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Banned Events. Empty Arenas. Cities Retrench in the Face of Coronavirus. Banned Events. Empty Arenas. Cities Retrench in the Face of Coronavirus.
(3 days later)
SEATTLE — In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine said a ban on large events was imminent. In San Francisco, the Golden State Warriors were set to play in an empty arena — and then the N.B.A. suspended play across the league. And in Washington State, Gov. Jay Inslee said on Wednesday that people should no longer cram shoulder-to-shoulder in local bars — in the era of coronavirus, he said, such socializing has become “just totally unacceptable.”SEATTLE — In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine said a ban on large events was imminent. In San Francisco, the Golden State Warriors were set to play in an empty arena — and then the N.B.A. suspended play across the league. And in Washington State, Gov. Jay Inslee said on Wednesday that people should no longer cram shoulder-to-shoulder in local bars — in the era of coronavirus, he said, such socializing has become “just totally unacceptable.”
With coronavirus now poised to overwhelm communities and health systems, governments around the country are rapidly embarking on unprecedented new containment efforts. On Wednesday, Mr. Inslee announced a prohibition across three counties of public gatherings of 250 people or more.With coronavirus now poised to overwhelm communities and health systems, governments around the country are rapidly embarking on unprecedented new containment efforts. On Wednesday, Mr. Inslee announced a prohibition across three counties of public gatherings of 250 people or more.
The governor’s order was followed later in the evening by similar limits in Oregon and California, representing the most far-reaching restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus outbreak and offering an early peek into what may come as the virus takes hold in communities across the nation.The governor’s order was followed later in the evening by similar limits in Oregon and California, representing the most far-reaching restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus outbreak and offering an early peek into what may come as the virus takes hold in communities across the nation.
Within hours of Mr. Inslee’s announcement, several local school districts in the Seattle area with a combined enrollment of about 100,000 students said they would close for at least two weeks; a Patti Smith concert was postponed; and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle canceled all public Masses, becoming the first Catholic archdiocese in the country to do so. The governor’s ban on large gatherings was set to last through the start of the Seattle Mariners’ first home game on March 26 and could be extended further.Within hours of Mr. Inslee’s announcement, several local school districts in the Seattle area with a combined enrollment of about 100,000 students said they would close for at least two weeks; a Patti Smith concert was postponed; and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle canceled all public Masses, becoming the first Catholic archdiocese in the country to do so. The governor’s ban on large gatherings was set to last through the start of the Seattle Mariners’ first home game on March 26 and could be extended further.
In San Francisco, where Mayor London N. Breed announced a ban on large group events of more than 1,000 people, the San Francisco Giants announced that their exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics scheduled for March 24 would not take place at Oracle Park. Ohio’s governor said he would impose a similar ban after new evidence concluded that the virus was spreading through community transmission in the state.In San Francisco, where Mayor London N. Breed announced a ban on large group events of more than 1,000 people, the San Francisco Giants announced that their exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics scheduled for March 24 would not take place at Oracle Park. Ohio’s governor said he would impose a similar ban after new evidence concluded that the virus was spreading through community transmission in the state.
“People are going to say, ‘Oh my God, really, you’re doing that?’” Mr. DeWine told reporters. “You’re going to look back on it in a week and say, ‘That wasn’t a difficult decision.’”“People are going to say, ‘Oh my God, really, you’re doing that?’” Mr. DeWine told reporters. “You’re going to look back on it in a week and say, ‘That wasn’t a difficult decision.’”
The new orders limiting gatherings to 250 people were more stringent than what states and cities had previously imposed. In announcing Washington’s crackdown, Mr. Inslee acknowledged what had become a growing fear among people and businesses: That an urgent and necessary effort to contain the virus would be “profoundly disturbing to a lot of the ways that we live our lives.”The new orders limiting gatherings to 250 people were more stringent than what states and cities had previously imposed. In announcing Washington’s crackdown, Mr. Inslee acknowledged what had become a growing fear among people and businesses: That an urgent and necessary effort to contain the virus would be “profoundly disturbing to a lot of the ways that we live our lives.”
At the forefront of the nation’s outbreak, Washington State has accounted for 24 of the nation’s 32 coronavirus deaths. Much of that toll has come from a single nursing home that has become a dire illustration of how deadly the coronavirus can be if it reaches vulnerable populations.At the forefront of the nation’s outbreak, Washington State has accounted for 24 of the nation’s 32 coronavirus deaths. Much of that toll has come from a single nursing home that has become a dire illustration of how deadly the coronavirus can be if it reaches vulnerable populations.
