What does "social distancing" actually look like in your location?

The Quarantine Zone
1

So I’m trying to understand what “social distancing” actually means in various parts of the country.

I live in Hudson County, NJ, across the river from Manhattan. It’s one of (if not the) densest metropolitan areas in the country. It’s also very close to the epicenter of the virus. People in my town all live in apartment buildings and brownstones. So for us:

A fair number of people have actually left town. Presumably to either live with extended family or second homes at the Jersey Shore or the Poconos or wherever.

Restaurants, bars, etc are all closed to all but take out or delivery. Grocery stores and liquor stores are open (and reasonably well stocked) with guidelines on number of occupants and wearing masks is mandatory to enter. Everything else is shut down.

We (wife and 2 kids 5 and 3) mostly stay in the apartment all day and night. Every couple of days I will venture out (wearing either a home made mask or tactical balaclava, depending on my mood, and rubber gloves) for grocery, booze, coffee, or whatever.

Streets are generally empty, although every now and then I bump into someone I know (and we recognize each other with our facial regalia). We’ll chat for awhile from 50 feet away. I see people out jogging along the water, but most people wear masks and tend to space far apart (except for obvious family units).

We still have our nanny come in to take care of the kids and help my son with his school work. This is a calculated risk we’ve accepted.

I ask because I feel like we are locked down pretty tightly, but what are things like if you live in a more suburban or rural area? Or even an urban area that hasn’t been hit like New York? I hear about people complaining about “not being able to go outside”, but even I go outside. If you live on a fenced off quarter or half acre plot, why wouldn’t you go outside? I mean even gathering at the end of your respective driveways with your cul-de-sac neighbors seems relatively low risk in most places.

2

We’re in a pretty dense neighborhood in Chicago (not downtown). Thank goodness we have a yard, or I’d go bonkers. We have been taking walks to a nearby park, which is mostly empty - typically there are half a dozen people there, and maybe a couple of dogs. Other than a couple of rounds of curbside grocery pickup and a couple of runs to my mom’s house to drop off groceries, we haven’t gone much of anywhere else.

We’ve been wearing masks whenever we leave our property. More people are wearing masks every time we have left the house, but by no means everyone. I feel like we are usually the ones to step onto the parkway when passing people coming toward us on the sidewalk.

A friend stopped by on Saturday to let me borrow a power tool for a few minutes - he has an essential job, so he is out and about anyway. He waited outside in his truck. When I was done with the tool, we chatted outside for a while at 10’ away. The whole thing felt very weird.

Next up: hopefully in the next few days, taking no-contact delivery of a load of bulk soil and compost for the side yard. The garden is going to be insane this year!

3

I live about 2 miles from the Life Care original epicenter in the Seattle area. I’m in the 'burbs, so most people have a house and yard. Major and minor corporations started mandatory from home at governor Jay Inslee’s behest in the beginning of March. The official lockdown and stopping public schools was a week later or so.

I have seen more and more people wearing masks in the grocery stores and Costco. In fact, I saw Costco announced today that they are requiring all visitors to wear masks (presumably to protect their employees). Costco’s HQ is in the area in Issaquah. I’ve seen executives in nearby Costco’s checking the distancing, floor markers, entry procedure, etc. Frankly, going to Costco during the weekday is a wierdly normal experience. It’s pretty empty, most people wear masks, we had the whording early here, and there isn’t much that is truly out of stock. Maybe it’s a 50 pound bag of rice instead of a 25 pound bag, but either way there is rice, bread, several kinds of flour, dried beans, etc. The wierdest but coolest thing is that the employees seem 100% normal (and not all wear masks). Usual chatty helpful friendly selves. It’s a great slice of normality to a wierd situation.

Pretty much everything is closed in the area. Some restaurant takeout.

When out for a walk, maybe half the folks are wearing a mask and may do the cross the street thing.

Seattle area has taken it very seriously and our new case doubling rate is every 6 weeks, which is probably the lowest metropolitan area in the nation. Here’s are really good graph.

