My feeling is that things will be transitioning back to "normal" by June, so I am heartened to hear that others are predicting May. We had a few days with summer temps (including 89 degrees at the end of March!!) and when we get those first hot days my son and I like to go out for ice cream. I assured him that come summer we will be able to go. Right now I'm abstaining from ice cream altogether because it contributes to congestion and if I get sick, I want to help my body all I can. So for us "We will have ice cream soon enough" is a comforting thought.
I put normal in quotes because I sure hope we see huge shifts in society and that business as usual (rampant consumerism, predatory capitalism, and gross economic inequality) passes away.
@deetoo. Mike DeWine Gov of Ohio together with Dr Amy Acton have done a great job as well. Getting out early with closings , schools closed March 12 with all non essential shortly after. My workplace closed March 17. It is working and compared to neighboring states MI , and PA numbers are way down. Hospitals are not overwhelmed. They do a daily presser that is authentic and calming . He is a Midwest version of Cuomo - very different styles. They are trying to figure out the most responsible way to slowly roll out openings next month. I don’t know if it will happen that quickly but I feel confident they will do it based on science. And there have been protestors at statehouse. - opposing Actons decision to keep people at home till at least May 3rd.
He is a Republican! I am not and did not vote for him. Yet, very impressed with his handling here.
@kksali, I saw Gov. DeWine on TV and was impressed as well.
Larry Hogan, who is the Republican Governor of our neighboring state of Maryland, has also been doing a great job. He has led the way for D.C. and Virginia (my state) to join with him. Virginia's Governor Northam is a Democrat and has been quite responsive, but initially dragged his feet a little in some areas. Surprising, especially since Northam is a physician. I am a Democrat but would happily vote for Hogan if I lived in Maryland.
@deetoo - Let me guess - Front Royal or Winchester? I used to work at the hospital in Winchester - very conservative all around. It was one of many jobs I've had to eventually leave for not being Christian.
I agree it will come back in Fall, bit of a "blip" - I think it will be a faster "curve" but not as steep nor quite as deadly. Even so, it will come as a surprise to many.
Something I recently learned about viruses - they are not really living things. They straddle the worlds of animate and inanimate. Kinda like Schroedinger's cat. They are RNA packed protein molecules that just want to replicate and replicate. They're more like dandelion seeds and less like insects. This is why it's so hard to battle against them. Food for thought...
@laura-f, Close enough -- Strasburg. My friend is in her mid-70's, very progressive, psychically gifted. She lived here but went back to care for an aging uncle, then after he died, stayed because living in Shenandoah county is cheap, beautiful and peaceful. Said that her neighbors are kind, will give you the shirts off their backs, BUT ... That other piece drives her nuts. She loves it when I visit, since there's no one there with whom she can really connect.
Thanks for the information of the meat packing plant issue.
There are many concerns about meat/ poultry and pork processing plants. This may be a big new problem many will need to navigate in the weeks ahead. I know dairy farms in AZ have been dumping milk before it gets processed because of over production. Framers are plowing over their fields because they can't get enough workers to harvest and restaurants are shuttered.
https://time.com/5819878/smithfield-pork-plant-closes-coronavirus/
So rats are having a hard time during COVI-19. Their food sources are closed and they are starving, angry and aggressive. Their behavior is changing.
aah Lawrence, thanks for sharing your friend's insights. I agree with your psychic friend that a turning point for this virus would be the month of May and things will turn around. I can't see this lock down going pass the month of May. I'm sure there will be guidelines to follow for a long while. and yes, I do think a vaccine will be ready much sooner.