Duffman

Unpopular opinion, but we should definitely care about how much the virus is spreading because that affects demand. Some people have to travel and I think what we're seeing is a return to that baseline, along with people who have high risk tolerances. To get to "the next level," we need the average person to think the risk is low enough to warrant optional travel.

That's not going to happen with virus numbers increasing, and "decreasing testing" or "minimizing the effects of the virus" could backfire horrifically. It's basically doubling down that the virus is Y2K overblown when the general scientific consensus points to the opposite and most other wealthy nations have beat it. If the people in public are irresponsible and cause another outbreak, that'll spook people from travelling. Also, It's not just college students sitting at home, it's virtually every white collar worker (our primary consumer). I don't think it'll be the end of the world, but the denialism and "individualism" will probably set us back a few months.

Knobcrk1

The main problem is folks can’t actually see the good that comes out of wearing masks and social distancing. They won’t see the lives saved. There’s no immediate gratification to the sacrifice. On the other hand, it’s really easy to throw your hands in the air and say forget it I'm going to Golden Coral screw this virus this isn’t happening. Theres immediate gratification there.

galaxy flyer

NY’s gubmint told the elderly who were positive to go to their long-term care facility, that gubmint decision killed thousands. Thousands that social distancing was supposed to save. I don’t understand why people whose sole talent is getting elected make them smart. Yes, I wear a mask, I think it’s responsible to do so in tight confines. Yes, “.responsible” and “duty” are real words that go with “rights” and “citizenship”.

Excargodog

In fairness, had the CDC simply ADMITTED that there was a mask shortage and APPEALED to the public to not hoard the N-95 masks so they could be available For the healthcare workers and others on the frontline who MOST needed them, they might have preserved some credibility with what you undoubtedly consider the great unwashed public. When you start out a relationship by telling bald-faced (no pun intended) lies you can scarcely blame them for thinking you are not the source of moral authority or scientific integrity.

I mean, that’s sort of management 101:

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.


Oh and I think you mean Golden Corral, though I don’t actually recall seeing one in the last decade.

contrails12

Perhaps if the one person who is elected by the entire nation spent as much time rallying the nation to adopt the recommendations of the public health experts as he does spreading conspiracies, fear mongering, and trying to protect monuments to traitors perhaps just maybe we’d be in a better position at the moment

just a thought

LoneStar32

How many neighbors have you called the police on since the quarantine began?

Duffman

That sentiment is already starting to take hold: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/06/25/fox-news-hannity-coronavirus-misinformation/

WaPo is usually pretty biased, but regardless of your political leanings, this does bring up a good point. Deviating from the expert consensus is kinda like deviating from the FOM. You might be right, but if you're wrong, you take the full responsibility.

contrails12

The CDC is not starting out a relationship with the American public. They have been with us for decades now doing an overwhelming great job saving countless lives. That should be enough to earn your trust. And you would trust them if you weren't being asked to defy logic in an attempt to scape goat responsibility. Its like a toddler telling their parents that they don't love the child because they are enforcing some rule that is viewed as burdensome in the moment yet is being done with the best interest of the kid in mind.

BoilerUP

CDC said "No need to wear a mask unless you're sick". Then months later, the CDC said "Wear a mask everywhere in public to minimize the spread of COVID-19".

Any reasonable, logical person can surely understand how those conflicting messages impacts the CDC's credibility with the public at large...especially as news came to light that early COVID-19 tests that came directly from the CDC in February *were flawed and didn't work*, costing valuable weeks to properly evaluate the virus' spread.

Sure, "the scientific community knows more now than we knew then" and all that, but the efficacy of mask usage didn't change and pointing to Asian cultures who have worn masks since SARS *now* in an effort to say "look how they've contained this thing" rings pretty hollow.

Just imagine the public buy-in and spread mitigation that could have occurred if the CDC had told everybody in early March, when wide community spread was becoming evident, "Don't rush out and buy N95s or surgical masks but wear some sort of cloth face covering when you're out in public. Wearing a mask won't necessarily prevent you from catching COVID-19, but if you do have it and are asymptomatic or presymptomatic it absolutely will minimize the amount of droplets with shed virus that you expel and almost certainly reduce further spread."

Alas, that was a judgement call then that has consequences today.

All that said, I'm wearing one when out and about for the greater good even as I think the self-sworn Mask Police need to take a Xanax and get a friggin' life.

Flyfalcons

I don't fly for an airline and we are not using gubment cash to pay people to sit around and do nothing. How about you?