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It seems absolutely elementary to me to understand what the latest research is showing, and to keep track of state guidelines. I even know what other states are requiring. Yet it seems many people are vastly misinformed and confused about how specific PPE and distancing works. 1/
In Illinois where I live, a huge amount of people seem to think that our original stay at home shutdown meant they could not leave their home at any time, for any reason at that they were committing some act of civil disobedience by doing so. 2/
I walked my dogs about five miles a day the whole time, tried to limit how often I went grocery shopping, and limited interactions with friends and family to outdoors at a social distance of six feet. It was not difficult whatsoever. 3/
Nonetheless, I had to consciously back away from friends and family who wouldn't respect social distance, who either didn't understand or were actively resentful of the guideline. So much so that one commented "I'm not going to infect you," resentfully. 4/
For my own protection and that of people I might come into contact with, I took additional measures that were probably overkill, like sanitizing groceries. I figured better safe than sorry. Turns out I was right about some of it, like wearing a mask to grocery shop. 5/
I began wearing a mask in mid-March, but it was only the last few weeks I saw them on other people and only since May 1 they were required for some activities in this state. 6/
Illinois guidelines say you must wear a mask indoors, eg at the grocery store, and for outside activities *where social distancing may be difficult*. So I wore a mask when a visiting family member and I were working in my yard together because we had to be close to each other. 7/
Some states and other countries have implemented more draconian measures, like hard lockdowns and mandatory masks in public at all times. This is not true for most of the US. 8/
Nonetheless, conservative media has been reporting as if the most draconian pandemic response members are mandatory for the entire country. Which I suspect is why so many people feel so "oppressed" unnecessarily. 9/
I suspect many people do not understand that as with anything in science, our understanding evolves as we learn more about this virus. This is why initial response is strong, but measures change as we learn more about this virus. 10/
I noted many people seem to think this is a matter of checking off boxes to ensure safety. So if we stayed home (to them meaning not leaving the house whatsoever) for 2 weeks the virus would be satisfied like some Aztec god and they would be spared. 11/
We stayed home to limit the spread of the virus while we built out our response, and to gain more information about how this particular virus worked. After that two weeks, we knew continuing to stay home was the best measure and that order was extended. 12/
It's now clear outdoor transmission when socially distanced and/or wearing a mask is extremely unlikely, so most outdoor activities are now allowed. The exception being large gatherings, which means in dense population areas parks remain closed because people can't distance. 13/
Indoor transmission is possible even when wearing a mask because respiratory droplets, now known to be the source of most infections, can remain in the air for hours. 14/
This is why grocery stores, which are *essential* to human life remain open and masks are required. Masks, particularly cloth masks which are being used because N95 respirators are in short supply, reduce droplet spread but are not foolproof. 15/
Other types of business have been categorized as essential. Home improvement stores because toilets still clog and roofs still leak. Some states pushed that definition a bit far in my opinion, you don't *need* to buy booze at a liquor store when grocery stores sell it. 16/
The more places we shut down, the less places the virus can spread. Very few places in the US actually implemented shutdowns that closed everything that was truly non-essential. 17/
For example, I was angered restaurants are allowing curbside pickup, drive thru service, and to-go ordering. While data shows transmission from food and packaging is unlikely, staff are vulnerable working inside together even with masks. 18/
Restaurants are not necessary for human life. Having to eat frozen microwave food if you truly cannot cook is not a hardship. Now we're talking about convenience, and restaurant worker's lives are more important than anyone's convenience. 19/
This is where economic measures are important. We make sure workers who are unable to work because their jobs are not *essential* to keep people from starving, to keep the power on, provide medical care, or drinking water, receive support until they can work safely. 20/
The normal procedure in such an emergency situation is to provide aid packages to affected businesses either during or after a disaster. Instead, the aid response has been haphazard and primarily distributed to political cronies. Leaving businesses fighting to open unsafely. 21/
This pits businesses against governments, local governments against state governments, and employees who don't want to die to provide non-essential services against employers. 22/
The virus doesn't care. It is widespread and will pop-up anywhere, regardless of how a state or local government categorizes businesses. It can and has spread in grocery stores, we just don't have the option of shutting them down. 23/
If we did shut them down, we'd have to deploy national guard troops to distribute food to starving people. Which might be a wash in terms of limiting spread because the troops themselves would become infected interacting with each other, and spread it to their families. 24/
We can't shut down hospitals, because people still need urgent and emergency care. But we can limit elective surgeries. As a plus, reduced overall activity reduces things like injuries from car and work related accidents. 25/
My point of this thread being, I am not a public health expert. All I did once I became aware of this virus was follow the developing story, keep myself informed, and use a little common sense. 26/
