By Andy Zipser
WALNUT HILLS CAMPGROUND AND RV PARK
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA
It has been three months, more or less, since the world got turned upside down, three months into which we’ve packed a lifetime of education about the human condition. Economic collapse, a resurgence of anger and anguish about systemic racism, threats of martial law — even the weather has conspired to shake up the status quo. When was the last June night in Virginia when we had to turn on the heat?
‘One would-be camper, on being told he’d have to wear a mask in our store, declared that he’d find somewhere else to take his business.’
Yet for all that, it’s the way people are responding to the pandemic that alarms me the most. Three months in, and the world seems divided between those who seem oblivious to its life-threatening potential and those who feel in mortal danger at every turn.
One would-be camper, on being told he’d have to wear a mask in our store, declared that he’d find somewhere else to take his business. All businesses in Virginia are under an executive order requiring face coverings, so either that camper was heading out of state or was counting on finding a campground where the staff would ignore his non-compliance, rather than possibly force a confrontation. I suspect it was the latter.
Indeed, time and again we have arrivals strolling in who act shocked — shocked! — when told they can’t come in without a face covering. Most readily relent, but not so with one of our more pugnacious monthly campers, who month after month ignores the bold MUST WEAR MASK sign on our door as she walks in to pay her electric bill — and, month after month, lectures our staff that they could take her payment in less time than it takes them to ask her to go back outside so they can take the payment through a side door.
At the other extreme there’s our gardener, an elderly woman whose aesthetic sensibilities and love for the soil are on abundant and flattering display at our campground. She works alone and in the early morning hours, before most people are stirring, and so would seem ideally placed to continue her beloved labors without fear or apprehension — and yet she hasn’t otherwise left her home in more than three months, avoiding starvation only through the kindness of church members who bring her food. “I just need to be still,” she responds to my telephoned entreaties that she get out and about.
This dichotomy is evident on a national level, of course. Even as a massive Trump campaign rally is scheduled for Tulsa, the U.S. and Canada are extending to late July the ban on cross-border non-essential travel that was set to expire tomorrow. The Sunbelt states have been reopening at a steady clip in recent weeks, apparently without regard for what’s actually happening on the ground in terms of coronavirus spread — and, no surprise, those same states are now seeing an upswing in infections and deaths. Cognitive dissonance is rampant.
Public opinion, untethered to any consistent direction from the powers-that-be, consequently has been on a roller-coaster ride. Asked by Destination Analysts, a polling company used by the travel industry, about their expectations for the severity of the coronavirus situation in the next month, respondents thought it would get “worse” or “much worse” from early March to early April, got increasingly more optimistic through most of May—then went into a steep pessimistic decline in early June. “Expectations about the virus’ course have dampened and some travelers that thought they would take trips this year have walked that back for now,” the U.S. Travel Association (USTA) observed this past week.
‘The problem for campgrounds like ours is that we’re bursting at the seams. Every weekend has been like Memorial Day, with campers eager to get away from their domestic prisons.’
One of the key factors in that reversal, emphasized by USTA in bold face: Poor “pandemic etiquette” behavior by others, with 61% of American travelers saying such behavior would make a given destination less desirable. Which, among other things, brings us back to face masks. And more.
The problem for campgrounds like ours is that we’re bursting at the seams. Every weekend has been like Memorial Day, with campers eager to get away from their domestic prisons. Anecdotally, we’re seeing a huge surge in first-timers: people who just bought an RV, or are renting one, or have borrowed one from friends or family. Others are reporting a similar phenomenon: RVshare, a peer-to-peer RV rental company, reported a 650% increase in business in mid-May compared to last year. Publications of every sort, from local dailies to the Wall Street Journal, have reported on the allure of vacationing in a self-contained bubble that can travel throughout the country at a time of historically low gas prices.
AND WHEN THEY GET HERE, they want to be unfettered by the rules that have circumscribed their lives at home. They don’t want to be smothered by face coverings. They want the swimming pool to be open — even though day-time highs have only been in the 70s — and they don’t mind telling us that we need to give them what they want. They jostle each other in the store and passing each other, and see the apparent disregard their neighbors have for the rules we patiently spell out, and pretty soon it’s hard to remember that the country is still being stalked by a deadly disease.
Here in Virginia we’re still in “phase two,” with phase three — initially thought to be announced this past week — now on hold. Still, I expect the state will take that next step within the next week to 10 days — and when it does, I doubt we’ll be stepping with it. I’m pretty sure our swimming pool will remain closed for the year — and we’ll be happy to refer campers who want one to another local campground. I’m pretty sure we’ll continue to limit groups far below the 50 now allowed under phase two — and several hundred under phase three. We’re going to continue to insist on face coverings in our office and store.
We’ll continue to insist on good pandemic etiquette because the pandemic hasn’t gone away, regardless of what our governor might conclude. Unfortunately, we’ll have to do so without hiding behind his executive orders — which is ironic, given our distress two months ago when he abruptly banned short-term campground stays. He was wrong then, and in my view will be wrong now if he moves to phase three any time soon. But my sense is that we’re looking at many, many months before we get to anything that resembles “normal.”
Readers: Your comments are invited but if they are rude or in any way disrespectful of others we’ll delete them immediately. And if they are really mean-spirited we’ll ban the offender from ever commenting again. Be nice or don’t comment. Thank you.
Very thoughtful article. Glad you are keeping your staff and guests safe. If we head east I would go out of our way to stay there and support your campground.
It’s too bad there aren’t more concerned citizens like Andy out there instead of a bunch of typically selfish, self-centered people who believe their needs and wishes are more important than others!
Thank you Andy, and all those like you, for your concern for others!
This is the new Normal! Yes, campgrounds should have stayed open. Some here in California have opened, but limited. Face masks are now mandatory in Public statewide here. One suggestion (if you haven’t already done so) is to have all the rules posted on your website, so they know them up front. (MASKS REQUIRED- in Bold caps!) Of course there are always those few bad apples out there that ruin it for the rest of us.
Good luck and keep up the good work. Looks like a very nice place to stay! Will look for you when we finally get out and head your way!
Hi Andy. We live in Augusta county. Your campground is very nice. I shop in waynesboro you wouldn’t believe the amount of people who don’t wear masks. I don’t understand what they don’t understand . We have lived here for 29 years but are from the north. On the doors of small stores (7-11) there was always a sign that read “No shirt, no shoes, NO SERVICE).
Maybe you should make a sign. No mask, no service. Worth a try.
Good idea!
My thoughts exactly – No shirt, No shoes, No mask, No service. It’s the same thought for the same reason – the protection of the health of the public at large.
Hi Andy. Thank you for this article. I applaud you for your efforts, if even in a small way, to contain this virus. I cannot understand the blatant disregard many Americans have for the serious consequences this virus poses. I am very worried for many of the lovely people I have met and befriended in the US. We in Canada, as a whole, are doing well and taking the necessary precautions to limit the spread including some provincial border closings. I have had to cancel my RV summer travel plans to the Maritimes but am OK with that under the circumstances. Whenever we get back to normal, I plan to visit your park and stay awhile as I would like to meet you and thank you personally for all you have done for RVers. However, I am not in a hurry to see the Canada/US border open. Stay safe.
Kind regards
Unlike you Carl, I am excited as all get out for that border to open and the minute it does I’ll be heading to Boise Idaho to visit with my kids. The closest I will be to anyone on that route will be when I answer questions the border services ask me, and when I pump gas into the gas guzzler about three times. The rest of the time I will not be near anyone -I am no greater risk travelling in my RV, than I am at home – probably less travelling.
I will add here that in Canada, two weeks ago the Prime Minister, asking everyone to wear masks, do the social distancing thing and so on made an exception for all 632 Indian bands from coast to coast. He said through his Minister of Indigenous Affairs that the Liberal government will not interfere in important cultural practices of Canada’s native population – such as communal gatherings, like PowWows (which chiefs said are going ahead)
I mistakenly thought this virus and the precautions humans are supposed to take to control it applied equally to everyone. Not so in Canada – Our Prime Minister is sending a bad message!
It is ironic that people who follow the rules at home seem to believe that their RV is a magic carpet to some alternate universe where the rules don’t apply.
excellent!
I wear a mask
I hate wearing a mask
But i wear it when needed
I worked in a 4 level home
With a mask
Nearly fainted going up the stairs with tools and all
I dont want to go to the hospital
For myself or loved ones
So , i wear a mask
Do i like stupid laws
No
But , this is different !
Are the ones refusing to wear a mask the same ones that openly carry a gun ?
Just asking !
I wear a mask to cover my face. I wear an open shirt to cover my gun. Question for you Claudio – What has one got to do with the other?
Claudio,
if you faint walking up stairs carrying tools, you could end up in the hospital (or worst, if the stairs are steep)…
…being careful includes taking a mask off in certain environments.
Be safe
I see people wearing a mask while driving with no one else in the vehicle . Fear is a powerful force no question .
Alvin, I just drove 1,000 miles from central California to Seattle on I-5 and never saw a single person inside a car wearing a mask. How many people have you really seen doing this?
yep, see it once-in a- while down here in central florida.
That reminds me, Chuck. My son mentioned to me the other day that he saw a driver, alone in his car, wearing a mask with a hole in it and smoking a cigarette! 😆 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Not Alvin, but live in western NY south of Erie cty. Over the course of a week, running short errands I usualy see at least 2-3 lone drivers wearing masks.
Occasionally if I have a quick stop a short distance from where I was wearing my mask I might keep it on just to not handle it to much…perhaps that is what your seeing when someone is wearing a mask in their car.
WOW that was inspiring ignorance.
The stupid mask “law” is not law. Folks don’t seem to understand that Governors can not make law. State law can only be made by the Legislature. Many of today’s Governors like to believe they are Kings who deliver “edicts” to their “subjects”.
Seems like very few today have read nor understand their State and National Constitution.
But anything that is a cause for risking the public’s health can be mandated.
Just look up “Typhoid Mary”
Claudio — keep guns of this. Stay on topic.
100% correct and agreeable comments from all who’ve commented below. Might be a first on this website, great article Andy!
Well said, Andy.
Excellent article. It’s about “respect”. I wear a mask in respect to YOU, you should respect me and wear a mask when social Distancing cannot be found, including interior locations. Stay Safe
We were among the fortunate few campers to ride out the month of May at Andy’s Walnut Hills Campground in VA. It is one of the loveliest campgrounds we’ve ever stayed at and the staff there is equally amazing. (Shout out to Tammy!) Kudos to Any for setting limits (and holding to them) to keep campers safe!
Unfortunately you can’t fix stupid….and I am so sorry you had to deal with so many stupid campers. Usually campers are so nice and accommodating but some can be down right mean. Keep up the good work and it looks like a beautiful campground and hopefully the nice campers will make your day more pleasant.
Sue if you’re so worried and scared you need to wear protective eye goggles as well!👍
From what you say, maybe your governor was right to close the campgrounds. It sounds like the people who are there now are disregarding the SIMPLE precautions necessary to defeat the virus. I, like you, don’t understand how people can be so oblivious when the evidence is right in front of them.
Being a good citizen is what we will need to put the high impact of this pandemic behind us as it becomes more of an endemic reality. Not sure when adhering to solid public health guidance became a political football but we have arrived at that point. Other countries who have had much better citizenry …and better covid outcomes that we have….look at the US and not only shake their heads but are being quite vocal about how the US used to be a country that was looked up to….but is no longer the case as we sink into a mire of polarization that will continue to cripple our recovery. Do not see a reversal of our course in either our near or long term future. American pride….still there… but now overshadowed by American obstinence. What would our founders think?
I think our “founders” would shake their heads in disbelief that we as a nation have let us be beaten down by lifetime politicians wanting complete control over our lives, and allowed them to negate our Constitutional rights. That’s what I think.
