1. The numbers. COVID-19 is still here and it keeps getting bigger. Maybe the increase is getting incrementally smaller, but over the course of a month, the numbers are pretty overwhelming. From April 7 to today, May 7, there have been nearly 2.5 million new cases globally. Over 188,000 people around the world died from this virus in the past 30 days. In the United States, new cases increased by nearly 892,000 and over 64,000 people died from it in this country. In my state, Utah, there were nearly 4,000 new cases in the past 30 days and 48 Utahns died from this disease.
2. Code Orange. In Utah, the governor has moved the state's risk level from red to orange, indicating that we are in the moderate risk phase. What this means is that restaurants can re-open as long as there are appropriate social distancing measures in place. People are encouraged to wear masks in public when the social distancing guideline of six feet cannot be met. Groups of 20 people or less are allowed to be together. My gym is planning to re-open in a limited capacity next week. There won't be any classes and I think there will be restrictions on the number of people allowed in the facility. Red Butte Garden is also planning to re-open at some point, but with a lot of differences. There won't be any tram tours this summer, so I won't be needed as a docent in the Courtyard at all. I haven't heard from the curation department about bloom recording. Last I heard, they were hoping to get in some concerts later in the summer.
For my part, I am not eager to go sit in a restaurant, no matter how far apart the tables are set. I will try to freeze my gym membership for awhile. Since the weather is warmer now, I can walk outside or ride my bike. As far as the Garden goes, we'll just see what happens. As much as I miss it, I can wait to get back until the situation settles. As far as my work goes, I am still at home and will be for the next week or through the end of the month. I haven't heard anything solid yet.
3. My new pet peeve. I was at the grocery store this week with my mask strapped to my face. There were other people wearing masks, of course, (but none as cute as mine LOL). There were also plenty of people not wearing masks. I don't really know what to think about people who don't wear masks. It's not a requirement in most places, but it is encouraged, so I tend to think that people who don't bother with a mask are kind of selfish or lazy or just don't think it's a big deal. What really annoys me, though, is people who do have a mask on their head area, but not on their face. I saw several people wearing the mask down under their chin like it was a neck warmer. I saw people wearing the mask below their nose. Why? Just put it on. One of the people I saw with the mask under the chin was a grocery store employee who was maybe on a break or had just finished her shift. She was still wearing her work attire (except for the mask) and pushing around a cart, picking up items. She was shopping. Maybe she thought she wouldn't get within six feet of anyone, so she didn't have to wear the mask. I don't know. It just bugs me.
Stay safe my friends.
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