I am lardered

[susandennis]

My grocery pickup went perfectly. The only things they didn't have turned out to be things I didn't care that much about. The stuff I really wanted is now in my kitchen. Between yesterday's Costco run and today's pickup, I have an embarrassment of food supply now.

Borderline hoarding actually.

And, turns out, I need to re-think my mask judgments. Yesterday, I thought the percentage of people in this building wearing masks was perilously low. Now, having driven through town, I realize, those same numbers represent a comfortingly high percentage.

Part of my drive was through our International District. Most everyone there wore a mask. The rest of the drive through densely populated neighborhoods revealed very few masks. The store employees at QFC were wearing them. The electric company people fiddling with a utility pole were wearing them. Random people on the street? Not so much.

Interesting.

Comments

[xina-g.livejournal.com]

Yay! I love it when the unavailable items end up being things that could be done with out anyhow.
Currently we are right there with you on the embarrassing amount of food supplies. It's easier than I realized to 'get a little extra' each shopping time, and it adds up.

[susandennis]

Don't tell anyone but I now have three large bags of potato chips and a case and a half of Diet Dr. Pepper. Not to mention enough steak to rebuild the cow.

[rromantic.livejournal.com]

We've gone from level 5 to level 4 on 1 May 2020. Which means some business can slowly start up again but by law we are now required to wear masks when going out for any reason, including exercising. Shops won't allow you to enter without a mask and you can be stopped by police. Apparently my country is listed as having one of the most severe lockdowns. I'm very happy at how seriously my government is taking the daunting task of opening the economy vs still remaining vigilant. A big part of it is to keep people mindful of the things each of them can do to contribute. Wearing a mask is a very small price.

[susandennis]

I find myself seriously wanting to thank everyone I see wearing a mask! As you say... small price to pay.

[carriea31.livejournal.com]

Are you supposed to wear them in the car as well?

[susandennis]

The masks are to protect you and protect the people you are around. If, in the car, there is someone you need protection from or to protect, then yes, you should be wearing a mask.

[carriea31.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I was just wondering if it was part of the orders given. I've seen people here driving around by themselves in their car, all alone, with their masks on. I thought maybe there was some requirement I wasn't aware of. I guess another reason could be that if you take it on and off as you do your errands, you risk contaminating yourself if you've touched something with it on there and then touch your mask, etc.

[coercedbynutmeg.livejournal.com]

Touching the mask contaminates it and renders it ineffective. You could leave it off until you get to the place where you have the errand, but after you finish the errand, if you take it off it's no good until you've washed it or replaced it with a different mask. I've been avoiding this issue by not making more than one stop per trip, though I guess leaving it on between stops would also work.

[susandennis]

I wear my mask to prevent particles from getting into my mouth and nose and to prevent them from escaping from me. My touching my mask does nothing to interfere with that process.

[amw.livejournal.com]

There's not really much point to wear a mask in the car if you're the only person in the car, but i see quite a few solo drivers here doing it too. I think it's just laziness, to be honest. If the weather is cool and your breath doesn't "run hot", then wearing a mask isn't that big of a discomfort, might as well just leave it on.

It works the other way too, once the government removes the restrictions. People already took the mask off to eat or smoke. Once the restrictions for other activities were lifted, people here just left them strapped around their wrist or dangling below their chin unless they were in close contact with other people. I.e. only put it on for public transport or having a face-to-face interaction. I suspect that's all we really need to protect against people inadvertently infecting one another, but the regulation gets people into the habit of having the mask on them in the first place.

[rromantic.livejournal.com]

Yes. That's one of the biggest concerns, private and public transport because social distancing is almost impossible. Public transport only allows 70% capacity of what the taxi / buss / train are licensed for. People waiting in line must be 2 metres apart and practice hand hygiene.

[christalin80.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately here, we're starting to see more and more random people maskless. Some stores are doing a good job of making employees wear them and Costco requires everyone to wear them. I get appalled at the number of people just wandering around like it's no big deal.

[coercedbynutmeg.livejournal.com]

How urban are the settings you're in? I'm in a suburban neighborhood of single family houses, and the people who are wearing them while not doing lawnwork look kooky. I imagine in NYC/Tokyo/Seoul they'd be super common. Not sure where you fall on the continuum.

[susandennis]

Very urban. Most apartments and condos - very few private lawns.

[howeird]

People in the International District have been wearing masks since SARS. ;-)