1. I don’t know a single person in this site or in “real” life that life to stop until a vaccine. We want a safe and measured reopening, like you mentioned which NY is doing. BUT we want every business and person to follow the very basic rules (law in NY) so that everyone can enjoy those reopenings and feel safe.
2. The mentioning of the younger people isn’t age shaming. It’s data. Just like people would always mention most deaths were people over 65. I never took that as shaming. The data supported those comments. And at least in CNY and also according to the mayors of LA and Tampa the data says the 20-29 year old age group are spiking up compared to the others. They take more risks and don’t always realize the consequences. At least that what the experts said. That doesn’t mean they all do, but comparatively they do. I have a 22 and 23 year old. They follow the rules as best I can tell. Some of their friends...not so much. Kids being crowded into a bar shoulder to shoulder is not being smart.
1) When I say life "stops," there is context around that. I don't literally mean sit at home and do absolutely nothing, although I have a co-worker whose family is literally like that. They do not go out in public, have all their groceries bought through instacart etc, do not interact with anyone. I know a few others like that as well, so there are people like this, sadly. They are spooked, anxious and have more or less stopped living.
2) It's also summer time. Kids are out of school and have been cooped up for months. They want to get out and spend time with their friends. I'm 38, married & have 3 kids. I'm not out partying much at all these days. People in the 18-30 age bracket are, which is why there is a spike. They are out more than us because a lot of us have jobs, families and just overall more responsibilities and less free time. And when they are out, if they are not following the rules, then it is up to the establishment they are at to make them, or tell them to leave. If it's not being policed, then that's where the problem is.
I have friends who are in their mid 30's to 40 who have been out to a couple bars in the Syracuse area since the reopening. They told me there were people all around the bar, sitting there just as normal, side by side. And many of the folks sitting at the bar were regulars and "older" people in the 40-60 age range. I specifically asked a friend of mine what it was like, and he said the 18-25 year old bartenders/servers are afraid to say anything to the regulars because 1) they're young and intimidated and 2) the establishments need the money, so there's a chance they're told to look the other way.
It's certainly not perfect. I haven't been inside a restaurant or bar since the reopening, but I see no problem with others doing so. The younger crowd sees the data and knows their risk factor is much lower, hence they go out knowing that risk. I don't think after they go out and party, they're going over to grandma & grandpa's, and if they are...well that is on them. I know my parents (mid 60's) aren't having lengthy interactions with people, and they are very healthy for their age. It's all about mitigating risk.
