Stay well, Niner!

@Insight: I dunno about churches and Easter services. It actually might depend upon the size of the space and how they configure their stuff... I remember outdoor, sunrise services. Thinking only about those services and their settings, I am fairly certain that they could happen this year-- but with a few modifications. That shaded area (I see it in my mind's eye) could be used for seating. Now, the seats are at least six feet apart, and most of the congregation is arriving... (the fantasy continues).. a few of the wealthier members got together and donated hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands of masks to the church so that everyone attending the now modified services can wear one..

@Tarantado wrote:

@shoptastic wrote:

This might aid in reducing some fatalities:
[www.yahoo.com]

Well.... Being an insider with the company I work at, I do know that there are efforts in converting or building new hospitals as we speak from the Army Corp of Engineers. From what I know of the project, procurement might be on-going, so detailed engineering is probably in progress as you read this.

That's good to know. We really need all the capacity we can get.

You can't get slots for curb pickup in either NY or PA. I'm using what we have for now and am going back to NY for my mom. Hopefully those services will expand.

I have to order well ahead, except for the two family owned and operated markets. I can call in and pick up the same day with them.

I shopped at Aldi this morning. They are allowing a small number of patrons in at a time, cleaning the carts when they are returned, actually putting the quarters in the slots and allowing patrons to go only one way down the aisles. They are enforcing the 6 foot distance and also have senior hours. Walmart has curb service but it is for several days out and may do that next time I need to order.

I noticed Aldi has clear protective barriers installed at the checkout registers, too.

I saw that also

@Insight wrote:

I shopped at Aldi this morning. They are allowing a small number of patrons in at a time, cleaning the carts when they are returned, actually putting the quarters in the slots and allowing patrons to go only one way down the aisles. They are enforcing the 6 foot distance and also have senior hours. Walmart has curb service but it is for several days out and may do that next time I need to order.

If it were up to me, I'd extend these practices UNTIL we get

a.) a vaccine (the gold standard);
b.) have sufficient herd immunity;
c.) get effective immunity testing; and/or
d.) get a very effective therapeutic(s)

I worry these measures (like the cashier shields and senior hours) will go away in the fall of this year (or sooner?).

Hoping we can extend these measures for as long as need be.

It would be plain stupid to take down the plexiglass barriers.

It will take at least a year to learn any useful information about the first batches and tested vaccines. It is early days in that process.

I was in a store recently that posted the maximum number of persons they were permitting to be there at any given, open time. I didn't think they could fit that many people in the store, even if they were all smushed together and not observing six feet of space. Who knew!?

@shoptastic wrote:

@Insight wrote:

I shopped at Aldi this morning. They are allowing a small number of patrons in at a time, cleaning the carts when they are returned, actually putting the quarters in the slots and allowing patrons to go only one way down the aisles. They are enforcing the 6 foot distance and also have senior hours. Walmart has curb service but it is for several days out and may do that next time I need to order.

If it were up to me, I'd extend these practices UNTIL we get

a.) a vaccine (the gold standard);
b.) have sufficient herd immunity;
c.) get effective immunity testing; and/or
d.) get a very effective therapeutic(s)

I worry these measures (like the cashier shields and senior hours) will go away in the fall of this year (or sooner?).

Hoping we can extend these measures for as long as need be.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Yo should try curbside pickup for groceries. Pay online, pop the trunk, no contact. Disinfect items when you get home. Much safer.

Nearly impossible to get a time slot at any grocery delivery company in CA. I had groceries delivered yesterday only 75% of my order came.

I was talking about curbside pickup.

I decided to try curbside because it seemed so easy and now seems like a good time, right? I went online to place a curbside order and the next time/day available for curbside pickup at any of the HEBs in my area is April 27.

Well might as well set it up now.

@roflwofl wrote:

I decided to try curbside because it seemed so easy and now seems like a good time, right? I went online to place a curbside order and the next time/day available for curbside pickup at any of the HEBs in my area is April 27.

Curbside pickup has been suspended in my NYC area. It's order online for delivery (no slots 2 weeks out), or visit the store to buy in person.

Our curbside pickup dates are about 9 days out, i thought that was bad.

Don't wait until you are out of stuff you need.

I've been relying a lot on companies with online stores that ship via UPS, FEDEX, and USPS for pantry and non-food items. Friends who go out for groceries have been giving me produce and meat in exchange for the cloth masks I sew. I've been enjoying a banquet every night.

I plan to make an in-person visit to a grocery store by Monday--my first time out since 10 March. I have to be tentative due to wild Spring weather in the NYC metro area.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/2020 09:40PM by Susan L..

@Shop-et-al wrote:

It will take at least a year to learn any useful information about the first batches and tested vaccines. It is early days in that process.

