Don't come to Massachusetts

Similar as of today in California. TY for letting us know about the MA situation.

Crowe wrote:
Gov. Baker of Massachusetts just ruled all restaurants are take-out only, gatherings over 25 are prohibited (including things like health clubs and private clubs) and no visitors to long-term care or nursing home facilities until 4/17 among other things. Grocery stores and drug stores are exempt from any rules. If you had any plans to visit the state I'd rethink them between now and the end of April, I'd rethink them.

That is going to bankrupt a lot of businesses. This has the potential to create a pretty big crater in the economy.

Ah, mich, be calm. Landlords won’t be dumb for instance.

That is going to bankrupt a lot of businesses. This has the potential to create a pretty big crater in the economy.

Absolutely. I think it's a bit extreme. Two other states have instituted similar policies but I can't remember which ones. I can understand banning gatherings of large groups but the cut-off of 25 seems a little much. Knock on wood New Hampshire doesn't seem to be going down the extreme path but we only have 13 cases so far. I hope it remains that way.

One of those d@mned if you do/d@mned if you don’t things. Do too little and be criticized by one group. Do too much and be criticized by another. But in the end too much is better than too little when it comes to public health.

Crowe wrote:
Gov. Baker of Massachusetts just ruled all restaurants are take-out only, gatherings over 25 are prohibited (including things like health clubs and private clubs) and no visitors to long-term care or nursing home facilities until 4/17 among other things. Grocery stores and drug stores are exempt from any rules. If you had any plans to visit the state I'd rethink them between now and the end of April, I'd rethink them.

ILLinois has closed schools, bars and restaurants.

Colorado and Denver have shut down a lot of the same things, including the ski resorts after record snow amounts. It is really sad, but this pandemic is unprecedented.

latest from CT, schools closed for the next 2 weeks. CT & NY governers are meeting tomorrow to discuss something similar concerning reduced gatherings or only takeout at restaurants. Lots of retail businesses have already changed their hrs of operation or even closed, things seem to be snowballing.

Mike

mich800 wrote:
That is going to bankrupt a lot of businesses. This has the potential to create a pretty big crater in the economy.

Maybe. Mixed thoughts.

If a business has been operating on the edge financially, then it will probably impact them. However, any supply or demand interruption would have hurt them sooner or later. I suspect a lot of businesses have room to tighten their belts and weather the storm. And entrepreneurial businesses that innovate may actually thrive.

Supply has not been disrupted and demand is not going away. And when this is done, a lot of people could 'go shopping' for everything they held back on. Yup, the stores are out of toilet paper (thanks Australia - look it up). Some people have horded a two+ year supply. They aren't going to buy any more for a long, long time. Supply will catch up before you know it.

Remember, our economy is fundamentally strong going in to this. It is not like some financial bubble has been waiting to burst.

Finally, turn off the (naughty word deleted) news. I will wager staying glued to the COVID news will cause more harm to the collective mental health of our nation than the virus itself. You know what you need to do. Watching the play-by-play will just cause you more stress and panic. Toilet paper is a great example of media induced hysteria - because it is a large bulky item, it is really easy for a store to have a wiped-out appearance of empty shelves. Fifty packs of TP takes a lot more shelf space than fifty packages of beans.

From the movie Men in Black, a lot of truth in this line: "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals"

-Eric

4 states have closed all restaurants to everybody!