3rd Generation Ag said:
Rev, the problem with that is that many of us who are over 70 are still working members of society. We really can't lock ourselves totally away for a year or so. That is why social distancing and people wearing masks really help us survive. I know that view is not popular here. But to me it is reality. I wear my mask but it does not help as much as you wearing yours.
I am not saying shut down, but I don't get the total anti mask mentality or the people who simply don't care that they are putting me and others like me at risk.
We are so good as school right now. All wearing masks and enough families opting for at home that I can socially distance the kids away from my desk.
To me there has to be a middle ground. Not go out and live your life without thought for others.
I have not been in a store since March. I pay to have my groceries delivered, but these pay shoppers are not as good as seeing the shelves for myself. Oh to be able to buy groceries. I don't eat out. And for things like Mothers day or my birthday, the kids took me to patio type places. Winter will make that harder. I have bought gas three times since March. I just drive to school and back. But the elderly, and I HATE that term are at very high risk. People I know have survived but with a much reduced quality of life afterwards.
My poor dog has terribly long toenails. Basset nails are too tough for me to cut. The ONE time I took her to the groomer to have them ground down, the place was not enforcing masks or socially distancing so no more Petsmart. That was my only venture and while they were supposed to be at 25 percent. I have not been able to find a come to the house groomer who will do large dogs.
I have not been inside a church since March. I don't know how much more I can do on my part.
I know that this is long, the people who say it is EASY to isolate those over 70 picture us all living in some sort of assisted living place instead of in homes and apartments and still an active part of the workforce.
Wear the damn masks.
If you are over 70 work on your risk factors. First we know that having a vitamin D level greater then 55 reduced the chance of contracting Covid-19 over 50% in a study of over 191,000 people. So start taking that and get your vitamin D level checked.
If you are overweight than focus on getting weight down. If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes than get these measures under good control.
In addition if you are worried when you go out than use an N95 mask they are much better at protecting the person wearing the mask. Us healthcare workers are face to face with Covid-19 patients all the time and we examine them without their mask but we have ours on. If you want to go get groceries yourself then go at a time when very little people are in the store such as early mornings. If you want to go out to eat go at 4:30 when the restaurant is almost empty and ask to sit far away from others. Avoid close contact with others when you are out. Stay away from smokers and vaping as this can potentially. If you are worried about the social distancing at the pet groomers have someone else take your dog for you. Avoid close contact with anyone for more than 10 minutes as this minimizes chances of contraction. You can't control others actions but you can control your own.
Both of my parents are over 70 and we have taken them out to eat but we did so at times when others were not likely to be in the restaurant. We were leaving when most people just started showing up. We have them over and sit outside frequently or sit 10 feet apart in the living room. They will be over for Thanksgiving and Christmas too.
Remember that just because you are over 70 does not mean you will die if you get Covid-19.. Quit the opposite actually, the death rate over age 70 is around 4% which is high but that still means 96 out of 100 survived. If you control the risk factors and take some of the supplements so can hopefully minimize your risks even more.
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