POLL - Should We Start To Open Our Economy Again?

[Michael]

I’ve been reading this previous forum thread today as a diary in how we’ve been dealing with this virus/crisis from the last month. It really shows how much we’ve had to change our livelihoods to adapt to it. Those changes seem for me to be globally immense. What do you all think? Is it time to start getting back to normalcy and fight this virus head on?

[Annalee]

The past few weeks have been like a roller coaster to me. In the beginning, I wasn't worried and just rolled with it.

However, that changed when my first-cousin had symptoms and then tested positive for the virus but it was in the beginning and took 10 days to get his results back therefore, his family had to quarantine another 14 days. He has since recovered with his main symptom being a temperature and cough over a week.

Then I was OK again as he returned to work. There have only been 15 cases in my county but to have someone close to you with it is a little scary.

I then closed for two weeks after the first stay-at-home order which will end this week. When I open back up Monday, the state (which sends daily updates) has advised us to have sign in/out setup outside where only the children enter.??

I have been contacted by the national guard to see if I would take more kids from essential workers as the licensing rules have loosened. I said "NO".

The state has stepped up and multiple grants are coming to child care providers' as they have pledged to take care of us financially and with supplies. happyface

In the beginning, I cleaned closets, watched sports re-runs, and enjoyed the simplicity of things. Now, I'm ready to go back to work as I am a better person when I run off of a routine/schedule. I have struggled to know what day it was the last few days.

So, after all that rambling all over the place, I feel it should be up to the states when to open, but I feel if they wait till May 1 to gradually do that, we will realize what a positive impact joining together staying home (for the most part) has been for our country.

And let me not forget that I have thoroughly enjoyed following Trump during all of this...from all the serious, hysterical, truthful, crazy, sarcasm, etc. press conferences. For what it's worth, I have a new appreciation for him from Covid 19. Don't want to turn this thread into a political rally! Just my opinions.

[Josiegirl]

I won't even get into a Trump discussion BUT as much as I have seen countries working together on this, I still see so much blame, so many lies, so much 'this will work' without really knowing, and pointing fingers at one another. Let's take the greed and control and 'authority' power away from everybody and truly work as one huge giant team on this. Yes, mistakes were clearly made. Don't we all have situations in our lives where we look back and think about the shouldas and couldas? It's definitely time to move forward, stop thinking about making money off this sickness, add more support for our hard workers that are on the front lines, support our businesses in any way we can. People need help now, financially, physically, and mentally, more than this current generation ever has(not counting the WW11 era).
I don't care who the president is; this is an unprecedented time for all of us. I hate seeing the division between federal and state people, between the countries(let's LEARN from each other!!); it leaves so much confusion and anger. Hearing the lies, watching the blame game and being confused leads to people who don't believe this is as bad as it is, therefore many still don't follow rules.
I'm not sure reopening the economy any time soon is a great idea but people are drowning in debt which leads to its own host of issues which includes(but definitely not limited to) violence and abuse, unemployment, over-stretching financial limits of resources and of most everybody, possibly ruining retirement for many, taking our focus away from many other dire issues worldwide, etc., etc. Seeing China's increased positive numbers again isn't reassuring. I know health officials are working tirelessly to create vaccines and treatment for this. We need to have faith and hope those things will be found soon.

It's idealistic(IMO) to think we need to get back to normalcy, especially this soon. As soon as we reopen everything, positive cases will again abound(even more so than right now ), overwhelming an already overwhelmed health care system, exhausting the medical field, killing even more of our moms, dads, brothers, sisters, etc. As much as *I* would love to see life return to normalcy(which it never will, again IMO), if it claims one of my children, my dh, or my elderly sister and her dh, my elderly friends, it wouldn't be worth it. For Annalee this became personal and I'm sure it did for other members on this site. If it came that close to home for me, I'd do whatever it took to keep everyone else healthy.
I also think(sorry I'm so long-winded this a.m. )that even if everybody returned to life as it was before, the fear we all feel will still be there for years to come.
In the poll I chose May 1st. But after thinking about it, there is no real good answer to this and giving it a mere 2 more weeks won't do enough. You cannot put a date on it. And to wait for a vaccine could takes months or more and I'm not sure we can take that lengthy time period to keep this country going.
So many unknowns to this.
Just a couple more added thoughts:
I wish I believed in herd immunity. Maybe Sweden is doing it right? Or maybe it'll push their dying numbers up and over and become another Italy.
I also wish there was some way to get all the destroyed food/milk out to people who need it. People are dying from starvation yet people are throwing this all away. With all the intelligent minds in this country, you'd think there'd be an answer to figure out a solution.
It'll be interesting to read other thoughts about all of this.

