What are you doing different as a shut-in?

[airboy]

[/hijack on]
Airboy, I was talking to my mom yesterday and you came up.  I remember a while back you mentioned that you could have communion delivered to your house.  I was telling my mom that and she asked if that was once or every week.  I thought it was every week, but then I couldn't remember if it was just for Easter or what...so, what was the deal with that again?  My mom offers the communion at her church (Catholic).

[/hijack off]

Every week for shut-ins at our parish.  Can't say for anywhere else.  Some people this goes on for years because they are very frail and cannot travel.

[airboy]

I don't know about you guys, but this whole mask, social distancing, etc. stuff is really starting to bum me out.  I was never someone who went out much to begin with, but now I genuinely hate going out and seeing everyone with face masks, everyone avoiding one another, and so on.  It's just a complete bummer.

All of this is really starting to take a toll on my mental well-being.  Overall I'm one of the very fortunate ones, I'm still safely employed and actually have more free time than I've ever had in my adult life.  But...I can't help bumming about the state of affairs, the suffering of others, and what the future holds for everyone including me.

Unfortunately, this was a predictable side effect and has been well documented in the medical press.  Total prescriptions filled for antidepressants & anti-anxiety drugs have increased substantially according to the WSJ asking several major groups that track aggregate prescriptions.

Another side effect is people avoiding treatment for other problems.  During past disease outbreaks people stopped treatment for diabetes, stopped getting their hearts checked for chest pain, etc.....   As a result, deaths from other diseases take a sharp increase in the following months.  Again, well known in the medical literature and highly predictable.

[RedArgo]

now I genuinely hate going out and seeing everyone with face masks, everyone avoiding one another, and so on.  It's just a complete bummer.

You should come to Arizona, I hardly see anyone wearing masks or social distancing. 

[steve58]

Interesting.  This morning I went first to Home Depot and then to the Walmart next door.  In HD, masks were rare; worn by maybe 10% of the people, employees included.  In WM, pretty much the exact opposite.  Almost everyone had masks, including the employees.  But I was surprised, almost shocked, by a young mother with two very small children none wearing masks. :-\

[Sir Slash]

Were her kids THAT ugly?     Pretty much same here. Last Sunday Home Depot had almost all their employees with masks and about half the customers were wearing them though the store was far from full. Lots of traffic out and about but no large groups. The line at Dairy Queen was around the block. 

[Gusington]

You can't shop without a mask here.

[Sir Slash]

How do you buy one if you don't already have one then?  :P

[steve58]

How do you buy one if you don't already have one then?  :P

From the internet of course!  That's where I ordered mine from.  Of course, the item description (Amazon) never mentioned they'd be shipping from China!  :-\ >:( #:-)

[DoctorQuest]

My wife is a seamstress. She made masks for us and the kids. They work great.

[ArizonaTank]

now I genuinely hate going out and seeing everyone with face masks, everyone avoiding one another, and so on.  It's just a complete bummer.

You should come to Arizona, I hardly see anyone wearing masks or social distancing.

I drove by an IHOP on Mothers Day (one of the few places with open dining rooms) on the west side of Phoenix. There were about 20 people waiting to get in outside the building. Everybody real close, few masks...  The parking lot was packed. I can only imagine what it was like inside. The crowd did seem to be mostly younger (under 40). Guess we are about to find out how dangerous this is...or isn't.

But if you want to see plenty of masks, go to Sun City. The older folks seem to be much more careful, at least as far as I can see.

[RedArgo]

But if you want to see plenty of masks, go to Sun City. The older folks seem to be much more careful, at least as far as I can see.

My in-laws winter in Sun City West, and I was pleasantly surprised how seriously they took the masks and social distancing.

Then they got on a plane and flew back to Illinois about a week ago, so hopefully they are okay.

We live on the suburban southwest side and at least the few places I've been, I don't think many people here are taking it seriously.

[Gusington]

I actually bought masks last year to mow the lawn in to keep allergens out of my mouth and nose, and they worked great. Didn't think they would come in handy in the way they are now.

[airboy]

I actually bought masks last year to mow the lawn in to keep allergens out of my mouth and nose, and they worked great. Didn't think they would come in handy in the way they are now.

We have a stockpile.  My wife even had the extra special masks for when she does her artsy welding.

[Toonces]

IF I was going to risk getting this disease by going out to a restaurant, you better friggin' believe it would be IHOP.  Good lord, what is wrong with people?

[Sir Slash]

Agree. I can see dying for bacon, but pancakes?