They've arrived by the car load.

[Fla Dem]

I live on the coast in NE Florida. It's been quiet around here for the most part during the pandemic. At first traveling along A1A, traffic was pretty light until about 2 weeks ago. Then it started to pick up. Friday and Saturday we were invaded. Friday I was traveling west over one of the intercoastal bridges and as far as the eye could see traffic was backed up heading East to the coast and the beaches.

I ventured out yesterday to do some grocery shopping, every single restaurant parking lot was filled. A big store along A1A that sells tee shirts, beach towels, and all things beach related, their parking lot was filled to capacity. I have never seen that happen even at the height of summer. When I reached the Publix plaza to do my shopping, I could not get a parking space. I turned around and headed for home.

I went out again this morning for the groceries I didn't get yesterday. Again, parking lot full, but I could get a space. Store was packed, about 50% of customers not wearing masks. I was in and out in 20 minute, got just what I needed and all the check-out lines were open. Had to nicely tell the lady behind me in check out line to back up. She had moved up within 2 feet of me. Had overflowing cart, small child and spouse with her. No Masks.

Was glad to get out of there and home.

Don't know if this is just the weekend holiday crowd or if these are folks from inland FL and southern Ga who have decided to move to the beaches in either the condos they own, or have rented. But in any event, it's crazy out there. If my county doesn't have a spike in cases I will be absolutely dumbstruck.

Oh, and I live in a very red district.

[Lokee11]

1. DeSantis

I imagine if there is no spike reported, it will be because of the reporting, not that there was not a spike in cases.

[Fla Dem]

2. Yep, I thought of that too. Can't trust his numbers.

But I have a friend who works at the local hospital. She'll know if the admitted numbers go up.

[nature-lover]

6. Please let us know. Appreciate you.

[DownriverDem]

27. One thing for sure

righties don't care.

[Salviati]

39. Neither does the virus.

[StarryNite]

42. Bingo

[Pacifist Patriot]

50. I'm prepared for that.

[backscatter712]

59. DeSantis will probably hide the deaths right up until they're at the mass-grave stages.

[Blue_true]

67. He will almost certainly try. People will know what killed their family and friends. nt

[Lochloosa]

3. I drove the same stretch of A1A you did 2 weeks ago. Took some food to the St Augustine Amphitheatre

For the food drive. Came home on A1A just to see the beach. Almost no one on the road and the rentals looked empty.

Completely different today. Just a short run to Lowe's and the roads were crowded and Sunday morning breakfast diners were packed. People are going to die. Think I'll stay in for a while.

[Fla Dem]

7. Thanks you for your contribution to the Food Drive.

I volunteer at one of the Food Pantries that benefited from the drive. It was an extremely successful food drive.

[Lochloosa]

28. Great. I heard they collected like 14 tons that day. Glad to help out.

[leftieNanner]

58. Our Local Food Drive is on hiatus

We had an every-other-month pick up program for the food bank. Our community has been donating around 30,000 lbs. of food each time. They have cancelled the pick ups indefinitely and are just asking people to donate money so they can buy the food themselves. They don't even want to bring potential contamination into the food bank with people handling cans and packages!

With so many people out of work, more and more will need the food bank's offerings. Food security is a big problem anyway.

So, DUers, if you have a few extra bucks, think of going online to your local food pantry and send them some.

[Kitchari]

60. Good reminder

Thanks

[DownriverDem]

30. They don't

believe that folks will get it or die.

[jovibennett]

32. In live in Martin County

the only good thing happening here to keep people away is that is pouring rain and is expected to tomorrow also. Of course it puts a damper on the residents plans but keeps the beaches empty. I am sure the stores and restaurants are packed though. Our numbers in this county keep going up.

[CountAllVotes]

4. Death cult

During this Memorial Day I am praying to God to make the corona virus go away.

That is my prayer and it not taking place at a beach some where.

How sad and incredibly stupid.

