I was biting my tongue, too, but I feel I have to say something.
I'm hoping you don't think I'm one of those irresponsible people who feels that we should reopen pubs, restaurants, movie theaters, and sports venues. I'm not
one of those idiots who is protesting the social distancing guidelines. I have no desire to be within 6 feet of strangers who might have been within 6 feet of strangers who might have the virus. That's a completely different thing from being within 6 feet of people who I know better than anyone else.
For the record, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law have been doing the same things that my wife and I have done over the past month, namely:
- Leaving the home only to walk the dog or buy groceries/pharmaceuticals.
- Wearing a mask when going out in public, and washing hands and wiping things down with hand sanitizer obsessively.
- Working from home, and not in contact with people we don't know.
My wife's mom has gone a step further, and has been to exactly 3 places in the last month: my sister-in-law's house, our house, and her family doctor. She doesn't have a permanent residence because her husband passed last July, and she sold her house soon thereafter. She's been spending a few days over here and a few days over there because she needs the emotional support of both daughters...getting over someone you've spent most of your life with isn't a quick thing for everyone. We go shopping for her so she's not put at risk. She was tested because she had a mild fever and she's in a high risk group (her age, plus she has leukemia): thankfully she doesn't have the virus.
I took my daughter to the doctor (the same doctor, in fact) because she, too, had a mild fever and is in a high risk group (because she had chemotherapy for her brain tumor in the past). She, also, doesn't have the virus.
I know I'm rationalizing here, but rather than a reckless disregard for public safety, I'd put what we did yesterday in the same category as when I drive faster than the posted speed limit. Yes, I'm breaking the law, but I'm not doing it in a way that endangers anyone. I don't speed in bad weather conditions or heavy traffic, but I do go a few MPH over the speed limit. As in those cases, if the police caught me and decided to issue a citation, I would feel like an idiot, but I would accept my punishment (whether it's speeding, or the fine of up to $1000 in Michigan for not social distancing).
In reality, I haven't heard of any police doing this: I see houses on weekends with 5 or 6 cars in front of them, and it's obvious that they don't all live there. I'd be surprised if the police punish that sort of gathering, though they could if they wanted to do so. But, I have heard about
people being cited for attending a party at a bar.
I can understand why there's no stated exception for visiting family members (how would you quantify or prove what "family" means anyway?) I am ready to ride this thing out as long as it takes, but I am willing to take the risk of visiting my family from time to time. To me, the risk is that I might get a fine, and not that I'll catch the virus.
Sorry, I don't mean about MrsTasty getting sick.
