COVID and Soft tops

[Gee-pah]

Thanks for your inspirational thoughts.

I guess coming from a group where a fair number of members see their vehicle as far more than simply a means to run errands and get places--myself included--for which the ride itself can be (part of) the destination, (and that some of those destinations can be quite remote) that possible contagion at stopping points doesn't detract from the 99.999% safety from infection, including mask-less driving, that the ride itself holds.

I too love my Wrangler, and I suppose the argument about not burning gas, either for cost or pollution not only has nothing to do with COVID, but is probably better made on a "Prius board:" not that I mean to judge those who drive them, and other less ICE dependent vehicles like them.

With this said, I must say, trying to approach COVID apolitically, some responses above have really given more cause for concern.

There is neither data nor reason to suspect that people with excellent hygiene can't get it just as much as others. It is not just "the flu," in its higher rates of mortality and spread, the later likely in part to the illness' asymptomatic nature for some often not seen in flus, and it's certainly not a hoax as we are near 100K deaths.

Sure, in fairness, many who have perished had comorbidity issues like old age, but many haven't, and many are still recovering having survived. And I do appreciate where some claiming hoax are really just relaying anger that infection death must be balanced with death from the poverty that shutting down the economy can and will cause.

Still more, avoiding States whose infection numbers are on the decline, due to strict protocols, particularly for those States yet to peak that have now reopened, I can't help but think, based on science, is more, not less risky. If what was meant by that is that spread can be more prevalent in population centers, then that point is well taken.

This is not to disparage ANY of our "50." This is to say that science supported by sound data just doesn't lie.

Good health and happy Jeeping to all.

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[CT_LFC]

Ho lee fuk. Is the OP for real?

CA has had 3,814 deaths on 39.5M people, that's 0.01% of the population, and of those deaths 80% came from seniors 65+, of which, if CA is anything like the rest of the country, the majority came from nursing homes.

This guy probably wears a hazmat suit to the grocery store.

 

[Gee-pah]

Ho lee fuk. Is the OP for real?

CA has had 3,814 deaths on 39.5M people, that's 0.01% of the population, and of those deaths 80% came from seniors 65+, of which, if CA is anything like the rest of the country, the majority came from nursing homes.

This guy probably wears a hazmat suit to the grocery store.

Ed: I follow social distancing guidelines and hate, but otherwise do wear a mask in public. The dang N95 one makes it hard to breath--but then again, so can COVID-19.

CA had the sense to shut down early and still faced those numbers. But what you may be missing is the true reason for such shutdowns; and that being to try to ease the burden on hospitals which lack the assets to not only treat those infected, but those not, whose lives can be lost not being able to get (or refusing to get) treatment for non-COVID survivable conditions, or get the treatment and risk exposing themselves to contagion to do so.

People waiting outside on lines at Elmsford Hospital in Queens, NY, tractor trailers of makeshit morgues: neither predominately contained the aged.

 

[higbyz]

Don't want you to get banned again. My post wasn't meant to really be political as much as to give an opinion based view why people think it is a hoax.

I just deleted it.

 

[emptyminded42]

I've got Dual tops and a Bestop Sunrider. Right now, and for the past winter, I put the Freedom Panels in storage and used the Bestop Sunrider for the front seats, and the hard top behind. It worked great.

So, in light of already having the Sunrider product I'm contemplating not changing to the full soft top this summer. My rationale is that I take the rig out so infrequently during the pandemic anyway that why am I bothering switching tops.

Is anyone in the same boat? Am I just being a "gloomy gus" or is failing to change the top on a vehicle that barely gets off the driveway and trickle charger, and out on the road right now because of COVID just something that makes sense?

Thanks.

I'd put the top on and go for a drive. UV from the sun will kill the virus quickly - driving top-down in the fresh air is not really a credible vector for infection. Going to church where folks are packed in tightly and singing and shaking hands/hugging? Yeah, big risk. Going to the grocery store where folks aren't wearing masks and not following social distancing or hand washing? Moderate risk. Having a picnic in a park, staying a good distance away from others? Probably pretty low.

You're right to be cautious - this is not the flu, this is orders of magnitude more dangerous based on how easily it spreads and how deadly it is even for healthy young folks. Wash your hands, wear a mask, and avoid crowded places. But, you can't spend your life in fear and stay a shut-in. Some fresh air and sun will help your spirits and keep your Jeep running well.

 

[mgroeger]

Trickle charger, sitting in the driveway...?!?!?!
Does anyone else just get in their Jeep and drive it for fun? Virus, pandemic, AIDS, herpes, Armageddon, whatever... multiple times a week I will just get in my Jeep to DRIVE it ESPECIALLY if the top and doors are off.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Your biggest risk for infection from driving with your top down is if a sick bird or a bat craps on your head, and gives you bird flu or some other, weird disease.

