Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Awkward Anticipation

OUR TOURIST TOWN
Visitor Dependent
very real concerns

. . .  AND THEY SHALL COME ..... NPS / Neal Herbert
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.. Already there are grumblings about the safety of the upcoming warm season amongst the retail community and, the possible impact of coronavirus, (SARS-CoV-2.)
.. There is an old Chinese proverb: “Discover a beautiful place, announce it to the world, the world arrives, and it is beautiful no more.” There is no question that Yellowstone National Park will feel the effects of the virus, (LINK.)
..  Right now the conversational focus is on visitation from China, yet, we receive visitors from around the world. And, even if, visits to the United States from China are now down slightly - they will pick up.
LINK
.. The concerns and conversations center around prevention  of the contagion spreading. The key in this little village is surface contamination, product contamination, personal space proximity, and other conventional concerns.
.. Although the virus will die quickly in dry environments outside of the host, (that's us,) our counter tops are full of moist hand prints. Restaurants and hotels have moist surfaces. Cans and packaging in grocery stores are handled in bunches, etc. There are simple ways to reduce the possibility of transmission.
SIMPLE PRACTICES
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 30 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
    • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
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.. The CDC has an extensive list of potential pitfalls for folks: their recommendations are HERE.
Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to  others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
.. We are comforted by our president's edict that every thing is under control, the pandemic won't spread here and, that it will go away quickly.
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.. Those of us that have visited Yellowstone National Park regularly have seen the impact of increased visitation and reduced staff and upkeep budgets.
..  The degraded visitor experience is now making inroads into the popular mindset of the general public. We would like to point out a couple of recent articles that illustrate the point:
>>  Parks seek ways to manage crowds, cars,
>>  A Sad Tale of Photographing in Yellowstone.
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WALLPAPER: SWEEDISH MEATBALLS - FROM TURKEY (PROOF)
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