I now am officially retired with no desire to return, maybe a restaurant now and then, when they return, nothing else....forced retirement was what I needed, I like having my time to myself, and will find other things to fill time, hoping we can resume life sooner than later.

Ellis is doing online virtual apartment shops. I am doing some next week. I am ready to work. edited for spelling.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/25/2020 12:31PM by Msaddict.

I have a steady income job with MS as a side. I won't go out to do MS until there is a vaccine since I'm temporarily with my parents to take care of them. Not worth their health.

@CoffeeQueen wrote:

I would rather work but cannot until there's a vaccine. That's not a monetary consideration.

Niner, that is a wonderful attitude to have! I have always found that when I'm in a position to share what I have, it has always been repaid to me in some way or another. That will definitely happen to you!

@Niner wrote:

I'm still working, so not getting unemployment. I don't feel right taking MSC jobs now since I don't need the money and so many people are out of work. I'm wondering if I should be doing these jobs in the first place for that reason.

@kimmiemae wrote:

Niner, that is a wonderful attitude to have! I have always found that when I'm in a position to share what I have, it has always been repaid to me in some way or another. That will definitely happen to you!

@Niner wrote:

I'm still working, so not getting unemployment. I don't feel right taking MSC jobs now since I don't need the money and so many people are out of work. I'm wondering if I should be doing these jobs in the first place for that reason.

Agreed the sentiment is nice, but there are MS jobs as diverse as shoppers are. I don't think many relying on MS income for income will feel comfortable with the financial outlay, or be interested in many of the assignments I do.

And that is one of the specific reasons I MS. I am usually laid off for 3-4 months each year. While some might go and get a take a service industry job for a few months, preferring some income and a feeling of being productive, I MS so that I'm not affecting the job market. While I'm qualified to be a barista or bartender, there are people out there who might be only qualified to do that and may need those jobs...

I have no intention to start right back up, since I'm busy with work right now as well, but am eyeing some options for July/August if MSing returns by then.

@KarenMSW wrote:

I don't see that anything will start up until at least June. Many states are shut down for another couple of weeks at least. I am thankful for the CARES Act because it will allow me to take care of known upcoming expenses. Frankly, I was working way too much before the shutdown happens so having to be forced to take a break is actually a good thing (although, I am getting a bit tired of housecleaning). If my regular gas station routes show up in 6 weeks or so, I'll likely take those back (they're outside so hand sanitizer and mask hopefully will be OK), if only to not lose them for the next year. I won't rush to take all the extra stuff, however as I think there will be those who will need that income far more than I for the time being. A lot of my decision will be made by what the results are of the reopening and what Dr. Fauci advises.

The Stay at Home orders for Colorado expires on 04/26, while the major metro areas (Denver and its surrounding cities) will expire on 05/08. Every state varies. With that being said CARES act doesn't help everyone, sadly.

@KarenMSW wrote:

I don't see that anything will start up until at least June. Many states are shut down for another couple of weeks at least. I am thankful for the CARES Act because it will allow me to take care of known upcoming expenses. Frankly, I was working way too much before the shutdown happens so having to be forced to take a break is actually a good thing (although, I am getting a bit tired of housecleaning). If my regular gas station routes show up in 6 weeks or so, I'll likely take those back (they're outside so hand sanitizer and mask hopefully will be OK), if only to not lose them for the next year. I won't rush to take all the extra stuff, however as I think there will be those who will need that income far more than I for the time being. A lot of my decision will be made by what the results are of the reopening and what Dr. Fauci advises.

The Stay at Home orders for Colorado expires on 04/26, while the major metro areas (Denver and its surrounding cities) will expire on 05/08. Every state varies. With that being said CARES act doesn't help everyone, sadly.

Now, remember that they are Sacrificing the weak and the old just so Billy Bob and Thelma Sue can go get a freaking haircut. That is all that the opening up right now is doing. Restaurants and Bars will come later.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2020 04:36PM by 2stepps.