Dr. Jeff Duchin, the public health officer for Seattle and King County, said that while the impacts have already been significant, he believed that the region was still in the early phase of an epidemic that was likely to last months.Dr. Jeff Duchin, the public health officer for Seattle and King County, said that while the impacts have already been significant, he believed that the region was still in the early phase of an epidemic that was likely to last months.
“We expect a large-scale outbreak in weeks, and this will be a very difficult time,” Dr. Duchin said.“We expect a large-scale outbreak in weeks, and this will be a very difficult time,” Dr. Duchin said.
In Seattle, the disruptions have already been rippling through the region, one of the fastest growing economies in the country, and almost no one has been untouched by either the virus or the broadening attempts to keep it at bay.In Seattle, the disruptions have already been rippling through the region, one of the fastest growing economies in the country, and almost no one has been untouched by either the virus or the broadening attempts to keep it at bay.
Traffic has largely vanished, and on ferries crossing Elliott Bay, passengers who normally get out of their cars and socialize on deck have started staying in their cars. On neighborhood Facebook groups, posts looking for plumber recommendations have been replaced with pleas for protective wear for medical professionals, offers to swap child care and GoFundMe campaigns. An “artists relief fund” has raised more than $37,000; another for homeless services has raised at least $22,000.Traffic has largely vanished, and on ferries crossing Elliott Bay, passengers who normally get out of their cars and socialize on deck have started staying in their cars. On neighborhood Facebook groups, posts looking for plumber recommendations have been replaced with pleas for protective wear for medical professionals, offers to swap child care and GoFundMe campaigns. An “artists relief fund” has raised more than $37,000; another for homeless services has raised at least $22,000.
Sylvain Berthe, the general manager of Local 360, grew emotional as he sat Wednesday inside his empty restaurant, now permanently closed after the business saw a sudden and precipitous decline in both regular diners and private events over the past few weeks.Sylvain Berthe, the general manager of Local 360, grew emotional as he sat Wednesday inside his empty restaurant, now permanently closed after the business saw a sudden and precipitous decline in both regular diners and private events over the past few weeks.
“This morning when I woke up, I was in shock,” Mr. Berthe said. “When the owner and I sat down, we cried together. We’ve been working together for 10 years.”“This morning when I woke up, I was in shock,” Mr. Berthe said. “When the owner and I sat down, we cried together. We’ve been working together for 10 years.”
Ivan Maykov, a sophomore at Juanita High School, said a sense of doom had fallen over campus since the virus broke out at a nursing facility just a mile away. “We are basically the epicenter,” he said. The halls at school smelled like a mix of alcohol and fruity hand sanitizer, he said, and students were clustering themselves into small groups of just two or three friends at a time.Ivan Maykov, a sophomore at Juanita High School, said a sense of doom had fallen over campus since the virus broke out at a nursing facility just a mile away. “We are basically the epicenter,” he said. The halls at school smelled like a mix of alcohol and fruity hand sanitizer, he said, and students were clustering themselves into small groups of just two or three friends at a time.
Students learned Wednesday afternoon that classes were being canceled.Students learned Wednesday afternoon that classes were being canceled.
The University of Washington announced last week that it was moving classes online through spring break on March 20, or possibly longer. Faculty members have tried to keep things feeling as normal as possible.The University of Washington announced last week that it was moving classes online through spring break on March 20, or possibly longer. Faculty members have tried to keep things feeling as normal as possible.
Ryan Calo, a professor who studies misinformation, mixed himself an Old Fashioned on Monday evening and joined what had been billed as a “casual happy hour” to socialize with a candidate applying to join the faculty.Ryan Calo, a professor who studies misinformation, mixed himself an Old Fashioned on Monday evening and joined what had been billed as a “casual happy hour” to socialize with a candidate applying to join the faculty.
The event was billed as B.Y.O.B., in no large part because the happy hour was virtual, with a half dozen people joining by videoconference from their own homes.The event was billed as B.Y.O.B., in no large part because the happy hour was virtual, with a half dozen people joining by videoconference from their own homes.
Updated August 24, 2020 Updated August 27, 2020
“I doubt it was a substitute for really being in person, but by the end there was a sense of community,” Mr. Calo said.“I doubt it was a substitute for really being in person, but by the end there was a sense of community,” Mr. Calo said.
For many older people and others at higher risk from the virus, the world has turned inward. For years, Ernest Marris, 76, would have a morning coffee at Varsity Cafe around the corner from his apartment. He stopped going over the weekend, when his daughter in Oregon told him a resident of a senior living facility across the street from the cafe had tested positive for the virus.For many older people and others at higher risk from the virus, the world has turned inward. For years, Ernest Marris, 76, would have a morning coffee at Varsity Cafe around the corner from his apartment. He stopped going over the weekend, when his daughter in Oregon told him a resident of a senior living facility across the street from the cafe had tested positive for the virus.
