COVID is definitely on the upswing in Connecticut and we've rolled back to "phase 2" which means fewer people allowed in restaurants, bars closed, groups limited, etc. I don't know if it's "working" but I do know it can't hurt. Stores are still open and restaurant take-out is booming, so it's not as bad as the first lock down last spring, and at least we know what we're dealing with now.

I've been doing all the grocery shopping and errand running for my elderly parents since
February and will continue to do so until there's a vaccine for them (LOTS of
hopeful developments there, I'm excited to see!) Until that happy day, I figure it's just going to be a miserable winter before it gets better in the spring. Given my step-dad's asthma, we have been much more careful than most, but people are definitely suffering from pandemic fatigue and are out there being careless. I have been sorely tempted to shout at folks at the supermarket who have no idea how a mask should be worn -- Top Tip: if it's under your nose, or worse, under your chin, IT ISN'T WORKING. Thus far I have restrained myself, but as there's always at least one idiot every time I shop, I'm not sure how much longer I can contain myself. Hmmm, perhaps I'll add tempers are short these days?

Our son is coming home from college next week and we're all going to get tested before Thanksgiving (a fun new family activity in these perilous times). If the stars align, my daughter and her boyfriend will also be able to join us for an immediate-family-only celebration. We will deliver my parent's dinner to their front porch, we will all wave from a safe distance, and then they can Facetime with us later.

Last year I was urging my Mom to think about some kind of senior living arrangement so they wouldn't be burdened with home and yard upkeep, but after seeing how folks in independent and assisted living communities are locked up, I would never ask her to do that in the future. Several friends have parents they cannot visit, and it's absolutely cruel and heartbreaking.

Cases in Kentucky are increasing daily by large numbers. It's the same story; some people are being careful, and some people are not. Like Sheri, I'm sometimes tempted to remind them that their rights end where mine begin. The state is ranked No. 33 in a list of 51 that includes Washington, D.C. Our positivity rate today is 9.10%, with under 5% being desirable. KY is mostly a rural state with 120 counties, some quite small from the early days of settlers in small groups not being able to get around easily. (We were the 15th state in the nation.) Ninety of the counties are in the "red zone" and while our numbers may look low to those in more heavily populated states, they seem high to us.

One older couple in my home county died within an hour of each other. It's just so sad and makes you wonder what will happen with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up and some families determined to celebrate together. This will be the third out of 84 Christmases that I will not be with all my family. I lived away the other two, and that was bad enough. I'm excited about the vaccine news, too.

Here in South Australia we had not had a case of community transmission since April. However, people who are coming home from overseas have been put into quarantine in hotels, and one of the hotel workers caught Covid from a surface. Unfortunately, she had no symptoms and passed it on to her elderly MIL who did get sick. Thus far we have 24 cases and yesterday the Government announced a six-day hard lockdown, so all shops except pharmacies and supermarkets are closed, they have asked people to stay at home, wear masks when out on essential business. We are hoping to knock this on the head and be OK for Christmas.

I should add that the overriding feeling seems to be that 'we can do this' and I have heard very little dissent. Although, there were huge lines at supermarkets and bottle shops yesterday.

No news is good news these days.

Our governor put out new directives yesterday afternoon to be effective Friday night. Bars and restaurants are completely closed again except for outdoor dining and pick ups or delivery. No home groups of more than one extra family and with a limit of eight people--so there goes Thanksgiving. One of our family's younger generation is setting up a Zoom meeting for us. Makes me glad I will be at my daughter's so I don't have to learn any more technology. I don't suppose there is really any way to force people to do this unless the neighbors turn them in. Schools are to close until after New Year's. Of course, masks are required to enter public places. Office workers are limited in number, and some other stuff I can't think of, probably because I'm retired and live alone so not much affects me personally. He didn't mention churches this time, something he really got a lot of flack about in April.

I'm happy to say that our restriction period has been shortened to only three days. It seems one of the people who tested positive lied about where he got it from, meaning it wasn't loose in the community as originally thought.