Although we’re concerned about the virus, we’ve decided not to be controlled by fear. As such, my wife and I have enjoyed camping here in TN since April, and have camping trips planned almost every other week through the end of December. I’m glad that Tennessee, as well as Georgia, have taken the lead in getting this country back open again. And no, I disagree with your comment that these sunbelt states here in the South have a disregard for human life. Businesses down here in TN are taking the necessary precautions as you all note, but many are allowing customers to decide to wear a face mask or not. That includes RV sites. All TN state parks are open, and we’ve enjoyed a number of trips with no issues.
Covid 19 is not going away. Face it. If you are vulnerable or sick, stay home. For those of us who are healthy, let us live our lives. If you’re afraid, stay home. Otherwise, we need to get this country back open again, because the shutdowns and other draconian measures from some governors, like in Michigan, are worse then the disease.
Although I respect those who feel the need or are required to wear a mask, we’ve decided get on with life and refuse to comply.
Good to see that there are still some critical thinkers out there who do not share the herd mentality.
I am with you completely Terrence.
This Covid or what may follow could be a forever.
Are we as a human race going to cocoon ourselves in masks and distancing for the rest of our lives?
When I read that in Africa tens of thousands of innocent people die of malaria every year far an away more devastating that the current “pandemic” I ask myself, do people in Africa walk around in mosquito protective wear 24 hours a day, or stay inside scared out of their wits that they “may be next”. I don’t think so. (445,000 people died of malaria in Africa in 2016)
Do not mistake my statement for one of denial that this virus is killing people, it is, but I refuse to live in fear
I far from diminish the role we all have to be better making certain we do what is reasonable to protect ourselves from all the things that kill a very large portion of mankind every year, year after year. If I possessed an extreme severe fear of dying right near the top of my fears would be consideration of the risk in play thousands upon thousands of time a year I face driving down the highway, facing people driving drunk, driving dangerously, driving a 35 foot class A, fifth wheel, school bus conversation et al. Any of the above could be one of those brand new record breaking newbie RV’ers coming at you with zero experience or training in the handling of what could be in certain circumstances an extremely dangerous rig, a very large loaded gun with a hair trigger.
We do not know who we’re facing on the highway or standing six feet from at the grocery store – I refuse on both accounts to live in fear, because a small percentage of 1% of a population (do the math) are dying of something they cannot control even if they think they can or are told they can.
I spent a lifetime in collision repair and could elaborate endlessly – I choose to “breathe” and cautiously proceed with this life.
My thoughts are with that elderly lady gardener at Walnut Hills and people like her so traumatized, so afraid, they live like they think they must just to survive – those lives must be an unimaginable hell.
Well said. There’s a great comment from the movie, “The Shawshank Redemption” where the character “Andy” conveys to his prison friend what his attitude will be going forward in the face of his adversity. He states, “We can either get busy dying or get busy living, I’m gonna get busy LIVING! “.
My sentiments exactly. My wife and I have decided enough is enough, and we’re going to live our lives without fear and without a mask wherever possible, especially at state RV sites or on the trails of nature where we live. We respect others choices as stated, but we have made ours. The science and statistics about this virus are far from accurate, so we’ve made are own decision to not wear a mask, and we plan accordingly. Be safe and live free!
I wrote a long response to this comment. Then I deleted it. This comment is disrespectful of science, logic, and fellow citizens. How many people have died from wearing a mask? Isn’t anyone doing a study on that? How difficult is it to wear a mask? When did wearing a mask become political?
Why is reducing exposure the same as living in fear? I feel sad for people who don’t see anything except black and white. I’m color blind and I see more colors than that.
One of the previous commenters said that he spent his life in collision repair. I wonder if he wears a seat belt while driving. Why? Doesn’t that restrict his freedom? Do real men really wear seat belts? Is it because they can’t overcome their fear of dying?
Sheesh. Give me break. Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining.
Peeing on my leg….Funny thing, a lot of us “on the other side” of the argument have been saying the same thing about politicians with an agenda spewing these edicts.
Ummmm, collision repair, eh? All I hear is NOT A DOCTOR OR SCIENTIST! Great point Michael! Sadly those of us who wear masks are faced with the idiots who don’t, and mean that those of us with invisible illnesses cannot leave our yards!
Many people think they are healthy when they are not; only 11% of the United States citizens can pass a healthy metabolic test. Thus far, I have not found wearing a mask to get in the way of my freedom, much like wearing pants while in public doesn’t impede me. By the way, we are in the 11% higher than average health, and we wear masks – we don’t want to spread it to someone of higher risk factors.
Wearing a mask is Not going to kill you, not wearing a mask might. Think about that.
Ron is your statement based on any knowledge of the number of people who are dying who wore or didn’t wear masks? Your out here is the word “might”.
And if you are inquisitive enough check out the physiological problems emerging regarding masks. You “might” find those masks are causing some serious issues for some wearers. As a collision repairer/painter I lived with one on my face – no problem for me, although I thought at retirement I was rid of it – not yet!
Please rephrase your statement the next time you go spewing it.
https://nypost.com/2020/04/24/driver-crashes-car-after-passing-out-from-wearing-n95-mask/
If each one of you were to do the math and determine what the population is in your state find out how many people have gotten sick with coved-19 and then find out how many people have died from it you all would be quite shocked at how little change you have from getting it and or dying from it . My guess it will be something like .02%? And FYI do each of you know that on any given day in the good old USA 7969.7 people died of something!! DO THE MATH!!!
Why do you think the highest death rate in the world is as low as it is? Because intelligent people have been keeping separated and wearing masks. So, yeah, lets ignore the warnings of scientists and medical Professionals and do like you suggest. Only 1500+ people have died in Virginia of the virus and over 121,000 in the U.S., so what’s a few thousands more. Thank you Doctor Benton for your medical advice.
Stick to your guns, its your business and up to you to sensibly run it. But don’t expect any brilliant answers from government as they are more concerned with electioneering than running their states responsibly — your governor included.
I really like Walnut Hills Campground and its owners, having camped there many times in the past with our Good Sams Chapter.. I must take issue with the mask situation however, based on science not ” feel good ” politics. THe following might make an article all by itself.
1. Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said, “There is only very limited evidence of the benefits of wearing face masks by the general public, no evidence that wearing them in crowded places helps at all, and no evidence at all yet related to covid-19 .
2. One randomized controlled clinical trial of cloth masks, published in BMJ Open in 2015, compared their effectiveness with that of medical masks worn by hospital healthcare workers.2 The study, involving the industry partner 3M (which makes medical masks), reported that healthcare workers “should not use cloth masks as protection against respiratory infection. Cloth masks resulted in significantly higher rates of infection than medical masks, and also performed worse than the control arm.”
3. The rates of all infection outcomes were highest in the cloth mask arm, with the rate of ILI statistically significantly higher in the cloth mask arm (relative risk (RR)=13.00, 95% CI 1.69 to 100.07) compared with the medical mask arm. Cloth masks also had significantly higher rates of ILI compared with the control arm. An analysis by mask use showed ILI (RR=6.64, 95% CI 1.45 to 28.65) and laboratory-confirmed virus (RR=1.72, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.94) were significantly higher in the cloth masks group compared with the medical masks group. Penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97% and medical masks 44%. This study is the first RCT of cloth masks, and the results caution against the use of cloth masks. This is an important finding to inform occupational health and safety. Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection.
Ref. A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers C Raina MacIntyre1, Holly Seale1,Tham Chi Dung2, Nguyen ran Hien2, Phan Thi Nga2, Abrar Ahmad Chughtai1, Bayzidur Rahman1, Dominic E Dwyer3, Quanyi Wang4
4. Note: Covid-19 particles are 0.12 nm in diameter.
Filter efficiency was measured across a wide range of small particle sizes (0.02 to 1 µm) (20 to 1000 nm) at 33 and 99 L/min. N95 respirators had efficiencies greater than 95% (as expected). For the entire range of particles tested, t-shirts had 10% efficiency, scarves 10% to 20%, cloth masks 10% to 30%, sweatshirts 20% to 40%, and towels 40%. All of the cloth masks and materials had near zero efficiency at 0.3 µm, a particle size that easily penetrates into the lungs.4
Another study evaluated 44 masks, respirators, and other materials with similar methods and small aerosols (0.08 and 0.22 µm) (80 to 220 nanometers).5 N95 FFR filter efficiency was greater than 95%. Medical masks exhibited 55% efficiency, general masks 38% and handkerchiefs 2% (one layer) to 13% (four layers).
These studies demonstrate that cloth or homemade masks will have very low filter efficiency (2% to 38%). Medical masks are made from a wide range of materials, and studies have found a wide range of filter efficiency (2% to 98%), with most exhibiting 30% to 50% efficiency.6-12
Ref: COMMENTARY: Masks-for-all for COVID-19 not based on sound data
Filed Under: COVID-19 Lisa M Brosseau, ScD, and Margaret Sietsema, PhD|
Apr 01, 2020
5. Median viral loads did not differ significantly when comparing coughing samples of COVID-19 patients without a mask, with a surgical mask, and with a cloth mask, suggesting these masks were ineffective at filtering SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, reported Sung-Han Kim, MD, of University of Ulsan College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, and colleagues. The authors pointed to earlier research showing particles 0.04 to 0.2 μm “can penetrate surgical masks.” For the coronavirus responsible for SARS, particles were estimated to be within that range at 0.08 to 0.14 μm, they said.
Ref: Primary Source: Annals of Internal Medicine
Source Reference: Bae S, et al “Effectiveness of Surgical and Cotton Masks in Blocking SARS–CoV-2: A Controlled Comparison in 4 Patients” Ann Intern Med 2020; DOI: 10.7326/M20-1342.
6. Healthline, Does Wearing a Mask Protect You from the Flu and Other Viruses? These masks prevent large droplets of bodily fluids that may contain viruses or other germs from escaping via the nose and mouth. They also protect against splashes and sprays from other people, such as those from sneezes and coughs. But the average masks you can buy from a local drugstore aren’t enough to filter out viruses. For that purpose, experts recommend special masks with fine mesh that can capture very small organisms. These also have to be worn correctly for them to work. Masks worn over the face are also unable to protect you from getting airborne virus particles, from a cough or sneeze, into your eyes.
if you take issue with the mask thing. it is your right. Same as their right to require one on their grounds. you have a right to go elsewhere.
Breath in, breath out. Ok. I’m settled now. I love how some pick up an article and know all the facts. No one has ever said that wearing a mask or face covering will protect the wearer from COVID-19. IT PREVENTS THE SPREAD. since not all cover their mouths and nose when sneezing, coughing or even speaking, there are particulates that escape. Those particulates are what your facts are referring to.
Simply put, wear the mask to prevent the spread to others.
Show everyone that you are not a non-caring individual and are able to think logically about others.
Basically, it’s his business and he is doing his part to remain in business for the long haul. He is following the state’s rules and regulations to remain in business and further explains that he CARES about other people’s well being as well as his and his family’s.
WEAR A MASK!!
Nuff said!
The only reason we are stuck with “hill billy” masks is because the nation (world) was not prepared to provide 100% of the medical grade masks needed. By now we should be up to our armpits in N-95 Medical grade masks. But no, what do we see, push back against wearing masks!
Not one of those studies addresses the probability of the virus spread past two masks – yours and mine. Even the medical studies sited only put the mask on the provider, not on the provider AND the patient. Your facts do not fit this issue and are only being used to justify your selfishness. I wear a mask to help prevent spread to others because I could be contagious without being aware of having the virus. You need to wear a mask for the same reason. If you don’t wear a mask, then you could still spread the virus to me even though I faithfully wear my mask. My immunosuppressed friends and I do not want to suffer because you are selfish enough to try to make this a political issue. And just to be clear, the group that I’m talking about are all supporters of our President. This is not about politics, it’s about staying alive a little longer.
If you are looking for 100% protection, yes. But the general public are looking for a reduction of risk. This is why they recommend the mask and the 6 feet of social distancing. A mask unable to filter out the virus does not mean the mask cannot help reduce spread in conjunction with social distancing. I love it (not) when people post studies and fail to apply the results correctly. Unless you have some training in statistics, you will be easily led astray by being an ‘armchair’ scientist.
Thank you for your analysis. Education is a wonderful thing, especially when you know where to look..
Anyone can cherry pick data to support their desired conclusion.
