Regardless of the facts, and what any of us believe pertaining to COVID-19, we all have to deal with the actions of local, state, and federal government policies put in place as a response to the virus.
Very soon after states started easing restrictions and reopening the number of new cases started to rise. While it can be argued – and should be – that more testing equates to an increase in new cases – the rising number of deaths is concerning. Over the past 7-10 days, the daily number of deaths appears to be decreasing. This is good news.
By the way – I am well aware that the data is skewed and accuracy is highly suspicious. The data used is what we have to go by at the moment. Real-world evidence has many hospitals beyond full capacity. The virus is spreading and the number of hospitalizations and deaths is up. There is no doubt about that. The true “death rate” or measure of lethality is certainly not nearly as high as the American people and the world was led to believe.
‘Nuff said on the data.
The New Normal
Policies, rules, and planned reactions to levels of infection vary greatly by localities and state. Politicians are largely instituting policies based on a combination of effective practices to diminish the spread, economic impact, and poll numbers.
Notice I did not mention “Rights of the citizen and constitutionality” as a contributing factor towards policy development. When you can walk into a liquor store, loot and riot, go to Walmart – but you cannot go to church – the obvious biases are evident. Another relevant example of political bias toward determining policy is how a large segment of the Left wants to provide simple and insecure means to vote – rather than the normal method. Once again – people can stand in line at Wal-Mart, however, to many standing in line to vote is too dangerous. The lack of consistency and the level of hypocrisy knows no boundaries.
Masks are part of the new normal. Social distancing is part of the new normal. Shopping online and using innovation to find methods of conducting commerce with little to know physical interactions is part of the new normal.
Part-time school with a substantial amount of online learning is likely something that will not be going away anytime soon. Students wearing masks all day and minimal class-sizes may become part of the new normal. The changes in schools and e-learning will have a detrimental impact on the economy and developmental progress of students.
The coming Fall/Winter season will be the first dealing with COVID. Imagine how people will be looked at who are sneezing, coughing, and have stuffy noses due to the common cold? Employers will increase their requirements on testing for those “suspected” of having any kind of sickness to make absolutely certain it’s not COVID will increase.
Imagine what will occur when a vaccine comes out. How many employers will require as part of employment all employees to get the vaccine? Will Schools will require students to get the COVID vaccine in order to enroll?
It’s going to be interesting.
Steps to Prepare
I’m not expecting any kind of catastrophe due to the 2nd wave of shutdowns. Here are a few thoughts pertaining to commonsense preparedness for the coming lockdown:
Basic Pandemic Protection: For those looking to protect themselves as much as possible from contracting COVID-19 the following items are recommended to stock up in quantity.
- Masks – as more and more places are requiring masks, make sure you have plenty on hand.
- Hand Sanitizer – Hand sanitizer has become much more readily available. If the new cases continue to trend upward and you wish to avoid contracting the virus, hand sanitizer is useful for sanitizing hands and other items such as shopping cart handles.
- Disinfectant Spray – Still hard to find in most areas, “Lysol” type spray is useful for disinfecting larger areas and objects such as toilet seats, doorknobs, keyboards, etc.
- Antibacterial Cleaning – Cleaning items such as Clorox wipes and cleaning solutions that are effective against viruses are still highly sought after and difficult to find.
Other Preparedness Tasks/Steps: When the Fall comes the unknown will arrive. The regular flu will infect hundreds of thousands of people and with similar symptoms to COVID and create an environment of fear and suspicion. Everyone with sniffles, a cough, a stuffy nose – will be looked at as “one of those”.  Wait and see.
The complexity of this situation cannot be overstated.
- Debt Reduction. With the economic uncertainty and businesses closing, reducing hours, and changing how they operate the chances of becoming unemployed are likely to increase in the Fall. Reducing debt to better be able to handle times of income reduction should be started now.
- Saving. Saving goes right along with debt reduction. Having an emergency cash stash just in case makes sense and will help if income reductions occur.
- Secondary Streams of Income. Backup funding sources to keep you afloat should hours get cut back or you lose your job should be a priority. Selling things on eBay is a good example. Using a skill such as baking cakes or petsitting is another.
- Stocking Up. Food prices have increased substantially over the past few months. Will this trend continue? I would plan on YES. Buying food now – especially on sale and using coupons, can save you a lot of money. Buying now being smart and strategic could save you upwards of 30-40% over what you might pay in 6 months. Spend $750 per month on groceries now? This could amount to a $300 per month savings later. BTW – this goes for everything – not just food.
- Cold/Flu Medicines. There is likely to be a run on cold & flu medicines this Fall. Stock up now as supplies will likely become short and prices will go up.
Regardless of what the next lockdown looks like or if we have one at all – I’m not sure there has been a time in the past 100 years where the future of our country has been so uncertain.
Keep prepping. Keep moving forward. Stay positive!
Rourke
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For those of us that have made the move to a more rural than Urban setting .. Learning to grow food and preserving it, is a skill worth figuring out. Same with critters… A few chickens, or rabbits. goats, pigs all essentially will process all the garden waste (we don’t use insecticides, and natural methods are not usually as effective.) During WWII many people were encouraged to start Victory Gardens, most of which gave up grass for garden in an Urban setting. If you have and HOA or have local restrictions of some sort.. check them and see what you can and can’t be “allowed” to do. Make a plan and execute the plan.
Then decide what of those things, like incubators, seeds, various fuels etc you need in stores to support your activities if those things are hard to get.
OPSEC on all of that BTW .. you have folks riding around NARCing on Church gathers like Hitler Youth. Curb your excitement, and keep it to yourself.
Financially do the work to prepare to remove money from Ones and Zeros to something more physical. They push for cashless and more than half of the rural businesses (BigBox) are becoming an issue. I won’t advise on what.. use what makes sense to you. maybe you won’t need it.. hopefully. Something to consider is all the moratoriums they have right now, are not forgiveness. The majority will look to recover the “delayed” cost. For instance Trumps new payroll tax.. Is a deferment, meaning they will collect it at tax time. Sooo tell me.. what does that do ? It means you PAY instead of getting a refund.. not really very helpful IMO. Of course if re-elected he has promised to make it true forgiveness rather than deferment. Not a bad tactic. But add the same thinking to rent, eviction, heating, electric, mortgage.. etc etc .. Eventually that can is to big to kick further down the road.
The point being if you are in debt more than necessary, and do not get a cushion of some sort.. it could be a bad thing. Maybe not recoverable, depending on circumstance. Just think it through and make plans, then execute the plans.
If you don’t have a MAG, get to know people of like mind and learn to barter, or possibly gather to can, butcher, grow one crop, and they another etc etc.. be creative.
Trust me, I have all but become a hermit, but i keep those friends in my dial list and holler at them every so often just to keep the relationship fresh. Often we have traded stuff I need and they don’t or vice versa.. it’s worked out very well and we will continue. If you have a local farmers market, and make things or grow things, sell the surplus.. most transactions are cash.. hint.. 😉
Just some thoughts to consider
GG58
For us over here in winter if you display any cold / flu like symptom you need to get a covid19 and stay home from work / shopping until your results are back . Alot of work places have been temperature testing . But now we are in stage 4 lock down not much to do but keep going. Also just a fyi the sale of cold / flu medicine is looked on as suspicious. The chemist are moved all behind the counter at a few chemists we’ve been too and if you have any temperature they won’t allow you in store. So if it’s something you use stock up whilst you are healthy . Stay safe everyone !!