What is it like to live in US right now?

[Wiseman2]

16 hours ago, Eternal Sunshine said:

I keep watching the news and it seems like every day there is a record number of COVID cases and deaths.

How are things in Australia?

The US still has huge numbers of cases. Unfortunately there has so many local jurisdictions that what is happening in one area is not in any other.

There's no countrywide laws. The US also has huge economic divides and healthcare divides . 

This as well contributes to the one step forward two steps back patterns.

 

 

Edited November 30, 2020 by Wiseman2

[Angelle]

I'm in Northeast Ohio. There are people who are concerned, but too many aren't, and don't bother to be careful. They will wear a mask if they're forced to, but I remember people in my county saying they'd drive to the next county over to do their shopping, when masks were made mandatory here. A couple of weeks later, they were made mandatory all over the State.

I don't do anything except for food shopping, and once I looked for boots, which I need to do again, if I'm to leave the house when it snows. The movie theatre is open in North Canton, but the number of people allowed is limited, as it should be. We usually go to the movies every New Year's, but we won't this time, even though it's never been packed at midnight. We just don't want to take the chance. My dad has met his brother for breakfast, a couple of times, but I don't want to sit in a restaurant, and whenever we pass those in Canton, he mentions the crowded parking lots, and how many people must be packed in there. We get take-out almost every week, and my dad is always out making deliveries during the week, so he has to stop to  go to the bathroom, or for food, if he hasn't taken any with him. 

I miss the bookstore, and another area that I used to frequent (I haven't been since March). I miss certain stores, too, but one of my favourites is tiny, and has cramped aisles on its best days. I don't want to get stuck anywhere in there. 

[Ellener]

8 hours ago, major_merrick said:

Outsiders with no verifiable business here are turned away at the checkpoints.  This has kept infection rates very low. 

You live in a compound environment and control who enters or leaves, I don't think that is possible or desirable in the general population environment or to staff nursing homes, supermarkets, hospitals etc.

8 hours ago, major_merrick said:

politically-motivated violence.

Not sure wht you mean there, and beyond the scope of this thread to get into.

But just to be clear to @Eternal Sunshine and people overseas- the US is generally safe to live and travel except for the Covid 19 risk due to current high rates of infection many places.

[Ellener]

2 hours ago, Angelle said:

I miss certain stores, too, but one of my favourites is tiny, and has cramped aisles on its best days. I don't want to get stuck anywhere in there. 

I've needed to use a wheelchair recently and found similar problems with cramped places with that too!

I tried to stop using the mighty Amazon in favour of brick-and-mortar stores which have tried to offer comparable services, curbside pick-up, free home delivery etc. Epic fail from the 'janky' websites to untrained staff to yesterday's experience where I finally drove to a store to get the darn thing myself after talking to staff several times, then found that I had to go upstairs but their elevators were broken except for a service elevator in a creepy warehouse area out back!

Work in progress...

 

[clia]

On 11/29/2020 at 8:58 AM, Eternal Sunshine said:

I am curious to know how is daily life affected. I think that lockdowns/restrictions are minimal. So do you chose to wear a mask?

As others have mentioned, it varies based upon where you live and what restrictions your Governor has enacted.  In my state, we have had a mask mandate since May.  So, there is no choice involved.  You have to wear a mask if you are indoors or if you are outdoors and can't social distance.  Where I live most people comply with this, although about a third wear their mask hanging below their nose.  Almost every type of business has capacity/social distancing limitations.  However, IMO, most people aren't really social distancing much anymore.  Despite the mask mandate, we've had a huge surge of cases starting about six/seven weeks ago. 

Quote

Do you still go out for a meal, to a cinema, to a gym? Or do you only duck out for essentials and then run back home?

About two weeks ago, my Governor (via the health department) shut down (she called it a "pause") indoor dining, movies, bowling alleys, ice skating rinks, high schools, colleges, and various other things.  Prior to that, we had been going to restaurants about 3-5 times a week since June 8, since they reopened following the initial closure (that started in March).  At that point, restaurants were opened with 50% capacity, required social distancing, and masks when you weren't sitting at your table.  We ate indoors and outdoors and felt safe at the places we went.  The restaurants were complying with all the rules, and many had invested a great deal of money in ventilation systems, outdoor heaters (for patio seating), sanitation, seating arrangements, etc.  So, no, we really don't go out for meals anymore now since we aren't allowed.  We have done outdoor dining a couple of times since the "pause" started, but we are getting into winter here, so it's not the best option.  Unfortunately, if the Governor extends the "pause" (as is expected), we will likely see a lot of restaurants shut down.

