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Coronavirus in N.Y.C.: Latest Updates Coronavirus in N.Y.C.: Latest Updates
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It’s Wednesday.It’s Wednesday.
Weather: Morning fog returns, then partly sunny. High in the upper 70s.Weather: Morning fog returns, then partly sunny. High in the upper 70s.
Alternate-side parking: Suspended through June 7.Alternate-side parking: Suspended through June 7.
The densely populated suburbs of Long Island are likely to begin restarting parts of their economy on Wednesday, leaving the strong possibility that New York City will be the only region in the state to remain on what Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has labeled a “pause.”The densely populated suburbs of Long Island are likely to begin restarting parts of their economy on Wednesday, leaving the strong possibility that New York City will be the only region in the state to remain on what Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has labeled a “pause.”
“I know people are itching to get back to work,” Laura Curran, the Nassau County executive, said at a news briefing on Tuesday.“I know people are itching to get back to work,” Laura Curran, the Nassau County executive, said at a news briefing on Tuesday.
In the past two weeks, eight regions in New York have entered the first phase of reopening after meeting the seven metrics set by the governor as requirements. On Tuesday, the Mid-Hudson region, which includes the seven counties just north of New York City, began the process.In the past two weeks, eight regions in New York have entered the first phase of reopening after meeting the seven metrics set by the governor as requirements. On Tuesday, the Mid-Hudson region, which includes the seven counties just north of New York City, began the process.
People in the reopened areas can pick up retail purchases in stores or at curbside and can commence work in manufacturing and construction.People in the reopened areas can pick up retail purchases in stores or at curbside and can commence work in manufacturing and construction.
As of Tuesday, Long Island was just shy of satisfying two of the state standards to advance: Deaths needed to continue to decline, and more contact tracers were required.As of Tuesday, Long Island was just shy of satisfying two of the state standards to advance: Deaths needed to continue to decline, and more contact tracers were required.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he hopes New York City can begin reopening in the first half of June. The city has yet to meet the benchmarks on available hospital beds and contact tracers.Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he hopes New York City can begin reopening in the first half of June. The city has yet to meet the benchmarks on available hospital beds and contact tracers.
At his daily news briefing on Tuesday, Mr. Cuomo said that an additional 73 people had died of the virus in New York, the third day in the last four with fewer than 100 deaths. “In this absurd new reality, that is good news,” he said.At his daily news briefing on Tuesday, Mr. Cuomo said that an additional 73 people had died of the virus in New York, the third day in the last four with fewer than 100 deaths. “In this absurd new reality, that is good news,” he said.
[What’s reopening in New York and the region.][What’s reopening in New York and the region.]
Mayor Bill de Blasio signed several bills into law on Tuesday that were intended to help New Yorkers during the pandemic, including a limit on the fees that app-based services like Grubhub can charge restaurants for making deliveries.Mayor Bill de Blasio signed several bills into law on Tuesday that were intended to help New Yorkers during the pandemic, including a limit on the fees that app-based services like Grubhub can charge restaurants for making deliveries.
Grubhub and competitors like DoorDash and Uber Eats have previously reaped commissions of up to 30 percent on orders they fulfill and deliver. Restaurant owners had pushed for the fees to be reined in even before the virus outbreak.Grubhub and competitors like DoorDash and Uber Eats have previously reaped commissions of up to 30 percent on orders they fulfill and deliver. Restaurant owners had pushed for the fees to be reined in even before the virus outbreak.
But without dine-in customers, restaurants have increasingly relied on takeout and delivery services, squeezing already tight profit margins further and forcing layoffs and closings.But without dine-in customers, restaurants have increasingly relied on takeout and delivery services, squeezing already tight profit margins further and forcing layoffs and closings.
The bill, passed by the City Council on May 13, set a 5 percent cap on how much such services can collect from restaurants for taking orders, and a 15 percent cap on delivery fees.The bill, passed by the City Council on May 13, set a 5 percent cap on how much such services can collect from restaurants for taking orders, and a 15 percent cap on delivery fees.
“The fees from the delivery apps are causing such a burden,” Mr. de Blasio said on Tuesday. “And that’s what the City Council sought to address.”“The fees from the delivery apps are causing such a burden,” Mr. de Blasio said on Tuesday. “And that’s what the City Council sought to address.”
[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.]
Schools in New Jersey will be allowed to hold outdoor graduation ceremonies in July, Gov. Philip D. Murphy announced on Tuesday.Schools in New Jersey will be allowed to hold outdoor graduation ceremonies in July, Gov. Philip D. Murphy announced on Tuesday.
The announcement came after Mr. Murphy loosened a number of restrictions ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, including allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people.The announcement came after Mr. Murphy loosened a number of restrictions ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, including allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people.
Mr. Murphy said that graduation ceremonies could begin July 6 and would have to comply with social-distancing rules.Mr. Murphy said that graduation ceremonies could begin July 6 and would have to comply with social-distancing rules.
New Jersey reported 54 new deaths on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 11,191. Over the past two weeks, New Jersey has reported more deaths — 1,739 — than New York, which is more than twice as populous.New Jersey reported 54 new deaths on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 11,191. Over the past two weeks, New Jersey has reported more deaths — 1,739 — than New York, which is more than twice as populous.
