Category Archives: Pandemic

Can a face mask protect me from coronavirus? Covid-19 myths busted

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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/19/does-coronavirus-only-kill-the-elderly-covid-19-myths-busted

The truth about how you can catch coronavirus, how much more elderly people are at risk and what you can do to avoid infection

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How to stop the spread of coronavirus – video.

Claim: ‘Face masks don’t work’

Wearing a face mask is certainly not an iron-clad guarantee that you won’t get sick – viruses can also transmit through the eyes and tiny viral particles, known as aerosols, can penetrate masks. However, masks are effective at capturing droplets, which is a main transmission route of coronavirus, and some studies have estimated a roughly fivefold protection versus no barrier alone (although others have found lower levels of effectiveness).

If you are likely to be in close contact with someone infected, a mask cuts the chance of the disease being passed on. If you’re showing symptoms of coronavirus, or have been diagnosed, wearing a mask can also protect others. So masks are crucial for health and social care workers looking after patients and are also recommended for family members who need to care for someone who is ill – ideally both the patient and carer should have a mask.

However, masks will probably make little difference if you’re just walking around town or taking a bus so there is no need to bulk-buy a huge supply.

Claim: ‘It is mutating into a more deadly strain’

All viruses accumulate mutations over time and the virus that causes Covid-19 is no different. How widespread different strains of a virus become depends on natural selection – the versions that can propagate quickest and replicate effectively in the body will be the most “successful”. This doesn’t necessarily mean most dangerous for people though, as viruses that kill people rapidly or make them so sick that they are incapacitated may be less likely to be transmitted.

Genetic analysis by Chinese scientists of 103 samples of the virus, taken from patients in Wuhan and other cities, suggests that early on two main strains emerged, designated L and S. Although the L strain appeared to be more prevalent than the S strain (about 70% of the samples belonged to the former), the S branch of the virus was found to be the ancestral version.

The team behind this research suggested that this may indicate the L strain is more “aggressive”, either transmitting more easily or replicating faster inside the body. However, this theory is speculative at this stage – there haven’t yet been direct comparisons to see whether people who catch one version of the virus are more likely to pass it on or suffer more severe symptoms.

Claim: ‘It is no more dangerous than winter flu’

Many individuals who get coronavirus will experience nothing worse than seasonal flu symptoms, but the overall profile of the disease, including its mortality rate, looks more serious. At the start of an outbreak the apparent mortality rate can be an overestimate if a lot of mild cases are being missed. But Bruce Aylward, a WHO expert, who led an international mission to China to learn about the virus and the country’s response, said this has not been the case with Covid-19. The evidence did not suggest that we were only seeing the tip of the iceberg. If borne out by further testing, this could mean that current estimates of a roughly 1% fatality rate are accurate. This would make Covid-19 about 10 times more deadly than seasonal flu, which is estimated to kill between 290,000 and 650,000 people a year globally.

Coronavirus: the week explained – our expert correspondents put a week’s worth developments in context in one email newsletter

Claim: ‘It only kills the elderly, so younger people can relax’

Most people who are not elderly and do not have underlying health conditions will not become critically ill from Covid-19. But the illness still has a higher chance of leading to serious respiratory symptoms than seasonal flu and there are other at-risk groups – health workers, for instance, are more vulnerable because they are likely to have higher exposure to the virus. The actions that young, healthy people take, including reporting symptoms and following quarantine instructions, will have an important role in protecting the most vulnerable in society and in shaping the overall trajectory of the outbreak.

Claim: ‘You need to be with an infected person for 10 minutes’

For flu, some hospital guidelines define exposure as being within six feet of an infected person who sneezes or coughs for 10 minutes or longer. However, it is possible to be infected with shorter interactions or even by picking the virus up from contaminated surfaces, although this is thought to be a less common route of transmission.

Claim: ‘A vaccine could be ready within a few months’

Scientists were quick out of the gates in beginning development of a vaccine for the new coronavirus, helped by the early release of the genetic sequence by Chinese researchers. The development of a viable vaccine continues apace, with several teams now testing candidates in animal experiments. However, the incremental trials required before a commercial vaccine could be rolled out are still a lengthy undertaking – and an essential one to ensure that even rare side-effects are spotted. A commercially available vaccine within a year would be quick.’

Coronavirus myths debunked by the World Health Organization

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A woman is pictured wearing a mask while walking down Oxford Street, central London, on 17 March. The UK has confirmed 1,960 cases since the outbreak began. (Getty Images)
A woman is pictured wearing a mask while walking down Oxford Street, central London, on 17 March. The UK has confirmed 1,960 cases since the outbreak began. (Getty Images)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has debunked some of the misleading myths surrounding the coronavirus outbreak.

The previously-unknown Covid-19 virus is thought to have emerged at a seafood and live animal market in the Chinese city Wuhan at the end of last year.

It has since spread internationally, with more than 190,000 confirmed cases worldwide since the outbreak was identified, according to John Hopkins University data.

While officials are urging the public to wash their hands regularly and maintain social distancing, the internet is awash with false information about how to stay virus-free.

The WHO has debunked the most widespread, and ludicrous claims, in an attempt to combat the outbreak sooner.

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world

Fact-checker: The number of Covid-19 cases in your local area

Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu

Globally, the death toll has exceeded 7,000.

While this is alarming, more than 80,600 of the 190,000 confirmed patients are known to have “recovered”.