Washington's "stay at home" order is set to expire May 4, but I anticipate it will be extended, followed by a slow open of businesses... As it does so, I'll start picking up mystery shopping as fees meet my standards...

@2stepps wrote:

Now, remember that they are Sacrificing the weak and the old just so Billy Bob and Thelma Sue can go get a freaking haircut. That is all that the opening up right now is doing. Restaurants and Bars will come later.

Close but not quite. They aren't opening up those specific businesses because Thelma and Billy Bob need a haircut. A close look sees they are opening up businesses run by generally lower and middle income self employed people. The ones who wouldn't normally be eligible for unemployment but are now. The more important businesses that are staffed by middle and high middle income employees, many of whom are still getting paid by their employers, are not opening up. There's a pattern. And it's there for a reason.

2stepps,
What an inaccurate, offensive and dramatic post.

No one is being “sacrificed.”

The “weak and old” aren’t being forced to go out if they don’t want to.

Businesses are opening up because people need money not haircuts.

And using the names Billy Bob and Thelma to show your lack of respect for Southerners is offensive.

Beware - by the time you finish the huge report (for a phone shop for crying out loud!), take a bunch of screenshots of the followup, upload them, and then wait for, and document followup, you will have worked for about $2 an hour on the higher paid ones. The standard phone shop ones are $1 an hour. The snippy editors (most are nice, but there are some PITA's) will take out what's left of your self-esteem. Used to love Ellis but once again they are getting on my last nerve. Ten foot pole time.

I think it would be quite foolish to venture out simply because of an imprudent lifting of a stay-at-home order. It is a given that those states lifting orders will see a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases. If the question was as simple as risking one's own life that would be one thing. But one should always care more about the other than oneself. Going out risks not only one's own health, but the health of one's fellows -- and by extension the health of the society, polity, and economy as a whole.

So, the person with children to care for should starve them instead of going to work and earning money that is used to pay for goods and services that support them?

Not all people will qualify for federal and state benefits.

Why not let them choose whether to starve to death at home or have a chance at living by earning a living?

There is not a neatly sliced covid-19 versus everyone issue. Rather, it is a matter for people to decide how best to proceed given their unique circumstances and resources (or lack thereof). People who were well funded and well supplied to begin with have a different set of circumstances to consider than the ones who were needy or struggling when covid-19 came on the scene.

Shoshi99 posts a pay rate for phone shops--The standard phone shop ones are $1 an hour.

Bob replies--Some certainly may pay that sum, BUT, Person To Person Quality paid me $35 last week for two calls and a comparison. My total time, including prep, was approx. two hours and 15 minutes. This morning, I received a notice of approx 200 phone shops, BUT for these one must be a member of the client.

Person to person is the exception! I have always jumped at their phone shops because of that.

My goal since March has remained the same - plan on returning full time end of first week in July. If too many people ignore the pandemic and states open too soon, I expect to be forced to stay at home out of work longer. I will not risk my life and my family's life for the pay that we get as mystery shoppers.

@barbage wrote:

Person to person is the exception! I have always jumped at their phone shops because of that.

What about Verify Healthcare?

I recall seeing some $16 shops or so back "in the day."

I picked up an online financial shop for $30 to do this weekend. I will not be going out to do in-person shops until there is a vaccine or at least more testing. My husband and I came home from Mexico right before Christmas with some mild-flu like symptoms: chills, aches, and dry cough...we think it's possible that we could have had it and already recovered. I know that they think the first case was in China in December, but what if someone from there had traveled to Mexico and it started spreading undetected before they ever diagnosed that first case? If that's the case, I would love to know so I could feel safe going out.

I honestly don't think there are going to be a whole lot of shops for people to do this year. I believe that retailers and restaurants are more concerned about paying their employees and keeping the lights on than paying for a mystery shopper program.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I believe that retailers and restaurants are more concerned about paying their employees and keeping the lights on than paying for a mystery shopper program.

