Lockdown! Masks! - YouLookFab Forum

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Lockdown! Masks!

anne

Veteran

After 10 months of no community covid transmission, our state in Australia, where we've been able to lead fairly normal lives, is in strict lockdown for five days as a security guard in a quarantine hotel has caught it and has been in the community.
Such a change! Masks have been little worn here, and I have been trying to sew one tonight. We are not as allowed out of the house without one, even for the one hour of exercise within a 5km radius allowed. Glad a few clothing items were missed in my recent trip to the op shop so I could cut them up!
My morning was normal with a club run, mum taxiing and (good timing this) my weekly food shop. The afternoon was due to be packed with driving my daughter to a beach party, music practice and church, with the school year starting tomorrow. All stopped! Such a weird contrast.
I know this is the reality most of you have been living under for months, and hopefully we'll just have a few days.

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31 replies

Latest reply was from anne

kkards

Veteran

Sorry this is happening to you and your community.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Wow, such a contrast with where I live! It has been nearly a year since I was able to gather with friends, eat in a restaurant (they are open with distancing rules in effect, but I ain’t going near that!), or pop into a store without being hyper aware of being thoroughly masked and vigilant. I’m weary of it but this is our reality. And I live in a state where we have had relatively sensible local participation in masking and distancing — in Texas we have had so many friends and family come down with Covid it’s scary (my BIL is still on the mend after three weeks).

I hope you can get back to normal quickly. I don’t wish the mess we have had in the states on anyone!

anne

Veteran

Thanks Kkards. I always thought it was too good to last! But it still feels a bit unbelievable that its happening

9 months or so of bringing my work laptop, headphones etc home every night is finally paying off (well it did once before, when I had a cold but was well enough to WFH)

DD17 works part time in a deli, and worked late today because it was so busy with panic buyers. She told me not to bother picking her up because I wouldn't get a parking spot.

anne

Veteran

Thanks Janet,

Yes I am so aware, from YLF , other friends and the news in general of how different it has been for you - we think of you often. So sorry to think of so many people you know being affected.

I'm hopeful that this hard NZ style short lockdown will do the trick - this is the fourth in Australia, I think of this short style, and they've been very successful. Australians on the whole are pretty law abiding, and lockdowns have been put in place by politicians from both parties. But the UK, South Africa and Brazilian strains are the new worry.

Glory

Veteran

Very challenging for sure but hopefully the short measure will resolve the issue quickly. You have done extremely well with managing the virus. We have been under restrictions for months with masks required for the past 10 months. They are opening schools again on Monday so I’m very hopeful that it will be a success and the children can stay in. I’m really hopeful that stores will reopen soon.

Anonymous

Sorry to hear this, Anne. I often admire countries in the southern Hemisphere who have managed to keep Covid under some control. We were just talking yesterday at work how wearing a mask has become so ingrained now that no one notices it anymore. I think we are going to be masked up here in Canada for a good year still.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh wow. That must feel so crazy with school set to start in a day! Let’s see the masks!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sorry, Anne. It's bound to happen with ongoing travel and not enough of a vaccine impact yet. Good luck!

What Janet and LisaP said. This is normal life for us! There has been a mask mandate in Washington state where I live since June last year, and it has REALLY helped. We are still in partial lockdown here. Life still VERY restricted. 11 months in! Hope on the horizon though. Hopefully just 8 to 10 months longer for us in the US.....

Anonymous

Welcome to our world- sorry :/ It was very surreal and dystopian at first, but eventually becomes "normal." The masks (not so bad in winter!), the social distancing, santizing hands after going inside anywhere, the shortages, etc...Plus the rules change so much it's hard to keep up. I'm with Janet re: restaurants- they're open but no way no how! They put up these outdoor tents, which don't seem any better. Takeaway folks!
Hopefully it doesn't get anywhere near what it's like here for you!

anne

Veteran

Thanks for good wishes everyone!

And here's the mask I made. Wore it on a bike ride this morning. Was pleased to see nearly everyone wearing one.

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rachylou

Veteran

Oh hej, that’s a different design! Straightforward (!)

anne

Veteran

The abc (our national broadcaster) had a link from their coronavirus blog to some mask instructions and I just followed them. I made 2 more today, though realised one of them has "colette dinnagan" (an Australian designer) all across the front, because I was using a shopping bag as the outer layer.
If mask wearing becomes more permanent I will invest in something more fashion conscious - I'm sure they'll become available, as they have were most of you live.

RobinF

Veteran

Wow it's hard when it is such a sudden change. Hopefully the drastic measures will put a stop right away to any further spread.

Like others have said, we have become quite used to masks here in Michigan. Probably won't be going away any time soon.

JAileen

Veteran

I’m sorry you’re going through this. Many people have had horrific experiences, losing family members and jobs. My life has hummed along, but with everything cancelled (church, meetings, classes, get togethers with family).

I bought fabric on fabric.com. I don’t know if they ship to Australia. They have lots of fun fabric.

Anonymous

That is very annoying and hopefully will pass without too much trauma.

