Now that restrictions
are easing up in some public spaces, let's be reminded that the threat to
public health is still here and requires some modifications of how we interact,
perhaps permanently. There is an upside to social contact that should have
happened sooner.
Restaurants: Going out
to eat can be a hassle. Waiting a long time in a crowded lobby with other folks
until a table opens up in large, loud room where every meal is rushed, is not
my idea of fine dining. I have never heard anyone complain about a restaurant
being quiet with few people. Fewer people mean less money but it will be easier
on the chefs, staff and customers if the place is reconfigured. A well designed space that accommodates
people without feeling crowded will create a pleasant dining experience. By the
way, I think home delivery should be a permanent thing. Great for the elderly,
disabled, introverts and those without transportation.
Airplanes: People
have been bitching for years about being jammed into small seats and overcrowding.
Whoever designed airline seating needs to be shoved into a dinky middle seat
with screaming children and coughing adults for multiple cross country flights.
Good bye middle seats -for good.
Beaches: Stay in your
lane is one option. Do you want to waste time looking for a parking spot in a
busy lot , trudge to a crowded beach to look for an empty place while the kids
whine ? Of course not.
A post and tape
barrier running from parking lot to surf separating spaces might work. For long
stretches of beaches ( like parks on the East Coast) one beach can be designated for cars with odd number on
license plates and another for even numbered plates.
The reality of modern
living with an expanding population is too many people in too many places at
once. Business thrives on maximum daily customers but it's not sustainable,
comfortable, safe or sanitary.
Concerts, clubs and
sporting events are a mad house where one spends more time avoiding drunk, loud
people not paying attention to where they are going. This is not fun. These
areas are still problematic, let's brainstorm.
There has been speculation about the idea of streamingfirst run movies directly and now that may be the solution. I hope it's not a
permanent one as movie going is better as a communal experience. same with
games, concerts and bars.
The main concern has always been direct contact. Face
masks do nothing to protect from a pathogen rather they prevent people from
spreading germs by sneezing, coughing or unconsciously touching their face then
their hands touching surfaces. However most of the precautions don't work, because
there are so many surfaces with multiple contact. Hands continuously touch door
handles, railings and so on. Pens for writing receipts and purchased articles
are touched but I can't use my reusable bag because-reasons.
And keyboards! They are notoriously dirty. Clean after each
use, an overlay of plastic replaced with each user or use your own will cut
down infection.
Old habits persist, like exchanging money hand to hand (money
is a big germ farm) instead of placing it in a tray like they do In Japan.
There have been complaints that big stores are open but small ones are closed-why?
Size and proximity to others is a factor. It's easier to avoid people in ten
thousand square feet than in five hundred square feet.
Closing most business was a bureaucrats simple solution to a
complex issue. It was easier than determining which is contact heavy and a
threat and what was safe. Many jobs require minimum interaction with others.
As we know now, our
freckless leaders had no plan for a pandemic and rushed a stop gap solution.
When this happens again, we will pretend everything will be ok because doing
the same thing and expecting different results has worked so well in the past.
Welcome to the new normal.
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