[DaveA]

I voted Now- let states decide.

We are dealing with two competing real issues: 1) this is a serious health issue & 2) shutting down our economy may actually do more damage than the virus long term. Best bet is let states figure out the best course of action for their areas.

[nannyde]

Michael,
One of the things I can't get past is what are we to do with the patients who need direct in hospital care? We currently can't manage them. We don't have enough beds, vents, PPE, and well medical personnel. Some states are offering ten grand a week for RN's to come and work seven twelve hour shifts for three weeks. Before the pandemic, only nurse's in compact states (about half of the states) could cross borders and work off of their licence in another state. Now a nurse can go to any state and work. There's not enough nurses even with combat pay.

If we are going to open back up, a few weeks later we will not be able to care for the folks with severe reactions to the virus. We have to just have a base understanding across the country, that if you get it you can't have medical care in hospital. No life saving measures period regardless of age.

Then we can free up the surviving medical professionals to care for non Covid patients and get back to regular medical care, (including elective surgeries that will help the hospitals recover financially) once the hospitals and care facilities can restock PPE.

If we are to let it run it's course without intervention, other than what can cheaply and voluntarily be done, then we have to accept that we can't treat those who are gravely ill. It's too expensive and puts too many people in the medical chain at risk.

I don't know. This is just a nightmare.

[Cat Herder]

It is a double-edged sword. Embrace harsh triage or accept extended financial hardship.

[MomBoss]

I think its time to open certain things. Salons can close waiting areas and do appointment only. And most places can limit capacity. If the capacity was 100, change it to 25. Do all online tickets so people dont congregate and once they are all sold out for the day you will know to try again another day. Still do social distancing. Wear a mask.


Another good poll would be: Whose actually going to get this vaccine as soon as it drops?....because its being fast tracked, im skeptical on how safe it will be.

[nannyde]

I think its time to open certain things. Salons can close waiting areas and do appointment only. And most places can limit capacity. If the capacity was 100, change it to 25. Do all online tickets so people dont congregate and once they are all sold out for the day you will know to try again another day. Still do social distancing. Wear a mask.


Another good poll would be: Whose actually going to get this vaccine as soon as it drops?....because its being fast tracked, im skeptical on how safe it will be.

I won’t get the vaccine

[Snowmom]

I won’t get the vaccine

I'm curious as to why?

[racemom]

I think its time to open certain things. Salons can close waiting areas and do appointment only. And most places can limit capacity. If the capacity was 100, change it to 25. Do all online tickets so people dont congregate and once they are all sold out for the day you will know to try again another day. Still do social distancing. Wear a mask.


Another good poll would be: Whose actually going to get this vaccine as soon as it drops?....because its being fast tracked, im skeptical on how safe it will be.

I am more interested in the antibody test to find out if I/others have had it.

[Annalee]

I am more interested in the antibody test to find out if I/others have had it.

I like this idea, too!

[Annalee]

I voted Now- let states decide.

We are dealing with two competing real issues: 1) this is a serious health issue & 2) shutting down our economy may actually do more damage than the virus long term. Best bet is let states figure out the best course of action for their areas.

If you have good leadership, this works.. while our leadership is on target now, it wasn't in the beginning and as much as I "think he's a great guy", he let the ball down on too many areas/businesses in our state. He has manned-up now but it took some prodding. Again, just my opinions!

[Annalee]

It is a double-edged sword. Embrace harsh triage or accept extended financial hardship.

Yep; there will continue to be positive cases of covid 19 but hopefully, it will be under control as states open up.

[nannyde]

I'm curious as to why?

I’m afraid of flu shots. I’ve had two in the last 20 years and I got insanely sick the next day for a week with pneumonia.

I know as a nurse that it was most likely just coincidence but I went 20 years and didn’t miss a day of work. In the last 7 years I have only had one illness after Xmas in Vegas other than after a flu shot in 2017. I so rarely get sick that I worry that it isn’t coincidence.

I will just take my chances. I will never get another flu shot.

[jenboo]

I was reading a thread on Facebook where nurses/ doctors/ hospital workers were updating the status of their hospital.... Just about everyone, minus anyone in NY & NJ, said that their hospital is eerily empty, they have an abundance of ppe, staff are having a major cut in hours, travel nurses are being terminated, some haven't seen any COVID patients, makeshift satellite COVID units are being shut down because there isn't a need..... so im wondering what the heck is actually true??? I feel that all im hearing is conflicting information and have no idea who, or what, to believe.