[Aloha1]

Originally Posted by Joanne19335

I trust the numbers—the statistics. I also trust that we will not be completely safe until there is a vaccine. If we lower our guard, go to the beach, congregate in large numbers, dance at the squares, etc., there will be another surge in positive cases and many more deaths.

You will not be "completely safe" even WITH a vaccine. So far from March 15 to April 18, 748 Floridians have died from the Wuhan virus. Contrast that with the 2018 statistics for influenza, which has a vaccine: 3,082 Floridians died. (data from Florida Health).
A far as" trusting the numbers", that appears to be an ever changing scenario. Latest data out of 3,000 antibody screening tests in California shows an infection rate 50 to 85 HIGHER than what the "numbers" allege. The vast majority of those tested either had no symptoms or very mild ones like a cold.

[Twiganne]

Whoever trust China are oblivious to the truth. China is starting to own the US. Does anyone really believe that a county who kills people for reporting or doctors issuing warning to the counties.

[Jazzman]

Originally Posted by DonnaNi4os

As the governor begins to loosen the reigns, I believe a large number of people will have a false sense of security and safety. Make no mistake, the number of cases right here in The Villages and throughout Florida is continuing to rise daily. So, before you get back to your life as you knew it before COVID-19, I beg you to consider the healthcare workers. Have you thought about which hospital you would go to if you would require hospitalization? Have you considered the first responders, nurses and other healthcare providers and their families? Perhaps another few weeks of self-isolation and selflessness might be the best idea. I know that all of us want to go back to life as we knew it. You may be longing to go back to the squares, but none of us want to go back to square one. So I beseech you, consider your fellow man.

Have you considered those that are unemployed and currently struggling to make ends meet? At the current rate there will be 27 million unemployed across the country by June 1. The overwhelming majority who live here are fortunate that they can make ends meet without having to be employed, but unfortunately that is not the case for the hundreds of service type workers who fill the jobs that support our extracurricular activities such as dining out, hairdressers, barbers, and many others. The moral and social consequences of 27 million unemployed will be in place for years and even after this current event will be remembered as a historic event. Not so for those whose lives will be changed forever as a result of long term unemployment.

[eyc234]

Well you can see what is going to happen as things are loosened by the pictures and video of what is happening at the beaches that the governor opened yesterday. Sorry to say but there is a high probability that shutdown will happen again because people in this country are idiots. This definitely shows the "all about me" mentality that is pervasive in todays society.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by DonnaNi4os

As the governor begins to loosen the reigns, I believe a large number of people will have a false sense of security and safety. Make no mistake, the number of cases right here in The Villages and throughout Florida is continuing to rise daily. So, before you get back to your life as you knew it before COVID-19, I beg you to consider the healthcare workers. Have you thought about which hospital you would go to if you would require hospitalization? Have you considered the first responders, nurses and other healthcare providers and their families? Perhaps another few weeks of self-isolation and selflessness might be the best idea. I know that all of us want to go back to life as we knew it. You may be longing to go back to the squares, but none of us want to go back to square one. So I beseech you, consider your fellow man.

THAT...says it all.

[Guitarman1951]

Originally Posted by DonnaNi4os

As the governor begins to loosen the reigns, I believe a large number of people will have a false sense of security and safety. Make no mistake, the number of cases right here in The Villages and throughout Florida is continuing to rise daily. So, before you get back to your life as you knew it before COVID-19, I beg you to consider the healthcare workers. Have you thought about which hospital you would go to if you would require hospitalization? Have you considered the first responders, nurses and other healthcare providers and their families? Perhaps another few weeks of self-isolation and selflessness might be the best idea. I know that all of us want to go back to life as we knew it. You may be longing to go back to the squares, but none of us want to go back to square one. So I beseech you, consider your fellow man.

No one has said anything about going back to normal. Mitigation procedures will remain in place as selective areas and businesses open for a very controlled business. We can't hole up for a long period without substantial long term damage to the economy. Unlike most of the retirees in the Villages, people need their jobs to survive and if we don't want to go into a spiraling depression, which will affect everybody, we need them to get back to work.

[HelenLCSW]

Originally Posted by karostay

I don't trust any of the government numbers from either side of the isle

Best to go by CDC and infectious disease specialists.

