I am going to do what I always have done to avoid the flu, wash hands, do not touch public handles and doors, public tables etc. Think like a germaphobe, don't get near a close talker. Sanitize your hands when you are out and about all day. Common sense is at least 75% percent of the solution

Not acceptable - loss of any life is sad - but inevitable. People do need to earn the funds to support themselves and their families. I suspect we’ll open up some around May 1st. Really the recommendations are no big thing for first wave - social distancing, no crowds over 10, etc.

A lot of collateral damage may be taking place now while many are waiting to see doctors and have surgeries preformed. How many have died or will die because of medical treatment delays caused by this lockdown. Yes, there are many tradeoffs to be considered as deaths can occur in both scenarios.

Jury's still out on "acceptable," but what a chilling truth. This is the purple elephant in the room. I believe the nation has concluded that sacrificing more lives to the virus serves the greater good of saving the economy and our way of life, as tragic as that is. But nobody has actually articulated it that way yet as far as I know. Clearly a challenging time to be alive. I for one never thought our government would ever be faced with such a ghastly choice.

As Louisiana Senator John Kennedy said the other day, "we can't burn down the village to save it."

And when you choose correctly, it works out. When you choose incorrectly, it is considered "thinning of the herd". How ANYONE that is retired, does not have to work for a living considers ANY thing as "REQUIRED" or "Essential" is beyond me. But ya know what, when it is all said and done, those idiots will be far less for those of us that took it seriously enough to deal with next "crisis dejour".

Well I consider doctors, nurses, truck drivers, farmers, and supermarket workers to be pretty essential. I also think food and medications are required. I don’t think those of us with those same beliefs are idiots.

A thousand times this - and multiply by the number of people in this country who will err on the side of caution.

There's a guy in Florida who is pretty smart - he's former military, former paramilitary, former mercenary, hunter, full-bearded redneck, self-sufficient for himself and his family - who has a pretty insightful take on this situation:

Let's talk about reopening the economy.... - YouTube

Being a caretaker for an invalid would make a retired person "essential."

Being someone who does the grocery shopping for the family is "essential."

Being someone who meets with the contractor to repair a roof broken when a tree branch fell through it would be "essential."

There are a myriad of things that retired people do, that is considered "essential" and necessary for them to do. Going to the hospital to have a chemo treatment, or to the dialysis center for a treatment, donating blood, making masks to donate to the essential WORKERS...

Do you really feel that retired people should just curl up and die, because they aren't earning a paycheck? Do you truly have that much contempt for the elderly?

And your selective reading befuddles me...I said THOSE OF US RETIRED, WITHOUT NEED TO BE OUT THERE!!! I am trying hard to ensure those of us that HAVE NO BUSINESS exposing those that are SAVING us all as essential workers are PROTECTED to the MAXIMUM extent possible! REREAD my post! The NEED to be out there and the WANT to not be stuck at home are TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ISSUES!

In the Villages it might be acceptable to sacrifice lives for the economy. But the Nation's economy will tank if the country is re-opened too soon. Why? Because running stores that are open for business is more expensive than running buildings with businesses that are closed. If people are too afraid to go shopping, because you opened while people are still dying and the number of diagnoses is increasing, these businesses will stand open - paying employees who are now forced to come to work because their employer is no longer getting financial relief from the government, and therefore they must re-open to empty aisles.

Small businesses will cease to exist. They won't be capable of covering the expense of being open, and no one willing to congregate and bring in the profits they had before the virus hit.

Do you mean "herd immunity"?

Oh, you can order DAILY and do what you can to support/help small businesses...but wanting to "be out and about because you don't like being cooped up at home" is selfish IMHO! You qualify for a "stimulus check" you do not need, DONATE IT! ORDER from a business that can use the work now to stay afloat! Just whining about being "locked up and not being able to do what you want"....BS!

And they do NOT fit into the "retired with no need to go out" do they????

Your knowledge seems very limited, for example I’m retired, don’t have to work for a living, but I had to have an INR test for the blood thinner I’m taking yesterday which is pretty essential. Plus I have to return next week for a retest. And I’m not the only one in need of ongoing medical tests.
It really bothers me when a shortsighted person makes idiotic statements!

The plan is to cull the rolls of Medicare and Social Security.

Can we do roundabouts now? :duck:

I agree with you. When the governors decide to "take charge" we're going to get too many opening dates and an increase in infections related to travel. I don't understand how New York, California, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky announced they will work toward reopening their states when their states continue to struggle with the basic issues of increasing infections, few hospital beds, exhausted care givers and insufficient supplies. While that's a good number of governors, I think all 50 need to agree on when and what the reopening of America is going to look like. I don't want to become infected because the governor of Michigan thinks it's safe to reopen and they are not. Certainly travel beyond your geographic are should be limited.

