both seem to control the responses of man more than the other way around. It has been said from the get go this coming winter was going to be very hard but hopefully the experts are wrong. You are correct often the second and third waves are worse.
Out of the UK last week we heard Covid-19 may be with us for years to come. Keep in mind most of what we have heard since March 2020 has been filtered by non medical people.
We now understand the lack good health practices invites pandemics historically speaking.
It was. Several countries have done it/are doing it. But as the person above you said, it's too late for those that didn't get control of it early. The horse has well and truly bolted.
Will you please share the current Covid-19 stats for 3 of the several countries that you claim have done it/are doing it?
China has claimed the virus behind Covid-19 was the work of the USA and that may have some merit but most nations are pointing fingers towards mainland China. Assuming the virus did come from China once it was exported by plane directly to the USA west coast and to the east coast way of Italy medically speaking Covid-19 was not controllable in the USA or other countries period.
Today in the USA alone we are certain millions are walking around spreading the virus with no outward symptoms. A killer virus that can hide undetected by outward signs in infected humans is NOT controllable period. It can be Managed but not Controlled.
You are correct, managed is what I was meaning.
FWIW, New Zealand's current cases (as of yesterday). That one new case is someone in Managed Isolation (ie someone who has just arrived from overseas and is in mandatory MIQ for 14 days - yes, we have the audacity to confine anyone coming into the country to a 4/5 star hotel for a couple of weeks after arrival). The current community cases stem from someone who does some sort of repair work or something on ships, who contracted it on a ship they worked on recently, and close contacts of that person:
Australia is also doing well. The state of Victoria had a nasty re-emergence starting a few months back, and have just now come out of a very strict 12 week lockdown to get that under control (which they have).
Yes, both of these countries are islands. So's the UK. We most certainly had some advantages, but mostly our success in managing the pandemic was down to swift and decisive action by our leaders.
Yes!! I love the New Zealand model. I have a relative living there, so get a few updates on how well it has worked for them.
New Zealand made the right decision very early on of being an island.
We made the right decision very early on of going into a strict lockdown. Otherwise we'd be in the same mess as the rest of you. There are plenty of places that aren't islands that have done similarly well.
I have an opportunity to be an Election Judge on Tuesday. Indoors all day, and I would be wearing a mask, but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings. Social distancing would be encouraged, but I imagine if you're helping someone with a voting machine, there's only so much you can do to stay 6 feet apart.
I live in an area where mask-wearing is very common and expected everywhere, so I doubt there would be many (if any) un-masked people there to vote. I am not in a high-risk group, but I have family members (not in my household) who are. I guess I'm most worried about the length of time in an indoor space with potentially thousands of different people. Our COVID positivity rates have been spiking in the last few weeks.
It's a dilemma for me, because I want very much to do what I can to help people vote. But, I'm also very nervous about the risks.
I'll obviously have to make my own best decision on this, but just curious as to what you all would do.
You said, "....... but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings." Why not?? There's no public place I can enter now without a mask, and most of those places will also do temperature checks and hand sanitizer at the entrance.
I have an opportunity to be an Election Judge on Tuesday. Indoors all day, and I would be wearing a mask, but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings. Social distancing would be encouraged, but I imagine if you're helping someone with a voting machine, there's only so much you can do to stay 6 feet apart.
I live in an area where mask-wearing is very common and expected everywhere, so I doubt there would be many (if any) un-masked people there to vote. I am not in a high-risk group, but I have family members (not in my household) who are. I guess I'm most worried about the length of time in an indoor space with potentially thousands of different people. Our COVID positivity rates have been spiking in the last few weeks.
It's a dilemma for me, because I want very much to do what I can to help people vote. But, I'm also very nervous about the risks.
I'll obviously have to make my own best decision on this, but just curious as to what you all would do.
This would personally be too much risk for me, but I can also see the value in helping others vote and I wouldn't think someone else was being foolhardy if their priorities led them to make a different call.
Ditto ^^ . I would even admire anyone who wasn't in a high-risk group or living with someone in a high-risk group for being an election judge. Well, I admire election judges even when we aren't in a pandemic. It's something I've thought doing when I'm finally retired.
I have an opportunity to be an Election Judge on Tuesday. Indoors all day, and I would be wearing a mask, but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings. Social distancing would be encouraged, but I imagine if you're helping someone with a voting machine, there's only so much you can do to stay 6 feet apart.
I live in an area where mask-wearing is very common and expected everywhere, so I doubt there would be many (if any) un-masked people there to vote. I am not in a high-risk group, but I have family members (not in my household) who are. I guess I'm most worried about the length of time in an indoor space with potentially thousands of different people. Our COVID positivity rates have been spiking in the last few weeks.
It's a dilemma for me, because I want very much to do what I can to help people vote. But, I'm also very nervous about the risks.
I'll obviously have to make my own best decision on this, but just curious as to what you all would do.
You said, "....... but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings." Why not?? There's no public place I can enter now without a mask, and most of those places will also do temperature checks and hand sanitizer at the entrance.
"Chicago election officials plan to “strongly encourage” but will not require voters to wear face masks to their polling places this fall.
They say their decision was made in accordance with current COVID-19 guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Illinois Department of Public Health — neither of which mandate the use of face coverings for voting.
Election officials in suburban Cook, DuPage and Lake counties told me they are awaiting updated guidance from the state before finalizing their own face mask policies.
But a statement Wednesday from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office gave no indication he will recommend any further restrictions before early voting begins in October.... [Note, cases are worse now than in Sept.]
Although Illinois requires face coverings in public indoor spaces, such as grocery or drug stores, mandating their use in the voting booth would raise some sticky legal issues of possible voter suppression.
