Stores empty, people apart as social distance becomes norm in Triangle amid coronavirus
At Shelley Lake Saturday, a Raleigh toddler broke free from her father’s grasp and darted down the trail toward a stranger — arms outstretched.
Her father gave quick chase and yanked her back, apologizing for his daughter’s sauciness. Not yet 2, he explained, she sees no danger in a hug.
The girl held a rare attitude in Raleigh Saturday. Gov. Roy Cooper’s statewide stay-home order is not yet a week old, but those few who venture out largely keep their 6-foot distance.
At the lake, a few fishermen stood 10 feet apart and walkers in face masks stopped for a quick selfie — proving they’d been outdoors.
Alone together is growing normal.
Across Raleigh, much of the city collectively missed out on an otherwise perfect April day.
All four baseball diamonds at Lions Park stood empty, as did the BMX track — normally bustling. The Costco parking lot on Wake Forest Road had more empty than occupied spaces.
In Durham, the Home Depot on U.S. 15-501 drew a thin crowd Saturday morning. A sign warned that the number of customers would be limited inside, but the rule didn’t need enforcing.
All shoppers enjoyed first-in-line status at the cash registers, and the drinking fountains were covered over by plastic bags. The store had a generous supply of toilet paper on hand, either a stroke of luck for Saturday shoppers or a sign the hoarding has passed its peak.
“What about the homeless?” a customer in a mask asked an orange-vested employee. “They got nowhere to stay home at. They’re out on the streets.”
At Shelley Lake, trail walkers were safety-conscious enough to stop and ask people to move further to one side, giving them space to pass.
Not that risky behavior was completely absent.
A group of four friends shared a picnic blanket, all of them the same age. A pair of joggers gave each other high-fives when they finished a loop around the lake. But these were exceptions.
“I guess they figure if you’ve got a roommate, you’re already exposed,” said Joanne Oler, a trail walker. “I know people depend on social media, but I hope people get back to calling each other. It’s depressing. It can get gloomy.”
And she walked on ahead, joining the rest of Raleigh in mutual isolation.
This story was originally published April 4, 2020 at 2:36 PM.