Major tourist area expected to reopen on the first of May

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wcyb.com/news/local/many-pigeon-forge-businesses-expected-to-reopen-may-1

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are major tourist areas. Tourism is the life blood of the area. Even with the precautions that are going to be taken, I don't see any rapid return to normal profitability for any of the many restaurants, hotels, or attractions in the area. Pigeon Forge is almost entirely dependent on tourists for survival. As you drive through Pigeon Forge there is a combination of outlet malls, amusements, dinner theaters, restaurants and hotels. I am only aware of a total of two grocery stores in the entire town, and I don't know of any manufacturing or industrial employers there.

A friend took advantage of the good weather yesterday to take a ride on his motorcycle. He and a friend rode through the mountains and took the scenic route from here to there. They were shocked to find that even with the relaxing of restrictions, and the ability of restaurants and other business to reopen, there was hardly a soul on the streets of either Gatlinburg OR Pigeon Forge. He said it was like driving through a ghost town. They planned on stopping to eat somewhere but ended up eating Subway sandwiches on a bench in front of a closed store along the main street in Gatlinburg.

It remains to be seen if the streets will be significantly populated with tourists anytime in the near future. Given the fact that the area is so dependent on tourist dollars, the area will be desperate in their need to draw people back to the area in significant numbers if some of the small businesses are to survive.

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www.facebook.com/WVLT8/photos/pcb.10158283868769469/10158283868234469/?type=3&theater

Here is what is happening in Gatlingburg Tn. The state is reopening with restrictions in place, masks suggested with in a crowd or when you have to be within 6 feet of someone. Limited occupancy in restaurants etc.

Sure enough, when they opened the door a crack, the inconsiderate and ignorant threw it wide open. So much for social distancing and any sort of safety precautions. Some people seem to think that wearing a mask is stupid, and that gathering in groups is fine. I wonder how fine they will feel when the whole group is laying flat on their backs sucking air from a ventilator.

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Yup the second wave of the virus is beginning in parts of Europe and Asia that decided to re-open. They might as well keep everything shut down till a vaccine is developed and is approved for mass administration. Governments can pay a basic survival salary to everyone making less than $100,000 a year single and $190.000 married. Essential workers only consisting of grocery and pharmacy store workers and suppliers of food then hospitals and employees then mortuaries and support staff.

Just let me nap on the couch

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Here's how the COVID-19 pandemic could play out over the next two years

By Rachael Rettner - Senior Writer a day ago



A new report outlines three potential scenarios for how the COVID-19 pandemic could unfold.


Although no one yet knows what the future holds for COVID-19, most experts seem to agree that it isn't going away anytime soon. Indeed, a new report estimates that the pandemic will likely last about two years.



The report, from researchers at the University of Minnesota, draws on information from eight previous flu pandemics going back to the 1700s, and incorporates data from the current COVID-19 pandemic.


The authors note that the new coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, is not a type of influenza, but it shares some similarities with pandemic flu viruses — both are respiratory viruses to which the population has little to no previous immunity, and both can spread when people don't have symptoms. Still, the virus causing COVID-19 appears to spread more easily than the flu, and asymptomatic transmission may account for a greater proportion of COVID-19's spread, compared with the flu.


Given how easily SARS-CoV-2 spreads, about 60% to 70% of the population may need to be immune in order to achieve "herd immunity" and bring a stop to the pandemic, the authors said. This will take time, since a relatively small fraction of the U.S. population seems to have been infected so far (although infection rates vary by location), according to studies looking at antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in blood samples.



The report then outlines three potential scenarios for how the COVID-19 pandemic could play out.



Scenario 1: In this scenario, the current wave of COVID-19 cases is followed by a series of smaller waves, or "peaks and valleys," that occur consistently over a one- to two-year period, but gradually diminish sometime in 2021.

Scenario 2: Another possibility is that the initial wave of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020 is followed by a larger wave of cases in the fall or winter, as happened with the flu pandemic of 1918. Subsequently, one or more smaller waves could occur in 2021.

Scenario 3: Finally, the initial spring wave of COVID-19 could be followed by a "slow burn" of COVID-19 transmission and cases that doesn't follow a clear wave pattern, the authors said.

During new "waves" of cases, areas may need to periodically reinstate and relax mitigation measures, such as social distancing, to prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed with cases, the authors said.





Regardless of which scenario unfolds, "we must be prepared for at least another 18 to 24 months of significant COVID-19 activity, with hot spots popping up periodically in diverse geographic areas," the authors concluded.



www.livescience.com/covid-19-pandemic-future-scenarios.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17744&utm_content=20200509_Coronavirus_Infographic+&utm_term=4332720&m_i=tQdF42C%2BAb7UXqWu5eRCp14D6Jd0g9wRSFW1K0fHOkZRRgwzNOpQrZ_4WBG4uPRWW4XmXN0PBdwLqOkEvxL3VPUNwRPpn0


This WILL be interesting. In the meantime can you see people sitting
like this on Buses and Subways each and everyday as this virus takes it course!!!!