'She Fed Her Sick Flock During the 1918 Pandemic. Her Legacy Lives On.' diff viewer (4/5)

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She Fed Her Sick Flock During the 1918 Pandemic. Her Legacy Lives On.	She Fed Her Sick Flock During the 1918 Pandemic. Her Legacy Lives On.
2020-06-01 14:16:29 UTC	2020-06-03 02:37:07 UTC (1 day later)
To hear more audio stories from publishers like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.	To hear more audio stories from publishers like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.
Listen hard.	Listen hard.
You can hear footfall from a century ago in the tread of early morning New York, 2020.	You can hear footfall from a century ago in the tread of early morning New York, 2020.
In the pandemic season of her time, Julia Neill Sullivan, age 71 or 72, marched pots of food from her hearth across a stony field on a remote peninsula along the west coast of Ireland.	In the pandemic season of her time, Julia Neill Sullivan, age 71 or 72, marched pots of food from her hearth across a stony field on a remote peninsula along the west coast of Ireland.
The global influenza of 1918 and 1919 had made its way into a small house in County Kerry, miles beyond the last electric pole. It was the home of the youngest of Julia’s 13 children, Mary, who had the flu, as did her husband, Paddy, and their seven children, all under the age of 10.	The global influenza of 1918 and 1919 had made its way into a small house in County Kerry, miles beyond the last electric pole. It was the home of the youngest of Julia’s 13 children, Mary, who had the flu, as did her husband, Paddy, and their seven children, all under the age of 10.
No wonder it killed upward of 50 million. The family normally ate from the earth and sea, but were so weak no one could gather food or even draw water at the spring.	No wonder it killed upward of 50 million. The family normally ate from the earth and sea, but were so weak no one could gather food or even draw water at the spring.
So Julia, known as “Nan the Point” to her grandchildren, delivered their daily bread — probably boiled potatoes, cabbage, mackerel. Keeping her distance, she set the pot on a rock upwind of the house, then returned to her own home, a quarter-mile away on a finger of land that pointed into Kenmare Bay.	So Julia, known as “Nan the Point” to her grandchildren, delivered their daily bread — probably boiled potatoes, cabbage, mackerel. Keeping her distance, she set the pot on a rock upwind of the house, then returned to her own home, a quarter-mile away on a finger of land that pointed into Kenmare Bay.
Nan the Point was back the next day with more.	Nan the Point was back the next day with more.
Listen again.	Listen again.
By 4:30 a.m. over the past nine weeks, Glenda Charles, 58, has risen from bed and dressed in her black uniform slacks, a white chef’s top. Wearing comfortable black shoes she bought online for her hard-to-fit size, she walked four dark blocks to a hospital on Fort Washington Avenue in Upper Manhattan, part of the campus of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.	By 4:30 a.m. over the past nine weeks, Glenda Charles, 58, has risen from bed and dressed in her black uniform slacks, a white chef’s top. Wearing comfortable black shoes she bought online for her hard-to-fit size, she walked four dark blocks to a hospital on Fort Washington Avenue in Upper Manhattan, part of the campus of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.
At 5 a.m., a half-hour before her shift officially began, she was in the ninth-floor kitchen to count the eggs she would scramble, measure the oatmeal she would stir, lay out the French toast on the griddle.	At 5 a.m., a half-hour before her shift officially began, she was in the ninth-floor kitchen to count the eggs she would scramble, measure the oatmeal she would stir, lay out the French toast on the griddle.
Although her title with 1199SEIU, the health care workers union, is “first cook,” the Covid-19 pandemic pared her crew to about a third its normal size. She cooked. Cleaned. Washed dishes. Fixed trays. The work days ran 12 to 14 hours.	Although her title with 1199SEIU, the health care workers union, is “first cook,” the Covid-19 pandemic pared her crew to about a third its normal size. She cooked. Cleaned. Washed dishes. Fixed trays. The work days ran 12 to 14 hours.
