To Mask or Not to Mask

Yesterday I went to Target to do some shopping for my mom. After my good experience there last week, I was feeling pretty confident. This trip wasn't quite as flawless - it felt like there were slightly more people in the store, and more of them weren't wearing masks. Most people were masked, though, and respectful about maintaining appropriate distance from each other. There were also a lot of employees stocking things or reviewing what products were to be placed in different areas. As I went down the freezer aisle, an employee stocking product there said to me, "Looks pretty good, huh?!" I guess it was fairly well stocked. I wasn't able to find everything on my mom's list, though I did get some hard-to-find items like toilet paper (limit 1 package per customer), flour, and eggs.

I planned to use self-check out, but as I neared the registers, a cashier called me into her lane, and what was I supposed to say? "No, I'd rather wait and use the machine?" We both had masks on, so hopefully it was ok, even though she touched all my stuff and we were probably closer than 6 feet apart. (Also, no plexiglass dividers at Target, like they've added to some other stores.)

On my way out, I noticed that there were marks outside the door 6 feet apart, just like there are inside to wait in line. I guess this is in case people have to line up outside and wait to enter. I think the times I've been going are good - I never had to wait to get in or to pay, and there was no crowding in the aisles.

I went directly to my mom's place to drop off her items. She lives in a condo building and they're no longer allowing visitors inside, so I pulled up out front and put her things on a bench outside. Then I waited in my car until her husband came out with a cart and picked them up. We waved at each other, and that was all our interaction.

And now I don't plan to leave my house again for the rest of the month, except for walks!

The big news today is that in our state, businesses that are going to be open will have to require masks or face coverings for employees and customers. If you don't have a mask, you won't be able to go in. But places that provide food or medicine will have to have an alternate way of getting products to people if they don't have a mask. They also have to provide space for employees to take breaks while maintaining social distancing. Most people are wondering, "Where do I get my now mandatory mask?" Something as simple as a scarf could work. I have my homemade ones that have held up ok for a few public trips already, and I've ordered us some more professional looking fabric ones.

A couple groups of governors, including mine, have teamed up to make a plan for reopening the economy in their regions. Our state legislature passed a bill to allow businesses to reopen, but it probably won't become law. On one hand it would be good if people could work and earn money of course. But on the other hand if your employer reopens and you can't or won't go back to work due to health concerns, then you lose your job or can't collect unemployment, and that's not fair. I've now started seeing articles saying social distancing could be in place until 2022, or longer. I'm glad to see more and more realistic timelines being presented.

And worldwide infections have now passed 2 million, though that's just people they've confirmed with a test, so who knows what the actual number is...