I had a strong vision last year that we'd be opening up in September 2021, and I think it's happening, but it doesn't mean we've reached herd immunity.
I don't think it is possible to reach herd immunity with Covid 19 (according to latest data I found) until 60-70% of population are vaccinated.
The highest percentage vaccinated in this country is 53 percent in a small state. Also people are moving across state lines and national borders constantly, so I wonder how we can get herd immunity until the whole country's vaccine rate is higher. We are now at 40%.
My Governor in Virginia, Ralph Northam, just lifted all of the state’s limits on business capacity and social distancing, as well as the requirement to wear masks except on public transit, in health-care facilities or in congregate settings. Today I listened to Biden's speech in Alexandria VA, and I thought I heard him say that Virginia has reached 64% vaccination. If that's true, that can't possibly mean fully vaccinated. I think that number is around 44%. Of course if you look at Virginia broken down by counties, it varies depending on where you live. I live in one of the largest counties in Virginia, and the vaccination rate is currently 57% for 1 dose, 46% fully vaccinated.
@jeanne-mayell, about your vision that we'd be opening up in September 2021 -- during our last RTF night I saw us reaching 70% herd immunity by September 2021, but it looks like we might reach that percentage sooner.
Anyway, I'll still be masking when I go to the stores. My internal jury is out about dining indoors. It might depend on the size and layout of the restaurant. For now, I'm keeping it al fresco.
You know things are normalizing when Costco says free samples will start being available in early June. There will be some changes in how they will be distributed but it has been 14 months folks.
FREE SAMPLES!
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/28/business/costco-food-sampling-coming-back/?hpt=ob_blogfooterold
@lovendures although i haven’t been to a store in over a week , i was initially excited to hear this news because this girl loves a taste here and there from Costco . My next thought was not all of what we did before is how it should be again. I went to Costco and wore a mask. It was alot less crowded. I liked it. Everyone was better about hygiene . I liked that too.
It will be interesting to see how it is now. I think the people who do the sampling will be glad to have their jobs back.
Well, i cant speak for everyone in the UK, but my family are still taking caution. Half of us are fully vaccinated, but we have a new variant circulating and while the protection against it looks promising, we are just being extremely careful still. In the UK we fully open up more in June, so it will be interesting to see what occurs.
I've heard there is a plan to give everyone a booster covid vaccine annually with the flu vaccine, to help keep on top of different variants which sounds promising.
As for the new normal, I just hope people appreciate how precious everything is that we all take for granted and that helps give people a new found perspective and appreciation.
I do feel like there has been lots of spiritual lessons throughout this pandemic, in terms of life lessons, like a collective test. But sadly some people really have not learnt anything, and we are seeing a repeat of the same mistakes and ignorance. How this all translates moving forward I don't know... But it does seem like some people and some ways of living will never be the same again - both good and bad.
I will say - not from me - from another person who is psychic - that there is a new virus from China hitting us this year. Please can we all meditate on this? I really hope it isn't true...
The Chinese government says a 41-year-old man has contracted what might be the world’s first human case of the H10N3 strain of bird flu, but that the risk of large-scale spread is low. China's National Health Commission said the man is in stable condition
I hope this is not it.
Apologies for slight thread derailment.
What does one wear in a re-opened society?
I really enjoyed this WP article about how we are all conflicted about fashion as we begin to re-emerge in society. It is a good read.
I can relate. I went to my first wedding a few weeks ago and had nothing I could or wanted to wear. It had been 2 years since I attended one and things have certainly changed since then.
I also took my first trip clothes shopping in about 18 months. While it was kind exciting, it was also challenging. Only some stores have dressing rooms open, many had long lines to buy items and there are fewer cashiers. Those that have dressing rooms tended to have clothes limits in place.
I liked some of the colors I saw trending, found some needed shirts but it is a work in progress for sure.
I wonder how fashion will adjust moving forward.
What does one wear in a re-opened society?
I really enjoyed this WP article about how we are all conflicted about fashion as we begin to re-emerge in society. It is a good read.
I can relate. I went to my first wedding a few weeks ago and had nothing I could or wanted to wear. It had been 2 years since I attended one and things have certainly changed since then.
I also took my first trip clothes shopping in about 18 months. While it was kind exciting, it was also challenging. Only some stores have dressing rooms open, many had long lines to buy items and there are fewer cashiers. Those that have dressing rooms tended to have clothes limits in place.
I liked some of the colors I saw trending, found some needed shirts but it is a work in progress for sure.
I wonder how fashion will adjust moving forward.
I couldn't read the whole article because it was behind a paywall. We don't have much of a dress code where I work. My favorite uniform is a black shirt and jeans, maybe with a jacket or cardigan to dress it up if I want to look more respectable. I have several classic dresses in a spare room closet that I can drag out on the rare occasion I need something fancier. To me , "fashion" is not fun. It is just an annoyance (What?? I can't wear this shirt anymore because it is "dated"?????). I understand not everyone feels the same, though.