Thoughts about "opening up" the US?

[MaxiSunshine]

I'm not generally an anxious person, and haven't felt nervous really about covid19 thus far. It's exacerbated my depression some, but I haven't been afraid.

Now I am, though, with all this talk about opening the country. Is anyone else? I'm in a fairly hot hot-spot. We haven't even hit our peak yet, according to experts, but we may be at least partially open before the peak, which I don't understand.

I don't want to be political. I know it's not allowed here, and my concerns aren't political. What's going to happen will happen. How is everyone else dealing with this news?

[MaxiSunshine]

I guess I shouldn't have said just the US. This could be any country that is talking about opening up. :)

[auntiejessi]

I'm in the US, and I'm nervous. I'm higher risk, and it's beginning to feel like I'll never be able to get out.

I mean, I'm sure I'll be wearing a mask for the foreseeable future if I have to go out, but I agree that this seems early for a lot of places. I worry about my mom, too, who seems mask-averse, and resistant to social distancing.

I feel you.

[Vivan22]

All the best ... We are from India . Immunity level has helped us to fight with it.

[Paxiled]

I've had very conflicting thoughts about this since December when I first read about it when a doctor in China went on the internet and told us all about it which got him arrested.  They keep changing.  At first it sounded like a mostly mild disease.  Clearly, it's not.  It's incredibly contagious.  But still, for most people you're sick and then in a couple of weeks you're better, but for too many it takes a sharp and unpredictable change for the worse.  I wore a mask for the first time at the store on Saturday.  I didn't like it.  But I'm 67 and my wife is 64, so although we don't have the conditions that make it the worst, we are old.  My brother and sister in law both have conditions that make it the worst.  So I've evolved to the point where, it's a new disease, and yes, the flu kills more people and so do auto accidents and smoking but this is brand new so we don't have to let it get to that point.  We don't know if it's going to keep coming back like the flu yet.  It doesn't mutate a lot like the flu, so far.  So I now believe that we all have to be locked down or everyone has to open up and just accept getting it.  The latter might end up conferring herd immunity quickly rather than the very slow approach we're taking.  That means old folks like me dying.  It also means a fair number of young folks dying. It means a culling of the herd so others can go back to making money faster.  And I'd also maintain that, although politics is frowned on here, it really shouldn't be if it's the reason we're in this pickle, or the reason Italy is in its pickle, or the reason Brazil is in its pickle or the reason China let it get out of control in the first place.  If the only way out safely and thoroughly is to have a new leadership in these places, that's not political, it's our health at stake.  But I don't make the rules here and haven't earned the right to make the rules, I didn't have the initiative to start this site and those who did earned that right so we live by them.  I just want this to end at some point, and if Georgia opens up and the red states open up and their residents come to the other states we're all going to be back at square one.  We've done this for this long, my vote is, make it work.  My two cents.

[AnnieBrooke]

Despite how often one hears that the flu kills more people than Covid-19, all we know right now is the numbers of Covid-19 deaths when the world has been in shutdown and quarantine mode. Those have gotta be lower than they will if we start going about our business the way we do in flu season every year. Maybe if Covid-19 was allowed to sweep the population in hopes of creating herd immunity, the world's population would get lucky and it would only happen once (if the novel virus doesn't mutate fast like the flu does), but it seems like the death rate will shoot past the flu if the virus is given free rein. (I would be glad to be proven wrong on that.) What it does seem like we will be letting ourselves in for, unless the meds they are testing now prove to be effective, is a lot of confusion and difficulty with businesses and schools opening and shutting, opening and shutting, in response to the overload on hospitals.

[MaxiSunshine]

So how are you dealing with that? I'm high risk, and I guess I'm going to be inside for the long term.

It seems almost certain that if we open too soon (which health experts seem to agree that it's too soon) we'll have more cases, so what are your plans?

[AnnieBrooke]

In my case, there isn't a lot of choice, we hunker down. We have to because we're high risk, but I think the supply chain is a bit shaky. Right now, our only personal disadvantage is that we have to live in a constrained way, but should the systems that make it possible for us to stay sheltered in place start to fail, all bets are off. They could, because the companies that provide the services that we rely on can't even protect their own workers now.  If our big, rich country can't even come up with enough face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer to keep people safe now, what will happen if the Covid-19 numbers take a big uptick with "opening up" the economy? Along with more deaths, it's hard to see that we won't have hospital failures and food-supply failures.

I wish they would put more emphasis on getting antibody tests out there (the ones that say whether or not you've already had Covid-19). At least then people would know if they are safe to go out to work and get on with normal life. The government hasn't apparently seen the connection of this test to opening the economy, but I think it's key.

[CurfewX]

This is really tough, because I know people are hurting financially, and some small businesses have failed or are in danger of failing.  I hate that we are in a position of having to make a choice between two very negative consequences!

