COVID 19 and the 2021 Chase Season

[Wes Carter]

I’m chasing with 4 other people and we all agreed beforehand that we would be vaccinated before we all got into a van together. I received my single dose of Johnson & Johnson last week and I had Covid-19 last year so I’m fairly confident I’ll be ok. The others all have received at least one of the two dose vaccines.

I got the CDC vaccine card and wonder if it will be necessary to carry it with me when traveling in the Great Plains.

By the way, I didn’t have any side effects from the J&J vaccine and neither did my wife.

 

[ericjkelly]

Vaccines distribution in CO is going very well! I should be fully vaccination by the time the season really picks up. Until then I will continue to self contain (sleeping in car, bringing cooler etc). I hope other states are doing as well!!!

 

[Randy Jennings]

You will certainly feel self-conscious if you walk into a gas station on the plains and you are the only one wearing a mask. I will say that on my recent chase in the TX panhandle, a lot of employees at gas stations where wearing them. I don't know if it was by choice or the company made them. The way I look at it is that clerk may be making the choice themselves, and that if I wear one they may fell more comfortable around me.

 

[Robert S. Thompson]

If you look at what's going on in Europe I think we're in for another surge. In this country we have newer more contagious variants spreading, governments pulling back quickly in some areas, upcoming Easter gatherings, and people letting their guard down. Yes, many people are getting vaccinated, but those getting shots were probably the more cautious ones to begin with. The ones not being careful and spreading it are probably the least likely to get vaccines.

That said, I am hopeful that numbers will decline again in late April or early May thanks to increasing vaccination rates and people getting spooked by the next surge. Or maybe we already have enough vaccines out there to prevent a surge. At the very least, deaths and hospitalizations should not rise as high as before as many of the most vulnerable have been vaccinated already.

 

[Matthew Wann]

Earlier I mentioned the bathroom issue. I have a partial solution: public parks. Many parks have bathroom facilities. An advantage during these times is particularly on the days when we're likely to be chasing, the parks usually have a dearth of people. Even around Atlanta on weekends, I've never seen a bathroom facility to be crowded even if the park is fairly busy. Whether you feel it's right to use them if you're not a resident, nor a "user" of the rest of the park, I leave to you, but it is an option.

 

[Jeff House]

I was out in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee this weekend. Every place of business employees wore masks. Customers mostly did too.

I don't expect vaccine cards will be required. Would not hurt to have it, but it's like carrying a passport around. Do I really want that with me on a chase?

If encountering mask resistance (I have not) allergies is another out. Hey, I discovered it helps my allergies. Note that may be total BS. Used mask could even increase pollen concentration. Just an out if needed.

 

[Ben Holcomb]

What a difference a couple months makes. Hotels have been harder to come by. I spent 7 nights in March in hotels, and each and every night at least one of the hotels nearby was Sold out. Pricing seems to be back to standard rates as well.

I also had a hard time finding hotels in Florida last week during spring break time. So that little perk has disappeared. Travel was fun while everyone put a pause on living at least.

 

[Todd Lemery]

I noticed that airports are crazy busy now compared to what that had been. The airlines are opening up more flights too. A little less than a year ago Detroit Metro airport looked like a ghost town.

 

[Jeff House]

Encouraging news on people getting along. We hiked Smoky Mtn NP a couple weeks ago. Some hikers had masks on. Some just had them stand-by. Others did not mask. We were stand-by when encountering others on a trail; however, I really doubt it transmits with such a brief pass. Best use is gathering at a scenic view. Main positive takeaway: Nobody argues about it!

Confession: We stayed in a resort a couple nights and forgot our own pillow cases. Ten days later we are well, lol! I am still going to try to remember pillow cases on the storm trip. And cleaning remotes? That's a timeless requirement, lol!

We will still eat outside as much as we can. Usually May is nice temperatures. Even if it is warm and humid for storms, it's nothing compared to summer. Just finished my vaccine sequence; so, I'm really not worried either way.

Stories above (my posts whole thread) are from Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and North Carolina. My understanding is that Plains states have similar rules, very open with municipal mask mandates. Tornado Alley is much more open than some Great Lakes states.