The news from Chicago is that not only have the schools been shuttered and public events of more than 500 people banned but bars and restaurants are now open only for carry-out and delivery.
Tomorrow is St. Patricks Day. In Chicago at any rate St. Paddy’s Day is to bars what Valentine’s Day is to florists and candy companies. Closing bars on two days before March 17 is serious medicine here.
For us this has little impact. We haven’t dined in a restaurant for months but for many people it’s a way of life. I cook everything from scratch and between what we’ve got in our freezer and in our pantry we could probably go for months without venturing out of the house. A lack of fresh vegetables would be tedious (not to mention unhealthful) but we could endure. That’s not the case for a lot of people who rely on prepared foods.
Update
Every morning Kara and I walk 2-3 miles (3-4 on weekends). This morning on our walk we saw about ten people (five in a single lawn crew—they weren’t practicing “social distancing”) and even fewer cars were on the road. On a normal day there would have been dozens of cars and two to three times as many people out and about.
The courthouse here is closing too, except felony matters, matters involving individuals in custody, juvenile detention, juvenile temporary custody, orders of protection and emergency hearings on family matters.
I’ve seen court restrictions floating since last week, with each circuit apparently establishing its own rules, but this is probably where most are heading. Since these rules are discussed and voted on by the judges, one can imagine what sort of norms will be in place with any post-crisis litigation.
PD,
I’m scheduled for jury duty next Monday. Haven’t heard anything yet, but I’m guessing it will be canceled.
It’s strange that people are unwilling to go outside. Some fresh air is better than being stuck inside all day.
I have the strangest feeling that “social distancing” will be interpreted as “cocooning yourself at home and streaming Netflix”. My wife predicted a sharp increase in Netflix subscriptions.
During the Spanish flu tents were erected outside for an overflow area to house patients. Ironically, it was in these outdoor areas that the recovery rate was better than those recouping in enclosed hospitals. Basically, sunlight, fresh air and exercise are time-tested ways that are beneficial during medical events like are being experienced today.
Dave: Agree with your comment regarding Netflix cocooning. Pretty funny. Fortunately can’t happen to us as we lack TV. I’ve also seen some amusing comments and memes regarding a coming sharp uptick of pregnancy counseling and availability and crowding of delivery rooms towards Christmastime.
My wife and I went out once this weekend, grocery shopping. The local Shoprite was busy but not hysterical, and they had a whole aisle full of freshly delivered TP. Only a few empty shelves, main frozen dinners and pizza. Traffic light but existent. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods is another matter. This is at the Delaware/PA state line.
My wife is a very outdoors person, hates to be in, and we have an middle-aged but still active pitty who wants (but doesn’t already get) three walks a day. Also no lack of outside work to do as half the property is infested with multiflora rose and other noxious aliens. And other than a laptop no connection to outside world except radio (stopped watching TV when they went to HDTV). But plenty to read between internet, newspapers, and hardcopy.
My sister and her husband are in Aus wrapping up father in law’s affairs (old and had to put in full service nursing care). Streets in Brisbane are empty, they’re taking it very seriously down there. And it’s hot hot hot this time of year in southern Queensland so Kung Flu may not be affected by weather (although some of the cases may be imports via air traffic from pandemiced regions).
I’m surprised my wife’s office (mental health therapy) is shutting down. She will be doing therapy by phone for clients who want it.
Tom Wolfe of PA has ordered a voluntary shut-down of all non-essential businesses in PA until the end of the month. Smart using the word ‘voluntary’ because there aren’t enough police in the country to enforce it. The small business, a repair and equipment shop, I am at depends on walk-ins and repairs, so they’re in a wait-and-see mode. A furlough would hurt them bad.
Local supermarket tonight had some empty shelves, especially bread and to my surprise bottled water. People STILL buying packs of TP. Frozen foods seem to have been restocked.
London Breed, San Francisco Mayor, just ordered a lockdown of the city through April 7 with the possibility of extending the curfew even longer. No one to leave residences except for food runs and medical situations. No word on whether the homeless will obey much less comprehend the order. Ditto their drug suppliers. I expect a crime spree once withdrawal symptoms kick in.
In the Los Angeles area of CA, especially on the Westside, people are staying home, food businesses are open only for take-out, all schools and colleges are reverting to classes on line, markets are experiencing unbelievable traffic of people wanting food and goods. Our local market said that one business day was greater than Christmas & Thanksgiving combined. Costco had 6+ lines of people circled around the store before it opened on Sunday morning. Another Costco store in the Valley had people camping out over night to be first in line in the morning. Our son today started a 2-week hiatus from work?
Crazy doesn’t do the hysterical behavior justice!