China, where the outbreak began, has seen cases plateauing since the end of February.

Europe is now the epicentre of the pandemic, with Italy alone having more than 27,900 confirmed cases and over 2,000 deaths.

A masked solider is pictured talking to a driver in the island Luzon in the Philippines on 18 March. The Philippines has had 187 confirmed cases. (Getty Images)
A masked solider is pictured talking to a driver in the island Luzon in the Philippines on 18 March. The Philippines has had 187 confirmed cases. (Getty Images)

Coronavirus myths debunked by the World Health Organization

‘Cold temperatures kill the coronavirus’

“There is no reason to believe cold weather can kill the new coronavirus”, according to the WHO.

The Covid-19 virus is one of seven strains of the coronavirus class that are known to infect the airways of humans.

A human’s body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C (97.7°F to 98.6°F) regardless of the conditions outside.

Although unclear, some experts wonder whether cold weather could actually be making the outbreak worse, with it potentially easing as temperatures warm up.

Flu may be more prevalent in the northern hemisphere’s winter due to the cold weather driving people to “huddle” indoors.

Calgary Stampede announces mass layoffs amid COVID-19 outbreak

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Sammy Hudes

16 hours ago  •  2 minute read

The Calgary Stampede has temporarily laid off close to 900 staff — around 80 per cent of its workforce — amid uncertainty from the ongoing outbreak of the new coronavirus.

The majority of the staff affected are casual, part-time employees. The layoffs also include full-time staff.

Calgary Stampede announces mass layoffs amid COVID-19 outbreak

The Stampede informed its volunteer base of the move on Tuesday.

“As a not-for-profit organization, we unfortunately have to take these temporary measures of dramatic layoffs. We’re looking to support the long-term sustainment of the organization, its role in the community and the jobs that we provide, and certainly we did not take these decisions lightly today,” Stampede CEO Warren Connell told Postmedia.

“These decisions were about looking toward the future and the sustainability of the Stampede.”

A total of 890 people were laid off, including 608 casual, part-time employees and 282 regular, part-time and regular, full-time staff.

Connell said the Stampede was “saddened” by the measure.

“With the recent restrictions of mass gatherings as a result of COVID-19, the Calgary Stampede is currently facing an unprecedented halt in activity,” the organization added in a statement.

Despite the move, the annual 10-day July event has not been called off.

But Connell said the Stampede is planning for “contingencies for what Stampede would look like this year.”

“It’s far too early to speculate on whether the Stampede will happen this year,” he said.

“We have not called Stampede. Stampede is still in the mix of what we’re planning on. We just don’t know, depending on timelines and . . . the unknowns the whole community is facing, exactly what that looks like.”

Calgary Stampede CEO, Warren Connell, speaks to the reporters following a collision on Thursday that led to the third horse death of this year's chuckwagon races and a driver disqualified for the first time in the Stampede's history. Friday, July 12, 2019. Brendan Miller/Postmedia
Calgary Stampede CEO Warren Connell /Brendan Miller/Postmedia

He said the organization is involved in about 1,200 events a year outside its marquee fair.

“The majority of the staff we’re talking about support those events,” Connell said.

It’s unclear how long the Stampede’s temporary layoffs will last.

Connell said the organization has set up a program to help affected staff cope financially.

For employees who qualify for employment insurance, the Stampede is bridging their first two weeks of pay to a value equal to 95 per cent of their regular earnings, the maximum allowed according to federal rules.

For employees on the Stampede’s benefits program, the organization will pay both employer and employee costs throughout the duration of the temporary layoffs.

Connell likened the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 event, which is scheduled to take place July 3 to 12, to the 2013 edition that was preceded by mass floods throughout Calgary and southern Alberta.

The Stampede grounds were especially affected, as the late June floods shut down buildings on site. Others, including the Saddledome, were in the midst of reclamation as the event went forth.

“Certainly, if time is our friend and things come around, we’re planning for having a Stampede,” Connell said.

But he acknowledged the event would likely see fewer guests, especially from across the world, if it proceeds as planned.

“You just have to follow the airline industry and the tourism industry and their reduced bookings,” he said.

“We know it’s going to have a significant impact. People plan these events, when you’re an international traveller, many months out.”

Are These Vegan Foods Left Unsold During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

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Even looming food shortages are apparently not enough to prompt some consumers to try soy- and tofu-based products.

  • PUBLISHED 17 MARCH 2020

Claim

A photograph shows store shelves stripped of all foodstuffs except for vegan products during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Origin

The COVID-19 coronavirus disease pandemic that began spreading globally in the first part of 2020 prompted runs on grocery stores and other food outlets that left many store shelves stripped bare of consumables. As social media users began sharing photographs of barren shelves to document the extent of the situation, a few delighted in posting pictures that showed a few foodstuffs left behind in otherwise empty stores — with the implication that these comestibles were so awful tasting that people were unwilling to purchase them, even in a time of crisis.

One common subject of such photographs was food identified (correctly or otherwise) as being “vegan” (i.e., containing no animal products). One particular picture of that nature was shared by multiple Facebook and Twitter users:

Keira Savage@KeiraSavage00

Not even the threat of starvation from a panic buying food shortage can move vegan food off the shelves..

