Smart vs stupid Covid precautions you’ve see

Obviously seeing someone wiping down counter tops in March doesn’t count, since then less was known about transmission.

Considering what is known now about transmission, what are smart and/or stupid things you’ve seen?

I had to do some shopping that couldn’t be done online.

Obviously every store requires masks, and all had signs asking people to keep a minimum of 6’ of distance.

Stupid:  I went to a clothing store where everyone was forced into one line in a narrow aisle to wait for registers.  We’re not talking like Target where shoppers are put into a single line in the wide aisle, this was probably the narrowest aisle that this particular store had.  The aisle was so narrow that no one trying to shop in that aisle would have been able to pass.  Meanwhile to the left a mere five feet was an aisle easily twice the size that for whatever reason they chose to not use for this purpose.  There were no signs explaining the system.  Each counter was sprayed down with bleach in between customers.  The cashier went to put my items on the still wet bleach and I actually had to object since I didn’t want them being damaged.

Smart:  I went to a different store and they have all the ventilation on full blast (you can actually feel it throughout the store) and at the registers where there is an obvious congregation point they have a large 60” barn fan pointing at the registers.  

Not sure what they’re trying to accomplish:  One store would not allow customers to even place a single item on the register belt until the previous customer had paid and left.  At first I thought they were going to wipe down the belt between customers, not necessary with what is currently known, but at least I could understand the thought behind that.  But this was not the case, they didn’t wipe down anything.  You were allowed to stand at the end of the belt where you could easily touch the belt, you just were not allowed to place ANY items on your be belt until the customer being checked out had left.  I have no idea of what this was supposed to accomplish.  

This was either brilliant or brain dead. I lean towards it being brilliant. Guy in Asbury Park apparently didn't have a mask. So when he went out he improvised. 

ml1

wiping counters still isn't stupid, but in between every customer could be considered excessive, but more frequent than last year is a good idea.....last I was in target, there was 1 line, but with everyone crowded together, at best 3 feet apart....so that defeats the purpose.

what frustrates me the most is that stores can't be intelligent enough to accommodate disabilities as reasonably required by federal law.  Its gotten better.  there are still places I can't go.  I can't stand in lines just  to get in a store.  the only place that continues to be a problem is the super walmart in Linden...but i can just do without going there...i only went a few times before any way....i tried once about a month ago...long line outside, with everyone no more than a foot apart....i tried talking to a couple stores, but just got attitude.

.not having a place to sit if need be is also a problem....before, if i needed to, i could sit in the Target cafe...I think in target there are benches in footwear if I become desperate.

if I need the MVC, i'm in serious trouble.  as it is  my car is due for registration/inspection in October.  I usually get the renewal long ahead of time...I haven't gotten it, i'm just hoping its just delayed due to the closure...i am too sick to fight with them to register my car...and if inspection lines are long, I will have to pay money I can't afford to a private garage...because MVC refuses to accommodate disabilities most of the time.

None of the three stores I went to actually wiped anything down.  I was confused by the one that wouldn’t allow me to put any items on the belt while standing right next to it because I assumed that was the reason, but no.  They just didn’t want any items on the belt until the previous shopper was gone.  As I was standing at the far end of the register, well past the credit card machine, another shopper tried to put her items on the belt, and was told no.  Again, she was allowed to stand there, just wasn’t allowed to put anything on the belt because my items were still in the bagging area being put into my cart.

And the one store, mainly a clothing store, that was spraying wasn’t wiping down so they were spraying the counters with bleach in between every single customer.  Even through my mask I could smell it so I asked if it was bleach and the guy said yes, but it was diluted with water so it wouldn’t hurt the clothing.  I’m guessing he doesn’t do the laundry at his house since some fabrics are more vulnerable to bleach than others, even when diluted.

