Social distancing and mask wear are still highly done in CT where I live as well. I’ve seen no relaxing.
Our family has been compliant with all rules and it has seemed from our limited trips during the stay at home period we were the only ones complying. In about another week, if there are no spikes in cities with the protests I do not think we will be so compliant going forward. There has been too many predictions of gloom that turn out to be overstated. Additionally, I do not think (but I do hope) there is a vaccine/cure to be made available imminently and feel as long as our hospitals are not being overwhelmed then if the virus spreads it is better now than when the flu season kicks in.
Mask wearing and social distancing is VERY much still happening here in my corner of the world (MD, close-in DC suburb).
Likewise in Westchester - shopped at Trader Joe’s this morning and everyone wears masks, stands 6 ft. apart on the line waiting to enter, and does their best to maintain distance in the aisles. Walking in our neighborhood I see everyone carrying masks so that they can put them on if other people make it impossible to distance appropriately.
My MIL died at the end of last week and at her funeral on Monday the cemetery (in NJ) only allowed 10 family members plus one clergy to be present. When we were leaving I noticed the next group arriving for a funeral, all wearing masks and distancing in the parking lot. My MIL was interred in the mausoleum and we were asked to appropriately distance and stand in family groups in front of the crypt for the truncated service because the chapel is closed. All facilities (bathrooms etc.) are also closed and the facility’s employees stayed out of sight until we all exited the building. Even the funeral home was only able to have one person (the gentleman who drove the hearse) present. My H had to sign all the documents outside. It was quite a surreal experience. Our shiva and nightly minyans are also being done via Zoom. We are grateful for technology but it is just not the same as being surrounded by family and friends.
Masks and social distancing still in effect here, in NE Ohio, but also dependent on where one goes. For example - at Walmart, maybe 50% mask compliance (at 7am in the morning). At Target, at 8am, almost everyone is wearing masks. Outside - people aren’t wearing masks – but indoors – many people are wearing masks and social distancing.
After my unhappy meeting at work, the Governor announced we will be Phase II starting Friday. That means I must go back to the office. I told my boss how uncomfortable I was and asked if I could install something in my cubbie entrance. I thought perhaps a shower curtain rod and a clear plastic shower curtain. I would pay for it myself. He responded no need and he would take care of it. My co-workers built me a 6.5’ tall PVC frame and hung a curtain across my entrance for me. They sent me a picture. Even though they are germ factories, they are the best.
And technically, I have off Friday and Monday for family procedures. But now they are up in the air. My son is scheduled for wisdom tooth surgery Friday. But his friend/co-worker’s GF is currently awaiting test results. Her fast food co-worker tested positive. If she has it, I’m sure his friend has it. And S/friend have been spending lots of time together, mostly outdoors but still. And it is highly likely her results won’t even be back by then. I’d hate for him to have the procedure and then come down with it during recovery. That can’t be good. Argh!!! I’m stressed to the max over this anyway. We’ve been dreading it for years. All normal pain meds are out for younger S. It’s a long story.
In our household, our heads are spinning with how quickly things are changing.
Just last week we were doing the happy dance because Illinois was going to move into the next phase & include outdoor seating for restaurants.
It was an uplifting busy weekend and now? Fear of looters crashing protests.
Where H works, they have decided to close for today because there is supposedly a protest nearby? I’m not sure of the details. He is on the phone with the owners & they are discussing whether to board up the windows.
I worked a carry out shift last night (at a different restaurant) that is located in a major shopping center. We had zero people dining on the patio, despite it being a warm gorgeous evening.
Bleh.
@Youdon’tsay, I have a suggestion about wearing the KN95 mask. I understand why you want to wear one to protect yourself. But please, if it has an exhale valve, put a nice attractive cloth mask over it to protect others.
I know a bunch of employees and contractors who are stuck in India since March. Many need to go back to the US due to visa requirements. My co-worker said that flights to the US are so rare that the tickets are sold out within the hour whenever a flight is open up. She personally will technically violate the visa requirement b/c she can’t get herself physically back to the US. Not sure what will happen next.
Social distancing is not being ignored in street marches and rallies. We can see, over and over, that peaceful protestors are in the main wearing masks, and attempting to stay six feet apart. Compare the usual marchers standing shoulder to shoulder, with these marchers attempting to separate.