I don't really go to the movies even before COVID19, but the movie theaters here were shut down from March until October, so they were only allowed to be open very briefly before the Governor shut them down again.  I don't see how they can survive much longer given that they haven't been allowed to operate for nearly the entire year.  

Oh, but gyms are open!  I don't go to the gym, but I have friends who go multiple times a week.  There are capacity restrictions, mask requirements, and group classes aren't allowed now unless they are outdoors.  

Retail and malls are also wide open, so you can crowd right on in at Walmart or Costco.  We were encouraged to go out and spend, spend, spend for Black Friday!  (But unfortunately you couldn't go and have a bite to eat after.)  I believe most retail stores have capacity limits, but I'm not sure how strictly they are enforced.  Trader Joe's is really the only place I've seen with a constant line outside, so as a result I haven't gone there since all of this started.  I haven't been to the mall either, but mainly because I've heard from others that there are lines to get in a lot of stores, and I'm not going to wait in line to go to a store.  I've gone into some local shops, as we are still allowed to do that for now. 

Nearly everything fun has been cancelled or is closed -- Christmas fairs, art fairs, live sports, theater, concerts, tree lighting ceremonies, Thanksgiving parades, 5k runs, holiday markets, etc.  There were some restaurants doing live music, but it was a small scale, and that's obviously done for now.  Some of the outdoor winter events -- e.g.., zoo lights -- have such limited capacity that they sell out relatively quickly, so you have to really be on top of it if you want to go.  

You can go to the salon, get a haircut, get your nails done, and get a tattoo. 

I think museums are open, but with capacity restrictions, and I think you need a reservation.  You also need a reservation to go to the zoo.  

So, you can still do some things, but it all feels very joyless this year due to the mask requirements, capacity requirements, need for reservations at a lot of places, etc.  For me, all of this means that my winter sports league is cancelled right now, which is normally my primary activity during the winter, and I can't go out to eat or do any of the other fun things I normally do during the winter.  No Christmas parties, either.  We basically just work from home, go to the grocery store once a week, go to Top Golf or the driving range a couple of times a week, go to some local shops, and go for walks.  It doesn't really feel like "living," even though I realize that we are fortunate.  I can see why so many people are having mental health issues.  

The two neighboring states  are much more open, so people from my state will drive an hour to go to a restaurant or to see a movie.  I also know a lot of people planning trips to Florida and Texas, which are also much more open.  If we continue on restriction, I would expect to see more of that.      

Quote

Are people genuinely scared or treating it as a nuisance?

You have people so paranoid they haven't left the house since March, and then you have people who don't want to wear masks and are out and about living their lives to the extent that they can with the above restrictions.  So, it's a mix.  I expect most people fall somewhere in the middle.  We're being fairly cautious, but we aren't so paranoid that we're afraid to interact with people or go to a restaurant (once that's allowed again).    

[Ruby Slippers]

30 minutes ago, clia said:

We were encouraged to go out and spend, spend, spend for Black Friday!

Yes, this is the kind of thing that makes the rules seem like nonsense. Don't go to your family's house - you might kill somebody. Also, don't forget to stimulate the economy by hitting up all the stores with your BF shopping 🙄

[Happy Lemming]

"San Francisco 49ers will play "home" games in Arizona after COVID-19 rules ban team from playing at Levi's Stadium"

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/san-francisco-49ers-santa-clara-county-covid-19/

I guess things are a little worse in California...

[basil67]

15 hours ago, Wiseman2 said:

How are things in Australia?

Hi Wiseman, Australia had had 8 locally acquired cases yesterday.    Things are returning to normal and interstate travel has just reopened.   

The remaining things from our shutdowns are:

• Business districts still have largely empty towers because we can't fit everyone in the lifts and we're encouraged to not use public transport.   
• Restaurants/pubs have limited numbers.   And we still can't sing or dance....it kind of feels like being in Footloose.  
• No nightclubs  
• International borders are still closed
• University is done from home if possible.
• We still have long queues of expats trying to return home.
• Increasing use of compulsory check in using QR codes when visiting premises.  I've not looked up the rules about it - I thought it was becoming law, but in reality it seems a bit hit and miss.

