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Coronavirus in N.Y.C.: The Latest Coronavirus in N.Y.C.: The Latest
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It’s Wednesday.It’s Wednesday.
Weather: Partly sunny, with a high in the mid-50s.Weather: Partly sunny, with a high in the mid-50s.
Alternate-side parking: Suspended through Tuesday because of the coronavirus outbreak.Alternate-side parking: Suspended through Tuesday because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Mayor de Blasio said yesterday that the coronavirus crisis could cause economic fallout akin to the Great Depression, and also warned New York City residents to prepare for the possibility of a “shelter in place” order within 48 hours of when he spoke.Mayor de Blasio said yesterday that the coronavirus crisis could cause economic fallout akin to the Great Depression, and also warned New York City residents to prepare for the possibility of a “shelter in place” order within 48 hours of when he spoke.
The mayor, who acknowledged that such a move had to be coordinated with state officials, did not elaborate on what an order would look like in the city. A similar directive in California’s Bay Area requires people to stay at home except for essential activities.The mayor, who acknowledged that such a move had to be coordinated with state officials, did not elaborate on what an order would look like in the city. A similar directive in California’s Bay Area requires people to stay at home except for essential activities.
But not long after Mr. de Blasio’s comments, Governor Cuomo tamped down any suggestion that a shelter-in-place order was imminent.But not long after Mr. de Blasio’s comments, Governor Cuomo tamped down any suggestion that a shelter-in-place order was imminent.
“There’s not going to be any you-have-to-stay-in-your-house rule,” Mr. Cuomo said on NY1.“There’s not going to be any you-have-to-stay-in-your-house rule,” Mr. Cuomo said on NY1.
[Get the latest news and updates on the coronavirus in the New York region.][Get the latest news and updates on the coronavirus in the New York region.]
As of Tuesday, more than 1,700 people in New York State had tested positive for the virus, up from 950 the day before; 923 of the cases were in the city. Sixteen people had died from the virus in New York State, including at least 10 in the city.As of Tuesday, more than 1,700 people in New York State had tested positive for the virus, up from 950 the day before; 923 of the cases were in the city. Sixteen people had died from the virus in New York State, including at least 10 in the city.
[New York may need 18,000 ventilators very soon. It is far short of that.][New York may need 18,000 ventilators very soon. It is far short of that.]
Here’s what else you should know:Here’s what else you should know:
Mr. de Blasio said the city would soon be able to test 5,000 people a day for the coronavirus, an increase from the current capacity of several hundred people a day.Mr. de Blasio said the city would soon be able to test 5,000 people a day for the coronavirus, an increase from the current capacity of several hundred people a day.
[My Coronavirus Test: 5 Days, a Dozen Calls, Hours of Confusion][My Coronavirus Test: 5 Days, a Dozen Calls, Hours of Confusion]
New York City’s public transportation system is seeking a $4 billion federal bailout amid an extraordinary plunge in ridership.New York City’s public transportation system is seeking a $4 billion federal bailout amid an extraordinary plunge in ridership.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the city’s subway and buses and two commuter railroads, said that subway ridership had fallen 60 percent and that bus ridership had fallen 49 percent on Monday, compared with the same day last year. The drops were 90 percent on the Metro-North Railroad and 67 percent on the Long Island Rail Road.The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the city’s subway and buses and two commuter railroads, said that subway ridership had fallen 60 percent and that bus ridership had fallen 49 percent on Monday, compared with the same day last year. The drops were 90 percent on the Metro-North Railroad and 67 percent on the Long Island Rail Road.
All New York City recreation centers and nature centers were closed to the public until further notice. Parks and playgrounds remained open.All New York City recreation centers and nature centers were closed to the public until further notice. Parks and playgrounds remained open.
One caution: New York City does not regularly clean outdoor furniture and play equipment, and the coronavirus can live for days on some surfaces, research shows.One caution: New York City does not regularly clean outdoor furniture and play equipment, and the coronavirus can live for days on some surfaces, research shows.
In Virus Hot Spot, Lining Up and Anxious at Drive-in Test CenterIn Virus Hot Spot, Lining Up and Anxious at Drive-in Test Center
Defying Virus Rules, Large Hasidic Jewish Weddings Held in BrooklynDefying Virus Rules, Large Hasidic Jewish Weddings Held in Brooklyn
Fix Everything Wrong at 23 Subway Stations? It Beats His Last JobFix Everything Wrong at 23 Subway Stations? It Beats His Last Job
He Set Up a Big Solar Farm. His Neighbors Hated It.He Set Up a Big Solar Farm. His Neighbors Hated It.
Want more news? Check out our full coverage.Want more news? Check out our full coverage.
The Mini Crossword: Here is today’s puzzle.The Mini Crossword: Here is today’s puzzle.
