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February 28, 2022 Update:
After almost 2 whole years since our first store policy changes regarding Covid, we are still evolving with the guidelines to try to keep us and you safe as we try to navigate out of this relentless Virus! CDC has just revised their guidelines for community transmission based on hospitalizations instead of case rates only so as a result, this will give us a different perspective for our indoor mask policy. |
How Does the New CDC Community Levels Chart Work At the Store?
This chart is designed with 3 levels of Covid risk and this is how Camden & Miller Counties are affected:
- Green Level: Best and least Covid risk! No masks required and relaxation of other protective measures as needed.
- Yellow Level: Medium and Cautious Covid risk - No masks required for vaccinated shoppers and class attendees. Masks are requested for Unvaccinated shoppers. Everyone is welcome during classes - fully vaccinated students may choose whether to mask or not - unvaccinated students may attend classes but will need to wear a mask. All students will be required to show their vaccination status card one time but those without a card may still attend but will be required to wear a fitted cloth mask with our filter material inside or a secure N-95 or equivalent mask.
- Red Level: High and Elevated/Dangerous Covid risk - All shoppers are welcome but everyone will be required to wear a mask and employees will also be wearing a mask. Depending on the numbers, classes may require unvaccinated students to be excluded temporarily until the county numbers improve.
- Please read more protections and policy changes below:
More Policy Changes Related to CDC Community Level Chart:
- CDC will update status daily or weekly so we will be updating our Store Requirements as needed so if our counties move to the Red Zone, masks will be required again (hope for Green)!!
- Employees may or may not be wearing a mask during your visit since all are vaccinated, but if you feel more comfortable wearing a mask inside, employees will also wear theirs out of respect for your wishes during your visit inside! (Remember, we are always looking out for you!)
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As of Feb 28, 2022: We are in the Yellow Zone of Community Transmission: Masks are Optional - refer to Store specifics in the paragraphs above.
We are NOT carding shoppers to enter the Store but you are on the honor system to follow the Yellow Zone criteria to wear a mask if you are not vaccinated at all or fully vaccinated with the final dose after 2 weeks. After 2 years of chaos and turmoil on how to deal with Covid, thank goodness there is a pathway that has Nothing to do with Politics and focuses on Truth and Proven Facts. Although the recent guidelines appear more optimistic and we ALL pray that we can finally resume our normal lives, there are some exceptions that will affect MANY People: |
Special Fact 1: Although many millions of people may relax the choice to wear a mask, many MORE millions are NOT included in this group due to Underlying Medical Conditions at ALL ages. This group is huge with almost 6 out of 10 people (60%) who have at least 1 health condition that can react poorly or die with Covid and 4 out of 10 people (40%) who have at least 2 of these conditions which increases a poor outcome with the virus even more. Read more HERE.
Anyone age 65 or older is at particular risk of having a bad outcome so CDC is advising everyone in that group to continue masking. Read more HERE.
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Although numbers are improving, it's very wise to take care until we are consistently getting the Green Level! If or when the Variants start spreading the Virus again, we will need to follow the Science to stay protected!
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Be aware of New Variants like the Omicron BA.2 that is now doubling every week in the US - it will be a matter of time to see how we are affected. Be careful!
Read more info HERE. |
November 25, 2021:
It may be time for Thanksgiving but maybe you can be thankful if you have not caught Covid!? This virus is surging with the Delta and Omicron Variants infecting so many thousands of people every day and it's filling hospitals with young and old all over the US.
As we continue on this journey none of us want to take, and while this surge is ongoing, we are requiring all customers to wear a mask in the Store regardless of vaccination status.
In case there may still be questions about how we base our decisions on things like masking and class attendance, please see the key points below and stay tuned for hopefully improving conditions as we move ahead!
It may be time for Thanksgiving but maybe you can be thankful if you have not caught Covid!? This virus is surging with the Delta and Omicron Variants infecting so many thousands of people every day and it's filling hospitals with young and old all over the US.
As we continue on this journey none of us want to take, and while this surge is ongoing, we are requiring all customers to wear a mask in the Store regardless of vaccination status.
In case there may still be questions about how we base our decisions on things like masking and class attendance, please see the key points below and stay tuned for hopefully improving conditions as we move ahead!
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Science Factor 1: We refer to the CDC Community transmission map to see how strong Covid is spreading in each county right where we live. As long as we are in the Red Zone, we all should be Careful, which means: Get Fully Vaccinated - Wear masks - Try to avoid crowded locations! Pray for the Color: Blue!
