back to way of life

[Leo]

We are still going to wear a mask until we are vaccinated. I don't really see any harm wearing a mask.

Before COVID-19, we usually go to the grocery store once a week. We are now changing it to once per two weeks.

I'm not sure if we want to go out and eat but we probably support our favorite local sushi restaurant once it opens.

I am going to continue working from home at least for the remaining of the year. My wife can probably continue remote til the end of August.

Another big change is to travel. We were planning to travel internationally 2x a year and I don't think we'll do that for the time being.

Edited: to add hair cut, I am not going to my barber anytime soon and instead will let my wife cut my hair. Also shopping clothes, massages, gym etc.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I don't see us eating out for a long time. I also do wear masks as do DH and the kids. But they are out way less than I am. I only put it on when I'm about to leave the car. I throw it on if I am picking up drivethru when I get to the window for coffee. I leave a cloth mask in the car for such circumstances. I just got some surgical masks and will start wearing those as well.

[disneysteve]

I was thinking of this thread today. NJ is gradually reopening. Outdoor dining and inside retail opens on Monday. Salons and barbers open the following week, along with public pools. I'm not sure what else is scheduled.

However, my wife and I ran a few errands this morning. We had to go to a particular liquor store to pick up samples for a virtual tasting event they are having next week. The place was packed. They were supposedly limiting the number of people in the store at one time but most of the aisles are fairly narrow and moving around the store was nearly impossible. We would normally spend some time browsing but we got what we needed and got out of there.

Then we went to BJ's. No limited entry there. It was no busier than normal but we're definitely more conscious of trying to keep our distance from others, but I can't say the same for everyone else, so that was kind of uncomfortable.

Last stop was Walgreens to pick up a prescription and that was just fine. There was only one other customer in the store so no problems there.

On the way home, we both agreed that the outing wasn't really enjoyable overall and we were in no rush to go out again unless it's really necessary.

Outdoor dining does resume on Monday and we are talking about going out to eat next week sometime so we'll see how that goes.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I was debating to drive on 6/14/20 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas since they reopened and having 2 free nights at any Boyd's hotel/casino but I know with all the restrictions that I would not be able to enjoy myself so I decided not to go. My local casinos are open as well but I haven't been to any yet either. The virus is highly contagious and not worth taking a chance.

[~bs]

I was debating to drive on 6/14/20 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas since they reopened and having 2 free nights at any Boyd's hotel/casino but I know with all the restrictions that I would not be able to enjoy myself so I decided not to go. My local casinos are open as well but I haven't been to any yet either. The virus is highly contagious and not worth taking a chance.

Dont think boyd is requiring masks or shielding or anything from what I hear!

[disneysteve]

Dont think boyd is requiring masks or shielding or anything from what I hear!

And even places that are requiring masks aren’t really enforcing it, even among employees. Masks are required by state law here but I see plenty of people with it not covering their nose or on their chin entirely.

[cypher1]

Just got back from LA Fitness and so glad to be back. They require a mask going in, getting scanned, and once cleared mask isn't required for working out. Majority of lockers are unavailble, with only a handful available spread out to use. Water fountains are sealed off. Everyone seems to be cleaning/wiping down machines after use (that was going on even before the shut down), and employees walking around spraying equipment down as well. As for number of occupancy, its pretty empty overall, so not really an inconvenience yet. The nice weather outside probably helps, although I'm sure the majority of people are hesitant to go back.

[disneysteve]

Just got back from LA Fitness and so glad to be back. They require a mask going in, getting scanned, and once cleared mask isn't required for working out.

Since they aren't requiring masks, have they changed the layout to create social distancing? And are they limiting attendance? Is it first come, first served or do you have to reserve a time.

At our gym, there is a line of treadmills side by side, for example. That wouldn't work anymore. Gyms haven't gotten permission to reopen yet here but when they do, I certainly expect (and hope) that changes will be made so that there isn't another person working out right next to me, especially if masks are optional.

I was just wondering how they will handle all of this as I was working out in our bedroom this morning. I'd love to get back to the gym but gyms are among the highest risk places for COVID transmission on the ratings I've seen. On a scale of 1 to 9, they're an 8. Only bars rank higher.

[cypher1]

Since they aren't requiring masks, have they changed the layout to create social distancing? And are they limiting attendance? Is it first come, first served or do you have to reserve a time.

At our gym, there is a line of treadmills side by side, for example. That wouldn't work anymore. Gyms haven't gotten permission to reopen yet here but when they do, I certainly expect (and hope) that changes will be made so that there isn't another person working out right next to me, especially if masks are optional.

I was just wondering how they will handle all of this as I was working out in our bedroom this morning. I'd love to get back to the gym but gyms are among the highest risk places for COVID transmission on the ratings I've seen. On a scale of 1 to 9, they're an 8. Only bars rank higher.

Yes, they did alter the layout a little bit for social distancing. They have arrows for entering and exiting one way the building. I noticed cycling or spin machines are spread out strategically in a room. Weights and machines are pretty much the same, as well as step machines. i didn't go up stairs, so I can't say for sure on the ellipticals/treadmills setup.

I think the maximum capacity is now limited to 25%, but its already pretty bare so I don;t think its going to be a concern. Now if they had spin/zoomba/yoga classes on the weekends (which I think are canceled) that would be a problem. If there was a line to get into the gym for inconvenience all the time, I;d probably cancel. Otherwise there were still some people working out right next to me on machines, and it didn't bother me. So to each their own.

I'm actually surprised the bar is higher for transmissions, and I'd expect the gym to be a 9, and was worried they'd be the last to open for most states. Otherwise I can't complain.

