The View from the Hermitage, Day 359

Finding coronavirus news was difficult today. Harry and Meghan news? Seemingly everywhere. Journalist Piers Morgan resigned from ITV's Good Morning Britain show after remarks he made about Meghan drew over 41,000 complaints in under 24 hours. Hey, if you're going to do something, do it in a big way. Buckingham Palace issued a statement to the effect that the accusations of racism within the royal ranks are troubling and will be investigated. So far, any fallout from the interview has been on the royal family not Harry and Meghan. 

I found some results from a survey of Europeans about lessons they had learned from lockdowns. It didn't surprise me to read that 70 percent of those who responded felt that a permanent change at work was inevitable and 80 percent wanted to work more from home. Over half--60 percent-- reported that their spending patterns had changed. Seventy-four percent said they were willing to pay more for products made nationally. Half reported valuing relationships more now, while 40 percent wanted more or different space at home, such as a balcony or a garden. One reported noted that the lockdown basically greatly accelerated trends that already existed. 

What have I learned in the year of self-lockdown? I worked from home for more than 20 years, and said more than once that if told to move back on campus to do my job, I would quit. In terms of spending, there are few impulse buys now since all shopping has been done online or by Son #1. Tied into spending, I will buy products even at a higher price from a locally owned business rather than online or from a large chain of stores. Do I value relationships more? I value relationships with specific people more. Some people I thought of as "friends" pre-lockdown, I would now call "acquaintances." I realize I haven't missed these people much if at all.

They may have burned masks in Idaho recently, but only seven percent of Americans say they plan to stop wearing masks in public after getting vaccinated. a whopping 81 percent said they will continue to wear a mask, and 66 percent said that they would continue distancing. Finally, 87 percent said that they would keep washing their hands frequently. The pandemic has had some positive effects and made people more aware of some basic health things such as the value of cleanliness. 

The health folks here have started vaccinating people in my group: ages 16 to 64 with a serious underlying risk factor. I've been anxiously checking email and answering every phone call in hopes it will be how I can make an appointment. Besides Virginia, 36 other states and the District of Columbia have expanded vaccine eligibility for pre-existing conditions. There happens to be some variance between states as to what is considered a pre-existing condition and how serious each condition is. At least 30 states consider Type 2 diabetes a serious factor, while only 23 consider Type 1 diabetes a serious factor. I have no background in medicine, but I would think Type 1 should be more serious than Type 2. There seem to be more ways to treat or control Type 2 than there are for Type 1. 

Fingers are crossed for an email or phone call this evening. I know someone who said that they received their email about scheduling at 10:45 pm.

The View from the Hermitage, Day 151

I got an email from a friend in Melbourne, Australia. You want to talk lockdown? They know how to lock down in Oz, at least in Melbourne. They're in what they call Stage Four lockdown. I have no idea if the number of the stage is supposed to match the number of reasons one can be out, but there are only four reasons one can be out of the house. First, they can be an essential worker and carry a permit to prove it. Second, they can be shop for food or supplies. Third, they can seek medical care. Last, they can get one hour of outdoor exercise daily. Curfew runs from 8:00 pm to 5;00 am. With the exception of medical care and essential work, a person must stay within a 5km radius from their home. Nonessential businesses and retail are shut. Face masks are mandatory, and a person can be fined for not wearing one. Police can stop people randomly to check their destination or reason for being out. How long will this all last? Until at least mid-September.

Can you imagine the uproar if a US city were to even suggest instituting such measures? Why, it would be un-American! You can't take away our basic freedoms! Such drastic measures weren't even tried by any city here. I don't want to think about how bad things might have to be for a city or state to try to lock down that tightly. The husband read an article that mentioned that Australia's Northern Territory would be keeping borders closed for another 18 months, which means just about the end of 2021. That would also go over like the proverbial lead balloon here. Come to think of it, though, that might be how long we end up banned from entering any European countries or our neighbor to the north, Canada. And I could see HWSNBN saying that if a country won't let US citizens in, the US won't let their citizens in. 

The local university has announced move-in procedures for students who will be living on campus. No mass arrivals such as we faced with each of the sons. Each student gets a two-hour window and can have two people helping. Masks are required as is social distance from other moving-in parties. They did something similar in May or June when they let students return to move out of the dorm rooms they left over spring break. I don't expect things will go swimmingly during move-in, but I'm not sure the general public will hear about it if things don't.

Virginia's case number was up yesterday, sending the rolling seven-day average back up. When will we get back down to the case numbers we had when we first started to reopen? Your guess is as good as mine.