Read more info HERE! |
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Science Factor 2: Masks really do work both ways when you wear a good quality correctly - Science proves it! Read more HERE.
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Science Factor 3: Covid Vaccines and Booster Shots are crucial to avoid worst effects from Covid. Here are two scenarios to consider:
- Natural Immunity: Sure, if you have already had Covid (maybe more than once), you have probably built some antibodies but the huge question is: For How Long?? especially if you caught it more than once since that is proof that your antibody level was too low and it could continue to fall more when the next variant comes. The other HUGE fact is that it was overwhelmingly the unvaccinated who filled the hospitals with the absolute Worst severity of fighting the virus during all phases and variants and they also carried the highest death rate - almost 1 million Americans have died of Covid - horrible!
- Vaccine Immunity: If you don't like the idea of spinning a roulette wheel for your health during a case of Covid, then the absolute safest and best choice is to take the Vaccine! Simple - quick - brings antibody levels up to near 90-95% for a longer time with very mild cold side effects that can last for 12-24hr or None At All!! Is it worth getting a sore arm or a body ache for 12hr? Absolutely without a doubt! The misinformation of secret dangerous ingredients in the vaccines is all Conspiracy and Lies Out of Control!! Almost 5 Billion people are fully vaccinated worldwide which is about 56% of the planet (we still need 85-95%). Per 100,000 people as of Jan 2022, 12.06 of unvaccinated people have died of Covid compared to only .45 of Fully Vaccinated - Huge Difference!!! Unvaccinated people have 41 times more chance of dying with Covid than Vaccinated people - how many more alarming facts are needed?? Read more HERE.
The other crucial component to the best success rates for surviving Covid with the least cases, hospitalization, or deaths is to get the booster shot! Studies prove that vaccines will wane over time (around 6 months or less for immune compromised people) so it is Crucial to get that booster to restore your antibodies back up to around 90% again! Unfortunately, many people have not received their booster which will increase their chances of getting a severe outcome with Covid. Just look at Miller County in Missouri: only 12.8% have received their booster - pitiful! Variants will continue to infect those that are not triple boosted - don't get caught!
Science Factor 4: High Concern of Living with Long Covid (Longhauler Covid). Did you know that up to one third of Americans are dealing with the after effects of the virus that can linger for months to years later? There is a huge laundry list of symptoms ranging from loss of taste/smell up to damage to heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, and/or brain that can be debilitating to the point that people can't hold their jobs or resume normal activities they did Pre-Covid.
Not only people that had a severe case of Covid are getting Long Covid, in fact, many people with a mild case or even an asymptomatic case are taking a share of the terrible burden of Long Covid. These people have been suffering with no end in sight for remedies.
Although millions of people have not seen such side effects, Covid has a way of invading and damaging the organs to eventually lead to death or to shorten life.
Why take a chance to catch Covid and you might become a Longhauler too? Get Vaccinated and continue to wear a mask if you are in the high risk group (remember 65yr + too).
Read this very interesting article on how the body can be damaged with Longhaulers.
Not only people that had a severe case of Covid are getting Long Covid, in fact, many people with a mild case or even an asymptomatic case are taking a share of the terrible burden of Long Covid. These people have been suffering with no end in sight for remedies.
Although millions of people have not seen such side effects, Covid has a way of invading and damaging the organs to eventually lead to death or to shorten life.
Why take a chance to catch Covid and you might become a Longhauler too? Get Vaccinated and continue to wear a mask if you are in the high risk group (remember 65yr + too).
Read this very interesting article on how the body can be damaged with Longhaulers.
Watch this short video that explains how a Mild Case of Covid can cause serious Heart problems - not good!
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May 5, 2021 Update:
Looking back after almost a whole year ago - WHEW! Has this been the strangest year of your life or what?? I truly hope and your family has been spared by this awful virus and we all can look forward to a more optimistic return to our lives sooner than later!
We Have Been Open Inside the Store since June 2020 - See Updated Guidelines Here:
Your Arrival to the Store:
Looking back after almost a whole year ago - WHEW! Has this been the strangest year of your life or what?? I truly hope and your family has been spared by this awful virus and we all can look forward to a more optimistic return to our lives sooner than later!
We Have Been Open Inside the Store since June 2020 - See Updated Guidelines Here:
Your Arrival to the Store:
- Come to the front door and ring our installed Doorbell - our employees will come to greet you - please be patient until they can get to the door!
- No particular restrictions on how many people can enter and shop inside within reason - bring a couple of friends but don't bring a bus full yet!
- You will need to wear a mask to enter the Store - bring one you have or we can provide one to you.