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Although the photograph may be fairly representative of the general concept and does picture some vegan food products, it did not originate with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The earliest versions of this picture we were able to find online had been posted well over two years before the COVID-19 outbreak and dated from September 2017 — just after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas and Louisiana in August 2017 and prompted a similar run on grocery stores by residents in the storm’s path:

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Do I need to worry that my dog has coronavirus?

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Posted on 06/03/2020 by World Animal Protection US

The simple answer is no. It’s understandable that many of us are feeling concerned about the possibility of contracting coronavirus, but to turn our attention towards dogs would be entirely misguided.

Tell the world

Pets are great companions and they shouldn’t pay the price of our fear by being abandoned or cruelly mistreated. We’re urging people to continue to protect their pets by trying to avoid crowded places for dog walks and keeping their time outdoors to a minimum where possible until we know more about the transmission of the coronavirus.

The simple answer is no. It’s understandable that many of us are feeling concerned about the possibility of contracting coronavirus, but to turn our attention towards dogs would be entirely misguided.

Just last month, heartbreaking images of pet dogs and cats emerged from China’s Hubei Province – their eyes glazed over, their bodies lying lifeless on the pavements, some surrounded by a pool of their own blood. The fear of catching the virus had terrified their owners, believing their pets could be carriers – they were thrown from the windows of the high-rise tower blocks. People’s fears were leading to cruel and unnecessary loss of life.

While not common, some authorities have reported pets being killed (either by force or humanely euthanized) or abandoned as a precaution. Thankfully, this doesn’t appear to be the common response, and most people realize this is a completely unnecessary reaction to the coronavirus rumor mill.

Coronavirus is frequently being compared to the SARS outbreak of 2003 as it bears striking similarities. Just like with SARS, there were also fears that pets could spread the disease. By the end of the epidemic, just eight cats and a dog tested positive for the virus, but no animal was ever found to transmit the disease to humans.

Now, the world is turning its attention to Hong Kong, where an elderly, 17-year-old Pomeranian dog has tested ‘weak positive’ for coronavirus. A dog of this age might typically be quite vulnerable to infections, yet it is still showing no signs of disease relating to COVID-19. Experts will be monitoring the dog and will be repeating the test in the coming days, although more tests need to be done.

To put it into perspective, consider that there are around 750 million dogs living in the world, mostly alongside people, and of all these, just one single dog, has tested weakly positive for coronavirus. This is an extremely rare and isolated case. We need to prevent a knee-jerk reaction to our canine companions, preventing any drastic measures.

It’s still early days, and experts are unsure how the disease interacts with other animals. There have been questions on whether the dog has actually contracted the disease, or just that the virus is being harbored in its body. After all, the dog was in close proximity to its owner, who does have the disease. For a dog to contract coronavirus, the disease will have had to mutate to enable it to latch on to dog cells. Right now, we don’t know for sure if this is the case, so this example tells us very little.

It’s also important to consider that the genes of dogs are very different from the genes of humans. While it looks as though the coronavirus might have originated in a bat, it’s a mystery how the virus jumped from bats to humans, and if there was another animal in the middle, bridging this gap.

Even if this case does show that the virus can jump to dogs, we don’t know enough at this stage about its possible transmission to other dogs, animals or even back to humans again. Take distemper, canine parvovirus, and heartworms for example – these are all examples of infections that cannot be transmitted from dogs to humans due to the differences in our genetic make-up among other things. 

Pets are great companions and they shouldn’t pay the price of our fear by being abandoned or cruelly mistreated. We’re urging people to continue to protect their pets by trying to avoid crowded places for dog walks and keeping their time outdoors to a minimum where possible until we know more about the transmission of the coronavirus. This should also serve as an important reminder to be a responsible pet owner by microchipping, vaccinating and neutering your animals. For pets belonging to a household with COVID-19 infections, we recommend pets are also placed in quarantined facilities where possible or kept isolated from other animals at least.

Our message is clear – we need to look after our animals and not panic. There is no evidence showing that pets can be the source of infection of coronavirus. All around the world, dogs improve and add value to our lives. They keep us company, protect homes and livestock, and can learn to do extraordinary tasks – so let’s make sure we keep them, and ourselves, protected.

Inslee orders all restaurants, bars shut down because of coronavirus

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by KOMO News Staff

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https://komonews.com/news/coronavirus/inslee-on-ignoring-covid-19-social-distancing-your-actions-could-kill-someone-stop-it
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Tyler Baldwin mops the floor after closing for the night at the Taproom at Pike Place, Sunday, March 15, 2020 where he works as a bartender in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

OLYMPIA, Wash. — All bars, entertainment and recreational facilities have been ordered by the state to close across Washington and restaurants will be limited to take-out or delivery orders only, Gov. Jay Inslee said Sunday night.

The order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday morning, an Inslee spokesperson said, though King County has chosen to enact its ban immediately.

Gov. Inslee Press Conf. on COVID-19 Update

“Given the explosion of COVID-19 in our state and globally, I will sign a statewide emergency proclamation tomorrow to temporarily shut down restaurants, bars and entertainment and recreational facilities,” Inslee said in a press release announcing the new order. “Restaurants will be allowed to provide take-out and delivery services but no in-person dining will be permitted. The ban will not apply to grocery stores and pharmacies. Other retail outlets will have reduced occupancy.”

Retail outlets include gas stations, banks, hardware, stores and shopping centers.

Governor Jay Inslee

✔@GovInslee

 · 
Replying to @GovInslee

King County will shut down these establishments immediately. As the largest population center and current epicenter of this outbreak, they must act with even greater urgency. I applaud @kcexec’s decision.

