We aren’t out of the woods yet

Commentary

Posted 12/12/20

Here in Florida, especially in Okeechobee, we tend to think and act like life has pretty much returned to normal, as if COVID-19 is a thing of the past.

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We aren’t out of the woods yet

Commentary

Posted

Here in Florida, especially in Okeechobee, we tend to think and act like life has pretty much returned to normal, as if COVID-19 is a thing of the past. School is in session and though the students and teachers wear masks and every so often we read about a precautionary quarantine, for the most part, schools seem to be operating almost the way they used to pre-COVID.

When we go to shopping, there may or may not be a sign on the door asking us to wear a mask, and in general, that request is not really enforced by anyone even if the sign is there. Often customers put a mask on just to get through the doors and then take it off and slip it in their pockets once inside.

The city council canceled its annual tree lighting ceremony as a precaution, but the annual Christmas parade and festival will go on as planned. A Monster Truck Event was held at the Agri-Civic Center last week, and the stands were packed. In March, we will hold our annual county fair. In the first week of December, Florida had an average of 9,495 new cases and 98 deaths per day.

We wonder if things are different in other parts of the country, or is this the norm across the board.

Patti R. in Binghamton, N.Y. said the schools are open there unless they hit a particular percentage of positive tests. The governor just put something in place to try to keep K-12 schools open more. When schools move online, it is usually for two weeks, and there is a testing criteria that needs to be met before they can reopen. Patti is part of her state’s university system, and this semester, if a campus hit 100 positive cases (no matter the size of the campus) over a two week period, they went online for two weeks. “That is being modified for the spring though. There is a lot of testing being done at all school levels,” she said.

In her area, the restaurants and stores are open and all have mask mandates. The restaurants have occupancy restrictions, and you cannot sit at a bar without ordering food. Stores have recently begun counting shoppers again now that holiday shopping has begun. For a short time, she said she might have seen a person here or there without a mask, but now she almost never sees that. If a restaurant employee tests positive, the restaurant will close for a couple weeks to make sure it doesn’t spread. Parades and festivals were canceled this year, but they are doing drive-thru type things for Christmas. No department store Santas are anywhere this year, and gatherings are supposed to be held to 10 or less.

“Churches are open, but every other pew is blocked and people are told to sit with their families. Funerals are permitted as well,” she said.
When it comes to masks, they are required everywhere when out in public. On campus, everyone even wears them while exercising. People wear them while walking around the neighborhood to make it easier to stop and chat with friends. When the weather was warm, they got together with friends outside and were able to socially distance, but she said, “Now that it’s cold, we all worry more about getting together. It’s going to be a long winter and I have a number of single friends that are dreading being alone more.” In the first week of December, the state of New York had an average of 10,047 positive cases and 77 deaths per day.

Caroline K. lives in Kingwood, Tx. And said Texas is pretty varied in its response to COVID. In her area, the school district is open and has said they have no plans to close again. Faculty and staff are required to wear masks, but students can make the decision to wear them or not. About 50% wear the mask, she said. Most of the stores and restaurants near her are open as well. They have not had any parades or festivals, but when the schools were closed, the teachers did “Spirit Parades” and drove around neighborhoods in their own cars honking and waving at students and families, who were in their yards. There have also been drive-by baby and wedding showers and birthday parties.

“Masks are mandated, but are not always enforced, and many wear them under their nose or dangling off their ear,” she said. Most church services are virtual and some are held outdoors, but churches are allowed to open if they choose to do so.

In the first week of December, Texas had an average of 13,157 new cases and 147 deaths per day.

Christina J. lives in Ohio and said most schools and colleges in the state are closed and are virtual at this time. Stores are open and restaurants are open, but for carry out only. No dine-in eating is allowed anywhere in the state. There is a 10 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew throughout the state, and there are to be no gatherings of any kind. Everyone wears a mask when out in public. Ohio had an average of 11,738 new cases and 111 deaths per day in the first week of December.

Patti F. lives near Savannah, Ga. and said schools have been open since August. Her son attends Georgia Southern University and has been on a normal schedule, blended online and in person classes. All the stores and restaurants are open, but the majority of fast food restaurants are not offering inside dining, although the “sit down” places do. Some festivals are still being held, and others have been canceled or altered. The Christmas parade drove through neighborhoods rather than have everyone gather at one location to watch it, but the craft fair and boat parade were held as normal. Mask mandates began in July or August and did not last long. Now, they are left up to individual businesses. Most places require them. Churches are open, but most offer online options as well. Many require reservations for reserved seating so social distancing can be maintained, and most require masks be worn. Georgia had an average of 3,793 new cases and 33 deaths per day in the first week of December.

Stacy K. lives in Pennsylvania and said her governor just shut things down again. Beginning Dec. 12, there will be no indoor dining. All indoor gatherings, including in your own home will be limited to ten people. (No mention is made of what to do with any additional family members if you exceed the 10 person maximum the decree allows.)

All outdoor gatherings will be limited to 50 people. Indoor and outdoor sports are suspended including practice and conditioning. Exceptions are allowed for college and professional athletics. Casinos and other entertainment venues are closed. Gyms and fitness facilities are closed, although retail operations can operate at 50% capacity. Barbershops and salons are limited to 50% capacity. Churches are allowed to be open and most have virtual services as well. Stacy’s church has safety precautions such as temperature checks and masks when not in your seat and of course, social distancing. Stacy said that this new order is restrictive but is not as bad as the one issued in the spring. That one included a stay at home order and was devastating to many businesses. Pennsylvania had an average of 9,495 cases and 98 deaths per day in the first week of December.

Susan L. lives in Sonoma County California and said they announced a regional stay at home order on Dec. 3 and a supplemental order a few days later. Under this order, they are expected to stay home except to go to work, shop or to go to doctor appointments, essential activities only. Everything except retail and essential operations is closed. They are allowed to go outside for exercise and recreation, but are not to gather. She said much of the state was already under a stay at home order, and they have had an increase in positive cases in her area, so they have adopted the order as well. All non-essential travel is banned. Bars, wineries, hair salons, barbershops and indoor dining service at restaurants are closed. California had an average of 27,912 cases and 78 deaths per day in the first week of December.

As of Dec. 10, only four states have been ordered by their governors to fully open their schools: Iowa, Arkansas, Texas and Florida. The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are fully closed. Eleven states have partial closures in effect. The reason for the closures and the way the states handle the closures differ in each area: Hawaii, California, Oregon, New Mexico, Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, Delaware, New York, Rhode Island and Michigan. The remaining states have no order at all, and the decisions on how things are handled in each district differ from state to state.

Although it may seem as if the pandemic is over, we aren’t out of the woods yet, and may not be for quite some time.

COVID, covid-19, coronavirus

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