 

[Ruby Slippers]

I just had a video meeting for work with a lady who was telling me about how the downtown pedestrian "tunnel" system in our city is a ghost town now, no surprise. This is a network of underground pedestrian tunnels that downtown workers use to get around the area without having to go above ground in bad weather, etc. The last time I was there was when I was having lunch with my ex-bf at his office downtown. He showed me his office, then we walked through the tunnels to go have lunch at his favorite sushi place. My coworker said now nobody is in the tunnels except homeless people. 

And my boss is asking us for ideas for a holiday team event - my best idea is an end-of-day video happy hour and slightly inebriated games like pictionary or trivia. 

[QuietRiot]

On 11/29/2020 at 8:58 AM, Eternal Sunshine said:

I keep watching the news and it seems like every day there is a record number of COVID cases and deaths.

I am curious to know how is daily life affected. I think that lockdowns/restrictions are minimal. So do you chose to wear a mask?

Do you still go out for a meal, to a cinema, to a gym? Or do you only duck out for essentials and then run back home? Are people genuinely scared or treating it as a nuisance?

Here in Florida, Ron DeSantis has completely obstructed the agility for local cities and communities from mandating masks and other mitigation processes. He's banned mask mandates.

 In fact, he's even been in hiding to avoid reporters fielding him questions, because he hates being asked, "What are you going to do about mitigating the spread in Florida?!" He's moved passed that and is NO LONGER up for discussion, he's focused on the vaccine, "The vaccine is coming, good news Florida!"

 

That said, if you drive a local restaurant, you'll see servers and patrons not wearing masks. You'll see a typical, full house at some of these places even.  I had a friend order take-out to pick up and when he went to pick up (his mask on), he saw this scene, and made announcement on FB to boycott that place. He said he asked the server how come the staff aren't wearing masks, she shrugged and went, "Because we don't have to" (LIke DUH)

Anyways, there are grocery stores and chain stores where if you go shopping MOSTS are wearing masks, occasionally you'll see a family of people coming into a store with out them on, but you'll never see an employee policing that.

In Florida, it's business as usual.

Pretty much any posted news on the local news site gets ridiculed in the comment section, if you're that on person that posts "pro-mask" related stuff, you'll get laughed out of the page's comments section.

WHere I live, they do cancel the BIG annual events, and the backwater hicks here raise a storm when it happens via the community Facebook pages. lol. "How dare they do this to us!" These events tend to attract people from the big city, so it's a smart move. I live in a more suburban/rural area, so this place isn't bustling with activity and even on a Sat night, places closes up early even PRE-Covid.

Edited December 1, 2020 by QuietRiot

[carhill]

I follow a 30-something Youtuber who owns a racetrack, the old Desoto Speedway, in the Bradenton, Florida area and is very active in the racing and drifiting communities. He's posted videos on -19 and explained how he and his community deal with it. From what I've seen, they've all moved on, travel with their cars all over the country, have racing/drifting events at the track and I haven't seen a mask among the community since probably May. They live their own lives and largely ignore the politics and health conversation. IDK, perhaps that reflects the diversity in the country and on one level I'm heartened that some segments of the population are still enjoying prosperity and freedom.

Meanwhile, out on the west coast, I've been hearing rumblings of Newsom enacting a statewide lockdown, now mainly in the SoCal and parts of the Bay area, for the Christmas holiday. I'd expect Brown to order similar in Oregon if history proves accurate. Different areas, different cultures, different politics, so much for the virus thriving in warm humid climates since the west coast is now cold and largely dry and Florida is warm and humid. IDK, is decimating local citizens and businesses in my Oregon county for essentially 1.5 reported -19 deaths per month worth it? IIRC, we had zero reported deaths until around July.

I still expect a long dark winter locally but am hopeful that the country as a whole will do better. Our locals are tough, they'll make it.

[d0nnivain]

I live in the NY Metro area & I think most people take it seriously.  Except for one place where we haven't been since this began, most people where masks everywhere. 

Over the summer we went out to dinner a few times & I went to WalMart 2x but our suburban almost rural area was reporting 5-10 Covid cases per week & maybe 1 death per week.  Now the county is reporting over 200 cases per week & 5-10 deaths so we're hunkering down again.  We do delivery or curbside pick up for most things.  

We were "bad" & traveled to Florida for Thanksgiving.  We went from our private home here to our private home there.  We stayed overnight in a hotel each way & tried to minimize rest area stops.  We got fast food drive in.  The one place in NC I went in to use the restroom in door dining was closed.   Mask use was mixed.  More had then on then not but it wasn't universal.  I did go to the beach 2 days in Florida but picked a section that had no people; literally the closest people to me were 50 yards away which was fine by me.  Florida itself is wide open.  Every mall was packed.  We stayed in the backyard, took a few walks around the neighborhood with the dog & had groceries delivered but didn't go out.  Now we're quarantined at home for 2 weeks. 