We will hold a joint press conference with more details tomorrow. 5/6

Governor Jay Inslee

✔@GovInslee

We’re in this together, Washington. How each of us responds matters.

And I know we’re up for the challenge.

My full statement: http://bit.ly/SocialDistancingWA …
6/6

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The closure is in effect until March 31 for now.

“Hopefully it’s just a couple weeks, but we don’t know,” said Grace Jurado, General Manager of Red Mill Burgers.

Red Mill Burgers was already planning to make changes to its restaurant operations before Inslee’s announcement Sunday night. The Red Mill Burgers Totem House location in Ballard is now temporarily closed. Starting Tuesday, the locations in Phinney Ridge and Interbay will have limited hours and only take to-go orders without cash, Jurado said.

“We were trying to get ahead of the curve on it, but I’m happy that right now – it’s allowing us to at least stay open for to-go orders,” she told KOMO News on Sunday night.

Inslee orders all restaurants, bars shut down in state in wake of coronavirus
Inslee orders all restaurants, bars shut down in state in wake of coronavirus

Inslee also increased a ban on gatherings over 250 people down to a ban of over 50 people, and all gatherings under 50 people are prohibited unless previously announced criteria for public health and social distancing are met.

“We are at a critical moment in this crisis,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We are leaving the phase of COVID-19 outbreaks in concentrated areas of the county, and entering the phase of potentially rapid and widespread infection.”

He suggests just assume the new coronavirus is already widespread.

“It is time, right now, for people to assume that they and everyone they meet is infected, to avoid any unnecessary interactions that might lead to further infection, and to wait and monitor to see if they have in fact been infected so that they can isolate and recover without presenting a risk to others,” Constantine said.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan says a recent study by the Institute for Disease Modeling found that if the Puget Sound region didn’t take any mitigating steps for the virus, that by early April the Puget Sound region could have as many as 25,000 cases of COVID-19, and 400 deaths. But with strong to extreme social distancing efforts, we can limit future infections to between 1,700 and 4,800 in the region with 30-100 deaths, depending on their effectiveness, the study found.

“The study underscored the importance of social distancing in saving lives, preventing the further spread of the virus, and relieving pressure on the health care system and first responders,” Durkan said.

‘Your actions could kill someone’

The announcement comes hours after Inslee had stern words Sunday for those who are ignoring the state mandates to avoid large crowds and practice strong social distancing as the new coronavirus continues to spread:

“Your actions could kill someone. Stop it.”

Governor Jay Inslee

✔@GovInslee

Most Washingtonians are helping slow COVID-19’s spread by practicing strong social distancing.

To those of you that can be but are choosing not to: Your actions could kill someone.

Stop it.

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Inslee’s tweet praised most Washingtonians for adhering to the recommendations, designed to slow the widening outbreak. Two more deaths were announced Sunday afternoon in King County, bringing the county’s total to 37 and the statewide total to 42 with 769 total cases.

The deaths include a woman in her 60s who died at Franciscan Medical on March 14 and a woman in her 70s who died on March 12. Both were residents of Life Care Center of Kirkland.

Of the 37 deaths reported in King County, 29 are associated with Life Care. As of Saturday, 47 staff members tested positive for coronavirus, 24 tested negative, one test came back inconclusive, and five tests are still pending. Eighteen additional employees will be tested Saturday.

So far, more than 9,000 people who tested for coronavirus came back with negative results.

“Although the laboratory test is becoming more broadly available, there are limitations in the health care industry’s capacity to obtain samples from people as rapidly as we would like,” Public Health Seattle & King County wrote in a press release. “In addition, people do not always need to be tested for clinical care purposes since there is currently no medication to treat COVID-19.”

EvergreenHealth Hospital ER Doctor hospitalized with coronavirus

An emergency room doctor with EvergreenHealth hospital, which is treating several COVID-19 cases, has been hospitalized himself due to the coronavirus infection, hospital officials and the American College of Emergency Officials said Sunday.

Hospital officials say the doctor is in critical but stable condition. His name is not being released due health privacy laws.

“I am deeply saddened by this news, but not surprised,” ACEP President Dr. William Jaquis said in a statement. “As emergency physicians, we know the risks of our calling. We stand united with our colleagues and our thoughts and prayers for a full and speedy recovery are with each of them and their families.”

Jaquis says it’s unclear whether the doctor picked up the virus at the hospital or via community spread.

Don’t overstock on supplies

Inslee also praised most state residents for buying supplies responsibly but noted that those that are overbuying are “putting their friends and neighbors at risk.”

“Grocers say consumer overstocking – not a disrupted supply chain — is the main reason their store shelves are empty of many supplies and food items, especially hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, toilet paper, and plastic gloves,” according to a Department of Health Press Release.

Officials say they want to assure everyone once shoppers return to the normal pace of purchases there will be an adequate supply. They added that water supplies are fine and there is no need to overstock bottled water.

“These are very difficult decisions, but hours count here and very strong measures are necessary to slow the spread of the virus,” Inslee said. “I know there will be significant economic impacts to all our communities and we are looking at steps to help address those challenges.”

CDC: Avoid gatherings over 50 for 8 weeks

Officials across the country curtailed many elements of American life to fight the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday, with health officials recommending that groups of 50 or more don’t get together and a government expert saying a 14-day national shutdown may be needed.

