I noticed all the traffic and all the people out yesterday. Thankfully, I think the people in the park represent a small minority. They are people who were miserable before Coronavirus, miserable during it and will be after.
I think Monday and whatever the Governor and his team decide to do is very important. My instinct tells me he needs to have some, very small steps toward reopening begin Tuesday, based on what I’ve seen this past weekend. Based in science, requiring face masks and not a huge leap forward, but something.
Great comment, Tom.
I tend to agree re a small restart as of Tuesday and thought he would but also thought some numbers went up yesterday. I would not want to be in his position. It feels to me as if he is using science, key indicators, and common sense. I wish the minority who insists on putting themselves first could take a deep breath and understand that. They will be the ones who push an early restart which could well lead to a need to shut down all over again.
Thanks and agreed.
Something small. I think we need to see what we can do, hopefully successfully.
I was thinking:
Restaurants: allow outdoor seating, 6 ft distance btwn tables and indoor seating to 25% of capacity beginning Friday May, 22nd.
Retail stores: encourage outdoor sales and allow 25% capacity inside stores, beginning Tuesday, May 19th.
Encourage corporate offices to continue to allow employees to work from home.
I’m sure these might activate the tricky issues of continuing to collect unemployment insurance for those who do not get called back to work, even though the retail stores and restaurants are now re-opened, so have some kind of plan to continue to allow those who can’t get their jobs back to continue to collect.
These are just guesses, I don’t even know if they make sense 🙂
But, something to try to move a bit forward. Do it for 2 weeks and see what the data shows for new cases during days 10 t0 14 and then adjust according to the data.
I like those ideas. We were just discussing what can be done on smaller scales. None of us were exactly clear on beach and parks. Are they open? Are parking lots still closed? And what in heavens name is a state park or beach? It seems as if most all are town(?) owned. If all had been closed, that might be a good starting place.
Honestly, I think many will remain home in order to see where this goes. I am not ready to eat out yet or even take out. But I may be if it seems to go well.
Oh, absolutely, I agree and that should help, too !!
I think all towns have closed off their lots, because once a few did, those that hadn’t were concerned that everyone would come to the town’s beaches that were still open.
I have some inside info that our town will open up the beach parking lots for Memorial Day Weekend. Hopefully, if that is true, its done in coordination with all the other towns to do the same.
The muggy, showery conditions based on TK’s Memorial Day outlook could be a blessing in disguise should Gov. Baker open things up by then.
Thanks, Tom. I’ll pass this information to my kids who were wondering.
Will be awfully hard to social distance on the beach I would be surprised if allowed to open this weekend.
The beaches that are open in many cases do not allow sitting or stopping ..just walking.
My opinion & coming from a guy who loves summer & grew up on the beach this is not the weekend too open . We all know in New England Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer ( summer what is officially 6/21) if it’s a warm weekend & there open it’s a recipe for disaster. Who would monitor the social distance as no lifeguards on duty yet Right. I do not expect this big opening announcement tomorrow but I think some are . My buddy who got this just left my house & he is shaking his head saying a lot of people just do not get it .
Tom, I like your ideas.
But, Baker’s got to have a carrot and stick policy. To illustrate how lack of any stick has led to egregious violations. The curfew in Boston has been an absolute joke, especially in recent weeks. Walsh might as well not have instituted a curfew if it’s not going to be enforced. Same with Baker’s plans for the state. Reopen with the kinds of rules Tom proposes, but if violations occur stiff fines and revocation of licenses will be levied.
I think that some Americans believe we’re somehow above the laws of viruses. It doesn’t work that way. And, what’s really important here is that it does NOT matter whether a person or group feels they’re invincible – “even if the rona gets me, I’m not going to die” is the common refrain – it’s that they can pass it on to others.
A civil society implies we’re not islands. There is a social fabric that connects us all.
I fear for our nation’s normalization of tremendous amounts of death. We’ve done this much more so than any industrialized democracy. Normalization has also permeated our acceptance of aberrant behavior by our political and business leaders. It’s not a good thing. In fact, it’s the sign of decay.
