Stay safe fellow Tuggers

[spirits]

Like so many of you...I have been thinking of just getting away for a bit of a break this fall in my home timeshare in Banff

When 511 epidemiologists say they expect to do 20 everyday activities again

Many epidemiologists are already comfortable going to the doctor, socializing with small groups outside or bringing in mail, despite the coronavirus. But unless there’s an effective vaccine or treatment first, it will be more than a year before many say they will be willing to go to concerts...

www.boston.com

I was wondering what do doctors think? Here is a sobering news article. Like all things...I prefer to be safe than sorry.

 

[bluehende]

Good article. The kids camp was very interesting as our son is wrestling with that right now in Boston. Everyone's calculations are different. Being 64 and with high blood pressure under control with an ace inhibitor we are being more careful than average. Let's have a nice discussion about what they take into consideration as opposed to comments on the actual activity. This plea will become evident later

Here are my considerations in order of importance to me.

How long I will be in close contact with someone
How many people I will come in contact with
Inside or outside
The local outbreak details

This also is over ridden by how important to me the activity is.

We have decided to go to our owned TS in WV to hike and bike. This checks off all of the issues for us.

We have decided to not join any of the current marches due to the second consideration.

What is interesting in my small familial group is that we are most likely to leave the house. The DIL in Boston is in a hotbed and has diabetes. The youngest son is also in a hotbed in the Philly area and has a pregnant wife. There is no evidence of pregnancy being a risk factor but it does fall under immune comprised so they are being real careful. Both sets can work at home so they have not had to make difficult decisions, but this is ending now as the Boston son is in research and will have to go back soon.

 

[pedro47]

To spirits and bluehende, please wear your masks and maintain your social distances. Enjoy your time.
Stay safe.

 

[Luanne]

We have been very careful, not going out much, wearing masks when we do, slowly opening our bubble. Sister in law invited us over to their house this coming Sunday for appetizers out on their patio. We think it would be 3 couples at the least. Dh does not want to go (and his sister is mad at him). He really doesn't feel comfortable going into a group of people, not wearing a mask, and probably not being social distanced. I did a small, short wine "thing" at a neighbor's house a few weeks ago when I went over to pick up some masks. I found it somewhat uncomfortable. We were social distancing, which really meant there was no mingling as everyone stayed in their chairs, and in some cases I felt like we were almost shouting to hear each other. So, dh doesn't want to go because it's still not feeling "safe" and I don't really want to go because I don't know how comfortable and relaxing the whole thing will be.

 

[pedro47]

We have been very careful, not going out much, wearing masks when we do, slowly opening our bubble. Sister in law invited us over to their house this coming Sunday for appetizers out on their patio. We think it would be 3 couples at the least. Dh does not want to go (and his sister is mad at him). He really doesn't feel comfortable going into a group of people, not wearing a mask, and probably not being social distanced. I did a small, short wine "thing" at a neighbor's house a few weeks ago when I went over to pick up some masks. I found it somewhat uncomfortable. We were social distancing, which really meant there was no mingling as everyone stayed in their chairs, and in some cases I felt like we were almost shouting to hear each other. So, dh doesn't want to go because it's still not feeling "safe" and I don't really want to go because I don't know how comfortable and relaxing the whole thing will be.

We normally have Sunday's dinner at our friend home in Va Beach. There are four couples. Our friend is a gourmet chef and she loved to cook difference meals for us on Sunday's. After dinner we played various board games and then we will have coffee & desserts. We have not gotten together since this COVID-19 mess. We want and missed our time together but we are all over the age of seventy (70). So we don't feel comfortable at this time to come together and fellow ship with one another. This is a very sad time for our group. IMHO.

 

[DeniseM]

My Bro & SIL recently invited us to a Barbecue to celebrate their daughter's graduation from high school. Other friends and family were also invited - there was no mention of masks or social distancing. I was kind of surprised because she is an RN and her husband (my brother) has multiple co-morbidities. I declined with regret and sent my neice a $100 Amazon Gift Card.