Governors were closing restaurants, bars, and schools as the nation sank deeper into chaos over the crisis. Travelers returning home from overseas trips were stuck in line for hours at major airports for screenings, causing them to be crammed into just the kind of crowded spaces that public health officials have been urging people to avoid.

As Americans struggled to come to terms with how to change their daily habits, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a dramatic recommendation: Because large events can fuel the spread of the disease, it said gatherings of 50 people or more should be canceled or postponed throughout the country for the next eight weeks. It added that, at any event, proper precautions should be taken, including making sure people are washing their hands and not getting too close.

But in a sign of the difficulty of striking the right balance, the statement from the CDC also said the recommendation does not apply to “the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses.”

Blood supply in jeopardy of collapse

Health officials say that the local blood supply is in jeopardy of collapsing with multiple blood drives closing and more than 2,500 donations lost amid coronavirus concerns.

“New donors are needed now to step-up and save a life, and for donors to make this a generous and consistent habit,” Public Health Seattle & King County said. “All types of blood are needed for cancer treatment, trauma cases and many other situations. The process only takes an hour and actual donation time is about ten minutes.”

“Donating blood is a safe activity, and there is no risk of contracting coronavirus from the blood donation process,” health officials added.

Inslee said the coronavirus outbreak has now spread to 15 counties in Washington state, where 70% of the state’s population lives.

First vaccine trial begins in Seattle Monday

A clinical trial evaluating a vaccine designed to protect against the new coronavirus will begin Monday in Seattle, according to a government official.

The first participant in the trial will receive the experimental vaccine on Monday, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the trial has not been publicly announced yet. The National Institutes of Health is funding the trial, which is taking place at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle, the official said.

Public health officials say it will take a year to 18 months to fully validate any potential vaccine.

Starbucks implements “To-Go” model in its stores

Starbucks is implementing a “to go” model for at least two weeks to encourage social distancing and help contain the spread of coronavirus.

The policy will apply to all company-owned stores in the U.S. and Canada. The Seattle-based coffee giant will close in high-social gathering locations, including malls and university campuses. Communities with high clusters of COVID-19 cases will also temporarily close or have reduced operating hours.

Other changes include pausing all use of seating, including both in the café and patio areas. Customers may still walk up and order at the counter, through the “order ahead” feature in the Starbucks app or drive-through.

Pike Place Market member tests positive for COVID-19

A member of the Pike Place Market community has tested positive for new coronavirus, according to a Market spokesperson.

“The individual spent time in a very specific area of the Market and that area has been closed and is undergoing a deep cleaning,” says spokesperson Madison Bristol. “We are following the cleaning regimen advised by public health officials.”

Market officials have notified everyone at the market who came in contact with the person so they can evaluate their exposure risk and any need to self-quarantine, Bristol said.

“Currently, the risk to the public is low to Market visitors, according to county officials,” Bristol said, adding that the Market remains open.

Sounders support staff member tests positive for COVID-19

Seattle Sounders FC announced Sunday that the club has learned a member of the organization’s support staff has been confirmed to have COVID-19.

So far it’s the only known case in the organization and the person is in an “appropriate isolation protocol,” according to the team.

The person did work the Sounders’ March 7 match against Columbus but did not interact with the general public. His symptoms didn’t surface until 4 days after the match and experts don’t believe he has posed a risk to the general public, team members or visiting team members.

Seattle food truck struggles to stay open as virus forces customers to work from home

Veronica Weaver is among many local food truck operators feeling the pinch of the coronavirus.

“We go from working five days a week to maybe working one to two days or maybe none at all,” she said.

That’s because the coronavirus outbreak is causing people to work at home, meaning many offices are empty.

“I go to a lot of the big corporations like Microsoft and Expedia and now those locations are shut down to us,” Weaver said.

Less business means the trucks stay parked and charging while Weaver continues to lose money.

“We’re down 80 to 90% of our revenue during this time,” she said.

Skiers leave Alpine resorts as coronavirus measures imposed

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Denis Balibouse, Cecile Mantovani

3 MIN READ

CHAMPERY, Switzerland (Reuters) – Alpine ski resorts emptied on Sunday as governments ordered new measures to limit the spread of coronavirus in Europe, including the closure of ski lifts and restaurants.

Skiers walk past a closed chair-lift after the closure of all ski resorts, including Les Portes du Soleil, since March 14 because of the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Les Crosets, Switzerland, March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Switzerland, which has more than 1,500 confirmed cases and is wedged between badly affected European neighbors, on Friday ordered a ban on gatherings of more than 100 people, saying it applied also to ski resorts.

France adopted even stricter measures on Saturday closing cafes, shops and restaurants. Austria’s western region of Tyrol, home to popular ski resorts where the country’s first cases were reported, announced a total lockdown on Sunday.

In the Swiss village of Champery, part of the vast Portes du Soleil resort that spans the border with France, tourists were checking out of hotels and removing skis from rental lockers. Large slope maps showed red crosses over the lifts.

“It’s sad as the snow is magnificent,” said Damien Gavillet, a 39-year-old ski instructor, at the bottom of the lift. “It’s true we are nearly at the end of the season but there are still great opportunities.”

Some determined skiers, lured by the good conditions and sunshine, didn’t let the lack of working lifts deter them and hiked up to the top on back-country skis and enjoyed empty slopes.

