Editor’s note: I pulled the trigger pretty quickly on this post yesterday, before realizing that Henry’s was a “sorta kinda” stay-at-home order, and maybe I was giving him credit for doing more than he was doing. So I added the “sort of” in the headline…
As recently as Friday, Henry McMaster was saying we didn’t need a “stay at home” order from him, even though every other Southern state had one, on account of the fact that we are “unique.”
Hope that made all y’all feel special.
Anyway, I’m grateful that today we are somewhat less, shall we say, singular, as he has finally done the thing we’ve been waiting for him to do, and which it seems to me he had to know he was going to have to do eventually.
The order takes effect Tuesday.
Let’s hope he’s done it in time to prevent SC infections, and deaths, from increasing exponentially…
Thoughts?
I found this image of the coronavirus on Wikipedia.
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Over the past several days with few exceptions, when out shopping I have witnessed the other shoppers observing the 6 foot separation rule diligently. After the recommendation to wear masks, again, most shoppers have been wearing masks, bought or homemade. I have observed their diligent use of wipes and disinfectants on keypads for debit cards and other surfaces they touch.
The few exceptions based on my observation were families or couples and they as a group maintained the 6 foot separation from others.
Naturally there are some who will not observe or respect the dangers of the virus and will continue to congregate in groups or defy the stay-in-place orders.
Really going to be interesting if the non-essential businesses have to remain closed for another 2 or 3 months. I cannot imagine what we will look like when we have to go that long without a haircut for males and the hair appointment for females for dying and/or a permanent and/or styling. Not sexist, just the reality of human nature’s need for personal grooming and appearance.
On the personal side of stay-at-home for work or for those who have lost their jobs, the birth rate will probably explode starting 7 – 9 months from now and continue for several months. And we can expect the divorce rates to go up after couples spending weeks and weeks together without a break. Conversely, this will be a time for couples and families to grow stronger and come closer as a family unit.
Lastly, talked to a relative and was told about a tiger contracting the virus from an employee at the Bronx Zoo. Link below.
https://www.kxan.com/news/tiger-at-nycs-bronx-zoo-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/
Goes to show us what we don’t know about the Wuhan Virus now that it has crossed species, human to animal.
The failure of McMaster was not only when he called SC “unique” but that his vision also saw SC as “not urban.”
These are both dog whistle ignorant conceptions of society which reveal the infection Conservatives (I use that capital C as they would) have long brought to our state. This virus will sweep through all communities whether urban, rural, suburban, wealthy, poor, black, white, God fearing or agnostic. It’s a germ, it doesn’t see us as anything other than as an animal host.
The University of Chicago came out with an analysis of the Per Capita spread – something Trump seems to be unable to comprehend from the videos of him repeatedly misunderstanding the term – which shows that “Red” states are spreading the contagion widely. The “Blue” cities are the ones capturing the media’s attention due to the raw numbers, but it’s the insidious spread across the South and Midwest that is remarkably underappreciated. Certainly Henry falls into this camp, even more than his campish defensiveness of a Trumpeter not wanting to cross the big bully.
From my observations I’d say 70% are following common sense guidelines, 20% try but not if it entails any personal inconvenience, and 10% are as ignorant and self-atuned as they always were. The other thing I see is that having been at this for three or four weeks now, many people are finding the need to be social and seek human connection is growing more urgent. I think we as a society are going to need to come to terms with what level of personal interaction we are going to accept and even encourage to enable some kind of social safety valve for people – otherwise they will continue to go shopping and engage in other unhealthy outlets – like surreptitious, or spontaneous, parties.
This would include church services, too, btw.
Go shopping? At Walmart? CVS maybe?
I don’t know about where you are, but where I am I’m not seeing many shopping opportunities.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/coronavirus-pandemic-for-many-in-sweden-life-goes-on-as-usual/ar-BB12eVjY?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=spartandhp
“The other thing I see is that having been at this for three or four weeks now, many people are finding the need to be social and seek human connection is growing more urgent.”
Interesting article about the attitude of Sweden’s general population concerning public gatherings. Apparently the citizens of Sweden are a gregarious people and are more willing to risk exposure than isolating themselves from their social centric culture. I see this becoming a more common reaction in almost every country, especially the USA, as time passes and the human spirit grows more and more restless, demanding more social interaction outside the confines of home no matter what the risk may be.
“I think we as a society are going to need to come to terms with what level of personal interaction we are going to accept and even encourage to enable some kind of social safety valve for people – otherwise they will continue to go shopping and engage in other unhealthy outlets – like surreptitious, or spontaneous, parties.”
On an intellectual level, I am in agreement. On an emotional level and basic human need for socialization on an in person to in person action, after an extended period of isolation or stay-at-home, the human spirit will rebel at some point no matter how much common sense dictates or intellectual reasoning demands we hold to the guidelines or laws requiring such. The social safety valves available now will soon become an irritant and boredom will set in. Any society needs to interact with others outside their family in order to grow and continue to develop as the human species should.
I guess it’s because I’m an extreme introvert that the only thing I miss is being around my family — my grandchildren, my kids, my parents. And I see all of them in careful meetings, with social distancing. It’s hard not to hug grandchildren, and if it was just my own health I’d do it anyway. But I have to think of my parents, and since my wife and I run errands for them, buying groceries and such, some interaction is unavoidable.
Beyond that, I’m perfectly fine not being close to other people. I’m not missing it at all.
I guess that makes me kind of a jerk, but beyond my family, I’ve never really been all that social…
“Beyond that, I’m perfectly fine not being close to other people. I’m not missing it at all.
I guess that makes me kind of a jerk, but beyond my family, I’ve never really been all that social…”
No, it doesn’t make you a jerk, just someone who is who he is and no need to offer a reason for not liking to be close to people other than your family.
I also find that for the most part now, I am fine not being around other people. This after close to 3 years taking care of my wife before she passed away last year. Working at home and being a caregiver took up most of my time and socialization was not a priority. I guess the only exception now is that after my wife passed away, I joined a fitness center and really miss the multiple weekly visits for my workouts and interaction with some friends made there.
My comments are intended for the ones who crave and need a lot of social interaction in their lives. Eventually they will tire of the restrictions and social distancing. Human nature in action, right or wrong.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Realist. And you make me mindful of how privileged I am that I still have my best friend here with me, all day every day…
God bless you…
I think McMaster regretted saying we are unique. Journalists kept asking him how we were different compared to other states and he trapped himself in a linguistic box on that one.
I was laughing listening to that live because I agreed that South Carolina folk are unique. I just meant it in a different way than ole Henry.
Here is an abbreviated review of the University of Chicago’s analysis.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/map-reveals-hidden-u-s-hotspots-of-coronavirus-infection/
While I think more illness and deaths will be prevented and the virus will eventually be brought under control as a result of the governor’s belated stay-at-home declaration, we have already experienced an exponential growth in cases due to his delays and piecemeal approach: from March 6 to April 6, cases grew from 2 to 2,232. DHEC estimates that the real figure is more than 15,000 people infected. As DHEC doesn’t have a handle on the number of people infected, I don’t know how we can accurately chart the virus’s growth. I am just relieved the state now has a uniform approach and am grateful to the local government leaders who stepped up weeks ago.
Straight people are such wimps;get tested…
The governor said that he will not ban church services or order the closure of gun shops, because doing so would violate the First and Second Amendments. Does that mean he will allow groups to peaceably assemble? Last I looked, that was in the Constitution too.