I had my teeth cleaned last Thursday and felt very safe. The dental hygentists and doctors all worse masks, shields, and more protective clothing than normal. They only allowed one person in the waiting room at a time. They also had me gargle for 15 seconds with some kind of antibiotic/alcohol mouthwash (which I never had to do before). I feel fine a week later and won’t hesitate to go back to them as needed.
@Midwest67 in my area they closed a main road to car traffic and are allowing restaurants to put tables on the sidewalk and into the road. They ran into the issue of tables six feet apart but when each table had people at them the patrons weren’t six feet. They also had the same issue when restaurants were side by side. Guests at one restaurant were less than 6 feet from the people at the next place. The city sent some staff to give guidance. I haven’t yet ventured out to this street as I’ve heard that while those waiting for tables have masks a lot of those walking the streets aren’t wearing masks. Also a lot of out of town tourists clogging the street. My son and DIL must think H and I are geriatric as they really don’t want us going downtown.
I’m still concerned about the virus but I also feel it’s not going away. I’m open to going out more but with caution.
Towns around me are opening up the street to restaurants and shops. I’m thrilled. The first day my town has outside restaurants, I’m going to be there. I love to go out to eat, but indoor restaurants are not open yet here, and even if they were I wouldn’t go to one.
Apparently some merchants opposed the opening. They said when the road had been closed for construction, business was down. Me, I think it’s pleasant to walk past people drinking wine and eating bruschetta, but nasty to walk past jackhammering, so I don’t see the comparison.
In fact, in my coastal California area, I find outdoor dining festive and fun. Summer days cool down in the evening, and it’s lovely to sit outside and watch the world go by. Since I am opposed to free parking on principle, I’ll get extra enjoyment from savoring a delicious dinner in a space that used to be car storage.
I envy you guys who live in climates where outdoor eating is possible in the summer. Here in Texas, we had a few weeks where that was possible. Now, with triple digits, not very appealing.
I got an emergency root canal on March 16. Patients were asked to not touch anything, temps were taken and there was sanitizer everywhere. I got the temporary filling replaced on May 21 and had a crown buildup on another tooth at the same appointment. Masks worn in the building, no one in waiting room, temp taken, etc. Last Thursday I had to go in to have the temporary checked. Yesterday, back to the endodontist, though ended up not getting anything done. And next week back to get permanent crown. Great timing, but I felt safe each visit.
Many of the restaurants/cafes in my town have their outdoor eating on patios in courtyards, or decks behind the building. And none have another restaurant right next door.
The local pub took over part of their parking lot years ago and puts up huge tent (like you’d see at a wedding) in the summer with tables.
My coffeeshop/bakery is using a table in their courtyard for pick up. They are not open for outside eating even though they could. Not sure if the other places in town are either, yet - as I haven’t been out to see.
Parking in my town is mostly behind the buildings - though we have one public lot right before you get to the village center. There are a few cut outs for parallel parking in front of Post Office and pharmacy, but that is the only parking allowed on the street.
Glad to hear that. I hate those things. Thank heavens no one follows them in my grocery store. I think people have figured out they actually put you in closer contact with more people than not having them would. I understand a dedicated entrance and exit, which does keep track of which carts have been disinfected.
Yeah, I noticed that my grocery store has removed the one way aisle markings. No one was observing them anyway.
The towns around here (coastal Northern California) have main streets with restaurants and shops, street parking along the main streets, and municipal parking lots on side streets. Parts of the main streets will be blocked off, to keep cars away, and then restaurants will be able to use the streets for dining, and I think shops will be able to use the street for merchandise (because right now you can’t go in the shops, and you can’t dine in the restaurants).
Don’t be jealous. It’s only a matter of time before…
“Can you do something about the bees?”
“The mosquitoes are horrible! Can we move inside?”
“Can you move that heater closer to OUR table?”
Haha!
Iowa is buying 500 ventilators. How both good and bad: good that Iowa is able to find ventilators for purchase, bad that Iowa needs more ventilators.
Arizona’s numbers look alarming. A state with that many retirees is not a state where we want to see big outbreaks.
Restaurants here opened at 25% capacity and 50% capacity outdoors. We had a lovely meal at the restaurant located in a nice local lodge. Because the restaurant is part of a large banquet facility, the entire banquet facility is counted officially as capacity… so their 25% allows them to sit a lot of people - and they have the space for it! Tents with tables went up on the lawn in their courtyard. It was great to have a meal outside of the house - first time in 3 months. I left a very big tip.