[cherylncliff]

Also note the guidance says at risk populations stay inside until phase 3. Elderly are considered at risk but it gives no age, just the adjective "elderly". This would likely apply to at least 80% of The Villages population.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

You will not be "completely safe" even WITH a vaccine. So far from March 15 to April 18, 748 Floridians have died from the Wuhan virus. Contrast that with the 2018 statistics for influenza, which has a vaccine: 3,082 Floridians died. (data from Florida Health).
A far as" trusting the numbers", that appears to be an ever changing scenario. Latest data out of 3,000 antibody screening tests in California shows an infection rate 50 to 85 HIGHER than what the "numbers" allege. The vast majority of those tested either had no symptoms or very mild ones like a cold.

That's a HUGE difference.
748 Floridians died in a single month, to COVID-19.
3082 Floridians died in an entire year, from the flu. And while flu season is a limited season, anyone can actually catch it any time of year.

If we were to compare, we have to do the math. Can't multiply 748 by 12 months because the flu _is_ seasonal, which means very small number dying from it outside the season.

So we'll divide the flu numbers by 12 to get a monthly average.

3082/12=256

So - the flu's monthly average death rate is 256.

Compare with COVID's average death rate of 748.

That's juuuust slightly lower than 150% higher death rate for COVID-19.

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by karostay

I don't trust any of the government numbers from either side of the isle

THANK YOU~!

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by Joanne19335

I trust the numbers—the statistics. I also trust that we will not be completely safe until there is a vaccine. If we lower our guard, go to the beach, congregate in large numbers, dance at the squares, etc., there will be another surge in positive cases and many more deaths.

i'm not sure i'd even get the vaccine, -it depends on whats in it & where it was manufactured

[ladyarwen3]

I am afraid that there will never be an effective vaccine; still no vaccine for HIV, the common cold, and the flu vaccines are not 100 %
(or even 75%) effective most years. Everyone talks about immunity. You all get a cold. Are you immune afterwards ? NO! My hope is for a more effective treatment.

[davem4616]

There is absolutely no way that we'll ever "go back to life as we knew it" ...period. Our world is now forever changed. The pressure from the unemployed to be able to return to work is like the force of water....it can't be stopped, so that will begin to happen.

If we see a sharp rise in the number of new cases/deaths as a result of people returning to work/opening small shops up for business, whatever hopes there were of an upswing in the economy are pretty much screwed.

Business owners and business leaders will need to step up and make the necessary changes to keep everyone as safe as possible....as they can't go back to business the way it was either. Those that were operating on a shoe string to begin with will go out of business. Statistically more businesses fail than are successful over the long haul...now we might see an upswing in failures but that curve will level off at a point too.

The fat lady won't be getting ready to sing until a vaccine is available....and hopefully the idiots that shy away from getting flu shots will pony up and get the c-19 shot (or whatever it's called)

I suspect that a % of folks will continue wearing face masks, and that will become commonplace in densely populated areas. That will certainly change the very look of the photos taken at the squares....maybe we'll have to have two photos on passports and driver licenses (one with a facemask and one without).

but then there is the conundrum for the Village merchants at the squares (who subsidize the nightly dancing)… is returning to crowded squares ethically and morally the safe thing to promote...how much business do they actually do at night?

Talk about unintended consequences....with a % of the population wearing face masks, how much more crime will small businesses that traditionally have been seen by the bad guys as an easy target to hold up endure?... I can't wait to see how the banks will deal with customers coming into the lobby with a face mask....will they all have metal detectors installed at the door...I suspect that banks will reinstall those glass barriers at the Teller's window

will restaurants supply you with some kind of a face mask that you can flip to the side when you want to eat....heck why not? in Maine when you order lobster they give you a throw away bib and a lemon hand wipe to clean up afterwards with....

Those that are financially at risk will certainly take more risks to bring in money than those that are not....

The "Boomer's" will continue to be restless, push back on authority and demand the freedom to do whatever they want...heck we've been doing that since the 1960's and we're too darn old to change now

I wonder if the hearing aid manufacturer's will come up with a new model that will compensate for the muffled speech of those wearing a face mask?

just saying

[davem4616]

Originally Posted by PugMom

i'm not sure i'd even get the vaccine, -it depends on whats in it & where it was manufactured

I'll get in line for a shot....just like I do every year for the flu shots

[merrymini]

Ready to get back to real living!