White Woman Apologizes for Calling Police on Black Man in Central ParkWhite Woman Apologizes for Calling Police on Black Man in Central Park
‘It’s the Death Towers’: How the Bronx Became New York’s Virus Hot Spot‘It’s the Death Towers’: How the Bronx Became New York’s Virus Hot Spot
Poll Shows One Hurdle to Reopening Broadway: Fear of JerksPoll Shows One Hurdle to Reopening Broadway: Fear of Jerks
The Pandemic Upends Islam’s Holiest MonthThe Pandemic Upends Islam’s Holiest Month
A Car Salesman, a Macedonian Ex-Minister and a $45 Million Mask SchemeA Car Salesman, a Macedonian Ex-Minister and a $45 Million Mask Scheme
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.
A federal judge ruled that a majority-Orthodox school board in the suburbs of New York City disenfranchised Black and Latino voters. [The Forward]A federal judge ruled that a majority-Orthodox school board in the suburbs of New York City disenfranchised Black and Latino voters. [The Forward]
New York City is facilitating delivery of methadone to patients who would otherwise be required to go pick up medication. [Gothamist]New York City is facilitating delivery of methadone to patients who would otherwise be required to go pick up medication. [Gothamist]
Upset families are suing the Brooklyn funeral home that was found to be storing bodies in U-Haul trucks. [New York Post]Upset families are suing the Brooklyn funeral home that was found to be storing bodies in U-Haul trucks. [New York Post]
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.
The Times’s Mariel Padilla writes:The Times’s Mariel Padilla writes:
Humans are not the only ones who miss dining out.Humans are not the only ones who miss dining out.
As restaurants and other businesses have closed during the coronavirus pandemic, rats may have become more aggressive as they hunt for new sources of food, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned.As restaurants and other businesses have closed during the coronavirus pandemic, rats may have become more aggressive as they hunt for new sources of food, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned.
Environmental health and rodent control programs may see an increase in service requests related to “unusual or aggressive” rodent behavior, the agency said on its website last week.Environmental health and rodent control programs may see an increase in service requests related to “unusual or aggressive” rodent behavior, the agency said on its website last week.
“The rats are not becoming aggressive toward people, but toward each other,” Bobby Corrigan, an urban rodentologist who has both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in rodent pest management, said on Sunday. “They’re simply turning on each other.”“The rats are not becoming aggressive toward people, but toward each other,” Bobby Corrigan, an urban rodentologist who has both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in rodent pest management, said on Sunday. “They’re simply turning on each other.”
[Read more: The C.D.C. warns of “aggressive” rats searching for food during shutdowns.][Read more: The C.D.C. warns of “aggressive” rats searching for food during shutdowns.]
Dr. Corrigan said there are certain colonies of rats in New York that have depended on restaurants’ nightly trash for hundreds of generations, coming out of the sewers and alleys to ravage the bags left on the streets. With the shutdown, all of that went away, leaving rats hungry and desperate.Dr. Corrigan said there are certain colonies of rats in New York that have depended on restaurants’ nightly trash for hundreds of generations, coming out of the sewers and alleys to ravage the bags left on the streets. With the shutdown, all of that went away, leaving rats hungry and desperate.
Other unusual rodent behavior may be on the rise, too. Researchers are studying if disruptions in food supply are causing rats to set up shop more frequently in car engines.Other unusual rodent behavior may be on the rise, too. Researchers are studying if disruptions in food supply are causing rats to set up shop more frequently in car engines.
It’s Wednesday — rats!It’s Wednesday — rats!
Dear Diary:Dear Diary:
It was getting late when I rushed from the L train onto an uptown A that was inexplicably running local. Frustrated, I took a seat.It was getting late when I rushed from the L train onto an uptown A that was inexplicably running local. Frustrated, I took a seat.
At 23rd Street, an older man got on, sat down a few feet to my right and opened a shiny, heart-shaped box of Valentine’s Day chocolates.At 23rd Street, an older man got on, sat down a few feet to my right and opened a shiny, heart-shaped box of Valentine’s Day chocolates.
He began to pick the sweets out of the box, choosing each one with care and eating it slowly, savoring the candy with obvious delight.He began to pick the sweets out of the box, choosing each one with care and eating it slowly, savoring the candy with obvious delight.
A teenage boy of about 16 — gawky, but with the unflappable cool of so many his age — was sitting across from the man with the candy. He eyed the box shyly, glancing at it and then looking away again.A teenage boy of about 16 — gawky, but with the unflappable cool of so many his age — was sitting across from the man with the candy. He eyed the box shyly, glancing at it and then looking away again.
The older man held out the box.The older man held out the box.
“Want one?” he said.“Want one?” he said.
The teenager demurred politely.The teenager demurred politely.
“No, really,” the man said. “Take one.”“No, really,” the man said. “Take one.”
The boy picked out what appeared to be a nougat, and then ate it in careful small bites.The boy picked out what appeared to be a nougat, and then ate it in careful small bites.
“One more?”“One more?”
The teenager shook his head, his lips twitching slightly.The teenager shook his head, his lips twitching slightly.
At 42nd Street, the old man exited the car, the still-open box of chocolates balanced carefully in one hand.At 42nd Street, the old man exited the car, the still-open box of chocolates balanced carefully in one hand.
The teenager looked down at his phone. He was smiling.The teenager looked down at his phone. He was smiling.
I was, too.I was, too.
— Camille Jetta— Camille Jetta
New York Today is published weekdays around 6 a.m. Sign up here to get it by email. You can also find it at nytoday.com.New York Today is published weekdays around 6 a.m. Sign up here to get it by email. You can also find it at nytoday.com.
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