COVID-19 - Local observation

[matt819]

Small town in NH. Area has 10 or so cases.

I go to my office there as I work alone and the building is pretty much empty.

Driving in last week, there were fewer than 10 cars parked on the main street. In normal times, most parking spots are filled from 9:30 am onward - not all, but most. Last week, ghost town.

This week, that number was probably doubled. Still dead quiet, mind you, but more cars.

One observation by one person at one point in time. Maybe if I were to check an hour from now, it would be back to ghost town level. But I do wonder whether people might be venturing out more. That said, almost all the businesses are still shuttered.

Any other observations from where you live/work?

[NoMoreRepugs]

1. N Florida resident. 2/3rd's registered rethugs county.Stopped at

Publix deli counter Saturday, wearing my gloves and mask. Maybe 15-20 people almost shoulder to shoulder talking amongst themselves without a care in the world - yes, I left.

Florida goobers here have a signed petition over 10000 signatures strong to REOPEN the beaches!!!

People are hallucinating if they think Covid is peaking anytime soon.

[Igel]

5. IMHE is saying 4/21, last update was yesterday.

That's for Florida. They're taking off later than NY did.

NY peak resource use is 4/8, peak deaths are a day or two later.

US peak resource is 4/15, according to the same site, with peak deaths a bit later .

https://covid19.healthdata.org/

You makes your assumptions, you gets your curve.

Note that the site also gives estimated deaths before 8/1. Texas 2,025, NY state 15,618; Florida 6,770. New York has a slightly smaller population than Florida. Since these are states #2-4 for population, may as well include California's total predicted death toll: 1,783.

[cayugafalls]

2. It seems pretty normal here in North Houston near Spring Cypress and Tomball area.

We went out this weekend to the bank and life in Texas seems to be rolling right along.

I went to pick up groceries at Kroger Clicklist on Saturday night and saw people going shopping in groups, with kids and only one or two people wearing masks during the 30 minutes I waited for my order.

Cars on the road were kind of normal. I think we have a lot of people who just don't buy the whole pandemic stay at home deal. A few weeks ago when we went into the local HEB for the first stock up, I talked with an older gentlemen who was not wearing any mask or gloves and he did not seem concerned at all. We were 6 feet apart though and he was respectful of my gloves and mask, but I could tell he was watching the whole show with a sly eye. It was very crowded and people were obviously concerned.

I am still staying home and my wife works from home, so we are following the rules due to my health.

Stay well.

[Igel]

7. At the opposite end on Sunday

over at I-45/Louetta things were dead. Big line at the Walmart, other places were pretty dismal. Some groups, but those may have been families/couples.

The greater the surface area of tattoos, the lower the average distance around the person.

[Lindsay]

3. I've been surprised

here in small-town SWNC (@1,000 residents, but more in surrounding areas) that's traditionally voted mostly Republican. I've only been to the local grocery store and dollar store, but the grocery store has added staff for cleaning and stocking, added shields in front of the cashiers, and most people have been conscientious about keeping their distances. The dollar store added tape marks on the floor for distancing in line, but when I was there I was the only person paying.

So people here have been paying attention to other people than Trump and/or Fox News, which is a great relief to me.

[matt819]

4. Store observations

At least one local grocery store - part of a regional chain - has imposed a limit on number of shoppers allowed in at one time - in this store it's 176. People lined up outside with 6' distance observed. More people wearing gloves, fewer with masks. But there are still people shopping in groups, probably family members together, but that's just plain stupid. hopping isn't a fun group activity in the best of times. Surely, the add-on shoppers can just sit in the car. In normal times I go to the grocery store every day or two, as I decide what's for dinner. I'm now at 4-5 days in between trips.

Pharmacy? Absolute dead quiet. The offered to bring my Rx to the car, but I went in. There were maybe 2 people in there.

I've also been to a couple of car repair shops - flat tire, state inspection - and they are being very sensible. Stools removed from the service counters. All magazines gone. All surfaces spotless. No gloves or masks, but they are conscious of the physical distancing. No going into the service areas at all. Petco and feed stores: signage re physical distancing, some workers with gloves. Most everyone very conscious of avoiding others. Laundromat: Need to replace washer/dryer but haven't done so. So it's the laundromat. Usually once a week. Have now extended to once every two weeks (don't get too close to me ). Almost everyone in gloves. Not allowed to sit and wait inside. Most people - not all - very conscious of avoiding getting close.

In an ideal world, I'd be able to stay home 24x7, but life really does go on. Pets need food, horses need hay, prescriptions need to be refilled, and you can't really stock up on fresh milk. But overall, people around here - well, at least the ones I see - are being sensible. Hey, they may even think I'm reckless because I'm not wearing a mask.

[mvd]

6. I used to complain about the suburban traffic..

Even out here in west/central Montgomery County, PA. I miss that. Friday was busier, but many days are pretty barren with most stores closed. It is surreal.

I just saw PA is up to over 12,900 cases. If this is the worst period, that number is not surprising. But I keep hoping to see improvement.