Topic: How has your life changed?

[BeSeeingYou]

Although I don't know anyone personally here in Mexico City who has contracted C19, I have friends in the US who have and friends of friends and coworkers who have died in Arizona. My wife's coworker in Switzerland said things have returned to near normal there, including public transportation and businesses, and he took a vacation at a lakefront beach.

Regarding the protests versus going to a bar, the differences are pretty apparent and logical as to why one would spread C19 more easily than the other. Protests are outside, most people are wearing masks, and in some cases trying to maintain social distancing. Wearing a mask is key, but so is the fact that they are outside. In a bar -- or a crowded rally at an church indoors, for example -- the air doesn't circulate and C19 spreads. In a bar, the reason to go is to drink, eat and talk, so mouth coverings don't work.

From the article:
"The Harper’s outbreak puts into clear focus the risks of dining out without a mask and without social distancing during the pandemic. People at the bar were observed lining up in crowds without leaving six feet of space between groups. Many people on the street were not wearing face masks, which are required by state executive order to enter any food and beverage establishment prior to being seated. Many restaurant owners and employees have spoken out about issues with enforcing mask rules, due to sometimes belligerent customers."

It's not difficult to see how they are completely different environments. And, as the article notes, some people have become belligerent about wearing masks. If one wants to think that is some kind of conspiracy -- on the part of the news media to support the protestors? On the part of the medical community to support the protestors? I am not sure I get the motivation here -- one is free to do so, of course. But I suspect it is not hard to understand why one is worse than the other.

Here in Minneapolis, the epicenter of the protest movement, there has been no noticeable spike in the infection rate from the outdoor protests.  There was a lot of mask wearing and people did try and keep distance as much as possible.   I think you have a point about the indoor verses outdoor gathering.  It seems if you want to congregate in a crowd you are safer doing it outdoors pulling down a Confederate statue than hanging out at Church or at a Trump Rally.

[scottly]

Had an antibody test and it turns out I had it...was no longer infectious. The most long term issue I have had is a mild cough and tightness in the chest since January ...it would come and go but has been gone since May.  I feel I have a slightly diminished lung capacity too but it isn't serious enough that it keeps me from any activities.

The middle of February I had a sudden shortness of breath episode after some moderate physical exertion, and even after resting a short period, it didn't go away, so I put away the shovel and called it a day. I attributed it to e-cig use, as there were lots of stories about kids with lung problems then, but I wasn't using those mega vapor outfits, or boot-leg juice, and not that much. I quit using them that night, but the shortness of breath continues, although not as bad. I should probably get tested..   

[PeWe]

Success story of mild versions of this is good to read. Is it possible to get another round of it?

Outdoor vs indoor activities must make difference too. I had thoughts about screaming and spitting agressive protesters we have seen here as well.

I and wife could visit a beautiful located cafe last weekend. Sit outdoors, buy what you need indoor, very few inside keeping distance.

[ekpent]

 Large gathering indoors definitely sounds like bad news. Stuff is really gaining momentum down south. I heard speculation that maybe because of the heat and high temps that more people are congregating closer in air conditioned environments. Here's hoping it gets better for those being impacted the hardest.

[Stev-o]

Looks like County Parks will be closed here for the Holiday Weekend. Luckily, our boat stays at a private dock since most boat ramps will be closed too. 

https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/news

Our little town typically hosts a big party for the Fourth including a parade, fun run, live music, food trailers, etc.  All of that is cancelled but they are going forward with the fireworks show.

We still plan to do "Beer, Boating & BBQ!" [not necessarily in that order] but there will be no boatload of people, prolly just our daughter and a couple close friends.
And def some bike riding an classic car driving, it will be a four day Holiday for me!

[Gordon]

Nothing will really be different for us on this holiday weekend.  We spend July 4th at home, just the kids, my wife and me.  We started a tradition several years ago of having an enormous water balloon fight with about 400 balloons, and then I grill and we just hang out outside all day, and then we always watch Back to the Future in the evening.

All the big celebrations have been cancelled, but we never went anyway.  I can't stand dealing with all the traffic and big crowds unless it's for something I'm super into, like a MotoGP race.  They're still doing two big fireworks shows around here, but they're setting them off from different spots than normal and they're setting the fuses so the fireworks go off at a higher altitude so people can watch from home.   