Proper air flow and distance between people who don’t live in the same household (neither of which this store was doing for their registers) will do much more to stop the spread of this than spraying counter tops with bleach.

jmitw said:

wiping counters still isn't stupid, but in between every customer could be considered excessive, but more frequent than last year is a good idea.....last I was in target, there was 1 line, but with everyone crowded together, at best 3 feet apart....so that defeats the purpose.

what frustrates me the most is that stores can't be intelligent enough to accommodate disabilities as reasonably required by federal law.  Its gotten better.  there are still places I can't go.  I can't stand in lines just  to get in a store.  the only place that continues to be a problem is the super walmart in Linden...but i can just do without going there...i only went a few times before any way....i tried once about a month ago...long line outside, with everyone no more than a foot apart....i tried talking to a couple stores, but just got attitude.

.not having a place to sit if need be is also a problem....before, if i needed to, i could sit in the Target cafe...I think in target there are benches in footwear if I become desperate.

if I need the MVC, i'm in serious trouble.  as it is  my car is due for registration/inspection in October.  I usually get the renewal long ahead of time...I haven't gotten it, i'm just hoping its just delayed due to the closure...i am too sick to fight with them to register my car...and if inspection lines are long, I will have to pay money I can't afford to a private garage...because MVC refuses to accommodate disabilities most of the time.

 How far can you reasonably travel?  The WalMart in Flemington has had almost no lines to get in, and on the occasions when they have had lines the employee in charge of the entrance has reminded people to stay six feet apart.

also, bleach is not good for frequent cleaning....they need a cleanser that kills 99% of virus.

I physically can't  hold things for long.  If I am only getting a few items, I use a fabric bag to shop with, but holding it too long hurts...i'd rather not put it on the ground...if i couldn't at least put it on the frame (not the belt itself) that could be a problem..

normally I don't travel more than 15 minutes...on my better days, I can be away from home 3 hours max...most days I struggle for less, often i can't go out at all.  I did have a big outing to Watchung the other other day.  Hadn't been to that thrift store, needed to go to another store in that area...and really wanted an Auntie Anne's pretzel from the Walmart......and they were out of pretzels...had to settle for nuggets!

I'm also trying to limit gas and car wear and tear....

Walmart in Union is better, I can get in, but sometimes the check out line goes up the middle aisle and down the back....and that can be a 10 minute wait (for self checkouts)...but as long as it is only up the middle, its no more than 5 minutes and I am out of the sun.  I've had to bring a wheelchair with me just to wait to check out.  I can't push the chair when I sit in it as I shop as it hurts my arms so I walk behind it...and it is hard to navigate around the crowds, but just sitting in line, I can walk it a few feet at a time...

but Union doesn't have  the full grocery.....i prefer Shoprite for grocery anyway..they have the best store brand chocolate milk.

I also don't have AC in my car..so that also limits how far I can go, i don't tolerate heat good.

jmitw said:

also, bleach is not good for frequent cleaning....they need a cleanser that kills 99% of virus.

I physically can't  hold things for long.  If I am only getting a few items, I use a fabric bag to shop with, but holding it too long hurts...i'd rather not put it on the ground...if i couldn't at least put it on the frame (not the belt itself) that could be a problem..

normally I don't travel more than 15 minutes...on my better days, I can be away from home 3 hours max...most days I struggle for less, often i can't go out at all.  I did have a big outing to Watchung the other other day.  Hadn't been to that thrift store, needed to go to another store in that area...and really wanted an Auntie Anne's pretzel from the Walmart......and they were out of pretzels...had to settle for nuggets!

I'm also trying to limit gas and car wear and tear....

Walmart in Union is better, I can get in, but sometimes the check out line goes up the middle aisle and down the back....and that can be a 10 minute wait (for self checkouts)...but as long as it is only up the middle, its no more than 5 minutes and I am out of the sun.  I've had to bring a wheelchair with me just to wait to check out.  I can't push the chair when I sit in it as I shop as it hurts my arms so I walk behind it...and it is hard to navigate around the crowds, but just sitting in line, I can walk it a few feet at a time...

but Union doesn't have  the full grocery.....i prefer Shoprite for grocery anyway..they have the best store brand chocolate milk.

I also don't have AC in my car..so that also limits how far I can go, i don't tolerate heat good.