[KentuckyWoman]

5. It is crazy here too. People have generally had enough.

My real concern isn't the Covidiots who end up sick. It's the toll it takes on the ones trying not to.

Nurses, doctors, nursing home and rehab staff, EMTs police and firefighters. Grocery store clerks, truckers ... elderly people ... I've missed a lot but you get the idea.

[gristy]

8. There will be an increase in daily new cases.

Certainly not a "spike", as that implies a short-term increase, but rather those daily new cases will keep on giving, R0'ing on to the next victims. The environment you described will result in an R0~5.7 and a short doubling time of a few days.

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0282_article

Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the causative agent of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease pandemic. Initial estimates of the early dynamics of the outbreak in Wuhan, China, suggested a doubling time of the number of infected persons of 6–7 days and a basic reproductive number (R0) of 2.2–2.7. We collected extensive individual case reports across China and estimated key epidemiologic parameters, including the incubation period. We then designed 2 mathematical modeling approaches to infer the outbreak dynamics in Wuhan by using high-resolution domestic travel and infection data. Results show that the doubling time early in the epidemic in Wuhan was 2.3–3.3 days. Assuming a serial interval of 6–9 days, we calculated a median R0 value of 5.7 (95% CI 3.8–8.9). We further show that active surveillance, contact tracing, quarantine, and early strong social distancing efforts are needed to stop transmission of the virus.

[yellowdogintexas]

64. Texas has been topping 1000 per day for most of the past 3 weeks

In Tarrant County, the numbers of availabile ICU beds vs total ICU have flipped. Now more occupied than not. Dallas County is worse.

I go to the grocery either in the evening about an hour before closing or in the morning. Very few shoppers. We wash all our produce, wipe down the packaging on everything else, wear masks, gloves, etc. I like to go to Sprouts because it is not as crowded as most other places and their produce is good quality.

[KS Toronado]

9. Next time someone invades your personal space, just start repeating "germ spreader"

[Sucha NastyWoman]

22. Or tell them "get back I have the virus"

They only care about protecting themselves.

[mercuryblues]

10. Stimulus checks, holiday weekend

open beaches.

freaking insane assholes who inhale trump farts like a breath of fresh air. They're showing the libs alright.

[dhill926]

11. generally ok in our SoCal beach town...

a few assholes of course, but by and large our county (Ventura), is doing a pretty good job.

[Hekate]

36. So far so good

[KY_EnviroGuy]

12. I would bet most of those people in the crowds were not locals and.....

some will leave their deadly mark with your residents or they will become infected during the holiday and take it home with them. Therefore, the spikes in cases will be spread over a wide area.

Despite experts telling us to avoid crowds, the awful result of this holiday madness and reopening around our nation will not be contact-tracked because of massive voids in state and national leadership. Best to stay home during any national holiday because far too many people have been brainwashed into believing there's no danger.

We're truly a mentally upside-down nation when so many think Memorial Day weekend is a time to party or travel in great masses to the beach.

Good to hear you made it though your outing relatively safe.......

[Fla Dem]

25. Absolutely, as I said in my post, my best guess they're from Southern Ga and inland Fl.

That's where we get most of our summer vacationers from. The northern folks come in the winter. But yes, they will bring their spittle here, share it with us and each other. When they all go home they'll spread it there or get sick here and have to be hospitalized here or quarantined.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

61. We wish you all the best of luck through the summer.

I stayed near Myrtle Beach on a work assignment for almost two years and recall how insane that area was in the summer. Most locals avoided it due to the traffic. Winter was great because all the seafood restaurants were never crowded and begging for business.

At 72, my son and I share my home and we have been safe so far. My big concern is one of us slipping or just getting complacent with businesses opening and becoming crowded due to customer backlog.

In an ideal world, we would have state and national leadership that cared mostly about people rather than maintaining business profits.


KY............

