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| When N.Y. Needed Hospital Space, Film Location Scouts Pitched In | When N.Y. Needed Hospital Space, Film Location Scouts Pitched In |
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| Jennifer Lyne, a location scout for film and television, knows New York in an unusually granular way. Always on the lookout for the perfect spot, she is constantly schmoozing with property managers, gathering contact information and snapping photos. | Jennifer Lyne, a location scout for film and television, knows New York in an unusually granular way. Always on the lookout for the perfect spot, she is constantly schmoozing with property managers, gathering contact information and snapping photos. |
| That is how she was able to find a period-perfect restaurant bar for the television series “Boardwalk Empire” and the alley where Harrison Ford’s detective investigates a murder in the movie “Random Hearts.” | That is how she was able to find a period-perfect restaurant bar for the television series “Boardwalk Empire” and the alley where Harrison Ford’s detective investigates a murder in the movie “Random Hearts.” |
| So late last month, when the coronavirus was gaining momentum and the Greater New York Hospital Association convened a task force to locate buildings for hospital overflow, Ms. Lyne, as well as other film scouts, volunteered. | So late last month, when the coronavirus was gaining momentum and the Greater New York Hospital Association convened a task force to locate buildings for hospital overflow, Ms. Lyne, as well as other film scouts, volunteered. |
| “We all love the city,” Ms. Lyne said. “I knew they would step up.” | “We all love the city,” Ms. Lyne said. “I knew they would step up.” |
| Battle-tested by the AIDS crisis, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and Hurricane Sandy, New Yorkers are once again pitching in, delivering meals to hospital workers or shopping for older neighbors. More than 12,300 people have volunteered through the Covid-19 relief campaign of New York Cares, an organization that matches those offering help with those in need. | Battle-tested by the AIDS crisis, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and Hurricane Sandy, New Yorkers are once again pitching in, delivering meals to hospital workers or shopping for older neighbors. More than 12,300 people have volunteered through the Covid-19 relief campaign of New York Cares, an organization that matches those offering help with those in need. |
| But as the cultural and financial capital of the world, New York is home to people with niche talents and expertise, from fashion designers to tech wizards. They want to help, too. And they are getting creative. | But as the cultural and financial capital of the world, New York is home to people with niche talents and expertise, from fashion designers to tech wizards. They want to help, too. And they are getting creative. |
| Take Laura Anderson Barbata, a Mexican-born artist who lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Her performance art often involves making costumes by hand. As the pandemic spread and she felt the “urgent need” to help out, she said, she eyed a heap of blue-and-white printed fabric left over from a recent project. | Take Laura Anderson Barbata, a Mexican-born artist who lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Her performance art often involves making costumes by hand. As the pandemic spread and she felt the “urgent need” to help out, she said, she eyed a heap of blue-and-white printed fabric left over from a recent project. |
| Soon she had taught herself to make masks and was donating them to fellow tenants of her apartment building, to a cleaning crew working in a Bronx public school and to homeless shelters, including one in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where there were masks for residents, but not staffers. | Soon she had taught herself to make masks and was donating them to fellow tenants of her apartment building, to a cleaning crew working in a Bronx public school and to homeless shelters, including one in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where there were masks for residents, but not staffers. |
| “The air of the staff completely changed when we were able to give them masks,” said Elizabeth Fasanya, the director of the shelter, operated by Project Renewal. “The color prints lift people’s moods.” | “The air of the staff completely changed when we were able to give them masks,” said Elizabeth Fasanya, the director of the shelter, operated by Project Renewal. “The color prints lift people’s moods.” |
| Samantha Casolari, an Italian-born photographer who lives in Williamsburg, found a different way to channel her artistry: an online sale of photographs to benefit embattled Elmhurst Hospital Center. The fund-raiser, Pictures for Elmhurst, raised nearly $1.4 million to buy ventilators, surgical masks, goggles and disposable scrubs. | Samantha Casolari, an Italian-born photographer who lives in Williamsburg, found a different way to channel her artistry: an online sale of photographs to benefit embattled Elmhurst Hospital Center. The fund-raiser, Pictures for Elmhurst, raised nearly $1.4 million to buy ventilators, surgical masks, goggles and disposable scrubs. |
| Ms. Casolari and a small team, which included the photographer Jody Rogac, first asked photographers they knew to donate digital files so that prints could be made and sold for $150 each. After Pictures for Elmhurst gained momentum, they approached world-famous photographers, like Martin Parr and Rineke Dijkstra. | Ms. Casolari and a small team, which included the photographer Jody Rogac, first asked photographers they knew to donate digital files so that prints could be made and sold for $150 each. After Pictures for Elmhurst gained momentum, they approached world-famous photographers, like Martin Parr and Rineke Dijkstra. |
| “Of course everyone said yes,” Ms. Rogac said. | “Of course everyone said yes,” Ms. Rogac said. |
| Antwuan Sargent, an art critic and author of “The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion,” purchased prints by Tyler Mitchell, the first black artist to have a photograph on the cover of Vogue, and four others. He learned of the fund-raiser on Instagram. “I looked through and thought, I want that, I want that, I want that,” Mr. Sargent said. | Antwuan Sargent, an art critic and author of “The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion,” purchased prints by Tyler Mitchell, the first black artist to have a photograph on the cover of Vogue, and four others. He learned of the fund-raiser on Instagram. “I looked through and thought, I want that, I want that, I want that,” Mr. Sargent said. |