4

In my rural town in Arkansas, where there is no stay-at-home order, there are however plenty of mandated rules. Only certain businesses are actually shut down–ones that were the highest of likelihood to cause incidents, like hair salons, parks, gyms, etc. Most have instead just social distancing rules in place, with required markings and a maximum number of people. Many, however, have chosen to act like the restaurants, which have inside use shut down, but can still do take out. (For example, to get my mom’s oxygen, you call ahead to the clinic and the guy meets you outside for the exchange. For the doctor’s office, you wait outside in your car and he comes and checks you outside if possible.)

That said, while the businesses are mostly doing their part, the people aren’t complying so much. You still see full families going to Walmart every day, rather than sending out a single person only when they need to. Many don’t wear masks. Traffic didn’t seem all that different to me when I went out, though I at least didn’t encounter rush hour (which is usually at least partially due to kids at school).

I do hear from others that things are not being taken as seriously elsewhere in the area. And I do note that Walmart may not be actually enforcing the occupancy limits all that well, even here in town, though they are still forced to shut down at night and disinfect everything.

A nurse friend laments that we are lucky enough that people are able to not take this seriously, given how few cases we’ve had, with no known community spread. She deliberately volunteered to go elsewhere to deal with the virus, and has even admitted it was worse than she had realized. She is very wary of the whole “reopening” thing coming up in May, with so many states doing this despite not being far enough along. From models I’ve seen, my state shouldn’t relax its rules until June 22, but they’re planning to do so on May 4th.

(And I’m concerned that my mom’s appointment is within two weeks after that, when there might be a new outbreak that won’t yet be fully tested for.)

5

Seems you also want a bit more personal info.

We never go out with masks, even before the recommendation We stay 6 feet away from everyone. Dad is the only one who buys stuff, because he’s the only one of us who feels a need to get out of the house at times. The rest of us only go out for Doctor’s visits, so I’m reporting partially on what he and others have told me. And I keep more to my room than ever, though now that I’m fever-free, I help out somewhat, while still disinfecting everything just in case for my mom’s sake

We wipe down everything that comes in, BTW., and follow the guidelines for mail of dumping out the contents and disposing of the packaging before washing hands. Though, admittedly, I had to push for that. We have very occasionally gotten fast food, something I wouldn’t do if the numbers were higher. We have not gotten take out from any normally sit down restaurant, though. The fast food places are all franchised and thus have mandated health and safety rules that make me feel a bit better about them than the rest.

6

South Arkansas.
I’ve not left the house but once (doctor)for 6 weeks. I was in the Hospital and rehab before that.
I’m vulnerable and not likely to survive the virus.
I have a houseful of refugees. They’ve all quarantined for my sake. My DIL is the only one going to town for groceries or medicine.
We’ve been very careful.

Our astute governor Asa Hutchinson is opening the state up. He’s out to kill me.

My family will not stay in much longer even though I put a guilt trip on them.

Crossed fingers. I may have dodged this first go 'round. I don’t think I’ll be that lucky again.

If I were to go out you can bet I’d have a mask and gloves on. I always have my sanitizer on me. I wouldn’t get close to anyone.

7

Exurban Houston area
There has been an up-tick in the number of people wearing masks in the last week or so, so maybe 50% are now. That’s just based on my observations at my local Kroger, Lowe’s, and Walmart. The odd thing is that stores are more crowded for me now. Usually I would go shortly after opening time at 6-7 am and find mostly vacant stores. Now they open later due to disinfecting/stocking procedures and lots more people are free to shop when they do open. People seem to keep to ‘six foot distancing’ at checkouts.

With so many folks not working, I have seen more people walking around the neighborhood, the boat ramp is more popular during the week, and there always seems to be an extra guy or two fishing from the bulkhead at our park, but no major changes.

We haven’t visited friends or had anyone over for dinner, but that’s not real unusual for any given six week period. The only thing we miss is visiting our favorite bar a couple of times per month, and my SO had a couple of doctor’s appointments get postponed. Being retired, we are used to outdoor activities and keeping busy with yard and household chores(and fishing!), so I can really sympathize with apartment dwellers in congested areas.

We almost never eat out, but restaurants and most other businesses are about to open again(with restrictions), so more people will be able to get back to work soon.

8

Texas, edge of the DFW area.

We almost never go out, and I haven’t been to a movie or sports event in over a decade, so nothing seems that much different. The only changes are fewer trips out to run errands and wearing mask/gloves once leaving the truck. I still go out on the boat a lot during the week, but don’t stop for a burger on the way home.