We can also see clashes with police, where protestors are closer. But you can hardly argue that the government is tolerating an action that the police are in the act of attempting to suppress.
I agree with @apprenticeprof that it’s hard to justify governments still disallowing outdoor services with appropriate social distancing. Indoor services are quite a different story.
I wonder if masks are enough to make indoor church services safe. So far, without masks, indoor church services have proved to be dangerous.
I think reasonable people can see a difference between being outdoors, wearing a mask, and marching versus being in a crowded place of worship with zero masks on for 2 hour service.
I know our synagogue has had regular Zoom shabbat services every Friday night since March. You don’t need to be inside a house of worship to feel the sense of community and spirituality.
Is there any urgency for the wisdom tooth procedure for either medical or insurance coverage reasons?
By “normal pain meds”, do you mean acetaminophen?
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/usernotices/counterfeitResp.html has some information on fake or ineffective N95 or KN95 masks.
Pretty sure the police have higher priorities than social distance enforcement right now.
New experiences:
Had a dental cleaning yesterday. My dentist had sent out the new procedures and protocols ahead of time. Wait in car, go directly to restroom and wash and swig mouthwash. No one in waiting room. Only one hygienist working at a time. She was wearing N95 and face shield. Temp taken and questionnaire that had be be signed. New cleaning systems, new low spray equipment. My credit card was wiped as it was handed back to me, and a wipe to use to open the door while leaving was offered. Etc.
It all felt really safe, considering how careful I have been.
Similar to @“Cardinal Fang” , I ordered books from a local bookstore. When the order is ready, they put it on a table inside their back door where there is an anteroom with all the bags laid out alphabetically. You can go when you want during store hours. No one in sight, and they tend to leave the door open, which keeps it aired out.
Also, got an oilchange at the dealership for my fairly new car. Met at curb, they brought paperwork out to me when I requested that. They sanitize, but I also wiped everything down when I got in and drove home with fan on and windows open. They have marked the waiting room for distance, but I (and others) waited outside. I did suggest they should consider putting out some benches. Overall, handled well.
Overall, these were all new post-corona experiences for me, (still haven’t been in a store) and went well. It was good to see the precautions being taken–everyone in all instances wearing masks. Definitely the norm here.
They always did. The idea that police were ever going to enforce social distance policies in the cities once the summer came was laughable on its face. This is not China.
In the Boston area, masks seem to be worn mainly in places with high density. Some of the towns that were hit hard seem to have everyone wearing them. In our town, no one wears one even when walking except if they are 60+. Next town over many/most wearing them but often pulled down with nose exposed. Have seen several police officers enforcing traffic. One came up to us last week no mask at all. The other had a mask in the car but wasn’t wearing it.
Now that there have been so many protests, I think we’ll see shortly if masks are indeed effective in Covid prevention. I think most/many of the protesters were wearing masks.
@ucbalumnus they need to come out soon. Last fall, the dentist recommended this summer. 2 weeks ago they started to break through and have been causing pain.
He won’t take Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, or aspirin. He believes he is allergic and will die. I believe it’s in his head, but all docs and nurses have sided with him. One telephone nurse almost called social services on me for being negligent. Of course, he takes NyQuil/DayQuil just fine not knowing it was in there until last summer and has now deemed it different some how.
I would not under any circumstances expose your son’s oral surgeon and employees to him until you know for certain that he has not been infected with COVID by his friends. At the very least, I’d call the oral surgeon and tell them that he has potentially been exposed by a friend.
PS-crossing fingers that your son’s friend and his gf are negative and that your son remains healthy.
@Creekland Thanks for posting the BBC article about Sweden’s current view on things. I had wondered about that. I read that many doctors there were up in arms about the national decision on what to do, so I didn’t think the decision was universal there.
I hadn’t read these types of details of what they were doing before this article,
'Although there was no lockdown, Sweden relied on voluntary social distancing, banning gatherings of more than 50 people and halting visits to elderly care homes.
Non-essential travel is still not recommended under national guidelines, but journeys of up to two hours are allowed to see relatives or close friends as long as they do not involve visits to local shops and mixing with other residents.’
Those are all good things to help stop spread, for sure. Remember some here thought maybe Germany and other places that better protected their elderly care homes was what made the difference with having a less severe impact. But this sounds like Sweden also protected elderly care homes.