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| Is Riding the Subway Safer Than Dining Indoors? | Is Riding the Subway Safer Than Dining Indoors? |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| [Want to get New York Today by email? Here’s the sign-up.] | [Want to get New York Today by email? Here’s the sign-up.] |
| It’s Monday. | It’s Monday. |
| Weather: Sunny today, with a high around 90. Watch out for thunderstorms and heavy rain this evening as the effects of Tropical Storm Isaias begin arriving. | Weather: Sunny today, with a high around 90. Watch out for thunderstorms and heavy rain this evening as the effects of Tropical Storm Isaias begin arriving. |
| Alternate-side parking: In effect until Aug. 15 (Feast of the Assumption). Read about the amended regulations here. | Alternate-side parking: In effect until Aug. 15 (Feast of the Assumption). Read about the amended regulations here. |
| Not many people are riding the subway these days — being cooped up with strangers in a subway car must surely be among the riskiest activities possible during the coronavirus pandemic. | Not many people are riding the subway these days — being cooped up with strangers in a subway car must surely be among the riskiest activities possible during the coronavirus pandemic. |
| But that may not be entirely true. Even as riders have returned in greater numbers to public transit in Europe and Asia, there has been a lack of corresponding superspreader events, my colleague Christina Goldbaum reported. A superspreader is an infected person who transmits the virus to many others. | But that may not be entirely true. Even as riders have returned in greater numbers to public transit in Europe and Asia, there has been a lack of corresponding superspreader events, my colleague Christina Goldbaum reported. A superspreader is an infected person who transmits the virus to many others. |
| So while experts say riding the subway is probably riskier than walking outdoors, it is also probably safer than dining indoors. | So while experts say riding the subway is probably riskier than walking outdoors, it is also probably safer than dining indoors. |
| Here are some takeaways from her article: | Here are some takeaways from her article: |
| In countries where the outbreak has waned, there have been no notable superspreader events linked to mass transit. | In countries where the outbreak has waned, there have been no notable superspreader events linked to mass transit. |
| In Beijing, subway ridership has risen to about 60 percent of pre-pandemic levels; in Berlin, ridership on buses and subways is 60 to 70 percent of normal rates; and in Paris, ridership on the Métro has returned to 45 percent of usual levels. | In Beijing, subway ridership has risen to about 60 percent of pre-pandemic levels; in Berlin, ridership on buses and subways is 60 to 70 percent of normal rates; and in Paris, ridership on the Métro has returned to 45 percent of usual levels. |
| Superspreader events, however, have not emerged. | Superspreader events, however, have not emerged. |
| Still, public health experts warn that the evidence so far should be met with caution. | Still, public health experts warn that the evidence so far should be met with caution. |
| Even in cities where ridership is up, it has not reached pre-pandemic levels. A full return, with jam-packed subway cars, still poses a danger. | Even in cities where ridership is up, it has not reached pre-pandemic levels. A full return, with jam-packed subway cars, still poses a danger. |
| There are also other factors that may affect whether outbreaks occur. They include the quality of ventilation systems used to filter air, and the level to which a city has reduced its overall infection rate. | There are also other factors that may affect whether outbreaks occur. They include the quality of ventilation systems used to filter air, and the level to which a city has reduced its overall infection rate. |
| As a result, tracking clusters of coronavirus cases to public transit is difficult: The chances that infected people would remember the precise train car they rode in is unlikely, and reaching those who were in that same car is nearly impossible. | As a result, tracking clusters of coronavirus cases to public transit is difficult: The chances that infected people would remember the precise train car they rode in is unlikely, and reaching those who were in that same car is nearly impossible. |
| Even looking back at the worst months in New York City, officials are not clear on the degree to which mass transit contributed to a surge that killed more than 20,000 people. | Even looking back at the worst months in New York City, officials are not clear on the degree to which mass transit contributed to a surge that killed more than 20,000 people. |
| New York officials are now focused on how to draw riders back while avoiding crowding at rush hour. | New York officials are now focused on how to draw riders back while avoiding crowding at rush hour. |
| Subway ridership in the city is still at about 20 percent of pre-pandemic levels. For the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the agency that runs the city’s subway and buses and that relies on fare revenue for 40 percent of its operating budget, that’s a problem. | Subway ridership in the city is still at about 20 percent of pre-pandemic levels. For the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the agency that runs the city’s subway and buses and that relies on fare revenue for 40 percent of its operating budget, that’s a problem. |
| But there are things that can lessen the risk of riding the subway. | But there are things that can lessen the risk of riding the subway. |
| In the months since the height of the outbreak in New York, the authority has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the daily disinfection of train cars, distributed over a million masks to riders and started public service campaigns encouraging riders to maintain social distance. | In the months since the height of the outbreak in New York, the authority has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the daily disinfection of train cars, distributed over a million masks to riders and started public service campaigns encouraging riders to maintain social distance. |
