[Two Bills]

Some of this pessimism is way off.
Wife and I both grew up through WW2 and its aftermath.
Tough times to be sure. But everything got better, life goes on, and improves.
Plenty of food and water, and lets face it, many will have enough stock to see out the upcoming Hurricane season!
Give it a while, and this will be just another "Do you remember!" episode.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Jerry101

It’s amazing to me how none of us think of GOD in times like this. Easter is behind us ... so let’s put the message of a risen Savior behind us too. No!!! We need to be strong in our FAITH! We have time on our hands! Can’t we use it in a positive way? We need to reflect on our world and country and ask for GOD’s help ... in JESUS name!

Because faith does such a bang-up job in protecting the faithful from the ravages of a deadly virus that causes their own bodies to drown them to death.

No thanks. I'll put my faith in science. The odds are better.

[Jazzman]

The number of restaurants and small businesses here in the villages will decrease. Quite a few of these businesses are independently owned and operated. If restaurants are required to ha e a capacity of 50% that means they only need half the previous staff and who knows whether any of their former staff will even return. I’ve met a few people here that believe once the go switch is flipped on it will be like nothing happened and they’ll just go back to City Fire, Red Sauce, and country club bars etc as if nothing happened.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Jazzman

The number of restaurants and small businesses here in the villages will decrease. Quite a few of these businesses are independently owned and operated. If restaurants are required to ha e a capacity of 50% that means they only need half the previous staff and who knows whether any of their former staff will even return. I’ve met a few people here that believe once the go switch is flipped on it will be like nothing happened and they’ll just go back to City Fire, Red Sauce, and country club bars etc as if nothing happened.

I wonder if a restaurant can operate at 50 percent capacity and still stay profitable?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I wonder if a restaurant can operate at 50 percent capacity and still stay profitable?

They can operate at 50% of their in-room capacity, IF they make other changes.

Well first off, they can't reduce their staff 50%. If a restaurant only has 4 cooks, and they're open 7 days a week, they can't reduce to 2 cooks. Unless each cook doesn't mind working 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, and they're not allowed to take any days off, or sick time, or vacation time, or anything else.

They can probably get away with 2-3 fewer servers per day - but not per shift. There has to be some overlap, just as there always has had to be some overlap.

The dishes need to get done, no matter how many or few there are. So someone has to load the machine, every shift. So they can't do with fewer dish washers.

What they CAN do, is increase delivery, take-out, and curb-side (or parking lot) service. I think we'll definitely see some of this becoming a trend even after the country is re-opened. I think this will be part of the "new normal."

Even driveway parties can be improved by having a restaurant bring all the goodies to the driveway for a reasonable delivery fee, or allow you to pick up the entire order in trays, and perhaps get discounts like frequent-diners - there's a pizza joint back home that sells thermal pizza bags. If you use that bag to pick up your order, they take $1 off the pie. Their reasoning: they recognize that a piping hot pizza tastes much better than a lukewarm pizza, so they want to keep it hot between their counter and your dining room table. It ensures that you'll be going back to their shop for more.

I think you'll see a lot more of this. And I think that's a great thing.

[DianeM]

Originally Posted by Jerry101

It’s amazing to me how none of us think of GOD in times like this. Easter is behind us ... so let’s put the message of a risen Savior behind us too. No!!! We need to be strong in our FAITH! We have time on our hands! Can’t we use it in a positive way? We need to reflect on our world and country and ask for GOD’s help ... in JESUS name!

That’s great but it has what to do with this subject and my post specifically??

[crc19188]

The normal is constantly changing. What was the norm a second ago is now changed. Some will no longer want to socialize out of fear. Some will continue to stay six feet away. The concern of mine is how this is affecting the younger people of all races. They will be the ones that have to live with a different type of normal. They have to adjust to a stay at home order every fall and winter. This is only a concern of mine. Something to think about. STAY HEALTHY MY FRIENDS

[nututv]

This whole flu thing is looking more like the normal flu everyday as more get tested. 3 weeks ago death rate was nearly 5 percent. Now it's far less than one.

Confirmed
1,883,119
+82,328
Deaths
117,569
+6,677
Recovered
443,816
+31,282
Updated Apr 13 at 1:17 PM

What is abnormal has been societies reaction to it or should I say over-reaction. Even here you have people wanting to know names and addresses of the sick. Rather a sick thought of it's own really.
"Will we ever get back to normal?" You're looking at the new normal IMO and it's quite sad.

[billethkid]

At what level can restaurants/retail businesses survive?

Any that have been around a few years know they can operate at lower levels and survive because once upon a time they did operate at significantly less volume over the years.

Remember what some refer to as the slow season of today has a larger population present than during the busy season of 5-10 years ago.

So yes, many know how to operate a lesser level....it is where they came from to get to today's (pre-virus) levels.

And yes there will be an impact on the number of employees for that reduced level of business....until it comes back.....which it will.

[Grill Meister]

Originally Posted by DianeM

We have learned that it’s okay not to live in a whirlwind of fake activity spent with people we barely know

Diane, that a terrible shame that you should feel that way. You must feel terrible that you should live in such a shallow manner. My heart goes out to you and I hope that you will begin living meaningful times with people you barely knew and now have them as true friends.

[DianeM]

Originally Posted by Grill Meister

Diane, that a terrible shame that you should feel that way. You must feel terrible that you should live in such a shallow manner. My heart goes out to you and I hope that you will begin living meaningful times with people you barely knew and now have them as true friends.

You’re assuming I’m not contented. I’m perfectly fine. I have what I need. No need for your concern.

[Anne17]

You are so right Diane. I am grateful for this time to catch up, unwind, relax, breathe and let many things go. Tomorrow when we get back to "normal" I hope to keep these lessons learned as a part of my new normal.

[Anne17]

Rely on science but keep your faith in God to hold us in the palms of his hands. It is good to know He is there.

[NavyVet]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Because faith does such a bang-up job in protecting the faithful from the ravages of a deadly virus that causes their own bodies to drown them to death.

No thanks. I'll put my faith in science. The odds are better.

Thank you! I never understood why any intelligent being would put blind faith in an invisible made up entity. I'll take scientific proven facts every time.
"One pair of hard working hands accomplishes more than a thousand clasped in prayer."

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by Anne17

Rely on science but keep your faith in God to hold us in the palms of his hands. It is good to know He is there.

Except when you need him!