As difficult as things have been in the US, it's been kind of cheerful to see unmasked people enjoying themselves.

anchie

Veteran

Here in Austria we are not allowed to wear cloth masks anymore, only FFP2 (EU equivalent of N95 mask) masks are allowed in grocery stores, pharmacies, public transport and in offices.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I think that as your country has acted swiftly hopefully this will make it a short ,sharp lockdown.Unfortunately our country has been in some sort of lockdown for nearly a year now with no sign of anything changing soon.l have just accepted that it will probably be another year spent at home along with many others in other parts of the world who are going through the same thing.

Sal

Veteran

I thought of Bijou and you Anne with the recent scare. What a shock - but hopefully for a short period.

Anonymous

This has been life here for a year. As a friend described it, it has been like being under house arrest. Everyone has been pretty compliant wearing masks and social distancing but we are not encouraged to even do things outside. Hiking a trail or biking? What if you meet people coming the other direction. You can’t social distance without going off trail which hurts the fragile plants if they get stepped on. Even then, trails, playgrounds and such are packed. For months playgrounds and public areas like parking lots have had crime tape around them to keep people off them. We have been waiting on 4 funerals which can’t be held yet. Weddings? Forget it. Even after vaccination, we will probably be in lockdown and masked most of this year at least.
No travel. We feel we should be in Japan to help our son who had a bad snowboard accident and yesterday got out of the hospital after surgery to put metal rods and plates in his legs. He lives alone and could use help.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Anne, you are lucky to live in a place where people abide by the law. While I personally live in a state that has handled this mess very well, there are too many people in the U.S. that have politicized mask-wearing. Which is why we are quickly approaching half a million dead.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Joy, everything I have read from trusted sources seems to assert that outdoor activity is pretty safe. I would have gone stark raving mad by now if I hadn’t been getting out on the trails. When I see someone approaching, I step off the trail and let them pass. If the trailhead looks too busy, I head to another area.

I just can’t believe how many cars are parked at the popular restaurant a half mile from my house. I’ve gotten carry out from them a few times in the past year, but as much as I miss it, I have no interest at all in restaurant dining until all this is over.

anne

Veteran

Our city has made the NY times. Sadly we are also facing a huge bushfire today. Family have evacuated and friends ready to.

Will respond more in detail soon.

rachylou

Veteran

Fire! Oh no! It’s relentless now.

anne

Veteran

I should point out I'm not near the fire. But it is big and threatening and people I know are affected.

We've had zero cases reported in the first 2 days of lockdown. Hopefully continues as I think it might be a bit to early for some to show.

Please don't think I'm equating what we are going through in ANY way to you guys who've been in lockdown and the suffering the pandemic is inflicting in most parts of the world. Even in other parts of Australia (melbourne in particular) they had a long lockdown and had mask wearing.

I'm not in fact suffering at all. My post was really just about the shock. Even though I would have said prior to this, along with what Angie said, that this was likely, after 10 months it's hard to keep prepared for it mentally at all times.

Our good results have partly been paid by the price of very restricted borders (related to Joy's point about families being split ) We are virtually not allowed to leave the country, and there are thousands of Australians who want to return and can't as only restricted numbers are allowed in as they all have to quarantine in a hotel (very expensive too - you have to pay for it yourself now, along with the expensive flights.)

unfrumped

Veteran

So sorry!

Masking everywhere in public for almost a year now, but at least don’t have to on a neighborhood walk. ( meaning a suburban/ single family type area) Folks steer clear and cross street when needed. Would be different in more congested places, streets with little shops. And on hiking trails I keep mine handy since could have to be w/in a few feet of someone.
Also have been double- masking in stores, long before Dr. Fauci’s remarks!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

It’s getting to my son. He was hanging in there, had f2f school through November, then couldn’t wait for me to start work in Jan. I did, but have been sent home because someone at work had a Covid scare so many times that I’ve worked from home more days than in the office. We usually do so well together! A couple days ago he was irritated with me waking him up while I got ready in the morning, but then when I was just about to walk out the door, I asked what’s more important to him in choosing a plane seat—leg room (he’s 6’3”) or sitting by me. He grumpily refused to answer at first, but then called after me that he’d rather sit together. So I thought we were good. Today he was so angry when I came back home that he slammed the door & chipped off part of the frame. I would be mad at him, but I just feel bad my baby is so upset.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

It’s a challenge for sure. I just call it a different temporary normal

doggeh lover

I get SO disgusted that they politizized mask wearing here in the US and some states worse than others. But what really upsets me is when I see people wearing them under their chin, hanging off 1 ear or barely covering their mouth and nose not covered at all! Even on tv! Watched 'The Conners' last night and they did the same thing Just making a mockery of wearing them.....and the 'don't tell me what to do' non-wearers I'm at high-risk and have been practically under 'house arrest' for nearly a year TG I have a healthy husband who does the shopping, etc. I've only been out to see my Drs and saw my disabled sister 3x. Otherwise trapped at home. So much snow and ice can't even go for a short walk, now these next 10 days will have temps of -10 to -20, UGH!

anne

Veteran

So, pending no new cases today, the lockdown will end today, but masks will have to be worn, at least until the 14. There is going to be an exception for outdoors vigorous exercise. Primary school kids don't have to wear them, but secondary students do, which is all my kids.

Their main concern (now things are well) is that they will have to go to school with the homemade mask with panty hose ties if the uniqlo ones we ordered don't arrive in time (which is likely)! All about the looks!

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