[OutsiderFan]

Was hoping not to have this discussion in the antibody test thread, but I suppose given the point of the antibody test, it's probably unavoidable.

We not only need testing for the antibody, but also studies on if/how these distancing and protection measures are working. I just got back from the same shopping trip I took three weeks ago, to Costco and Trader Joe's.

Three Weeks Ago
- Only Costco wiped down cart handles
- No crowd control
- Nobody wearing a face covering

Today
- Nobody could exit in same space as those entering
- Queue lines 
- Attendant handed cart that was just wiped
- Everyone wearing face covering
- No line at checkout (never seen that before at Costco)
- Plexiglass shield at checkout counter

My point being it stands to reason if we follow similar measures everywhere, we will certainly mitigate spread. Of course, the issue becomes what can be opened up, how, and when?

These grocery store queues and spacing can't be replicated too many places. Can face covering be enough to really slow spread to the same degree staying home can?  Can face covering be made compulsory? Can our governments pass laws requiring face coverings in public places? Might everyone who entered a building be required to wear a face covering to get in?  Will orgs like ACLU throw a fit if they try? 

But then how do restaurants allow people in? Can't eat with a mask on. Same goes for sports. Maybe outdoor sports can let fans in if they wear a mask, but good luck ensuring tens of thousands of fans keep them on once inside a stadium. And there is no chance this could be monitored in an arena or theatre either. What about shopping centers, even going to offices?  If we don't make face coverings mandated by law I really don't see how we can return to normalcy until there is a vaccine, or we otherwise develop herd immunity. The antibody test is all about knowing how we can get to this point faster, assuming having the antibody means immunity, something that hasn't been proven to date unless I've missed something.

My great concern is all this talk about "stay home for a few weeks to flatten the curve" is going to work, everyone is going to see the "wave" has passed and many will demand to go back to normal, some will and we'll see another outbreak. I remain skeptical anything will be responsible for falling spread other than these extreme distancing measures, and there really is no such thing as dissipating numbers in warmer Summer weather and then returning in colder Fall weather. The waves are all about our behavior until proven otherwise.

[OutsiderFan]

Was hoping not to have this discussion in the antibody test thread, but I suppose given the point of the antibody test, it's probably unavoidable.

We not only need testing for the antibody, but also studies on if/how these distancing and protection measures are working. I just got back from the same shopping trip I took three weeks ago, to Costco and Trader Joe's.

Three Weeks Ago
- Only Costco wiped down cart handles
- No crowd control
- Nobody wearing a face covering

Today
- Nobody could exit in same space as those entering
- Queue lines 
- Attendant handed cart that was just wiped
- Everyone wearing face covering
- No line at checkout (never seen that before at Costco)
- Plexiglass shield at checkout counter

My point being it stands to reason if we follow similar measures everywhere, we will certainly mitigate spread. Of course, the issue becomes what can be opened up, how, and when?

These grocery store queues and spacing can't be replicated too many places. Can face covering be enough to really slow spread to the same degree staying home can?  Can face covering be made compulsory? Can our governments pass laws requiring face coverings in public places? Might everyone who entered a building be required to wear a face covering to get in?  Will orgs like ACLU throw a fit if they try? 

But then how do restaurants allow people in? Can't eat with a mask on. Same goes for sports. Maybe outdoor sports can let fans in if they wear a mask, but good luck ensuring tens of thousands of fans keep them on once inside a stadium. And there is no chance this could be monitored in an arena or theatre either. What about shopping centers, even going to offices?  If we don't make face coverings mandated by law I really don't see how we can return to normalcy until there is a vaccine, or we otherwise develop herd immunity. The antibody test is all about knowing how we can get to this point faster, assuming having the antibody means immunity, something that hasn't been proven to date unless I've missed something.

My great concern is all this talk about "stay home for a few weeks to flatten the curve" is going to work, everyone is going to see the "wave" has passed and many will demand to go back to normal, some will and we'll see another outbreak. I remain skeptical anything will be responsible for falling spread other than these extreme distancing measures, and there really is no such thing as dissipating numbers in warmer Summer weather and then returning in colder Fall weather. The waves are all about our behavior until proven otherwise.