I agree,the pandemic kept them away. There is real fear out there and valid fear IMHO.
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As a vaccine appears to be a long way off, all we have going for us is that because so very many people really truly believe that mask-wearing and (anti)social "distancing" actually work to "stop" the virus from spreading, by their use these "portable safe spaces" these very frightened people who would otherwise remain isolated are in reality accelerating the infection rate, thereby expediting development of antibodies throughout the population (i.e., they're promoting "herd immunity") as they venture outside and interact with other human beings. Their misconception also helps shorten the length of time to develop widespread immunity lest this irrational fear of germs persists through the rest of this year (or until the next "flu pandemic", whichever is later!)