Our state stay-at-home order was set to expire today. I was hopeful. Maybe too hopeful.
It was announced yesterday that our stay-at-home order has been extended for two more weeks. This was a hard pill to swallow. Not because we can’t do this another two weeks – obviously we’ve made it seven weeks, we can make it another two. I’m just a little skeptical that another two weeks is going to make that big of difference.
We have 4.5 million people living in our county and we’ve had 145 deaths. (And I’m not even going to mention how many positive cases there are because we all know that number is far lower with lack of testing and asymptomatic individuals.) Which means the risk of death to the general population is .003%.
I think that’s why I was so hopeful. Everyone was. I couldn’t see a scenario with those numbers that required stay-at-home orders. Sure – if you’re at risk – continue to shelter in place, and take necessary precautions. But if you’re healthy? Practice good hygiene, keep your distance and move on.
I was hoping for some self regulation on the matter. Stores can regulate how they want (put up plexi-glass, limit people in stores, require masks) but let people start to regulate themselves. Let able body individuals get back to work if they feel so inclined. Let our furloughed doctors and nurses get back to work. Let kids play at the empty soccer field again – the field without any playground equipment.
Again – its’ been a long 2 months. I was all in and ready to cooperate for seven weeks and do my part to stop the spread and I think it worked in our area. Thankfully we’ve reported some great numbers compared to other areas.
Its time to start easing back into our new normal life…in two weeks evidently!
WI safe at home goes through May 26th as of now. We have been doing this for 7-8 weeks as well. It is hard and frustrating with no end in sight. Hard when large stores like Wal-Mart are packed full of people yet so many small businesses are going out of business. I worry about everyone’s mental health.
I agree – It’s hard to see a grocery store totally packed and then tell me that the tennis court needs to remain closed. Trying to wrap my head around all the conflicting ideas out there.
Hi Kara,
I understand where you’re coming from – it must be difficult to keep four teens/children happy, learning, and engaged for so long. I would completely agree with you but I have a daughter who is 23 and is high risk.
You’d never know it to look at her but she has a rare disease. If she were isolated in a hospital without an advocate, she probably wouldn’t make it. But, going back to work as a teacher puts her at great risk. It’s easy to say that those at high risk should stay home but implementing that is difficult.
I’m not trying to be confrontational. I’m only posting this so maybe one more person will understand that the 23 year teacher they used to see at school or grocery shopping is completely isolating in the same way your 83 year old grandparent should be. They’re worried about what will happen when the orders are lifted.
We all know more immunosuppressed young people than we realize. Society can’t protect everyone but we can consider that many people have health issues which they keep personal. They may be silent about the shelter at home orders because they don’t know what to say without bringing unwanted attention. So, if you ever have an opportunity to support a young person who is continuing to shelter in place after orders are lifted, I hope you jump on that chance!! I think you probably would’ve anyway…
Stay well!
I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter. I worry for those that are high risk in today’s environment. My husband’s parents are older with heart problems, my dad had open heart surgery recently so he’s at risk and we have other family members with hidden risks – like you mention with your daughter – that no one would ever know. Our family has been fairly strict with our social distancing, not because we were fearful for our family getting the virus, but really to help those around us, especially the people mentioned above who we knew to be high risk. It’s important to look out for others, thank you for your reminder!
I woke up to the news that ours has been extended through May! Hang in there! Hopefully we’ll get back to “normal” soon.
Amen!
I think people are fine with remote school and remote church and no large gatherings like sporting events and concerts until fall. It is the nonessential jobs that are actually essential that should open soon. People should be able to get haircuts, get their teeth cleaned, have their knee replaced that has been giving them pain for months, etc.. A drive in theater in iL is having trouble opening. There are less points of contact that going to the store. It’s getting ridiculous. There is a limit of patience given the numbers of expected fatalities. If everyone in China got the virus and 2% died that number is the same number of babies aborted there in a single year. Does that look like a big number? This can’t continue more than 10 weeks with these current limitations. There are enough beds in my county. Perhaps it should be a county decision instead of a state decision?
