https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 08:16:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915632 Tue, 19 May 2020 17:26:00 +0000 Becky 2915632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It seemed really unclear here in NY what the social distancing guidelines were as businesses started opening but I finally saw an update today that says social distancing and face coverings are still in effect. Which makes me feel better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915631 Tue, 19 May 2020 17:05:51 +0000 JennyLayneAZ 2915631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: also in Phoenix, AZ. I haven't done anything different yet since everything lifted. I'm pretty freaked out still, honestly. I was shocked to see so many people at the grocery store without masks! I'm trying to prepare myself for the news of cases going back up. </p> <p>The worst part, for me, is I go back to work next week after being home from maternity leave. Just in time for everyone to start getting sick again 🤦‍♀️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915600 Tue, 19 May 2020 12:47:02 +0000 krispi 2915600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live in a state that is gradually opening back up. Maybe it's because we're in a major metropolitan area, but most people don't seem to be rushing back to "normal". We're still being cautious, only really going out to get groceries or pick up food (no sit-down restaurants for us yet, even though some are opening). I know some people who've been to restaurants or hair salons with masks/social distancing in place, but we aren't at that level of comfort yet. Our zoo also opened back up this weekend with limited capacity/masks, and we know some people who tried it. </p> <p>We have gradually let our daughter start playing with a few other kids on our street within the past week. These are families we trust who have been adhering to the same guidelines we have. We also hired a part-time babysitter for the rest of the summer to help with childcare while we work from home. So far, those are the only real changes we've made. We'll continue to monitor the number of cases in our area to see if we feel comfortable venturing out further. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915548 Mon, 18 May 2020 16:39:00 +0000 codeitall 2915548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just moved to a larger house in the same county as they were opening up to Yellow phase. Masks are no longer 'required' (but that wasn't enforced anyway) and they are slowly opening up gyms/salons/rec centers, etc. Most businesses still have social distancing policies, but they've used this time to add plexiglass everywhere it seems.</p> <p>I still use curbside pickup for everything, groceries, takeout, HomeDepot, even Kohl's. We've stuck to visiting family (we don't have grandparents or at-risk family members within 12 hours drive so I'm not concerned) and going out to outdoor locations like local gardens.</p> <p>We did have a huge organized movement in our state to sew a ton of medical-grade masks and also supply a mask for anyone who requested it from the government website, so that has gone a long way to normalizing them.</p> <p>Our worst 3 zip codes are still in Phase Orange, so masks are required and no gatherings of more than 10 I believe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915537 Mon, 18 May 2020 14:39:49 +0000 Andrea 2915537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: It can be dangerous to have employees policing people over masks. There's already been so many attacks. I do like going to stores that have a mask policy and someone checking at the door though. By me, that includes Costco, TJ's, WF's, and Decicco's so I feel like it's safest to shop at those stores. They also limit the number of customers inside the store. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915535 Mon, 18 May 2020 13:25:54 +0000 jhd 2915535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live in TN. Things are opening back up, but we are staying home and still doing grocery pick up and only the occasional pick up or drive thru meal. I definitely notice more people out and about. Some are wearing masks. Certain places, like our library, are doing a very slow phased reopening. Staff went back today and I think they will be doing curbside pick up soon. Local colleges are only doing online classes for the summer. But then I also saw on Facebook that an indoor kids playplace opened back up! :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915534 Mon, 18 May 2020 13:08:13 +0000 DesertDreams88 2915534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About the masks, people here seem to think:<br /> 1) they're very uncomfortable<br /> 2) they show that you're a "sheep" that's falling for the "hoax"<br /> 3) they show that you're afraid or weak </p> <p>massive eyerolls at all of the above.<br /> not going to lie, the social pressure to not wear one is strong. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915530 Mon, 18 May 2020 11:04:29 +0000 bhbee 2915530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: I hear you on the masks - that just seems like such an easy thing to do that might help, so why not? It doesn’t have the economic implications that keeping things closed does, just some personal inconvenience. My best guess is it’s hard to enforce so they suggest but don’t require. Like I just went into Target to get a few things you can’t do pick up for (they had hand sanitizer and some Clorox wipes!) and though they have a sign at the entrance saying local ordinance requires a mask, some people were not wearing them and I’m sure employees don’t want to get into it not knowing people’s mindsets. Our state government has actually specifically said stricter local rules can’t be enforced ... which seems crazy because some areas are so much more hard hit than