That is what you meant by knowing where to look, right?
Me wearing doesn’t protect me, it protects you from me exhaling droplets that contain the virus. You wearing a mask protects me from your exhalations. Both of us need to make this TINY inconvenient step to stop the spread.
You mask will help protect you to some extent
.
A bandana will protect you very little, a two layer mask, fairly well, a tight fitting two layer mask with a replaceable filter is very close to being as good as an N95 medical grade mask.
With a good mask and wrap around glasses, you’ll have very good protection.
I have a very hard time understanding why people think these masks have some very sophisticated membrane that is only one directional.
The filter either works both ways or neither.If you are so worried that you think you need a mask, nhen YOU need to wear a n95 or n100 mask.
Thinking that others wearing bandanas over their faces will save you is like feeling safe flying because yiu had to go through tighter security when terrorists don’t.
AMEN! You just can’t fix stupid, and it’s become an epidemic of its own…
Darwin has a solution for stupid.
Yep, 19,000 of them are in Tulsa right now! Now due to political leaning, but duecto being the largest gathering IN THE WORLD during a freaking PANDEMIC, no masks for most, no distancing for any. Sadly, we will lose some of their non-attending relatives because Aunt Karen went to a rally unmasked!!
Keep up the good work. If it’s that busy you don’t need the assholes causing problems
This is a campground I would seek out. One that puts the interest and safety of all above the selfishisness of the few. It’s your campground, you make up the rules.
It’s nice to see that business is booming for Walnut Hills Campground once again. Your last articles led me to believe you weren’t going to make it through the unnecessary, draconian measures that the evil state government was imposing on you in order to save the lives of the citizens of Virginia. (sarcasm intended)
Steve, many other businesses, not just Andy’s, feared for their survival at first, when they were shut down and feared the unknown ahead, but then “found a way.” Andy’s initial article, where he wondered about this survival, was based on what he and others knew at the time. So don’t be too sarcastic about him changing his tune. Can you predict what this country’s economy will be like in three months? If so, you are a genius.
My local county just allowed RV parks and campgrounds to reopen. Within a week, there was a community spread event at one of the campgrounds.
Just because it’s open doesn’t make it automatically safe. And just because it’s relatively safe, like RVing, doesn’t mean we can let our guard down.
Thank you, Andy, for enforcing the rules. We won’t be traveling this summer. RVing can be safe, but there are too many other RVers who aren’t.
Apparently, Andy Zipser, the author of this article, has forgotten that the stated reason for the Unconstitutional shutdown of business and orders to shelter-in-place were to “flatten the curve” of the disease, not to be 100% safe. No one can hide from a worldwide virus, whether they remain huddled in their basements, keep 6 feet away from everyone, or wear masks, gloves and face shields all the time. In any new-to-the-human-race illness some will die, some will get very sick, some will get infected with no symptoms and some will be immune, but hiding is not possible. Basically, it’s all in the genes.
Ummmm, no one camping is hiding in their basement. Not a smart argument when people are staying on site, mostly on weekends, thus NOT hiding at home, THAT IS WHAT THE ARTICLE IS ABOUT (except for the dumbarse who tries to pay his electric bill unmasked, over and over, who does live there! Maybe he dug a basement?)…
I recently ventured out for a short trip to meet up with my sister, the campground enforced the mask rule and I appreciated the safety factor. The “I’ll take my biz elsewhere crowd” we have to live with, stay strong in the belief that there are those that appreciate you keeping us and your employees safe.
Dools. We publish more than 100 articles a week, a few do include what could be considered political in some way, but as long as they are relevant and intelligent, as Andy’s articles are, we will continue to publish them. Andy always has something thought-provoking to say, and for people who disagree and wish to leave a constructive and respectful comment, they are certainly invited to do so. There are hundreds of other websites out there about RVing that will teach you week after week how to level your rig, how to dump your RV’s holding tanks and about great things to do with kids and grandkids. Maybe one of those sites will be more agreeable to you. I have gone ahead and unsubscribed you to save you the trouble.
As this article like the other Liberally slanted ones, and the comments associated with it are not intelligent but political diatribes and insults, (for what’s supposed to be a neutral past-time)….Good-bye and I Thank you
It:s obvious to see a political slant to any article that points to a conservative incident where a mask is involved and leaves out the BLM events which coincided with an increase in infections. The current guidelines are to wear a mask when inside and social distancing is not possible, not whenever in public.
I have but one question to ask of all the commenters here, who refuse to wear a mask and it’s obvious why, and it has nothing to do with it being unconstitutional. The vast majority of the American public has never read the Constitution and are clueless as to what is and what isn’t Constitutional. So the question is: If you were in a restaurant, a Walmart, or a theater and gunfire erupted, would you stay in place or take whatever action was necessary to protect yourself and your family members?
I perceive comments like “unsubscribe me” to be just as childish as calling other people names or leaving the playground and going home because other people don’t follow your rules. Grow up and act like an adult. If you can’t, unsubscribe. It’s your loss, not the publication’s loss.
Nobody argues about their constitutional rights when it comes to wearing clothes. The same argument would allow us to be naked in Walmart.
NO ONE wants to see THAT…LOL!!
According to the CDC there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.
Maybe you are just being cheap!
For the latest and most up to date information on the Coronavirus please visit the CDC website.
It’s not the cleanliness of the water that’s the issue, it’s the close proximity of people and heavy breathing caused by strenuous exercise. That’s why I would guess they are reluctant to open the pools and spas.
Would you personally want to own that responsibility and liability if you were them??
It would be simple to restrict how many can use the pool at any time.
And, who’s going to be in charge of that? It’s really simple; his campground, his decision. Case closed.
Good job Connie, kicked his bum GOOD! His negative downvotes say it all!
Bob, get your own pool, and let all the neighbor kids in it, then see how many lawsuits come in. Sheesh! People have no clue what a responsible business person must think of! Like they WANT the pool closed!
Here is a good source if people want to check state/counties for how they are doing.
https://coronavirus.1point3acres.com/en
Yes cases are increasing. They are testing more. Need to look at hospitalizations…tab at top will take you to testing & hospitalization rates. Click on state on map to get detailed info. Deaths are on the decline (yes, 1 is too many, but you can’t stop it all, deaths from other causes are down). The death rate was in the 2000’s a day, now down to 700’s. Look at the graphs, you can see the declines. Yes, it is up and down, most likely due to uneven reporting by counties and states. A more appropriate statistic would be a 3 and 7 day rolling average to even out variance in reporting.
Also, if you see a rise in cases and or deaths, maybe search the county, town to see what the issue is. Could be an outbreak in a prison or a particular company or a nursing home. Many places to visit where counties have recorded no deaths or few.
Be cautious of headlines. Deaths in *** county rise 100%. Well, if they had 1 death and recorded one more….that would be 100%.
Last, be cautious, but don’t let fear overcome you. In the past month, I’ve taken 3 of my granddaughters to visit their great grandma who is 92 and was so sad because we had to cancel our weekly trips. Visited the other grand children and getting ready to travel 2 hours to see the 3 set today. I’ve had oral surgery and a dental appointment. Both offices have taken all the precautions and I have no worries. (It’s been past 14 days and I’m fine, as is my husband who has also resumed doctors & testing visits).
We are planning to attend the INDY500 that was moved to August for the entire “month of “May” events. We leave August 4th. If that changes we are still going to go somewhere. Need to get out and experience life.
No, not hospitalizations, look at % of positive tests. The increase in many places is in NO WAY attached to number of tests. Once testing was normalized for your state, so same number of tests per day or per week, that is when you can compare positive test percentages. Many places were below 5% until things started trending up in June, now is 8% and up in many states. That is a lot! My other half, a critical care medic, is seeing the most severe cases, and they were not all sick or old, previously! Young as 30 on ventilators, some do die despite best care practices. Hospitalization numbers not reliable, many wait too long to go in or call for help, so die before or just after getting there, are not counted in hospitalizations.
Everyone can fully experience life while distancing and wearing masks, as long as things are open, that is!!! Glad you are not going to any rally unmasked like 19k other idiots are. Not idiots due to political leaning, idiots for doing something no one else in the WORLD is doing right now due to the danger. If they masked, different, (not great, but different) story. I also fully disagreed with protestors who refused masks and distancing, too. Shame on ALL the non mask wearers for not caring about others enough to cover up!
Your point on numbers does not matter, this is invisible, you have no clue who has it and who does not. Until a vaccine is available, our lives will be altered. Never heard such big babies (not you, you seem to be following the rules, good job!) about a wee scrap of fabric and a lil ole bottle of hand sanitizer as non mask wearers are. Luckily most parents of small kids or elderly relatives seem to get that this is about keeping everyone healthy and alive! If you are healthy, does not mean you will survive, and that is scary!
we can disagree with the Governor and still comply???? Well gooooooooolly gee whiz, what a concept! In this life there have been many thing I had to do, for good (or not so good)and sufficient reason, that I didn’t like or agree with. That’s life. And adulting.
I don’t particularly like wearing a mask, but I do for a myriad of good reasons, the most important of which is, my wife is happy when I do, and, happy wife, happy life!
Big part of hostility to mask is at first CDC said they were not necessary WHO said they were. Now they have flipped with many researchers saying they are ineffective at best harmful at worst. All while a barber is shut down and threatened with arrest because two can spread virus rioters and looters(with smiles on their faces as they leave with new TV) are meet with shrug by same politicians who threaten people for not wearing a mask
I don’t know of any politicians who approve rioting and looting. Protesting, yes, protected by the 1st Amendment.
I also think that masks are almost universally viewed as helpful, not ineffective or harmful.
Google the New England Journal of Medicine recent article on masks. Also compare politicians comments on the PEACFUL protests of the virus lockdown vs comments on VIOLENT riots and looting.
Mask haters seem to have one thing in common: they think that the mask is an infringement on their ‘freedom’, their ‘liberty’, their ‘rights’, and their ‘constitutional guarantees’ of whatever. One protestor at an “open my state” rally had a sign with a drawing of a mask and the caption, “This is a mind control device”. They spend much too much time looking at right-wing conspiracy videos———–and believe it !
The virus doesn’t care whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, nor does it care about your freedom, liberty, rights or constitution. All it wants to do is reproduce, wreck your immune system, and KILL you if it can. Vitus deniers frequently say that the yearly winter flu kills more than coronavirus. Okay, wait until 220,000 Americans are dead by the Fall, or that more cases are only due to more testing. There’ll ALWAYS be another excuse…………………………………………
Just keep the faith, Andy. I know it’s frustrating trying to save some of these brainwashed “sheeple” from themselves.
That’s funny I think the mask wearers are the sheeple, and by the way do you protect your eyes with virus protection goggles? If not you’re leaving yourself exposed to Covid particulates gettting in that way. True fact, ask Fauci.
Bob, you really need to educate yourself. It’s evident your opinions are from the other side of the coin. This B_____ has gone on long enough, almost 4 years to be exact! It’s evident you and those of your mindset are ignorant and the real Deplorables, don’t fall so easy for the Fake news your listening to. What a shame….
Andy, you’re a pro. Reading your Editorials is pure pleasure. Good job managing your park in the face of Covid-19 and confusing ‘Executive’ Orders. I think you said it – Pandemic Etiquette reflects the greater divide in this country. Your park, your rules. Wish there were a directory of parks like yours, I would stay in them as I believe we don’t know enough about this virus to pretend it has decreased in impact. I’ll be staying safe, you do the same.
Your common sense approach is the same as ours. We will do what we need to protect our family and ourselves. Those that chose to play fast and loose with this pandemic can do so at their own peril. But DON’T endanger me because you have some personal agenda. Chuck
I remember when “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service” became a thing. People griped. Then people adjusted their attitude and no one complains about seeing the sign anymore. You can drive through McDonald’s barefoot, but must have on shoes to walk up to the counter. Eventually people will adjust to respect owners’ requests to wear a mask, and learn how & where to get service if they choose not to wear one. It’s just going to take time.
