Texas to open 100%

[danissmart]

Taking COVID precautions is not about fear but about responsibility - we have to contain the spread as best we can. It's not an all-or-nothing proposition though. We seem to have found a place where reasonable restrictions have worked reasonably well. Of course people can continue to follow the guidelines, and I'm sure many businesses will still be requiring them, but when the government removes the mandates they are encouraging people not to. It is exceptionally frustrating because we are so close right now to ending this thing - can't they just hold on? Even in a few more weeks we may see the declines continue and vaccination rates shoot up - maybe then we could think about it. It just seems too soon.

So soon. Wow.

 

[lorilclevelandrn]

I think the flow of people goes both directions across the border. Weren't some Texans heading off to Cancun during the freeze?

I have to disagree and we can agree to disagree, that’s okay. I feel Hundreds to Thousands of illegal immigrants with no medical history or minimal medical care who caravanned across multiple countries vs. a family who has access to self quarantine at home on return, is regularly tested in Washington and also, known to have had Covid and possesses Covid antibodies poses a much smaller risk to the general public.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I agree with you. When I mentioned someone having to be first I meant a state with a complete mask mandate has to be the first to say “we’re done.” I know other states have never had one. I’m glad Texas made this move. I hope more states follow suit, although I think NJ will be one of the last states.

Michigan will be right there with you

 

[danissmart]

I can agree that measures were extreme, especially in some places. Early on they closed everything here - but after a few weeks we found a place where things could be open with reduced capacity, masks, and general common sense precautions. That is my personal preference. Some states have kept things more locked down than others, though they have higher population density than mine does (technically we didn't have state mandates, but the governor did allow counties/cities to enforce their own). Anyway, there totally needs to be a balance and I feel like we found that balance. What I am saying, if we are doing reasonably well right now then why make drastic changes to the system?

Well, when you say we are doing reasonably well, what exactly are you referring to?

 

[Christine]

We have taken draconian measures here in Italy with little effect. Deaths went down in relation to infection numbers something they have had a hard time understanding and that’s about it for progress.

it doesn’t appear the virus is going anywhere. It also appears the vaccine is a bandaid due to mutations and having ‘recovered’ from COVID only provides a very short term immunity.

Some people think we should never go without masks and Purell stations, social distancing etc pretty much ever again. Others have a what will be will be mindset.

I certainly don’t have any answers, I just know that you can’t keep in this posture forever and that for something that’s not going to be leaving, you have to at some point allow people to function.

I guess I’d feel differently if the vaccine was definitely the answer or it was mutating to a less dangerous version but nothing so far indicates this won’t still be a problem 10 years from now.

My hope is that between the vaccines and the previous cases, it's going to help--even if you can get reinfected or the vaccine changes a bit and you can still get COVID. Once vaccinated or infected, the virus is no longer "novel" to you as a human being. In my mind, this means that if you do get infected, it will likely be less severe and more like a regular illness. Doesn't mean there aren't going to be those that die from it, but we already have that with influenza.

What I would like to see, though, is each state hanging on just a few months longer with mitigation efforts. Do we all really need yet ANOTHER mutation/variant? That's what causes those mutations--unfettered access to the human body by the virus. If you stop giving the virus hosts, it stops having a fertile ground to mutate. That's the sole way I look at it. So thanks Texas! You've opened up your largely unvaccinated population to more access by the virus. Let's get one more mutation down on the books. Yay!

 

[BrianL]

Well, when you say we are doing reasonably well, what exactly are you referring to?

I mean, positive numbers are down and vaccines are getting out there. We have finally gotten a handle on this thing (maybe), and I know it's been a long time, but this is where we are now. In a few months vaccine penetration will be through the roof. I just feel like we should hang on just a little more and we can really get through this. We don't want to backslide.

 

[Timandalicia]

Why would you have your umbrella open if you’re not getting wet? Unless maybe you’re inside? In which case it’s bad luck to open an umbrella indoors.

This is awesome. And people giving thumbs up to your post is even better. Classic.

 

[LuvMyEAR]

It’s about time.

I cannot help but think “canary in to coal mine.” I hope this strategy does not have a human cost.

 

[danissmart]

I mean, positive numbers are down and vaccines are getting out there. We have finally gotten a handle on this thing (maybe), and I know it's been a long time, but this is where we are now. In a few months vaccine penetration will be through the roof. I just feel like we should hang on just a little more and we can really get through this. We don't want to backslide.

I have lost close to $60,000 the past 12 months. My son has been in half day school, masked, with no sports. And he's one of the lucky ones. We are NOT doing reasonably well. We are drowning.

 

[danissmart]

I cannot help but think “canary in to coal mine.” I hope this strategy does not have a human cost.

Again, Texas is the 14th no mask state. There are 15 of them. The media is lying to you.

 

[sam_gordon]

I mean, positive numbers are down and vaccines are getting out there. We have finally gotten a handle on this thing (maybe), and I know it's been a long time, but this is where we are now. In a few months vaccine penetration will be through the roof. I just feel like we should hang on just a little more and we can really get through this. We don't want to backslide.