others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915527 Mon, 18 May 2020 10:25:27 +0000 Becky 2915527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just out of curiosity, does anyone know why masks aren’t being required in places where retail, churches, etc are being opened? I just can’t imagine how a government could say its okay to open Target and you don’t need a mask, as opposed to okay you can go to Target now but you have to wear a mask, and then in phase 4 you no longer need to wear a mask. </p> <p>We are a long way from reopening here in a way that impacts my everyday life (my region of NY may be able to open phase 1 the end of this week, but that’s just construction and manufacturing), and it’s just so wild to see how differently this is rolling out everywhere. I’ve seen pictures on social media of people at semi-crowded restaurants and I can’t even fathom that happening here before the end of the summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915526 Mon, 18 May 2020 10:17:14 +0000 MountainBaby 2915526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're in Texas. We officially started re-opening on May 1st, though I could tell a dramatic shift in public perception a few days ahead of that. Our family hasn't changed anything (1x a week to the grocery store wearing a mask, OB visits with a mask, family neighborhood walks sans masks (but no other people)) but what I see on facebook tells me people are itching to be out and about. There are rumors of people waiting in line outside Burlington for an hour because of "good sales". Lots of pictures of "small" gatherings of 10-15 people. The posts that bug me the most are the ones where people specifically brag about having a "socially-distanced" get together - and then show pictures 2 ft apart from each other, indoors, holding hands, etc.</p> <p>Luckily, despite all this it's been 17 days and there hasn't been a spike in cases in my county like I was afraid of. There are only 5 active cases in the county at the moment and no hospitalizations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915525 Mon, 18 May 2020 09:47:30 +0000 ShootingStar 2915525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, and another kind of cool thing they're doing here (although we haven't done it yet) is to expand outdoor seating. There are several downtown areas around where they've closed off a main street and allowed restaurants to put tables in the street, since inside capacity is limited. I really like this idea because it's a good balance of being careful of infection, but helping businesses to keep functioning. We haven't tried it out yet, but I will definitely be more willing to eat outside before eating inside anywhere. And again, area is much less harder hit than the northeast. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915524 Mon, 18 May 2020 09:41:22 +0000 ShootingStar 2915524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just moved from MA to FL so things here are a lot different. In MA there are many more cases and more community spread and people there are still pretty locked down.</p> <p>Here, we're in "Full phase 1" (as opposed to partial phase 1, which started first, lol). Some restaurants and stores are open, beaches and parks are open, but playgrounds are closed. Since we just moved we need a new daycare, but they can't take us until the 6' social distancing rule is lifted because they're running at a reduced capacity. But they are open.</p> <p>I will admit, I've done some shopping (Target and a home store). Moving to a new, larger house, is really difficult during these times and there's a lot we need. I use a mask, we have several N95s. Probably 50-75% of people in stores use masks. </p> <p>We are not comfortable eating in restaurants yet. We do a lot of drive throughs and take out and delivery though. </p> <p>We also are now hanging out with my parents. They are in a high risk group, so we've tried to be careful. We didn't have any contact when we first arrived (they dropped stuff off for us and then waved from the car when), then we moved to outdoor gatherings with no physical contact, now we've finally gotten to indoor with some physical contact (hugs, sitting on laps, etc).</p> <p>Also, as of today we have a baby sitter. Which I'm super excited about. We've just gotten to the point where getting any work done has been extremely hard. And I think the risk is now low enough.</p> <p>People around here seem to be pretty over the restrictions. I noticed right away when we got to our neighborhood that social distancing wasn't as much of a thing. Kids playing together, adults having driveway parties, etc. It was a big shift from MA. But in reality, I think most of the current cases are tearing through nursing homes, which is driving the numbers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915522 Mon, 18 May 2020 09:21:13 +0000 ALV91711 2915522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of my province started phase 1 of re-opening at the end of last week. Restaurants, some businesses, hair dressers, daycares can open with restrictions. Parks are open but playgrounds are closed. We can have social distance gatherings outside of up to 50 people. I believe churches can open with restrictions as well as dentists, Optometrist’s. </p> <p>I haven’t been anywhere so I don’t know what it is like out there. We have four houses in a row with 8 kids between us and they were all happy to be playing outside together this weekend. Although our oldest had been playing outside with out direct neighbours for a couple weeks now. </p> <p>We haven’t heard from our daycare yet but my office won’t be bringing more people in until phase 2 starts(earliest mid June). So I will continue to work at home and we will keep the kids at home until July/August. </p> <p>Schools can open in phase 2 but our schools said right from the beginning that the earliest they would open is the fall for the new school year. So at least we don’t have to think about that yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915521 Mon, 18 May 2020 09:20:29 +0000 josina 2915521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Many restrictions have been loosened in our state (Iowa). Our pretty rural county only has 3 current cases with 6 recovered. Salons were just allowed to open on Friday.