If saving face is having the lowest unemployment rate in fifty years, highest GDP, more minority's working than ever. Companies moving back to the US from other countries, trade embargo's fixed with Mexico, Canada, China, military rebuilt etc. then I like the way he is "saving face". Without an economy and people working we have no Country and he knows that just like if you don't have a border you have no country. This virus is a war and each day he is making gains on defeating it. He did not cause the virus but he is dealing with it and will win!

We're 30 days out from becoming a third world country with food shortages and riots. Patience is wearing thin. You can't keep extending the lockdown while our politicians freely travel back and forth from DC to their homes and estates. Keep the economy shut down and there won't be much of an economy to re-open. And then we will be standing in soup and breadlines waiting for our daily sustenance from - wait for it - THE GOVERNMENT!

Re opening country, state by state
 

Given the widespread devastation to the economy which is inevitable in such a pandemic, I find the plan to gradually reopen the country encouraging.

States that are minimally infected (the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, etc.) or have a declining number of infections and hospitalizations can, at the direction of the governor, begin to move through Phase One of the plan. There are safeguards built in to each phase and while there will be people violating those here and there, they seem sound enough. Leaving the economy to decline and holding everyone back from reopening until the sickest hotspot has improved will build in a set of problems that could take decades to solve.

Interestingly, the group that is not heavily involved in getting back to "normal" quickly is the "most vulnerable." That's us, folks. We will not be out and about like the old days YET. And when we do move in that direction, there will be some big challenges such as,

The squares. How are you going to maintain social distancing with couples crowding to dance, line dancers, sitting together etc. I have observed that some folks seem to have a really, really hard time estimating what six feet is. They crowd together about four feet apart, no mask and talking for long periods of time.

The bars. Local bars are not huge. How is Cody's going to spread out seating without losing half their space and half their revenues? Ditto restaurants.

Stores. Similar to bars: they are not huge. Put someone in any of the clothing stores and they are going to be very close to other shoppers.

On a more positive note, when we are able to get antibody testing, we can see who is safe to move about and not be infected or infect others. Also, there will be a vaccine. At that point we will truly be at the new normal. Then we will just have to pray China doesn't share another of their little microbial gifts with us.

beginning to understand the 'living in a bubble' condition,,, no one has to work in tv - better make that, few need to work for financial reasons,,, a large majority ( & this is a wag ) have pensions/retirements in some way connected to government ( either fed, state, or municipal - teachers, dot's, quasi-public, even lotteries, etc ),,, they think they'll be unaffected financially to the extent the working public is experiencing.

HAH ! not so. while we sit back sheltering-in-place, our country's economic life's in shambles. governments have no $ - they take it from those who pay taxes, skim off enough to pay salaries, & return the rest thru grants. ny, il, ca, mi, pa, ct - they're bankrupt while having not yet filed. cities declare bankruptcy & DO file. yet everyone thinks we can keep on keepin' on. 1 thing i've learned - everyone's more than willing to hold hostage their children's & grandchildren's financial future. to me, clearly there is no solid answer other than the path suggested last evening

let those state governors govern - open their states for business while others keep their's closeted. in michigan, 1 can buy marijuana but not seeds for a garden ? that's lunacy. nj's governor remarks the freedoms of the u s constitution are 'above his pay grade.' horse=puckey !!!

yes, more will die. maybe even me but i've had a good life. since 64-67, have always thought today's a good day to die. how many more will die than the # while if staying sheltered ? only speculation.

reopening our country is a cost of freedom - the freedom to keep our country as we know it.

i think i better shut up now - enjoy your day !

Our small governments are enjoying having so much power. But. Our VA. governor tells people they can't have a hair cut, but every time he talks in public he has a fresh cut... you can't but I will....

Maybe using the way it was is no longer an appropriate goal.
In the short run (3-12 months?) lesser capacity may be the rule of the day.
Like the restaurants and some businesses have learned to have revenue....yes significantly reduced but none the less....some revenue with curb side and delivery service.
They will also figure out how to use their interior space.....like the pick up and delivery.....adding a 40% (?) internal seating is better than zero seating in the short term.

As Dr. Fauci has said it is not like turning on the light switch and all is well. There will be a gradual re-opening.....for some they will be back to a revenue level they experienced when they first opened for business.

The creative will figure how to operate within the new level of business.

I Like Your Post A Whole Lot. Truly the first time I saw the N.J. guy say that the U.S. Constitution is above his pay grade it NOTHING but showed me what my family who we have in Jersey have been telling me. They are rudderless.

I'm not ready to check out yet but I may have no say in the matter if I get nervous and jerky and don't do the thing that are best for me when the time is good. I don't NEED the Square, I Love the Pool But I'll be fine if i miss out on it. I'm mainly at peace the majority of the time. I think we all have our moments. If today is my day to go when then so be it. I hope it's not but it may not be my call unless I do something stupid. I trying to move slowly and making only smart moves.

