the little guy during this virus

[Stig / Major Tom]

There are a lot of people facing some real struggles at this time.
Breadwinner for a family of 4 is trying to stay afloat with his once thriving coffee shop.
As many eateries have done, he is take-away only now, cut his hours by 2/3rds, and his staff has gone (uncomfortable dealing with customers) leaving just a one-man operation.
He's hung the flags out front, marked off 6' stripes on the floor - but only a few of us morning patrons are still showing up.
The street should be full of parked cars in front of his shop.



They just aren't showing up.....


I told him how good it is to see him. He just smiled, and said, "thanks!"

Stig

[jeeves]

At least he is still open.
Here everything except supermarkets and gas stations are closed.
Supermarkets work until 5pm. There is a number of people that can be inside at the same time. Everybody else has to wait outside, 2 meters apart.
When a person comes out, only then another one can enter.

Everything else that is not available at the supermarket has to be ordered online.
 
Had to get a permit to go to work. There are 2 police check points on my 20km commute.

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[CROSSBOLT]

This is crazy and unnecessary.

[stuo]

What Karl said!

[Viper254]

This is crazy and unnecessary.

It's crazy and necessary.


**EDIT** realised that a simple statement with no backup really isn't helping the debate very much.

The virus hospitalised one in seven people who catch it. From what I gather, your healthcare system is quirkier than ours and ours is already creaking at the seams.

On average, it infects 2.1 (I think, or 2.4) people per infected person. Standard winter flu is about 1.2ish. If you type 1 in your calculator, multiply it by 2 and keep pressing the equals button, you'll get a better visual representation of why the difference between 2.1 and 1.2 is so critical in this debate.

I know it's hard on the self-employed, and my heart goes out to them. I've been self employed for a good chunk of my life and I am very grateful that I no longer am, and have a very understanding employer who will keep paying me so I can keep paying the rent.

Perhaps the states will fare better - you are much less densely populated than us - but do take it seriously. I gather a fair few forum members are over 70 and are very susceptible to pneumonia if they contract this. I'd hate to see any forum members go over a blasé faire attitude to something that is a serious thing.

[Stig / Major Tom]

I see that every Ohio county has cases of the virus. Some few with deaths.
Daughter, pup and I are getting ready for an hour long walk at the reservoir.  Few others out at sunrise.
We are on "gas station and 'senior hour' for groceries " only. NO more stops at Wal-Mart etc.
Wore gloves into coffee shop, then used hand cleaner on them and table and chair at my perch across the street.
Dog walkers gave me a wide berth as they passed (though that may have been my terrorist balaclava. )
 Viper is correct in saying this is serious, and that all of us "Great Bands of the 60's" gang need to understand that.
Remember the old joke: "how old are you?"
"Well, I stopped buying green bananas."
Stig

[CROSSBOLT]

My respnse is a little cocky but as a nation US there is a panic way out of proportion to the threat thanks to the media and many, really....ah....limited people.

[randyo]

I know it's hard on the self-employed, and my heart goes out to them. I've been self employed for a good chunk of my life and I am very grateful that I no longer am, and have a very understanding employer who will keep paying me so I can keep paying the rent.

depends on what business your in, I'm already getting increase calls to design replacements for failing septic systems (maybe they are flushing too much TP) I'm trying to be retired

my friend, in the printing business is going crazy with new orders to print virus info etc for customers from banks, hospitals, municipalities, another friend in the same business, but not self employed is putting in just as much overtime, printing books for Amazon  cause of the deluge of new orders mostly due to all the home schooling

[Viper254]

depends on what business your in, I'm already getting increase calls to design replacements for failing septic systems (maybe they are flushing too much TP) I'm trying to be retired

my friend, in the printing business is going crazy with new orders to print virus info etc for customers from banks, hospitals, municipalities, another friend in the same business, but not self employed is putting in just as much overtime, printing books for Amazon  cause of the deluge of new orders mostly due to all the home schooling

Your point is a good one - I used to be a courier and they are madly busy at the moment, if highly exposed.

My respnse is a little cocky but as a nation US there is a panic way out of proportion to the threat thanks to the media and many, really....ah....limited people.

I do agree with a point here - media hype has been unhelpful at best.

[Forbes1964]

The media may be feeding the panic. But it is serious. We see the POTENTIAL threat thats seen in Italy. I must say that I’m glad I don’t live in a densely populated area such as New York City. Or tourist area such as New Orleans or Miami. My mother is 88. I have a chronic illness .(diabetes) And i deal with the public getting in and out of customer’s cars. Lately mother finds a reason to get me to come by her house every day. Sometimes bribes me with FOOD. Sometimes “needs” something from the store. My response: take it seriously, but don’t panic. I think Mother NEEDS to see me for her peace of mind. So I wash my hands well, do my due diligence, and trust God to handle the rest.


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[randyo]

THis is not affecting me much at all,  I am supposed to be retired, I get enuf in my SS to live a comfortable life, I'm still taking in a few jobs, for play money. My work is deemed essential, so I can work if I want, Anne & I have always kept a years worth of staple items + meat and vegetables from the garden in our freezer, I just bought a bale (96rolls) of TP, a few months ago.

I have guns, plenty of ammo, fishing gear, if meat should run low. I keep bees and get more than enough honey that we rarely buy sugar, I think the last time was a year ago, to feed bees in early season, not my consumption

so long as we have electricity from the grid, we could hunker down easily, for several month's,  I'm working on not relying on the grid

[DanH]

In San Diego, the mayor allows essential business only. The little guy closed up shop or made themselves essential. Like Stig, it is eerie to scoot down a once-busy street and ponder the impact of these closures. I fear most won't return to business. I will do my part to support those that do.

[Kansas kymco]

I'm afraid for most small mom & pop businesses  they may never open back up. Govt, assistance might be to little to late.

Even motorcycle dealers won't be immune.  Where I purchase bikes and scooters from had a hard time in the 2008 economic down turn and bike and scooter sales never did return to normal afterwards. Wichita lost it's biggest multi-brand dealer 390.5 k people so not a small city.  I consider him and his wife friends and we go to lunch. If it wasn’t for lawn equipment and utv's they probably wouldn't survive.