[Ace Rothstein]

13. I'm shocked how much of DU is shocked that people are going out.

Many have been saying for months that people weren't going to keep staying home through the summer. We went out for lunch yesterday at a place outdoors we are familiar with that is taking precautions. Tables are spaced, no menus and the staff are all wearing masks.

[catbyte]

14. I admire your courage, but going out to eat is like playing Russian Roulette. It's not safe yet.

The virus doesn't care if you're familiar with a place or not. And I'm not paranoid. I'm just going to follow my Governor's instructions and stay in until at least June 12. But you could be in a safer state than I am.

[Ace Rothstein]

16. I forgot to add that we were outdoors as well.

We felt it was pretty low risk and couldn't come up with anywhere else we like that has a similar setup that we'd be comfortable with. Definitely not ready for indoor dining.

[jimfields33]

21. I went to Burger King two nights ago

I was the only customer in the place. Probably the safest place to be. Certainly a grocery store is more risky.

[catbyte]

24. Not the way I shop.

[jimfields33]

26. Good luck.

On line might be safe.

[catbyte]

38. My neighborhood independent grocer only allows 20 people in at a time;

everybody must be masked & use the Purell dispenser at the door. I'm in and out in less than 5-10 minutes and everyone in the checkout line has to stand 6 feet apart on the Xs they have marked on the floor. It's as safe as you can get these days.

[jimfields33]

62. That's awesome

As you know most are not as good.

[catbyte]

63. I know. That's why I shop there. Welll, that and I really love the personal service and care that

small grocery stores offer. I haven't been to a Kroger or Meijers in at least a year. I've gotten deliveries from Kroger, but not in the last couple of months.

[Fla Dem]

29. Not at all shocked. Just amazed at the lack of caution people are taking.

Boggles the mind.

[Auggie]

15. Load up on stuff now, because in a few weeks it'll be March all over again

I'm not advocating hoarding, but you sure as hell know that the very skilletheads ignoring common sense in NE Florida this weekend -- and throughout the rest of the US -- will be flocking to stores in a few weeks when the pandemic explodes.

[phylny]

17. I live on a lake that has significant tourist activity from Memorial Day through

Last edited Mon May 25, 2020, 11:46 AM - Edit history (1)

Labor Day. I went grocery shopping on Tuesday morning to avoid the crazies. Lake traffic appears to be quieter, but we had massive rain that caused the lake level to rise to above full pond until this morning, so it’s possible that has an impact on reducing visitors.

[secondwind]

18. I feel your pain, my friend!!

:hugs: 😘😘

[Fla Dem]

31. Hugs back AR!

[secondwind]

48. MUAH!

Here in CA we are doing well............... just about everyone wears a mask.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

19. Maybe you should drive inland to do your shopping.

All of us need to be super careful out the for the next month or so. If they are so determined to spread it, stay out of their way. When they all get sick, they’ll all be in denial at first, but I think eventually they’ll realize their mistake. At least I hope so.

[jaxexpat]

73. In NE Florida inland shopping goes like this......

The farther inland you go, the more likely you will be to find absolutely no social distancing or mask use.
Until you get to Gainesville, an island in the swamp.

[TNNurse]

20. Gatlinburg TN is just the same

packed with people.

[Ford_Prefect]

23. A famous quote reads, "Stupid is as Stupid does."

Another bromide goes "There's only one cure for stupid."

The lemmings are on the loose and the only things we can do is to stay out of the way of the stampede and avoid the edge of the cliff.

[NightWatcher]

33. Jacksonville looks just like it did this time last year and every other year

There will be a huuuge explosion in death here in two weeks.

I'm staying hunkered down.

[Chipper Chat]

34. Cocoa Beach?

[MoonlitKnight]

40. Cocoa to Daytona has been packed last three weekends.

Volusia County hadn’t had the beach open for driving/parking so it may have looked worse.
I didn’t even bother to see this weekend.