I agree with you!

End of June will be the big test, no?

Is that when CARES requires all employers getting relief to have their workers back to work?

If so, I personally will not be going out during that initial phase. I worry about second wave virus infections starting back up. If they return end of June/ start of July, then by mid-August, we'll know if a new wave has begun.

Going to sit and watch from home for a while.

@JASFLALMT perhaps you can get antibody testing to know for sure? They say the cases in NY came from European travel so it could have been in Mexico at that time. Perhaps that country didn't start testing early enough to truly know.

I really would like to do that but not sure if that's available anywhere in my area. I'll have to look into that.

@kimmiemae wrote:

@JASFLALMT perhaps you can get antibody testing to know for sure? They say the cases in NY came from European travel so it could have been in Mexico at that time. Perhaps that country didn't start testing early enough to truly know.

A-Mexico was late to the game in getting hit. Their numbers are still on the exponential increase. Chances are more likely it was another bug, which is common in winter travel.

B-Don't count on immunity even if the virus you caught was COVID. The mutation since then could leave you open to re-infection, and you need to have a particular level of antibodies for an expectation of immunity that not everyone with a light case might have.

Ultimately, I think everyone should be getting the blood tests, even if just to help the CDC track spread, but be sure to get the newer tests that use a standard blood draw, rather than a finger prick and test strip. The full blood draw will give you an exact count of antibodies so you will know if you have been exposed, and if you can expect some immunity.

Sadly, there are just no guarantees right now, and won't be for a while. The medical community seems to agree that a mutated strain will very likely return in winter, so those who are compromised in any way will need to be extra cautious for at least the rest of this year. For many, that means re-thinking their game plan for work, side-gig, or even enhanced lifestyles.

A popular NYT article that's been spreading recently was this one:
[www.nytimes.com] (April 30th)

@ wrote:

How Long Will a Vaccine Really Take?

A vaccine would be the ultimate weapon against the coronavirus and the best route back to normal life. Officials like Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the top infectious disease expert on the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, estimate a vaccine could arrive in at least 12 to 18 months.

The grim truth behind this rosy forecast is that a vaccine probably won’t arrive any time soon. Clinical trials almost never succeed. We’ve never released a coronavirus vaccine for humans before. Our record for developing an entirely new vaccine is at least four years — more time than the public or the economy can tolerate social-distancing orders.

Public officials have been quoting a 12-18 month period for a possible fast-tracked vaccine, despite that being highly optimistic and all things going perfectly.

I rarely hear the more "realistic" projection, which is that it could take years. In that case, highly effective therapeutics and/or herd immunity might be the only way people return to business as normal. And that means, for me, having "the talk" with family about possible death.

I honestly wonder if public officials could even tell the truth if they knew it: "We're going to have to be honest with the American public. This virus may not have a vaccine for years and may have to run through most of the population to develop herd immunity. There could be a few million deaths along the way." I don't know if they could muster the political courage to say so if true.

@ Steve,

You might be more well-read on this topic, but would the current rate of mutation be fast enough for a uniquely more virulent strain to infect and harm those already immune from the current strain(s)? I had read (vaguely recall) that the virus was quite stable and that mutations aren't happening in a way that would typically lead to a new strain the previously immune people would be affected by.

Steve, I have been traveling to Mexico and several destinations within the US for over 20 years every winter. I am usually bouncing around from place to place for at least a month each winter--usually we go for 2 weeks in November or December and then leave again in January for 2-4 weeks. I am very used to traveling, and while it may be common for other people to get sick during winter travel, it is very unusual for me. I have maybe had a cold twice in the past 20 years and I have never had the flu as an adult (not sure about as a child but doubtful).

