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Quarantine Prepping Comes to the Farmers’ Market, Measuredly Quarantine Prepping Comes to the Farmers’ Market, Measuredly
(3 months later)
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Kong Thao considered the chaos of the coronavirus as a farmer. “We’re treating it like a winter,” he said.SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Kong Thao considered the chaos of the coronavirus as a farmer. “We’re treating it like a winter,” he said.
This meant that he expected his fruit and vegetable sales to be slower, at least for a while. For people to go out less, and to spend less money. And it wasn’t just the virus messing with the rhythms of the city’s markets, many of which were already closed for public safety. It was the freakishly persistent rain. Why would anyone be out and about today, unless they absolutely had to?This meant that he expected his fruit and vegetable sales to be slower, at least for a while. For people to go out less, and to spend less money. And it wasn’t just the virus messing with the rhythms of the city’s markets, many of which were already closed for public safety. It was the freakishly persistent rain. Why would anyone be out and about today, unless they absolutely had to?
Compared to local supermarkets and warehouse clubs, cleared out by shoppers with carts full of quarantine supplies, the downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market seemed eerily calm on Saturday. But as Mr. Thao emerged from the back of his truck with a clipboard, flip flops slapping against the wet pavement, business was slowly picking up.Compared to local supermarkets and warehouse clubs, cleared out by shoppers with carts full of quarantine supplies, the downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market seemed eerily calm on Saturday. But as Mr. Thao emerged from the back of his truck with a clipboard, flip flops slapping against the wet pavement, business was slowly picking up.
Chefs were there for long stems of flowering radish and yu choy with yellow blooms, all grown on Mr. Thao’s family farm.Chefs were there for long stems of flowering radish and yu choy with yellow blooms, all grown on Mr. Thao’s family farm.
The spicy flowers would be used as garnish, probably not on carefully tweezered plates with plenty of white space, but in packaged to-go boxes, sealed in paper bags and brought to diners’ front doors — many restaurants that stayed open this weekend were focused on delivery and takeout.The spicy flowers would be used as garnish, probably not on carefully tweezered plates with plenty of white space, but in packaged to-go boxes, sealed in paper bags and brought to diners’ front doors — many restaurants that stayed open this weekend were focused on delivery and takeout.
A couple buying strawberries at Harry’s Berries counted wads of cash for a pallet, then squirted sanitizer into each other’s palms, rubbing their hands frantically as they walked away. A woman in a blue face mask carried a bunch of pale pink sweet-pea blossoms, very close to her chest, protecting them from the rain.A couple buying strawberries at Harry’s Berries counted wads of cash for a pallet, then squirted sanitizer into each other’s palms, rubbing their hands frantically as they walked away. A woman in a blue face mask carried a bunch of pale pink sweet-pea blossoms, very close to her chest, protecting them from the rain.
But many shoppers seemed to ignore the new signs placed by the city, encouraging them to to exercise social distancing of at least six feet. They stood side by side over the produce, hugged each other in greeting, passed a phone around to share cute photos of a new baby.But many shoppers seemed to ignore the new signs placed by the city, encouraging them to to exercise social distancing of at least six feet. They stood side by side over the produce, hugged each other in greeting, passed a phone around to share cute photos of a new baby.
Vendors were more cautious. Most wore gloves to handle the fruits and vegetables, or assigned a single employee to touch cash, credit cards and nothing else. A hand-washing station with hot water was set up at the end of the stalls, along with some auto-dispensing hand sanitizer.Vendors were more cautious. Most wore gloves to handle the fruits and vegetables, or assigned a single employee to touch cash, credit cards and nothing else. A hand-washing station with hot water was set up at the end of the stalls, along with some auto-dispensing hand sanitizer.
At the Maggie’s Farm stand, Mike McMahon sold all of the greens prepackaged in plastic, so that no one had to touch the food at all.At the Maggie’s Farm stand, Mike McMahon sold all of the greens prepackaged in plastic, so that no one had to touch the food at all.
Some shoppers arrived early because their local supermarkets had been cleaned out of the basics. Home cooks stocked up on dried beans — pintos, chickpeas, limas and black-eyed peas — at $9 for a two-pound bag.Some shoppers arrived early because their local supermarkets had been cleaned out of the basics. Home cooks stocked up on dried beans — pintos, chickpeas, limas and black-eyed peas — at $9 for a two-pound bag.
Meredith Klein, a private chef, was relieved to find so many cardboard flats of eggs.Meredith Klein, a private chef, was relieved to find so many cardboard flats of eggs.
“It’s been so upsetting to see all these bare shelves,” she said. “Yesterday, it was like the apocalypse.”“It’s been so upsetting to see all these bare shelves,” she said. “Yesterday, it was like the apocalypse.”
The market had less foot traffic than usual, but before noon, it was clear that shoppers were quarantine prepping, and buying more. There was no more salmon. And the vendors at Peads and Barnett were almost out of pork. Gustavo Jimenez rummaged through his coolers for lamb. At 11 a.m., he only had two shoulder chops left, and he wondered why people were stocking up.The market had less foot traffic than usual, but before noon, it was clear that shoppers were quarantine prepping, and buying more. There was no more salmon. And the vendors at Peads and Barnett were almost out of pork. Gustavo Jimenez rummaged through his coolers for lamb. At 11 a.m., he only had two shoulder chops left, and he wondered why people were stocking up.
“Production is not slowing down,” he said, pacing in a cream-colored cowboy hat and a thick, puffy jacket. “At the farm, things are running like normal.” The idea of shoppers anxiously hoarding food unsettled him.“Production is not slowing down,” he said, pacing in a cream-colored cowboy hat and a thick, puffy jacket. “At the farm, things are running like normal.” The idea of shoppers anxiously hoarding food unsettled him.
“People are thinking so far ahead of themselves,” Mr. Jimenez said. “But if they buy too much now, it might go to waste.”“People are thinking so far ahead of themselves,” Mr. Jimenez said. “But if they buy too much now, it might go to waste.”
Christine Pagtalunan, the market’s coordinator, couldn’t say for sure if it would return four days from now, as it usually does. For a few seniors on California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, who paid with EBT cards, the market was their most reliable source for fresh food.Christine Pagtalunan, the market’s coordinator, couldn’t say for sure if it would return four days from now, as it usually does. For a few seniors on California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, who paid with EBT cards, the market was their most reliable source for fresh food.
Updated June 5, 2020
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
“We’ll post updates on Instagram,” Ms. Pagtalunan told the worried shoppers who stopped by her booth to ask, “Will the market still be around next week? What about the week after?”“We’ll post updates on Instagram,” Ms. Pagtalunan told the worried shoppers who stopped by her booth to ask, “Will the market still be around next week? What about the week after?”
In the meantime, a few new rules would remain in place: No more prepared foods, and no more sampling. If you wanted to know what a Kishu mandarin, or a Mara des Bois strawberry tasted like, you either had to imagine it, or buy it.In the meantime, a few new rules would remain in place: No more prepared foods, and no more sampling. If you wanted to know what a Kishu mandarin, or a Mara des Bois strawberry tasted like, you either had to imagine it, or buy it.
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