We should all be reminded that normalization (normalizace in Czech) is what Communists in Eastern Europe did: Government messaging and silencing of critics led to the populations’ `acceptance’ or resignation in the face of misdeeds, incompetence, and corruption. Life went on. No-one questioned anything. To do so was futile. News that contradicted the official line was considered “fake news.” Anyone see parallels to what’s happening on the ground in the U.S.? Sure, we have democratic institutions that were lacking in Eastern Europe in the 1980s (when I spent some time there during lengthy visits). But, there’s an eerie similarity between what I noticed in Prague and Budapest in 1986 and the U.S. in 2020. An anti-science, anti facts sentiment. A bizarre denial of reality.
Good points as always Joshua. I am beginning to believe the “law” of wearing a mask is getting to be a joke as well, based on your experience yesterday. This morning on my commute to work, a man sans mask waved the bus driver down at the stop. The man got on the bus without a problem, nothing said by the driver. According to the new rules, ALL passengers must wear a mask on all MBTA vehicles. What good are rules, anyway?
Wow – Joshua – I read your comment twice now and will read again. Excellent, excellent comment. There absolutely has to be strict guidelines and penalties for those who do not follow them. I am sick and tired of the voices of a few who demand we loosen the rules to make them happy while risking the well being of the majority.
Your last paragraph gives me chills. I am sure I mentioned I am reading my mom’s journal from 1937. I am not to the part where she and her mom, aunt and uncle traveled to Europe. But having read it before, I recall the wonderful man she spoke of who was making Germany great again (words from a 1937 journal of a then 22 year old). He was building an autobahn. His picture was on nearly every building. He’d been in power a bit under four years I believe. Indeed there are exact parallels. History repeats and we sure proving that.
For bikers you are moving rather quick and could make it difficult to breathe if you have a mask and people have passed out because of it. Ski masks have holes in them to allow air to get in, so if anything pull out a ski mask. I will also say if your biking very very low chance of getting the virus or spreading it to other people
It will be interesting as to what “phase” barbershops and hairdressers will be in. I would assume masks on both sides will be the norm for some time to come.
As for barbers, would customers be allowed to remove their masks for shaves?
They will not be allowed open in the first phase guaranteed.
My spirits were lifted by this story. My great niece teaches fifth grade in Florida. Many of her students come from troubled families. One particular boy lives with a single father who is alcoholic and abusive. The boy visited my great niece not long ago. He was walking from his house to the school to pick up lunches for himself and his siblings. He was walking 30 minutes each way.
When my niece (mother of the teacher) heard this, she said, “He needs a bicycle!” She found one in the neighborhood for $30. When she explained the situation to the seller, she said, “Take the bike for free, and use the $30 to buy them some food.”
Sure gives me goosebumps. We need to remember the stories of beauty. I see them every day on FB. Thanks for reminding me to post them here also.
And on to not as good news….
I don’t see how we can open when this is still happening in more than just framingham. It’s not my favorite source for news,,,no pun intended…but I suspect accurate
A local and popular place…Muffin House….just closed its Mendon location that we used to go to before this. An employee tested positive. To their credit, they posted on various local FB sites along with date.
I’m am nowhere near ready to eat out
I think as a nation we stay under 1,000 new daily deaths today for the first time since March. New cases will likely be around 20k. So, all in all, one of the best Sundays in 7 weeks. Caveat is of course the Sunday reporting, which today was particularly inconsistent. Nevertheless, the trend line is slowly downward.
Construction/ places of worship part of reopening phase this week per WCVB
Did it say this week or in first round? A friend shared the memo with me and it did of course list the establishments you named but I didn’t see that it was this week as much as part of phase 1. And I could have missed it so am interested whether they said a firm date.
C-19 for 5-18 is up…
Comments are closed.
Your no-hype southeastern New England weather blog!
I saw Vicki’s story from the park in Framingham.
Awful behavior, I’m sorry that happened !