Horse Puckey! Thats a good one Sherman Potter! :1rotfl:

For me you never have to shut up now! Let 'Er Rip! :mademyday: There is a lot of truth in your post. :clap2::clap2:

Dang, hate it when I'm right

From the Opening up America Plan

Phase two:

All vulnerable individuals should continue to shelter in place.

Phase three:

Vulnerable individuals can resume public interactions, but should continue social distancing.

Vulnerable individuals are defined as elderly, or those with underlying health conditions

Opening Up America Again | Hospital | Patient

Very easy to give advice. If you're right you can run around and tell everybody that's exactly what I said. If you're wrong you just say nothing or if challenged about your remarks just say should never asked me I'm not in charge

The way I see it, underlying health issues have been a big factor in those who contract it and have fatal results. 73% of those needing hospitalization ( and yes, a % of those will die ) have had some predecessor issues - obesity, diabetes, cardiac issues, lung disease, etc.. There is no nice way to avoid the fact that no matter what we do people will die from this. The original estimate was 2 million Americans would die - now its projected to be less than 200,000. How long do you keep a nation of 330 million locked down for an illness that will be fatal to .06% ( six tenths of one percent ) of the populace? In the US, of course, we believe every life is worth saving ( except for the 60,000 or so abortions a year ). But society has always made trade-offs. You send troops into battle knowing that a percentage will not return. The mortality rate for D-Day was 3.6% - Eisenhower expected 15% or more.

If you haven't looked at the Johns Hopkins Covid-19 site recently, they've included a US map now. The US map will break out reports by counties.

Here's the current Sumter County Covid-19 status page, for example:

Sumter County Covid-19 Status Page

Main Johns Hopkins Covid United States map:

Johns Hopkins United States Covid-19 Map

We have to start getting back to some state of normalcy. From what I read and heard, I believe there are parameters to be reached before a state can reopen. I also think I heard that states can open by county based on cases.

I see no need for all 50 governors to have to agree at the same time for reopening. Montana has more horses than people with very very little infections so they should open if they wish. New York is getting better but is certainly not ready for opening. Each individual governor knows their state so we have to hope they know what they’re doing.

Retired doesn’t mean dead. We need sunshine and to move. We cannot stay indoors like houseplants. We still have lives and there is nothing more essential and required than that. Take basic precautions of distancing and masks and we can leave home.

I like your plan.

I've been wondering the same thing.

Yeah, he has quite a few points & makes good sense. Almost all of it has also been said here and on television, mostly on what has been derisively labeled "mainstream media" though. I somewhat disagree with his opinion that the 'failures will be publicized.' In some places, yeah; in others, the spin machine will go into turbo mode to gloss over those failures.

How do you prevent people in the MORE restricted states, from turning out in droves to the LESS restricted states? That didn't go so well for the kids who ended up with the virus because Florida chose not to close their beaches until after the infection had spread to vacationers.

This is -why- it has to be a nationwide effort. You can't say "You can't walk on the streets but you may leave the state if you want" to one state, and "you can walk on the streets and play bingo and go to church and hang out on the beach" in another state, and not expect the virus to just keep spreading.

Just like gun laws - if one state says "nope can't buy that type of weapon in this state" and anyone can cross the border and buy that type of weapon in the next state, there is NOTHING stopping everyone in the first state from owning that type of weapon.

Now consider the weapon is the coronavirus, and consider that anyone who possesses it, is incapable of controlling their trigger finger.

I'd like to add for those complaining about being stuck inside 24/7:

The only people who are stuck inside 24/7 are people who are physically incapable of leaving their dwelling. You have a front yard. You have a driveway. Most of you have at least one golf cart. Some of you have bicycles. CV owners have enclosed back yards.

There is nothing stopping ANY of you from leaving your houses and getting some fresh air and sunshine. Even the restrictions allow for exercise. Just keep your distance from everyone else, and you are free to move around as much as you'd like.

I'm out in the garden, or walking, or both, every single day that I'm not working. My tan is darker in the last week, than it has been for the entire time since I moved here this past November.

We’ll just agree to disagree. This is not a “one size fits all” situation

Do people really sit in their front yard or driveways? Never saw that here or on Long Island. You learn every day, I use my lanai.

Around here, yes. They have little tables and chairs in front of their houses on pavement, some with picnic table umbrellas, some without. Some folks have a bench out front that they sit on. I've seen a few people out on blankets on the grass sunning themselves in their bathing suits (not many, not often, but I have seen them). Maybe your part of the Villages is secluded and people prefer to wall themselves from their neighbors all the time. But on my side of the Villages we are a pretty close community. It's not even unheard of for one neighbor to be hanging out on a bench next door to them, simply because they don't HAVE a bench of their own and want to catch a few rays in comfort.

Seeing it more and more. Way to interact at a distance.
More to learn every day...……………………….

I’ve seen a few of those little tables and chairs and thought they were for decoration. That or really nosy people. Lol.