But again the question... if the results are the same whether you lock down or open up, is there a point in locking down?

 

[BrianL]

I have lost close to $60,000 the past 12 months. My son has been in half day school, masked, with no sports. And he's one of the lucky ones. We are NOT doing reasonably well. We are drowning.

I'm sorry for that - it really stinks, but we couldn't have it both ways. Did they go too far at the start? Yeah, probably. I remember like 3 weeks of going nowhere but the grocery store. There was room for a happy medium, and I think most places are close to that. I really think we are close to winning this - if we relax restrictions it will only draw it out longer and it will be worse in the long-run. Mistakes have been made, but we can't change that now, but we can assess where we are now and proceed accordingly.

 

[mrp4352]

Unfortunately, it seems the opportunity for a happy medium went out the window when this became a political issue last year, rather than a health issue.

Everybody here realizes that the state lifting the mandate does not mean that local units of government aren't allowed to have their own mandates and that private businesses can still place whatever restrictions they want correct?

Not in Texas, the governor (who is up for re-election next year) has written this in such a way that only private business can mandate. And I have to agree, the timing on this announcement is awfully suspicious with the weather recovery that's still underway here and the CPAC convention over the weekend.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I can agree that measures were extreme, especially in some places. Early on they closed everything here - but after a few weeks we found a place where things could be open with reduced capacity, masks, and general common sense precautions. That is my personal preference. Some states have kept things more locked down than others, though they have higher population density than mine does (technically we didn't have state mandates, but the governor did allow counties/cities to enforce their own). Anyway, there totally needs to be a balance and I feel like we found that balance. What I am saying, if we are doing reasonably well right now then why make drastic changes to the system?

Are the changes really that drastic or is it how they are being reported?

 

[MillauFr]

the timing on this announcement is awfully suspicious with the weather recovery that's still underway here

Yep... Divert and distract. Works every time.

 

[Timandalicia]

Sure. If you had an umbrella made of lace.

And here lieth the problem. The thought that a lace umbrella will keep you from getting wet in a rainstorm.

 

[BrianL]

Are the changes really that drastic or is it how they are being reported?

Well, possibly not. As long as localities can still enforce mandates that's fine, but they are trying ot make a big show of it and that will only encourage people not to follow the measures. The county just south of me in MS repealed their mandates back in the fall, and everyone was trying to go into places without masks. Stores like Target though still required them - I saw several arguments about how the "law was repealed" and they can't enforce it. The poor store employees had to explain that it was still company policy and could be enforced, or just let it go as to avoid the argument and potential escalation (understandable). What happened was in a week the cases spiked severely and they reversed course and started enforcing restrictions again. It's predictable.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Well, possibly not. As long as localities can still enforce mandates that's fine, but they are trying ot make a big show of it and that will only encourage people not to follow the measures. The county just south of me in MS repealed their mandates back in the fall, and everyone was trying to go into places without masks. Stores like Target though still required them - I saw several arguments about how the "law was repealed" and they can't enforce it. The poor store employees had to explain that it was still company policy and could be enforced, or just let it go as to avoid the argument and potential escalation (understandable). What happened was in a week the cases spiked severely and they reversed course and started enforcing restrictions again. It's predictable.

Have faith and believe in people. We don't have to be micromanaged to do the right thing. But remember our needs aren't one size fits all.

 

[fancymouse]

How have you guys been doing being open? Do you have high Covid numbers?

I haven’t been paying much attention to daily numbers, but I did see a chart the other day and FL’s numbers are on downward trajectory like most states. Right when we first started opening back up, numbers were still pretty high, but most of SoFL was still closed and under restrictions. However we ventured out on President’s Day weekend and it was super busy. The tourist area was crazy packed with visitors. So things now are very open. But it did go more slowly than most people think. The other day I did read some data that surprised even me (a local Floridian). In the ranking of states of deaths per population, FL isn’t even in the top 25! FL is one of the oldest states so this is pretty surprising considering FL has been open to some degree for a while now.

 

[angelmav]

I'm sorry for that - it really stinks, but we couldn't ahve it both ways. Did they go too far at the start? Yeah, probably. I remember like 3 weeks of going nowhere but the grocery store. There was room for a happy medium, and I think most places are close to that. I really think we are close to winning this - if we relax restrictions it will only draw it out longer and it will be worse in the long-run. Mistakes have been made, but we can't change that now, but we can assess where we are now and proceed accordingly.

I haven’t been to a restaurant in a year, we don’t leave the house, aren’t allowed to travel outside our county, have to have a mask on to take out the garbage or face a fine if I’m caught or reported, haven’t been inside any sort of shop in a year and only travel to the grocery store once a week which is also my office day. Our numbers are still high and they keep reporting here even after the vaccine these measures will stick around. All the while businesses are closing and people are losing everything. Three weeks, lol, I wish.