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Comment by larntz | Hacker News Reader

I am in south-ish (north palm beach) Florida and went to the beach the past few weekends. Fortunately it was nowhere near has busy as that picture. We haven't had much issue finding a spot with enough space to feel socially distanced.

We also went to Longhorn for dinner yesterday and they had everyone pretty spaced out (every other booth, no seating at center tables). All the restaurant employees were wearing masks. I'm not sure we were at more risk than getting takeout.

It has been really great mentally to go to the beach and have dinner outside the house.

I am trying to keep our distance and not expose ourselves or others to anything unnecessary... we would have definitely left the beach and/or the restaurant if it was anything like the pictures you posted.

I guess my point is I feel like it's possible to go out and not be too risky. I don't think every area reopening is getting crazy.

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Regardless of your perception of safety, being indoor without a mask for a long period of time is probably the highest risk factor you got yourself into. By a big margin.

Yup. Really hard to justify this risk in Florida right now just for a restaurant meal. I wouldn't do it.

I don't like to pick on other people, and I'd dearly love to go out and do something other than stay in my house. But that poster two up who went to a restaurant - you are putting yourself at risk if it is indoor. And you put at risk the other people around you if they aren't wearing masks. The choices of the politicians is contraindicated, it's against what the scientists tell us is safe. Yes, people want to go out, but you are engaging in risky behavior for everyone around you, not just yourself.

You were in an enclosed area. Your risk of contracting Covid is astronomically higher indoors at a place where you remain for more than a few minutes.

Where you remain for 15 minutes or more with 20 or more people.

Where you remain long enough for one person who is carrying to breathe enough viral load into your airspace.

I remain stunned by the people who think they will not endanger themselves and others. I wish the OP diner in the restaurant would explain why they think this is safe? Let's assume he is a programmer or some kind of educated person who thinks basic science, math, etc works. Why would they think it's safe to go to a restaurant where it is an enclosed space.

I can't bring myself to dine out because while I'm not as concerned for myself, I feel like the risk has to be pretty high to the waiters/bussers (prolonged interactions with dozens of people each day, and handling used dishes/silverware). I feel better about takeout currently since it cuts down on that.

Also cuts down on their job... so it’s take the risk (Est 95% of waitstaff is in the Very low risk category) or they don’t work.

Hello neighbor!

I agree that going outside, especially when wearing a mask and staying socially distanced, does not seem especially risky. Public officials in Southern California have generally been accepting of outdoor activity, so long as it hasn't involved large groups gathering. I have avoided it myself because I have family members in elevated risk groups. (Although, in truth, I think we are all to some degree.)

The thing that would worry me most about the Huntington Beach photo (being familiar with that spot) is not being on the beach. It would be getting too and from the beach. You're going to be shoulder to shoulder with others once your ascend from the sand and get back on PCH.

The other part of the risk equation is the consequences of catching COVID-19. It reminds me of Taleb's Black Swan characterization: small risks predominate but potentially catastrophic consequences in the event. And an accumulation of lots of small risks as people ellide long-tail risks and treat them as no risk at all.

I get the impression from online chatter (mainly Reddit) that most people around here are catching it working in hospitals or restaurants. I recognize it's an unreliable sampling. I wonder if it would help keep people safe if local health officials categorized sources of infection. I suspect they couldn't do so in most the US right now even if they wanted to.

Vox, by the way, put out a nice simple guide on the topic:

https://www.vox.com/2020/5/22/21266756/coronavirus-pandemic-...

You are endangering yourself and others. Political advocations should be carefully considered with the actual science behind it. You might be young and think there's little risk. All the other people around you might not be the same. By the way, your vox link says going to an indoor area with others is the highest risk. It's not low risk.

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