Released from "Covid Jail' - Our part to stimulate business

[Pathways]

Many businesses opened yesterday. We had lunch at Chili's and dinner at Aspen Grill. Very interesting to see the differences between the two operations and how they handled the new regulations. We found ourselves counting the employees and thinking of all the people who have been without paychecks.

Part of the day I was driving through small towns in Ohio on my way to customer sites. Very surprised at the number of local eateries there that had obviously reopened even though that state is still in lock down.

I had hoped for Texas Roadhouse on the first day back, but they are not opening until Thursday!

 

[Panina]

We have chosen not to eat in restaurants. Just feel staying in one place/position too long is risky. Instead we take food out with the local restaurants

 

[Luanne]

Restaurants still not open here. Might open Friday. We will not be going into a restaurant in the near future, neither will most of the people I've talked to. We do plan to continue doing take out.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I will go to Texas Roadhouse at my first opportunity. We have only gotten pizza takeout, and that was for Rick and my stepdad only. I haven't eaten anything from a restaurant for two months. I kind of don't care about eating out right now. I also want to feel safe. I am accomplishing that goal. But I am also saving a ton of money eating in.

My freezer is stocked with fish and meat, enough for two weeks. We bought packaged and frozen rice caulifower, enough to make my cauliflower pizza crusts and freeze 24 of them. They are individual servings. Just heat and add some sauce and cheese, plus some mushrooms and bell peppers, instant dinner.

I rarely go to the store to stay away from the opportunities for germs right now. But when it all ends, and I am sure the governor is thinking of ending stay in place about now, I will go to Texas Roadhouse and a few other places, but I don't plan to go often. Governor Polis opened tattoo parlors with salons, and that just surprised me. Salons, I kind of get (my bangs are out of control), but not tattoo parlors. I need one of those Flowbee things.

Rick is going to cut my stepdad's hair. He has a full head of very white hair. It's getting long in the back. That should be interesting. Getting out the clippers tonight. We have to keep him safe. He is 86.

 

[am1]

The second wave is coming or is it still the first wave?

 

[DaveNV]

Yesterday I contacted a local glass repair company I had previously contracted before the shutdown, to come replace some failed windows at my home. Because of the shutdown, we had mutually decided to postpone things till it was reopened. That started last week. They're trying to get back up to speed, and are putting previous contacts at the head of the line for work to be done, before scheduling new customers. I thought that was a nice way to approach things. The estimator will be here next week to start the process. He's only coming to take measurements, but the company advised he will be wearing eye/face protection and gloves. They are asking that we try to stay at least ten feet away from him. I thought that was rather proactive of them, and I have no problem with it. Good company to work with.

Dave

 

[Panina]

Yesterday I contacted a local glass repair company I had previously contracted before the shutdown, to come replace some failed windows at my home. Because of the shutdown, we had mutually decided to postpone things till it was reopened. That started last week. They're trying to get back up to speed, and are putting previous contacts at the head of the line for work to be done, before scheduling new customers. I thought that was a nice way to approach things. The estimator will be here next week to start the process. He's only coming to take measurements, but the company advised he will be wearing eye/face protection and gloves. They are asking that we try to stay at least ten feet away from him. I thought that was rather proactive of them, and I have no problem with it. Good company to work with.

Dave

That was great the company was so proactive. The plumber came to estimate a job to put a bbq gas line in. We have a basement so much easier then putting an line in the ground. He did not come with a mask but was vocal upfront about keeping our distance. When he does the work, he will go through the basement door and when he is done I will Lysol the basement. Seems all the contractor here are not wearing masks, neither is most of the population working or going to stores.

Today went to Home Depot when it opened, staff not wearing masks, only one other shopper of 6 was wearing one. As we left lots of cars pulled up and we saw a dozen people walk in, no masks. On the way back did drive thru at Starbucks and was surprised every worker was wearing a mask as it was the first store locally that I saw employees wearing masks.

 

[MrockStar]

Awsome, I may have to road trip to Toledo about a 50 Minutes drive from Detroit MI and go out on a dinner date with my wife to celebrate our neighbor State OH reopening. SOME day we may have that option back here in MI if all the local business can survive and don't go BANKRUPT first.

 

[Cornell]

Heard Rick Bayless (restauranteur) say that limiting restaurants to 25% or less of capacity will not allow restaurants to survive.

