I live in Oregon.
For the last two weeks, ending today, the state has been under a freeze order by the governor which essentially acted as a shutdown. That freeze has made it very difficult for most businesses I service to operate in any meaningful way except if they can offer some form of takeout.
Some, like pizza places, are set up for takeout. Others, like bars, not necessarily.
But since the machines I collect from, service and repair, are inside, where customers have only been allowed to pick up their takeout orders, I haven't had a lot to do over the last two weeks.
I worked less than ten hours last week (and also got paid eight hours for the Thanksgiving holiday), and so far this week, I'm just over five hours.
Starting tomorrow, a new phase of restrictions begins, based on what's happening in each county.
Animal House
Right click on the above image to see a larger view of it.
For the next two weeks, at least, 25 out of Oregon's 36 counties are considered areas of extreme risk for contracting the COVID-19 virus. If you look at the left 25% of the map, you'll find where the vast majority of Oregon's 4.2 million people live, with the greatest portion of that squeezed into the upper left quadrant (basically the red counties).
This includes the greater Portland metropolitan area, and Salem, the capital of Oregon.
The other three fourths of the state is primarily high desert, with wide open spaces.
This next image, cropped from the one above, gives you an idea of the area I cover within six different routes. As you can see, the majority of them are in the extreme risk category.
The two that aren't are still considered high risk, which allows for a few more things to happen, the most significant being indoor dining of up to 50 people, or 25% building capacity, whichever is less.
There are more caveats with those provisions, however.
Groups can consist of six people total at any given table, but only from two households. So, a family of four and the grandparents, good. Three couples, probably not, unless at least two of the pairs are living in the same household. Six friends, six different living locations, forget it.
How that's going to be policed, I don't know. I guess everyone is on the honor's system, or else, the brunt of it will fall on the business to make sure people are following the rules. So, taking down people's names and addresses?
Forget that. I won't be dining in anywhere, anyway, but even if I wanted to, I'd be turned off if I had to give away personal information.
Risky Business
Right click on the above image to see a larger view of it.
Above is the risk chart in its entirety, outlining in pretty good detail what can and cannot be done. I'm sure there will be some business owners still wondering what they're able to do, but for most, it's pretty clear.
As you can see, when it comes to Eating and Drinking Establishments, the extreme risk counties aren't allowed any indoor dining. In their wisdom, however, health officials are allowing outdoor dining for up to 50 people at any given time.
Because who doesn't want to eat outdoors in the Northwest December-February?
There are plenty of places that are colder than Oregon during the winter, but with the cooler temperatures here also comes more winter storms. Plus, it gets dark fairly early around here. So, the summer outdoor areas businesses carved out of street side parking during the late spring and summer to accommodate customers will have to be covered, lit and potentially ventilated, to first coax customers to stay and then provide some semblance of safety.
Back To The Future
None of that, though, will help me do my job.
Before the freeze, I was just getting back to more or less normal hours. It took until September to get there, though.
Now, I'm starting over again, with no practical end in sight.
I'm sure someone is hoping and believing that these restrictions will help curb the virus, even though, to date, most of the state has been under limitations most resembling what is now called the high risk level and we're still over 1,000 cases a day.
Frankly, I'm not holding my breath that this will end soon.
In the meantime, we'll make it through. My wife's had plenty of work during this time, and while it would be foolish to say it won't happen, the chances of her losing her job because of the restrictions going in place is less than most.
In my case, there's unemployment compensation to possibly re-establish, and hopefully with a larger benefit this time since I have more quarters worked under my belt, and I will probably continue to look for something else. Just what, I'm not sure of.
So, we're doing okay into the foreseeable future.
If nothing else, there will be more time to post.
HIVE is welcome to take off at any time, though. People seem to be comparing Bitcoin to 2017, and that happened to be a pretty good time for STEEM. It would be nice for that to translate to HIVE. There's been some movement, but nothing to get too excited about yet, I don't think.
All images courtesy of the Oregon Housing Authority.
Sorry to hear about your layoff. Glad things will be okay for you.
A point of interest the Steem pump in 2017, was actually late and came in 2018, so there is still a chance with Hive
Hey, @whatsup.
Glad to hear from you here. Thanks for the kind words. I figured I should let people know that we're okay because people can have a tendency to send HIVE when that's not really necessary. :) Now if HIVE were at, say $50-$100... :)
re: steem pump
Yeah. My three year anniversary is coming up so I remember the STEEM pump of 2018 quite well.
People keep saying there's a chance HIVE will go up and stay there, or at least stay at a significantly higher level. They've said that about STEEM, too.
Unfortunately, when you come in at the ATH, 14 cents doesn't look like much. :)
Seems like it is a good time for a re-call ballot initiative against your Governor, seems they have overstepped their power to me. We do have something called the Bill of rights. On Sunday everyone should go to their closest church and pray, and those that can not get in need to form a protective barrier against the state gestapo.
Hey, @bashadow.
The recall has been underway for a couple of years now. Problem is, rural vote, where the recall is predominantly happening, can't override the urban areas.
It's rather disheartening and disappointing that the greater good, regardless of what it is, seems to trump everything else, including freedom.
When enough people are scared or concerned about something, that seems to be all the impetus officials need. Actually, they'll take over on less, but I think there are enough people here who think they're doing the right thing that it doesn't matter what the Bill of Rights says.
That's not to say there aren't those who are speaking out against. There are. Unfortunately, they're not being heard enough or being taken seriously. Science, after all. :)
While I'm in total agreement about the church attendance and praying, the Northwest isn't the best place to solicit the former, though some of the latter still takes place.
Sorry to hear that you were laid-off. These are difficult times. However, look on the bright side. You are healthy and your family is healthy. Just bear with the inconveniences for the time being. For this too, shall pass.
Hey, @quotes-haven.
Always a bright side, right?
It seems like there's been plenty of bearing of inconveniences for quite some time now. Not as much passing.
But life goes on and there's always some sort of silver lining.
Hi Glen,
As it is, it is rather easy to contain the virus - wear a mask, keep a distance from the next person, don't go out unnecessarily, sanitize your hands or wash them regularly. It's that simple.
However, people think they know otherwise. So they have to suffer the consequences.
We will have to keep looking on the bright side and for the silver lining.
Sorry to hear that, but at least your wife is in a 'secure' sector so that's something.
I don't think we're going back to normal until we get the vaccine!
On the bright side now is a good time to post!
Hey, @revisesociology.
Thank you for the kind sentiments. There are plenty of times that I wish my wife was not working in the hospital (especially with a pandemic making the rounds), but there is no denying that it has been keeping us afloat along with whatever other income or compensation I've been able to muster.
re: normal
I don't know. I can see a scenario playing out, or variations thereof, where we never go back to normal, even with a vaccine.
The fact is, the health card trumps all. It is the way that those who would control all things can do so, without much effort. Before you know it, some activities are promoted over others simply because they are considered for the common good, while others are banned or heavily derided.
And when that happens, there goes freedom, and the ability to make decisions for ourselves.
re: post
Yeah. For the time being, I'd like to take advantage of it while I can. Motivation, at least for me, is a fickle thing, though, so we'll see how it goes.