How many days a week? She considered. A vacation scheduled in March to her homeland of Georgetown, Guyana, was canceled.	How many days a week? She considered. A vacation scheduled in March to her homeland of Georgetown, Guyana, was canceled.
“I was off last Saturday,” Ms. Charles said. “And this Saturday. Two days since the pandemic.”	“I was off last Saturday,” Ms. Charles said. “And this Saturday. Two days since the pandemic.”
Walking home, she prayed for strength. Every other day, she skipped the elevator and climbed four flights to her apartment. “To leave the stress in the stairs and don’t bring it into the house,” she said. At home with her is a disabled son. She has three other children, and eight grandchildren who fretted about their nana.	Walking home, she prayed for strength. Every other day, she skipped the elevator and climbed four flights to her apartment. “To leave the stress in the stairs and don’t bring it into the house,” she said. At home with her is a disabled son. She has three other children, and eight grandchildren who fretted about their nana.
“The first week, I had a panic attack, I said, ‘Calm yourself down, there’s nothing you can do about this,’” Ms. Charles said. “Just do what I love to. Make sure the patients have the right nutrition.”	“The first week, I had a panic attack, I said, ‘Calm yourself down, there’s nothing you can do about this,’” Ms. Charles said. “Just do what I love to. Make sure the patients have the right nutrition.”
Hospital kitchens everywhere are congregations of predawn travelers.	Hospital kitchens everywhere are congregations of predawn travelers.
Sara Kaur starts her shifts on the Bellevue food line at 6 a.m., a job she found after one of her sons was born in the hospital, and after she had taken an English class in hope of sanding down the lilt she brought from her native Punjab. “The body needs food to work normally, to keep you alive,” Ms. Kaur, 46, said. “That’s why we’re here.”	Sara Kaur starts her shifts on the Bellevue food line at 6 a.m., a job she found after one of her sons was born in the hospital, and after she had taken an English class in hope of sanding down the lilt she brought from her native Punjab. “The body needs food to work normally, to keep you alive,” Ms. Kaur, 46, said. “That’s why we’re here.”
Her husband, a cook in an Indian restaurant, was laid off in March. Their two sons have been home from college. She walks to work.	Her husband, a cook in an Indian restaurant, was laid off in March. Their two sons have been home from college. She walks to work.
Each tray for 600 patients must be eyeballed: Were diabetics getting the right meals? The low-sodium foods going where they needed to?	Each tray for 600 patients must be eyeballed: Were diabetics getting the right meals? The low-sodium foods going where they needed to?
“This is our house,” Ms. Kaur said. “The families cannot come here. We are the family.”	“This is our house,” Ms. Kaur said. “The families cannot come here. We are the family.”
Back in late February, Michele Murphy Trifari thought through what a pandemic would mean for Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where she is the director of food and nutrition. An extra 200 patients, OK.	Back in late February, Michele Murphy Trifari thought through what a pandemic would mean for Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where she is the director of food and nutrition. An extra 200 patients, OK.
“But what if all the truck drivers get sick and we couldn’t get our food deliveries?” she said. She laid in canned foods that could be opened and fed to the patients even if there were no water or power.	“But what if all the truck drivers get sick and we couldn’t get our food deliveries?” she said. She laid in canned foods that could be opened and fed to the patients even if there were no water or power.
Another thing: If patients were isolated, that meant only disposable dishes and cutlery. So she ordered cases of that. And Covid-19 was a respiratory disease: Patients might not eat by mouth. She stocked up on tube feedings.	Another thing: If patients were isolated, that meant only disposable dishes and cutlery. So she ordered cases of that. And Covid-19 was a respiratory disease: Patients might not eat by mouth. She stocked up on tube feedings.
~~Updated June 1, 2020~~	Updated June 2, 2020
	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.	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.	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.	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.	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.)	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.	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.
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.	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.	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’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.	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.