I noticed all the traffic and all the people out yesterday. Thankfully, I think the people in the park represent a small minority. They are people who were miserable before Coronavirus, miserable during it and will be after.
I think Monday and whatever the Governor and his team decide to do is very important. My instinct tells me he needs to have some, very small steps toward reopening begin Tuesday, based on what I’ve seen this past weekend. Based in science, requiring face masks and not a huge leap forward, but something.
Great comment, Tom.
I tend to agree re a small restart as of Tuesday and thought he would but also thought some numbers went up yesterday. I would not want to be in his position. It feels to me as if he is using science, key indicators, and common sense. I wish the minority who insists on putting themselves first could take a deep breath and understand that. They will be the ones who push an early restart which could well lead to a need to shut down all over again.
Thanks and agreed.
Something small. I think we need to see what we can do, hopefully successfully.
I was thinking:
Restaurants: allow outdoor seating, 6 ft distance btwn tables and indoor seating to 25% of capacity beginning Friday May, 22nd.
Retail stores: encourage outdoor sales and allow 25% capacity inside stores, beginning Tuesday, May 19th.
Encourage corporate offices to continue to allow employees to work from home.
I’m sure these might activate the tricky issues of continuing to collect unemployment insurance for those who do not get called back to work, even though the retail stores and restaurants are now re-opened, so have some kind of plan to continue to allow those who can’t get their jobs back to continue to collect.
These are just guesses, I don’t even know if they make sense 🙂
But, something to try to move a bit forward. Do it for 2 weeks and see what the data shows for new cases during days 10 t0 14 and then adjust according to the data.
I like those ideas. We were just discussing what can be done on smaller scales. None of us were exactly clear on beach and parks. Are they open? Are parking lots still closed? And what in heavens name is a state park or beach? It seems as if most all are town(?) owned. If all had been closed, that might be a good starting place.
Honestly, I think many will remain home in order to see where this goes. I am not ready to eat out yet or even take out. But I may be if it seems to go well.
Oh, absolutely, I agree and that should help, too !!
I think all towns have closed off their lots, because once a few did, those that hadn’t were concerned that everyone would come to the town’s beaches that were still open.
I have some inside info that our town will open up the beach parking lots for Memorial Day Weekend. Hopefully, if that is true, its done in coordination with all the other towns to do the same.
The muggy, showery conditions based on TK’s Memorial Day outlook could be a blessing in disguise should Gov. Baker open things up by then.
Thanks, Tom. I’ll pass this information to my kids who were wondering.
Will be awfully hard to social distance on the beach I would be surprised if allowed to open this weekend.
The beaches that are open in many cases do not allow sitting or stopping ..just walking.
My opinion & coming from a guy who loves summer & grew up on the beach this is not the weekend too open . We all know in New England Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer ( summer what is officially 6/21) if it’s a warm weekend & there open it’s a recipe for disaster. Who would monitor the social distance as no lifeguards on duty yet Right. I do not expect this big opening announcement tomorrow but I think some are . My buddy who got this just left my house & he is shaking his head saying a lot of people just do not get it .
Tom, I like your ideas.
But, Baker’s got to have a carrot and stick policy. To illustrate how lack of any stick has led to egregious violations. The curfew in Boston has been an absolute joke, especially in recent weeks. Walsh might as well not have instituted a curfew if it’s not going to be enforced. Same with Baker’s plans for the state. Reopen with the kinds of rules Tom proposes, but if violations occur stiff fines and revocation of licenses will be levied.
I think that some Americans believe we’re somehow above the laws of viruses. It doesn’t work that way. And, what’s really important here is that it does NOT matter whether a person or group feels they’re invincible – “even if the rona gets me, I’m not going to die” is the common refrain – it’s that they can pass it on to others.
A civil society implies we’re not islands. There is a social fabric that connects us all.
I fear for our nation’s normalization of tremendous amounts of death. We’ve done this much more so than any industrialized democracy. Normalization has also permeated our acceptance of aberrant behavior by our political and business leaders. It’s not a good thing. In fact, it’s the sign of decay.