 If you live in Maplewood or South Orange and are able to go on Facebook, try SOMA Squad.  The volunteers there may be able to help you.

jmitw said:

if I need the MVC, i'm in serious trouble.  as it is  my car is due for registration/inspection in October.  I usually get the renewal long ahead of time...I haven't gotten it, i'm just hoping its just delayed due to the closure...i am too sick to fight with them to register my car...and if inspection lines are long, I will have to pay money I can't afford to a private garage...because MVC refuses to accommodate disabilities most of the time.

I don't understand. You don't need to go to MVC to renew your registration. That can be done online. Which I just did at https://mymvc.state.nj.us/reg-renewal/

You do have to go for inspection where you may have to wait in line. In October, having being open for awhile, the lines should be shorter. You can look up the line wait at https://pweb.nj-cleanair.com/waitqueue/pages/facility/home.jsf

In a different thread I believe they said they didn’t receive the notice yet so they didn’t have the PIN needed to renew online 

spontaneous said:

In a different thread I believe they said they didn’t receive the notice yet so they didn’t have the PIN needed to renew online 

 The pin can be gotten online.

https://mymvc.state.nj.us/reg-pin-lookup/

the problem with the registration was that I didn't get the renewal form...should have gotten it a few weeks ago...i  did find the link to request the pin to renew online....hoping to do inspection mid Sept....Superstorm Sandy year, I hurt my arm early october and couldn't drive for 3 weeks...Friday before the storm, i could finally drive, went down the block, made a left...and check engine light came on......you can inspect the month before its due..

Puzzled by the sight of people driving alone with masks on.  I'm very careful to mask when I'm around other people but what's the car thing about?  You're safe when you're alone, no?  

jmitw said:

the problem with the registration was that I didn't get the renewal form...should have gotten it a few weeks ago...i  did find the link to request the pin to renew online....hoping to do inspection mid Sept....Superstorm Sandy year, I hurt my arm early october and couldn't drive for 3 weeks...Friday before the storm, i could finally drive, went down the block, made a left...and check engine light came on......you can inspect the month before its due..

This year they're mailing the registrations late. Previously, they were mailed about two month before the renewal month. This week I received my registration from for the Sept car (even though I already renewed online). For the August car I received it after mid July.

bub said:

Puzzled by the sight of people driving alone with masks on.  I'm very careful to mask when I'm around other people but what's the car thing about?  You're safe when you're alone, no?  

Sometimes it may be more convenient to put or keep a mask on when driving from one destination to another, rather than to go to the trouble of taking it off and disposing it safely and easily.  Also, if getting gas, it may be safer to keep a mask on while opening the car window to pay the gas station attendant two feet away from your face, who may or may not be wearing a mask.

chalmers said:

bub said:

Puzzled by the sight of people driving alone with masks on.  I'm very careful to mask when I'm around other people but what's the car thing about?  You're safe when you're alone, no?  

The one potential positive effect I can think of in that situation is if someone was in a location where they were touching things and need a method or reminder not to touch their face until they can get home and wash their hands. 

The knitted or crocheted fave coverings give me a chuckle, then I remember we're dealing with a deadly pandemic disease and stop chuckling. Unless they've got some kind of super tight weave or if there's a piece of filter in there I don't think they're doing very much.

I think there will always be people who decide that following the letter of the law is sufficient. So a single layer crocheted face covering is fine in their mind.

I was kind of hoping the facemask requirements would spell the end of the current big bushy beard trend, since beards can defeat the efficacy of masks. Apparently no such luck.

chalmers said:

bub said:

Puzzled by the sight of people driving alone with masks on.  I'm very careful to mask when I'm around other people but what's the car thing about?  You're safe when you're alone, no?  

The one potential positive effect I can think of in that situation is if someone was in a location where they were touching things and need a method or reminder not to touch their face until they can get home and wash their hands. 

 i keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer with me, and sanitize as soon as I leave a store, before touching my keys.....

bub said:

Puzzled by the sight of people driving alone with masks on.  I'm very careful to mask when I'm around other people but what's the car thing about?  You're safe when you're alone, no?  

 Finished up back to school shopping at Target.  In the parking lot while walking in I saw a family in their car getting ready to pull of their spot.  Girl in the back seat, maybe 10, was going through the bag and pulled something out of the bag and was trying to open it WITH HER GLOVES STILL ON.  

