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Post by surfgirl on Jul 12, 2021 22:21:56 GMT
I still don't feel we are close to "normal" Maybe we're close to the new normal. When I think normal, I think back to no masks, no social distancing, no limits on how many people could gather (except for fire code limits). We're not anywhere close to there. Masks are still required in a lot of places - medical facilities, public transit, airports and airplanes (at least airplanes, not 100% sure about airports), our local Post Office. Supposed to be masked if not vaccinated. The local spa I love requires proof of vaccination. Countries still not allowing us in, most notably Canada. So maybe there is a small bubble where "normal" might be prevailing, but overall.....nope, we're not there. luanne, I feel as you do, we are not normal now, and really, we cannot go back to what normal was. We have to go forward with a new normal. For example, during flu seasons it would probably be prudent to wear a mask when indoors shopping, etc. Continue hand washing because let's face it, we should have been doing this all along, right? And if one feels a cold or flu coming on, stay home and don't go to work, and wear a mask if you have to go anywhere so you don't infect others. Those sort of behaviors should be our new normal, I mean, they should have been our old normal too but they weren't. I still worry about the variants even though I'm vaccinated. I have also become more worried about the quality of the information we are being given about the virus and what to do. I do still wear my mask most of the times I'm out. It is better in the sense I had gotten to the point of not going out to shop except for grocery pickup and now I go into the stores. bbbearsmom, it's important to remember that good science makes adjustments when new facts and data are shown, that's why the information shifts and changes. As new information comes to light with new studies at a point where they can see new data, we are learning what that new data is and what it means for us. It's not changing information because people were 'wrong' before, it's because we now have new and improved data that needs to be conveyed to the public. Unfortunately a segment of the population uses this as a means to create fear in people that somehow changing data means it's all flawed or we're being lied to, neither of which we are right now.
Overall, I feel that masking in indoor places, or in congested places like an outdoor mall are reasonable and I'm continuing to do that. I wish people would stop crowding me at the register and continue to give personal space but sadly a lot of folks just think they can run around like before, crowding others, and such. I personally want to continue masking in such situations - including not eating in restaurants yet - because I live in a summer resort destination where a lot of anti-vaxxers from TX and AZ come for summer holidays. I want to see how the vaccines do against breakthrough vis a vis the Delta variant this summer, before I go shopping indoors without a mask. And I'll probably continue that through the end of the year to see how things are going with the flu vs. Covid. That will tell me if people are still practicing safe behaviors or if they've gone back to just not caring about others (ieL: going to work when sick and not masking, etc.).
Lastly, the other reason I continue to mask in public is because there are vulnerable pockets of the population that cannot be vaccinated for a variety of reasons and I wouldn't want to pass on something inadvertently to them.
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Post by bbbearsmom on Jul 12, 2021 23:41:24 GMT
surfgirl I hadn't even thought about the flu season coming up. Will try to get the shot as soon as it is available in the pharmacies.
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Post by Jennifer on Jul 13, 2021 12:35:10 GMT
I have not returned to the salon but not for fear of Covid. I don't mind my long hair, I have no desire to color it anymore, and I'm saving a lot money skipping the salon. Hey now ! That's not good for us hairstylists lol On a serious note, we have indeed lost color clients due to letting their hair grow out during covid and just going with it so you are not the only one .. We also are finding that clients aren't quite so unnerved if they can't get right in, where before covid they were panicked if they had to wait a few days or a week.
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Post by lani on Jul 13, 2021 17:04:09 GMT
I have not returned to the salon but not for fear of Covid. I don't mind my long hair, I have no desire to color it anymore, and I'm saving a lot money skipping the salon. Hey now ! That's not good for us hairstylists lol On a serious note, we have indeed lost color clients due to letting their hair grow out during covid and just going with it so you are not the only one .. We also are finding that clients aren't quite so unnerved if they can't get right in, where before covid they were panicked if they had to wait a few days or a week. I know! I do feel bad for my stylist. She has many other customers that I don't envision giving up on their cut and color, so I hope she's doing OK. She hasn't reached out to me, so I am guilt free about it.
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Post by luanne on Jul 13, 2021 18:55:57 GMT
Hey now ! That's not good for us hairstylists lol On a serious note, we have indeed lost color clients due to letting their hair grow out during covid and just going with it so you are not the only one .. We also are finding that clients aren't quite so unnerved if they can't get right in, where before covid they were panicked if they had to wait a few days or a week. I know! I do feel bad for my stylist. She has many other customers that I don't envision giving up on their cut and color, so I hope she's doing OK. She hasn't reached out to me, so I am guilt free about it. My stylist is very busy. He's not taking any new clients, especially those who have color (too time consuming). I'm glad he's doing well.