<br /> Restaurants have been able to open for a couple weeks but very few have. Bars and casinos are still closed as are playgrounds. Churches can open per government, but I don't know of any that are. Still a limit to 10 on gatherings.</p> <p>I ventured into the nearest big-city yesterday and many non-grocery retail stores are still closed (old navy i believe is opening today, tj max closed, kohls had a door bell to ring).<br /> The mall had maybe 10 stores open (had to go to get a diamond replaced on my wedding band - nice timing for it to fall out!).<br /> Target was probably 50/50 with masks on. The mall was less so but also way less busy. </p> <p>Except for bars and casinos it's pretty much up to the business owners now and I feel that most are being very responsible about when and how to open back up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915518 Mon, 18 May 2020 00:15:06 +0000 crazydoglady 2915518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's confusing. My state, California, has specific guidelines from moving from phase 1 (remain at home) to phase 2 (lower risk businesses can open.) I live in a red county in an, obviously, blue state. There's been lots of picketing and general uproar about this being a hoax. That everyone else (like me) is a "sheep" who is willing to give their freedom away. 🙄 Despite the fact that our county does not meet the criteria to move to phase 2, the county has said it won't use any of it's resources to enforce. So, we've just had 10 deaths in a nursing home in our city, but restaurants, retail etc have started opening up. City counsel can't agree on anything. It's a mess. All I know is that we are staying home, getting our groceries dropped off on our porch, going on walks, and seeing no one but my mother in law (who is doing the same as we are.) I'm not saying we are right and others are wrong, this is just what we feel comfortable with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915514 Sun, 17 May 2020 20:28:11 +0000 Jess1483 2915514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in a blue city in a red state (Montana) that has very low numbers and shut down very early given the number of cases at the time (blue governor). We haven't had a new case in my city since April 21st, and most new cases state-wide are from out-of-staters (0-4 new cases a day for the last month state-wide). Generally, people are still being pretty good. Some outside gatherings for sure, and the health department is working to make graduations happen, which makes me feel kind of sketched out. We have branched out to playing with neighborhood kids (but no touching) who have also been quarantining (only outside, usually biking). My (children's entertainment) work is still entirely shut down, but people are headed back to work in many fields. We have a family friend who was on the Covid-19 response team at the hospital, and the team has been disbanded. Most people I know have not returned to church, and the school district voted to stay closed (the governor left it up to individual districts, and I'm pretty sure only one tiny district opened). People are out and about, but it still feels...okay? We are still pretty locked down. I do wish more people were wearing masks, but some people certainly are. It feels risky, but also like we're going to be living with this for awhile, and our state probably is in a position to remove some barriers and see what works and what doesn't. Gyms are opening this week, but not for indoor classes, salons and massage places opened last week. Movie theaters and the like still closed for now. I don't intend to frequent any of these places (though we will still pay our gym membership). We have been ordering take-out, and doing curbside grocery pick-up. Parks are open, but playgrounds are closed (only in my city, state-wide many are open--our city added extra measures). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915512 Sun, 17 May 2020 20:19:23 +0000 periwinklebee 2915512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I had a similar experience. We have been very hard hit and everything is still shut down. Wearing masks in public spaces is required. But in my hometown, a non-trivial share of people think it was all a hoax to start with, and posted all these pics (already a couple of weeks ago) on facebook at restaurants, bars, getting manicures, shopping, and explicitly declaring victory over the liberal attempt to defeat trump. It was very jarring to see... I'm really worried for my parents, who are still working - cannot retire until they are old enough to qualify for medicare - and cannot just shut themselves at home to stay safe... </p> <p>@charm55: It's great that you have no new cases and can keep people from importing them from other provinces, though I know it must be tough on families. In the U.S., I feel like this is going to be a huge problem in coming months. Some states are being much more conservative in reopening, but if cases are just constantly being re-imported from new hot spots in places with laxer regulations, there won't be much headway... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915507 Sun, 17 May 2020 19:54:23 +0000 Kemma 2915507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m in New Zealand and we moved to “level two” last Thursday and the schools reopened today. We can have social gatherings of up to ten people but have been asked to keep a record of who we meet with for the purposes of contact tracing. Retail has reopened, restaurants and cafes are open with social distancing measures in place, hairdressers etc have more stringent requirements about wearing masks. Kids can go to the playground but we are still being warned to wash hands or use hand sanitiser and stay home if we are at all unwell.