I actually thought the no shoes-no shirt thing was a health law. I checked and in our state it is not actually a law but people still obey that sign. Curious. Guess they didn’t do their homework…oh, wait…that’s why they don’t wear masks, too.
First you complain the Gov. shut you down, then you complain customers are fed up with the Governor’s edicts. Maybe you should of stayed closed.
I think you can be upset about the regulation that shut you down, and at the same time agree to, and be bound by, the regulations put in place to let you reopen.
If you don’t want to wear a mask in a store or place of business, YOU should stay home.
Why do so many people have the idea that you cannot disagree with something some one does and also agree with something else they have done? I guess it is the same mentality that if you agree with someone (or a political party) you have to agree and support all of their policies.
There are so few true independent thinkers.
I voted this comment down; however, the number went up?????
Look closely the number is increasing but it has a tiny minus in front of it. I too voted it down.
Right now there are at -27, the minus is very small, so yes, if you add to a negative number, it goes up. I was confused, too!
Ask your next non-mask wearer nicely, don’t you think it would be better to wear a face mask than a ventilator?
Thank you so much for letting us know what a campground owner has to face during this highly politicized global pandemic. It’s a shame that people project their anger and frustration on to you for trying to abide by the safe practices required in your state. I commend you for it!
So agree with everything you say~ I wear mask to protect others and hopefully protect myself a wee bit.
Back in WWII cities on the East Coast used to impose “Lights Out” air raid drills. When the siren sounded you were told you had to turn your lights out in case an enemy air craft somehow made it to our shores and then would bomb our cities. It wasn’t a “Law”. You did it to protect the whole city, just in case. Imagine if people ignored it and a plane actually did manage to make it here. How many would die because of the selfish acts of a few?
I wonder how many people threw a fit because they didn’t like “The Gov’t” infringing on “their Constitutional Right” to have their lights on in their house. Similar to the ones who refuse to wear a mask today.
Good description.
Great analogy and why I keep saying that we need to frame this as the patriotic thing to do.
You and those that posted replies here will not be missed. Seeya.
Andy, we understand. We own a Campground in CT. At first only current seasonals were allowed and phase 1 we were allowed to open only to CT residents. So because we were slightly ahead of our surrounding New England states, we received some anger from out of state campers. Now that phase 2 has come and gone, we fortunately have only had a couple bad apples to contend with. We’ve come to the point where these are our rules, you can follow them or find a different Campground to stay at. Overall customers have been great and had no issue wearing a face mask in the store/office. At the end of the day, we are doing what works for us and our small business. Good luck to you and stay safe.
We wontwear a mask anywhere. This is a global scam with people brainwashed into thinking they will die if they breath around another person. I am a retired healthcare worker and I looked at the Covid statistics. I actively kept track of the daily numbers of the states most affected. It was obvious from the start that this was not as deadly as was reported, if you had no comorbidities. Those individuals should take precautions as they would with any communicable disease. The rest of the healthy population is not in danger. But trying to explain statistics to a panicked public is impossible. We fulltime so we can move at will and have traveled throughout this craziness.
Since you keep track of Covid statistics, I suppose you have noticed the age group that is testing positive above all others; albeit, asymptomatic. I respect your right to say “we won’t,” but I expect you to respect my right to say “I will,” without undue diatribe. I would not call myself “panicked.” I would call my self “self-aware.”
Make sure you reserve your hospital bed in the ICU because people like you will be occupying them soon.
You say CV is a “global scam… not as deadly as reported…”
Only 110,000+ dead Americans in the past four months. Not a big deal?
We’re all entitled to our opinions. I prefer to trust world-class experts like Dr. Fauci.
Could list your license plate so we won’t park anywhere near you!?
WOW a GLOBAL scam. It is amazing to me that there are people that think the whole world can get together to perpetuate a massive conspiracy of global scale when it is rare to get 10 people in a room together to agree on something.
What was the nature of this scam? To get people to cut up their old t-shirts and wear them on their face as a prank?
Frankly, I am quite happy that you have retired so I will not need your services for my healthcare.
Thanks, Andy. Great update – I’m glad to hear that you’re doing better! You have a beautiful campground. My wife and I stayed there overnight at the end of March, on our way from FL back home to NH. That was just before the two week quarantine went into place; personally, I would have been delighted to spend time with you! Our interaction with your staff was of course limited, but they were professional and great. I’m hoping to stop by again next year and spend a week at least.
Americans are just plain spoiled. Consider this:
On December 22, 2001, on a flight from Paris to Miami, a terrorist failed to detonate a bomb in his shoe. Failed. Since that day, every person boarding an aircraft in The United States is required to take off his or her shoes and run them through a radiograph at the airport. We’ve been doing this for nineteen years because of one failed attempt. You have no choice in this.
Can you imagine if that bomber had instead stuffed a half-pound of plastic explosive up his backside? Flying on a commercial airline would be much different now. You would be faced with two choices – submit to hours-long waits at the airport while everyone is strip-searched, or just not fly anywhere.
If you know someone who lived in the U.S. during World War II, ask them if they were happy not being able to buy whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. Sugar, coffee, meats, fats, canned fish, cheese, fabrics, metal, tires, cars, gasoline. My grandma gave up all but two saucepans, a kettle, and one skillet to the war effort. She still cooked for eight people, she just did it in shifts – four at a time.
It’s called sacrifice. My grandmother’s sacrifice honored the men and women who sacrificed by serving their country fighting Germany and Japan. Many of your fellow Americans have sacrificed plenty in this pandemic – jobs, fortunes, families, their very lives. My willingness to wear a mask in public honors those sacrifices, those losses. If, by wearing a mask, I can keep from infecting someone – this is the reason for wearing a mask, you know, not protection from being infected – it’s worth it to me as a human being. Altruism, not self-interest, makes a country stronger.
Since there has been no short-term or long-term plan of any kind put forward by the Federal Government, the collective body charged by the Constitution with promoting the general welfare, the governors, mayors, and local executives of this country have been put in the position of becoming the arbiters and decision-makers, I have to respect their positions. If I can’t comply with what they have decided is the best way forward, I’ll stay home and shut up.
Likewise, the management and owners of businesses, both large and small, have made decisions that affect their customers. You may not like their way, but it is their right to do so, provided those decisions apply to all customers and do not target specific demographics.
I’m sorry. You do not have a God-given right to travel in an RV. You do not have a God-given right to travel at all. The states have agreed to having open borders with each other in furtherance of trade, overseen by the federal government, but they can stop you from crossing that border for recreation, business, or even trade, if your encroachment into their state is seen as potentially hazardous to its citizens or to the welfare of the country as a whole.
No one wants the current situation to go on. Resistance to even the simplest precautions is counter-productive and unwise. Sacrifices for the common good will be necessary. When you’re the governor, or you own the RV park, you can make the rules. Until then, stop complaining, and do no harm.
Excellent.
Good writing, this should be in the main part of the newsletter.
Very well said, Marvin. Thank you! 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Diane, thank you for keeping the lines of communication open. As full-time RVers, our chosen way of life is in jeopardy. What hurts one of us hurts all of us.
Right on, Marvin. This country came together during WWII. I still have some ration books. I remember paper drives, metal drives. I was a kid and that was just what we did – with our little red wagons. I don’t remember all the complainers we have today. Fortunately we did not have all this social media to rile things up. People had the “advantage” to stop and think before they acted stupid in the moment. (It took time and energy to sit down and actually think it out to WRITE a letter to the editor.) Walter Cronkite took time to check things out before he INFORMED the public.
I don’t know what will or will not control this virus, but I will stay six feet from you and will wear a mask without any one “taking” my freedom. I will continue to wear seat belts, a life preserver when on the water, an orange vest when hunting, shirt and shoes when at a beach restaurant. Those things are for forever. Masks will be temporary.
I don’t remember Polio being political. We just went down to the City Hall on Sundays after church and drank that little cup of pink stuff they handed out. Never heard anyone complain about the Government. It is sad to see US-A become so soft and selfish.
Thank you for your comment, KellyR. My parents told me stories of their life during WWII and there was so much they gave up because it was the right thing to do. I am appalled at the response of so many of our fellow citizens to COVID-19. It’s inconvenient and for many it affects their income but compared to what “the greatest generation” dealt with, it’s disappointing and embarrassing at our countrymen’s response. So much anger and bluster about “my rights” when simply wearing a mask is all that’s being required of you. What’s the big deal? I have loved ones at high risk for death and I have loved ones that work in the hospitals. Thank you to all that do your part and wear the masks.
We are a blessed generation but a very spoiled one. The greatest generation did without, won a war , and never complained. Just listen to our babyboomer generation. Downright shameful the attitude of some of these folks. I completely agree with you.
Well said. We live in Florida where there are a lot of beaches. I wish I had a dime for every idiot who said it’s their constitutional right to use the beach. What? when I went to law school I don’t recall anything about beaches being in our constitution.
Very well put. Out of everything that I have read or heard lately, your post covers the current situation of our nation the best. Thank you for your words. I hope others will take the time to read them and fully relate their relevance.
Amen. Well said! In general Americans are spoiled, self-centered and becoming quite boorish!
You better read the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Your ignorance is evident you haven’t.
Marvin writes: “Since there has been no short-term or long-term plan of any kind put forward by the Federal Government, the collective body charged by the Constitution with promoting the general welfare…blah, blah, blah”
There’s this pesky thing called the tenth amendment that reinforces the constitutional limits on federal authority and jurisdiction. This is not a top-down command and control state like China or the former Soviet Union. Despite this, the following resources have been made available from the federal government:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Guidelines-for-Opening-Up-America-Again.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/nursing-homes-testing.html
https://www.coronavirus.gov
daily press briefings with Drs. Falchi & Birx from the Coronavirus task force
Daily meetings of the task force with governors from all 50 states
Corps of Engineers building emergency hospitals
Naval hospital ships deployed to coastal hot zones on both coasts
Pentagon logistics experts tasked with allocating PPE, ventilators, hospital supplies, testing kits, etc.
Defense Production Act invoked to force reluctant manufacturers to produce critical items,
Closing of both borders and suspension of travel from worldwide hotspots,
The list goes on… but you get the point.
And to be honest, I wouldn’t stay in your state!
Washing your hands is a better deterrent than putting a mask over the human breathing apparatus.
Recent research suggests the virus is transmitted infrequently on surfaces. Mask is more important.
Both are important, that’s a flimsy excuse.
Excellent article. I just looked up your location, we are about 45 minutes away in our coach in our family farmyard in Covesville VA. If we get a chance we will stop by, with our masks on, to say HI and to see if there is something in your store we must have. We drove cross country from SoCal in 9 days and saw every possible variant of compliance imaginable. We chose to protect others by wearing mask whenever we were close or indoors, both rarely. We stayed well away from people who were not masked.
CarlJ said it all below:
“First you complain the Gov. shut you down, then you complain customers are fed up with the Governor’s edicts. Maybe you should of stayed closed.”
It’s YOU the campground owner that needs to make up your damn mind which way YOU want it as a business owner and quit complaining when your way is not someone else’s way!
What??
We are living in historical times. Nothing like this has happened in any of our lifetimes. Most people are understandably upset having their lives turned upside down. That is no excuse for poor manners, however.
I have been researching this virus since it was first brought to our attention. It is a very nasty bug, but is not the pandemic it is being portrayed in the media. The definition of pandemic (Merriam-Webster) is “an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population.” As of yesterday (the last time I verified), the risk of contracting this illness based on total population of the United States (330,598,305) is 0.65% (total cases 2,155,572). The risk of death is 0.04% (117,632). Multiple sources have reported a minimum of 40% of the deaths have occurred in nursing homes. That leaves 70,579 in the general public. I have data for each state across the United States. New York (including NYC) has the highest rate of incidence at 1.97% and deaths at 0.16%. The lowest states rate of incidence are West Virginia, Oregon, Alaska, Montana, and Hawaii at 0.12%, 0.12%, 0.08%, 0.05%, and 0.05%, respectively. The death rate is 0.005%, 0.004%, 0.001%, 0.002%, 0.001%, respectively. Virginia is somewhere in the middle with 0.62% of the population contracting the virus and 0.02% of the population having died. Worldwide population of 7,792,301,155 has an incidence rate of 0.11% (8,242,999) and a death rate of 0.006% (445,535). For purposes of comparison, the Bubonic Plaque killed 65% of the population of Europe. The figures from today’s virus are hardly exceptionally high proportions of the population.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have both stated that the most at-risk people are those with underlying health issues and the elderly. This is consistent with a normal flu season. In 2018, more than 60,000 people in the U.S. died of the flu. No daily reports of the number of cases and/or deaths were blasted 24/7 over the media. This year, there are miraculously very few seasonal flu cases. Multiple sources have also reported that the statistics for the virus are being inflated by deaths from other reasons (cancer, heart disease, accidents, etc.) being attributed to the virus if the patient was determined to have been positive for the virus. This can be seen in the statistics of the unusually low death rates to date for 2020 for these types of illnesses/occurrences.