And while I know that there were not any cases CONFIRMED in December in Mexico, that doesn't mean that there weren't any. It's possible that people who were sick (perhaps with COVID-19) didn't go to the doctor when they got sick, and if they did, the doctors didn't know what it was and had no way to test for it. I know that there were plenty of people from Asia and Europe at our resort when we were there (for two weeks) and some of the staff members were sick--and none of the staff members we talked to who weren't feeling well went to the doctor but they sure did not miss work, either. It might have been a cold or something else, but who knows. I just know that it was very different from what I have previously experienced.

Yes, I do know that I might not have immunity if I did manage to contract the virus. I also know that it's possible for reinfections, even though there is a possibility that the virus just remains dormant inside the body and then represents later. There was a case in Italy of a woman who had conjunctivitis and had the virus for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, her nose tested negative but her eye fluids tested positive, so she was still carrying it. There have been reports of reinfections from people in Wuhan who had it a few months earlier. I also think that there is a chance they won't be able to create a 100% effective vaccine. Keeping fingers crossed that they can.

I haven't been out in public or exposed to anyone else (other than my sister who was self-quarantined for several weeks before we came within 10 feet of each other) since March 27th. I have been carefully and methodically disinfecting all of my food items from my contactless grocery pickups and have not eaten food from takeout restaurants since mid March. If I didn't get it before, it's unlikely I managed to contract it over the past 5 weeks.

I have no idea if there are antibody tests available in my part of the Midwest. I am going to guess it's unlikely, though I plan on inquiring about it this week through my health provider.

I plan on getting a flu shot for the first time in early fall when it becomes available. It will be my first flu shot in my life, but I have heard health experts say that it will help healthcare workers exponentially for people to get the flu shot to help differentiate from COVID-19 this fall.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

A-Mexico was late to the game in getting hit. Their numbers are still on the exponential increase. Chances are more likely it was another bug, which is common in winter travel.

B-Don't count on immunity even if the virus you caught was COVID. The mutation since then could leave you open to re-infection, and you need to have a particular level of antibodies for an expectation of immunity that not everyone with a light case might have.

Ultimately, I think everyone should be getting the blood tests, even if just to help the CDC track spread, but be sure to get the newer tests that use a standard blood draw, rather than a finger prick and test strip. The full blood draw will give you an exact count of antibodies so you will know if you have been exposed, and if you can expect some immunity.

Sadly, there are just no guarantees right now, and won't be for a while. The medical community seems to agree that a mutated strain will very likely return in winter, so those who are compromised in any way will need to be extra cautious for at least the rest of this year. For many, that means re-thinking their game plan for work, side-gig, or even enhanced lifestyles.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/2020 04:48PM by JASFLALMT.

@MFJohnston wrote:

Washington's "stay at home" order is set to expire May 4, but I anticipate it will be extended, followed by a slow open of businesses... As it does so, I'll start picking up mystery shopping as fees meet my standards...

Ha, Ha. Standards. Fees have never met my standards. I had to lower my standards to be in this interesting industry. I suspect many others will be lowering their standards as well when they jump back in. The more each person's financial life has been devastated the lower the standards will get in many cases.

MFJ does a lot of video, I don't think you do video, sandyf? That's like comparing apples to oranges, really.

I read that "as" in the MFJ post wrong. I was thinking " as fees meet my standards" was being used as an adverb! No I am not versed that well in grammar. I had to look up the different definitions of as to see what the one I read was called. MFJ was evidently using as in the form of a conjunction. See how smart google can make us sound!

@JASFLALMT wrote:

MFJ does a lot of video, I don't think you do video, sandyf? That's like comparing apples to oranges, really.

He also does (or did) do route shopping, so that will be interesting for sure.

Honestly I just don't know how much there is going to be to do in the way of shops at all in the future, video or not, but I am not really willing to jump out there in public, mask and gloves or not. There are plenty of people not wearing masks, which worries me. Did you read that in OK retail workers were threatened and verbally abused for asking customers to please wear masks while in the stores? It was an order from their mayor that he had to amend to protect store employees. SMH.