[carnivorous chicken]

Anyone see any of the congressional hearing in the US regarding C19? Fauci is cautioning that the number of cases could hit 100,000 per day. He was met with some push back from republicans. Fauci has stated that he has to fight skepticism in the US, and of course he's getting it from some leaders in government. Rand Paul said, and I #$%* you not, "We shouldn't presume that a group of experts somehow knows what's best." Some republican leaders have acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and are imploring the president to wear a mask. Scientists are also worried that anti-vaxxers will lead the charge against getting vaccinated, if a vaccine is found, that may not allow the US population to reach 70 percent -- or herd immunity.

The USA continues to be in big trouble with a lack of leadership and a lack of willingness from many to inconvenience themselves in the slightest to prevent C19.

[Stev-o]

Friendly reminder... NO politics

[scottly]

a lack of willingness from many to inconvenience themselves in the slightest to prevent C19.

This is a significant part of the problem; I went on a bean and beer run to Wallyworld today, and there was a banner at the entrance that said that masks were required to be worn by both employees and customers, per local/state orders, but there were still some folks without masks. I turned down one aisle and came face to face(?) with some sort of robot sanitizing machine. It had a vertical post with lights in the side facing the shelf's, which I guess were UV?
The governor has shut down the bars, movie theaters, gyms, and water parks. The bars have to comply, or risk their liquor license, but some of the gyms are staying open in spite of the order. In a news segment, the owner of a gym was interviewed with people running on treadmills, in close proximity, and no masks, and he didn't think he should be forced to close, and wasn't going to. He seemed to think his business was as critical as Walmart.
As far as more testing means more cases, the truth is that a much greater percentage of the tests are positive than before; here in AZ it's running about 20% recently.         

[Terry in Australia]

My 91 year old Ma has been nagging me to wear a mask, because we've had an upturn in cases since the state government relaxed the stage 3 restrictions, and all of the touchy-feely folks out there started hugging and kissing each other again. We've had 73 new cases in the last few days, and one death, so Australia has had 103 died since all this started.

I don't like wearing masks, and as opposed to the US with more than one in 150 US citizens with CV, we're more like 1 in 100,000. Just to get her off my back, I bought one, and sent her a pic. I haven't heard from her since, I think I may have given her a heart attack. Oh well...........

Terry's mask 30 Jun 2020 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[grcamna2]

Looks like a mask of the 'Joker's face 

[budman]

Gee Budman so sorry to see that. Didn't you get hit hard by the Houston flood when that went through ?  Eric

Yep.  The roofing was replaced when the house flooded.  It’s less than three years old.

I don’t have it in me to do the roof repair myself after having done so much of the flood repair myself.  I’ve filed an insurance claim, but work has been slow and I don’t have the deductible.  Not sure what I’m going to do.  The limbs have been removed and the roof is tarped for now.  Been trying to get estimates.

When the limb fell on the house it knocked the facia off, which had a nail in it that put a small hole in the AC condenser.  I’ve already had the AC company out.  They’re working on a quote.  The whole system will have to be replaced, because of its age and they can’t just swap the condenser.  The AC works for now, but the guy said it will probably loose its charge in a couple of weeks.

[PeWe]

Everyone must act as an adult and understand to keep distance, hygiene and not cough people in the face etc.

Understand in time that some people they meet have no control or understandings so they can avoid them in time.

Wet wipes are cheap, packed in a plastic container.

The sad thing here is conspirations blaming those people in charge others want to remove by egoistic reasons.

People must be able to understand. Maybe those with IQ <80 have problems.

[Don R]

 I probably have less faith in humanity right now than at any time in my life. So many people I previously believed were pretty smart are spouting nonsense and won't do a simple thing like wearing a mask.
  A virus doesn't care if you believe in it or not and you can't BS it out of doing something it wants to.
 Today I did hear a doctor interviewed on PBS that said they believe people that recently got a measles or polio vaccine don't seem to be catching it. One of those costs $.10 a dose to make and you dissolve it on your gums. I hope he is correct.

[PeWe]

I have got 6 injections of Polio vaccine for many years ago, no measle vaccine which I had as a kid.

TBE vaccine might help? Hopefully
Spread by small bloodsucking insects. I have got vaccine injections for that too. Have not got anything I can relate to the Wuhan Reaper, yet.

[Marks78]

"The middle of February I had a sudden shortness of breath episode after some moderate physical exertion, and even after resting a short period, it didn't go away, so I put away the shovel and called it a day. I attributed it to e-cig use, as there were lots of stories about kids with lung problems then, but I wasn't using those mega vapor outfits, or boot-leg juice, and not that much. I quit using them that night, but the shortness of breath continues, although not as bad. I should probably get tested"..
[/quote]

Scottly - I had a similar experience last year while doing some watering outside. I had a CT scan done of my chest area (cost $50 and took about 10 minutes) and it showed a main artery in my heart was 96% blocked and one was 75%! I had a stent put in soon thereafter. It saved my life. I would highly recommend spending the $50 just to be safe. It's cheap insurance.