- No restrictions for Store Hours: M-F 10-5 and Sat 10-2: see Website calendar for Holiday Exceptions.
- Wear a mask that is properly fitting that will cover your mouth & nose
- You will need to wear the mask during your whole visit.
- Once you enter the store, please use our sanitizing station to clean your hands
- Please practice social distancing of 6' or more with us and other shoppers.
- No restrictions on shopping time - shop till you drop!
- Bring your items to a table we have in front of the checkout and we will ring them up.
- You may pay with cash, check, CC or Synchrony Financing like usual!
- We will sanitize before and after your visit.
- We will have multiple sanitation stations available.
- We will be wearing a mask at all times.
- We will have a plastic shield all around the checkout.
- We will have Social Distancing Decals placed on the floor for spacing.
- We can still offer Curbside Pickup for your convenience!
- We can also offer to Mail your Items for your convenience!
June 14, 2020 Update:
Love To Sew Boutique is Re-Opening Inside Starting Mon, June 15 at 10am!
Although cases have not spiked in our area, they have not declined either and MO as a whole, has been on the increase in positive cases in the last couple of weeks. Since the stats are not as favorable as we liked, we will get to Reopen but some extra safeguards in place. Please see this list below:
Arriving to the Store:
Love To Sew Boutique is Re-Opening Inside Starting Mon, June 15 at 10am!
Although cases have not spiked in our area, they have not declined either and MO as a whole, has been on the increase in positive cases in the last couple of weeks. Since the stats are not as favorable as we liked, we will get to Reopen but some extra safeguards in place. Please see this list below:
Arriving to the Store:
- Please stay home if you are not feeling well - even with the sniffles!
- Call to make an appointment by phone to the Store.
- Appointments will be set for 30 minute time slots.
- Only 1 customer in the store at one time.
- Random shopping without an appointment is OK if you call upon arrival to make sure no one is already inside and no one is coming for awhile.
- All Shoppers must be paid and outside before the next shopper arrives so no one loses their full 30 minutes if needed.
- Shoppers must wear a mask - period!
- No mask - no entry - period! Bring your own.
- Shoppers must keep their nose and mouth covered at all times.
- Shoppers must use sanitizer by front door first thing.
- Shoppers must stay at least 10' away from employee - not 3' not 6' - it must be 10' as new guidance is showing 50% less transmission of the droplets with the longer distance. The best would be in separate rooms!
- Select any items and place them on a small table near the Pattern Wall, including bolts of fabric to be cut.
- Use sticky notes to write down how many yards of each fabric bolt you want.
- The employee will cut the fabric in the HandiQuilter room so you can continue to shop in the main fabric room.
- Employee will take your items from the small table to the checkout to ring and bag them up.
- Pay by check or credit card - no cash is accepted right now. We are receiving a brand new touchless terminal to minimize your contact!
- Employee will place your bagged items on a small table at the end of the counter with no customer contact.
- We will sanitize before and after your visit.
- We will have multiple sanitation stations available.
- We will be wearing a mask at all times.
- We will have a plastic shield all around the checkout.
- We will have Social Distancing Decals placed on the floor for spacing.
- We can still offer Curbside Pickup for your convenience!
As we finish out May and enter June, our Shop has been closed to the public inside, although we have been super busy with Curbside Pickups whether by phone, email, or just random drive ups. We can also process orders online from my website here where you will be able to see lots more products coming very soon! You can choose to have your items mailed or with Store Pickup to avoid shipping charges!
What is the New Policy: We are still doing curbside service only but the Store will be open every day Mon-Sat again! One employee will be working inside to prepare orders and provide your pickup! We can answer phones and help with questions you might have. You can also arrange to drop off your machine for service. Jay is available any day and John (our new repairman) is available on Thur & Fri each week. The main days for scheduled curbside pickups are on Wed and Fri but someone can help you on the other days too! The main difference is for the business hours: The employees will usually arrive at 10am but they may leave earlier than 5pm depending on how many pickups they have to prepare that particular day. We are trying to be available for your needs as much as we can during this inconvenient time!
When will the Policy Update again? We will be observing whether the positive cases in our community increase, level as they have been, or if they drop. If we see a steady drop after a few weeks, the hopeful plan is to reopen inside with only 1-2 shoppers at a time. We will have more guidelines posted soon. We care about your safety and ours! We realize our method is slow, but safer for us all!