Also , many of the restaurants near my home on Sunday had a disastrous mother's day. Disaster in this sense: Absolutely an onslaught of orders. But not enough staff to handle the orders. As a result, customers waiting in parking lots for 90 mins - 3 hours for their carryout orders . The staff counts were too low b/c staff won't return to work for a big day like Mother's day b/c then they are ineligible for unemployment.

These restaurants are in a tough spot.

I also don't see how gyms are going to survive with capacity limits. They need volume to make their margins.

 

[Rjbeach2003]

It's the new normal, at least til there is an effective vaccine. People are restless, we are getting stir crazy. We will take actions that will continue the spread. The armed militias are a small part of it, there are simply people who are demanding that reopening occur.
In the town I live in a restaurant opened, defying Governor's restrictions and was shut down. They then organized a breakfast in protest in their parking lot.

It won't matter if reopening is allowed if customers don't come. I might be willing to eat at a restaurant as long as they are able to provide outdoor seating. I am reluctant to go back to my barber if we reopen for that, as the last time I was in, before stay at home, he was going on about what a farce COVID 19 fears were. I don't know if he has changed.

I call customers around the country in my sales job and reactions are different in each part of the country. RV parks, some are closed tight, others never closed. All are anxious, as am I.

 

[Brett]

Restaurants are still mostly closed in Virginia (except for outdoors)
I do miss the Texas Roadhouse - I'll go again but try to keep a respectable social distance

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I plan to be in the 40% who never got Covid when herd immunity hits or we have effective treatments or vaccines. Will not shut in 100% but will take limited calculated risks and precautions to get there. Others can choose "herd mentality" to be part of the avalanche and catch Covid and that's fine. The sooner they do it the sooner we get herd immunity - and the sooner the rest of us get freedom. So go for it.

 

[dioxide45]

Heard Rick Bayless (restauranteur) say that limiting restaurants to 25% or less of capacity will not allow restaurants to survive.

Also , many of the restaurants near my home on Sunday had a disastrous mother's day. Disaster in this sense: Absolutely an onslaught of orders. But not enough staff to handle the orders. As a result, customers waiting in parking lots for 90 mins - 3 hours for their carryout orders . The staff counts were too low b/c staff won't return to work for a big day like Mother's day b/c then they are ineligible for unemployment.

These restaurants are in a tough spot.

I also don't see how gyms are going to survive with capacity limits. They need volume to make their margins.

Gyms make money no matter what, as long as people don't cancel. Many people carry the membership and never go. I suspect they have suspended most gym membership payments through this. I wonder how many will cancel when they open back up.

I agree on the 25% being unworkable. For the most part, they are probably still losing money at 25%. Given that labor is the biggest expense, it may be cheaper to stay closed than try to operate at 25%.

 

[Luanne]

I also don't see how gyms are going to survive with capacity limits. They need volume to make their margins.

The gym I go is has gone from: limited opening with trainers only (meaning you need to work with a trainer to be allowed in), to don't open at all, to open business as usual with restrictions, to don't open at all. In the meantime my trainer is looking for studio space so she can continue to work with her clients. She can do it outside while the weather is nice, but that won't work year round.

 

[Luanne]

I agree on the 25% being unworkable. For the most part, they are probably still losing money at 25%. Given that labor is the biggest expense, it may be cheaper to stay closed than try to operate at 25%.

Many restaurants that didn't have a big take out business in the past will most likely continue it. I've heard from a lot of people who don't plan to go back to dine in, at least right away, but will continue to do take out.

 

[Cornell]

Gyms make money no matter what, as long as people don't cancel. Many people carry the membership and never go. I suspect they have suspended most gym membership payments through this. I wonder how many will cancel when they open back up.

I agree on the 25% being unworkable. For the most part, they are probably still losing money at 25%. Given that labor is the biggest expense, it may be cheaper to stay closed than try to operate at 25%.

That's not true about gyms. You are thinking of traditional gyms with monthly fees. Many, many gyms are now class based and you pay for the class. It's all about numbers. If you can't max out the class, the gym can't make a profit.

 

[Luanne]

That's not true about gyms. You are thinking of traditional gyms with monthly fees. Many, many gyms are now class based and you pay for the class. It's all about numbers. If you can't max out the class, the gym can't make a profit.