I have several people on my social media who maintain this is a big hoax.  I actually had one person post that her husband called several area hospitals who still have capacity.  Based on that she believes the claim that we have to wear masks is the government controlling us.  The misinformation is outrageous & scary.  

[NuevoYorko]

It's a little like I'd imagine living in a banana republic might be.  

[LivingWaterPlease]

I'm 70, which puts me in the elderly category. I live in a city, trying to stay anonymous so won't post where. Lots of people around here are extremely afraid of it. Lots of people aren't. My friends and I are not. I didn't wear a mask for a long time but finally decided to wear a face shield for those who are fearful.

I had the virus in September but had learned to treat myself for most things before this came along so that is what I did. It started out harsh but I got on it right away and within a few hours it was very mild. I stayed inside until I was totally well which was three-five days. Mostly I just sat around feeling tired but comfy. My neighbors across the street had it for three days. I think one of them (can't recall which one) lost their taste and smell, the other did not. During the time they had it they walked their dog in the graveyard so as not to pass anyone by they might give it to, as they usually walk the dog in the neighborhood.

My friends and I have continued to socialize as normal, having dinners together in our homes, hugging, touching in an normal way, etc. We are all very health conscious with no morbidities, though. Out of my close friend group I'm the only one who's had it.

Fifteen-twenty years ago I had a flu that almost killed me. I've had the flu many times but this one was horrible. I truly almost died. Covid-19 was nothing compared to any flu I've ever had and especially compared to the one that almost killed me.

However, I have some potent herbal mixtures I've learned to treat myself with for viruses so that's probably one reason I'm fine to behave normally, as if covid isn't around. Another reason is that I had it less than three months ago. But, am not acting any differently now compared to how I acted before I got it.

Oh, yes, I have a friend (not close) who has it right now and is on a ventilator. He's in his mid seventies and has a heart condition. He lives far away from me. Wish he had some herbs that I have, I doubt he'd be in the hospital now if he did.

 

Edited December 4, 2020 by LivingWaterPlease

[Ellener]

1 hour ago, NuevoYorko said:

It's a little like I'd imagine living in a banana republic might be.  

2020 certainly highlighted a lot of gaps here. It's two countries the US, the wealthy and the people chasing their tails to survive.

I was thinking about Little House on the Prairie earlier, don't laugh, but there's plenty of resources here to survive independently, yet we would not be allowed to live a survival lifestyle in that way. So we are very dependent on our governments, state and federal, to come up with the crisis solutions for us. Which perversely lots of the prominent leaders don't believe in. Catch 22...

59 minutes ago, LivingWaterPlease said:

I have some potent herbal mixtures I've learned to treat myself with for viruses

I'm very run down with all the stress this year. I can always tell by my skin. Making a lot of soups, throwing in herbs and spices, lots of fresh garlic and ginger. Taking a lot of vitamin C supplements and eating  foods with iron.

Booked the little gym here tomorrow to do some weights, really missing my long walks and swims. Need more structure!

 

 

 

[QuietRiot]

4 hours ago, LivingWaterPlease said:

I'm 70, which puts me in the elderly category. I live in a city, trying to stay anonymous so won't post where. Lots of people around here are extremely afraid of it. Lots of people aren't. My friends and I are not. I didn't wear a mask for a long time but finally decided to wear a face shield for those who are fearful.

I had the virus in September but had learned to treat myself for most things before this came along so that is what I did. It started out harsh but I got on it right away and within a few hours it was very mild. I stayed inside until I was totally well which was three-five days. Mostly I just sat around feeling tired but comfy. My neighbors across the street had it for three days. I think one of them (can't recall which one) lost their taste and smell, the other did not. During the time they had it they walked their dog in the graveyard so as not to pass anyone by they might give it to, as they usually walk the dog in the neighborhood.

My friends and I have continued to socialize as normal, having dinners together in our homes, hugging, touching in an normal way, etc. We are all very health conscious with no morbidities, though. Out of my close friend group I'm the only one who's had it.

Fifteen-twenty years ago I had a flu that almost killed me. I've had the flu many times but this one was horrible. I truly almost died. Covid-19 was nothing compared to any flu I've ever had and especially compared to the one that almost killed me.