| New York transit officials say that a recent observational study of more than 220,000 riders found that over 90 percent were wearing masks. | New York transit officials say that a recent observational study of more than 220,000 riders found that over 90 percent were wearing masks. |
| In New York’s subway trains, transit officials say, the air that circulates through a car is replaced with fresh, filtered air at least 18 times an hour, much higher than the recommended air-exchange rates in restaurants or in offices. | In New York’s subway trains, transit officials say, the air that circulates through a car is replaced with fresh, filtered air at least 18 times an hour, much higher than the recommended air-exchange rates in restaurants or in offices. |
| Why the Botched N.Y.C. Primary Has Become the November Nightmare | Why the Botched N.Y.C. Primary Has Become the November Nightmare |
| Arrests Over Illicit Party Boat With 170 Guests Cruising Around N.Y.C. | Arrests Over Illicit Party Boat With 170 Guests Cruising Around N.Y.C. |
| These Remarks Might Get a Police Chief Fired. Not in New York. | These Remarks Might Get a Police Chief Fired. Not in New York. |
| Mets’ Yoenis Cespedes Opts Out of 2020 Season | Mets’ Yoenis Cespedes Opts Out of 2020 Season |
| A new podcast: “Nice White Parents” from Serial, a New York Times Company, investigates what happened when a group of white families arrived at a predominately Black and Latino school in New York City. | A new podcast: “Nice White Parents” from Serial, a New York Times Company, investigates what happened when a group of white families arrived at a predominately Black and Latino school in New York City. |
| 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 rare operation saved the eyesight of a 6-week-old baby with cataracts. [ABC 7] | A rare operation saved the eyesight of a 6-week-old baby with cataracts. [ABC 7] |
| An off-duty New York police officer fatally shot himself in Queens. [New York Post] | An off-duty New York police officer fatally shot himself in Queens. [New York Post] |
| Updated August 3, 2020 | |
| Could the Black Lives Matter street paintings create a First Amendment predicament for Mayor Bill de Blasio? [Staten Island Advance] | Could the Black Lives Matter street paintings create a First Amendment predicament for Mayor Bill de Blasio? [Staten Island Advance] |
| The United States recorded more than 1.9 million new coronavirus infections last month, more than double any previous monthly total. In New York, the city is opening up but taking protective measures. | The United States recorded more than 1.9 million new coronavirus infections last month, more than double any previous monthly total. In New York, the city is opening up but taking protective measures. |
| To help us all understand the recent events and what the future might hold, we recently asked you to send in your questions about the effects of the virus on daily life. Readers of The Times’s California Today newsletter, for example, asked how massage therapists were adapting to the pandemic and what people should know before visiting state and national parks. | To help us all understand the recent events and what the future might hold, we recently asked you to send in your questions about the effects of the virus on daily life. Readers of The Times’s California Today newsletter, for example, asked how massage therapists were adapting to the pandemic and what people should know before visiting state and national parks. |
| We’re curious about everything — what do you want to know about the economy, health care, the environment, the arts, dating, traveling and more? How are you experiencing life during the pandemic, and how can we help you make sense of those changes? | We’re curious about everything — what do you want to know about the economy, health care, the environment, the arts, dating, traveling and more? How are you experiencing life during the pandemic, and how can we help you make sense of those changes? |
| Using this form, tell us what topics you want us to dig into and why. Specific questions are encouraged. We may answer some of your questions in future newsletters and stories. | Using this form, tell us what topics you want us to dig into and why. Specific questions are encouraged. We may answer some of your questions in future newsletters and stories. |
| It’s Monday — be curious. | It’s Monday — be curious. |
| Dear Diary: | Dear Diary: |
| As I left the No. 6 train station at Bleecker Street, I noticed two young men on the corner. One was holding a map, and they both had puzzled looks on their faces as they scanned the nearby street signs. | As I left the No. 6 train station at Bleecker Street, I noticed two young men on the corner. One was holding a map, and they both had puzzled looks on their faces as they scanned the nearby street signs. |
| I asked whether they needed help. | I asked whether they needed help. |
| The one with the map said he knew where they were but couldn’t find the spot on the map. | The one with the map said he knew where they were but couldn’t find the spot on the map. |
| I pointed out Houston Street a block away, and then showed them where it was on the map. They thanked me. | I pointed out Houston Street a block away, and then showed them where it was on the map. They thanked me. |
| As I started to walk away, the second man reached out his hand — not to shake mine, but to give me a $1 bill. | As I started to walk away, the second man reached out his hand — not to shake mine, but to give me a $1 bill. |
| It was the only time I’d been offered a tip for giving directions. | It was the only time I’d been offered a tip for giving directions. |
| — John F. Backe | — John F. Backe |
| 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. |
| We’re experimenting with the format of New York Today. What would you like to see more (or less) of? Post a comment or email us: nytoday@nytimes.com. | We’re experimenting with the format of New York Today. What would you like to see more (or less) of? Post a comment or email us: nytoday@nytimes.com. |