CDC Notifies States, Large Cities To Prepare For Vaccine Distribution As Soon As Late October

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If the businesses had the backbone to enforce their policies, I bet they would see a net increase in business from all of those in the middle.

This only depends on where you live. Plus not everyone is black and white about it. Walmart has openly said while they'll have a mask requirement they are not going to engage with customers. I'm not boycotting Walmart. I wear a mask when I go in, majority of people I see wear a mask, I get in to get my stuff and leave.

When a gas station in my area openly flaunted they weren't going to require it and instead just place a sign that said it's suggested the number of people who said they weren't going to get gas there was only evenly matched by those who said they would.

There's also restrictions on how a business can enforce it. In my state it's a civil not a criminal matter for the mask mandate, It's aimed at businesses and individuals are not really fined. Violations of the mask mandate are handled through the AG.

I am a person in the middle as is my husband. We don't tend to take political stances or boycotting stances with businesses but we always comply with wearing our masks. Perhaps if someone was more into boycotting it might make them view the situation differently where they actively do not shop at a place that is not enforcing a mask mandate or policy. About the only place IMO you're going to see people make a hard stance is if a place makes a hard stance about NOT wearing a mask meaning it's in their policy that you cannot wear one as opposed to them just not enforcing an existing rule. Otherwise you'll probably find more people wearing their masks and maybe internally noticing how many patrons aren't wearing one because the place of business isn't going around kicking out people who aren't wearing a mask.

 

[Joe in VA]

Florida posts their first daily below 5% since October. They are beyond due to be in flames with the UK variant. The boy cried wolf.

https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/

 

[jlwhitney]

Florida posts their first daily below 5% since October. They are beyond due to be in flames with the UK variant. The boy cried wolf.

https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/

Even the news has toned down the threat of variants. It’s a little in the news but nothing like 2-4 weeks ago.

 

[Jonfw2]

Even the news has toned down the threat of variants. It’s a little in the news but nothing like 2-4 weeks ago.

I noticed that!!! The variant talk- and the “plateau” talk has gotten very quiet.

 

[jlwhitney]

I noticed that!!! The variant talk- and the “plateau” talk has gotten very quiet.

And the asymptomatic spread

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Even the news has toned down the threat of variants. It’s a little in the news but nothing like 2-4 weeks ago.

In my area they are still talking about variants probably because the state next to me found it in wastewater samples recently and our daily covid cases are remarkedly low. They haven't ever been doom or gloom like the national talks but they still mention wanting people to keep up doing what they are doing in light of cases being low, schools starting to return back to in-person fully for older kids, vaccinations, certain restrictions removed and variant concerns. I find the talk to be even level between cautious and realistic and optimistic personally.

 

[Jonfw2]

US 7 day MA drops again today.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

The variant talk is still very loud here. I don’t know that there is anything coming from the conversation, but the news stories still appear.

 

[Jonfw2]

South Africa is now where they were right at the beginning of Covid- it has to be fair to say that their variant did not do major damage.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

I’m surprised we’re not hearing more about Brazil and their variant. They’re far and away the worst right now and hopefully their lack of leadership doesn’t set back other parts of the world.

 

[Jonfw2]

I’m surprised we’re not hearing more about Brazil and their variant. They’re far and away the worst right now and hopefully their lack of leadership doesn’t set back other parts of the world.

Brazil’s issues (in my opinion) have less to do with their variant and more to do with their complete lack of doing anything to mitigate the spread.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

Brazil’s issues (in my opinion) have less to do with their variant and more to do with their complete lack of doing anything to mitigate the spread.

Absolutely. But I just hope their lack of mitigation doesn’t lead to so much spread that a variant emerges from there that is more dangerous.

 

[Jonfw2]

Absolutely. But I just hope their lack of mitigation doesn’t lead to so much spread that a variant emerges from there that is more dangerous.

At some point this week, we will hit 30% of the over 18 population in America having at least one shot. You add that to the millions who've already had Covid and it's just gettin harder and harder by the day for any variant to really take hold here.

 

[dvcgirl67]

At some point this week, we will hit 30% of the over 18 population in America having at least one shot. You add that to the millions who've already had Covid and it's just gettin harder and harder by the day for any variant to really take hold here.

Let's hope so. My business is slowly *beginning* to come out of what has been a sort of semi-hibernation. Well, last spring it was a complete hibernation...we were completely shut down, then last June we started again and got back up to 40-45%...where we've remained....and it's allowed me to bring back 3 of my 6 people. We're not at all as busy individually as we were pre-pandemic, but we've kept this little business of mine a going concern. My other three people have thankfully been able to collect unemployment benefits as independent contractors this entire time.