A few weeks ago, the WHO stated, “Masks should NOT be worn by healthy people. They should only be worn by those who are ill or those caring for someone else who is ill.” That guidance was on their website for about a week and a half. They then reversed position.
As for being able to pass the disease onto other people should you be asymptomatic, the WHO states, “Some reports have indicated that people with no symptoms can transmit the virus. It is not yet known how often it happens. WHO is assessing ongoing research on the topic and will continue to share updated findings.” In other words, they don’t know and there is little indication that this is the case. The CDC does not address this possibility. If this were a serious issue, they would both say so.
The Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy published an article debunking the need for the general public to wear masks. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/commentary-masks-all-covid-19-not-based-sound-data . When I presented that article on another site, I was told by a commenter that it was old news (having been written April 1, 2020), and that new information has been learned since then. I could not find any additional data or new information to support the supposition that would overturn the article’s position, nor did the commenter provide any.
While I have presented my findings to you, you will want to do your own homework. Be informed and make an informed decision.
All that being said, as regards to Mr. Zipser’s RV Park, it is HIS RV Park. HE will determine the rules for HIS Park. If he says you need to wear a mask while in his store, you need to respect his position regardless of your opinion, and wear a mask. RV Parks must cater to a diverse group of people, all of whom feel strongly one way or the other. This puts RV Park owners between a rock and a hard place. They are not going to appease everyone, nor should they try. They must do what they feel is right for their Park.
My recommendations going forward are:
1. Call ahead. Find out what the park rules are. If you can’t abide by them, find another park. By calling ahead, you will save yourself and the park personnel aggravation.
2. If you do arrive at a park and are not happy with the rules, be polite. Determine if you want to stay or not, but BE POLITE. You don’t need to take anyone’s head off just because things are not to your liking.
3. BE POLITE! Folks, we gain nothing by going at each other. I totally understand feeling the blood pressure mounting, but we must remain calm. How we react to adversity will determine how well we get through this.
Well thought out and respectful. Thank you.
Its not the death rate that is the problem but rather, how many hospital beds and medical workers we can handle at any given time. This is why many small communities – like Moab, that have a high rate of tourists but very small medical facilities. From what I understand, this is what they are most avoiding – the Phoenix areas is getting really close to max capacity.
The death rate of people who have contacted the virus in the US is 5.45%. If a minimum of 70% of the US population must contract the virus before it no longer spreads, then over 231 million people will get the virus. If only 5% of those people die (yes I included people in nursing homes as people) then over 11.5 million people in US will die of covid19. For comparison, that is the entire population of my state. And that is with the hospitals being able to care for most of the patients! I would consider that a pandemic. The idea is to prevent the hospitals from being overrun with covid19 patients so that the death rate isn’t higher and non covid patients can also be helped. And maybe , although it’s a long shot, some people will survive until there is a vaccine. That is not a normal flu season.
Thank you Sue.
Amazing how so many Covid deniers consider “nursing home” residents not as people, but nothing more than a statistic. Shameful!
Everyone has a different tolerance for risk. I recall my mother often telling us, “If Johnny jumped off the bridge, would you!?” Not on your life…but I don’t want Johnny pulling me with him either!
I agree whole heartedly. It’s your money and you decide where you want to spend it. People who don’t like rules will go where rules are lacking and those that do will go where they are enforced. Ultimately, the majority will win. It’s your power to decide what should be just like with voting. No one has to cater to you just because you want them to. On the opposite side of the coin, no one has the right to suppress your rights either (governors, mayors, Antifia, etc.). You get the message, educate yourself and act like the adult we are all expected to be and decide on the proper choice for yourself. Choice is what matters, we aren’t all alike and we need to respect those different from ourselves.
I retired about 2 years ago, bought a travel trailer and made one 3 month trip. Now I sit at home, this is not what I planned! If all these idiots can’t stay at home and wear masks when they go out we aren’t ever going to get out! WHEN YOU GO OUT WEAR A DAMN MASK!!
I would wear a mask if it worked. But it doesn’t. Like stoping a mosquito with chicken wire
Dennis.
You, sir, Dennis, are not smart. Masks work best if EVERYONE wears them. Many have no clue they have this, either presymptomatic or asymptomatic. So until you get tested every day to prove you are not carrying, WEAR THE DARNED MASK! Just because your bum arse does not WANT to wear one does NOT give you the right to spread it to me, who has a neurological condition that could KILL ME if your mouth ain’t covered. Lab tests prove that even simple masks lower the amount of virus exhaled. Since you would not know you have it, you would infect everyone around you. I feel sorry for your family. When you become a scientist, and can prove what you say, that they spread more disease, I will listen to you, after you paper is peer reviewed, but not a chance of that, huh?
Be nice to others mask up, wash your hands, use sanitizer!
My other half is a medic, and the number of people near death under 55, is frightful right now. Until you have dealt with that, you have no say!
If Dennis has a differing opinion than you hold that doesn’t make him less smart than you-if you’re serious about protecting yourself then you’ll load up on protective eye goggles. The virus can 100% get in thru your eyes if droplets are in the air.
Say what?
So then if I had the “opinion” that washing a cut with black tank water is ok, then I am not “less smart”?
And yes, we get that the virus can get in through your eyes if airborne as you have posted under almost every post on here. So, really that reinforces the need to wear a mask. How much airborne particles are there when somebody sneezes or coughs with a mask on vs with a mask off?
I for one, would prefer you sneeze with a mask on.
Just wondering if we would be having this debate if it hadn’t been labeled a ‘Democratic Hoax’ from the beginning…. Also wondering who (besides the middle class) is paying the enormous medical costs of this ‘epidemic’ or ‘pandemic’- take your pick. My only comorbidity is being 75 years of age- I’ll wear a mask, and avoid those who don’t.
This is a distortion of what was really said and ment. Please don’t spread false information and hate, it’s really easy to go to other sources and find the truth.
Andy, what a lovely photo of your RV park!
And thanks, Chuck, for the firm stance on abusive rants. Nothing drives me away from a website faster.
I refuse to live my life in fear of dieing. I could walk out the door and drop dead in the driveway from a heart attack. Death doesn’t bother me, lose of freedom and liberty bother me.
I refuse to huddle in the corner of the room while life passes by.
I’m not trying to violate the (appropriate) comment limitations, but I have to ask…
so you don’t mind infecting other people, who might get sick or die? What if one of those you killed was a friend’s parent or grandparent, or your mom or dad?
It would be a much better world if we valued other people’s happiness, health and lives, instead of living a me me me philosophy.
That is mask shaming -Shame on you! my long time friend is no longer my friend because I cannot wear a mask, for medical reasons, and she asked me the same question before she blocked me and had her family and friends block me. The mask only work to keep people who are sick from getting others around them sick. So if you are wearing a mask because you are sick, you should be home. I would never go out if I did not feel good, whether it is from covid or flu or cold. you can tell when you just do not feel right – stay home! i have severe PTSD from having my face covered forceably years ago. If anyone puts a mask on me, i will fight from fear. Covid is real, but with common sense and good hygiene practices you can keep it at bay. You need herd immunity, and wearing a mask will not make that happen. if you are wearing a home made cloth mask – they do absolutely nothing, except make you feel safe! They are actually more dangerous for you, as you are breathing in your own carbon monoxide. Children should never wear a mask!! (unless they are sick with a disease like cancer or some other disease that compromises their immunity, and then only under doctors orders. Sun and fresh air will keep you healthy. The people who are outside in the sun and pool (that has enough chemicals to kill all living things – will not have covid in it and the sun will kill in on the surfaces of things outdoors within 3 seconds.
I live full time in my RV and have traveled to 5 different RV parks since covid, and by practicing social distancing and common sense hygiene – I feel I am doing my part. I stay home and go out when necessary – I do not shame those who wear masks around me nor have I been shamed by anyone except my ex best-friend who lives in such fear of covid it is ruining her life.
So do not assume that just because someone is not wearing a mask, it is because they are a rule breaker or a killer – there could be other underlying conditions.
U have no fear of dying…how about a fear of killing someone else?
But, if you lose your life, you’ve lost all that freedom & liberty you are trying so hard to protect. And, maybe death doesn’t bother YOU….YOUR death….but, what about causing someone else to die? Or doesn’t that bother you either?
Do you also believe that stop signs or traffic lights impede your right to freedom & liberty? So, it would be okay to run either of them & by doing so, injure or kill someone else?
Why would you want to put your family, friends, neighbors, or even strangers at risk from a virus that doesn’t care a fig about any of us. I think maybe what you’re really in fear of is something you can’t control…..a virus that could care less about the human race or politics or freedom or liberty.
Maybe you need to grow up & realize that freedom & liberty also include responsibility.
Mask wearers-the vast inconsistency is what non-mask wearers have issue with, also not to beat a dead horse but if you’re NOT wearing safety goggles the virus can get in thru your eyes!!!!!! So if you’re seriously living in fear wear goggles.
But your actions might kill someone else. What is
the big deal with wearing a mask?
You have a right to do so. But that right does not extend to possibly infecting others. And please do not ever get a flu shot or vaccination of any kind. The world has to end some day…maybe we can all just go out with a bang with you?
That’s ridiculous, FM. Is wearing your pants, or a shirt, into a store a loss of your freedom? Of course not. And neither is wearing a mask if it’s for everyone’s safety.
No one is asking anyone to huddle in a corner.
Bully for you!!
I just hope that the survivors of this pandemic leave the legacy of patience, tolerance, and humility to their descedents that the COVID scoffers so clearly lack.
Thank you for bringing to light the challenges of doing the right thing. People have been becoming more rude and selfish lately. I get the impression that they have no problem with infecting other people so that they are not inconvenienced. I worked as a first responder paramedic for 26 years and I take the situation seriously. I was also a Naval line officer for 12 years. I guess people won’t take things seriously until it touches someone close to them. Hang in there and stay safe and healthy.
I see no problem wearing a protective mask, especially in someone else’s territory, like their store. Do I like those masks? No. Will i use them? Yes.
And I too have seen some ridiculously childish and angry behavior regarding the request that they be worn.
It is anybody’s right to get sick, but NOT their right to pass it around.
Cheers.
Lots of folks didn’t believe that second-hand smoke would hurt anyone either. Guess what? People have the right to make decisions about their health AS LONG AS it does not have negative impact on others around them. Then they are stepping on MY rights.
Thank you for doing the difficult but important work to protect everyone, including the clueless.
Do you wear safety goggles with your mask? If not you should or you’re only covering 66% of the possible entry into your delicate body.👍
The mask is warn to limit spread to others. It is not intended as a protective device.
Why is it so hard for people to grasp this concept???
I think it’s ashame that some people think they don’t have to abide by the rules i guess that tells you a lot about the protesters and rioters after all some of them were the children of these RV’s. We welcome what ever it takes to enjoy RVing and we respect the rules of the campground.
Thanks Jamie!
I like this parks rules and will be visiting their park.
Glad to see you commented!
