We never left Mesa last spring because my hubby had quad bypass surgery and had complications after - including having a pacemaker implanted in June. So we are living through the summer from Hell (literally the heat is setting records each day) this year. A promise of it finally breaking come next week - fingers crossed.
We're starting to see a trickle of people coming in. Cal-Am resorts run a Sept-Dec one price special for the fall. Tuesday had some 30 rigs coming in and a few more have trickled in since then. So far several hundred are scheduled to come in on October 1st, usually the start of the season.
The positivity rate and hospitalization rate for Maricopa County and the rest of Arizona is starting to go down. People finally got the message that they had a wear a mask. There have been no people having tirades at store entrances anymore, everyone is putting a mask on as they get out of their cars, grocery stores have special hours for seniors a few times a week, but most of the grocery stores also open at 6:00 am in the summer with very, very few people. Plus most of them have online ordering and pickup at the stores, which is what I'm doing most of the time.
They re-opened gyms and bars last week, and promptly had to close some down for not following the rules - especially the bars in Scottsdale Old Town and Tempe. 20 somethings out partying and packing in with everyone shoulder to shoulder, no masks. Of course pictures up on social media and the next day the Liquor commission started PULLING LICENSES which really shuts things down!
The park's fitness center reopens on Sunday, only every other station, wear a mask and wipe down your area when you leave. There will be no organized fitness class for the fall. The pools are open, limited number, mask on when not in the pool, etc. They started showing movies again, limited spacing, masks on. The grill will start serving again - 1/2 of the tables gone, outside eating only. Same for all of the restaurants in town, but I just get takeout and bring it home. I know that several groups that stayed all summer formed their own "protective bubbles" and I expect we will see that as more people return. Luckily, this area is very conducive to out-door entertaining. Just a matter of being really careful about wearing masks, wiping down, and doing a LOT of hand washing.
Schools are reopening and that is the big question mark. Already have seen huge numbers of cases at ASU and UA. Both universities have now set up dorms to quarantine students who test positive. Publich Health officials are now asking colleges not to send sick students home, but to quarantine in place so they don't spread out around the country re-infecting areas that have gotten things under control. When you're in your 20s you think you will live forever.