Now, I'm beginning to get calls from customers who have *not* yet been vaccinated....booking travel because they are counting on being vaccinated by their travel dates. This is completely new. We still face the reality here that a lot of office workers who commute to NYC aren't going back any time soon. But....we'll adapt and take on more vacation travelers if we need to do that.

Things are changing though....it's not just a feeling here, it's real customers making real arrangements. This week in the Northeast we're going to have some very nice weather for March....50s-60s and sunny. I think it'll inspire more people to begin to think about traveling. And in my world.....that's a good thing.

 

[Jonfw2]

Let's hope so. My business is slowly *beginning* to come out of what has been a sort of semi-hibernation. Well, last spring it was a complete hibernation...we were completely shut down, then last June we started again and got back up to 40-45%...where we've remained....and it's allowed me to bring back 3 of my 6 people. We're not at all as busy individually as we were pre-pandemic, but we've kept this little business of mine a going concern. My other three people have thankfully been able to collect unemployment benefits as independent contractors this entire time.

Now, I'm beginning to get calls from customers who have *not* yet been vaccinated....booking travel because they are counting on being vaccinated by their travel dates. This is completely new. We still face the reality here that a lot of office workers who commute to NYC aren't going back any time soon. But....we'll adapt and take on more vacation travelers if we need to do that.

Things are changing though....it's not just a feeling here, it's real customers making real arrangements. This week in the Northeast we're going to have some very nice weather for March....50s-60s and sunny. I think it'll inspire more people to begin to think about traveling. And in my world.....that's a good thing.

I'm just getting a SENSE that people are feeling more normal now. Do you know what i mean?

 

[dvcgirl67]

I'm just getting a SENSE that people are feeling more normal now. Do you know what i mean?

Yes..it’s in the air for sure.

 

[Joe in VA]

I work in the live events industry. Until mid February I hadn’t worked more than five hours in a week since last March. Two weeks ago I worked 20 hours, last week 30, this week I put in at least 60 hours. Attitudes are changing quickly and dramatically and many people who were leery of concerts, etc are now ready for a pre pandemic experience. That won’t happen overnight, but states like Texas and Florida are leading the way and creating thousands of new jobs in this sector alone.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I work in the live events industry. Until mid February I hadn’t worked more than five hours in a week since last March. Two weeks ago I worked 20 hours, last week 30, this week I put in at least 60 hours. Attitudes are changing quickly and dramatically and many people who were leery of concerts, etc are now ready for a pre pandemic experience. That won’t happen overnight, but states like Texas and Florida are leading the way and creating thousands of new jobs in this sector alone.

I think a large part of that is vaccines though. In the absence of vaccines being around people's viewpoint would still largely err on the side of caution and large events are still shaky. I'm seeing on threads people specifically making travel plans for when they are vaccinated. Those people in particular I'm talking about wouldn't be traveling unless they were vaccinated.

That said the Big 12 Tournament that was cancelled after its first game last year is about to start. 20% (or about 3,800 people) for mens and 2,000 people for women's (played at a different venue than men's) are allowed. Masks required and the Fan Fest was cancelled as were Pep Rallies. However they followed procedures for seating arrangements like what occurred at Arrowhead (which had max capacity of about 17,000 or 22%) and which showed with strict controls fans could be had, although the Big 12 is an indoor arena; this means groups of seats sold together and seats spaced out between groups.

I see it as a confidence in vaccines doing something at least, cases continuing to decline and spring about to start. Royals announced fans would be allowed but in April that number will be capped to 10,000 fans with the expectations that each month the capacity will increase. This IMO is in part due to Chiefs experience but also vaccines. I think fans would have still been allowed at some point during the 2021 MLB season but what number I'm not sure and I don't think they would keep increasing the number allowed if vaccines weren't around. Masks are still going to be required and just like the Chiefs groups of seats sold with distancing between those groups.

 

[Joe in VA]

Agreed, vaccines are the biggest part of this equation. Different states will move at different rates. At this point it looks like almost all MLB fans will have fans on Opening Day at some capacity. If you would have told me that a month ago I would have said you’re high.

Indoor concert venues in Florida are currently having 50% capacity shows and nudging up weekly. There was no appetite or even thought this could happen a month or two ago. Hell the Lightning weren’t even hosting fans for the entire month of February and this week will welcome 3,800 fans per game. Wrestlemania in Tampa will be a big one next month with an expected 35,000 fans.

 

[chad_1138]

Ohio's Governor as stated the Reds and Indians can start the season at 30% capacity, and he is hoping to have 100% capacity in the stadiums by the 4th of July!!!