Why are we still Staying Closed Inside? I think the question should be: Are you a Do or a Don't? As the weeks progress since our closure on March 17, the focus on the virus is evolving from the health standpoint to reopening the economy and the businesses. Both reasons are important: Businesses need to reopen and shoppers need to come to restore our economics, so we can pay bills, and to restore our way of life but we must be vigilant in preventing the spread of this awful virus! We are getting calls every week to find out when we will be open inside again and as much as we love and miss you all, we are choosing to be a Don't instead of a Do. We have had multiple discussions with each other and we have reasons to share our opinions with you.
Knowledge is Power. Unfortunately, there is no book to read or a checklist to go by for how to deal with life during a pandemic. Have you lived during a pandemic like the Spanish Flu in 1918? We have all survived the flu, maybe multiple times over the years and that may be as close as we have come to what we have now, but is this just a different kind of flu? Not even close! Let's talk about some facts from top scientists all over the world:
What is the New Policy: We are still doing curbside service only but the Store will be open every day Mon-Sat again! One employee will be working inside to prepare orders and provide your pickup! We can answer phones and help with questions you might have. You can also arrange to drop off your machine for service. Jay is available any day and John (our new repairman) is available on Thur & Fri each week. The main days for scheduled curbside pickups are on Wed and Fri but someone can help you on the other days too! The main difference is for the business hours: The employees will usually arrive at 10am but they may leave earlier than 5pm depending on how many pickups they have to prepare that particular day. We are trying to be available for your needs as much as we can during this inconvenient time!
When will the Policy Update again? We will be observing whether the positive cases in our community increase, level as they have been, or if they drop. If we see a steady drop after a few weeks, the hopeful plan is to reopen inside with only 1-2 shoppers at a time. We will have more guidelines posted soon. We care about your safety and ours! We realize our method is slow, but safer for us all!
Why are we still Staying Closed Inside? I think the question should be: Are you a Do or a Don't? As the weeks progress since our closure on March 17, the focus on the virus is evolving from the health standpoint to reopening the economy and the businesses. Both reasons are important: Businesses need to reopen and shoppers need to come to restore our economics, so we can pay bills, and to restore our way of life but we must be vigilant in preventing the spread of this awful virus! We are getting calls every week to find out when we will be open inside again and as much as we love and miss you all, we are choosing to be a Don't instead of a Do. We have had multiple discussions with each other and we have reasons to share our opinions with you.
Knowledge is Power. Unfortunately, there is no book to read or a checklist to go by for how to deal with life during a pandemic. Have you lived during a pandemic like the Spanish Flu in 1918? We have all survived the flu, maybe multiple times over the years and that may be as close as we have come to what we have now, but is this just a different kind of flu? Not even close! Let's talk about some facts from top scientists all over the world:
- Myth: Coronavirus is the same as the common cold or the flu.
- Myth: I'm not worried about catching this virus since only 2% of the population die from it. Besides, only old people in Nursing Homes are the ones dying.
Truth: No age group is immune from catching this virus. The most positive cases in MO are 80+ and 50-64yr olds, but people in every age group are getting it, including lots of young people and even children. View the most current Missouri cases with demographics and death counts:
- Myth: Sure some people have to be hospitalized, but so what if almost everyone goes home?
Lung Damage: Many patients get pneumonia (which is awful to endure by itself) but many also develop lesions that infect and fill the lungs, which can lead to permanent scarring. Almost 80% of patients, even those with mild Covid-19 symptoms get ground-glass opacities in their lungs, which may lead to lifetime damage. The other extreme lung condition is hypoxia, which causes a super drop in oxygen levels, which requires the use of a ventilator to keep you breathing - between the medications and use of the machine, there are many lasting side effects long after the treatment, if you even survive - about 88% of patients that are ventilated, never go home.
Heart Damage: Children as young as 5yr old are having heart attacks, young people in their 20s, 30s, 40s are having strokes when they had no previous heart conditions. About 30% of Patients are developing a high rate of blood clots that lead to Severe Strokes and deep vein thrombosis, which has even caused a leg amputation in a young man. Studies show that extreme inflammation from the virus and plaque around the heart will cause direct damage to the heart that will bring a lifetime of problems.
Kidney Damage: About 20% of patients develop kidney filtering issues that may require dialysis and depending on the severity, patients my need to continue this or get a kidney transplant after surviving Covid-19.
Nervous System Damage: Over 30% of patients experience long term headaches, dizziness, nerve pain, and memory impairment that can cause lasting damage to the point that up to 50% of people could not return to their jobs.
