****CARNIVAL CRUISERS: HOW ARE THINGS WHERE YOU LIVE???

[Honolulu Blue]

Short report from Michigan... cases have gone steadily down, % positives also down in most areas.  We're likely to get some more freedom to move around soon.  Some aren't waiting... like two big Native American casinos.  Both the Soaring Eagle and Firekeepers are opening up on Monday.  They're on Native land, so strictly speaking they don't have to abide by the state's rules and regulations.  Most of the announced restrictions aren't too surprising for either - half of slots turned off, limited capacity at table games, temperature scans on entry, lots of hand sanitizer stations, no poker, no valet, no shuttle buses, buffet and some other restaurants closed, masks required.  A couple of things that caught my eye are no indoor smoking either place and a split in bingo policy - Firekeepers is keeping it closed, while the Eagle plans to run it.

 

You can read the details at soaringeaglecasino.com and https://firekeeperscasino.com/about/slotocc/

[lovecaribbean6179]

8 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

Short report from Michigan... cases have gone steadily down, % positives also down in most areas.  We're likely to get some more freedom to move around soon.  Some aren't waiting... like two big Native American casinos.  Both the Soaring Eagle and Firekeepers are opening up on Monday.  They're on Native land, so strictly speaking they don't have to abide by the state's rules and regulations.  Most of the announced restrictions aren't too surprising for either - half of slots turned off, limited capacity at table games, temperature scans on entry, lots of hand sanitizer stations, no poker, no valet, no shuttle buses, buffet and some other restaurants closed, masks required.  A couple of things that caught my eye are no indoor smoking either place and a split in bingo policy - Firekeepers is keeping it closed, while the Eagle plans to run it.

 

You can read the details at soaringeaglecasino.com and https://firekeeperscasino.com/about/slotocc/

Yay Michigan.  Glad to hear your cases are going down.  

 

Just listened to the news last night for the St. Louis/St. Louis County area cases, they are going down also. St. Louis Task Force advised us to not get complacent.  Just keep doing what we have been doing (i.e. social distancing, masks, etc.).  It is encouraging news.

 

  

[tropicaltripper]

Things are slowly opening up in WA, I live in a small county where restaraunts are now open at 50% capacity and we can now get haircuts as well. I haven't personally experienced any shortages of food so that's been nice. 1200 people were tested for covid in our county recently and all came back negative! Funny how those results never made the news here. People really need be encouraged by those results. I'm starting to feel more optimistic.

My last cruise was in February, so glad we got to go! Next one isn't till February of next year. They never come soon enough!

[Honolulu Blue]

UPDATE:  The governor finally granted us our freedom!  Sort of.  Most businesses will open, or open more fully, in the next week or so in the entire state.  On the off chance that someone else cares, you can read a summary of what's going on here:  https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/06/michigan-coronavirus-stay-at-home-order-lifted-heres-what-opens-when.html

[Oldpeoplecruising]

Here in Houston/Galveston life has resumed pretty close to normal.   I am working from home but husband has gone back to work finally.   Stores are opening up and starting to have those little necessities like toilet paper and disinfecting wipes again.  Hours for many stores are still changed.   Now.... our state opened up hair salons a month ago, but the shop that I normally go to has not yet opened.       If I could only get a hair cut.  For my area... the infection rate is actually pretty low considering we are the 4th most populous city in the US.    Only 289 active cases currently.  So not too bad.   I just want to get back to normal.   

[pe4all]

We are finally entering stage 2 tomorrow.  Yesterday was the first day Nassau County (Long Island, NY) had zero deaths - a real milestone for us.  Some restaurants are setting up tables in their parking lots to begin outdoor dining - socially distancing, of course.  Hair salons/barber shops are due to open tomorrow.  It is still hard to find certain items in the stores -  meat, breakfast items, toilet paper.  Hand sanitizer is all no-name brands they are producing here on Long Island.  No purell, or lysol spray to be found anywhere.   Much more traffic around, and people out and about - with and without masks.  Hopefully we will not see a spike in a week or 2.  

[Host Carolyn]

In April when they said our spike would be mid June everyone scoffed at it. Now we have had huge spike 2 weeks after Memorial Day, highest number in hospital etc.We are in phase 2, have had protests for 10 days and nights. Many wore masks but in general, especially outside metro areas, people ignore all health department suggestions  and do their thun. Hate to think of what numbers will be later this month. 