We should all be reminded that normalization (normalizace in Czech) is what Communists in Eastern Europe did: Government messaging and silencing of critics led to the populations’ `acceptance’ or resignation in the face of misdeeds, incompetence, and corruption. Life went on. No-one questioned anything. To do so was futile. News that contradicted the official line was considered “fake news.” Anyone see parallels to what’s happening on the ground in the U.S.? Sure, we have democratic institutions that were lacking in Eastern Europe in the 1980s (when I spent some time there during lengthy visits). But, there’s an eerie similarity between what I noticed in Prague and Budapest in 1986 and the U.S. in 2020. An anti-science, anti facts sentiment. A bizarre denial of reality.
Good points as always Joshua. I am beginning to believe the “law” of wearing a mask is getting to be a joke as well, based on your experience yesterday. This morning on my commute to work, a man sans mask waved the bus driver down at the stop. The man got on the bus without a problem, nothing said by the driver. According to the new rules, ALL passengers must wear a mask on all MBTA vehicles. What good are rules, anyway?
Wow – Joshua – I read your comment twice now and will read again. Excellent, excellent comment. There absolutely has to be strict guidelines and penalties for those who do not follow them. I am sick and tired of the voices of a few who demand we loosen the rules to make them happy while risking the well being of the majority.
Your last paragraph gives me chills. I am sure I mentioned I am reading my mom’s journal from 1937. I am not to the part where she and her mom, aunt and uncle traveled to Europe. But having read it before, I recall the wonderful man she spoke of who was making Germany great again (words from a 1937 journal of a then 22 year old). He was building an autobahn. His picture was on nearly every building. He’d been in power a bit under four years I believe. Indeed there are exact parallels. History repeats and we sure proving that.
For bikers you are moving rather quick and could make it difficult to breathe if you have a mask and people have passed out because of it. Ski masks have holes in them to allow air to get in, so if anything pull out a ski mask. I will also say if your biking very very low chance of getting the virus or spreading it to other people
It will be interesting as to what “phase” barbershops and hairdressers will be in. I would assume masks on both sides will be the norm for some time to come.
As for barbers, would customers be allowed to remove their masks for shaves?
They will not be allowed open in the first phase guaranteed.
My spirits were lifted by this story. My great niece teaches fifth grade in Florida. Many of her students come from troubled families. One particular boy lives with a single father who is alcoholic and abusive. The boy visited my great niece not long ago. He was walking from his house to the school to pick up lunches for himself and his siblings. He was walking 30 minutes each way.
When my niece (mother of the teacher) heard this, she said, “He needs a bicycle!” She found one in the neighborhood for $30. When she explained the situation to the seller, she said, “Take the bike for free, and use the $30 to buy them some food.”
Sure gives me goosebumps. We need to remember the stories of beauty. I see them every day on FB. Thanks for reminding me to post them here also.
And on to not as good news….
I don’t see how we can open when this is still happening in more than just framingham. It’s not my favorite source for news,,,no pun intended…but I suspect accurate
https://framinghamsource.com/index.php/2020/05/17/framingham-reporting-7-increase-in-coronavirus-cases-in-last-72-hours-17-deaths-in-last-5-days/
This is not a feel good story but an effort to bring a smile. SClarke….I like that idea. Thanks
https://imgur.com/a/9wlieB7
A local and popular place…Muffin House….just closed its Mendon location that we used to go to before this. An employee tested positive. To their credit, they posted on various local FB sites along with date.
I’m am nowhere near ready to eat out
I think as a nation we stay under 1,000 new daily deaths today for the first time since March. New cases will likely be around 20k. So, all in all, one of the best Sundays in 7 weeks. Caveat is of course the Sunday reporting, which today was particularly inconsistent. Nevertheless, the trend line is slowly downward.
Construction/ places of worship part of reopening phase this week per WCVB
Did it say this week or in first round? A friend shared the memo with me and it did of course list the establishments you named but I didn’t see that it was this week as much as part of phase 1. And I could have missed it so am interested whether they said a firm date.
C-19 for 5-18 is up…