I was in a store recently that posted the maximum number of persons they were permitting to be there at any given, open time. I didn't think they could fit that many people in the store, even if they were all smushed together and not observing six feet of space. Who knew!?

@shoptastic wrote:

@Insight wrote:

I shopped at Aldi this morning. They are allowing a small number of patrons in at a time, cleaning the carts when they are returned, actually putting the quarters in the slots and allowing patrons to go only one way down the aisles. They are enforcing the 6 foot distance and also have senior hours. Walmart has curb service but it is for several days out and may do that next time I need to order.

If it were up to me, I'd extend these practices UNTIL we get

a.) a vaccine (the gold standard);
b.) have sufficient herd immunity;
c.) get effective immunity testing; and/or
d.) get a very effective therapeutic(s)

I worry these measures (like the cashier shields and senior hours) will go away in the fall of this year (or sooner?).

Hoping we can extend these measures for as long as need be.

Yeah, vaccines take a long time - usually a decade. In emergencies like COVID-19, a promising candidate can be fast-tracked through various approval stages (with the understanding certain unknowns and risks with the vaccine may be present). That is what people will be trying to do with a COVID-19 vaccine. And 1-1.5 years for an "approved, fast-tracked" vaccine would be on the optimistic side!! It could certainly take longer. Even after an approved candidate, there is the problem of mass production and getting it out to people quickly. That is an issue right now. I can only hope we are working on solving that production capacity problem.

In the meantime, I hope therapeutics will help with lowering the fatality and serious complications rate.

re: herd immunity

One very, very ...not-so (??) long-shot...that I'm hoping for is that our case rate is much more understated than we presume. That would mean:

a.) the real fatality rate is likely lower (as many more people have it than officially reported)
b.) the path to herd immunity may be closer

re: b.)

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reported that the number of cellphone users dropped by 21 million in February 2020 compared with November 2019. That has been a source of much speculation that China's case and death counts have been vastly underreported. China has officially said they have/had:

82,000 cases
3,500 deaths

It could be true, but my first reaction is: REEEEEEEEALLLLLLY??? 1.4 billion citizens and you managed to have so few cases and deaths? There were reports that people were dying in the streets and cremated without being reported in the official statistics. There were videos of people getting hauled out of their apartments and homes if their temperatures were showing a fever and detained. Reports have it that people in detention died without being reported as having COVID-19.

Yes, we may never know, but the circumstantial evidence points to a much higher case and death rate than what China is telling the world.

Back to that 21 million fewer cell phone user statistic. That doesn't have to mean 21 million have died or have COVID-19 hospitalizations. But a percentage of that 21 million could very well reflect those results. Some people just might be out of a job and cannot pay their bill, etc. Hard to know for sure. But, the theory is that many of those "lost users" were COVID-19 patients who didn't get counted in the official numbers.

IF THAT IS TRUE, maybe the R0 (transmission rate from one person to others) is much higher than we think and/or the case rate is much higher than we think and much more people have already been infected with COVID-19. We didn't have (and don't have) adequate, large-scale testing. And many people can be asymptomatic.

I can only hope many more people have had COVID-19 already and have recovered with immunity than we think. That would bring us closer to herd immunity. However, without solid evidence, I'd err on the side of caution and not necessarily factor that into our response.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2020 05:01PM by shoptastic.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I have to order well ahead, except for the two family owned and operated markets. I can call in and pick up the same day with them.

We have supplies for maybe 1.5 months more or so. I purposely helped my parents stock up a bunch when I understood what was coming our way in early/mid-March.

However, now, I feel like I should have stocked for a year!

I hate having to go out. With curbside ordering:

a.) is the premium (cost) much higher?
b.) do you tip the person putting the items in your vehicle
c.) can you still get essentials like toilet paper, rubbing alcohol, bleach, etc.?

Or, are c.)'s supplies first come-first serve and they run out whenever on shipment days? ...meaning you'd still have to go in the store?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2020 08:31PM by shoptastic.

@Shop-et-al wrote:

Stay well, Niner!

@Insight: I dunno about churches and Easter services. It actually might depend upon the size of the space and how they configure their stuff... I remember outdoor, sunrise services. Thinking only about those services and their settings, I am fairly certain that they could happen this year-- but with a few modifications. That shaded area (I see it in my mind's eye) could be used for seating. Now, the seats are at least six feet apart, and most of the congregation is arriving... (the fantasy continues).. a few of the wealthier members got together and donated hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands of masks to the church so that everyone attending the now modified services can wear one..

My old and new church are NOT doing Easter service. Of course, we have a shelter-in-place order prohibiting it anyway in my state. Sermons have been online since a few weeks ago.

I cannot imagine in a time like this that a church would still congregate. Singing can literally be deadly to someone. I can imagine the fluids flying out of people's mouths and landing on others.