Others donned snowshoes and walked to the top of the slopes in bright sunshine to enjoy picnics there. Lower down, a few families with small children were sledding on the nursery slopes.

Around 5,000 people earn a living, either directly or indirectly, from tourism on the Swiss side of Portes du Soleil resort. Normally, the ski season here would last until late April, after the Easter holidays.

“It’s a catastrophe,” said a shop owner in the village, dotted with wooden chalets. “People have been leaving the village for the last 48 hours.”

Switzerland has made 10 billion Swiss francs ($10.52 billion) available in immediate assistance to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the government said on Friday.

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Perhaps aware of the blow to tourism, some Swiss resorts kept lifts running on Saturday, witnesses said, but all appeared to be conforming on Sunday after Berne sent a reminder.

Some saw the bright side, noting the fact that it was a great location to avoid the crowds.

“This is an ideal place for isolation,” said a German woman.

Chinese firm encourages people to EAT DOGS to show ‘cultural confidence’ as it boycotts drafted law that bars pet meat from the dinner plate in the wake of coronavirus outbreak

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  • The claim was made by a firm specialising in making dog meat dishes in China
  • It alleged that lawmakers in Shenzhen drafted the proposal to appease the West
  • It blasted the proposal as a ‘denial to thousands of years of Chinese food culture’
  • Animal activists have urged China to forbid the consumption of dogs for years 
  • The drafted law is currently under assessment by the government of Shenzhen
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

By BILLIE THOMSON FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: | UPDATED: 

A company specialising in making dog meat dishes has claimed that eating dogs is a way for Chinese people to show their ‘cultural confidence’.

Fankuai Dog Meat from eastern China made the statement in a blog post while protesting against a proposed law which bans people from consuming pets in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

The brand claims that lawmakers in the city of Shenzhen drafted the proposal to appease the West.

Fankuai Dog Meat, a company based in eastern China, has claimed that eating dogs is a way for Chinese people to show their 'cultural confidence'. It boycotts a proposal by lawmakers from Shenzhen, which bans the locals from consuming dog meat to improve food safety

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Fankuai Dog Meat, a company based in eastern China, has claimed that eating dogs is a way for Chinese people to show their ‘cultural confidence’. It boycotts a proposal by lawmakers from Shenzhen, which bans the locals from consuming dog meat to improve food safety

Volunteer veterinarians treat sick and wounded dogs rescued from a truck heading towards the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in an improvised shelter in Guangzhou, China, on June 22

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Volunteer veterinarians treat sick and wounded dogs rescued from a truck heading towards the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in an improvised shelter in Guangzhou, China, on June 22

Fankuai produces a wide range of dishes, including hand-shredded dog meat, spicy dog meat and dog meat braised in a turtle broth.

Based in the county of Pei in Jiangsu Province, the firm is named after an ancient Chinese general who allegedly made his living by butchering dogs in his early years.

The company published the strongly worded article last Thursday to condemn the potential policy from Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong.

The commentary blasted the city’s plan as a ‘denial to thousands of years of Chinese food culture’.

It claimed that relevant officials had stood on the opposite side of the general public and drawn the proposal to appease the West, which is used to ‘bullying’ Chinese culture.

It also said that the proposal represented ‘extreme dog lovers’ and created ‘inharmonious social atmosphere’.

Fankuai blasted Shenzhen's plan as a 'denial to thousands of years of Chinese food culture' in a now-deleted commentary published last Thursday. Pictured above, a man wearing a face mask carries his pet dog on a street in Jiujiang in China's central Jiangxi province on March 6

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Fankuai blasted Shenzhen’s plan as a ‘denial to thousands of years of Chinese food culture’ in a now-deleted commentary published last Thursday. Pictured above, a man wearing a face mask carries his pet dog on a street in Jiujiang in China’s central Jiangxi province on March 6

It then argued that people in various Chinese provinces 'have a history of eating dogs for two to three thousand years', therefore the proposal 'strips people of their freedom of eating dog meat'. Pictured above, a Chinese woman holds her dog that is wearing a protective mask

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It then argued that people in various Chinese provinces ‘have a history of eating dogs for two to three thousand years’, therefore the proposal ‘strips people of their freedom of eating dog meat’. Pictured above, a Chinese woman holds her dog that is wearing a protective mask

The firm said it supported Beijing’s new law to ban the eating of wild animals, but criticised the Shenzhen authority for extending the restriction ‘infinitely’ to including ‘livestock’.

It then argued that people in various Chinese provinces ‘have a history of eating dogs for two to three thousand years’, therefore the proposal ‘strips people of their freedom of eating dog meat’.

The article went on to allege that the proposition from Shenzhen protected the interests of ‘extreme dog lovers’.

‘Extreme dog lovers are influenced by the extremist thoughts from the West and appease Western rubbish culture without limit,’ it wrote.

The author concluded its criticism by urging Shenzhen not to pass the law.

The post has been removed from the company’s WeChat account after it had sparked an uproar among Chinese animal activists.

The company has refused an interview request from MailOnline on the matter. One representative cited ‘sensitive topics’ as the reason for the rejection.

The annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival is one of the most controversial food festivals in China and sees thousands of dogs cruelly killed, skinned and cooked with blow-torches before being eaten by the locals. The picture shows butchered dogs at a stall in Yulin on June 21, 2018

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The annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival is one of the most controversial food festivals in China and sees thousands of dogs cruelly killed, skinned and cooked with blow-torches before being eaten by the locals. The picture shows butchered dogs at a stall in Yulin on June 21, 2018

Animal activists have demanded the Chinese government prohibit the consumption of dogs for years.

The annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival is one of the most controversial food festivals in China and sees thousands of dogs cruelly killed, skinned and cooked with blow-torches before being eaten by the locals.

If this proposal from Shenzhen gets passed, it will be the first of its kind in the country.

Apart from dogs, the proposed act bars snake, frog and turtle meat from the dinner table.

Lawmakers from Shenzhen, a city of around 13 million people, published the proposal on February 25 on its government’s website.

The public had until March 5 to send in their feedback to the document.

Fankuai’s controversial claims came after a Chinese scholar said that the country should ban the eating of dogs and cats completely, not just in Shenzhen, to ‘restore its international image’.

Guo Changgang, an academic from Shanghai, called for Beijing to set up legislation and impose the restriction across the country.

Guo Changgang (pictured), the head of the History Research Centre of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said China should establish a relevant law to protect companion animals

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Guo Changgang (pictured), the head of the History Research Centre of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said China should establish a relevant law to protect companion animals

‘The consumption of dog meat and cat meat has never been a social custom that is ‘widely accepted by the people’,’ claimed Mr Guo, the head of the History Research Centre of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

He acknowledged the government’s efforts to crack down on the wildlife trade to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

But he hoped that national lawmakers could extend the protection to cover companion animals.

‘Eating wild animals, dog meat and cat meat is one of the important elements that damage China’s international image,’ he wrote on news app Toutiao.

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At least 4,380 people have died and more than 121,800 have contracted the disease globally

A man wears a mask as he looks at an empty St. Peter's Square after the Vatican erected a new barricade at the edge of the square on Tuesday. Italy entered its first day under a nationwide lockdown after a government decree extended restrictions on movement to the whole nation

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A man wears a mask as he looks at an empty St. Peter’s Square after the Vatican erected a new barricade at the edge of the square on Tuesday. Italy entered its first day under a nationwide lockdown after a government decree extended restrictions on movement to the whole nation

People wearing masks sit in a subway train in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday. In Italy, the government extended a coronavirus containment order previously limited to the country's north to the rest of the country beginning Tuesday, with soldiers and police enforcing bans

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People wearing masks sit in a subway train in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday. In Italy, the government extended a coronavirus containment order previously limited to the country’s north to the rest of the country beginning Tuesday, with soldiers and police enforcing bans

China’s top legislative committee last month passed new legislation to ban all trade and consumption of wild animals.

Beijing is yet to revise its wild animal protection law, but the passage of the proposal was ‘essential’ and ‘urgent’ in helping the country win its war against the epidemic, wrote state newspaper People’s Daily.

The exact source of the novel coronavirus remains unconfirmed. Scientists speculate that it originated in bats, snakes, pangolins, or some other animal.

In China alone, the health crisis has claimed at least 3,158 lives and infected more than 80,900 people.

And globally, at least 4,380 people have died and more than 121,800 have contracted the disease. More than 100 countries are now trying to contain the contagion.

Experts from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said tests proved that humans caught the virus from animals at the Huanan Seafood Wholesales Market.

Coronavirus crisis declared pandemic by World Health Organisation

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Top infectious disease expert doesn’t rule out supporting temporary national lockdown to combat coronavirus

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By Devan Cole and Alison Main, CNN

Updated 10:47 AM ET, Sun March 15, 2020

Coronavirus expert reacts to crowded airport images

Washington (CNN)The nation’s top infectious disease expert on Sunday did not rule out supporting a temporary national lockdown of the country’s restaurants and bars in order to curb the spread of coronavirus, saying he’d like to see a “dramatic” reduction in activity in order to fight the disease.

Asked by CNN’s Brianna Keilar on “State of the Union” if he’d like a “national lockdown” where people are being told they need to stay home and out of restaurants and bars, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said he’d “like to see a dramatic diminution of the personal interaction that we see” in those places.
“Whatever it takes to do that, that’s what I’d like to see,” Fauci added.
Fauci, a key member of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, told Keilar that Americans will need to come to terms with the fact that life will begin to look much different as the country tries to slow the spread of the disease.
How Dr. Anthony Fauci became Trump's coronavirus truth teller

How Dr. Anthony Fauci became Trump’s coronavirus truth teller
“We need to be very serious about — for a while, life is not going to be the way it used to be in the United States,” he said. “We have to just accept that if we want to do what’s best for the American public.”
The comments from Fauci come as officials continue to urge “social distancing” as a way to slow the spread of the disease. Dozens of national and local events have been canceled or postponed in recent days as companies, organizations and governments try to reduce the number of people congregated in a single area.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines “social distancing” as “remaining out of places where people meet or gather,” and “avoiding local public transportation.”
Already, some states and cities have implemented dramatic policies amid the pandemic.
The New Jersey city of Hoboken is implementing a city-wide curfew and new restrictions, starting Monday, in response to coronavirus. Residents must stay home from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. ET, unless they have to work during those hours.
The city of Austin, Texas, has banned gatherings of 250 people starting early Sunday until at least May 1, while New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said gatherings of 500 or more people — except for schools, hospitals, nursing homes and mass transit — are banned in the state because of the outbreak.
As of Sunday morning, there were 2,885 cases of coronavirus in the US and the disease had resulted in at least 60 deaths, according to figures from state and local health agencies, governments and the CDC.
This story has been updated with additional information from Fauci’s Sunday interview.