I think that the country has to open up a bit at some point.  I'd prefer it to be a bit later, but since that's not under my control, I know that people will have to make risk-analyses for themselves when businesses re-open.  Can I do my job safely? Can I do my job and still protect my family and others?  I think that people will be a lot more mindful of social distancing and protection once some businesses start to re-open, if only because they know that if they don't, the governors will just shut everything down again.

For me, it's a no - no going out, no taking risks - even if states do start to re-open.  I'm not in an increased risk group, but my parents are, and I'm taking no risk of exposing them to the virus.  Also, I feel like I'm in a bit of a groove.  I'm used to staying in now, even though I don't love it.  I can do it for longer.  I don't NEED to go out.  I WANT to go out.

[specialmom]

I agree this is such a complicated issue.  I'm starting to worry about all of the consequences of lock down to everyone as well.  A loved one of mine is showing signs of depression that is new since this occurred.  Mental health seems to be taking a hit with anxiety and depression escalating which can be deadly as well.  Lack of financial resources can create a whole cascade of problems.  And the future?   I'm worried about that too.  But I do think we will have to learn to live with this virus in our community.  It's not going away and being locked down is just not sustainable.  I will be very careful myself until there is a vaccine and probably even after that.  Definitely, this has made me aware of how fragile life is.  

Since you are high risk, Maxisunshine, this is going to be a longer situation you deal with.  I'm so sorry about that!  That is probably daunting to think about but I don't think it will be forever.  Each day that passes, they are learning more.  More about therapeutic options and more about vaccines and more about how to avoid getting this.  

What can you do to survive being social distanced for the long haul.  So, that's a good question.  I have thought about this for myself and would imagine each person is a little different as to what soothes them.  I think if you have a history of depression or anxiety and that is showing ANY signs, you should stay on top of that.  Virtual therapy sessions are being done!  Doctors are using telemedicine and pharmacies can deliver if you need medication.  But it is important to monitor this and get help if you need it!!  I am trying also to do something for myself every day.  Things I didn't do when 'involved in the daily grind' like watching a movie almost every day.  :>))  I mean, I"m loving that and am looking forward to it.  I'm hoping to learn something new on a new subject during this time also to keep me active. The internet helps with that!  I am not so good at the cleaning and house projects everyone else seems to be doing. But have taken to a daily list of things I want to do that day.  I have all sorts of things on it, some more lofty than others.  "water plants" is on it.  Easy to do.  "Clean upstairs closet" is on it and not so easy.  I started small by putting things on it that I knew I would do.  ha ha.  Then it felt good to cross them off.  There is an organizational system for time in which you work for 25 straight minutes, and I mean power work.  And then you take 5 minutes for a break.  Then back to work for 25 minutes.  If you block out a period of time to do this, it's amazing what you accomplish.  I'm a big believer in exercise on a regular basis too.  This doesn't have to be anything crazy.  Youtube has lots of videos at different levels and all sorts of things.  I am liking these things called HIIT which is done in like 20 minutes.  You can be a true beginner and find things if you don't exercise but physical activity releases hormones in your body that are natural 'happy' hormones.  :>)  Make sure your doctor thinks you are up to exercising though, don't want to tell you to do something you can't do.  There are apps that are helpful too for breathing and meditation.  Calm and Headspace are two good ones.  Online communication like right here is helpful for connection too.  And for your loved ones, skype or zoom or facetime?  All work pretty well.  

Anyway, stay in touch.  hugs

[ppowb]

I'm 82, male, with cardiac issues. That puts me at greater than 15% risk of not surviving if the virus gets to me. Right now I'm being pretty cautious and have difficulty envisioning a time when I will feel as free to circulate as was true last year.

My understanding is that "flattening the curve" is primarily aimed at taking the pressure off the health care system. Hopefully that will decrease the total number of deaths because we will be getting better heath care. Maybe a vaccine or antiviral drug will cut deaths further, but failing this we will all get the virus at some point in the future, or at least the 70% of us needed to attain herd protection.

People are going to act in their self interest, regardless of what the president or governor says. High risk people are not going to rush to the beauty salon or restaurant just because it has re-opened. They may even be less anxious to visit with their grandkids. I will ride my bike, walk in the park or on the beach taking reasonable care, and shop while wearing a mask. I won't be going to conferences, restaurants, bars, theater, public transportation, church etc.

If I had a say in writing the rules, it would involve getting 7 day running average deaths to less than half peak ditto. If a state wants to open up prematurely, bless them for conducting a valuable experiment for the rest of us to watch. The summer sun and humidity along with outdoor venues may grant them a reprieve. I doubt it will carry them through next winter. The lessons of the 1918-19 Spanish flu should not be forgotten.

[AlbertinaG]

Everyone in every country is at a risk. The government don't want to risk the lives of people and also the economy. They are opening to balance the economy and they will take precautions. We should understand it and maintain social distance and if possible we should work from home. It will be helpful for everyone.