I've attended so many churches and have personally never seen one with "spaced" seating. You could order it. But, the natural seating is always very cramped.

Watch the news for stories coming out of Florida where it is permitted, and Louisiana where the same minister has been arrested several Sundays in a row for violating state regulations. Sadly, there will be plenty, whether you can imagine it or not.

@shoptastic wrote:

I cannot imagine in a time like this that a church would still congregate.

One family owned place where I call in my order has no service charge. Everything I have ordered so far was in stock other than prosciutto at the smaller market and OC cranberry juice that was on sale at a different grocery store. The other family owned grocer has a $3 service charge for the call-in service. A larger regional chain also has a $2.95 convenience fee for curbside, but I can order online from them.

I don't know about TP, bleach, rubbing alcohol, Lysol wipes, sanitizer, etc. because those are items I had on-hand since early winter of last year. I also suppose it depends on where you live. Call the stores and ask.

Someone posted that WalMart has no fee for curbside pickup over a certain amount, but it's hard to get a timeslot. I'd rather pay a convenience fee at a regular grocery store than give Walmart my money. I think Target also offers curbside (not sure of the fee), but they have overpriced groceries and a limited selection.

Your best bet is to go online and look at the websites of stores in your area to find the information you need. If it's a family owned store, call them and ask.

So far there has been no contact between me and the person bringing out my groceries. I think perhaps back in the 1960s people tipped for grocery carryout, but I am pretty sure that is no longer the norm. In fact, at one store in my area I once saw an older lady try to give a grocery bagger a tip for helping her to her car and unloading, and he declined saying it was against policy. Not the same as restaurant carryout at all.

@myst4au wrote:

Watch the news for stories coming out of Florida where it is permitted, and Louisiana where the same minister has been arrested several Sundays in a row for violating state regulations. Sadly, there will be plenty, whether you can imagine it or not.

@shoptastic wrote:

I cannot imagine in a time like this that a church would still congregate.

I've heard of stories like that. It saddens me greatly.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

....So far there has been no contact between me and the person bringing out my groceries. I think perhaps back in the 1960s people tipped for grocery carryout, but I am pretty sure that is no longer the norm. In fact, at one store in my area I once saw an older lady try to give a grocery bagger a tip for helping her to her car and unloading, and he declined saying it was against policy. Not the same as restaurant carryout at all.

Ty for your take. It's good to know what it's like in other people's areas even if not the same here. Helps calm my nerves too just learning how others are doing.

I definitely think we should begin and/or end our comments with the disclaimer that each area is different. But, it's been nice to know what is going on elsewhere in America.

If I knew that I had immunity and my parents did too, I'd consider volunteering if allowed.

My mom has considered giving away her stimulus checks to others more in need.

This crisis is both very scary (dad's heart), yet also a time I've seen a ton of love being spread. Wish we had immunity so that we could do more.

I have a good report. Some of my personal risk factors have abated. I am less busy, more relaxed, and catching up on a myriad of things that never were accomplished when I was at a previous job or doing shops, audits, and merchandising gigs. Mind you, some time last year I had decided to stay at home more this year, but COVID-19 mandates have enforced this decision.

I will be shocked and jealous if you can order TP for pickup. Tomorrow will be a month since I last saw it on a shelf anywhere in L..A.

As of today, masks are also a requirement in public here. While there's no specific punishment for not wearing one, a business has the right to refuse you entry without one. It's also seemingly become a new business venture for the guys who are always waiting outside Home Depot for day-work. I stopped by yesterday for propane and there was a traffic jam in the driveway with people offering masks.

And this...is one of the big changes that may stick around for a while; Mask Fashion! It's not PC to wear surgical masks, so fashion masks have become the new rage. Like a tattoo, they can show personality. They can be colorful, or have funny sayings, or a toothy grin. Suddenly, we are all bandits....

Fashionable masks have been a trend in Japan already for years now. Wish I would've copped a fashionable mask while I was there a couple years ago.....

We have many farms around here that have $10 boxes of veggies. Also one of the purveyors to restaurants are also delivering items Jack Scalise is doing it here. I don’t know if the are local or not. They have a $50 minimum but do not charge for delivery
I shopped yesterday and probably will not need anything for a few weeks.
I had a freezer full of meals from the restaurants I had shopped in the last few months.

Kroger pickup is free but they are scheduled more than a week in advance here. Tips are frowned upon. You have to go in to get things like TP so I get that from Amazon. I just ordered a box of 80 rolls lot $50 this morning. I got a lot because its getting harder instead of easier to get. I have been checking the app multiple times a day to get something that doesnt ship from China.
Walmart pickup is free with a $30 minimum. No tipping that I have ever seen. I offered a tip the first time and it was declined. Also the TP is never in stock there either. Other places like Lowes and Tractor Supply are beginning pickup service but I have no experience with it.