Certain news outlets are cherry-picking facts, and not reporting ALL of the facts. For instance, there are multiple models that account statistically for the asymptomatic infected folks who have tested positive, either active infection or antibodies from a previous infection. Extrapolating that data for the entire population in this model shows a 0.02% fatality rate. Again, it’s just a model, but that model is mysteriously not being reported much.

Quest Diagnostics has COVID tests for anyone who wants to be tested. It cost me $75, all out of pocket because I’m a VA patient and wanted to get tested on my own. The VA is not yet set up for testing. I was negative for antibodies, in spite of running almost daily errands into town to the grocery store, gas station, takeout, etc. I’m always maskless; none of the places I shop at in the Sarasota-Bradenton area require masks. Nobody has berated or criticized me for not wearing a mask. But, I use tons of hand sanitizer and I keep my grubby fingers off of my face, until I get home and wash up. I’ve always done this, and it’s been decades since I’ve even had the flu.

Because of the shutdown, the unintended consequences are now out of control. The suicide rate as risen astronomically; people with treatable conditions are dying at home because they are afraid to go to the doctor or hospital - because they are watching the news outlets that are purposely spreading fear. Alcohol and tobacco sales are up 400%. People are dealing with financial ruin, with no hope, and are committing suicide.

 

[BrntWS6]

My neighbor lives in fear of covid. He won't go to work but has no problem smoking 2 packs a day. I pointed this out to him, he just stared at me and shrugged his shoulders....moron!

Most hospitals are half empty and in financial trouble. They need money and receive federal funding for this. What pre-existing conditions did people have that were said to have died of covid? We will never know but i am guessing it is A LOT and most would have died anyway.

To qarantine healthy people and shut down the economy is crazy. How many people have been financially ruined and committed suicide as a result of this stay at home order? I have seen predictions of more deaths than covid, time will tell. If you are susceptible to getting sick stay home and wear a mask.

I also have heard ZERO talk of how people should take better care of themselves. The number of obese diabetics is staggering and a massive burden on our healthcare system. Eat real food and drink water!

 

[CT_LFC]

Ed: I follow social distancing guidelines and hate, but otherwise do wear a mask in public. The dang N95 one makes it hard to breath--but then again, so can COVID-19.

CA had the sense to shut down early and still faced those numbers. But what you may be missing is the true reason for such shutdowns; and that being to try to ease the burden on hospitals which lack the assets to not only treat those infected, but those not, whose lives can be lost not being able to get (or refusing to get) treatment for non-COVID survivable conditions, or get the treatment and risk exposing themselves to contagion to do so.

People waiting outside on lines at Elmsford Hospital in Queens, NY, tractor trailers of makeshit morgues: neither predominately contained the aged.

The fact you even wear a N95 mask (which should have been donated to first responders) shows your high level of paranoia.

Why are you comparing the worst hit state some 3,000 miles away from you, to your local county? BTW, those tractor trailers arrived in NY during the early stages of the pandemic with the expectation of massive deaths, and left NY empty.

San Francisco county has had 2,358 CASES with close to 900,000 residents, that is a fraction of a % that has tested positive, and FORTY deaths, which would require you to use 3 decimals to get anything other than 0.

The entire state of CA reported 2,175 cases and 19 deaths on 5/25, and you are worried about the top being down in your Jeep? Can't be serious.

You probably have a higher chance of dying on your way to the grocery store than from covid.

 

[CT_LFC]

My neighbor lives in fear of covid. He won't go to work but has no problem smoking 2 packs a day. I pointed this out to him, he just stared at me and shrugged his shoulders....moron!

Most hospitals are half empty and in financial trouble. They need money and receive federal funding for this. What pre-existing conditions did people have that were said to have died of covid? We will never know but i am guessing it is A LOT and most would have died anyway.

To qarantine healthy people and shut down the economy is crazy. How many people have been financially ruined and committed suicide as a result of this stay at home order? I have seen predictions of more deaths than covid, time will tell. If you are susceptible to getting sick stay home and wear a mask.

I also have heard ZERO talk of how people should take better care of themselves. The number of obese diabetics is staggering and a massive burden on our healthcare system. Eat real food and drink water!

Yea, what they have done to the economy and civil liberties is unbelievable, and then you have people like the OP who are afraid to open their front door without a N95 mask.

Just a terrible situation, and worse of all, we are going to mentally fuck the kids up if schools adopt the guidelines recommended by the CDC.

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