‘Quarantine’
My understanding of the etymology of the word quarantine is that it comes from the Italian phrase for “forty days”. In Venice and other Italian ports back in the old seafaring days, when there was an outbreak the protocol was for incoming ships and crew to drop anchor in isolation for forty days, before being allowed into the harbor. This in theory would allow time for any disease they had to run its course.
In this era, things are a little different. China was first releasing reports about the virus back in December, about 120 days or 4 months ago. I have been under a stay at home order here in Oregon for roughly one-third of that time (40 days). Even though I have pretty much adapted to working from home and staying at home, and I am extremely blessed and fortunate to have an income and healthy family, still the question lingers: when? When will the stay at home be lifted?
My guess at this time is that here, we’re probably roughly halfway through the isolation phase. Certain things need to happen before the isolation stuff is over at all, like increased testing, and that will take time. Then, it will only end in small lifts, like with certain types of businesses provided they take certain precautions. Social distancing and face masks will continue to be pushed heavily. Then, assuming that cases and deaths decrease here, there will be additional lifts, like with state parks and certain recreation spots.
Here are some things that I predict won’t change much, if at all, thru this summer:
- Retirement homes will be pretty strictly locked down
- Restaurants and bars will be take-out, delivery or drive-thru only
- Movie theaters will be closed
- Gas stations will allow self-serve
- Sports events, concerts, and other large gatherings (say 200+ people) will be disallowed unless they can guarantee social distancing
- Businesses will be encouraged to put barriers and distancing guides in place
- People will be encouraged not to travel
Whatever happens, this promises to be one of the strangest summers I’ve ever seen.
Bike Newbie 