Tom Hanks Says He Has Coronavirus

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The actor said he and his wife, Rita Wilson, had tested positive while in Australia, where he was set to begin production on a film.

ttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/business/media/tom-hanks-coronavirus.html?fbclid=IwAR2Lm7joxGmLLQuML71L1uKuhe6iqc3OrhrwtkpUDB_Q2omai91qcSMxCig
Tom Hanks said he and his wife, Rita Wilson, “will be tested, observed and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires.”
Credit…Noel West for The New York Times

By Nicole Sperling

LOS ANGELES — The actor Tom Hanks said on Wednesday that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, have the coronavirus.

Mr. Hanks and Ms. Wilson, both 63, are in Australia, where he was set to film a movie about the life of Elvis Presley. “We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches,” the Academy Award-winning actor said in a statement. “Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers, too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive.”

He added that he and Ms. Wilson “will be tested, observed and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires.”

“Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?” Mr. Hanks said in his statement, which he also posted on Instagram accompanied by a photograph of a lone medical glove in a hazardous waste container. “We’ll keep the world posted and updated.”

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Mr. Hanks is by far the most prominent entertainment figure to say he has the virus and, by going public with the information, instantly becomes the face of an outbreak that has cascaded around the globe.

With the seriousness of the pandemic still being debated in some corners of the media, learning that Mr. Hanks, the star of films like “Saving Private Ryan” and “Apollo 13,” has been stricken may make the situation seem much more tangible to some Americans. At virtually the same time that Mr. Hanks released his statement, the N.B.A. announced it was suspending its season. Hours before, the N.C.A.A. said its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments would be played without spectators.

Ann Curry, a journalist and former host of NBC’s “Today,” said on Twitter: “Ok, now we all have someone we love diagnosed with #coronavirus.”

Other Hollywood stars immediately offered their support for the couple.

“Wishing two of the kindest, coolest, most talented people in the world ⁦⁦@tomhanks⁩ & @RitaWilson a swift recovery,” Mia Farrow said on Twitter.

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In the movie he was in Australia to film, Mr. Hanks is playing the role of Colonel Tom Parker, Presley’s eccentric manager, who groomed the famous singer for stardom in the 1950s.

Production on the film, which is being directed by Baz Luhrmann and does not yet have a title, is set to begin on Monday. Warner Bros., the studio behind the movie, has said it spans “over 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and the loss of innocence in America.”

Mr. Luhrmann, an Australian, wrote the script with Craig Pearce, with whom he also wrote “The Great Gatsby” and “Moulin Rouge!” Australia has had more than 120 cases confirmed cases of coronavirus.

“The health and safety of our company members is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world,” Warner said in a statement.

Warner has been among the Hollywood studios most affected by the coronavirus epidemic because of its large television production division, which makes more than 80 shows.

Also on Wednesday, Warner confirmed that it had suspended production of “Riverdale,” a teenage drama based on Archie Comics characters that runs on the CW network, because of the coronavirus. “Riverdale” films in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“We have and will continue to take precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world,” Warner said in its “Riverdale” statement.

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In the United States, the number of cases has surpassed 1,150, and warnings about the safety of mass gatherings has begun to have tangible effects in the entertainment world. Daytime talk shows like “The View” and “Live With Kelly and Ryan” filmed without their usual studio audiences on Wednesday, and late-night shows based in New York, like “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” announced that they would go without studio audiences starting on Monday.

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” a Warner production in Burbank, Calif., will also begin taping without a studio audience.

Brooks Barnes and Daniel Victor contributed reporting.

Nicole Sperling is a media and entertainment reporter, covering Hollywood and the burgeoning streaming business. She joined The Times in 2019. She previously worked for Vanity Fair, Entertainment Weekly and the Los Angeles Times. @nicsperling

A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 10 of the New York edition with the headline: Coronavirus Strikes Hanks And Wilson. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

The Coronavirus Outbreak

  • Answers to your most common questions:

    Updated March 10, 2020

    • What is a coronavirus?
      It is a novel virus named for the crownlike spikes that protrude from its surface. The coronavirus can infect both animals and people and can cause a range of respiratory illnesses from the common cold to lung lesions and pneumonia.
    • How contagious is the virus?
      It seems to spread very easily from person to person, especially in homes, hospitals and other confined spaces. The pathogen can travel through the air, enveloped in tiny respiratory droplets that are produced when a sick person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes.
    • Where has the virus spread?
      The virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has sickened more than 127,800 in at least 111 countries and more than 4,700 have died. The spread has slowed in China but is gaining speed in Europe and the United States. World Health Organization officials said the outbreak qualifies as a pandemic.
    • What symptoms should I look out for?
      Symptoms, which can take between two to 14 days to appear, include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Milder cases may resemble the flu or a bad cold, but people may be able to pass on the virus even before they develop symptoms.
    • What if I’m traveling?
      The C.D.C. has advised against all non-essential travel to South Korea, China, Italy and Iran. And the agency has warned older and at-risk travelers to avoid Japan.The State Department has advised Americans against traveling on cruise ships.
    • How long will it take to develop a treatment or vaccine?
      Several drugs are being tested, and some initial findings are expected soon. A vaccine to stop the spread is still at least a year away.