[Fla Dem]

68. No, St Augustine.

[RussBLib]

35. ditto for South Padre Island, TX

Ditto insofar as major traffic jams and hopping retail (finally). All day yesterday the entire 1.6 mile causeway that connects the mainland at Port Isabel to the island was solid red, 0-10mph. It's 3/4 red right now. Monday afternoon it will be a 2-3 hour wait to get off the island and for everyone to get back inland.

Not so ditto as to the redness of the district. The entire Rio Grande Valley is one of the most reliably blue areas of Texas, outside of the major cities. We have our wild-eyed libertarians, of course, and our regressive church mongers.

But retail is also packed, finally. We got shutdown in the middle of Spring Break, and that is a hugely important time for retail and restaurants. So far, I know of no small businesses that have closed for good, which would be amazing.

And hey, if you go to the store, go early when they open. Mostly old folks shopping at that time, and most using masks. You avoid the huge crowds, and the construction (which has been clogging up the only access to the island lately).

[Warpy]

37. Ah, the joys of living in a tourist trap. Been there.

It's especially bad now because people were cooped up all spring and they're ready to crack, so all the tempers have hair triggers. People desperately want things back to how they used to be and it's just not going to happen, this disease is going to keep infecting people and killing some of them.

The sad thing is that we don't get to make the rules, the men who stole all the money do, and they don't care how many of us this kills as long as their bank accounts start getting fatter again.

(Biggest grocery in my town went 24 hours in summer. I'd work until midnight, stay up, go do my shopping between 2 and 3 AM. It was the only way)

[Tipperary]

41. I rarely go out on holiday weekends.

Even in normal times. I have plenty to eat in the house.

[Larissa]

43. Coronavirus travels light

With the victim unaware, it crashes into bare-faced nostrils and does a hang ten down the windpipe slope. "We don't need no stinkin' masks!" Coronavirus is 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.


The Scientist Behind Some of the Best Coronavirus Images

https://time.com/5839573/coronavirus-images/

[oldsoftie]

46. But its not that small when it attaches to a droplet. The virus doesnt spread alone.

One of the advantages to wearing a mask. It may not be dense enough to catch an actual Covid molecule, but its enough to catch what one is ATTACHED to more often than not.
Taiwan has had less than 500 cases since this started. One of the main things they did was tell people to start wearing masks early on. And they did. And they never had a lockdown nearly as imposing as we did in the US

[FirstLight]

44. Same here in CA Sierras

Everyone and their frickin mother is up here for the weekend....which I dont understand since the casinos and most of the hotels are still closed.

They're everywhere and totally disregarding all safety standards...

I hate humanity

[ecstatic]

45. I would love to be at the beach right now

I'd wear a mask, but I'm not going to use up my precious PPE and cleaning supplies to travel and stay in a hotel right now. At least for the time being.

I really hope these mass gatherings don't lead to hundreds of thousands of additional deaths.

Again, I attribute everything that's happening to the lack of leadership from the top from the very beginning of this crisis.

[Lonestarblue]

47. On July 6, 1942, Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in Amsterdam.

They would stay there for two years, never going outside, making no noise, relying on the family helping them for their every need. They were betrayed, and on August 4, 1944, the Germans took them away to a concentration camp where all but Anne’s father died.

I cite this story because two years is a long time to stay inside, knowing that death awaits outside. Yet Americans can’t even stay inside for a few weeks because they’re deprived of their haircuts and bar visits and beach vacations and sports games. Covid-19 is not as deadly as Hitler’s camps, but for some people it is deadly nonetheless. One would think that common decency and consideration for others should at least prevail so that people would wear masks, but Trump supporters see not wearing a mask as a mark of their tribal loyalty. Like Trump, they don't really care how many people die, especially since many of them probably think that only black and brown people—and of course we expendable oldies—will die.

