How has the Pandemic affected you as a cancer patient/survivor

I think the tales of using the bathroom and not washing hands serves to illustrate why some things need to be mandated. Let me start by saying that in general, I don’t want to see mandates, but it is clear that not everyone is on board with voluntary compliance. This is the case with masking I’m afraid . So counting on everyone to do everything right to curtail/prevent Covid19 spread is a lofty goal that, IMO, that can’t be achieved voluntarily.

Maybe they need to change the word "mandate" to "law" or "common decency". All laws are mandated. Most people follow the law of the land without being told they have to but sadly decency and common sense has to be forced on some people.

Physicians here (B.C.) are being mandated to "do no harm" when advising patients even if they don't vaccinate themselves.

Rant....I think reading should be mandated. Look up "pandemic" anti vax nutjobs.Grrrrr.

Divine, I'm picky about buffets because of an experience I had watching a patron walk straight out of the bathroom stall and back to the buffet without washing.

Also, one time I heard someone walk out of the restroom after a number 2 and that person didn't wash. I asked the gal at the front desk who it was. It turned out it was my friend and coworker! She shared food with us all the time!

We're going to the Signature Room on the 95th Floor atop the ex-"Hancock" Tower for Thanksgiving. We've hosted friends there before for Thanksgiving & Easter brunch, a huge part of which has been the buffet (raw bar, salad bar, desserts). No buffet this year--you get a list of the offerings and the waitstaff brings them before & after the entrees. Reassuringly, all our guests are down with that this year.

Our city's health commissioner, Dr. Arwady, says that if COVID metrics continue to drop (and four more states--including LA--have fallen off the city's "$#*t list" of destinations require testing & quarantining for anyone unvaccinated visiting or returning from them) she may advise lifting the indoor public-space mask mandate by Thanksgiving. Dear Dr. A: Don't do it!!!!

Right, Dr. A, because if indoor masks have helped lower the number of covid cases, we should drop them so we can watch the cases go back up? If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Eeewww! Buffets. I have thought they were gross for years. Let's have a whole lot of people breathe on (cough on, touch) our food, and for good measure lets all share a serving spoon then pick up our rolls with our hands.

My family and I are homebodies and never socialized much so social distancing is our preferred practice. We hardly ate out before because my husband is a good cook. We eat well at home. Occasionally we get takeout.

Before getting vaccinated, I only went to my medical appointments by car. Now that > 75% of our total population is fully vaccinated, we're back to using public transit (always masked).

I don't know when I'll eat in public indoors or see a movie in a theatre again. It's never been a high priority. I have gone into small shops recently, and everyone wears a mask without any complaints. Last time I walked home from the train station, I removed my outer mask but kept one mask on because it was more comfortable with the cold air. 👍

Buffets: Yuck!

My doctor continues to drive home the point that the most dangerous activities during Covid are indoor dining, movie theaters, indoor churches and other indoor activities. There is still a risk even when vaccinated. If you work in an office, don't eat in the lunchroom or break room. Airplanes are relatively safe, but airports are not. Where people let their guard down is when they remove a mask to eat or drink. My husband and I ate out (outdoor dining only) a few times during the summer, after vaccination and before the Delta variant hit. We are no longer doing that.

Covid is an airborne virus. It's always good to wash your hands, but masks and vaccines will get us out of this pandemic.

Here's a terrible pick up strategy during COVID times:

Last night my younger daughter was waiting for a bus after class and visiting her older sister. A guy appears wanting to talk. She removes her earbud. He asks her to take off her mask so he can see her face. She gives him her death glare and puts her earbud back.

I asked to be sure she didn't turn her back on him. Don't know why I worried. She has a black belt in jiu jitsu. She had sized him up and was sure she could take him down if necessary. My baby's all growed up!

I learned more from the article linked below than from all the talking heads on media. (And coming from Spain and not the USA, it doesn't reek of politics.) It has great illustrations that show why indoors is risky, especially indoors where people go without masks. The problem is that tiny aerosols of virus accumulate in the air, hanging around and drifting, remaining even when people have left the room. Distance may protect you from large droplets when someone coughs, laughs, etc. but it doesn't protect you from the aerosols. Going into that room even when others have left it is a risk. Outdoors the particles disperse. This is why ventilation is important.

https://elpais.com/especiales/coronavirus-covid-19/a-room-a-bar-and-a-class-how-the-coronavirus-is-spread-through-the-air/

My DD got us tickets to see the Bond movie "Never say Die" before its official release for a 10:45 PM showing at the IMAX. There was virtually 20 people in this huge theater and all were masked. We made sure we sat in the last row (it was an upper one so viewing was great) and there was no onw tihin 12 feet of us in any direction. Few were eating or drinking so that was a boon. The movie was great and at least for a 2 hour window, we almost felt human again with an outing. We have not eaten in a restaurant since March of 2020 (that was in Greece pre-pandemic shutdown) and do not attend large gatherings. So far our pod is just family.

Wrenn- At least the plumbers were vaccinated and masked. How uncomfortable for you to feel unsafe in your own home. I hope they got everything they needed to get done today.

Alice-I ask if the dentist, optometrist, dermatologist etc has been vaxxed. If they refuse to have someone call to let me know or when the answer is No, I left them know I'm changing Drs. I don't want a Dr who picks & chooses what science to believe.

Nopink, I'll definitely ask, but with Delta, even vaxxed doesn't mean safe.

Someone in our office has tested positive. If I were to guess it was probably the one that was hacking yesterday. I was not in close contact. Why did they even come to work when not feeling well? I will never understand this!!!!!! Especially now with all the remote access available. I should be OK, but I am set to visit two good friends this evening, one of whom is in the beginning of a cancer diagnosis. I feel like I still need to alert them and let them choose if they want to be near me or not. I made them food, suppose I could just drop it off, visit outdoors, or indoors with a mask. Nothing is going to be normal anymore.

I can't remember where I read it, but there was case found where the Delta variant was transmitted outdoors as an infected person walked past another person.

Why take the risk if you've been exposed? Especially with a friend who is vulnerable.

ETA: I don't mean to be harsh. You will likely be fine since you're vaccinated and not in active treatment. Your friend is at the beginning of hers. Any exposure could at the least delay treatment.