Since there is no guarantee of what level of severity any one can get when they catch this virus, my question to you: Is it worth the risk to ignore health guidelines when you learn this truth? Please see some amazing articles that explain the shocking details:
- Myth: We Stayed Home and Flattened the Curve - Missouri is reopening so we can go to normal
Truth: There was early controversy of whether people should wear a mask but now there is total proof of how well a mask will prevent the spread of the droplets that contain the virus. Even when people talk, their droplets can spread out 6' but when they talk loudly or yell, or sing, the droplets can spread to 12' away and the droplets can linger in the air for a few hours so even if no one is around but when you walk in to their cloud of droplets, you can get sick! It only takes 1 droplet to make you sick! It is imperative that everyone should be wearing a mask in public with no exceptions! It is imperative that people stay at least 6-8' away from each other with NO contact! Why are there new case outbreaks in Meat Packing Plants or Factories now? Businesses are reopening with employees that work closely together! When people understand the importance of these guidelines set by the CDC, we all can survive this pandemic Much Better and we can continue to reopen the economy carefully with success!
Truth: Officials mention to protect the vulnerable population but no one really explains who is included besides people in the nursing homes or those that are over 80yr old. It includes almost 100 million people in the US that can be any age if you have high blood pressure (on medicine or not if you don't know it!), diabetes (borderline is 99, or even close), obesity (includes anyone with over 40 Body Fat - rule is any average woman waist over 35" or man over 37" is overweight but not obese but can still be predisposed to the virus), asthma or COPD breathing issues, and even more conditions, which increase with 60+ yr old, but can be present at any age. Click the article for more info.
Bottomline 1: No one has all the answers as we are all learning our way as we are trying to live thru this. We do know that Covid-19 is all over the world and continuing to spread - it will NOT fade away or magically disappear! It is a live virus - it mutates and looks for a human host to grow in and kill if possible - it can be very dangerous to survive if you are a higher risk human or anyone over 60yr old.
Bottomline 2: Our best hope is to get a safe vaccine that works on people all over the world with all health conditions and ages. Scientists are scrambling to have something by the end of the year so let's see what happens by then.
In the meantime, we can hope for some safe drug therapies to reduce or stop the terrible side effects so people don't have to even go to the hospital. Although there are a few that are being administered mostly during the late stages, nothing is guaranteed as a great choice yet!
The other hope we can have is for better quality and accuracy in antibody testing. Right now, many of these kinds of tests are up to 50% invalid. When these are improved and very accessible to the whole population, we can feel sooo much better about who is safe to the exposure and who still needs to be extremely careful and limit their exposure with others. Let's stay hopeful for these solutions!
Bottomline 3: My hope with all this info with lots of videos and references, is only to share my observations since our shutdown and to educate those who might not have thought or cared to research for some facts and truth. There is quite a lot of info out there that is tangled with politics but my research is all Science based, which is always going to be the best source.
I believe that our economy can reopen and businesses can function if ALL Parties involved do it in a responsible method to keep everyone SAFE! This MUST be a Team Effort - everyone must be wearing a mask, staying at least 6-8' away from each other and maintaining cleanliness by washing hands and disinfecting. If we do this right, (not like the Pool Party People), we can succeed! We will be watching in the next few weeks for a spike in cases after the recent Memorial Weekend and we will re-evaluate our opening inside so we will keep you posted!
Tamara at Love To Sew Boutique
Bottomline 2: Our best hope is to get a safe vaccine that works on people all over the world with all health conditions and ages. Scientists are scrambling to have something by the end of the year so let's see what happens by then.
In the meantime, we can hope for some safe drug therapies to reduce or stop the terrible side effects so people don't have to even go to the hospital. Although there are a few that are being administered mostly during the late stages, nothing is guaranteed as a great choice yet!
The other hope we can have is for better quality and accuracy in antibody testing. Right now, many of these kinds of tests are up to 50% invalid. When these are improved and very accessible to the whole population, we can feel sooo much better about who is safe to the exposure and who still needs to be extremely careful and limit their exposure with others. Let's stay hopeful for these solutions!
Bottomline 3: My hope with all this info with lots of videos and references, is only to share my observations since our shutdown and to educate those who might not have thought or cared to research for some facts and truth. There is quite a lot of info out there that is tangled with politics but my research is all Science based, which is always going to be the best source.
I believe that our economy can reopen and businesses can function if ALL Parties involved do it in a responsible method to keep everyone SAFE! This MUST be a Team Effort - everyone must be wearing a mask, staying at least 6-8' away from each other and maintaining cleanliness by washing hands and disinfecting. If we do this right, (not like the Pool Party People), we can succeed! We will be watching in the next few weeks for a spike in cases after the recent Memorial Weekend and we will re-evaluate our opening inside so we will keep you posted!
Tamara at Love To Sew Boutique
