Bars and restaurants in New York City and Washington State will be restricted to delivery and take-out alone, and theaters will be closed completely, as the city and state fight an uphill battle on separate coasts against the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is surreal.
Massachusetts too.
The local coffee and pastry place has switched to paper plates, paper cups, and plastic utensils.
Bikini Kill concerts already cancelled; don’t know about Third Mind at the Croc 2nd week of April.
Not surprising but still unnerving. Wa state has 769 confirmed cases and 42 deaths. We need to bend the curve.
This afternoon I was talking to a family member much better informed than myself on the whole course of the pandemic (because his job requires it). He said the US is about 20 days behind Italy in terms of the COVID-19 cases appearing and breaking out, and that the coming week is therefore expected to bring a quantum increase in the number of cases. So, given the lack of leadership OR understanding of the science from the Federal Executive Branch, it seems Washington State and NYC are doing the right thing.
Stay well over there on the Left Coast!!
Here we go. Not surprising…and yet if you had told me this a month ago, I wouldn’t have believed you.
It is surreal. My heart goes out to my local restaurant and espresso place. I hope they survive.
You won the Interwebs today. 
I’ve seen 10 days behind but same idea.
US confirmed cases:
3/15/20 Sun: AM: 2029
3/15/20 Sun: PM: 3774
I assume AM to AM will be double Monday morning.
Note this very fast exponential growth is because we’re finally doing more testing and finding the cases already out there.
Testing is opening up in Austin area, I sent info to friend who I think has it.
Just confirmed that Starbucks, for example, will keep its cafes open here in NYC but only for take-out service. All the library systems are closed (so I guess someone will have to wait for that Contagion DVD I checked out just before the closure). Schools of course are closed. Many workplaces are telling people to work from home or simply furloughing them. I’m guessing that pretty soon stores will implement policies restricting how many people can be in them at once, thus making it harder to buy essentials. Staples I hope everyone’s stocked up on but it’s going to be hard to get fresh produce, dairy and meat.
Most people, I also assume and hope, will survive this, but at huge emotional, financial and professional cost. Cabin fever will set in and drive folks nuts. I suppose that spring arriving will encourage people to go outdoors, but where to avoid others? Some people are homebodies and won’t mind being confined to their homes so much, but others thrive on getting out constantly and not just shuttling between home and work with occasional shopping ventures and other errands.
I bet there’s going to be a huge baby boom during the holiday season. Younger children, who won’t adapt as well, are going to be miserable and drive their parents and older siblings bonkers. We’ll get through this, but it’s going to be painful. The last time anything like this happened was probably in England during WWII, with rationing and forced blackouts. It’s slowly sinking in, the magnitude. Stay strong, everyone, and hang in there–and don’t be stupid. Trite platitudes but it’s all I’ve got.
Santa Clara Co CA at 114 confirmed w/ 52 classified as community transmission.
Tech workers & families are home. But all our service folks are at risk. Put your money where your mouth is. Everyone I know who is privileged to have housecleaners have suspended service but continue to pay those folks so that they can stay with their kids and also avoid crowd…
And from the state:
“Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday afternoon issued an urgent call for all California bars and nightclubs to shut their doors, restaurants to cut the number of tables in half and for millions of seniors and people with chronic health conditions to immediately “self-isolate” at home.”
S’thruth! A few days ago I was deliberately going to my favorite places (hand washing, of course!), because they need the business. I guess as of today, that is not a good approach. I’m looking forward to supporting them with takeout. Or whatever it takes so they can survive!
Giftcards?
Not sure. Say I would have had dinner there once a week. So today, I don’t eat there, but pay in advance for next week. They still only have half as much business. Although, yeah, they get some $$ today.
Still doesn’t help the tipped workers.
Welcome to Pandemic Planet. Be careful and good luck.
Nothing wrong with reinforcing a message. Most of us need that. Truthfully we’re not being asked to sacrifice that much or for that long. We have to avoid crowds and practice very good hygiene for about two months or so. If we do that we ourselves and our friends and neighbors have a much better shot. It’s not WWII, it’s not the Depression. It’s not Vietnam, it’s not AIDS. Wash your hands and avoid crowds. If it saves lives, I’m up for that.