[Boomer]

65. I've been reflecting on the Frank family, too

I "visited" the Anne Frank house through a VR experience that allows you to walk to through the rooms they inhabited. It creates an incredible real understanding of the small space they shared and the restrictions they lived with 24/7. There were other Jews who spent over a year living in caverns. And yet, here are Americans with all our modern day luxuries, internet, TV and they can't cope with a few weeks of staying home.

[ancianita]

49. Oh, they'll have spikes there and everywhere else these crowds came from. In two weeks.

And some of them will say, "that's life!"

[Joinfortmill]

51. Stay safe. Vote.

[Hulk]

52. Isn't it comforting to hear the Draft Dodging Coward Con-artist...

...declare that even with a spike in cases, we aren’t going to shut down the country again <sarcasm👿>

This trapped rat knows THE ONLY WAY he stands a chance to get re-elected is if he can get the unemployment rate under control and get those peasants back up on the $10 an hour job line.

Fortunately for the world, there is NO CHANCE that is going to happen. Even with the grit and determination of FDR or President Obama, there is NO WAY things are returning to 2019 by November...of even 2021. The goose is cooked.

Now we have to be prepared for MASSIVE CHEATING or cancelling the election altogether...and he will most probably be busy doing both.

[Fritz Walter]

53. Greetings from an Avondalien

Since the lockdown went into effect, I limit grocery shopping to early Sunday mornings, and opt for the smaller Publix on Riverside. Last couple of times I went to Roosevelt (allegedly the largest/busiest store in the chain), the parking lot was like a scene from a Mad Max movie. And inside, the picture didn't improve much. Sure, the boutique grocery doesn't carry a lot of goods that larger stores do, but they don't seem as prone to the craziness. Not suggesting you drive all the way here, but if there are smaller stores nearby -- and off main roads such as A1A, Atlantic, Beach or even JTB -- it might be worth a try. And timing may be crucial. I wasn't at the store when the doors opened, but within a half-hour. The staff and shoppers were polite and most wore masks.

Was considering making a trip to the beach later this week, say Wednesday or Thursday in the mid- to late-morning. It's been months since I got sand between my toes. It can wait. I'm at such high risk, I cannot afford to risk it.

Stay strong, stay safe, and stay sane!

[yaesu]

54. weeks back an RN I know in a Southern red state told me their hospital was not reporting

those who died of covid, I think we aren't getting any accurate account from the red states so figure the real death rate is at least 200k and climbing.

[CaptainTruth]

55. I'm glad it's not that way here, east coast of central FL.

I haven't ventured off the islands since this started (I rarely do anyway, so that's no great loss).

We've been ordering takeout to help keep our local restaurants in business, & they're not crowded. Same thing for BJs & Publix. The number of people shopping is notably less than normal & about 80% are wearing masks & staying distant.

[WanderingLiberal]

56. Us Too

We’re in a small tourist town in northern NM. We’ve been inundated with Texans, most from the DFW & Houston areas. We still have pretty tight lock down measures in place thanks to our fantastic, kick ass & take names Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. These folks are driving in with no idea or concern that we have take out only restaurants; parks are day use only with fire restrictions already in place; bars, museums, music venues, outdoor rec activities, & most stores are closed; 25% max on open bizs; a state wide mask requirement; and, in our town, a 10-6 curfew. Arghhhhh. It only took one East Coast skier deciding he needed a spring break ski holiday to bring it to town in March. Arghhhh. And you’re braver than I am getting out in a packed store. Arghhh. I don’t really feel like we’re expendable 😎

[oasis]

57. The old right wing slogan, "Better Dead Than Red", revisited. nt

[trof]

66. Same for Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, AL.

The two southbound beach highways bumper-to-bumper.
Condos near 100% occupancy.
Look for yet another spike in a week or so.