“Yesterday, the woman who owns the restaurant called me and said, ‘Are you all right? We are worried about you,’” Mr. Marris said. “I thought that was very sweet.”“Yesterday, the woman who owns the restaurant called me and said, ‘Are you all right? We are worried about you,’” Mr. Marris said. “I thought that was very sweet.”
In Washington’s Statehouse, legislators and administrators have been mustering a public response, creating a $100 million fund that could help ailing businesses. They have also allowed workers to be eligible for unemployment benefits if they are quarantined and temporarily reopened the state’s health insurance exchange to allow new sign-ups.In Washington’s Statehouse, legislators and administrators have been mustering a public response, creating a $100 million fund that could help ailing businesses. They have also allowed workers to be eligible for unemployment benefits if they are quarantined and temporarily reopened the state’s health insurance exchange to allow new sign-ups.
In a seventh-floor conference room Wednesday afternoon, Seattle’s mayor, Jenny Durkan, gathered her leadership team, including the fire chief and police chief, to discuss the urgent issues emerging throughout the city.In a seventh-floor conference room Wednesday afternoon, Seattle’s mayor, Jenny Durkan, gathered her leadership team, including the fire chief and police chief, to discuss the urgent issues emerging throughout the city.
The officials strategized where and how the city might handle perhaps thousands of people needing shelter, isolation or spaces to recover outside of a hospital system already under strain. They discussed how the growth in coronavirus cases could quickly drain available equipment for emergency medical workers already struggling to get access to items as simple as hand sanitizer. And they braced themselves for disruptions to staffing as schools close and parents lose options to care for their children.The officials strategized where and how the city might handle perhaps thousands of people needing shelter, isolation or spaces to recover outside of a hospital system already under strain. They discussed how the growth in coronavirus cases could quickly drain available equipment for emergency medical workers already struggling to get access to items as simple as hand sanitizer. And they braced themselves for disruptions to staffing as schools close and parents lose options to care for their children.
“It’s a marathon. We’re barely through Mile 1,” Ms. Durkan told the team.“It’s a marathon. We’re barely through Mile 1,” Ms. Durkan told the team.
Still, for many younger people, who are at lower risk, the threat of catching a virus has not stopped social life entirely. Though attendance was down, more than 30,000 people attended a major league soccer game over the weekend in Seattle — although such a crowd is now banned. A number of people showed up for a barre class Saturday morning, though the instructor had to reassure them that her cough was not the virus, but was rather from overdoing it at karaoke the night before.Still, for many younger people, who are at lower risk, the threat of catching a virus has not stopped social life entirely. Though attendance was down, more than 30,000 people attended a major league soccer game over the weekend in Seattle — although such a crowd is now banned. A number of people showed up for a barre class Saturday morning, though the instructor had to reassure them that her cough was not the virus, but was rather from overdoing it at karaoke the night before.
Many in Seattle were trying to go on with their lives — but just a little more cautiously.Many in Seattle were trying to go on with their lives — but just a little more cautiously.
Nidhi Mehta said she had been doing her work for Expedia at home since the beginning of last week, starting even before officials recommended it, because she has asthma. The family did venture to Costco, but they wore masks and gloves. Starting Monday, her two children began taking all their classes at home as their district moved instruction online.Nidhi Mehta said she had been doing her work for Expedia at home since the beginning of last week, starting even before officials recommended it, because she has asthma. The family did venture to Costco, but they wore masks and gloves. Starting Monday, her two children began taking all their classes at home as their district moved instruction online.
“Fortunately I am in a profession where I can work from home,” Ms. Mehta said. On a local Facebook group, she offered to host a few other children during the day if their parents needed it.“Fortunately I am in a profession where I can work from home,” Ms. Mehta said. On a local Facebook group, she offered to host a few other children during the day if their parents needed it.
Her family had planned to attend two celebrations for Holi, a colorful Indian festival to welcome spring, along with thousands of other people. But the events were canceled, she said, and instead they shared messages with friends on Facebook and called family in India.Her family had planned to attend two celebrations for Holi, a colorful Indian festival to welcome spring, along with thousands of other people. But the events were canceled, she said, and instead they shared messages with friends on Facebook and called family in India.
“Holi will come again next year,” Ms. Mehta said, “and we will celebrate it with enthusiasm.”“Holi will come again next year,” Ms. Mehta said, “and we will celebrate it with enthusiasm.”
Elizabeth Dias contributed reporting from Washington and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs from New York.Elizabeth Dias contributed reporting from Washington and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs from New York.