Tomorrow I'm moving out into the hills in hopes of the isolation offering me better protection
I did my last trip to the local grocery store today after work to get a few things, and same as it's been the shelves are bare of all disinfectants, TP, paper towels, breads, meats, rice and similar staples, and just about anything easily cooked which stores well. Around here pre-packaged "Ramen noodles" are normally considered the lowest form of food, bought only by the very poorest who cannot afford anything else. I'm given to understand that they're better in many other parts of the world but from experience ours are pretty nasty even if they will keep you alive. It's almost funny that the shelves are bare of these too, but it points out how serious this has become when people are buying them because nothing better can be had
Canned goods are more available, the rest is about the same. There is enough food, but you probably won't find exactly what you want.
The virus is rising in my State along the expected curve- about 33% daily overall with the 'hotspots' being worse. Locally it's about doubling daily; again this follows what has happened in most places at this early point of infection. So I expect what is coming next here where I am now to be doubling daily for the next few days until it becomes another 'hotspot' , and then those numbers will become very significant
I feel sad and concerned for those I'm leaving behind but I can't help them now. Two more States are implementing 'lockdowns' to varying degrees- nothing total but essentially nobody may leave their property unless there's an overriding reason to do so, and should stay inside as much as possible. I think it's safe to say that this is soon going to happen here in SC, and in almost all the other States too as the infection rates rise rapidly.
If people will obey these restrictions and do what they can to avoid spreading this disease voluntarily then this may be the extent of the restrictions, but if that doesn't happen then I expect we will all eventually find ourselves ordered to stay entirely inside our homes as has been done in Italy. So sad to see pictures and vids from NYC and other places where people are not doing this- it is those people who will be to blame if further restrictions become necessary
As I've gone outside to smoke my awful cigarettes I've noticed there's an eerie stillness, especially for a Friday night when people are usually out visiting, going to bars, shopping, and spending their paycheck but not tonight- the last time I've seen things this quiet was 9/12/01 and it's flat-out spooky. Absolutely nobody is out there tonight, not one single soul
There are more and more reports forthcoming about the airborne transmission rates probably being higher than previously thought, and that N95 masks are probably useful for protection even if they're not fully effective.
When something is this virulent then any help you can get becomes significant. But even if they are effective, if they are not used and removed correctly whatever benefit they may have is cancelled out- same with gloves- so if you choose to use these things then
please find out how to use and remove them correctly so they're not being wasted.
Tools used properly can be a godsend, tools used improperly are more of a threat to you than a help
I'll likely be missing from DCT for at least a couple days as I resettle, and maybe longer according to how I'm able to access the internet from up there. I plan to drive down to the nearest city and park outside some of the places which offer free wifi if I get too severe a case of internet withdrawal
but that can't happen if we get a lockdown order
If I'm stuck with using the dial-up connection only I'll try to drop in as best I can.
Best wishes to all my friends here- please stay safe so we can hopefully get back to mostly discussing dashcams again soon
Phil