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Post by bbbearsmom on Jul 15, 2021 17:09:25 GMT
The cases are going up in Connecticut, almost all unvaccinated people. Still wearing my mask in stores. Have visiting hours at a funeral home to go to on Sunday, will probably not wear my mask then. I'll discuss it with my husband.
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Post by bbbearsmom on Jul 17, 2021 17:31:44 GMT
My husband read a story about COVID in Missouri in The Atlantic magazine. Missouri has a low vaccination rate and the unvaccinated are getting COVID. The medical personnel are worn out, first from the first bout of COVID, then when that was over from catching with all the medical procedures and surgeries that had been put off, and now because the current COVID patients are hostile because they don't believe they have COVID, and the medical personnel are resentful because if they got vaccinated they wouldn't be sick. Patients in their 30's and 40's are being admitted and dying. They are so far along by the time they get to the hospital there isn't time for the remedies to work. Also the anti-vaxer's are so strong there are towns where hardly anyone got vaccinated and practically the whole town is sick.
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Post by luanne on Jul 17, 2021 18:17:23 GMT
My husband read a story about COVID in Missouri in The Atlantic magazine. Missouri has a low vaccination rate and the unvaccinated are getting COVID. The medical personnel are worn out, first from the first bout of COVID, then when that was over from catching with all the medical procedures and surgeries that had been put off, and now because the current COVID patients are hostile because they don't believe they have COVID, and the medical personnel are resentful because if they got vaccinated they wouldn't be sick. Patients in their 30's and 40's are being admitted and dying. They are so far along by the time they get to the hospital there isn't time for the remedies to work. Also the anti-vaxer's are so strong there are towns where hardly anyone got vaccinated and practically the whole town is sick. My sister and brother in law (and a lot of his family) live in Missouri, between Springfield and Branson. That is an area that has been very hard hit. My sister and family are all vaccinated, and they are being very careful still. But she's told me about neighbors of theirs who refuse to get vaccinated. Scary.
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Post by bbbearsmom on Jul 18, 2021 15:16:13 GMT
Just read a tweet: Vaccination rate correlates with POTUS vote down to the county level. Hard to see this and assume politics and media diets have nothing to do with vaccine decisions.
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Post by lani on Jul 18, 2021 16:25:38 GMT
Indoor masking is making a comeback here in Calif. Started in LA and now implemented in the Bay Area. My county, Santa Cruz, hasn't decided yet, but I'm pretty sure they will follow suit. I'm having lunch Friday in Santa Clara County where indoor masks will be required. My friend and I are dining inside. The rule seems to be: keep mask on until beverages are served.
Also I will be masking up again while grocery shopping no matter what the rules call for here. There were many more people wearing masks last week. It seems like the polite thing to do; also the safest. Most everyone around here is vaccinated but who knows with the Delta variant making the rounds. Still have all the children who are unprotected.
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Post by luanne on Jul 18, 2021 16:54:20 GMT
We went out for breakfast today. Saw many more people in masks than I have in the past few weeks.
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Post by bbbearsmom on Jul 18, 2021 22:38:16 GMT
We went to a wake for a friend today and wore masks because some of the family had flown in from out-of-state, plus we didn't know the vaccination status of everyone there. The mayor and his wife were also there and they also had their masks on. I'm concerned with the variants going around. One of the two grocery stores I go to still requires a mask.
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Post by lani on Jul 27, 2021 15:35:04 GMT
Our state (Calif.) has imposed proof of vaccination or a negative test (daily for the test, I guess) required for all state and healthcare workers. 300 bar owners in San Francisco are going to require proof of vaccination to enter.
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Post by bbbearsmom on Jul 30, 2021 18:43:31 GMT
In our state our hospitalizations for COVID are twice what they were this time last year. The resurgent started last year in late September, this year it is starting now. Our mayor has changed the policy for masks on city property. Starting Monday mask will be required for everyone indoors on city property. The mayor's update also mentioned that 80% of the cases in the state are the Delta variant, several weeks ago it was only 15%.
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Post by lani on Jul 30, 2021 19:02:37 GMT
Israel is offering booster shots now to anyone over 60. They began vaccinating Dec/Jan and their data show protection begins to wane at around 6 months.
US agencies are studying the data regarding boosters. The official statement is "not needed as of now" but they are preparing for distribution of boosters should their data support that. I'm betting boosters will be available for immunocompromised and over 65s by the fall. At least that is my hope. DH and I will be 6 months out from our second dose in early Sept.
I was surprised at the number of unmasked at my grocery shopping this week. The prior week is seemed at least 70% masked. This Wednesday it seemed like half and half. Some workers (young ones) were also maskless.
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