The Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has sent the world into chaos. In what seems like no time at all, we have gone from a somewhat casual, flu-like virus to locked down countries and even US towns. We are seeing it first hand as the Coronavirus impacts Summit County.
Additional Summit County Restrictions Just Announced
In additional COVID-19 restrictions posted by Summit County today, restaurants are limited to take out or delivery, retail establishments must be closed to foot traffic, public transportation halted and accommodations for visitors cancelled. There are some exceptions for basic needs, like grocery stores, and gas stations. The ski areas were already closed, many will not bother to reopen this season, even if there is still snow when this quiets down.
Slow the Spread
These drastic measures are not because the virus will kill everyone. For most people, the illness is relatively minor. It is, however, highly lethal to older folks and those with underlying health conditions. The main objective is to slow the spread so that our hospitals and medical system can keep up with the demand. If the local hospital or clinic becomes overrun with COVID-19 patients, their resources can become extremely limited, not just to additional COVID-19 cases but to anyone with a health emergency. There needs to be staff and facilities available for anyone that has a heart attack, falls down and breaks a bone, has an asthma attack or any of the many possible emergencies that happen every day.
Respecting the Closures
It is hard to watch as the Coronavirus impacts Summit County so significantly. We are saddened by the closures but understand and will respect them. We will not be showing property to buyers for the time being and are discussing the impacts of the shut down with our sellers and prospective clients. We are still working, mostly from home, and are available to anyone that has questions or wants to discuss what is happening in the market.
Real Estate Impact
Up to this point, sales have been continuing in Summit County. 7 properties went under contract in the last 24 hours and 33 in the last week. Things have changed dramatically in a week and, with pretty much a full closure, I expect everything to grind to a halt. Hopefully, because of these drastic measures, we can start to move back towards life as normal more quickly.
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