[disneysteve]

I'm actually surprised the bar is higher for transmissions, and I'd expect the gym to be a 9, and was worried they'd be the last to open for most states. Otherwise I can't complain.

I believe the issue with bars is three-fold. One, like restaurants, you can't wear a mask because you're drinking and maybe eating as well. Two, the whole point of going is that it's a social experience. You aren't going to go if you need to stay 6 feet apart from every other person. You're going to hang out with friends, maybe meet new people, dance, etc. Unlike a restaurant where you'll come in, sit down, have your meal, and leave, at a bar you're likely to move around the room, interact with various people, and possibly spend several hours there. Three, alcohol is involved.

At the gym, you're pretty much doing your own thing and hopefully you or a staff member is cleaning each piece of equipment after use.

[~bs]

I believe the issue with bars is three-fold. One, like restaurants, you can't wear a mask because you're drinking and maybe eating as well. Two, the whole point of going is that it's a social experience. You aren't going to go if you need to stay 6 feet apart from every other person. You're going to hang out with friends, maybe meet new people, dance, etc. Unlike a restaurant where you'll come in, sit down, have your meal, and leave, at a bar you're likely to move around the room, interact with various people, and possibly spend several hours there. Three, alcohol is involved.

At the gym, you're pretty much doing your own thing and hopefully you or a staff member is cleaning each piece of equipment after use.

Not to ask a dumb question, but generally isn't it the same thing for restaurants? It's why restaurants also offer drinks? You're eating and drinking at a restaurant? I think the reasoning behind closing bars but not restaurants is pretty thin, but just my 0.02. I think largely the reason why is one is seen as more socially acceptable than the other.

I'd tend to agree that to me the gym seems like a possible bigger transmitter. People breathing heavily, sweat and saliva particles flying everywhere, etc and for extended periods of time. Also note, most gyms aren't requiring the use of masks either.

[disneysteve]

Not to ask a dumb question, but generally isn't it the same thing for restaurants? It's why restaurants also offer drinks? You're eating and drinking at a restaurant? I think the reasoning behind closing bars but not restaurants is pretty thin, but just my 0.02. I think largely the reason why is one is seen as more socially acceptable than the other.

I'd tend to agree that to me the gym seems like a possible bigger transmitter. People breathing heavily, sweat and saliva particles flying everywhere, etc and for extended periods of time. Also note, most gyms aren't requiring the use of masks either.

I think bars and restaurants are quite different. When we go to a restaurant, it's just the 2 or 3 of us or maybe us and another couple. We walk in, get seated at a table, and stay there for the length of our meal which might be 45-60 minutes or so. They can easily create social distancing by spacing out the tables and limiting party sizes. We don't wander around and mingle with other patrons.

At a bar, people often go with a group of friends or coworkers. You're not assigned a seat and even when you have a seat, you may move around freely, interact with others, including people you didn't come with. You may even be going specifically to meet new people. There may be other activities occurring like dancing, pool, darts, trivia, etc. And although we often have a drink with our meal at a restaurant, we're not there getting drunk, while at a bar, people often are which can lead to sloppier behavior and less adherence to safety rules. And you may be there for multiple hours.

Lord knows I've got nothing against bars but as far as human interaction goes, there's a lot more of it at a bar than at a restaurant.

As for the gyms, sweat isn't an issue for viral transmission. Saliva is, which is why gyms are a problem. And they rate an 8 of 10 vs. a 9 of 10 for bars, so still very high risk.

[~bs]

They're coming up with rules for restaurants, distancing, seating arrangements, etc. There's nothing to say that they can't do it for bars as well? It just seems like a reach to me. Assuming the same rules, the risk is basically the same.

In a bar or restaurant, people are breathing normally. In a gym, people are breathing very heavily. Sweat itself may not be a transmission method, but what if people are wiping their face/mouth and there's virus particles, then it gets on the machines and can survive for longer.

[disneysteve]

They're coming up with rules for restaurants, distancing, seating arrangements, etc. There's nothing to say that they can't do it for bars as well? It just seems like a reach to me. Assuming the same rules, the risk is basically the same.

In a bar or restaurant, people are breathing normally. In a gym, people are breathing very heavily. Sweat itself may not be a transmission method, but what if people are wiping their face/mouth and there's virus particles, then it gets on the machines and can survive for longer.

I'm sure when bars reopen, they will try to have some rules, but it's obviously far more difficult than in a restaurant. Who is going to want to go hang out in a bar if they have to stay 6 feet away from everyone else? In a restaurant, I wouldn't care if my wife and I were the only ones there. It's not a social activity.

As for gyms, they are absolutely high risk. Like I said, on the ratings I saw, it was 8 for gyms and 9 for bars so not a big difference. For comparison, indoor restaurant seating is a 6. Gyms are going to be a real problem because everyone moves around, touches the same equipment, and breathes extra hard spewing respiratory particles much more than 6 feet. And wearing a mask would be pretty challenging.

As for restaurants, a friend in South Carolina just posted a list of places in Myrtle Beach that are re-closing due to the number of employees that have come down with COVID since Memorial Day weekend. All of this reopening might sound good on paper but it's not at all a safe idea for employees or customers.

[mumof2]

Things in our state are opening up most businesses can open although they still have social distancing in most places, restaurants are open but have limited seating indoors and outdoors...most people don't wear masks..some stores are still counting numbers, most stores I go into most people still social distance from each otherall stores still have sanitizer for your carts and hands...when you go to the hospital they take your temp and ask you questions etc before you can enter....even though we haven't had any new cases in our state for around 3 weeks and we have no-one in hospital with the virus for weeks now...we still take precautions...will see what happens when they open the borders up in july...as some states are still having daily cases