Hello in California we are mandated by Governor Newsom to wear masks while using public transportation I’ve been wearing a mask as a driver since the Pandemic started every day I’ve been at work even before the mandate I drive a small 5 passenger minivan for public transportation DIAL-A -C-O-L-T a city operated local Transit in Porterville California and was told by a supervisor that he communicated with our management about the mandated use of face mask by Governor Newsom and they said we are not to enforce it and we are picking up mostly elderly and seniors although some general public ride in the same vehicle and we also might give three people the same exact pickup time and have to pick them up all together on the same trip with them sitting side-by-side even though they’re all three in different parts of the city and usually I have 45 minutes to an hour before this with nobody to pick up so they could easily be spread out and ride individually
I so agree with your decision to open and operate your park in a safe and considerate manner for all to enjoy. I believe that people that cannot appreciate your approach to operate in a way to protect all your guests should find a park that best suits them. Being self centered at this time and putting others at risk can certainly ruin the great time we can all enjoy.
I do hope you tell the man who refuses to put a mask on, that if he enters the store again without one, he will be asked to leave, PERMANENTLY! Yep, do not need a jerk renter like him, upsetting your employees, putting them in danger. I worked in EMS for years, my other half still does, he has helped transport people on ECMO (heart/lung bypass) due to Covid from 30 to 74 years old, the young, previously healthy. This does not just kill the old and sick! If he refuses to wear his mask there, he likely refuses to wear it everywhere and with everyone.
This virus is sort of like unprotected sex, you are having contact with every person that other person had contact with. So yes, Covid is like an STD (just kidding…lol). But yes, masks only work if every person uses them!
Keep it up!
You actually need to wear goggles to be safe, the eyes are another way the virus enters!
And wear the face mask over the nose, not under the chin as I see so many doing in public.
Just to back up what you said, just Google “COGIC”, 30 pastors died within a month of their church meeting.
This disease is a weapon and it is extremely fatal to four groups of people. People over 65 is one group. Yes, you can design a drug or bio-weapon to target someone by age, race, and pre-existing medical conditions.
China is flat out lying, the disease killed 15+ million people in the Wuhan area going by the amount of people that did not pay their cellphone bills and had their accounts cancelled.
Give it a rest, JWB, no one is listening to your ravings.
So well said. As many have said, your campgrounds your rules. I appreciate all you’re doing to keep people well.
I would stay there in a heartbeat.
For campground owner
understand and agree completely with you. We will be in Lexington April 24-26 for our 50th class reunion at VMI. What are we looking at for 4 or 5 nights. don’t know how many, if any, are bringing RVs. Is there any way to block some sights for that weekend? Keep up the good work!
Rich Staley
VMI class of 1971
Amen! No one says anything about the untold # of people dying from obesity/diabetes/heart complications & all preventable. Also the worriers need to wear wrap around eye protection as well, bc leaving the eyes exposed to droplets can be inviting in the “droplets“.
“No one says anything about the untold # of people dying from obesity/diabetes/heart complications & all preventable”
Say what? I hear about this ALL THE TIME.
All – We are in perfect health, we don’t have any sickness period, and I mean heart, diabetes, any of those (in our mid to late 60’s). However, we do take reasonable precautions when we go to store, face covering, in every stop. I even wear one while fueling up car, not so much MH. We limit out “public time” to mostly grocery store, occasionally going to eat out once a week. But those places are limiting seating, which we agree with. Steadily cases of CV-19 have gone up, slowly, but going up weekly where we live. I attribute this to more testing and more people coming up to their summer homes from areas where the disease is way more plentiful. The medical/scientific community is out to lunch on weather “heat of summer” will contain or kill this virus. We are going camping for a service appointment in July, but no other plans scheduled. I want to see what summer brings first, plus we have enough work around here to keep us busy for this summer anyway. The “rush should be over in September” so more spots are available, provided “school is resumed”.
Imho, The other shoe of this disease drops in the fall. If the (fake Mandela Effect) Spanish Flu of 1918 is an indicator, then women with the disease will miscarry, have birth defects, and die during child birth .
Go to qrz-jesus and look at what passed over the USA on 4/11 that I captured on video.
They are lying about everything (by not telling you everything) including this disease.
Enjoy your camping and living, but, do everything you can not to get this disease. It is highly fatal in four groups of people. I have been keeping track. You want to know two of the groups it effects the most? Just search for “COGIC 30 pastors dead”
You are right to attribute the increase in cases to the exponential ramp-up in tests being performed. Look at hospitalization rates for COVID. It those are increasing, then get worried.
When news articles sensationalize cases increasing when hospitalization rates stay flat or decrease, they do a horrible disservice to the public. The average time to symptoms (for those who have them) once infected is 5 days. If COVID really is surging, hospitalizations should be surging too. In many of the states flagged for outbreaks by the NYT, that just isn’t the case.
You are right about not going back to normal. On 4/11/2020 I captured on video the death angel aka “Peter Pan”, as it overflew the USA, and it was seen by others and captured on video when I asked it be revealed.
Go to QRZ-JESUS and look at the blue orb and skull. It was why two weeks later the Navy decided to admit UFOs are real.
China actually lost 15,000,000-20,000,000 people, unless of course you think 15 million+ people in the Wuhan area all stopped paying their cellphones bills. When for many it is their only line of communication, their only way to get paid and to pay bills, and to access the Internet.
Were the 30 pastors of COGIC all dying within a month of their meeting fake news? All those funerals at 20+ COGIC churches fake too?
COVID-19 was a weapon, it would not be PC for this website for me to explain who it targets and why.
I would suggest to keep wearing the masks and practicing social distancing.
Stay safe, stay sane!
Many people in Wuhan HAD two cell phones. When their job shut down they shut down their WORK cell phone.
I would suggest counselling
There’s always gonna be a few like this one. Wow!
Google “COGIC 30 pastors dead”. Seems they all died within 30 days of their meeting, COVID-19 was real enough for them.
When was the last time 30 pastors all died after getting hit by lightening at a church council meeting?
Just a couple of thoughts – first you say your park is full like its a holiday weekend every weekend. So, it stands to reason you are raking in more money than usual.
You also said that even when your state allows, that you are not going to open the pool. What about other amenities which are built into the prices you charge for a site?
What you didn’t say was how much you had lowered your prices because you are no longer offering these amenities. Probably none, gotta make money when you can.
And yet you wonder why your clientele are angry?
I get angry when I am charged for things I don’t get too.
Amen. It’s hard to pay rising prices for sites, yet showers locked, pool closed, rec halls etc. At some I wonder if it’s easier on the staff to keep things closed, less cleaning. Fine, but let’s have a discount off ‘resort’ pricing.
As long as there is demand for sites without those amenities he does not need to change any prices. Hopefully this allows him to make up for the losses when his park was closed.
Seems pretty simple to me. It’s your campground, so put a BIG sign in the entrance way stating that you require masks. Put directional signs out there helping the campers and their rigs on how to turn around and leave if they don’t like the rules.
I wear a mask where ever I go and clean my hands as I enter the car. Everytime. Can’t be too safe out there.
Too many people just aren’t taking this pandemic seriously. This “can’t happen to me” mentality is a danger to themselves and others. They obviously think this is a passing fad like the hula hoop or pet rock. It doesn’t look like it’s going to let up until vaccines and/or antibodies are introduced. Folks… you need to use as much caution as possible.
We have been lulled in to a false sense of security by the fact that previous infectious disease outbreaks have largely been contained off shore. That has created this cannot happen here attitude and a refusal to believe it has. When in fact this is either a more serious disease or has been so grossly mishandled that it is here and will not be going away anytime soon.
Andy Zipser has demonstrated for us the voice of reason. The American people do not have to be scared out of their wits if they take reasonable precautions against the virus. Also, he is well with his rights and reasonableness to insist on the wearing of masks within enclosed spaces despite what the politicians say. If health is the primary concern, mask-wearing is caution that is well proven by science.
We can coexist in this virus era if we take care of each other. Well said Andy. I support your way of thinking and the enforcement of that thinking at your campground.
I’m with you in support of a very well written piece based on fact not fantasy.
.
Agreed, 100%
I’ve been an RV’er for more than 20 years, we normally average 35 nights per season at a dozen different places, I agree with your assessment of the newbees and there lack of etiquette…. My RV will stay in the driveway for the foreseeable future 🙁
So you are out on a lake with your family fishing and a thunderstorm comes up. What do you do?
Change bait? 🙂
jk.
Wife and I retire at the end of August. We’ve been planning “the big retirement trip” for a long time. Now it’s “the big question mark”.
Not looking forward to overcrowded RV parks, we’re getting the MH set up for “some” boondocking.
I hope a lot of the newbies bail out after they figure out they have to dump the tanks…
We feel very lucky to live in Colorado! We do 7-8, 4-7 day camping trips throughout the Colorado Rockies and various places in Utah also (Especially Moab) without ever having to be in an RV Park. Numerous camping areas for up to 12-15 Units at a time and hours and hours of riding ATV’s and UTV’s with our friends. A couple of our areas were shut down for a couple of months this year but we’re back at it now again!
There are lots of comments from folks on the East Coast….I thought I would contribute from a different part of the country. I live in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This is Western South Dakota, near the Wyoming state line, along I-90. (FYI, if you ever drive this part of the country, I-90 is FAR safer than I-80. Far less truck traffic, far fewer multi-vehicle crashes.)
The Black Hills are home to Mt Rushmore, Devils Tower (Just across the state line, in WYO), and the big Sturgis motorcycle rally. It also has big time Casinos in Deadwood (where Wild Bill Hicock met his demise), WInd Cave National Park, Custer State Park (Super Cool), and LOTS of other touristy places.
It is in a red state, with a Republican governor, and very few Covid rules. Restaurants are open, Casinos are open, Grocery stores only require employees to wear masks, not customers. As an employee of one of those, I am afraid of the customers.
Trump is coming to Mt Rushmore on July 3rd, the governor will be there too. Over 100k people put in requests for the 7500 tickets to the event. It has been announced that there will be NO social distancing efforts. There will be fireworks, for the first time in over 10 years, even though they are “ill-advised” by the experts, due to fire danger in the rough forests around Mt. Rushmore.
There is also a large PRCA Rodeo, Carnival, and Parade, for many days, in early July, in Belle Fourche. Rodeos in WYO, and MT have been cancelled, so the turnout is expected to be high here, since rodeo-ers have few other options this summer. The Sturgis motorcycle rally is still on, in early August, with large concerts and 300k bikers expected to show up in this small town. It is an anniversary year,the 80th Rally.
Locals are scared. The many campgrounds in our area are all ready full, due to the few restrictions here, compared to other states. Our local hospitals have growing populations of Covid patients, and while Covid patients are few in the smaller towns, the larger towns, like Rapid CIty, have consistent growth in cases. … Camping in the Time of Covid. Beware.
I’m so sorry you will have to deal with these crowds. I personally would have to leave. I couldn’t emotionally handle that many peoples being so stupid.
I have thought about it. I am not sure where I would go. I have a house, with a fenced back yard. The yard is my oasis this year. They have had positive cases in nearby stores, but not with employees at my store, yet….I am fully prepared to go on LOA if that happens. I feel it is only a matter of time. I mostly deal with product, not customers, though, in my position. But I am scared. Everyone is scared. I was gonna buy an RV, that’s why I joined this group. I may go LOA and use the RV money for bills, for a while. And next year, there may be LOTS of used RVs available, from folks who only wanted to use them for this one summer….we shall see………
Take care Linda and be well.
If the hospitalization rate for COVID is increasing, be worried. The increased number of cases is meaningless. Why? Because there’s a large asymptomatic positive group that has been there all along but has gone unmeasured until recently when test kit availability has mushroomed to the point that widespread community surveillance became possible.
To get a real handle on whether or not COVID is surging, we need to look for a resurgence in hospitalizations. To the extent that’s not happening, I would assert that the increase in positive cases is mostly due to increases in community surveillance enabled by a huge increase in testing capacity that is finding the previously “hidden” asymptomatic COVID population. .