Times Square’s costumed characters were interacting with tourists amid the coronavirus. [New York Post]Times Square’s costumed characters were interacting with tourists amid the coronavirus. [New York Post]
Private construction sites are operating across New York City despite the virus threat. [The City]Private construction sites are operating across New York City despite the virus threat. [The City]
State lawmakers must reach a budget deal, but they’re discouraged from meeting in person. [Gothamist]State lawmakers must reach a budget deal, but they’re discouraged from meeting in person. [Gothamist]
The Times’s Todd Heisler writes:The Times’s Todd Heisler writes:
See you on the other side.See you on the other side.
Those were the words that Matthew Viragh was spelling on the marquee at the Nitehawk Prospect Park movie theater in Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon. It was a simple message, but it was taking longer than usual because every couple of minutes one of the theater’s employees stopped him to say goodbye — for now.Those were the words that Matthew Viragh was spelling on the marquee at the Nitehawk Prospect Park movie theater in Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon. It was a simple message, but it was taking longer than usual because every couple of minutes one of the theater’s employees stopped him to say goodbye — for now.
A few days earlier, Governor Cuomo had announced restrictions on large public gatherings. And then on Monday, New York ordered movie theaters and most other “nonessential” business to close down at 8 p.m., sending yet another coronavirus-related ripple through the local economy.A few days earlier, Governor Cuomo had announced restrictions on large public gatherings. And then on Monday, New York ordered movie theaters and most other “nonessential” business to close down at 8 p.m., sending yet another coronavirus-related ripple through the local economy.
Mr. Viragh, who founded Nitehawk, had to make some quick decisions without much information. He set aside food from the theater’s restaurant for workers who would be going home without a clear idea of when their next paycheck would come.Mr. Viragh, who founded Nitehawk, had to make some quick decisions without much information. He set aside food from the theater’s restaurant for workers who would be going home without a clear idea of when their next paycheck would come.
Updated July 7, 2020 Updated July 16, 2020
The coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny droplets in stagnant air, infecting people as they inhale, mounting scientific evidence suggests. This risk is highest in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation, and may help explain super-spreading events reported in meatpacking plants, churches and restaurants. It’s unclear how often the virus is spread via these tiny droplets, or aerosols, compared with larger droplets that are expelled when a sick person coughs or sneezes, or transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces, said Linsey Marr, an aerosol expert at Virginia Tech. Aerosols are released even when a person without symptoms exhales, talks or sings, according to Dr. Marr and more than 200 other experts, who have outlined the evidence in an open letter to the World Health Organization.
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.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
“I am trying my best to take care of my employees,” said Mr. Viragh, who employs around 150 people. “We are all in this together.”“I am trying my best to take care of my employees,” said Mr. Viragh, who employs around 150 people. “We are all in this together.”
It’s Wednesday — take care of yourself and others.It’s Wednesday — take care of yourself and others.
Dear Diary:Dear Diary:
It was 2015, my first holiday season after moving to New York City. I had returned to my West Village apartment after an emotionally bruising Christmas with a few vacation days to burn before the new year started.It was 2015, my first holiday season after moving to New York City. I had returned to my West Village apartment after an emotionally bruising Christmas with a few vacation days to burn before the new year started.
The weather was unusually mild on this particular day, and I decided to stroll down the Hudson River Greenway in hopes of lifting my spirits. The sky was overcast, but it lent a lovely silver light to my walk, with the towers along the lower West Side echoed faintly by the outlines of Hoboken and Jersey City across the river.The weather was unusually mild on this particular day, and I decided to stroll down the Hudson River Greenway in hopes of lifting my spirits. The sky was overcast, but it lent a lovely silver light to my walk, with the towers along the lower West Side echoed faintly by the outlines of Hoboken and Jersey City across the river.
My mood began to improve. Just being on the city streets, I had discovered, was often all it took to cheer and fortify me.My mood began to improve. Just being on the city streets, I had discovered, was often all it took to cheer and fortify me.
When I reached the Battery, I decided to take the subway back up to 14th Street and have lunch at a restaurant in the neighborhood.When I reached the Battery, I decided to take the subway back up to 14th Street and have lunch at a restaurant in the neighborhood.
Sitting on a stool at the bar, I ordered nachos and a margarita and settled in. A tall young woman in a black tracksuit sat down two stools to my left and placed her order. She was wearing a large pair of headphones, and she was clearly enjoying her music.Sitting on a stool at the bar, I ordered nachos and a margarita and settled in. A tall young woman in a black tracksuit sat down two stools to my left and placed her order. She was wearing a large pair of headphones, and she was clearly enjoying her music.
When her order arrived, the bartender tapped her gently on the forearm and asked whether she needed anything else. She lifted one headphone.When her order arrived, the bartender tapped her gently on the forearm and asked whether she needed anything else. She lifted one headphone.
“It’s all good,” she said, breaking into a grin. “I’m having a party for one.”“It’s all good,” she said, breaking into a grin. “I’m having a party for one.”
— Tony Glad— Tony Glad
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