</p> <p>As a matter of context we’ve had about twenty deaths attributed to Covid-19 and have had no new cases over the last few days (and the vast majority of our cases have been traced back to one of 4-5 clusters). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915501 Sun, 17 May 2020 17:55:32 +0000 DesertDreams88 2915501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in Phoenix AZ, which has a strong libertarian streak. We are re-opening. Pretty much everything is allowed, with very long detailed lists of "guidance" for different types of businesses.... but they are suggestions, not rules. </p> <p>I had to go back to work to pack up my classroom, and the 15 other staff members at the school weren't wearing masks or respecting physical distancing. </p> <p>About half of the people I know are still quarantining, and then the other half are only eliminating LARGE gathering events from their lives (concerts, large churches, parties, etc). They seem to think that the "worst" is over and they are going back to restaurants, malls, etc. Our church was supposed to go camping next weekend and there were 70 (adults &amp; kids) planning to go. Also, our church is reopening June 7th, with about 30 adults in person and about 30 kids in their classes. </p> <p>Our family, however, won't be doing any indoor gathering for June &amp; July. We have been having family friends over for backyard hang-outs, though we might decrease that as other people take more risky decisions than we are comfortable with. </p> <p>Come August, if we have to go back to schools (teacher family here), then our daily risk goes dramatically up and I don' know if anything else will matter at that point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915500 Sun, 17 May 2020 16:57:35 +0000 charm55 2915500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have 0 cases in our province right now and things are slowly starting to open back up but everyone is very cautious still.</p> <p>We are allowed a bubble family that you can be with and not have to social distance with. For us it is my parents and it has been so nice to drop the girls off for sleepovers, have family dinners together, etc. </p> <p>We are allowed up to 10 people outdoors but need to social distance. That meant I could go for a walk with my neighbour last week , we just had to walk 6 feet apart.</p> <p>Restaurants have opened - Dh and I went out for the first time today, to our favourite brunch. Every second table was closed off, paper menus, wait staff wearing masks... it was eerie at first to go but kind of nice to do something normal together for the first time in months.</p> <p>Parks and beaches are open, but playgrounds are not which is what my kids really want to do.</p> <p>Our borders are still firmly shut (because some of our neighbouring provinces/states are not doing so well). There are police at each border crossing denying entry to only the most essential of visitors. My sister is across the country and will likely not be able to come home for the summer as she usually does. That is really tough and a bitter pill to swallow, though I get why they are doing it. </p> <p>I’m hopeful if we continue doing this well with 0 cases that this summer that we will continue to loosen restrictions... maybe even the provincial borders opening 🤞🏻 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915499 Sun, 17 May 2020 16:42:46 +0000 bhbee 2915499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’re in TX which is largely reopening although still in process. DH went to get coffee in a shop located in a nice outdoor shopping area today and said he was shocked to be the only one wearing a mask (besides employees). There are definitely still some people being careful, but I think people are pretty quickly throwing off regulations when they can. I still saw all but one person wearing a mask at the grocery store last week, but they have a sign up asking for it. Lots of people are eating out, etc. Honestly we saw lots of people breaking the rules even when they are stricter. I feel like there’s a decent chance we go back up here, I mean we just had the highest reported cases yet the other day :bummed:</p> <p>We’re not comfortable with the reopening so we’re keeping our own lives as before - I know we are privileged to be able to do so for now. But for example my daughter’s dance school is reopening tomorrow with the gyms. They’ve put more procedures in place but it still freaks me out when we meet none of the opening criteria. The week after next they are letting the girls perform their recital dance (in the studio room) and each can bring one parent. However that may technically meet the rules, it’s going to be close quarters while people are breathing harder than normal, so we’re choosing to stick to zoom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-life-like-in-reopened-areas#post-2915490 Sun, 17 May 2020 15:00:30 +0000 Anagram 2915490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you live in an area that’s re-opened, what is it like and how is the general public acting? I grew up in a super right-wing, rural area, so the few people on my feed from that area have been posting restaurant sit down dinners, exercise outings with a pack of 10 friends, family get together a, talking about going back to church, having HS graduations, etc.</p> <p>And all that’s so jarring to me in an area that was hit hard where *most* people are still pretty cautious and we still have “stay home” orders, with the only thing that’s changed is that parks are reopened for passive recreation, but there’s still no playgrounds or ball playing or gatherings outside of the family unit. </p> <p>So, how it going where you are? </p>