I know, it’s hard to conceptualize for many, especially when we’re sitting in areas that limited the exposure early on. We have many doctor friends in the area who haven’t worked in weeks and are hoping to ease back into things soon, knowing very well when we start moving about again there will be a spike in cases but that we have the capacity to handle it. I suppose areas in the state could stagger getting back into things to limit a potential overwhelming of resources. I wish there was an easy answer. Hang in there!
Problem: you don’t know that you’re healthy. Virus is highly contagious 5 days before any symptoms. Many people have Covid-19 and are asymptomatic. My city (and all cities) are filled with stupid people…ignoring social distancing, not wearing masks in required places, feeling invisible. People are unable to self-regulate. We are a selfish and individualist nation. It’s just the truth. People are told to stay home and they go to the beach. A friend saw a crew from a fire station shopping at the grocery store without masks. In a store where masks are required. The VP felt it was beneath him to wear a mask at Mayo Clinic (who, to be frank, should have refused to allowed him inside). My daughter, a surgeon, started her April rotation with the sentence, “I just have this horrible premonition that I’m going to get this and die.” Can you even imagine. I see more and more people buying into the Fox News lies that the numbers are inflated so that the Democrats will have a better chance at beating Trump. This is just garbage! My daughter has dozens of physician friends working in NYC and Boston and trust me, they are surrounded by death and heartbreak. Would you want to die alone without your husband? Not being allowed to hold your child as he died. Seeing one of your medical nieces/nephews get Covid and then have a stroke? This is our world…even out in the desert. Over 62,000 DEATHS. Hard to conceptualize isn’t it? We are only as strong as the weakest link and people are feeling more and more defiant and entitled. I’ve had quite a few patients that are utterly SHOCKED that they were diagnosed with Covid-19. One I called this week is blind, cares for her grandson and is dependent on many helpers needing to come into their home. Not a single symptom. Who is supposed to help her out? No one (and I’m not directing this personally) can be allowed to think they are special snowflakes.
I totally understand what you’re talking about. We have had several family members test positive and I’m sure many more that were asymptomatic. We also have a lot of doctor/healthcare family members and friends (from our days living in Wisconsin attending church with a medical student congregation) and nurses on the front line. I think what’s important to remember is everyone’s experience in this pandemic is individual and unique – which is why it’s hard to convince someone that this isn’t a conspiracy set up by some political party or that the world is not coming to an end and to buy up every commodity you can (people on both sides of the spectrum). You have doctor’s and nurses watching this play out in horror and fear and you have doctor’s and nurses seeing something totally different in their cases – both of which really want the best for their patients and are seeking answers. You have people testing positive with fatal symptoms and you have people testing positive with a low grade fever – and many more who need to be tested and it’s just not available to them. On one hand you are being told that masks won’t help and the next minute its a requirement to wear them. This makes for a confusing environment and extremely hard to get everyone on the same page. I didn’t mean to sound flippant about the virus – if that’s how I came across – my question really is what is two weeks going to do? (for our specific area) The doctors here that we associate with are fully aware that there will be a spike when the stay at home order is lifted, whether that be today, two weeks from now or three months down the road, in their mind, that is inevitable. (once again, that’s their opinion) Right now our state is fully able to handle a spike in cases because the hospitals are empty. I think they are looking for a time release of cases because we can handle it. If projections are correct and 60-70% of people end up with this, we’re in this for the long haul. I don’t think this is going away any time soon which then it becomes a management issue. And every state is going to vary greatly because of their resources and current cases. But we all need to remember (and I’m speaking generally after reading conflicting news articles) that everyone’s experience in this is different which means they have a differing perspectives – and we have to respect that. It’s clear that no one has any real concrete answers at this point and hopefully with time we learn every thing we need to learn about this unpredictable virus. Thanks for your comment – it helps me see another perspective. Stay healthy!