As far as my fellow citizens, they don’t seem to take it seriously. I see large groups partying on the docks, tied up at party cove, and maybe 5% mask usage when I’m out. I don’t know what’s happening on trails or in parks because I don’t go there anyway.

9

I live in Queens, New York City. The Epicenter of the Epicenter. Which sucks.

Gloves and masks whenever not inside of our apartment. That means rigging up before turning the doorknob. Always.

Evasive walking and walking down the middle of the one-way streets in our area is the ONLY way to avoid the entitled selfish ignorant immortal fuckwits who wear no mask and walk 2 feet from me. Or would if I wasn’t moving with my wits about me.

Supermarket and laundromat are a nightmare of tightly controlled protocols. Things take time. Effort is expended.

I was born not breathing properly and had severe asthma through my early 40s. I’m turning 58 this summer if I’m not dead before then. Prime danger group.

Social distancing? It means heightened awareness, and that ain’t happening with everyone.

10

We live on an acre in a suburban neighborhood. We generally only leave our property once every two weeks. The dogs get walked around the yard and the children are taken out to go run once or twice per day. If we’re out in the yard people will generally walk down the other side of the street though one of the neighbor kids is friends with my eldest and we let him run in the street while my daughter runs in the yard and they throw pinecones and sticks at each other, once they can’t stand being 10’ apart any more we end the playdate. It hasn’t happened in a couple of weeks since we don’t plan them just when we’re outside and they happen to go by on a walk.

The grocery stores have the markers down but they seem generally ignored especially the directions for isles. Pretty much everyone is in masks though the store employees take theirs down to talk to each other or when they don’t think any one is watching. It seems that most things are finally in stock at the grocery store except for paper products and cleaning supplies.

Yesterday I had to do a bunch of work errands. I went to my office and the whole office complex was empty. I went to my accountants office and she wasn’t wearing a mask and was surprised I was wearing one. I went to my bank and everything is drive through but to volume of people seems about the same. I went and got a carry out lunch and the guy running the restaurant wasn’t wearing a mask when I came in but he was there by himself and he put on his mask once he noticed me, I at my lunch in the parking lot and it seemed like traffic to the strip mall was much lower than normal. Lastly, I went and got gas, I didn’t put on my mask to pump gas and only 1 out of the 5 cars that was there wore theirs to pump. I saw one guy run in to buy smokes without a mask.

Overall, I would say we’re doing pretty poor in the Denver metro area which is why we just hide in our mountain retreat and as of the latest announcement from my wife’s office aren’t planning on rejoining the rest of the world until at least June.

11

I’m in the northern Ohio suburbs and my area seems to be much like Bayaker’s.

People are out shopping and picking up food. When not doing that they’re either working from home, walking around the block or doing yardwork.

Basically every day kind of feels like another Pleasant Valley Sunday around here. Except with masks (maybe 60% masks).

12

I live in a city centre in the UK.

All shops except grocery and hardware stores are shut. Some restaurants are doing home delivery or takeaway. Most closed stores seem to be doing online shopping/home delivery.

I go out every day - we’re allowed an hour out for exercise. Everyone is pretty good at steering well clear of each other, stepping into the road or crossing it if they see someone coming. The roads are also exceptionally quiet. Remarkable number of people seem to have taken up jogging.

Stores are operating restricted numbers on who can enter. I’m avoiding the major supermarkets as much as possible as that seems to expose you to far more people than I like.

Mask wearers are still in the minority I’d say.

13

Moderator Action

Moving thread from IMHO to QZ.

14

It’s really hard to say, because I am social distancing, and most of my electronic contacts are people pretty much of my mindset. So it’s sort of a “No one I know voted for Nixon” sort of thing. It seems to me that everyone is being really strict, but 1) they could be exaggerating their compliance and 2) there may be whole social circles where my social circle’s compliance seems overly strict or, honestly, overly lax. One thing that makes this even weirder is that I haven’t been more than 5 miles from the house in 7 weeks, and really not more than 2 miles away in several weeks–the 5 miles were two trips to the pediatrician. So I have absolutely no “feel” for the city at all, really. Just my immediate neighborhood.

