Emergence of a Deadly Coronavirus

Post Reply New Topic

New Yorkers woke up Friday in the city that never sleeps to a fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic — and to an empty Times Square, no Broadway shows, no Knicks and Nets basketball, no concerts or other large gatherings and deserted office buildings.

Subways and commuter trains were running but with significantly fewer riders.



Aqueduct racetrack near JFK Airport told railbirds to stay home but was still planning to run a full card of horse races Friday afternoon.

Thursday's dizzying series of coronavirus-related shutdowns included some of New York City’s cultural jewels: the Metropolitan Opera, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Hall.

The shows affected by the Broadway shutdown included such big hits as "Hamilton" and "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Next week’s historic St. Patrick’s Day parade down Fifth Avenue, an event that attracts two million people each year, was also a casualty of the coronavirus.

At the same time, restaurants and bars were noticeably emptier. So too Manhattan’s bustling sidewalks.

Many workers who fill Manhattan’s skyscrapers had been told to work from home Friday.

Colleges were holding classes online.

“People are scared to come outside,” said Justin Rahim, a tour guide at Manhattan’s Central Park, who said several of his pedicab drivers — reliant on tourists for their living — quit Thursday to drive for Uber's food delivery service. “It’s crazy. How am I going to survive this?”

Source: Coronavirus has New Yorkers waking up in city that never sleeps to big changes

-------------------------------------------
Observations from a sleepy little town in the Midwest.

I went to town yesterday. There was a little heavier traffic at the grocery store because people were stocking up. But it looked like there was more product on the shelf. As I entered the store there was one man pushing a shopping cart full of toilet paper out of the store to his car. Inside there were some stacks of toilet paper set in the end of aisles so shoppers could easily access it. I saw two people wearing face mask. They were just normal surgical mask not N95. One of these persons actually had his mask down below his mouth the whole time, so it made little sense to me.

Back at home today. The school has decided to close for at least the next two weeks. Apparently someone came in contact with someone who was tested positive and the school was acting out of an abundance of caution in closing down the school. The rumor mill is running wild. Apparently someone went on a cruise ship overseas and recently returned. One church in town has shut its doors temporarily. Apparently one of the children in day care, their parents had be exposed to someone who had the virus.

In retrospect, I found out the answer to what happens after spring break. Spring break is a rite of passage. Nothing is going to stop it. It poses the threat of a massive vulnerability because young people from all over the nation will come together and share things like the coronavirus and bring it back to their communities. But now appears when the kids come back, many of the schools will remain closed for 2 weeks and not admit them back on the campus. So in a way it is like a 2 week quarantine. I heard that the hospital is taking a similar approach with their employees. If a nurse takes a vacation and goes out of state for a couple weeks for Spring Break, when they return, they will be required to stay home upon their return for two weeks. (Therefore if they pick up the coronavirus on their travels, they cannot bring it back into the hospital. I guess that makes sense.

It was as crowded as always on the E train as I traveled to work. It was slightly less crowded than normal on the Lexington Avenue Line (4-5-6 trains).

The traffic on the Grand Central Parkway leading to my parking spot in Briarwood, Queens, was quite normal for a rush-hour Friday.

When I looked out the window in a lounge at the college where I work, I saw a normal amount of cars getting off the Brooklyn Bridge.

I'm not saying people aren't being cautious. But I do believe New Yorkers are, for the most part, going about their business. Because they have to in order to survive. Obviously, there are less tourists in the Times Square area.

It's not a ghost town. It's still a bustling city. Most restaurants and stores remain open. Even buffets are still open (though I believe they should be more cautious in this aspect of food sales).

Cancel schools already...it only makes sense. Keeping them open is stupid.

She's taking normal precautions. Washing hands after doing virtually anything. There's a mask in the house. She doesn't wear it around the house, though. There's probably more precautions exercised in her nursing home than normal.

I'm going to the supermarket tonight to pick up some necessities like toilet paper and paper towels.

I wear gloves in my capacity as Circulation Clerk at the college library where I work.

I want to add that everybody came to work today at the library. No absenteeism.

At the courthouse, there was slight absenteeism for a couple of days; they're might be more today. We shall see.

Well apparently the News is beginning to recognize the threat posed by Spring Break mass migration.

Popular domestic spring break destinations such as Miami and South Padre Island are in states that are currently experiencing increased positive cases of coronavirus. As of March 13, Florida had 42 positive cases, and 2 deaths, while Texas had 28 confirmed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which typically does not issue advisories for U.S. travel, advise those considering travel to be aware of the community spread of the disease in certain areas and the elevated risk it could potentially pose to those traveling through airports or communal areas in those states.

Ensure where you are going is still open as many popular tourist destinations both internationally and domestically have closed. Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California, for instance, will close starting Saturday until the end of March.

Method of travel is just as important to consider, as several cruise liners have canceled voyages after the Diamond Princess and Grand Princess both experienced outbreaks that left 700 and 21 passengers (respectively) testing positive for coronavirus, respectively.

Planes are still in operation – however, some domestic airlines have canceled flights or altered schedules amid the decrease in demand. The CDC currently puts the risk of infection at “low” when flying between areas that are not experiencing “sustained community transmission,” but urges travelers to always maintain best practices when it comes to safety and hygiene on flights.

For vulnerable populations – meaning those above 60 or people who have underlying health issues – travel to areas experiencing outbreaks is strongly advised against by the CDC.

Several students spoke to Fox 11 about their concerns over the virus. While many were concerned about COVID-19, and vowed to stay home, others felt the deals were too good to pass up.

Source: Traveling during coronavirus: Should you postpone spring break trips?

President Trump on Friday is expected to declare a national emergency under the Stafford Act in response to the growing coronavirus pandemic.

Trump has announced a press conference at 3 p.m. and it is anticipated that he will declare a national emergency as concerns over the outbreak wreak havoc and continue to disrupt daily American life.

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act allows the White House to mobilize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and direct federal aid to states hit by disasters and health crises.

Source: Trump to announce national emergency on coronavirus: Here's what that means

25-year-old British man describes the symptoms of COVID-19.

There was very little absenteeism at the courthouse as well.

Most people came to work. A few were absent----but that's Fridays for you.

The streets around the courthouse were not as dense as usual. And there were less tourists around the Brooklyn Bridge than usual.

We were told to write down our computer ID's----in case we have to work from home.

I'm not worried about getting the coronavirus, I'm more worried about the economy.
I work at a bus depot and I'm worried that all this isolating, school closings, flights being cancelled, and possible lockdowns, people are not going to be using the buses and the company will lose out on money and go bust. The last thing I need is to lose my job, as looking for a new job causes me great anxiety. Plus I love my job.

I don't know why they don't just focus on supporting the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, advising them to take serious precautions, and just advising the rest of the population to keep washing their hands but still go about their business, as it's not going to do any good for everyone to self-isolate whenever they get a cold. It is freaking me out more than getting the virus. Also I don't want to self-isolate for 2 whole weeks. I'm going to go mad! I need fresh air, sunshine and outside social interaction!

The college where I work is also not conducting in-person classes-----only remote classes.

Many colleges are following suit.

So far, I'm still at the library in person. But, at my other job, we might be working remotely.

I feel like people will continue to use the buses.

They certainly are using public transportation here in NYC.