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When Walking the Dog Is ‘a Piece of Paradise’ When Walking the Dog Is ‘a Piece of Paradise’
(31 minutes later)
Serena Brennan, 25, a social worker at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, has been spending her days — many of them without a mask — tending to patients suffering from the coronavirus.Serena Brennan, 25, a social worker at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, has been spending her days — many of them without a mask — tending to patients suffering from the coronavirus.
Her return home is brightened by a simple chore: walking her Border collie, Gracie.Her return home is brightened by a simple chore: walking her Border collie, Gracie.
“This is one of the small enjoyments of our life right now,” said Ms. Brennan, who was walking Gracie in Inwood Park in Upper Manhattan recently, accompanied by her husband, Bobby Brennan, 28.“This is one of the small enjoyments of our life right now,” said Ms. Brennan, who was walking Gracie in Inwood Park in Upper Manhattan recently, accompanied by her husband, Bobby Brennan, 28.
He is a civil engineer who, like many New Yorkers, is working from home. He and his wife are walking Gracie so often that “it’s messing up her schedule,” Mr. Brennan said.He is a civil engineer who, like many New Yorkers, is working from home. He and his wife are walking Gracie so often that “it’s messing up her schedule,” Mr. Brennan said.
The coronavirus has warped life in New York City, which has 23,000 cases and at least 365 deaths, making it the epicenter of the outbreak in the United States. For some city dwellers, the necessary act of walking the dog has become a glimmer of solace during a dark time.The coronavirus has warped life in New York City, which has 23,000 cases and at least 365 deaths, making it the epicenter of the outbreak in the United States. For some city dwellers, the necessary act of walking the dog has become a glimmer of solace during a dark time.
“We’re bombarded with gloom and doom every minute on the TV, but this is my piece of paradise,” said Roberta Strugger, who recently watched her Labradoodle, Harvey, romp in a dog run in the Bronx.“We’re bombarded with gloom and doom every minute on the TV, but this is my piece of paradise,” said Roberta Strugger, who recently watched her Labradoodle, Harvey, romp in a dog run in the Bronx.
Professional dog walkers, however, are experiencing much more troubling consequences from this scenario, including loss of income and jobs.Professional dog walkers, however, are experiencing much more troubling consequences from this scenario, including loss of income and jobs.
Many dog walking services have had to let walkers go because of the lack of work.Many dog walking services have had to let walkers go because of the lack of work.
“Most of my customers are working from home now, so they don’t need a dog walker,” said Randy Peralta, 23, a walker from the Bronx who said he went from handling 20 dogs a day to three. “A bunch of them just took the dog and headed to their second homes.”“Most of my customers are working from home now, so they don’t need a dog walker,” said Randy Peralta, 23, a walker from the Bronx who said he went from handling 20 dogs a day to three. “A bunch of them just took the dog and headed to their second homes.”
Matt Burda, 35, a U.S. Air Force veteran and artist who works as a dog walker, said business had dropped by more than half. These days, he uses hand sanitizer frequently and wears a mask for interactions while walking. Many buildings have banned him from entering to pick up customers’ dogs, instead requiring someone to bring the animal down.Matt Burda, 35, a U.S. Air Force veteran and artist who works as a dog walker, said business had dropped by more than half. These days, he uses hand sanitizer frequently and wears a mask for interactions while walking. Many buildings have banned him from entering to pick up customers’ dogs, instead requiring someone to bring the animal down.
He works for Benterprise, a dog-walking service on the Upper West Side that bustled with 15 walkers handling some 150 dogs per day, its owner, Ben Chaplin, said.He works for Benterprise, a dog-walking service on the Upper West Side that bustled with 15 walkers handling some 150 dogs per day, its owner, Ben Chaplin, said.
But as the coronavirus spread and offices began closing, “almost overnight, everything hit the fan,” Mr. Chaplin, 30, said. “We lost 70 percent of our customers.”But as the coronavirus spread and offices began closing, “almost overnight, everything hit the fan,” Mr. Chaplin, 30, said. “We lost 70 percent of our customers.”
Since his walkers get paid per walk, some have decided to move back home with families outside of New York because they lack the income to continue living in the city.Since his walkers get paid per walk, some have decided to move back home with families outside of New York because they lack the income to continue living in the city.
Two other professional walkers — Juliya and Masha Puchkoff, who run a dog-walking service in Manhattan — were walking five dogs in Riverside Park last week.Two other professional walkers — Juliya and Masha Puchkoff, who run a dog-walking service in Manhattan — were walking five dogs in Riverside Park last week.
