Are You Serious?

Actual question for whoever is reading this: are you being serious about social distancing? Since we officially went into lockdown nine weeks ago, I've been inside a building other than my house just 3 times (for grocery shopping), and otherwise have gotten everything I need via contactless pickup or delivery. I have visited two people in person: my grandmother through a window, and a friend from across her yard. I've stayed home so much, my car battery died. However, I'm seeing lots of people, including my smart, responsible friends, starting to ease up - traveling to visit a grandparent, having dinner with friends or family, setting up play dates, planning a golf outing (yes, golf courses here reopened today, though with restrictions). I wouldn't even get takeout food that I couldn't take out of its containers reheat myself, yet I see people going out for ice cream that they eat directly from the styrofoam cup in which it was served.

I know that at this point we've all (hopefully) been isolating, and so technically we could assume we're not sick and it's safe to gather with other people who've also been isolating. But really, I wouldn't trust that. People are still going to the store, getting deliveries, bringing in mail, jogging past each other... Or maybe someone else in the household is working in an essential field, or had a doctor's appointment. I bet some of them picked up something along the way, and even though there's a very slim chance for everything to line up just right, it's possible. I wouldn't risk it.

Speaking of easing restrictions, that site I like, CovidActNow.org, has changed formats and is now modeling when it will be safe to reopen states and counties, based on 1) if active cases are decreasing (you want an infection rate less than 1, i.e. each person is infecting fewer than 1 other person), 2) if the rate of positive tests is decreasing (this indicates that there is enough testing capacity that they're checking more than just the obvious cases), and 3) if there's enough hospital ICU capacity for a new wave of infections. These align with the criteria my governor announced for our reopening plan, as far as having capacity to monitor and deal with any further outbreaks. Georgia has already "reopened," and they're not doing well in any of those categories. My state has a low infection rate, but is not good in either of the other two criteria. My "hotspot" county is even worse.