You are entitled to your opinion, of course. But it is a flawed one. As an RN I can tell you that hospitalizations ARE surging. All that I can say is that I hope you stay lucky and keep well. Otherwise, my coworkers and I will see you at the hospital when you get here……
This is the first time I’ve seen this publication and I think I might peruse it a bit more to see if there is information valuable to me. Now to Mr. Zipser. He is entitled to his opinion and as the owner of his park he is entitled to promulgate policies concerning behaviors in his park, to a certain point. But it is clear that he has taken it upon himself to be the closet enforcer of his state’s laws concerning this pandemic. And as stated above, should the state ease restrictions in violation of Mr. Zipser’ personal comfort level, he’ll become the enforcer of his own private laws.
If his governor’s social distancing and mask orders are law, Mr. Zipser has the right and responsibility to arrest those persons in violation for a misdemeanor. He should arrest all persons that don’t wear a mask, that enter the store without distancing, that allow their children to play with other children.
He has the right and responsibility to detain them and then call the local police or sheriff’s office to come and take custody of them.
Rather than hide his true feelings in a publication that most people visiting his park will never see, he should print his two letters and post them at the entrance to his store.
To the editors of RV Travel, I find it a little disingenuous that you publish a second letter from this gentleman, after having removed all public comment from his first. It is obvious that he can’t separate his political leanings from the operation if his business and that he wants to be the arbiter of when the pandemic is over. You should have read his submission and contacted him about deleting non-essential portions of the letter, “resurgence of anger and anguish about systemic racism, finding a campground where the staff would ignore his non-compliance, pugnacious monthly campers, who month after month ignores the bold MUST WEAR MASK sign on our door, massive Trump campaign rally is scheduled for Tulsa, reopening at a steady clip in recent weeks, apparently without regard for what’s actually happening on the ground in terms of coronavirus spread, no surprise, those same states are now seeing an upswing in infections and deaths. Cognitive dissonance is rampant, They jostle each other in the store and passing each other, and see the apparent disregard their neighbors have for the rules we patiently spell out, I doubt we’ll be stepping with it. I’m pretty sure our swimming pool will remain closed for the year — and we’ll be happy to refer campers who want one to another local campground. I’m pretty sure we’ll continue to limit groups far below the 50 now allowed under phase two — and several hundred under phase three. We’re going to continue to insist on face coverings in our office and store, continue to insist on good pandemic etiquette because the pandemic hasn’t gone away, regardless of what our governor might conclude, He was wrong then, and in my view will be wrong now, But my sense is that we’re looking at many, many months before we get to anything that resembles “normal.” I’m not sure how reading a liberal manifesto has assisted me in learning how to comport myself in his park.
Again, he’s entitled to his opinion but as we used to say, “Arrest them or get off the pot.”
He is free, as the business owner, to make any rules he wants. No Shirt, no Shoes, No Service. Folks didn’t like that, when it first came out, many years ago. He may have one set of rules for the office, requiring shoes and shirt, and a different set of rules, for the snack bar, which may be adjacent to the pool.
I live near Sturgis, the big motorcyle rally town. Bars, Casinos, and Restaurants in the area post signs banning gang colors. Yeah, we get some gang activity during the rally. Usually it is minor. And while kicking bikers out of your bar can be worrisome, the posted rules give the owner the backing to refuse service to anyone who choses to ignore them.
Any business owner is free to make any non-descriminitory rule they want. Some stores ban dogs, other stores welcome them. Some fancy restaurants ban flip flops and other casual clothes. They have a dress code.
The business owner is the OWNER. He makes the rules. When quiet time starts. When Checkout time is enforced. How many dogs/cars/people they can have at each site. These are rules, not laws. You don’t like the rules, you are free to spend your money elsewhere. This is not a jail, there is nothing preventing you from leaving, if you don’t like the rules. Others may choose to stay, because they feel the rules are beneficial to them. To each his own. Woohoo…..
Get a grip on reality. There are NO LAWS requiring masks. Governors do not have the power to make laws, legislators do. If you are so fearful and must wear a mask stay at home in your basement like the comedian on TV. I’ll not visit this CG now, not ever as we now know his feelings from his 1st (deleted) post as well. It will be a long time before I’ll visit VA or PA. I’m 72, COPD, and diabetic. I’ve worn a mask twice when getting a haircut. If you don’t like the fact I’m not living in fear and wearing a mask stay the hell away from me.
thank you for saying this and now I don”t have to wright the same thing. A political rant that should have never been posted unless you post anything and everything.
When Northrum set the rules for each phase, he gave enforcement powers to the health department, not the police.
Really, Charles W? Arrest his customers who don’t play by the rules? What business owner in his right mind would do that unless the infraction was an immediate threat to his or another camper’s life? Andy always provides interesting insights from a park owner’s perspective, and they are always among our most popular posts. I can’t recall another campground owner taking the time to talk about his or her experiences.
Charles W. I can understand your viewpoint, but bottom line is it is his business and lively-hood. He has the right by law to lay down rules (not laws) for that business. If a potential customer does not like those rules, they have the right to go elsewhere. If it were my camp ground, I would have a large sign erected by the drive “IF YOU DON’T LIKE WEARING A MASK WHEN ASKED, DO NOT STOP! THANK YOU MANAGEMENT.”
People with Vitamin D levels over 30 ng / ml have 10% of the chance of hospitalization as compared to someone with levels under 20. 40% of light skinned Americans to 80% of dark skinned Americans are under 20. To get above 30 take 5,000 I.U. of Vitamin D3 a day. Cost is under $10 a month. Also helps with seasonal flu, TB, and other respiratory infections. https://www.grassrootshealth.net/blog/first-data-published-covid-19-severity-vitamin-d-levels/
Also please use masks whenever within 6 feet of another person you aren’t isolating with.
And while you are at it, do not — under any circumstances — get a flu shot, shingles vaccine, pneumonia vaccine, or any other preventative measure. Oh,m and do not bother to have your children or grandchildren vaccinated against anything.
Your right I or my children have 0 vaccines. All healthy here. Been all over the US never got sick. Haven’t been sick for almost 20 years. No flu no cold nothing. God is Great. Science is man made. So I’ll continue to Trust in God.
I’m sorry, but I see absolutely NO justification for pools being closed, especially if they are outdoors. People who are outside have a slim change of getting the virus unless they are in someone’s “space” for more than a few minutes. That’s not likely to happen in a pool. You can’t get the virus from touching or from the water (which is disinfected to the hilt). So I’m sorry, but it’s a stupid regulation and one that should be dispensed with. If I can be with the same people in WalMart, I can be with them in the pool. I don’t see any difference.
Yes, I agree the swimming pool should be OPEN. You will not get the Chinese Corona Virus from swimming in chlorinated water.
Here are examples from US Government research into how long Coronavirus survives under various conditions. UV, warm temperatures, and high humidity hasten the destruction of virus particles.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/04/23/lab-study-coronavirus-summer-weather/
Thank you for your thoughts. I am in my very late 60’s and see how this affects different folks at different ages. I have canceled three trips so far and now looking at my long distance travel to Florida in November. I get updates from my Pennsylvania camp ground on Face Book and looks like no rules at all apply to most. I.E. no face mask, social gatherings, pool open but game room closed. Even though PA is one of the few states being steady because of our phased-in opening. Yes, I wear my mask everywhere I go while out shopping. You, as employer, also need to be conscious of your employees and customers. Respect for others, if you see a sign that says face mask required, please respect the company’s wishes.
I live in Florida, rather unwillingly in the summer. I regret to inform you that our governor has abdicated any semblance of leadership, the masses have decided that they are going to uphold their right to party and even tho some employers, like Publix, require masks for employees the out is that they don’t require them to be worn properly. I am sick of watching employees, even managers, walking around with their noses unmasked, or their nose and mouth unmasked, or even better, the mask dangling from one ear.
All of you “I’m not wearing a mask and you can’t make me” people really need to spend some time working retail. So you’re healthy and wash your hands diligently, good for you! To bad Sally Sunshine or Bobby Burner ahead of you keeps their money in their underwear nestled sweatily in their butt crack. Randy Romper over there, the one playing with the toothpick in his mouth, just came out of the restroom and didn’t wash his hands. We know because we were on the way to refill the soap and didn’t get to before he moved the closed for cleaning sign and used it anyway.
The cherub over there with the runny nose just sneezed all over the cans you’re now fondling while you compare sodium and fat. The friend you ran into and whose hand you’re now shaking, had gently moved his sweaty ball sack from the leg of his shorts, we could see it reflected in the
cooler.
Covid Connie over there doesn’t believe in vaccines, does believe in natural herd immunity and natural medicine. Her three friends with covid are pretty much fine, nobody died, so she’s not worried about going out in public.
It’s the first hour of our shift, there’s 7 to 10 more to go and we’re crossing our fingers the sore throat we have is just allergies, because two other people called out sick today and there’s nobody else to call in. Oh goody, here’s Mary ‘Merica to tell us we’re sheep and we can’t make her do anything, whole she grabs a magazine Ron Reader just browsed through, licking his fingers to separate the pages.
My wife works retail. Sending this to her now, it will make her day.
I will be sure to travel to his park. At least he cares about the health and safety of the guests. If an RV park allows no masks we will not stay.. good for him.
GO TO BLUE WATER RV
11511 BLUEWATER HWY
FREEPORT TX 77583
FORMER EMPLOYEES MORE THAN 8 WORKCOUPLES LEFT IN 8 WEEKS.
ZERO COVID RULES
OWNER MARK IS A COMPLETE JERK
MANAGER’S HATE TEXANS(FROM P.A.)
THE POOL WAS A CLOUDY MESS
NO NO NO NO SOCIAL DISTANCE. MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND OVER 200 SLOTS AND 4 CABINS BOOKED…UNLIMITED GUEST PASSES ZERO CONTROL OF IN OR OUT.
ALL OWNER AND MANAGEMENT CARED ABOUT WAS MAKING MONEY AND BONUS.
BEWARE OWNER WATCHES YOU FROM HIS HOME ACROSS THE BAY.
If you read the previous articles, you would know he applied but he was still waiting for approval. Getting any of that money was not an easy task for a small business, just as it is hard as nails and very frustrating to get any government assistance during a natural disaster.
I believe much, but not all, of the new cases being reported, are due to the mushrooming availability of COVID testing. Early in the pandemic, test kits were prioritized for first responders, frontline healthcare workers and people admitted to the hospital with COVID-like symptoms. We were not doing widespread “community surveillance” since there weren’t enough kits for that.
Now we have the kits to do this and we’re discovering there’s a bunch of folks that are asymptomatic or that barely feel sick. This “hidden positive” group has always been out there per Dr. Birx, we just weren’t able to see them early on.
Personally, I monitor the COVID hospitalization rate as it’s relatively unaffected by the surge in test kits. If it starts climbing, THAT signals a real growth in overall cases that is NOT attributable to increased testing availability.
“If you think wearing a mask is a huge inconvenience, just wait until you have to use a ventilator”.
I’ve lost a good friend (retired teacher), my dentist, a friend’s son was hospitalized for 4 weeks and 10 of his coworkers died from COVID.
I’m 63 and recently retired. I’d prefer to follow the rules than take any chances so that I can hopefully enjoy the next 20 years or more rving.
If you believe it’s all a hoax or it can’t happen to you, watch a video of an elderly person on a ventilator who most likely will not survive. Then come back and tell me it’s not real.
If this RV park owner really had the good of the public at heart, not saying that’s his responsibility, he’d not allow campers at all. Apparently making money while griping about the people giving it to him is more satisfying. Wear a mask, don’t wear a mask, do what’s best for you, but judging everyone around you by your own standards is like judging actions way back in history by today’s standards. It’s somehow self serving and repugnant. Can’t we just all be nice to each other? If you’re that afraid of other people, don’t go around them. Use your best judgement, but judge not lest ye be judged. Get a grip, everybody and calm down.
Unfortunately if campgrounds close and turn people away it will continue have a huge impact on Full Timers. I read that when all this started back in March many snow birds and Full Timers were sent out on the road as campgrounds closed with no where to stay.
There is no easy or foolproof solution for the unprecedented situation that we are in now.
LauraC – You state “judge not lest ye be judged” but YOU judge the RV park owner, in your very first sentence!