| The items that Lisa Kobs-Berrios and her husband, David Berrios, are selling in their own fund-raiser are not nearly as highbrow. But with backgrounds in marketing and luxury accessories, the couple has been able to raise thousands for hungry children. | The items that Lisa Kobs-Berrios and her husband, David Berrios, are selling in their own fund-raiser are not nearly as highbrow. But with backgrounds in marketing and luxury accessories, the couple has been able to raise thousands for hungry children. |
| Mrs. Kobs-Berrios and Mr. Berrios were hit with inspiration while taking their toddler, Rio, on walks through Morningside Heights in Manhattan. They often stop to watch fire trucks, which he adores. His parents noticed the signs on the rear of the trucks that said, “Keep back 200 feet.” | Mrs. Kobs-Berrios and Mr. Berrios were hit with inspiration while taking their toddler, Rio, on walks through Morningside Heights in Manhattan. They often stop to watch fire trucks, which he adores. His parents noticed the signs on the rear of the trucks that said, “Keep back 200 feet.” |
| That gave them the idea of having hats printed with “Keep Back 6 Feet” to encourage social distancing. They decided to sell them and donate the proceeds to the nonprofit No Kid Hungry. | That gave them the idea of having hats printed with “Keep Back 6 Feet” to encourage social distancing. They decided to sell them and donate the proceeds to the nonprofit No Kid Hungry. |
| The couple quickly found an online custom hat distributor, placed an order for baseball caps and knit beanies and created a website. They had a bump in sales when Nicolas Heller, known on Instagram as New York Nico — he of the #BestNYAccent challenge — posted a photo of himself wearing a blue Keep Back 6 Feet beanie. | The couple quickly found an online custom hat distributor, placed an order for baseball caps and knit beanies and created a website. They had a bump in sales when Nicolas Heller, known on Instagram as New York Nico — he of the #BestNYAccent challenge — posted a photo of himself wearing a blue Keep Back 6 Feet beanie. |
| So far, the fund-raiser’s proceeds will cover 20,000 meals. | So far, the fund-raiser’s proceeds will cover 20,000 meals. |
| Over at Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island, a group of students, suddenly with time on their hands and a desire to contribute, decided to offer remote tech support to older neighbors. | Over at Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island, a group of students, suddenly with time on their hands and a desire to contribute, decided to offer remote tech support to older neighbors. |
| 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| Sadik Antwi-Boampong, one of the students coordinating the effort, talked a couple through a Medicare application by chatting with them on Google Hangout. | Sadik Antwi-Boampong, one of the students coordinating the effort, talked a couple through a Medicare application by chatting with them on Google Hangout. |
| Georganna Galateau, 73, desperately wanted to catch up with a younger friend in Rome but found herself mystified when her friend suggested a popular app. “She said WhatsApp and I said, ‘What’s that?’” | Georganna Galateau, 73, desperately wanted to catch up with a younger friend in Rome but found herself mystified when her friend suggested a popular app. “She said WhatsApp and I said, ‘What’s that?’” |
| Rony Krell, 28, a health technology graduate student, spoke to Ms. Galateau on her landline and explained how to download and use the app on her cellphone. When Ms. Galateau couldn’t manage it on her own, they scheduled a second call, and Mr. Krell stayed on the line while Ms. Galateau and her friend in Rome, who hadn’t seen each other in 10 years, were reunited. | Rony Krell, 28, a health technology graduate student, spoke to Ms. Galateau on her landline and explained how to download and use the app on her cellphone. When Ms. Galateau couldn’t manage it on her own, they scheduled a second call, and Mr. Krell stayed on the line while Ms. Galateau and her friend in Rome, who hadn’t seen each other in 10 years, were reunited. |
| “It meant so much to my heart,” Ms. Galateau said. | “It meant so much to my heart,” Ms. Galateau said. |
| Jennifer Lyne, the location scout who participated in the hospital task force, was at first daunted by the idea of joining a group of architects, engineers and other experts in designing and building health care facilities. | Jennifer Lyne, the location scout who participated in the hospital task force, was at first daunted by the idea of joining a group of architects, engineers and other experts in designing and building health care facilities. |
| But it’s one thing to be involved in a yearslong effort to build a facility that will last decades; it’s another to quickly find a site, obtain permission to use it temporarily and get it up and running. This was basically her job in film and television. | But it’s one thing to be involved in a yearslong effort to build a facility that will last decades; it’s another to quickly find a site, obtain permission to use it temporarily and get it up and running. This was basically her job in film and television. |
| And with the coronavirus, speed was crucial. | And with the coronavirus, speed was crucial. |
| When someone floated the idea of placing patients on a couple of empty floors in the old Victory Memorial Hospital in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Susan Pazos, a fellow scout, was able to immediately upload photos of the building because she had already been there checking it out for the television series “FBI.” | When someone floated the idea of placing patients on a couple of empty floors in the old Victory Memorial Hospital in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Susan Pazos, a fellow scout, was able to immediately upload photos of the building because she had already been there checking it out for the television series “FBI.” |
| “That was a great feeling,” Ms. Lyne said. | “That was a great feeling,” Ms. Lyne said. |
| In the end, hospitals in New York were able to handle more Covid-19 patients than originally expected, and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and U.S.N.S. Comfort picked up the slack. The task force’s findings are being written up in case the information is needed during a second wave of the virus. The report will also be shared with other cities that may have to ramp up hospital capacity the way New York did. | In the end, hospitals in New York were able to handle more Covid-19 patients than originally expected, and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and U.S.N.S. Comfort picked up the slack. The task force’s findings are being written up in case the information is needed during a second wave of the virus. The report will also be shared with other cities that may have to ramp up hospital capacity the way New York did. |
| It was, as Ms. Lyne called it, “the ultimate scout.” | It was, as Ms. Lyne called it, “the ultimate scout.” |