US reopening with no cure or vaccine and little testing?
 

From what I understand, our country is preparing to reopen soon, perhaps on a "rolling" basis, before there's an effective treatment or vaccine for Covid-19. Testing is also projected to remain difficult to get. I'm curious how you all will respond to the call to resume our activities under these conditions.

If the virus is still lurking and we have no weapons against it other than masks, alcohol and distancing, will you go back to your restaurants, town squares, the rec centers for card games, mahjong, jam sessions, Beatles group, ceramics, wood shop, etc.? Or will you continue to stay at home? I'm surprised TV's powers that be haven't polled the community on this important question. (Note to Winston: have you asked your members if they will indeed show up?)

I just don't see the logic in unleashing us prematurely. If the virus is still out there, large numbers of people, or even small numbers of people if you prefer, will continue to contract it and pass it on. And that's the situation that got us into this mess in the first place. Even though the virus was not widespread, there was enough of it to allow it to spread exponentially. What makes us think the same thing won't happen again? It probably will, and that's the set up for the "second wave" we've been hearing about.

So why would we want to make a bad situation worse? And why would the current administration want to commit political suicide in the process?

I just don't get it. Can anyone shed some light? What a Sophie's Choice on the part of our leaders on both sides, huh? Either let the economy crumble and the population go mad or kill off a segment of our citizenry.

It is a conundrum. I am following what is happening in Sweden. Interestingly, Switzerland this morning with a population of 8+M had suffered 1,100+ deaths; Sweden with a population of 10+M had suffered 1,000+ deaths.

As virus deaths rise, Sweden sticks to '''low-scale''' lockdown - ABC News

Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland - SWI swissinfo.ch

I agree, but there needs to be a compromise. A cure or vaccine may not be available for 2 years or more. But, a large percentage of the people who get the virus recover. I don't think people are willing to stay home for the next 2 years.

I understand the need for caution, but we can’t stay home forever. I think the Rec centers should remain closed because they are a confined space. Perhaps open the larger pools since they are chemically treated. Perhaps open the squares but do not serve alcohol since people behave badly when inebriated.

Many things need to be considered. What about joblessness leading to domestic violence, suicides and rampant crime? What about the country and world entering a severe depression lasting years if not decades like we haven't seen in 90 years? We need to seek workable solutions.

Would it be different if this wasn't an election year?

This is just my opinion, but each day I see the news the virus management seems better and better. I think any opening of the economy will be evaluated carefully each day and recalled if necessary.

I don't think it matters. As I see it, that man in the White House can't win (against the virus) either way - he either allows many more people to get sick and die or he destroys the economy and people's livelihoods. He's somehow managed to save face for three years, let's hope he finds a trick to get us out of this mess. But barring a cure or vaccine, I can't see what it would be.

To the others: So far it sounds like the consensus is reopen the country and sacrifice lives in a sort of cost/benefit analysis.

I agree to some extent with the idea of what you post.

Agree that the inside rec centers be closed, or limited with someone to serve as a counter, and limited group sizes, with no loitering in the halls or central area. If a club has more than 15 members, then that club can't have a full-membership meeting inside. If the club only has 5-10 members then they can have their meeting, with chairs spaced appropriately, and any buffet-style treats at the end of the meeting have to be visited one person at a time.

If you open the larger pools only, then everyone who goes to any of the pools, will all try to congregate at only the larger pools. For that reason I would suggest opening ALL the pools but limiting them to ONLY residents of the area. In other words - if you live in the Paradise Rec center area, then you can't go to the Caroline Pool.

If your area doesn't have its own pool you can use the regional pool. If your area has its own pool, you should not be using the regional pool.

And it needs to be, for the time being, residents only. Tenants are residents, so as long as they have a residents' ID, they should have the same privileges. GUESTS should not be permitted, for now at least. Not grandchildren, not kids. Properties are intended to have 2 residents per home. So only 2 resident IDs should be issued to any individual home.

The problem with the squares is people congregating in close quarters. I'd suggest removing the seating entirely - no more seats allowed, not even if you bring them in yourself. That will drastically reduce the number of people who congregate, and limit how long they stay in the area.

Open all businesses to OUTDOOR business only. Sidewalk sales, outdoor eating, etc. It's a sad fact that if you give people an inch, they'll take a mile. If you let exactly 4 people into your boutique, then when one leaves the next one in line will demand to be let in with her spouse and visiting grandkids. It would just be a logistic nightmare to enforce social distancing rules inside cramped boutiques like those in the squares.

For the same reason, instead of weekly, biweekly, or monthly craft fairs - maybe make them daily. Turn the squares into pedestrian traffic only, and make these "events" non-events by making them commonplace.

You'll have fewer people attending on a daily basis, but vendors will still be able to take in a profit because the same number of people will be attending weekly. The population gets spread out, instead of all showing up at once.

I also think it might be possible to implement a drink chit system. You can buy drink credits, and use up to 2 per day. They could be attached to your Villages ID, or drivers' license for the public that doesn't live in the Villages. That way they can't be used by other people.