However, I have some potent herbal mixtures I've learned to treat myself with for viruses so that's probably one reason I'm fine to behave normally, as if covid isn't around. Another reason is that I had it less than three months ago. But, am not acting any differently now compared to how I acted before I got it.

Oh, yes, I have a friend (not close) who has it right now and is on a ventilator. He's in his mid seventies and has a heart condition. He lives far away from me. Wish he had some herbs that I have, I doubt he'd be in the hospital now if he did.

 

Where I live, people over 70 is a common place, there's a rather well known retirement community that's so big that it has it's own zipcode that cases are most common. A lot of them there, gathering at common areas outside, no social distancing...it's a mixed bag on who is minding that kind of thing there.

I had the flu too, and it isn't pretty that's for sure. The thing is though, with Covid, it's VERY random, roll of the dice kind of thing. Or spin of the wheel on how you'll wind up. You could wind up worse than the flu even (ventilator) or go through what you had gone through. Some just have the no taste thing/smell thing, and that's it...and they figure "Hm, that wasn't so bad now was it" and their attitude regarding the virus remains intact, thus...downplaying it. 

They are like "That was Covid? Don't see what the whole fuss is about" then go about their lives, maskless.  Not saying you're doing this, but that's been known to happen if someone does not suffer tremendously from it...of course, they wind up spreading it to others though...and then spread it to someone that may wind up in a hospital.

Then you have the Covid long haulers, some young, that go through what you went through (Comes and goes) then...a couple months later...bam...they suffer organ damage, blood clots. Personal fitness trainers can barely walk a block without getting winded, things like that.

All that said, this is a demonstration on how this virus can impact EACH individual differently.

To say that you're wearing a faceshield for "those who are fearful" is kind of offensive...but hey, at least you're being thoughtful...there's just some kind of back-handed compliment to that phrase.

 

Edited December 4, 2020 by QuietRiot

[elaine567]

Face shields are essentially useless.
 

Quote

Plastic face shields are almost totally ineffective at trapping respiratory aerosols, according to modelling in Japan, casting doubt on their effectiveness in preventing the spread of coronavirus.

A simulation using Fugaku, the world’s fastest supercomputer, found that almost 100% of airborne droplets of less than 5 micrometres in size escaped through plastic visors of the kind often used by people working in service industries.

One micrometre is one millionth of a metre.

In addition, about half of larger droplets measuring 50 micrometres found their way into the air, according to Riken, a government-backed research institute in the western city of Kobe.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/22/face-shields-ineffective-trapping-aerosols-japanese-supercomputer-coronavirus

 

Edited December 4, 2020 by elaine567

[pepperbird2]

part of my work every day is writing about fundraiser for not for profits, including ones in the USA.
I used to just assume that an event I was writing about would go ahead as planned. Now I check. From what I can tell, a fair number have been cancelled. Others are postponed or converted to a virtual format. I'm not sure how successful these "virtual fundraisers" are.
Sadly, a significant number of small charities, for example animal rescues, organized support groups even charitable blood drives are facing some very tough times.
It scares me, as these provide a much needed safety net. Hopefully, this won't go on much longer.
The good news? Many not for profits are rising to the occasion and have come up with some really fun ways to raise money. I wrote about one where a group will come and put a big flock of those pink lawn flamingos on someone's lawn or out in front of a business with a big banner. It's ED explained its BOD wanted to find a way to raise money that would also put a smile on people's faces. 

Edited December 4, 2020 by pepperbird2

[Ruby Slippers]

9 hours ago, LivingWaterPlease said:

However, I have some potent herbal mixtures I've learned to treat myself with for viruses so that's probably one reason I'm fine to behave normally, as if covid isn't around.

Care to share more info on your magical herbal anti-virus potions? I'm curious! My mom and I also prefer home remedies over anything pharma whenever possible, and both are in great health.

[Ellener]

5 hours ago, QuietRiot said:

They are like "That was Covid? Don't see what the whole fuss is about" then go about their lives, maskless.  Not saying you're doing this, but that's been known to happen if someone does not suffer tremendously from it...of course, they wind up spreading it to others though...and then spread it to someone that may wind up in a hospital.

Earlier this year I got bronchitis then pneumonia, I wasn't well enough to wait in line for a test and was told to treat it as Covid and isolate anyway, contact emergency services if I could not cope etc. 

