Waiting for the Herd
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A growing share of Americans would feel safe resuming activities like dining out or flying within a few weeks of their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, but about 25% to 30% would wait until the nation reaches herd immunity, according to a Harris Poll survey for USA TODAY.
Their attitudes bode well for what’s expected to be a historically robust recovery from the coronavirus recession. But the sizeable share of people who prefer to wait until at least 70% of the population is immune could mean a less roaring launch to the rebound as some activity shifts to late summer and fall from midyear.
There's no doubt that Americans who have largely been confined to their homes the past year can hardly wait to bust loose.
Thirty-three percent of those surveyed say they would feel safe eating indoors at a restaurant a few weeks after their second COVID dose or earlier, according to the Harris Poll survey conducted Friday through Sunday. By comparison, 29% of those polled in January said they would be comfortable dining out no later than a few weeks after the second dose.
In the recent survey, 7% would feel comfortable eating indoors at restaurants after the first dose; 7%, immediately after the second dose; and 19%, a few weeks after their second dose. The Centers for Disease Control has said a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot.
For those of us that have been fully vaccinated, do you feel it's time to go out and have a meal?
I have to admit, I'm not a big restaurant guy, but I'd like to go have breakfast with some of my surgeon buddies.
This is where we go:
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I'm almost three weeks after shot two and MFR almost the same after shot one. We went out last night, but the place was huge, very high ceilinged, well distanced and following protocols. For the time being we will mostly stick to eating outside and being pretty careful. We will continue masking. It's a very small thing and I want to see how this plays out in real life before opening the gates too wide.
Place we went last night was a brew pub located in the old Peters Cartridge plant, which manufactured ammunition for both world wars. It is right on the Little Miami bike trail and has sat rotting at least since I moved to Cincinnati 37 years ago. Now it is being made into this brewery and apartments. It's an odd oasis of urban industrial chic way out in the sticks. Beer is OK, not my favorite, but the food was outstanding.
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I went to an outdoor wedding and reception last Saturday in Coonassland.
Had fun.