As a rough rule of thumb (as it varied state-to-state), the US reopened just before Memorial Day (25 May this year). Our state had a transmission rate of about .8, so well on the decline. The majority of other states were seeing similar falling transmission rates. Memorial Day is a huge "start of summer" holiday here, and I'm sure there was a rush to get reopened in anticipation of that. Ohio, for example, reopened sit-down restaurants on the 21st, enough time to get restaurants into compliance for social distancing, etc.
A month later, here we are. The transmission grid has completely flipped, with more states in the red now, and it looks like we've set ourselves back to mid-April with this. Hospitals in some cities are filling up again.
Britain, we are your future.
Watching the news last night, talking to one set of folks on the beach in Florida, in their 20's, and they just laughed and said, "Yeah, you know, what're you gonna do? You can't stay home!"
Listening to a news story this morning, much the same. They were talking about universities preparing to welcome students back for the Fall term, and one young man, and I think he was an RA or a fraternity rep, said, "Yeah, I can't really see having a party with masks, or social distancing, or someone at the door making sure people are wearing masks. You just have to let the chips fall where they may." Paraphrasing, of course, but that's the gist of it.
I think what continues to befuddle me is this attitude, both with wearing masks and with going out, that whatever risks are being taken affect just that one person. There seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding of why we wear masks and why, just because you're 22 and much less likely to experience severe symptoms or death, you have to be careful about socializing.
With masks, I'm still hearing/reading, "But they don't filter anything out!," and with younger people, they're saying, "Well, my chances are good, so I'm taking the odds."
Masks just slow the droplets you may be expelling, it's not 100%, but it's pretty effective at slowing the transmission. It's not about keeping you from getting sick, it's about keeping you from getting others sick. How many effing times does this need to be said? I'm about ready to advocate stapling masks directly to some people's faces so they get the damn message.
And if you're young and healthy and good-looking and all that...congrats, the world is your oyster. Everyone loves you and you're immortal (as far as you think). But, you go out, pick up the virus, don't have symptoms, or maybe you do have mild ones, then go and visit the grandfolks, and...now they're infected and fighting for their live. See past your own damn nose for a change!
Now I'm just ranting. Probably because I just came from Kroger, where the few people in a mask decided to wear them like fashionable neckerchiefs.
I'm with you on the rant.
Having said that, with the new quarantine rules, you have extra time to plan for your trip. I went there in the winter, and it was both really cold and really cool.