[countryken]

69. There's gonna be a spike in NE Fla

I drove from Jax to Ormond Beach (a Cracker Barrel off I95) to meet a guy to buy his guitar this morning (Sunday). Nobody going into Cracker Barrel wore a mask, and nobody at the crowded rest stop on the way back did either. These knuckledraggers think it is safe since Trump and DeSantis tell them that it is. Trouble is, we can't trust the official data from Tallahassee anymore, so we may never hear of the new cases. I'm staying home.

[DFW]

70. Luckily, here in Europe, things are not crazy yet.

Masks are still obligatory in many places and in all public transportation. In some of the stricter countries, such as France, telling cops to shove it if you get told to put on a mask WILL get you arrested.

Fast long-distance trains are usually by seat reservation only now, and the reservation systems are programmed for keeping proper safe distance between passengers. The packed sardine cans I am used to have vanished this year. The train systems in Europe must be losing a fortune, but for those of us whose jobs demand travel, well, it has actually been a relief. I wouldn't want to be a hotel manager these days, though. You either close, or report the worst occupancy results ever.

What it's like down south on the Mediterranean, I don't know. The season hasn't really started yet. But places like Spain, southen France, Italy, Croatia, Crna Gora, Malta and Greece will be economic basket cases by the fall if they don't open up. Unfortunately for them, they really don't have any business opening up, either.

That scene in Florida sounds like a mass contest for multiple Darwin awards.

[samplegirl]

71. Stay safe Fla Dem!

[Fla Dem]

75. You too, samplegirl!

[lark]

72. SE GA and inland FL must be flooding the coast north of Jax.

My kids went hiking in Hanna Park on Saturday and then went to the beach and they saw almost no one on the trails and they said everyone at the beach was socially distanced and not crowded at all. It was really hot and they left early and said there was a long line to get into the park. So if you are going somewhere, get there early or late and avoid the crowds or just stay home.

[bucolic_frolic]

74. Thanks for the re-open warning, it's a career boon for

dermatologists and undertakers. Formaldehyde sure to be in short supply.

Means I have to restock the larder before the open-uppers are breathing all over everyone.

[PatSeg]

76. It feels like we're living in a cheesy pandemic/disaster movie

The camera observes crowds of people naively transmitting the virus two or three weeks before the 2nd tidal wave of cases. Then the story really takes off as scientists and doctors fight to contain the pandemic, some of them succumbing to the disease themselves. How many times have we seen this movie, yet so many still refuse to recognize it when it happens in real life. They think the movie is just entertainment, but really it was a warning.

[Fla Dem]

77. I've said that from the beginning, like living in a apocalyptic movie.

You've got the antagonists, the republicans and the protagonists, the scientists and the Democrats.

[PatSeg]

78. Oh yes

Movies and books tend to portray the extremes, whereas in real life people often are milder versions of those characters. Good vs evil is generally considered too extreme to be realistic, but not anymore. It is like people have picked sides and some have chosen mean, cruel, and ugly without hesitation or regret.

I am reading Sinclair Lewis's "It Can't Happen Here" and I see his Minute Men in so many Trump supporters. They are just waiting for permission to be violent and deadly. Many think Trump has already given them that permission. And it is not for any real cause or ideology, it is just an excuse to be hateful and mean.

[Fla Dem]

79. For sure Trump is the instigator. His messages to his cult are loud and clear.

The stupid thing about it is he doesn't give a flying f&ck about them. Just like in the stories, the evil behind the mask cares only about himself and his dominance. He uses his followers for his own gains and then throws them on the rubbish heap when he's done with them.

[PatSeg]

80. Just like he does with everyone else

His followers won't even know what hit them, even though he has told them all along who and what he is. A fictional version of Trump would be more articulate and charismatic, which makes it even more bizarre that he has been as successful as he has. Elmer Gantry, Harold Hill, and Bill Starbuck (Rainmaker) were good looking, charming, and persuasive. Donald Trump is none of these, yet he conned tens of millions of people into supporting him.

No fiction writer would dare to have written such a character, as no one would believe it. I suppose that is why every day we wake up and still cannot believe this is real.