I feel great sympathy for your niece, @Hoggirl, and the millions of people in similar situations in the United States and around the world. I don’t know what the answer is for protecting the health and financial well-being of workers and their families and friends.
In the helpful tips department, our stores are selling mask spray in pleasing scents like lavender. It does make the experience easier to endure for long periods.
We got this in an email from our synagogue:
They have had an extensive Zoom presence ranging from services to children’s book talks to grandparent chats and much more, primarily hosted by the Rabbi, his wife, and senior staff. They’ve done a wonderful job.
He was tested at National Jewish Hospital in Denver, usually ranked #1 in the country for pulmonary medicine. It uses the FDA-approved ELISA test. The plasma donation is being done through another company.
Two church examples here in Arizona. My dad’s church (Sun City area) is now open after being online for several weeks. The building can hold 600 very elderly parishioners (most in their 80s/90s with one 101-year-old; there is a hospital across the street and ambulances park in the church parking lot which has been convenient on more than one occasion). My dad is an usher. He told me that there were only about 100 people this past Sunday who spaced themselves out of their own accord. He was tasked with passing out masks at the door. He also wore gloves to protect himself. Tithes were collected in a stationary box in the back. Soloist, no choir. Pre-service coffee/donuts cancelled for the time being. I don’t know about the bathroom situation or sanitization procedures, if any. I didn’t ask.
Mom’s church here in the SE valley (not in a retirement community area like dad’s), totally open with no restrictions after being online for a few weeks — with the choir singing in the online video(!). The church holds 200-300, but probably no more than 150 mostly elderly regulars but not quite as old as dad’s congregation and with some young families. No masks, full choir and small orchestra, no rules about social distancing. Basically, services as usual. Mom is a pianist, soloist, and choir member.
Neither congregation (same evangelical faith) claims divine immunity, but one is concerned about protecting the health of the congregation, the other feels the case numbers in our zip code don’t warrant “a spirit of fear.”
I’m watching both situations carefully.
ETA: With our current/summer temps, outdoor services are not an option.
This^^^^> As I suspected the last few weeks, surfaces are not where CV is spreading from, so no gloves and wipe downs needed. (Hand washing and sanitizer when washing not possible continues). So we need to focus on that. Churches are a big problem because of loud talking and singing. In my opinion, they should move outside this summer.
I feel for people like your niece. She is why it’s Important for everyone to wear masks if they must go out but otherwise should stay at home. One can shop Kolh’s online. There is no need to go into that store (most stores now in fact.) it’s a want, not a need.
Now, I’d she stops by for happy hour at a bar after work or a restaurant with a group of friends, then she won’t get my sympathy.
Our Massachusetts governor has said the hairdressers and barbers can open next week on the 25th with lots of guidelines and restrictions. I have heard that a few mayors in surrounding cities will not allow their salons to open on that date. Anyway my hairdresser of about 12 years texted me about a week ago and asked if I’d like to come in to her shop which should have been closed. I really would love to get my hair done. I have a feeling that if they’re bending the rules by opening early instead of waiting to the “legal” date they’re not going to be great about following the guidelines etc. I saw her the day before we locked down around here on March 11. At that time she wasn’t taking it seriously at all. She does know that I have lots of underlying conditions. I am a cancer survivor with multiple lung surgeries under my belt. Such a dilemma
The epidemiologists I listen to say that surfaces are not causing superspreading, but they could still be causing some transmission. If infected me coughs on a glass and hands it to you, and then you touch your nose, you have just brought viruses to your nose. Viruses might not last long on surfaces, but they might not disappear instantaneously either. Handwashing and hand san are still important now.
But didn’t you mention you’re shopping from that nice little boutique you buy most of your clothes at? So the employees there are having to work and put themselves at risk so you can stay home.
Similar issue with the grocery deliveries you’re ordering.
Not a condemnation, just pointing out that even people who stay home cause other people to be exposed in order to serve the people who are staying home. No escaping it.
Honestly, I think you are better off going now while she hasn’t seen many customers. The risk is her seeing 15 people a day and getting exposed by one and not knowing. If you go know, that risk is lower.
^this.
Obviously (?), I’m not in the “everyone should stay home as much as possible” camp.
I am in the “let’s learn to live with this endemic virus and not overwhelm the healthcare systems”
Each individual’s risk varies & I hope the people who are most vulnerable can protect themselves and/or be protected.
This is the first week I’ve noticed it’s taking a toll on H. He is obviously worried about the business going under & losing his job. His sleep is suffering again from the stress. It’s going to be a very long haul.
We keep saying, “Just be one of the last ones standing!” Referring to the business, not us.
:-/
We or a family member does our household shopping. We recognize and appreciate those who are at work, staffing the places we go—take out restaurants, post office, grocery stores, Costco, etc.
In order for everyone to isolate and stay home, everyone would need supplies (including food and TP) for xx days and space to store said supplies. Absent that, there inevitably people who work so folks can get their supplies.
Most people who are working are doing so to support themselves and/or loved ones. Most try to minimize their risks and risks to others as best they can. That’s the best we can do with the info and resources we have.
She can’t really afford to do either of those things making $330 per week - they only give her 30 hours per week so they don’t have to give her benefits. She was much better off financially and safety-wise with the unemployment.
A big part of her job is fulfilling online orders for pick up. Ordering online still requires people to work.
If only people could be better at assessing risk, whether they are making decisions based on personal risk, making decisions about risk imposed on others (if they consider that), complaining about government restrictions or those imposed by private entities to enter their premises, or complaining about others doing what they may see as risky activities.
Have you read the entire thread doschicos?
I came on to post the same thing - just read that!
Supply chain disruptions and hoarding that causes shortages means that some people have to go shop for groceries more frequently or go to more stores to buy the needed supplies, increasing potential exposure events for both themselves and for others (employees and other shoppers) in the grocery stores.
I don’t see what the differences are between these two positions. I’m in both. I think we need to learn to live with this endemic virus, and that is precisely why right now we need to stay home as much as possible.
I was surprised that when I was at Pt. Dume a few days ago, the bathrooms were wide open. The doors were propped open maybe for good air flow. I didn’t look in as I wouldn’t use them in any event.
As for the church issue: Churches should be treated like any other group of people congregating indoors. Rather than singling out churches, the rules should have been based on the square footage accessed by the public and the length of time of the average stay. Some sort of Covid capacity rule that applied to all. The rules should have been the same for church as for restaurants or Costco (some people take an hour or more shopping there).