Let’s pretend for a minute that gloves were actually necessary (they’re not) once you wear them inside the car you’ve just cross contaminated everything, car door handle, seatbelt, etc.  And rifling through a shopping bag and then opening sealed items, with the gloves still on.

It’s like people have this bizarre belief that the gloves are antibacterial or something.

My husband used to work with a guy who wore nitrile gloves constantly.  Dude just didn’t understand the concept of cross contamination, and refused all explanations of it.  My husband is not a germaphobe by any stretch of the imagination, but when getting a truck from this guy my husband would make the guy wipe down the steering wheel and other frequently touched pieces (turn signals, seatbelt, control panel, etc) before handing it over.

Gloves are helpful if you don't want to wash your hands multiple times, but you should sanitize or change your gloves with the same rules as if they're your own hands. Like spontaneous says, the gloves can spread microbes around just like bare skin. You don't absorb the virus through your skin, but if your hand was contaminated (i.e. someone sneezed in it) and you rubbed your eye, that could transmit the infection. Same things applies if you're wearing gloves.

Some people wear gloves to remind them not to touch their face.

You wouldn't change a diaper wearing gloves and then eat a sandwich without throwing out those gloves. Same idea applies to any germ-spreading sitch.

jmitw said:

...

i prefer Shoprite for grocery anyway..they have the best store brand chocolate milk.

now there's a valuable piece of info.

mrincredible said:

The knitted or crocheted fave coverings give me a chuckle, then I remember we're dealing with a deadly pandemic disease and stop chuckling. Unless they've got some kind of super tight weave or if there's a piece of filter in there I don't think they're doing very much.

I think there will always be people who decide that following the letter of the law is sufficient. So a single layer crocheted face covering is fine in their mind.

 There is actually some kind of movement among certain right wingers to wear crocheted or lace masks as a way to make some sort of statement about rights or something. I wish I were making this up but it is a thing. 

There are some such that have an actual fabric lining and are as good as any other masks, but if you see one assume you are looking at a very unpleasant person making a very stupid point.

HatsOff said:

mrincredible said:

The knitted or crocheted fave coverings give me a chuckle, then I remember we're dealing with a deadly pandemic disease and stop chuckling. Unless they've got some kind of super tight weave or if there's a piece of filter in there I don't think they're doing very much.

I think there will always be people who decide that following the letter of the law is sufficient. So a single layer crocheted face covering is fine in their mind.

 There is actually some kind of movement among certain right wingers to wear crocheted or lace masks as a way to make some sort of statement about rights or something. I wish I were making this up but it is a thing. 

There are some such that have an actual fabric lining and are as good as any other masks, but if you see one assume you are looking at a very unpleasant person making a very stupid point.

 Even before the study came out I kinda had the same assumption about the people who wear neck gators.  Early on they said 100% cotton was the best, anything that is stretchy, especially as stretchy as a neck gator, cannot be 100% cotton.  So I always got the feeling those people were wearing them to fulfill a requirement but not giving a damn if the things actually worked or not 

I suspect there is an element of vanity for people who don't want to wear a decent mask. They're not exactly flattering. 

bub said:

Puzzled by the sight of people driving alone with masks on.  I'm very careful to mask when I'm around other people but what's the car thing about?  You're safe when you're alone, no?  

I get it, but I'm just glad to see people taking masking seriously. Inside a car, if it has been serviced or just gone through a car wash,...absolutely!! What bothers me is when grocery stores ask you to wear a mask and half the employees have them down under their noses.

It occurs to me people alone in cars wearing masks could be doing what I am sometimes, which is trying to practice and build up my tolerance with the mask on, as I am one of those who feels suffocated while wearing it.

I sometimes forget to take mine out of the house or the car so maybe it's just a precaution for some people to make sure they have it.  Anyway, I reserve "stupid" for the people who err in the opposite direction.  

Today, I wore my mask as I approached my sister's apartment. I then had to go to Home Depot, Wine Barrel (it's a necessity), the post office, and then back to her house. I left my mask on the whole time. Better than futzing with it... 

I love seeing people wearing gloves and wiping down their carts while wearing their mask underneath their nose