New high in OR. It’s climbing fast although still low #s over all. but from an average of 60 a day to around 100 per day the last week to 178 today is a big jump. Health officials blame it on “more testing, workplace outbreaks and increased tracing of people exposed by those with known coronavirus infections.” In other words, people getting sick. Still only testing people with symptoms or exposure to known cases. Insanity. And there is no governmental mandate for masks.
In NYC I am not sure if I would be comfortable eating at an outdoor restaurant/cafe. There would be too many people walking by and talking.
I’m not really able to keep up with the thread, but this is a big red flag in my opinion. Yes people can ignore each other, but that doesn’t seem like a very healthy way to have a conversation. It also doesn’t help when new people come to the thread and don’t know who to ignore yet!
I guess this is the warning. Please avoid saying things that raise each other’s blood pressure.
The distancing all depends on what Phase you are in /what your soccer association’s guideline say.
In the plans I’ve read distancing should be maintained only in phase 1 &2
@Midwest67 we are in Chicago suburbs too. Outside tables six feet apart but diners at any one table are not. I didn’t expect them to be. So, yes, those people are choosing to be near the group at their table as part of their circle of friends. My husband and I each have two or three friends we see now closer than six feet and we have extended family here in town who we see too. If we are standing around with them somewhere we try to stay six feet apart but really it’s more like three and we do have some meals together but don’t share anything. These are people who have been very careful so far but we understand that the more we add people to this less-than-six feet group, it could get more risky. There is no touching at all with anyone outside out house.
So it’s happening. Friends choosing to dine together and take that risk. At least they are outside and far enough away from a different group of people they have not added to their group. And I don’t want to freak people out but kids of all ages play together like there’s no virus. They keep masks on them to put on if they go in a store but that’s it. We’ve only had 15 non-nursing home cases in our zip code and no one under 50. All of those have recovered already. Little by little the under-18 group has been out and about for maybe four weeks now. The only thing we’ve told our kids to avoid now is groups larger than ten and we highly suggest they stay outside at all times when they are in a group. Running into someone’s house to use the bathroom is ok but wash up!
The beautiful place where our daughter’s Wedding was two years ago has a restaurant on the other side of the building. For now, they have converted their very pretty outdoor area to outdoor dining. Once they can open for indoor dining, they will spread big tables out in the ballroom. The occupancy of that ballroom is 250 max. At 50%, that would be 125. I don’t think the regular restaurant area seats 50. So they will be OK, I think.
It’s a very nice place, and their food is excellent. It’s family owned and they had no weddings, no proms, no receptions…nothing…since March. This will hopefully help them regroup.
It makes sense to me that the positive test results are increasing as the tests are now more available. Back in March and even as late as April, it was nearly impossible to get tested. The stats that are concerning are increases in hospitalizations and deaths. If enough people are sick enough that they have to be hospitalized, it can strain and exceed the capacity of the hospitals and medical resources. That was a big reason for these social distancing measures and closures of businesses. Projections were alarmingly pointing to reaching that situation.
That’s why the consequences of opening up businesses, eateries, etc, particularly beaches, parties, large gatherings, and, yes, the demonstrations are not likely to show the dangerous results for a good month. Those who are at high risk are hopefully staying home, taking precautions still, but as those people who interact with them, such as health aides, family become less cautious, there will be that spillover. Most of the younger healthier population are not going to be hospitalized even if they get this, and there is a time lag before they get tested, if they even do get tested at all. It’s when the virus makes its way to the unlucky victim who gets a bad case of COVID, that it becomes a problem.
I would be loosening up a lot more if it weren’t for these early beach and demonstration waves. I’m waiting it out a bit longer, maybe till end of RSV season before I shed certain precautions even though I’m in a very low impact area and not in contact with high risk people. High risk, meaning their activities making them more likely to get exposed, not high risk due to health and age issues.
My employer, a major company was excellent in responding to this crisis. I was an essential worker for most of the first third of the year, and the precautions set forth made me comfortable working. That my fellow employees were keeping themselves in seclusion outside of work, where we all observed precautions made in a safe environment. None of got any ailments during that time period. No colds, Flus, etc once things tightened up. Nor did their close family members. If everyone is responsive in keeping distance, and washing hands, and other protocol, RSV season takes a far lower toll overall, IMO.
Yesterday DW felt extremely fatigued, and this morning realized she’d lost her sense of smell. I called our insurance company (Kaiser Permanente) and was able to schedule same day drive through testing for both of us.
We should have our results in the morning.