I mostly do pick up for groceries, but there are enough cars in the parking lot that I know that’s far from universal. The few times we’ve done take-out it has been really quick because they were not busy. I tried to go to Home Depot and it was packed. Most people seem to be wearing masks and alone. I am in a first-ring Dallas suburb.

15

I am between Washington DC and Baltimore. For a suburban area, it’s pretty dense, mostly low rise apartment buildings rather than single family homes on big lots. We’ve also had quite a few cases.

There is less auto traffic than usual, but it’s hardly a ghost town. Grocery stores have the usual crowds. Masks are now mandatory inside any business. Some people also wear masks out walking in the park or on the streets, others don’t.

16

I don’t know. I haven’t left the house since March 22nd.

17

A village in Scotland with about 5000 inhabitants.

It’s not the most bustling place at the best of times to be honest, but the main street is very noticeably quieter. People are being very good about the distancing thing as far as I’ve seen, although the “only go out once a day” guideline isn’t being adhered to by many. Put it this way - there’s a lot of dogs in this village, and they are getting a lot of walks, and not always by their owners.

I haven’t seen anyone wearing a mask in the village, but in the nearby town with the big supermarkets they are becoming more common.

18

Bay Area, between Oakland and San Jose.
All schools closed for the duration. Takeout available, through drive-through windows. Chik fil a crowded when I walk past, KFC not as much. Groceries require masks, my Safeway has one-way aisles.
Lots of people are out walking, but almost universally good at going into the street to keep ones distance. People are very serious about this here.
We often have a shared dinner with our friends - last week we had a Zoom shared dinner. I set up Zoom meetings for my critique group and for the board of the writer’s club I’m webmaster for. Lots of people way older than me are getting used to using computers for more than email and writing.
I have not heard of any complaints about the government shutting us down too long. We’re frustrated, yes, but we pretty much understand why it is necessary. And we have definitely bent the curve here, so we think it paid off.

19

Saskatchewan here. Loads of masks, social distancing, and the cops are having fun nailing speeders who find a quiet road waaay too tempting.

For me personally, it looks like my apartment, several medical providers, and currently a hospital.

20

Finger Lakes New York; rural area, heavily agricultural.

For the most part I can’t see what others are doing; I live on a farm on a road with almost no traffic. I can hear my neighbors’ kids playing in their yard sometimes, but they’re about a thousand feet off and behind a hedgerow.

I did some errands a few days ago, though. Face masks are now legally required if you’re anywhere you might not be able to keep distance, and most people were wearing them, various hand made versions and the occasional scarf. A few people were out walking, not many – most people around here have either yards or acreage.

Grocery wasn’t crowded, and people were pretty well staying apart. Most shelves were stocked, some (especially paper goods and cleansers) weren’t, or had large gaps. I’d called the Tractor Supply to make sure they had cat litter, and they said I could come in or they could bring it out to me; I came in, because it was easier to sort out the cat food the cats will eat myself than to try to explain it to them; there was hardly anybody else in there, anyway. Most businesses that were open had cars in the lot but didn’t look particularly crowded; a lot of course weren’t open as only “essential businesses” and support for them are allowed to be, and restaurants for takeout only. Some businesses that are open won’t let you in the store, you call in your order and they bring it out. Drugstore had a path marked out from the door to the pharmacy counter which roped off the rest of the store, and a sign saying that if you wanted anything else to ask the staff to get it for you. Vet. put my cat’s meds in a bag on a chair just inside their outer door – they have a large entryway area with another door at the end of a hall. If you bring an animal in they come out to your car and take them in, human customer stays outside. I haven’t been to the bank since the last week in March, when they had a person at the door telling people to take deposits around to the night deposit box, but you could come in to get cash. Don’t know what they’re doing now.

I’ve had some deliveries; drivers are wearing masks. They drop the boxes off in the back hall (which they’d normally do anyway if I weren’t there) and I wave at them, or in the case of the one I know talk to her, through the inner door, which is partially glassed; or, if I’m outside, wave at/say hi to them from a distance.

Friends came out a couple of weeks ago to pick up their share of a potting soil order; we’d ordinarily hug with enthusiasm, but instead we stood about 10 feet apart and talked about wanting to hug. They’ve been teaching me to Zoom, though; which I need to learn in any case, because town etc. meetings are being held that way.