Kath, I am glad it has changed for you but a lot of people have been inconvenienced by the lie. I felt so sorry for those with wedding plans which had to be altered.

It made us concerned too in WA and there was talk about us buying masks which we haven't had to worry about previously.

Vee, what did you do wrong to be temporarily excluded? How did you get back?

Ann and Kath, good for the majority of people in Australia that they are sticking to the advice and getting through this. We have a 'track and trace' system which is meant to send a message to ones' mobile/cell phone if they have been in contact with a 'positive tester' in the community. Only possible if the parties concerned have filled in a short form detailing where they have been (usually in a restaurant/bar) and they have given their real name and phone details. DD who runs a restaurant/bistro says one customer insisted his name was 'George Eliot' which she said was more likely than Mickey Mouse, but when he left had the grace to say he had lied. His friends thought it was funny but . . .

Of course in some areas people are on the lookout for rule-benders and phone the police at the slightest infringement eg four people talking in a group. On the other hand a small number defy the authorities and hold illegal 'raves' or parties of dozens if not hundreds of guests. One individual has already received two fines of £10000.

Ann, this thread was obviously considered unsuitable by someone here who reported me to Houzz central control. They didn't agree so let it and me back in.

Carolyn I meant to add that most office staff are now working from home or may just hit base once a week. And early in the year we had kind neighbours who picked up shopping for us. Getting a supermarket 'slot' for home deliveries is proving very difficult.

The Governor has now discussed churches but not asked that they be closed. He just said people should use their best judgment and pastors should do their best to abide by health rules. Some are closing; ours is not but since reopening in the summer has removed every other row of seating and asked people to sit with their own "bubble." Hardly anyone wears masks after being seated, and communion is served at the entrance by gloved ushers and consists of a little covered cup like we get for coffee cream in some restaurants. These and two layered and have one peel back cover for the wafer and another for the juice since we don't serve (or presumably drink) wine. All the Catholic churches remain open.

I haven't tried supermarket home deliveries. They are available but I don't know if that is difficult. You can also request delivery to your car at the markets. I have continued to go to the grocery, and shoppers are wearing masks. There is a sign on the doors that a mask is mandatory, but there isn't anyone there to check. For awhile there were people wiping down the carts, but now there are spray bottles of sanitizer and rolls of paper not perforated for tearing for you to do your own.

It's a strange life, isn't it? Bring on the vaccine!

I have a 75 year old friend who has not let this plague daunt her at all. She lives alone and her children are in TX and CO. She has always opted to fly out to visit them regularly through this so that she can see her grandchildren. Today she is flying to CO for T-giving and then on to TX for another visit. She will quarantine herself once she is home. I give her credit. She's buried two husbands and isn't ready to let anyone tell her what she can and cannot do. She makes her choices and stays as safe as she can. Otherwise she lives life.

I'm going to my daughter's house (three blocks away) for Thanksgiving, being served at noon because my grandson has to work in the afternoon. One brother is coming, so there will be five of us, unlike the usual 25 or so. He will take plates of food and dessert to our sister who has compromising conditions. A great-niece is setting up a Zoom meeting for everyone at 1:00 pm.

Christmas is almost upon us and over here the C 19 'rules' have had to be greatly and suddenly tightened by the Govt. as the outbreaks greatly increase.

From visiting families/loved ones over the holidays down to one day only; Christmas Day itself. Plus the country, already divided into 'tiers' depending on the severity of the virus has, for the most part, been put into stricter measures.

This is largely because a stronger, faster-moving strand of Covid has mutated in London and the S E of the country.

These latest restrictions came into force at midnight and apparently streams of cars were seen heading out of those areas into the less affected parts of the country and many flights suddenly fully booked . . . and now the Dutch have banned all flights into the UK with possibly more countries following their eg.

Despite this churches remain open with much 'social distancing', also shops. Schools are now closed anyway and may restart back later; everything has become rather chaotic.

We will spend Christmas in our own little family 'bubble' hopefully staying safe.

As Carolyn says above "Bring on the vaccine!" . . . or in the case in England continue vaccinating people, health workers and 'oldies' being the first.