Again, just referring to the gym I go to. I pay a fee, I pay yearly as I get a break in price that way. All classes are included. I make good use of the gym, going between 3 to 6 days a week. However, if this gym closes I don't think I'll look for another one to go to. I liked this one because it was very convenient. If they do close I'm not sure if there will be any refunds. It would be nice as I only used 2 months of the 12 I paid for.

 

[MrockStar]

I plan to be in the 40% who never got Covid when herd immunity hits or we have effective treatments or vaccines. Will not shut in 100% but will take limited calculated risks and precautions to get there. Others can choose "herd mentality" to be part of the avalanche and catch Covid and that's fine. The sooner they do it the sooner we get herd immunity - and the sooner the rest of us get freedom. So go for it.

Some of us already have, not tested yet for antibodies yet 99% sure i had early March. No fun at all and wouldn't wish it on anyone.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Some of us already have, not tested yet for antibodies yet 99% sure i had early March. No fun at all and wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Agree. I wouldn't wish it on anybody. Looking forward to antibody testing. I suspect that I had it in January when it was running around the Bay Area.

 

[MrockStar]

Agree. I wouldn't wish it on anybody. Looking forward to antibody testing. I suspect that I had it in January when it was running around the Bay Area.

I think we will both feel a Little better after an accurate antibody Test. Pluse i would like to donate blood plasma to help others if i already had it.

 

[Luanne]

Agree. I wouldn't wish it on anybody. Looking forward to antibody testing. I suspect that I had it in January when it was running around the Bay Area.

One of my neighbors, who thought she might have had it in January, had the antibody test. It was negative. I'd thought about getting it, if I could. But I don't think I'd do anything different if it came back positive vs negative.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

It's the new normal, at least til there is an effective vaccine. People are restless, we are getting stir crazy. We will take actions that will continue the spread. The armed militias are a small part of it, there are simply people who are demanding that reopening occur.
In the town I live in a restaurant opened, defying Governor's restrictions and was shut down. They then organized a breakfast in protest in their parking lot.

It won't matter if reopening is allowed if customers don't come. I might be willing to eat at a restaurant as long as they are able to provide outdoor seating. I am reluctant to go back to my barber if we reopen for that, as the last time I was in, before stay at home, he was going on about what a farce COVID 19 fears were. I don't know if he has changed.

I call customers around the country in my sales job and reactions are different in each part of the country. RV parks, some are closed tight, others never closed. All are anxious, as am I.

People were told that they needed to shut down and shelter in place in order to "flatten the curve". It was not about preventing infection; it was about preventing health care facilities from being inundated.

In many areas the curve has been flattened, the peak has passed, health care systems have capacity, field hospitals erected to manage overcrowding are being dismantled, surplus ventilators are being returned or rereouted.

The rationale put forth for shut down has been accomplished in many areas. So we shouldn't be at all surprised if there are large numbers of people who begin to lose respect for government orders. This seems a lot like public health authorities are doing a bait-and-switch. Because if the goal of shut down and shelter in place from the start was to stop the pandemic, then our government lied to us.

 

[TravelTime]

I will have the antibody test when it is available. My DH may have had Covid in February. I asked my doctor about it and she said the current tests are not reliable and she will wait until a reliable test is available. She said it might be another month or so until it is available.

 

[TravelTime]

People were told that they needed to shut down and shelter in place in order to "flatten the curve". It was not about preventing infection; it was about preventing health care facilities from being inundated.

In many areas the curve has been flattened, the peak has passed, health care systems have capacity, field hospitals erected to manage overcrowding are being dismantled, surplus ventilators are being returned or rereouted.

The rationale put forth for shut down has been accomplished in many areas. So we shouldn't be at all surprised if there are large numbers of people who begin to lose respect for government orders. This seems a lot like public health authorities are doing a bait-and-switch. Because if the goal of shut down and shelter in place from the start was to stop the pandemic, then our government lied to us.

I agree with you. We aren't hearing the term "flatten the curve" too much anymore. The government and health experts have sent mixed messages and changed guidance throughout this Covid thing and I do not know what to believe.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I agree with you. We aren't hearing the term "flatten the curve" too much anymore. The government and health experts have sent mixed messages and changed guidance throughout this Covid thing and I do not know what to believe.

Precisely the point. The rhetoric has changed. It almost seem as now that power has been asserted, that power becomes sticky, and must be maintained, even if that means changing the rationale. It happens often - measures are instituted during an emergency, but as the rational for the measures recede, the measures continue in place.