Oh no, not the Rec centers!!! The activities are the reason I bought in TV just three short months ago! The risk of the "confined space" in the Rec centers would not be much greater than being close to someone in a store, restaurant, church, etc. The snowbirds probably wouldn't come down next season either if the Rec centers stayed closed, killing the rental market.

Finally someone on here that actually has made a statement with some common sense...
Thank You :bigbow::bigbow:

Any rolling opening of the country is likely to include an advisory for old fogies and younger people with covid 19 sensitive health problems to continue some sort of social distancing.

Since 99% of TV consists of retired old fogies you are probably going to get a skewed response here. People with jobs and families are most likely to be more important in a re opening of the economy.

opinions ? these are all opinions,theories, suppositions, wishes since NO one knows,,, vaccine ? we're still waiting for the aids vaccine & that's been since reagan's presidency
my prediction ? more of the same

You make it sound like a bad thing if the snowbirds don’t come.

Stores, restaurants and churches should remain closed. Only outdoor activities for short term.

Yes of course they’re opinions. Just conversation since no one has a working crystal ball.

No matter who makes what decision to open or stay closed it will still come down to how risk adverse we are. If they open the rec centers with restrictions it's still our decision to go. We know there are those that are carriers (asymptomatic) and those that may have had it and recovered. We know we are putting ourselves at risk when we mingle. Since there is no cure or vaccine, (lots of maybes though), if you contract it can't blame it on the government since the decision is always yours.....and we know how that will work out here.

LOL. World wide pandemics and cratering of economy are different when they happen in non election years. 🙄

Absolutely agree - residents only and not guests or twice removed cousins, etc. Yes, your grandchild is cute. Now get it out of my space.

I suggested larger pools because they are monitored somewhat by the person working the desk to prevent overcrowding. The neighborhood pools are a free for all that no one watches.

The idea of a drink limit is not bad but can’t we be booze free for the short term?

Yes, truth be told, because I bought my Villages place planning to rent it out in the winter and stay at my other home in southeast Florida where it's warmer.

Its time to move forward and incrementaly restart the economy. Young people and families are being adversely affected . Individuals need to practice whatever mitigation strategies they deem necessary. Rules need to be put into place to protect those at risk , nursing homes , hospitals etc.. Burying our heads in the sand is not helpful and can only lead to a self imposed economic disaster which could cripple our country for years to come.

Agree with you completely

It seems as though the paranoid want to confine us all indefinitely. If you are worried, stay home. Let the rest of us make our own decisions. As some would say, My body, My choice.

Here, Here.

Let the Maskies stay home in fear.

Let those who are not paranoid out, open stores, movies and town squares.

Enough already

Maskies?? What is influencing people to give derogatory nicknames to people with whom they don't agree?

Hear hear [homophones]

Yes...Maskies...so afraid...dont realize that their homemade mask is useless.

Masks...saw some paranoid with a scarf wrapped around her head

Really?

Truly what’s it to you if people wish to use a mask or scarf ?

I don't get it either. Frankly, it sounds like the person in charge wants to open things up the first of May, to ostensibly get the economy going, and of course to aid his re-election bid. Against the advice of the health professionals and experts. I think its just plain stupid. I will be careful and doing social distancing until there is a vaccine available or it is obvious the threat of infection is low. Anyways it is up to the Governors to decide when they open up their states - many are saying it will be at least until June.

Keyboard bravado.
Anonymous disparaging cheap talk is the worst!!

Nope..no bravado, just being realistic with no fear.

I see people in fear here. I suspect many come from a non-urban environment and think if they come close to someone they will get immediately infected.

Wonder how people who commuted to work in the NYC subways, Chicago Els, DC metros survived so many flu epidemics...with no colorful maskies on?

I don't know you Bogie Shooter but you are right it sure as hell would be.

News' Alexander Nazaryan: "Florida now has twice as many coronavirus cases (20,601)
 

News' Alexander Nazaryan:
"Florida now has twice as many coronavirus cases (20,601) as South Korea (10,537).
"About 30 million more people live in South Korea than in Florida."

I agree with you, this has to happen. Trump is getting crucified daily for pushing getting economy open too quickly but media is not talking at all about the long-term effect of paying people to stay at home with anywhere near the same enthusiasm.

No fear
 

[QUOTE=Gpsma;1746265]Nope..no bravado, just being realistic with no fear.

You could interpret no fear in a few ways. Being realistic is your interpretation.
Being unrealistic is another.

We need more people to move to FL?

I wonder why New York is currently global epicenter of the pandemic with 160,000 cases?

Why don't you ask the families of the 10,000+ people in NYC who have died from the virus so far?

I suspect a lot of opinions would differ if you were paying for stimulus with deductions from your pension and social security deposits. Our grandchildren are getting stuck with all of this, that is why we need to get economy going as quickly as possible with educated risks.

If you do not begin to reopen society and industries, what do you think you will be eating in a few weeks? You can hoard all you want and at some time you will need something from someone that has to go out in public to do their work. The work to keep a society must go on with intelligent and logical controls and procedures to make it work. It is not going to be perfect and there will be mistakes and ways we find to do it better but if you wait for perfection before acting we probably do not want to see what that entails.

I doubt it. Career politicians are always in election year.

I doubt it.