If I was in my own RV, in an RV park, I would feel pretty safe. We can go outside/enjoy the great outdoors sitting under our OWN canopy, respect social distancing (& wear a mask as well!) when walking our dogs, etc.
You also state “judging everyone around you by your own standards is like judging actions way back in history” blah, blah…. HOW is he judging anyone?? In my state of Oregon, we are REQUIRED to wear a mask, anywhere & everywhere, as it should be.
You speak of being “self serving and repugnant” – Perhaps it is YOU who needs to “GET A GRIP AND CALM DOWN!!”
That’s called muddying the waters. No value to your message.
I wear a mask. Not for me but for those around me. To me it is just a sign of respect. Sadly missing in today’s society.
I work in a campground office and when all this first started, before the masks were even something that were being considered for anyone other than healthcare workers, I politely asked a resident who came into the office to please stand back 6 feet from the counter. He aggressively took two steps forward and gave me a glare. I asked him again and he took another two steps toward the counter. I asked him a third time to please step back 6 feet and he started screaming at me about how it’s all a hoax and a lie, that he didn’t have to give me 6 feet if he didn’t want to. I responded that the governor that very day had requested social distancing and 6 feet. Good thing boss and hubby were in the office. It resulted in a screaming match and the guy huffily left. Thank goodness he is gone now from the campground now. I felt truly threatened by him. SO many in this area believe like him and very, very few wear masks. We are in a small rural county that does not require them.
I’m sorry you had to go thru that. He probably came from my state.
I understand why people can be peeved over being forced to wear a mask. There is lots of evidence that wearing face masks weakens our immune system (due to less oxygen and more CO2), making it MORE likely we’ll get the virus.
Here are the results of some actual oxygen and CO2 readings from mask wearers, showing the levels are unhealthy. https://www.infowars.com/ohio-rep-proves-face-masks-reduce-oxygen-to-unsafe-levels/
Constant adjustments also increase hand-to-face touching and most masks don’t fit properly or are not rated for the smallest virus particles.
Few talk about strengthening the immune system which is our main defense and already fights off hundreds of viruses/germs each day.
Being so important, each should do their own research and become their own expert. I’ve found that a simple One-a-Day vitamin for 50+ (they have men’s and women’s versions) provides more than the needed vitamins C, D and zinc needed to help defend against Covid (do your own research).
Mike, I’m a nurse, and I find it hard to believe that since we stopped believing in demons causing illness that staff putting on isolation gear before entering a contagious patient’s room are weakening their own immune systems. Too many people in my profession have died from cases caused by people who didn’t believe they were infecting others. I wear a mask to protect others and myself. If you don’t want to wear a mask to protect yourself, please wear it to protect me.
.
I’m with Mitzi & Pat – STOP spreading misinformation! If YOU don’t care about your own health, please care about the health of the rest of us, and wear a mask!!
Just watching evening news w/David Muir a few nights ago, there was a physician on, discussing masks. He measured his oxygen level without a mask (it was at 98%). He then placed FIVE masks over his face, one at a time & then measured his oxygen level again – guess what?! NO CHANGE, it was still at 98%
Mike, a rep in Ohio legislature, who also happens to be an ER physician has stated that in his professional opinion, the reason the virus has spread and is more severely affecting communities of color is that people of color do not wash their hands enough or correctly.
If I lived in Ohio, which appears to be the home of some very ignorant people, I would have to seriously consider packing up and leaving. So, you can do your own research, but unless you are trained and experienced in handling infectious diseases, please don’t spread misinformation presented as facts.
Thanks
Infowars, seriously?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InfoWars
I would much rather have a campground require masks than what we have with a local campground that remained open during the state ordered shutdown. She defies authority and now she has publicly stated that anyone wearing a mask will have the sheriff’s office called on them since she considers this to be a robbery attempt. Our local people have voiced their displeasure with her threat and now she has been returning calls impersonating the Sheriff’s Office.
I’ll wear a mask to protect myself and those around me.
We understand your dilemma. Here in FL, we see the two opposing “forces”. The non-believers “it’s no worse than the flu”. No mask, no social distancing, no respect. Hey, I definitely don’t want Covid, but would I be careless around someone with the flu? No. Covid is serious, it is on the rise again, THANK YOU for caring for your guests. Wear a mask people or stay home where you can do as you please.
. I appreciate you and whatever can be done to allow me to use my RV safely and keep the campgrounds in business. It is NOT the FLU. We have no immunity. Everyone will get it eventually. I personally would like to wait until we have some treatment plan. So I will be hand washing, distancing, and wearing a mask if inside or closer than 6 feet to protect my fellow man. It is not only respiratory but can cause heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, still births, dead bowel. If wearing a mask was going to hurt you, all the first line people would be sick or dead. Working in a hospital shows you the truth. Oh and thank those hospital people for being your family as they will be your family if you are lucky enough to get a hospital bed
You can’t fix stupid!
I can’t wait for the stupid people who believe the virus is something that can’t happen to them – happen to them because they won’t wear masks or anything else. Some hospitals that are at capacity will be making triage decisions who lives or dies. May it be them who are in a hospital basement hallway, in a vent or maybe no vent available. Hours and hours will pass because no one is available to help you. Your money will not help you get better care because all the ICU are full. If I was a first responder or hospital worker and had to put up with these idiots, I would walk off the job. You say I owe you care when you are stupid, think again. Today hospitals say they will be making triage decisions in a day or so. Thining of the herd. Continue to follow the lead of the most inept leadership we have ever known. Things can only get better going over the cliff.
Kick the ignorant dangerous idiots out of the campground who are not compliant wearing a mask. Maybe call the police with hopes they support masks….even they had a few idiots who do not comply. I have no patience for idiots who could be carrying this virus and spreading it around to innocent people. I say jail those potential murderers for not wearing a mask. These are such ignorant people it’s inconceivable. People seem to be becoming stupider. Wear your mask stupid or go to jail is what I say! See how that spoils your camping. So there!
I wish the news would show the worst of what this virus can do including lung transplants, brain issues, amputations of limb, liver failure, cardiac disease, kidney failure, and the goodies like that. Cytokine storm syndrome is a result from this virus that damages organs forever. It’s worse for older people. What is older? I don’t know. 50’s, 60’s, 70’s??
You say “I say jail those potential murderers for not wearing a mask.” Since when do Americans support the incarceration of “potential” criminals? Isn’t every shopper a “potential” shoplifter if he has hands and arms? Isn’t every driver of a modern automobile a “potential” speeder? Are you advocating giving traffic tickets to every driver? (At 86 I think I qualify for the description as an “older person.) In past pandemics we have quarantined the ill. You are suggesting doing that, in effect, to the entire population.
Very nice write up, thank you for doing what you can to help save others from their own ignorance. It’s good for the country to protect yourselves and your fellow countrymen from viral harm which makes you a patriot. You are, in effect, defending your country and its citizenry much more so than those running about with assault weapons playing vigilante wannabes. Again, thank you and know you are supported by the majority of patriots who don’t want to put themselves or their countrymen at risk, who don’t want their healthcare systems overwhelmed and healthcare providers exposed to illness or driven to depression, and want children protected even if steps to do so seem extreme in the short run. God bless you
If a campground has a rule that you must wear a mask, if you want to stay there you must do so. If not, you have the freedom to go elsewhere. Same thing with an office or store. We go there to be safe. Please don’t disrespect us.
I have been reading the comments and I just want to cry, so many wanting to do the right thing while a minority just don’t care. As a veteran with three Agent Orange service connected diseases (heart, lungs, diabetes), I am a prime candidate for the ventilator if I get this “flu”. Most all VA hospitals/health clinics are operating on very limited services. Please, if you don’t “believe” in COVID19, just go boon-docking or something, and stay the heck away from people.
We’ve been at an RV park in the Traverse City Mi area since June. The park here has postings for mask requirements everywhere and staff follows them and so do most guests. All Michigan businesses have the mask required postings but some enforce it, some don’t. That’s fine, we just patronize the businesses that do. I am not even that concerned about the masks anymore as much as I am about my space. So many folks will just walk right up and stand next to or start speaking to me very closely. It seems to always be folks that do not have a face covering. It’s so important to respect each other’s space right now and if I can’t maintain that distance then wearing a mask is a polite way of letting other’s know I respect their space.
You do realize masks don’t work, unless it’s a properly fitting N95, and that only protects you about 75 to 80% from the virus. I worked with local government for over 30 years with blood borne pathogens and water and airborne diseases here’s a little insight that is readily available.
Because it’s not about facts, it’s about politics and control.
Simple mathematics tell us the more we test the more positive cases will show up, not necessarily in relation to hospitalization, which is the main factor number. But they don’t tell you that. Also the Wuhan virus molecule measures 60 to 128Nm its called a complex molecule. A N95 mask will allow approximately 20% of the Wuhan virus through. And that’s only if you pass a proper fit test. Paper surgical mask or cloth mask will allow approximately 90 to 100% of the Wuhan virus through. Again just looking at facts.
And if masks worked, why haven’t we opened up the country and mandate masks? If social distance works, why do we have to wear masks? The answer is because it’s not about the Wuhan virus, it’s about politics.
When we had to assess the protection level you look at smallest possible molecule, entry paths and what the PPE capabilities are. There’s a reason the lab in Wuhan wore full hazmat suits with positive air flow anywhere around this virus.
Well people like you want to keep it political because you cannot even call the virus by its correct name. It is that attitude that is the problem. No clothes mask do not work unless everyone wear one because the mask you wear only prevent what come out of your mouth and nose and limits what comes in by about 60%. However if everyone wears a mask the risk is about 90% of not getting it and the social distancing does the rest. How long do people have to deny this before they read some articles that are about science and how mask works instead of putting there lives and others for policitical reasons and causes that will lead no where. You are not very free when you are dead and buried in the ground.
+1
Hmmm I keep hearing people say flu was waaaaay down and then hear that masks don’t work. C’mon now peeps
Matt Johnson seems to be following Dr. Trump (the genius who is smarter than anyone) rather that the world class experts who advise that masks indeed retard the spread of the corona virus. This is not a matter of belief or politics or even denial. It is medical science as stated by medical experts in this field. If you want to contract or spread the virus, continue to deny the science…I hope one of his loved ones does not die as a result of his election to deny the experts.
Wait, so the guy who’s spent *fifty years* in the field of infectious disease is now somehow political? It’s not politics, it’s expertise. Let’s put it this way…would you go to your mechanic for medical advice and the local MD to fix your vehicle?
Thank You.
It’s interesting to read this article one year later and see how the country has fared. We also live in a very red area and to this day, only about 30% of the county has been vaccinated. Masks went out the window a looong time ago, but somehow our case load never reached critical (I don’t know how).
I’m also still amazed at how this became a political issue instead of a health issue. Boggles the mind.
We did take advantage of our camper to get away, but always wore our masks and practiced social distancing. And we were definitely in the minority.
Somehow we have survived this, unlike a half-million of our fellow citizens. And if there was one bright spot for this pandemic, it was that the flu season only saw 1,500 cases, instead of 35 million.
Heart attacks and all other causes of death are down as well….hmmmmm…..
I continue to treat the entire situation thus: If I choose to patronize a business that requires a mask, I wear a mask. If they do not require it, I don’t wear one but carry one. No one working in any business I shop at gets paid enough to argue with people about wearing a mask or not. An advantage of living in the USA is the right to make your own choices, while respecting others choices. If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. If you own a business and want your customers to wear a mask, go for it. If you don’t want to wear a mask, and a business requires you to wear one, either choose the high road, or choose to take your business to someone who operates their business in a way that you are comfortable dealing with. If you don’t want to encounter unmasked people, choose to take your business somewhere that requires them. The bickering back and forth will only foster further disdain, and you’re not likely going to change the other person’s mind anyway, regardless of the side.
I agree with you 100% very well said.
I love my little camper and have camped in the parks for almost 30 years. But what scares me are the new trend of boondocking in the national forests by non-outdoor people who don’t know a thing about putting out a campfire completly. Wonder how many of the fires in California were started by a boondocker????