“Two of these are pity walks,” Juliya said, explaining that the dogs’ owners were working at home and perfectly able to walk them, but were still paying for walks out of good faith.“Two of these are pity walks,” Juliya said, explaining that the dogs’ owners were working at home and perfectly able to walk them, but were still paying for walks out of good faith.
The couple’s once respectable income has dwindled to a combined $200 a week, they said. Instead of full days of walking, they now work only one hour a day, which includes walking a dog they temporarily adopted from a client who has the coronavirus.The couple’s once respectable income has dwindled to a combined $200 a week, they said. Instead of full days of walking, they now work only one hour a day, which includes walking a dog they temporarily adopted from a client who has the coronavirus.
Some countries have set limitations on dog walking to help minimize the spread of the virus, including a ban in South Africa and distance restrictions in Lombardy, Italy.Some countries have set limitations on dog walking to help minimize the spread of the virus, including a ban in South Africa and distance restrictions in Lombardy, Italy.
Some walkers in New York were worried they might be barred from working under Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s order that nonessential businesses must close. While the rule does not specifically mention dog-walking services, it allows animal care businesses to remain open, and Mr. Cuomo has said people can still walk their dogs.Some walkers in New York were worried they might be barred from working under Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s order that nonessential businesses must close. While the rule does not specifically mention dog-walking services, it allows animal care businesses to remain open, and Mr. Cuomo has said people can still walk their dogs.
At the dog run in Riverside Park on a recent day, dogs romped with one another, chasing, nipping and tumbling. But pet owners remained spread out, like players in a baseball infield.At the dog run in Riverside Park on a recent day, dogs romped with one another, chasing, nipping and tumbling. But pet owners remained spread out, like players in a baseball infield.
“It’s a weird vibe,” said James Broadley, whose golden retriever, Lily, ran about. “Usually people are in groups chatting.”“It’s a weird vibe,” said James Broadley, whose golden retriever, Lily, ran about. “Usually people are in groups chatting.”
Updated June 30, 2020
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.
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.
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.
But some dog owners insist on getting too close, said Ms. Strugger, a retired city schoolteacher.But some dog owners insist on getting too close, said Ms. Strugger, a retired city schoolteacher.
“It’s a dance,” she said. “Someone takes a step forward, you take a step back.”“It’s a dance,” she said. “Someone takes a step forward, you take a step back.”
Cristine O’Neal, 81, said she has continued to walk her Border collie, Dexter, in Riverside Park, despite the virus’s threat to older people.Cristine O’Neal, 81, said she has continued to walk her Border collie, Dexter, in Riverside Park, despite the virus’s threat to older people.
“I keep six or seven feet from everyone,” she said, “and I only break my quarantine to go to Zabar’s.”“I keep six or seven feet from everyone,” she said, “and I only break my quarantine to go to Zabar’s.”
In Riverside Park, Lindsay Potenza, 35, watched her miniature Australian Shepherd, Piper, play with Russell, a Chihuahua dachshund mix.In Riverside Park, Lindsay Potenza, 35, watched her miniature Australian Shepherd, Piper, play with Russell, a Chihuahua dachshund mix.
“Thank God we have her, or I don’t know what we’d do,” Ms. Potenza said of Piper. “She’s the only thing keeping me sane.”“Thank God we have her, or I don’t know what we’d do,” Ms. Potenza said of Piper. “She’s the only thing keeping me sane.”
Ms. Potenza, who works for LinkedIn, said she was also working from home, which means Piper is getting walked more often.Ms. Potenza, who works for LinkedIn, said she was also working from home, which means Piper is getting walked more often.
“Same for a lot of these dogs,” she said. “It’s going to be a real letdown for them when everybody goes back to work. They’re going to need therapy.”“Same for a lot of these dogs,” she said. “It’s going to be a real letdown for them when everybody goes back to work. They’re going to need therapy.”
Russell’s owner, Minya Quirk, said, “He’s our reason to go outside now, and since we’re all home, he definitely gets walked longer and more frequently.Russell’s owner, Minya Quirk, said, “He’s our reason to go outside now, and since we’re all home, he definitely gets walked longer and more frequently.
“The problem is, he’s so cute that everyone wants to pet him,” she said. “So when we get home, we wipe him down with pet wipes.”“The problem is, he’s so cute that everyone wants to pet him,” she said. “So when we get home, we wipe him down with pet wipes.”