I stayed home for a month, much of which I wasn't well enough to go out, and I told people I had Covid, don't come over. It was pretty much the same symptoms. But if I didn't nurse it carefully well that's me taking up another hospital bed whether it's Covid or not, at a time when the hopitals were getting full and staffing stretched to capacity.

To be fair, we didn't get the correct advice from the beginning in the US, it should have been long-term precautionary, once the lockdowns ended all of us social distance/ limit contacts/ handwash/ cover face. The initial downplaying then as you say the huge number of people with barely any symptoms, now the fact we may have vaccines very soon, has had people throwing caution to the wind, with predictable consequences.

By this time next year, if previous pandemic patterns are a template, we will be over this global crisis. Already immunology and vaccine science, ICU nursing and infection control has had a massive learning curve.

But just seeing Dr Fauci appear to disparage the UK for coming up with a vaccine first ( he's since thankfully professionally apologised https://www.bbc.com/news/av/health-55182029 ) well when you ask what it's like in the USA right now @Eternal Sunshine we get a lot of this kind of nonsense. Americans will so play up to the media is my explanation, but there's also a culture of entitlement here where one's own experiences and problems are way more important than anyone else's, even if on the grand scale of life or death they are not...and an arrogance about being 'the best g.d. nation in the world'. What's that quotation 'my country right or wrong is like saying my mother, drunk or sober...' (GK Chesterton )

I love America, I have chosen to live here, to take citizenship, and to be fully involved and invested in my community. 

And I get frustrated when we can't fix basic things like health care, infection control during a pandemic, crisis safety nets, the government doing their day job etc.

The most important thing for people overseas is don't come travel here right now, Covid is raging all over the country and services are stretched many places; come in 2023. It's a wonderful country, so much to see, and we'll get back on our feet. We're just not there yet.

 

 

[Ellener]

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55177848

There's a lot of unprecedented poverty in the US right now and not a lot of advice how to deal with it.

[LivingWaterPlease]

22 hours ago, Ellener said:

2020 certainly highlighted a lot of gaps here. It's two countries the US, the wealthy and the people chasing their tails to survive.

I was thinking about Little House on the Prairie earlier, don't laugh, but there's plenty of resources here to survive independently, yet we would not be allowed to live a survival lifestyle in that way. So we are very dependent on our governments, state and federal, to come up with the crisis solutions for us. Which perversely lots of the prominent leaders don't believe in. Catch 22...

I'm very run down with all the stress this year. I can always tell by my skin. Making a lot of soups, throwing in herbs and spices, lots of fresh garlic and ginger. Taking a lot of vitamin C supplements and eating  foods with iron.

Booked the little gym here tomorrow to do some weights, really missing my long walks and swims. Need more structure!

 

 

 

Sounds as if you've figured out ways to stay well, Ellener! I find exercise helps me tremendously, too!

[LivingWaterPlease]

16 hours ago, elaine567 said:

Face shields are essentially useless.
 

 

On the surface it would seem so, I agree. However, there are health benefits to wearing a face shield that masks don't provide.

I'm pretty sure I know who gave me covid and it was a health care professional who was wearing a mask at my Drs.' office where patients are required to wear a mask, too.

I've heard it said that wearing masks is like putting up a fence around your yard to keep out mosquitoes.

The advantage to wearing a face shield for everyone is that you can still lip read (I have problems with hearing) and you can smile at people. Don't discount the health benefits of smiling at people. To some people it doesn't matter because they live amongst people who don't smile but I smile a lot and people smile back at me. The lock downs have contributed to depression, suicide, and domestic abuse  (I believe this is common knowledge so probably don't need to provide proof) so don't underestimate the cumulative effect of folks smiling at each other and touching each other. It's very healthy. I'm not writing that I believe smiling will cause no one to be sick. I believe in a synergistic approach to staying healthy.

I personally believe masks are harmful, both health wise and psychologically. I'm not saying masks are harmful I'm saying it's my belief they are.

[Ellener]

1 hour ago, LivingWaterPlease said:

Sounds as if you've figured out ways to stay well, Ellener! I find exercise helps me tremendously, too!

It's easy to stay physically well I find. Mentally...life isn't worth living right now. I'm tired of being worried or upset or disappointed.

Hopefully things will improve soon. 

[Wiseman2]

Agree that covid and this one's particular epidemiology is in  uncharted waters.

So unlike flu, it's behaviors were not that well known from the onset before some data and patterns emerged.

Mistakes were made, sadly.

 

Edited December 7, 2020 by a LoveShack.org Moderator
clean up