 

[JanT]

I'm so glad I read this thread because it makes me feel better for what I'm going to have to do tomorrow. My uncle's widow is moving on Friday, as in, leaving the state. She is 54 and has not taken COVID-19 seriously much at all. When Texas shut everything down, of course, she was forced to lay somewhat low but she still was out doing her shopping in the stores, etc. Didn't wear a mask unless she was forced to. As recently as today she's been running all over the place, not wearing a mask unless forced to, dining out, etc. She has suggested several times for us to get together, most recently for my birthday. I told her that we are continuing to lay low ourselves and just don't feel comfortable getting together with her (or anyone really) and we haven't. But, she's moving Friday and she wants to get together so we can see each other before she leaves.

We caved in today and told her we would drive up to see her, go have dinner at a restaurant that has outside seating, and visit for awhile. As soon as we agreed I felt sick inside. I don't want us to be exposed to COVID-19 should she have somehow become infected. We're not living in fear but my husband will be 71 this year and I'm 60. He's in great health and over all I'm in good health but I do have Hashimoto's Disease which affects the immune system. I'm pretty sure the chances are slim we could become infected but I want the chances to be as close to zero as possible.

So, I'm going to contact her in the morning and tell her that we just don't feel comfortable getting together. I know she is going to be angry and hurt. I don't want that but she will be, I know. So, that makes me sick inside, too. But, in the end, it's our choice as to how much we want to expose ourselves and if she doesn't like it or understand then that's too bad. I just felt better having read this thread and recognizing that we're not the only ones who are still concerned. Love my fellow TUGGERs!

 

[elaine]

Most Drs. we know are still concerned.

For us, Only people we know well/family allowed inside-and only as of last week. If we are not confident about their isolating/masks, they're staying outside.
Things we've done--most in the past week except Socializing with another couple 6 feet apart in chairs outside-no masks, no shared food/drink items.

1. DD19 sittting with Aunt next to each other in masks teaching crocheting-both isolating since March.
2. Same Aunt and Uncle over for dinner inside, no masks. All isolating except for grocery in mask, etc.
3. DD19 outside talking with friend, no masks, seated 8 feet apart.
4. DS/DIL/GS2 over for dinner, mainly outside, inside for dinner no masks--all isolating.
5. Talking with limited people from neighborhood at least 6-10 feet apart outside. 10 feet if talking more than 5-10 minutes.

No walking together--too much air exhaled when walking/talking.

I think a lot of people still don't understand the risks. My friend in a NC 55+ community had her card group ask if she'd restart cards 3 weeks ago, if they wiped down stuff. They'd all sit at a card table (probably no masks) inside. She asked me what I thought. I said no way unless outside. She agreed. The card group said no to outside. They don't understand it's the face to face transmission esp. inside that's high risk.

 

[Monykalyn]

Heck I went to a theme park yesterday (masks/physical distancing required)-and it was probably one of the safer things to do-the parks were so low attendance there wasn't any long waits (or ANY waits) in the queues, workers constantly wiping high touch surfaces, hand sanitizer before getting on and after getting off rides. The bathrooms were probably cleaner than some hospitals! People were the vast vast majority that I saw being compliant with the mask/distancing too. Much more so than some stores.

Quick story: one summer I worked in a neonatal intensive care unit - tons of preemie babies. Worked with the specialists on developing nutritional formulary for the preemies and what to give for nutrition (starter) by gestational age (helped alot when residents did their turn through NICU-cannot give to those fragile babies what adults are given ). By the end of the summer I thought it was remarkable anyone had a healthy full term pregnancy and baby-when we did get the occasional full term 7-8# baby the poor baby seemed like a monster giant compared to the teeny 1# baby.
All that to say-once you get in a bubble it seems very very odd to be out of it-like being in isolation to be "safe"-the world has NEVER been safe nor will it ever be safe. It is just now the word "risk' and 'safe' are thrown in our faces constantly. The new norm is "safe" so anything outside that bubble is now 'risk'. And an epidemiologists job makes them think of nothing BUT risk. Of course they are going to be far more cautious-it is all they see!

