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| U.S. Navy Relaxes Rules on Hair Length Amid Coronavirus Outbreak | U.S. Navy Relaxes Rules on Hair Length Amid Coronavirus Outbreak |
| (2 months later) | |
| A few of the rigid standards of the U.S. military are being eased with each passing day of the coronavirus outbreak, and for some sailors, one change could have a visible effect: They may be able to have longer hair. | A few of the rigid standards of the U.S. military are being eased with each passing day of the coronavirus outbreak, and for some sailors, one change could have a visible effect: They may be able to have longer hair. |
| On Wednesday night, the Navy announced that it was giving commanding officers discretion to temporarily relax grooming guidelines for men’s and women’s hair length to help maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. | On Wednesday night, the Navy announced that it was giving commanding officers discretion to temporarily relax grooming guidelines for men’s and women’s hair length to help maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. |
| The existing guidelines required men’s hair to be no longer than four inches, and said that it could not touch the ears, collar or extend below the eyebrows when headgear was removed. For women, their hair could not fall below the lower edge of the back of their collar. | The existing guidelines required men’s hair to be no longer than four inches, and said that it could not touch the ears, collar or extend below the eyebrows when headgear was removed. For women, their hair could not fall below the lower edge of the back of their collar. |
| “Commanding officers may allow for additional hair length and bulk on the sides, top and back of the head,” Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, the chief of naval personnel, said in a message to sailors on Wednesday. | “Commanding officers may allow for additional hair length and bulk on the sides, top and back of the head,” Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, the chief of naval personnel, said in a message to sailors on Wednesday. |
| It was not immediately clear if the other branches of the U.S. military were loosening their guidelines on hair length. Requests for comment left for the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard were not immediately returned. | It was not immediately clear if the other branches of the U.S. military were loosening their guidelines on hair length. Requests for comment left for the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard were not immediately returned. |
| The change does not apply to facial hair shaving requirements, sideburns or hair style, according to the Navy, which said that shipboard barbershops would continue to operate under rules set by commanding officers. | The change does not apply to facial hair shaving requirements, sideburns or hair style, according to the Navy, which said that shipboard barbershops would continue to operate under rules set by commanding officers. |
| “At no time will relaxed grooming interfere with the proper wearing of Navy head gear, nor present an unprofessional appearance in uniform,” Vice Admiral Nowell said. | “At no time will relaxed grooming interfere with the proper wearing of Navy head gear, nor present an unprofessional appearance in uniform,” Vice Admiral Nowell said. |
| Also on Wednesday, the Navy announced that it was canceling the physical fitness assessment cycle that had been scheduled for the spring, and that it would delay advancement exams to try to mitigate the spread of the virus. | Also on Wednesday, the Navy announced that it was canceling the physical fitness assessment cycle that had been scheduled for the spring, and that it would delay advancement exams to try to mitigate the spread of the virus. |
| Updated May 28, 2020 | |
| 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.) | |
| More than 40 million people — the equivalent of 1 in 4 U.S. workers — have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic took hold. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said. | |
| There is an uptick in people reporting symptoms of chilblains, which are painful red or purple lesions that typically appear in the winter on fingers or toes. The lesions are emerging as yet another symptom of infection with the new coronavirus. Chilblains are caused by inflammation in small blood vessels in reaction to cold or damp conditions, but they are usually common in the coldest winter months. Federal health officials do not include toe lesions in the list of coronavirus symptoms, but some dermatologists are pushing for a change, saying so-called Covid toe should be sufficient grounds for testing. | |
| Yes, but make sure you keep six feet of distance between you and people who don’t live in your home. Even if you just hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and hopefully sunshine, is a good idea. | |
| 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. | |
| Charity Navigator, which evaluates charities using a numbers-based system, has a running list of nonprofits working in communities affected by the outbreak. You can give blood through the American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen has stepped in to distribute meals in major cities. | |
| The precautionary measures came after the Navy announced that there had been at least eight coronavirus cases, including four on ships, the website Military.com reported. | The precautionary measures came after the Navy announced that there had been at least eight coronavirus cases, including four on ships, the website Military.com reported. |
| “This is a unique situation that calls for a unique response,” Paul Rosen, acting director of the 21st Century Sailor Office, which oversees physical readiness policy for the Navy, said in a statement on Wednesday. “We know the coronavirus is highly contagious, and unnecessarily increasing the risk of infection due to the close physical proximity required to complete the PFA is not in the best interest of our Sailors or our overall mission readiness.” | “This is a unique situation that calls for a unique response,” Paul Rosen, acting director of the 21st Century Sailor Office, which oversees physical readiness policy for the Navy, said in a statement on Wednesday. “We know the coronavirus is highly contagious, and unnecessarily increasing the risk of infection due to the close physical proximity required to complete the PFA is not in the best interest of our Sailors or our overall mission readiness.” |