A face mask requirement could be viewed as creating an illegal barrier to voting for those who might refuse to wear them — on whatever grounds."
For what it's worth, when I early voted a few weeks ago, everyone was wearing a mask, and I personally have 0 sympathy for those who come to the polls claiming they cannot wear a mask, as I don't believe them, but this is a liberal state so apparently we think that's a thing. So whatever. I think it will be a small number who refuse to wear them here.
An acquaintance of mine attended a wedding. No social distancing, no face coverings. The whole family, 8 members, as well as, many other guests, wedding party, were diagnosed with covid. All of these people (my acquaintances) attended work before testing positive. Exposing many people. Many who have preexisting conditions that put them at increased risk.
A perfect example of what can easily happen when large groups of people congregate.
It can happen to anyone. Please don’t put your families, friends and loved ones at risk by having large family/friends holiday gatherings.
Also, yesterday, a federal appeals court ruled that the state of Minnesota cannot count votes from mail in ballots received after November 3rd. The state has been telling us Minnesotans, that if they are postmarked by 11/3, they will be counted through 11/10.
Replies
I'm interested in the answers about air filters. I've been hearing about them being used in schools, etc.
I was very sick with chemical sensitivity 20 years ago and bought two very expensive ones, which may have helped with chemicals, but I also developed noise sensitivity and could not stand the fan noise
I found one when I was cleaning out Mom's barn and was wondering if I should hang on to it and if I can get a filter for it that would do something for the coronavirus, but can't imagine a situation where I'd actually use it - we're just spending the holidays with my mother and brother, with whom we've been maskless around this whole time (and we are not out in the world much at all.)
QFT.
"Running in the background" is so true.
My understanding is the filter isn't effective on viral particles but the UV radiation is. I would not like the fan noise, either, but my daughters learned to prefer white noise for sleep when they lived in dorms. I hope your holidays are nice with your small crew. :flowerforyou:
I have an opportunity to be an Election Judge on Tuesday. Indoors all day, and I would be wearing a mask, but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings. Social distancing would be encouraged, but I imagine if you're helping someone with a voting machine, there's only so much you can do to stay 6 feet apart.
I live in an area where mask-wearing is very common and expected everywhere, so I doubt there would be many (if any) un-masked people there to vote. I am not in a high-risk group, but I have family members (not in my household) who are. I guess I'm most worried about the length of time in an indoor space with potentially thousands of different people. Our COVID positivity rates have been spiking in the last few weeks.
It's a dilemma for me, because I want very much to do what I can to help people vote. But, I'm also very nervous about the risks.
I'll obviously have to make my own best decision on this, but just curious as to what you all would do.
This would personally be too much risk for me, but I can also see the value in helping others vote and I wouldn't think someone else was being foolhardy if their priorities led them to make a different call.
I would do it. I actually was thinking seriously about doing it, but ended up having a work conflict on Tuesday.
Personally, I wouldn't do it... but I'm in a high risk group medically. If I wasn't, I would probably see if I could find a mask that is N95 to wear for my protection and then put a fashionable cloth mask over it for additional good measure and appearance.
I normally do this every year for the past almost 20 years. This year will be a no for me. The risks outweigh the benefits for me. Not only because of covid but anything else that might pop off.
I also told him that if he insisted in doing it, he would have to quarantine in the guest room and take a COVID test afterward. He didn't like these options, specially the first one.... If one of us gets sick, chances are that the one will too. We don't have anybody near by to take care of the household or us. So we will probably go inside the rabbit hole, and we maybe never come up again.
That's a great idea with the masks, I usually just wear a N95 mask and my cloth mask gets neglected.
We made the right decision very early on of going into a strict lockdown. Otherwise we'd be in the same mess as the rest of you. There are plenty of places that aren't islands that have done similarly well.
You said, "....... but masks can't be mandated for voters, and there can't be health checks/temperature screenings." Why not?? There's no public place I can enter now without a mask, and most of those places will also do temperature checks and hand sanitizer at the entrance.
Ditto ^^ . I would even admire anyone who wasn't in a high-risk group or living with someone in a high-risk group for being an election judge. Well, I admire election judges even when we aren't in a pandemic. It's something I've thought doing when I'm finally retired.
Different states, different laws.
"Chicago election officials plan to “strongly encourage” but will not require voters to wear face masks to their polling places this fall.
They say their decision was made in accordance with current COVID-19 guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Illinois Department of Public Health — neither of which mandate the use of face coverings for voting.
Election officials in suburban Cook, DuPage and Lake counties told me they are awaiting updated guidance from the state before finalizing their own face mask policies.
But a statement Wednesday from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office gave no indication he will recommend any further restrictions before early voting begins in October.... [Note, cases are worse now than in Sept.]
Although Illinois requires face coverings in public indoor spaces, such as grocery or drug stores, mandating their use in the voting booth would raise some sticky legal issues of possible voter suppression.
A face mask requirement could be viewed as creating an illegal barrier to voting for those who might refuse to wear them — on whatever grounds."
For what it's worth, when I early voted a few weeks ago, everyone was wearing a mask, and I personally have 0 sympathy for those who come to the polls claiming they cannot wear a mask, as I don't believe them, but this is a liberal state so apparently we think that's a thing. So whatever. I think it will be a small number who refuse to wear them here.
A perfect example of what can easily happen when large groups of people congregate.
It can happen to anyone. Please don’t put your families, friends and loved ones at risk by having large family/friends holiday gatherings.
Also, yesterday, a federal appeals court ruled that the state of Minnesota cannot count votes from mail in ballots received after November 3rd. The state has been telling us Minnesotans, that if they are postmarked by 11/3, they will be counted through 11/10.