I’ve been “sheltering” since 16th March and very earliest it’s likely to end is end of July. I live entirely alone and talk to friends on the phone 2x a week. I can not leave my home at all. Not even to go into my front garden because it’s not safe being open and onto the pavement. I’m dealing with it. You have my sympathy Kara but you have your loved ones around you and you all get out. You don’t know if your infectious. My friend 32 yrs with health issues “Sheltered” from 16th March she wore her mask to answer the door to grocery delivery. Last week she was taken into intensive care, she has the virus. The only person she’d seen at 2m was delivery guy. Please be patient, it will end and you’ll continue life, many won’t.
You know I’m sending virtual hugs your way!! Please stay healthy!
If we are only going to allow 2% of the population to get exposed at a time it will take decades to be totally safe. This is just prolonging people catching it. At this rate more people are going to starve to death. They keep changing the week/month it will be safe. Some want us to never be safe. It’s like trying to stop a cold. Why do people think they have so much control over life and death? It’s a virus. In South Korea I could at all points do this get a hair cut or go to the dentist. And very few of the people who tested just because they wanted to be tested even had this particular virus. 250 people died and there are 50 million people who live there. Four plus months of income loss/debt accumulation and loss of freedom is a lot to ask of people when less than 1% of 1% of the population actually dies from this.
I agree 100%!!!!!
By the way, I love all of your posts!♥️
A county decision? Fine until 1/2 your people get it and want to come to my hospital. No vents for anyone from a particular county? No ED visits? This is a national pandemic.
We don’t know yet if there will be immunity. Some who have been ill initially present with antibodies and then, upon further testing, do not retain antibodies.
The point of sheltering in place is exactly what you said: :PROLONGING. Without decreasing the exposure of hundreds of thousands getting it all at once, and KILLING all the hospital personnel, we can gradually take care of patients and have enough vents and gowns and masks for everyone. “It’s a virus”? Might I suggest a kindle book on the 1918 pandemic. Or a reread of Anne Frank. I know this is beyond frustrating, but some of these comments make it sound like no one cares about people dying. My daughter. Her friends. Husbands, grandparents, 3 year olds (my friend’s daughter has recently recovered). One of the most tragic things is that no one will believe us who do this for our jobs. Trust me, you lose your son, wife, husband, best friend, you will not be taking about this in the same fashion.
I’m going to lose everyone at some point. We don’t get everyone with us our whole life. We are here for such a short time. My father used to say “I’m going to die of something.” He was a police officer. He died of cancer but he lived knowing it could be on the job, or a car accident, or the victim of a crime. You see a lot in that line of work. 39 deaths in my county as of today. There are over 330,000 people who live here. A large chunk died from assisted living. First case 8 weeks ago. Tens of thousands out of work. I’m fine with a mask. I’m fine with remote learning. I’m fine pretending I’m Protestant watching mass online. I’m fine with working from home when possible. Think it should be that way all the time. I am fine no sports or concerts. I’m fine no one visiting adults in hospital or assisted living. (I’d like that to be lifted. They are going through a lot.) I am fine with no international travel. I am not fine with going more than 10 weeks not getting a proper haircut, not getting surgeries, not going to the doctor, not getting my teeth cleaned, not seeing a relative I don’t live with. It’s a dangerous business living life. I am not concerned with dying. I am concerned about taking care of people the way they should be taken care of. That means visiting people. Visiting the sick. That means risking your own health to see them. It’s not a surprise that the ones dying by me are in long term care. It takes people to make people want to stay alive.
I live just outside of NYC. I wouldn’t wish this virus on anyone. I will gladly go through all of this uncertain financial hardship. And I certainly can forgo a haircut. The actions and remedies need to be thoughtful, measured and adjusted regionally. Please think of the greater good. I would hate for what is going on here to happen anywhere else to anyone else.
I could agree more!!! There has got to be some sort of personal responsibility and freedom of choice here. This is the craziest thing I have ever seen. I hope this is not deja vu next flu season- ugh.