[madmtnmotors]

I have been considering a social experiment. When I encounter a fellow citizen while engaging in essential activity, such as grocery shopping, and that particular citizen can't be bothered to wear a mask, I have begun to be possessed with the urge to begin coughing as we approach each other. This would likely involve a more enthusiastic fit of coughing the closer we become. With so many fellow shoppers not willing to "mask up" would likely result in bringing the attention of store personnel to me since I would be coughing all the way through the damn store.

[ekpent]

My 91 year old Ma has been nagging me to wear a mask, because we've had an upturn in cases since the state government relaxed the stage 3 restrictions, and all of the touchy-feely folks out there started hugging and kissing each other again. We've had 73 new cases in the last few days, and one death, so Australia has had 103 died since all this started.

I don't like wearing masks, and as opposed to the US with more than one in 150 US citizens with CV, we're more like 1 in 100,000. Just to get her off my back, I bought one, and sent her a pic. I haven't heard from her since, I think I may have given her a heart attack. Oh well...........

Terry's mask 30 Jun 2020 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Hate to say it Terry bit I think its kind of an improvement, It makes you look younger and more vivacious. 

[PeWe]

Wear a mask is so American, why not now!!??

[seanbarney41]

Lol, pewe....that brings up another interesting change.  I live in a high crime rate neighborhood.  Going in stores with a face mask, or even a hooded swearshirt on used to cause all kinds of drama.  Now, of course, you are required to wear whatever form of facial covering.  I dont know if i am trying to buy a soda and a pack of cigs or holding up the joint.

[grcamna2]

Lol, pewe....that brings up another interesting change.  I live in a high crime rate neighborhood.  Going in stores with a face mask, or even a hooded swearshirt on used to cause all kinds of drama.  Now, of course, you are required to wear whatever form of facial covering.  I dont know if i am trying to buy a soda and a pack of cigs or holding up the joint.

Lol, I was wondering if there has been more robberies considering this mask thing.

[Terry in Australia]

My 91 year old Ma has been nagging me to wear a mask, because we've had an upturn in cases since the state government relaxed the stage 3 restrictions, and all of the touchy-feely folks out there started hugging and kissing each other again. We've had 73 new cases in the last few days, and one death, so Australia has had 103 died since all this started.

I don't like wearing masks, and as opposed to the US with more than one in 150 US citizens with CV, we're more like 1 in 100,000. Just to get her off my back, I bought one, and sent her a pic. I haven't heard from her since, I think I may have given her a heart attack. Oh well...........

Terry's mask 30 Jun 2020 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Hate to say it Terry bit I think its kind of an improvement, It makes you look younger and more vivacious. 

Ha ha, that's OK Eric, as I get older, I aint getting prettier..........

[PeWe]

Terry look like a bank robber!
Wear a mask while visit a shop can end up in a bang and holes were not wanted, right?
I'm sure it will, another side of this bad stuff.

I read about another version of Swine flu....
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/world/asia/h1n1-swine-flu-virus-china-pig.html
Next wave of sh!t from east we are not allowed to complain about and point fingers at. It must be time to cut all communications on both directions to the origin area of this before it hit us.
Or time to live in a camper bus in Yellowstone wearing alu foil lined cap as the freak in the movie 2012 from 2009? The nut heads seems to get right!!

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks Per, I once walked into a bank at lunchtime wearing my full face helmet (I was in the process of taking it off as I'd just parked my bike right outside) and a very nervous looking security guard drew his pistol and pointed it at me. Once he'd calmed down and noticed I was wearing my Army uniform he told me that the bank had been held up 3 weeks prior by a guy wearing a full face motorcycle helmet, and asked me not to wear it inside the bank again. Needless to say, I didn't.

[grcamna2]

Thanks Per, I once walked into a bank at lunchtime wearing my full face helmet (I was in the process of taking it off as I'd just parked my bike right outside) and a very nervous looking security guard drew his pistol and pointed it at me. Once he'd calmed down and noticed I was wearing my Army uniform he told me that the bank had been held up 3 weeks prior by a guy wearing a full face motorcycle helmet, and asked me not to wear it inside the bank again. Needless to say, I didn't.

   A stressful moment