# Snow day and the effect on the virus

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-day-and-the-effect-on-the-virus/932002>\
**Category:** The Quarantine Zone\
**Tags:** covid-quarantine\
**Created:** [February 1, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-day-and-the-effect-on-the-virus/932002 "2021-02-01T16:38:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-day-and-the-effect-on-the-virus/932002/1 "2021-02-01T16:38:21Z")

</div>

Here in the Northeast, we’re getting a huge amount of snow. The suburban train systems are getting suspended, offices and stores are closed, doctor’s appointments are getting reschedule, etc. So, everyone will be staying home even more than they have been during the pandemic.

Can a one day nearly total stay-at-home situation have a material beneficial effect on the spread of the virus? Or, is one day so short that it won’t make much difference?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-day-and-the-effect-on-the-virus/932002/2 "2021-02-01T17:12:08Z")

</div>

Yesterday and Saturday the grocery stores were mobbed in the mid Atlantic and Northeast. Because it was absolutely frigid outside many stores abandoned enforcing the occupancy limits rather than make people queue for an hour to get in.

I think that would offset some of the “benefit” of schools and offices being closed for a day.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-day-and-the-effect-on-the-virus/932002/3 "2021-02-01T17:43:24Z")

</div>

I thought of that after I posted this – I went to the grocery store and had to wait to get in and then wait on line for a while to pay. Also, the vaccine centers are closed, shifting those appointments a day early or a day late.