Truthfully I am airing on the side of caution. Just because a state has reopened salons, restaurants, etc. does not mean it is any more "safe" than it was prior to closing. As states reopen — and many of the states with rising case counts were among the earliest and most eager to resume business as usual — the more their residents start to ease up on social distancing and use of masks. The more people ease up, the more they risk contracting COVID-19. Little has changed and in fact states that have opened in haste, combined with memorial day celebrations and protests are showing marked increases in infections.
In fact, the number of Covid-19 hospitalizations since Memorial Day has gone up in at least a dozen states: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.That's according to data aggregated by CNN from the Covid Tracking Project from May 25 to June 9.
Between June 7 and June 14, the seven-day rolling average of positive tests rose from 6.2 percent to 13.5 percent in Alabama, from 12.3 percent to 15.6 percent in Arizona, from 5.6 percent to 19.7 percent in Mississippi and from 6.4 percent to 13.7 percent in South Carolina — a sign that their outbreaks are growing, regardless of testing capacity. Many other states, including Alaska, Nevada, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming, have also registered rising positive-testing rates in recent days. Its hard for me to feel comfortable sitting in a salon chair given this reality right now.
One might argue the "numbers" are up due to increased testing but that does not change the fact that folks are still getting infected and infecting others. The virus exists whether it is counted or not. i live in a state that has opened salons, and restaurants but for now I am staying put. Yes, I'm dying to get my hair cut..my nails done..etc. but right now I will pass. Just because I am sick with being couped up does not mean that the reason to be cautious has miraculously gone away. Of course this is my personal decision and analysis of the situation and I would not presume to tell anyone what they should choose. Whatever choice one makes please take precautions and I hope everyone stays as safe as possible! All rather surreal but nonetheless a reality that won't change just because we are tired of it.
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