 

[nerodog]

I'm so glad I read this thread because it makes me feel better for what I'm going to have to do tomorrow. My uncle's widow is moving on Friday, as in, leaving the state. She is 54 and has not taken COVID-19 seriously much at all. When Texas shut everything down, of course, she was forced to lay somewhat low but she still was out doing her shopping in the stores, etc. Didn't wear a mask unless she was forced to. As recently as today she's been running all over the place, not wearing a mask unless forced to, dining out, etc. She has suggested several times for us to get together, most recently for my birthday. I told her that we are continuing to lay low ourselves and just don't feel comfortable getting together with her (or anyone really) and we haven't. But, she's moving Friday and she wants to get together so we can see each other before she leaves.

We caved in today and told her we would drive up to see her, go have dinner at a restaurant that has outside seating, and visit for awhile. As soon as we agreed I felt sick inside. I don't want us to be exposed to COVID-19 should she have somehow become infected. We're not living in fear but my husband will be 71 this year and I'm 60. He's in great health and over all I'm in good health but I do have Hashimoto's Disease which affects the immune system. I'm pretty sure the chances are slim we could become infected but I want the chances to be as close to zero as possible.

So, I'm going to contact her in the morning and tell her that we just don't feel comfortable getting together. I know she is going to be angry and hurt. I don't want that but she will be, I know. So, that makes me sick inside, too. But, in the end, it's our choice as to how much we want to expose ourselves and if she doesn't like it or understand then that's too bad. I just felt better having read this thread and recognizing that we're not the only ones who are still concerned. Love my fellow TUGGERs!

You have to take care of yourselves. If you aren't comfortable you will be anxious the whole visit! She should be able to respect your viewpoint. Plan a special outing when everything settles or a special trip to see her.

 

[Brett]

I went into Tysons Mall (the largest mall in Virginia and Wash DC area)

no crowds, a few stores open. everyone was wearing masks

I felt safe

 

[am1]

Not sure how anyone can feel safe when there are thousands of people and the deaths keep piling up. Hopefully news that it is not spread by people without symptoms is true. But the downside is still pretty bad.

 

[Cornell]

Today is my first day back in my office. Absolutely bizarre being here. Things very different than when I packed up in March. Employees can come in if they choose. At the moment, there are 3 of us here.

 

[bluehende]

Not sure how anyone can feel safe when there are thousands of people and the deaths keep piling up. Hopefully news that it is not spread by people without symptoms is true. But the downside is still pretty bad.

Unfortunately that has already been walked back by the WHO. The explanation I saw was that studies into that phenomenon are rare are what she was trying to say.

 

[Monykalyn]

Not sure how anyone can feel safe when there are thousands of people and the deaths keep piling up. Hopefully news that it is not spread by people without symptoms is true. But the downside is still pretty bad.

Every one has different levels of risk they are comfortable with. However the near constant reporting and death updates leads one to think no one ever dies any other way. Don’t google average daily death rate normally! Not discounting Covid deaths But we don’t have dail updates on how many people die of pneumonia or heart disease or cancer or flu...if we did no one would ever leave home.

 

[Luanne]

Every one has different levels of risk they are comfortable with. However the near constant reporting and death updates leads one to think no one ever dies any other way. Don’t google average daily death rate normally! Not discounting Covid deaths But we don’t have dail updates on how many people die of pneumonia or heart disease or cancer or flu...if we did no one would ever leave home.

I didn't know you could catch heart disease or cancer from someone else. What "we" are concerned about with COVID 19 is how much is unknown. There is no vaccine. So many of "us" prefer to be on the cautious side.