Edited June 9, 2020 by Host Carolyn

[Joe817]

1 hour ago, Host Carolyn said:

In April when they said our spike would be mid June everyone scoffed at it. Now we have had huge spike 2 weeks after Memorial Day, highest number in hospital etc.We are in phase 2, have had protests for 10 days and nights. Many wore masks but in general, especially outside metro areas, people ignore all health department suggestions  and do their thun. Hate to think of what numbers will be later this month. 

Me too, Carolyn, me too. 

[lovecaribbean6179]

Hate to hear this Carolyn.  Our Phase I has been extended until Jun 15th.  

[pe4all]

I am also worried about large spikes due to very large protests here. (1,000+ people at some)  We have several protests each day all over the island and I am hoping most people have been wearing masks, though it seems there are not many masks being worn when I see pictures on our local news.

[Honolulu Blue]

Another report from Michigan... this was my first full week back at work at the office.  It felt good.  I liked working from home, but it was time to go back.

 

Despite some, um, vigorous protests around the state, the number of cases, deaths, and positive % have continued to go down.  Its quite a story, I think, but the media has moved on to juicier topics.

 

One probable reason things are going better is we seem to be a lot more serious about mask wearing than other states.  Here's an article about it:  https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/06/are-shoppers-wearing-masks-we-went-to-37-stores-across-michigan-to-find-out.html

 

While I'm linking articles, let me link this article detailing how risky some public health experts think certain activities are:  https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/06/from-hair-salons-to-gyms-experts-rank-36-activities-by-coronavirus-risk-level.html .  Considering a lot of them can be found on cruise ships, you can see why they're having a rough time getting approval to sail.

 

One of my fellow Michiganders in this thread discussed the dam break and floods that happened a few weeks ago.  One consequence of that is that we had a bit of an outbreak from the sub-sub-subcontractors that were hired to help clean up.  They were from out of state.  Thanks?  You can read that story here:  https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2020/06/more-details-surface-surrounding-bay-county-coronavirus-spike-from-flood-workers.html

[pacruise804]

I appreciate the article stating masks are to be worn over the nose and mouth.  At my stores I see a lot of people wearing them, but improperly.  Usually it at least covers the mouth but is often off the nose.  Sometimes though the mask is just on the chin - what's the point?

[pacruise804]

I read an article the other day that stated cruise ships aren't the leading hotspot everyone thinks they are, but rather religious ceremonies, call centers, and meatpacking plants.

 

[Host Carolyn]

People here must think you GET covid from masks and our rates go up, up up.  Glad to hear it's going better in Michigan

[RWolver672]

19 hours ago, Host Carolyn said:

People here must think you GET covid from masks and our rates go up, up up.  Glad to hear it's going better in Michigan

 

So many people are under the impression that wearing a mask protects the wearer.  They think that as long as they keep a distance from others that they are safe.  What they don't realize is that they may have it and not know it.  By wearing a mask, they are protecting others that they may come in contact with.  Then there's the ones that say "I never get sick so I won't get this either."  Or "I'm young, I'm safe."  At this point in time, no one is safe.
 

[stlrboo]

Reside in Erie, PA and we are one of the few counties in Pennsylvania that is still in the yellow phase!  Then I went into the local convenience store today, and the sign for 'must wear masks' was missing, and everyone including the workers were mask-less! (except for the girl serving ice cream at the outside window).  🤨  I work P/T at the local Walmart, and ALL Associates and customers are required to wear masks at all times!  I wonder why some people can be so 'nonchalant' about it, yet the cases have risen steadily for the past several weeks!  At this rate, we will be stuck at 'yellow' all summer!🙄😒

[pacruise804]

My Dad is in Erie County too and I thought they would have gotten their announcement last week.  Hoping you get it soon, it didn't look like Erie had that many cases.

[Host Carolyn]

I miss Erie......used to go to Northeast, Presque Isle in the summer growing up in Pittsburgh and Zelienople.  Glad things aren't too bad there.

 

In our Crazy Covid announcement of the day, now with cases going way up here, more in hospital, the 2 big health systems today began allowing hospital visits for the first time since early March!!!  Huh??

[pacruise804]

23 hours ago, Host Carolyn said:

I miss Erie......used to go to Northeast, Presque Isle in the summer growing up in Pittsburgh and Zelienople.  Glad things aren't too bad there.

I was definitely spoiled being so close.  Miss those views - especially sunsets.

 

23 hours ago, Host Carolyn said:

In our Crazy Covid announcement of the day, now with cases going way up here, more in hospital, the 2 big health systems today began allowing hospital visits for the first time since early March!!!  Huh??

🤦‍♀️

[TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail]

On 6/13/2020 at 8:59 AM, Host Carolyn said:

People here must think you GET covid from masks and our rates go up, up up.  Glad to hear it's going better in Michigan

There is so much misinformation out there right now I can see how that is believed.  I work in a courthouse in a state that still requires masks where social distancing cannot be maintained, You’d think that, the numerous signs Indicating masks are required and having to have your temperature checked would be enough of a sign for people to take this seriously.  Nope the bailiffs constantly turn folks away who “don’t have a mask”.

 

I’ll not comment on the above mention of masks during protests, but hope the same leniency is granted for discussion of mask use at political rallies.  

[AmBear]

On 3/21/2020 at 2:17 PM, Host Carolyn said:

Since we are all one big community we collectively thought it would be a great idea to start a thread on each forum so that our members can have a place to socialize during this time of social distancing or "stay in place" that we are all doing.  Cruise Critic is a community and now is the time that we need to be able to socialize and show support for one another! All we ask is that you please, please show respect and kindness to each other and please also keep all politics off of this thread no matter where in the world you live.

 

Everyone is frustrated and stressed but I know as the host it would be wonderful to know how everyone is doing on the boards that I have talked to or simply read your posts over these 20+ years that I have been a member and host on Cruise Critic.

 

Best wishes and good health to all of you!  Be kind to each other....

 

Carolyn

We live in the Tampa Bay area, and like most of Florida,  the #'s of infections are going up since reopening! The politicians have all kinds of excuses, not worth going into that! 

The fact is way too many here in Florida don't distance, or wear masks! 

And now with just about everything reopened, its only gonna get worse!

Because of this, we are isolating, doing well, healthy,, and if forced to go out, drs. appts, etc., we wear a mask and distance!

 It sucks for all of us not to go back to normal cruising, but it'll happen likely next year, so stay patient!

Hoping all stay safe, and healthy!

 

[Honolulu Blue]

On 6/13/2020 at 9:59 AM, Host Carolyn said:

People here must think you GET covid from masks and our rates go up, up up.  Glad to hear it's going better in Michigan

 

Thanks, but it's time to start worrying here in Michigan - at least a little bit.  We've had 200+ new positives each day for the past three days after being below 200 for a week straight.  I guess we're getting the results from all that activity from a few weeks ago?  The positive rate is floating back toward 3% from around 2%.  The new cases seem to be spread out all over the state, which can be both good and bad.

 

The Governor is preparing a plan to open the schools in the fall, and she really really really wants to open up the rest of the state soon (like everyone else).

[Host Carolyn]

I started this thread so we could others know how we're doing. Don't want to turn it into a debate re masks, definitions etc. It's a frustrating time but it's been a good thread for 3 months and If hate to have to close it. Thanks!

[pe4all]

Entering stage 3 today!! Tattoo parlors, nail salons, restaurants open at 50% indoor capacity/outdoor dining. Some larger stores re-opened for indoor shopping.  Malls still closed.   Hopefully people will adhere to social distancing a bit more than they have been so we don't go back a stage.

[Honolulu Blue]

A few updates from Michigan:

 

• The bad news keeps coming.  323 new cases yesterday, our most this month.  The 7-day moving average is up to 223.  There are several outbreaks of note.  Another tier of freedom has been delayed.  A good summary of the depressing tale is at https://www.freep.com/story/news/health/2020/06/24/michigan-coronavirus-cases-rising-again-after-flattening-the-curve/3251993001/ .
• A more detailed look at an outbreak a little too close to home.  34 college-aged people test positive, and they all trace back to a single bar/restaurant.  https://www.wilx.com/content/news/People-not-surprised-COVID-19-outbreak-at-East-Lansing-bar-571470251.html
• In the mixed news department, gyms get to stay closed a little while longer thanks to a last-minute stay:  https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/06/25/appeals-court-grants-michigan-gov-whitmers-motion-to-keep-gyms-closed/