Subj : Isolation Diary To : Nancy Backus From : Barry Martin Date : Thu May 07 2020 12:37:00 Hi Nancy! Back from Hy-Vee: there was still a hand-written sign indicating a limit of four beef/chicken/pork packages. Had heard a limit of two but didn't see anything to indicate that and the first sign was overlooked so assuming still four being the limit. Didn't need any -- enough in the freezer for a while. BM>>> of April. We are one of the few states without a stay-at-home order BM>>> but highly advised, plus with everything closed nowhere to go anyway. NB>>> Quite true... and the date's been extended here to middle of May now... BM>> Either the date hasn't been extended yet or I'm not recalling it has BM>> been extended. NB>> Each state's governor makes the determination based on what they see as NB>> the prudent way to procede... Here the number of deaths from the virus NB>> has kept the same rate for a number of days, so the rate has flattened, NB>> but it's still over 300 per day, so Governor Cuomo has been keeping NB>> restrictions in place... BM> Here in Iowa 77 of the 99 counties have been allowed to start BM> re-opening; Scott County (where I am) is not one of them. We also were BM> very late to start having reported incidents of COVID-19, so assuming a BM> constant in that aspect it would make sense we're not ready to re-open. NB> It would make sense... and yours are also the more populated NB> counties, IIRC....? If there are issues with re-opening the NB> "quieter" counties, there would be less damage done and easier to NB> retract there, too... Yes on the higher population. And would make sense to 'test' the re-openings on the lesser populated counties: less of a bad feeling to open and then re-close or partially close Hank's Hause of Haut Dawgs and Gas Station (their motto: eat here and get gas ) than the Bix Bisto in Downtown Davenport. BM> Personally I'd just as soon wait a little longer than 'necessary' -- BM> not too much longer but it seems prudent to maintain the social BM> distancing, etc., a little longer to be on the safe side. NB> Probably... I hear a lot of people around here that have been NB> sufficiently scared by all this that they're in no hurry to go NB> back to "life as usual".... Others of us are more willing to NB> take a chance or two... ;) Yes, I've also encountered the same: might be like-minded attracting like-minded, but most people around here while anxious to have re-openings and get on with things seem to realize the best thing is just sit back and not rush into it. BM>> While a bit of a nuisance to extend I'm thinking it is BM>> better for the long term result: less illness, less disruption in the BM>> future. As far as schools I'm thinking would be less confusing to BM>> finish the school year at home: continue with the new normal; take BM>> the summer break, start the new school year back in the classroom. NB>> Pretty much agree on both of those... I heard some talk about opening NB>> the schools just for a couple days at the end of the term, but I'm NB>> not sure what good that would do.... maybe it would allow for an NB>> actual graduation ceremony, but maybe not even that.... BM> I could see doing graduation ceremonies but only for seniors. IMO BM> that is a milestone whereas graduating from elementary to (junior) high BM> -- important yes but not a milestone. NB> It is indeed a milestone.... Now, with the schools definitely NB> closed to the end of the academic year, I heard our city mayor NB> say that there might be an actual graduation ceremony held later NB> in the year, maybe in August, so that the seniors would at least NB> have that... That would be nice. Had heard on the news one school (so maybe others will pick up the idea) of a virtual graduation: the graduating seniors will be walking across the stage to receive their diplomas, this part with social distancing, and through the magic of video editing the stage guests, audience applause, etc., will be created for the final effect (I think on DVD). BM> As far as in general going back to school at the end of the school BM> year, I agree with you and would say no. I think it would turn more BM> into a party with the kids visiting each other. Even if they were BM> virtually visiting there is something different about in-person. I BM> think the teachers might 'party' too: even if only friends in the BM> Teachers Lounge humans are social animals. To me it would seem better BM> overall to finish up the school year continuing with on-line and then BM> start the new year in-person. NB> And that indeed ended up being the decision, state-wide here... NB> :) I'm fairly certain the same here in Iowa. Blackhawk College on the Illinois side has started advertising Fall classes on-campus; don't recall anything from Augustana nor Western Illinois University; this side the various colleges and universities are getting ready to re-open but also the consideration of having to remain closed or with a limited in-person student body. NB>>>> This too shall pass.... eventually...... ;) BM>>> Agree. Right now sitting on the issue it looks bad. Is bad, I'm not BM>>> trying to minimize, but things have been bad before and get better. NB>>> Very true.... and here, at least the rate of increase is dropping... NB>>> fewer deaths per day, fewer new cases per day.... and lots of NB>>> recoveries, even of some of the more severe cases.... So, even though NB>>> not at all good, things are looking like there's hope eventually.. :) BM>> Yes. There have been some spikes; one county simply because they got BM>> test kits and so were able to confirm COVID-19 cases. NB>> Yes... I'm not sure if we've got anywhere near enough test kits to NB>> test even half of our population... Testing would probably spike the NB>> numbers of confirmed cases, but wouldn't change admissions to the NB>> hospitals or the death rate, though.... those are hard numbers, NB>> whereas the number actually infected is merely an estimate anyway... BM> Then they were saying some of the new/quick test kits are inaccurate. BM> They were also saying some of the old statistics were inaccurate BM> because of things like the patient dying had COVID-19 but also had BM> something else, so the death was attributed to COVID-19 when it should BM> have been attributed to something else as the main cause of death and BM> COVID-19 as a complication. NB> True, I've heard that as well... some of the deaths were/are NB> judgement calls as to the cause of death... that's been happening NB> all along, of course, where the patient has various things wrong NB> already... so I'll back down on them being truly hard numbers... NB> just not as much of an estimate as the total infections is... ;) NB> There has, though, been able to be more testing in the hospitals NB> themselves, than in the general population... Yes: has always been instances of compromised health and 'x' did them in so that was the stated cause of death. NB> When the restaurants finally re-open for sit-down, we'll likely NB> cautiously return to more of our usual usage... especially with NB> certain ones that tend to not have too many there at a time... We NB> haven't been doing curbside or delivery, but have been doing NB> takeout (go to the store, order and wait for it to be prepared) NB> weekly at our favorite spot, and Friday at another one... Here we don't eat out all that much so not a huge alteration. Plus some of the dining experiences weren't all that great. I'm more the one getting fidgety to eat out one way or another; I'm also the one who ends up getting served the better of the meals even if both the same. BM> I do need a haircut but not going to rush out when the shop opens: give BM> them a chance to get into the new routine, plus they'll be swamped BM> with other hairy customers. Another week or two of me getting to look BM> more and more like Big Foot's little cousin isn't going to kill me. NB> Besides, if you do start to get antsy about it, you could give NB> yourself a quick trim... ;) Hair grows back, so is very NB> forgiving... That is true, though as long as don't get carried away like one of the guys did at the store: had short hair anyway and for some reason either gave himself a haircut or had someone do it. Poor guy looked like he had mange. ¯ ® ¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ® ¯ @Q.COM ® ¯ ® .... Life Advice: Never give yourself a haircut after three margaritas. --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .