mercurynews--2020-03-04--Miss Manners: When a stranger falls down, what am I supposed to do?

DEAR MISS MANNERS : On two separate occasions , I have witnessed a person falling .
Are there any rules or customs that help individuals respond to these accidents ?
In both cases , those who saw the accidents waited for the paramedics — who were necessary , as the injuries were serious .
Beyond calling 911 , are bystanders to walk away so there won ’ t be additional confusion , or move out of the way and wait out of concern ?
If we walk away , knowing that we are not able to help the situation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If we stand around , it appears as if we are gawking and enjoying the moment .
There should be a way to handle this .
• Miss Manners : My boyfriend scoffed at the idea of thank-you notes • Miss Manners : Barista has some nerve to do his job without a smile • Miss Manners : These thin people goad me with odd comments about weight • Miss Manners : I have a slight accent and I can ’ t believe the rude comments • Miss Manners : How do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college ?
GENTLE READER : Gawkers and good Samaritans are differentiated by their actions , but Miss Manners recognizes that in such situations , action is not always required .
You will therefore have to demonstrate your intent by standing back and putting on a concerned face ( furrowed brow ) , but not staring .
How long to remain in that position — in other words , whether you can leave — will depend on the seriousness of the fall and the number of other people available in case extra help is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boyfriend and I went out for a nice dinner and ordered quail as an appetizer .
It was absolutely delicious , but also very difficult to eat , as the bird is very small , and the meat difficult to cut off of the bones .
We were laughing at ourselves in our frustration , trying to pin down the drumstick with the fork and knife to get at the meat , and wondering if there was a proper way to eat small fowl .
It certainly didn ’ t seem proper to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a drumstick of fried chicken on a picnic , but the alternative — chasing it around the plate with fork and knife and being unable to get at half of the meat — didn ’ t seem quite right , either .
Do you have any advice for us ?
GENTLE READER : Quail is indeed a challenge .
Request a very sharp knife , and reconcile yourself to not getting every last smidgen .
Miss Manners offers two observations : You are better off than the quail .
And you will likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course .
DEAR MISS MANNERS : My daughter will be a first-generation university graduate this spring .
I want to take her out to a restaurant of her choice afterward to celebrate .
Any family/friends wishing to attend the dinner party are welcome to come along , provided I know in advance , so that proper reservations can be made .
Would it be inappropriate to expect everyone to pay their own way ?
And how would I convey this message without any hurt feelings or being presumptuous ?
GENTLE READER : As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Miss Manners must instead question your logic .
A dinner host invites guests — and bears the cost of feeding them .
In return she receives , one hopes , recognition as the host , gratitude and reciprocation .
If you do not wish to assume the responsibilities of a host , then she can not offer you the rewards .
Alternatives would be a less costly dinner at your home , a smaller guest list , or persuading one of your daughter ’ s peers to pipe up at the graduation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone want to go over to Josh ’ s Diner and grab dinner ?
” Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website , www.missmanners.com ; to her email , dearmissmanners @ gmail.com ; or through postal mail to Miss Manners , Andrews McMeel Syndication , 1130 Walnut St. , Kansas City , MO 64106 .

Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin

DEAR MISS MANNERS: On two separate occasions, I have witnessed a person falling. Are there any rules or customs that help individuals respond to these accidents?
In both cases, those who saw the accidents waited for the paramedics — who were necessary, as the injuries were serious. Beyond calling 911, are bystanders to walk away so there won’t be additional confusion, or move out of the way and wait out of concern?
If we walk away, knowing that we are not able to help the situation, it appears as if one is indifferent. If we stand around, it appears as if we are gawking and enjoying the moment.
There should be a way to handle this.
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You will therefore have to demonstrate your intent by standing back and putting on a concerned face (furrowed brow), but not staring. How long to remain in that position — in other words, whether you can leave — will depend on the seriousness of the fall and the number of other people available in case extra help is needed.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My boyfriend and I went out for a nice dinner and ordered quail as an appetizer. It was absolutely delicious, but also very difficult to eat, as the bird is very small, and the meat difficult to cut off of the bones.
We were laughing at ourselves in our frustration, trying to pin down the drumstick with the fork and knife to get at the meat, and wondering if there was a proper way to eat small fowl.
It certainly didn’t seem proper to pick it up and eat it like a drumstick of fried chicken on a picnic, but the alternative — chasing it around the plate with fork and knife and being unable to get at half of the meat — didn’t seem quite right, either. Do you have any advice for us?
GENTLE READER: Quail is indeed a challenge. Request a very sharp knife, and reconcile yourself to not getting every last smidgen. Miss Manners offers two observations: You are better off than the quail. And you will likely wish to order a more substantial main course.
Want Miss Manners delivered to your inbox for free on weekdays?
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My daughter will be a first-generation university graduate this spring. I want to take her out to a restaurant of her choice afterward to celebrate. Any family/friends wishing to attend the dinner party are welcome to come along, provided I know in advance, so that proper reservations can be made.
Would it be inappropriate to expect everyone to pay their own way? And how would I convey this message without any hurt feelings or being presumptuous?
GENTLE READER: As she is unwilling to question your motives, Miss Manners must instead question your logic. A dinner host invites guests — and bears the cost of feeding them. In return she receives, one hopes, recognition as the host, gratitude and reciprocation.
If you do not wish to assume the responsibilities of a host, then she cannot offer you the rewards. Alternatives would be a less costly dinner at your home, a smaller guest list, or persuading one of your daughter’s peers to pipe up at the graduation ceremony with, “Hey, does anyone want to go over to Josh’s Diner and grab dinner?”
Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.


mercurynews--2020-03-04--Dear Abby: A stranger ran over and took photos of my food

DEAR ABBY : Today I was in a small neighborhood restaurant with a friend .
I ordered a special burger .
When the cook brought it to the table , my friend immediately pulled out her camera and snapped several shots .
A stranger who had been sitting at the bar jumped off his stool and came over to our table with his camera .
I ’ m not sure how many photos of my meal were taken before I was able to start eating .
My friend was logging onto Facebook to post before I took my first bite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like sisters , and I don ’ t want her to call me Mom in public • Dear Abby : Teenage girls invaded our house and refused to leave • Dear Abby : He doesn ’ t realize what this childhood friend did to his sister • Dear Abby : My co-worker flips out if I wear certain colors • Dear Abby : She let a horrible rich woman adopt me , and now she wants my money I was dumbfounded .
What can be said to people who are this rude ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ DEAR GET IT : What can be said ?
Plenty — starting with , “ Knock it off !
” or “ I don ’ t like that !
” Talk about an invasion of privacy as well as personal space .
I don ’ t blame you for feeling invaded .
DEAR ABBY : I dated a guy for 10 months .
We constantly fought because of his lack of trust .
He had been burned in previous relationships .
He said , “ Trust is earned , not given , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After a recent argument ( about lack of trust ) , I told him this attitude is a deal-breaker , and he needed time to reflect on his issues .
I talked to him several days a week during the process , and we weren ’ t intimate during that time .
I decided to have dinner with him at his apartment last night to further discuss the situation , only to have an old girlfriend ring his doorbell , upset .
It seems that during the last five weeks , he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her while attempting to make amends with me .
When I asked about her , he told me he thought we were done , and he was trying to put a band-aid on his pain .
What to do ?
He has great qualities but is so jealous and suspicious .
Will he ever improve , or will I always be trying to prove myself ?
I believe he cares for me , but his actions with the old girlfriend negate this .
I can not even begin to rationalize his thought process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TIRED : This guy is suspicious because he isn ’ t trustworthy .
There ’ s a saying attributed to historian , civil rights activist and author W.E.B .
Du Bois : “ A man does not look behind the door unless he has stood there himself.
” People are often jealous and controlling because they are insecure .
Your boyfriend ran back to his old girlfriend because he was unable to be alone , even for a brief period .
Be smart .
Wake up and lose him .
You can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was physically abusive to me when I was a child , and distant and emotionally abusive when I was a teenager .
Because of it , I had low self-esteem and was extremely depressed for most of my life .
I confronted him when I was an adult , and he tried to explain why he was that way , but never apologized .
He is now 93 and in a nursing home .
He probably won ’ t be alive much longer .
I would like to get closure by telling him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my life , but I know it would hurt him .
Should I look for the closure I have needed all of my life , or keep it to myself to spare his feelings ?
DEAR HURTING : If you have things you need to get off your chest to your father , as painful as they may be , then do it .
Explain calmly , in an even tone of voice , how important validation is to children as they develop , and how deeply his physical and emotional abuse has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he owes you an apology , but do not go there expecting one , because he may be incapable of it .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .

DEAR ABBY: Today I was in a small neighborhood restaurant with a friend. I ordered a special burger.
When the cook brought it to the table, my friend immediately pulled out her camera and snapped several shots. A stranger who had been sitting at the bar jumped off his stool and came over to our table with his camera. I’m not sure how many photos of my meal were taken before I was able to start eating.
My friend was logging onto Facebook to post before I took my first bite.
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GET IT WHILE IT’S HOT
DEAR GET IT: What can be said? Plenty — starting with, “Knock it off!” or “I don’t like that!” Talk about an invasion of privacy as well as personal space. I don’t blame you for feeling invaded.
DEAR ABBY: I dated a guy for 10 months. We constantly fought because of his lack of trust. He had been burned in previous relationships. He said, “Trust is earned, not given,” which isn’t my philosophy.
After a recent argument (about lack of trust), I told him this attitude is a deal-breaker, and he needed time to reflect on his issues. I talked to him several days a week during the process, and we weren’t intimate during that time.
I decided to have dinner with him at his apartment last night to further discuss the situation, only to have an old girlfriend ring his doorbell, upset. It seems that during the last five weeks, he had started seeing her again and slept with her while attempting to make amends with me.
When I asked about her, he told me he thought we were done, and he was trying to put a band-aid on his pain. What to do?
He has great qualities but is so jealous and suspicious. Will he ever improve, or will I always be trying to prove myself? I believe he cares for me, but his actions with the old girlfriend negate this. I cannot even begin to rationalize his thought process.
GETTING TIRED OF IT
DEAR GETTING TIRED: This guy is suspicious because he isn’t trustworthy.
There’s a saying attributed to historian, civil rights activist and author W.E.B. Du Bois: “A man does not look behind the door unless he has stood there himself.”
People are often jealous and controlling because they are insecure. Your boyfriend ran back to his old girlfriend because he was unable to be alone, even for a brief period.
Be smart. Wake up and lose him. You can do better.
DEAR ABBY: My father was physically abusive to me when I was a child, and distant and emotionally abusive when I was a teenager. Because of it, I had low self-esteem and was extremely depressed for most of my life. I confronted him when I was an adult, and he tried to explain why he was that way, but never apologized.
He is now 93 and in a nursing home. He probably won’t be alive much longer. I would like to get closure by telling him the extent to which his behavior damaged my life, but I know it would hurt him. Should I look for the closure I have needed all of my life, or keep it to myself to spare his feelings?
HURTING STILL IN COLORADO
DEAR HURTING: If you have things you need to get off your chest to your father, as painful as they may be, then do it.
Explain calmly, in an even tone of voice, how important validation is to children as they develop, and how deeply his physical and emotional abuse has affected your life.
I agree that he owes you an apology, but do not go there expecting one, because he may be incapable of it.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.


mercurynews--2020-03-05--The Latest: California declares emergency after virus death

BANGKOK ( AP ) — The Latest on the virus outbreak ( all times local ) : California Gov .
Gavin Newsom has declared a statewide emergency after the state ’ s first fatality from the new coronavirus .
Newsom announced the measure at a news conference Wednesday , saying it was intended to help procure supplies quickly .
Officials say an elderly patient who apparently contracted the COVID-19 virus on a cruise died in Northern California .
Health officials said the elderly patient had underlying health conditions and died at a hospital in Roseville , near Sacramento .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship tested positive for the virus Tuesday .
The governor said the state currently has 53 cases of COVID-19 .
U.S. officials say a medical screener at the Los Angeles International Airport has contracted the coronavirus .
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it ’ s unclear if the person contracted the virus through their work as a medical screener or from community transmission .
The agency said no travelers screened at LAX have tested positive for coronavirus .
The person , who is a contractor for the Department of Homeland Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has mild symptoms .
The patient last worked at the airport on Feb. 21 and began feeling cold-like symptoms on Feb. 29 .
The patient ’ s doctor tested them for coronavirus on March 1 .
Officials say the screener wore protective equipment at the airport .
Korean Air has announced flight suspensions and schedule reductions from South Korea to Hawaii and 12 cities in the U.S. , along with dozens of cities around the world due to the new coronavirus outbreak .
The airline on Tuesday posted a schedule on its website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Incheon International Airport , near Seoul , and cities in Australia , Russia and Europe .
Korean Air suspended service last month from several airports in South Korea to Beijing and other cities in China , Japan and Asia .
According to the new schedule , direct flights will stop by next Monday to Boston , New York , Dallas , Las Vegas , Los Angeles and Seattle .
It expects service to resume to many cities in late April .
Reductions in flights were announced for service to Honolulu , Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Vancouver and Toronto .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a “ small cluster ” of patients with the new coronavirus in Northern California who were passengers of a Grand Princess cruise ship that traveled from San Francisco to Mexico in February , including a patient who died at a hospital Wednesday .
The Grand Princess ’ chief medical officer says the ship is at sea off the coast of Mexico and will skip a scheduled stop in Ensenada and return directly to San Francisco , where CDC and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next course of action .
He said guests who sailed on the Feb. 11-21 voyage and are currently on the ship need to remain in their rooms until they are cleared by medical staff .
The ship is expected to dock in San Francisco Thursday .
Health officials say a Placer County resident who was on the February trip died Wednesday in the first death from the COVID-19 virus in California .
Officials say a resident of Sonoma County who also went on the February voyage and tested positive for COVID-19 is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italian government has announced that all sporting events in Italy will take place without fans present for at least the next month due to the virus outbreak .
That will likely see Italian soccer league resume in full this weekend after the calendar was pushed back a week .
Italy is the epicenter of Europe ’ s coronavirus outbreak .
More than 100 people have died and more than 3,000 have been infected with the COVID-19 virus .
The Italian government issued a new decree on Wednesday evening , with measures it hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
All sporting events throughout the country must take place behind closed doors until April 3 .
Schools and universities have been ordered to close until March 15 .
That also calls into question Italy ’ s Six Nations rugby match against England in Rome on March 14 .
That match will either have to go ahead behind closed doors or be postponed .
Italy ’ s match against Ireland , which was scheduled for March 7 , had already been postponed .
The Italian soccer league ’ s governing body has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports say the six Serie A soccer matches that were postponed last week will now be played this weekend .
That includes one of the biggest matches of the season — the Juventus-Inter game , known as the “ Derby d ’ Italia ” or Italy ’ s derby .
Washington state has reported a 10th death from the new coronavirus and California announced its first .
Health officials in Northern California say the elderly person who had other health conditions died Wednesday at a hospital in Roseville where they were in isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus while they traveled in February on a Princess cruise ship from San Francisco to Mexico , officials said in a statement The Washington state Department of Health released updated figures Wednesday morning , showing that nine people had died in King County , the state ’ s most populous , and one person in Snohomish County .
Washington state has now reported 39 COVID-19 cases , all in the greater Seattle area .
No other information about the newly reported Washington state death was immediately available .
Researchers at the Fred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Washington on Sunday said they had evidence COVID-19 may have been circulating in the state for up to six weeks undetected .
If true , that could mean that there are hundreds of undiagnosed cases in the area .
This section has been corrected to remove the reference to the gender of the person who died in California .
Officials in Los Angeles have signed proclamations of local emergencies after six new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in the county , where there was one previously .
Dr. Barbara Ferrer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health , said Wednesday that all of the COVID-19 cases were due to a known exposure and not the result of so-called community transmission .
She said one person was hospitalized and five others were in self-quarantine at home .
The emergency declarations in the county and city are aimed at aiding efforts to respond to the virus and free up resources .
Authorities are also assisting shelters to prevent transmission of the virus in the homeless population .
President Donald Trump is putting a positive spin on the fallout from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are staying in the United States and they ’ re shopping and staying in the hotels .
Trump spoke with leaders of the airline industry on Wednesday at the White House .
The executive spoke of steps they ’ ve taken to confront the spread of the new virus .
Southwest Airlines CEO and board chairman Gary Kelly said employees have stepped up efforts to make sure airplanes are clean and disinfected .
United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said workers are doing what he called the “ corona bump , ” where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump thanked the airlines and said they ’ ve “ stepped up ” to stem the spread of the virus .
Italy has ordered schools to close nationwide through March 15 in a bid to contain the coronavirus , saying the prudent suspension was taken after a careful analysis of how the epidemic was spreading .
Civil protection officials said Wednesday a total of 3,089 people have tested positive in Italy and 107 of them had died — the largest number of deaths outside of China .
Education Minister Lucia Azzolina announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying she hoped schools would be able to continue with lessons via distance learning .
Italy has seen its virus caseload explode since the first homegrown positive test was registered in northern Lombardy on Feb. 19 .
Italy had earlier closed schools in the hard-hit regions of Lombardy , Veneto and Emilia Romagna .
A U.S. health official says six new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Los Angeles County , where there was one previously .
Each case confirmed Tuesday night was due to a known exposure and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Dr. Barbara Ferrer , director of the county Department of Public Health .
She spoke at a press conference on Wednesday .
She says one person has been hospitalized and five others were in self-quarantine at home .
The county ’ s first case was in January , a person who lived in Wuhan , China , the epicenter of the outbreak .
She says that person is no longer infectious .
A U.N. agency estimates that a shortage of industrial parts from China caused by the coronavirus outbreak has set off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exports from other countries around the world to drop $ 47 billion last month .
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development says figures from Chinese businesses suggest an annualized 2 % decline in output in China .
That has led to shrinking supplies for automotive , chemicals , communications and other industries in many countries , in turn reducing their export capacity .
The agency says Wednesday that the preliminary figures show industries outside of China that rely on components , parts and other inputs from the country aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had before the virus erupted .
The outbreak began late last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan , shutting down factories and quarantining workers at home .
The drop in Chinese output results in a “ ripple effect throughout the global economy ” that rises “ to the tune of a $ 50 billion fall in exports across the world , ” said said Pamela Coke-Hamilton , director of the UNCTAD international trade and commodities division .
Exports from the European Union alone made up about one-third of that , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States were second , at nearly $ 5.8 billion , and Japan was third at almost $ 5.2 billion .
The International Air Transport Association says the virus outbreak hit passenger flight demand in January , slowing monthly growth to its lowest level since April 2010 , when a volcano erupted in Iceland , causing massive airspace closures and days of travel chaos in Europe .
The group says year-on-year growth in December 2019 was 4.6 % .
In January 2020 , growth in passenger traffic was only up 2.4 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which represents some 290 airlines making up most of the world ’ s air traffic , said that figures for January this year would only represent the “ tip of the iceberg ” as China only began imposing major travel restrictions toward the end of the month .
Domestic air traffic in China fell 6.8 % in January , year-on-year , as a result of the coronavirus restrictions .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that the wife , two children and a neighbor of a New York lawyer who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also tested positive for the disease .
That increases the number of confirmed cases in the state to six .
Yeshiva University , where one of the children is a student , said it ’ s canceling classes at the upper Manhattan campus where he is enrolled .
The positive test results for the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 came one day after Cuomo announced that the student ’ s father had become the second coronavirus case in New York state .
The family has been quarantined at home in suburban Westchester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home .
Israeli health authorities have ordered everyone from a regional high school and dozens of soccer fans into home quarantine after their possible exposure to a teenage boy who tested positive for the coronavirus .
The Health Ministry said it closed Brenner High School and told all students , teachers and staff members to quarantine at home until March 11 .
Some 1,000 students , including the boy , attend the school in central Israel .
The ministry also instructed dozens of people who sat in the vicinity of the boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tel Avid to isolate themselves at home until March 8 .
The boy apparently became infected while working at a toy store whose owner tested positive for the virus after returning from Italy .
Israel has confirmed 15 coronavirus cases in all and ordered several thousand people into home quarantine after possible exposure .
The Baltic nation of Lithuania has cancelled most of the indoor events planned for the 30th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union because of the coronavirus .
The speaker of the Lithuanian parliament said Wednesday authorities decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the people expected to attend the events are elderly and at higher risk of infection .
Parliament speaker Viktoras Pranckietis says most foreign leaders also cancelled scheduled trips to attend the anniversary events in Lithuania .
He didn ’ t name names , but invitations had been sent to lawmakers in Ukraine , Poland and neighboring Baltic states Latvia and Estonia .
There will be several events in downtown Vilnius , including a flag-raising on Independence Square on March 11 and an evening concert .
Lithuania so far only has reported one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France is open again after employees worried about catching the coronavirus agreed to return to work .
The Paris museum where Leonardo da Vinci ’ s iconic painting hangs had been closed since Sunday while employees fearing infection stayed off the job .
But Louvre staff members voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to resume work and the Louvre opened its doors in the afternoon .
Management presented a raft of new anti-virus measures to try to coax employees back to work .
Among them : wider distributions of disinfectant gels and more frequent staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their hands .
The London Book Fair has been canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak .
The fair , which usually draws more than 25,000 writers , agents and publishers to one of the international publishing industry ’ s biggest gatherings , had been due to take place at London ’ s Olympia conference venue March 10-12 .
Organizer Reed Exhibitions said Wednesday that it had decided “ with reluctance ” to cancel the event .
The decision came after several major publishers , including HarperCollins and Penguin Random House , pulled out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , citing the risk to staff .
Also Wednesday , organizers announced that Asia ’ s biggest casino industry trade show has been postponed because of the virus .
Global Gaming Expo Asia , originally scheduled to be held on May 19-21 in Macao , will be held at the end of July .
More than 13,000 people attended last year ’ s expo , jointly organized by the American Gaming Association and Reed Exhibitions .
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the social network is stepping up its efforts to combat virus-related misinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertising .
Zuckerberg said in a post on his Facebook account that the company is working with national health ministries and global organizations like the World Health Orgnization , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF to get out timely and accurate information on the virus .
Zuckerberg said Facebook will also give “ support and millions more in ad credits ” to other unspecified organizations .
Facebook has previously taken other measures to fight virus hoaxes and misinformation , including removing false claims and conspiracy theories and showing users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Orgnization or their local health authority for the latest information .
Germany has joined several other countries in banning the export of medical equipment such as respiratory masks , gloves and protective suits in most cases .
Germany , like other nations , has faced a shortage of such equipment as concerns over the widening coronavirus outbreak have mounted .
In Germany itself , 240 infections have been confirmed so far .
Germany ’ s interior ministry said Wednesday that exemptions from the export ban will be allowed only under strict conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid actions.
” Russia ’ s government on Wednesday banned the export of masks , respirators and other protective gear along with anti-virus medicines until June 1 .
It also noted that the ban doesn ’ t cover humanitarian aid .
The Ministry for Industry and Trade said the move is intended to prevent an “ artificial deficit ” of protective goods , which are being increasingly sold abroad as global demand has soared .
The Czech government also said it is banning exports of respirators and will start regulating their sale at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health workers and others .
The Czech Republic has five confirmed cases of the new virus .
The European Central Bank says it ’ s restricting all nonessential travel by members of its executive board and employees through April 20 as a precautionary measure amid the global coronavirus outbreak .
The central bank for the 19-nation eurozone said Wednesday that visits to its Frankfurt headquarters and its public visitor center are being suspended for the same period .
It is postponing or cancelling conferences that were due to be held at the bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular policy-setting meetings of its governing council are unaffected , and that the next one will go ahead March 12 as planned .
The ECB stressed that the move was a precaution and there have been no recorded cases yet of bank employees being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 .
India says its number of confirmed coronavirus cases has jumped to 28 , up from just five .
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan says an earlier COVID-19 patient who had traveled to Italy led to the confirmation of six other infections .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ around a large group of Italian tourists who had entered India on Feb. 21 .
India also announced Wednesday that it has imposed universal screening of all passengers on international flights .
Meanwhile , South Korea reported 435 new cases , pushing its total to 5,621 — the second-highest total after China .

BANGKOK (AP) — The Latest on the virus outbreak (all times local):
10:20 a.m.
Australia has banned travel from South Korea and will more thoroughly screen travellers from Italy in a bid to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
The travel ban from late Thursday follows similar bans on travel from China and Iran.
Australian citizens and permanent residents are exempt from the ban. Those returning from Korea are asked to self-isolate for 14 days when they return home.
The new measures come as a 95-year-old nursing home resident became the second person in Australia to die with COVID-19 disease.
8:40 a.m.
China’s deaths from the new COVID-19 illness have surpassed 3,000 though new cases have fallen steadily.
Authorities on Thursday reported 31 deaths over the previous 24 hours.
Another 139 cases of infection with the new coronavirus were reported, all but five of them in the hardest-hit province of Hubei.
While Hubei hospitals admitted another 134 patients, a further 1,923 were declared cured and released.
The update brings China’s totals to 80,409 cases and 3,012 deaths. It has the vast majority of cases and deaths though the virus has spread to more than 70 countries.
China’s numbers have fallen steadily. Though Thursday’s cases were up by 20 from Wednesday’s, deaths were seven lower.
___
5:05 a.m.
U.S. officials say a medical screener at the Los Angeles International Airport has contracted the coronavirus.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it’s unclear if the person contracted the virus through their work as a medical screener or from community transmission. The agency said no travelers screened at LAX have tested positive for coronavirus.
The person, who is a contractor for the Department of Homeland Security, is being quarantined at home and has mild symptoms.
The patient last worked at the airport on Feb. 21 and began feeling cold-like symptoms on Feb. 29. The patient’s doctor tested them for coronavirus on March 1.
Officials say the screener wore protective equipment at the airport.
___
5:30 a.m.
Korean Air has announced flight suspensions and schedule reductions from South Korea to Hawaii and 12 cities in the U.S., along with dozens of cities around the world due to the new coronavirus outbreak.
The airline on Tuesday posted a schedule on its website listing cancellations of service beginning this week between Incheon International Airport, near Seoul, and cities in Australia, Russia and Europe.
Korean Air suspended service last month from several airports in South Korea to Beijing and other cities in China, Japan and Asia.
According to the new schedule, direct flights will stop by next Monday to Boston, New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Seattle. It expects service to resume to many cities in late April.
Reductions in flights were announced for service to Honolulu, Chicago, Washington and Atlanta, as well as Vancouver and Toronto.
___
4:50 a.m.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a “small cluster” of patients with the new coronavirus in Northern California who were passengers of a Grand Princess cruise ship that traveled from San Francisco to Mexico in February, including a patient who died at a hospital Wednesday.
The Grand Princess’ chief medical officer says the ship is at sea off the coast of Mexico and will skip a scheduled stop in Ensenada and return directly to San Francisco, where CDC and cruise officials will meet to determine the next course of action. He said guests who sailed on the Feb. 11-21 voyage and are currently on the ship need to remain in their rooms until they are cleared by medical staff.
The ship is expected to dock in San Francisco Thursday.
Health officials say a Placer County resident who was on the February trip died Wednesday in the first death from the COVID-19 virus in California.
Officials say a resident of Sonoma County who also went on the February voyage and tested positive for COVID-19 is in stable condition at a hospital.
___
4:15 a.m.
The Italian government has announced that all sporting events in Italy will take place without fans present for at least the next month due to the virus outbreak.
That will likely see Italian soccer league resume in full this weekend after the calendar was pushed back a week.
Italy is the epicenter of Europe’s coronavirus outbreak. More than 100 people have died and more than 3,000 have been infected with the COVID-19 virus.
The Italian government issued a new decree on Wednesday evening, with measures it hopes will help contain the spread of the virus.
All sporting events throughout the country must take place behind closed doors until April 3. Schools and universities have been ordered to close until March 15.
That also calls into question Italy’s Six Nations rugby match against England in Rome on March 14. That match will either have to go ahead behind closed doors or be postponed. Italy’s match against Ireland, which was scheduled for March 7, had already been postponed. The Italian soccer league’s governing body has yet to release a revised schedule but reports say the six Serie A soccer matches that were postponed last week will now be played this weekend. That includes one of the biggest matches of the season — the Juventus-Inter game, known as the “Derby d’Italia” or Italy’s derby.
___
3:20 a.m.
Washington state has reported a 10th death from the new coronavirus and California announced its first.
Health officials in Northern California say the elderly person who had other health conditions died Wednesday at a hospital in Roseville where they were in isolation.
The person was likely exposed to the virus while they traveled in February on a Princess cruise ship from San Francisco to Mexico, officials said in a statement
The Washington state Department of Health released updated figures Wednesday morning, showing that nine people had died in King County, the state’s most populous, and one person in Snohomish County. Washington state has now reported 39 COVID-19 cases, all in the greater Seattle area.
No other information about the newly reported Washington state death was immediately available.
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington on Sunday said they had evidence COVID-19 may have been circulating in the state for up to six weeks undetected. If true, that could mean that there are hundreds of undiagnosed cases in the area.
___
This section has been corrected to remove the reference to the gender of the person who died in California.
___
3:10 a.m.
Officials in Los Angeles have signed proclamations of local emergencies after six new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in the county, where there was one previously.
Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the director of the county Department of Public Health, said Wednesday that all of the COVID-19 cases were due to a known exposure and not the result of so-called community transmission. She said one person was hospitalized and five others were in self-quarantine at home.
The emergency declarations in the county and city are aimed at aiding efforts to respond to the virus and free up resources. Authorities are also assisting shelters to prevent transmission of the virus in the homeless population.
___
2:05 a.m.
President Donald Trump is putting a positive spin on the fallout from the coronavirus, saying a lot of people are staying in the United States and they’re shopping and staying in the hotels.
Trump spoke with leaders of the airline industry on Wednesday at the White House. The executive spoke of steps they’ve taken to confront the spread of the new virus.
Southwest Airlines CEO and board chairman Gary Kelly said employees have stepped up efforts to make sure airplanes are clean and disinfected.
United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said workers are doing what he called the “corona bump,” where they bump elbows as part of their greeting.
Trump thanked the airlines and said they’ve “stepped up” to stem the spread of the virus.
___
1:50 a.m.
Italy has ordered schools to close nationwide through March 15 in a bid to contain the coronavirus, saying the prudent suspension was taken after a careful analysis of how the epidemic was spreading.
Civil protection officials said Wednesday a total of 3,089 people have tested positive in Italy and 107 of them had died — the largest number of deaths outside of China.
Education Minister Lucia Azzolina announced the school suspensions, which start Thursday, saying she hoped schools would be able to continue with lessons via distance learning.
Italy has seen its virus caseload explode since the first homegrown positive test was registered in northern Lombardy on Feb. 19.
Italy had earlier closed schools in the hard-hit regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna.
___
1:35 a.m.
A U.S. health official says six new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Los Angeles County, where there was one previously.
Each case confirmed Tuesday night was due to a known exposure and not the result of community transmission, according to Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the county Department of Public Health. She spoke at a press conference on Wednesday.
She says one person has been hospitalized and five others were in self-quarantine at home.
The county’s first case was in January, a person who lived in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak. She says that person is no longer infectious.
___
1:15 a.m.
A U.N. agency estimates that a shortage of industrial parts from China caused by the coronavirus outbreak has set off a “ripple effect” that caused exports from other countries around the world to drop $47 billion last month.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development says figures from Chinese businesses suggest an annualized 2% decline in output in China. That has led to shrinking supplies for automotive, chemicals, communications and other industries in many countries, in turn reducing their export capacity.
The agency says Wednesday that the preliminary figures show industries outside of China that rely on components, parts and other inputs from the country aren’t able to export goods as much as they had before the virus erupted. The outbreak began late last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan, shutting down factories and quarantining workers at home.
The drop in Chinese output results in a “ripple effect throughout the global economy” that rises “to the tune of a $50 billion fall in exports across the world,” said said Pamela Coke-Hamilton, director of the UNCTAD international trade and commodities division.
Exports from the European Union alone made up about one-third of that, or nearly $15.6 billion. Exports of the United States were second, at nearly $5.8 billion, and Japan was third at almost $5.2 billion.
___
12 midnight
The International Air Transport Association says the virus outbreak hit passenger flight demand in January, slowing monthly growth to its lowest level since April 2010, when a volcano erupted in Iceland, causing massive airspace closures and days of travel chaos in Europe.
The group says year-on-year growth in December 2019 was 4.6%. In January 2020, growth in passenger traffic was only up 2.4% compared to a year ago.
IATA, which represents some 290 airlines making up most of the world’s air traffic, said that figures for January this year would only represent the “tip of the iceberg” as China only began imposing major travel restrictions toward the end of the month. Domestic air traffic in China fell 6.8% in January, year-on-year, as a result of the coronavirus restrictions.
___
11 p.m.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that the wife, two children and a neighbor of a New York lawyer who is hospitalized in critical condition with COVID-19 have also tested positive for the disease. That increases the number of confirmed cases in the state to six.
Yeshiva University, where one of the children is a student, said it’s canceling classes at the upper Manhattan campus where he is enrolled.
The positive test results for the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 came one day after Cuomo announced that the student’s father had become the second coronavirus case in New York state. The family has been quarantined at home in suburban Westchester County. The neighbor is also self-quarantined at home.
___
8:50 p.m.
Israeli health authorities have ordered everyone from a regional high school and dozens of soccer fans into home quarantine after their possible exposure to a teenage boy who tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Health Ministry said it closed Brenner High School and told all students, teachers and staff members to quarantine at home until March 11. Some 1,000 students, including the boy, attend the school in central Israel.
The ministry also instructed dozens of people who sat in the vicinity of the boy at a Feb. 24 soccer game in Tel Avid to isolate themselves at home until March 8.
The boy apparently became infected while working at a toy store whose owner tested positive for the virus after returning from Italy.
Israel has confirmed 15 coronavirus cases in all and ordered several thousand people into home quarantine after possible exposure.
___
8:20 p.m.
The Baltic nation of Lithuania has cancelled most of the indoor events planned for the 30th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union because of the coronavirus.
The speaker of the Lithuanian parliament said Wednesday authorities decided to call off the events since many of the people expected to attend the events are elderly and at higher risk of infection.
Parliament speaker Viktoras Pranckietis says most foreign leaders also cancelled scheduled trips to attend the anniversary events in Lithuania. He didn’t name names, but invitations had been sent to lawmakers in Ukraine, Poland and neighboring Baltic states Latvia and Estonia.
There will be several events in downtown Vilnius, including a flag-raising on Independence Square on March 11 and an evening concert.
Lithuania so far only has reported one virus case.
___
7:30 p.m.
The Louvre Museum in France is open again after employees worried about catching the coronavirus agreed to return to work.
The Paris museum where Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting hangs had been closed since Sunday while employees fearing infection stayed off the job.
But Louvre staff members voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to resume work and the Louvre opened its doors in the afternoon.
Management presented a raft of new anti-virus measures to try to coax employees back to work. Among them: wider distributions of disinfectant gels and more frequent staff rotations so employees have time to wash their hands.
__
6:30 p.m.
The London Book Fair has been canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The fair, which usually draws more than 25,000 writers, agents and publishers to one of the international publishing industry’s biggest gatherings, had been due to take place at London’s Olympia conference venue March 10-12.
Organizer Reed Exhibitions said Wednesday that it had decided “with reluctance” to cancel the event.
The decision came after several major publishers, including HarperCollins and Penguin Random House, pulled out of the fair because of the disease, citing the risk to staff.
Also Wednesday, organizers announced that Asia’s biggest casino industry trade show has been postponed because of the virus.
Global Gaming Expo Asia, originally scheduled to be held on May 19-21 in Macao, will be held at the end of July.
More than 13,000 people attended last year’s expo, jointly organized by the American Gaming Association and Reed Exhibitions.
___
6 p.m.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the social network is stepping up its efforts to combat virus-related misinformation by giving the World Health Organization free advertising.
Zuckerberg said in a post on his Facebook account that the company is working with national health ministries and global organizations like the World Health Orgnization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF to get out timely and accurate information on the virus.
Zuckerberg said Facebook will also give “support and millions more in ad credits” to other unspecified organizations.
Facebook has previously taken other measures to fight virus hoaxes and misinformation, including removing false claims and conspiracy theories and showing users a pop-up directing them to the World Health Orgnization or their local health authority for the latest information.
___
5:20 p.m.
Germany has joined several other countries in banning the export of medical equipment such as respiratory masks, gloves and protective suits in most cases.
Germany, like other nations, has faced a shortage of such equipment as concerns over the widening coronavirus outbreak have mounted. In Germany itself, 240 infections have been confirmed so far.
Germany’s interior ministry said Wednesday that exemptions from the export ban will be allowed only under strict conditions, such as for “concerted international aid actions.”
Russia’s government on Wednesday banned the export of masks, respirators and other protective gear along with anti-virus medicines until June 1. It also noted that the ban doesn’t cover humanitarian aid.
The Ministry for Industry and Trade said the move is intended to prevent an “artificial deficit” of protective goods, which are being increasingly sold abroad as global demand has soared.
The Czech government also said it is banning exports of respirators and will start regulating their sale at home, saying it needs them for health workers and others. The Czech Republic has five confirmed cases of the new virus.
___
4:15 p.m.
The European Central Bank says it’s restricting all nonessential travel by members of its executive board and employees through April 20 as a precautionary measure amid the global coronavirus outbreak.
The central bank for the 19-nation eurozone said Wednesday that visits to its Frankfurt headquarters and its public visitor center are being suspended for the same period. It is postponing or cancelling conferences that were due to be held at the bank – but says that news conferences after regular policy-setting meetings of its governing council are unaffected, and that the next one will go ahead March 12 as planned.
The ECB stressed that the move was a precaution and there have been no recorded cases yet of bank employees being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
___
3:30 p.m.
India says its number of confirmed coronavirus cases has jumped to 28, up from just five.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan says an earlier COVID-19 patient who had traveled to Italy led to the confirmation of six other infections. Another cluster of cases that emerged centered around a large group of Italian tourists who had entered India on Feb. 21.
India also announced Wednesday that it has imposed universal screening of all passengers on international flights.
Meanwhile, South Korea reported 435 new cases, pushing its total to 5,621 — the second-highest total after China.


mercurynews--2020-03-05--Letter: Trump’s border wall plan destroys tribe’s homeland

Once again , President Trump is planning to divert billions of dollars in Pentagon funding to construct his border wall @ @ @ @ @ southern border between this country and Mexico .
If it is built , the wall @ @ @ @ @ indigenous peoples known as the Tohono O ’ odhams who live between the Gila River @ @ @ @ @ of Cortez in Mexico .
• Letter : Money is not speech and corporations aren @ @ @ @ @ : Dems not much better than GOP at helping ‘ working class ’ They existed @ @ @ @ @ acquired the area under the Gadsden Purchase in 1853 .
For President Trump to build @ @ @ @ @ of the Tohono O ’ odhams shows he is violating their way of life .
@ @ @ @ @ editor via this form Read more Letters to the Editor

Trump’s border wall plan
destroys tribe’s homeland
Once again, President Trump is planning to divert billions of dollars in Pentagon funding to construct his border wall, which is on the southern border between this country and Mexico.
If it is built, the wall will destroy the homeland of indigenous peoples known as the Tohono O’odhams who live between the Gila River in Arizona and the Sea of Cortez in Mexico.
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For President Trump to build a wall on the homeland of the Tohono O’odhams shows he is violating their way of life.
Billy Trice
Oakland
Submit your letter to the editor via this form
Read more Letters to the Editor


mercurynews--2020-03-04--Menlo’s coronavirus shutdown casts doubt on CIF girls basketball playoff game vs. O’Dowd

ATHERTON — The status of the Northern California regional girls basketball game between Menlo School and Bishop O ’ Dowd on Thursday night in Oakland is in question , a Menlo official said Wednesday .
Menlo alerted its school community on Tuesday night that its Atherton campus would be closed for the remainder of the week because a staff member had contact with a relative who tested positive for coronavirus .
The girls basketball team found out on its bus ride home from a NorCal victory over Oak Ridge in Eldorado Hills .
Menlo held a conference call Wednesday with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federation officials to keep all parties in the loop , Menlo athletic director Earl Koberlein said .
According to Koberlein , no decision has been made whether to play the Division I quarterfinal at O ’ Dowd as scheduled .
All other athletic events involving Menlo were canceled or postponed , including a 16-team boys tennis tournament , as the school conducts a deep clean of its campus .
An O ’ Dowd administrator declined to comment until the CIF makes a decision .
An email to the CIF was not immediately returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a statement addressing general statewide concerns about the virus .
“ Members of our interscholastic community are asking questions and raising concerns about the Coronavirus , ” the statement noted .
“ While the CIF does not offer medical advice regarding disease prevention , the CIF wishes to direct its community to the following information and additional resources .
“ We want to stress that we understand these concerns , given the significant attention this topic has received in the media .
We are committed to help protect the health and safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our member schools .
“ The CIF strongly encourages students , parents , and staff to consult their school or district ’ s website or personnel for information regarding specific , local responses .
”

ATHERTON — The status of the Northern California regional girls basketball game between Menlo School and Bishop O’Dowd on Thursday night in Oakland is in question, a Menlo official said Wednesday.
The CIF has not made a decision yet, but officials are “considering postponing” the game until Friday night as Menlo has closed its campus for the rest of the week because a staff member had contact with a relative who tested positive for coronavirus.
Menlo alerted its school community about the staff member’s situation on Tuesday night.
The girls basketball team found out on its bus ride home from a NorCal victory over Oak Ridge in Eldorado Hills.
Menlo held a conference call Wednesday with Bishop O’Dowd and California Interscholastic Federation officials to keep all parties in the loop, Menlo athletic director Earl Koberlein said.
According to Koberlein, no decision has been made whether to play the Division I quarterfinal at O’Dowd as scheduled.
All other athletic events involving Menlo were canceled or postponed, including a 16-team boys tennis tournament, as the school conducts a deep clean of its campus.
An O’Dowd administrator declined to comment until the CIF makes a decision.
The CIF is awaiting more information on the situation, it said in an email release Wednesday afternoon:
“Our first priority is the safety and wellbeing of student-athletes and school staff. While we are certainly aware of the impact of the virus both internationally and nationally, we are also aware that most athletic competitions are continuing on both amateur and professional levels. We are currently considering postponing the scheduled playoff game to Friday, March 6, 2020, to allow for further consultation with the affected schools, review of guidelines issued by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Health (CDPH), and additional evaluation by medical personnel.”
Menlo won the Division II state championship last season and is coming off an upset win in the first round Tuesday.
The Knights are seeded No. 10 in Division I.
“The kids found out before the coaches did because they were on the mass email string from Menlo School,” coach John Paye said. “We have a very astute trainer that was on the bus and she was very knowledgeable and explained the situation to the girls. And we all learned stuff.”
Koberlein said he heard about the Menlo shutdown while watching the school’s boys basketball team lose its NorCal regional game Tuesday.
“I’d like to think that we’re being overly cautious,” Koberlein said. “There’s been nobody on campus that shows signs or has been tested positive.”


mercurynews--2020-03-04--Coronavirus fear prompts 49ers star to pull out of big autograph show

SANTA CLARA — Concerns over the coronavirus have prompted 49ers running back Raheem Mostert to cancel his appearance at an autograph show this weekend with major stars , including Joe Montana , Steve Young and Klay Thompson .
The show will still go on as planned , according to Gary Takahashi of GT Sports Marketing in Hawaii .
“ Due to the recent outbreak of coronavirus in the Bay Area , I have decided not to attend the signing on ( Sunday ) at the Santa Clara Convention , ” Mostert wrote on an Instagram story .
Mostert ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He announced that his wife , Devon , is expecting their second child this fall .
They became parents 8 months ago to their son , Gunnar .
“ As a husband and a father , it is my job to put my family first , ” Mostert added .
“ Thank you all for your understanding .
I will make it up to you soon !
” Mostert emerged as one of the 49ers ’ bright stars last season and ran for a franchise-record 220 yards in their NFC Championship Game win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s certainly understanding of Mostert ’ s situation , adding that former 49ers and Dallas Cowboys star Charles Haley is the only other who ’ s cancelled and that was not attributed to coronavirus concerns .
The coronavirus was a topic last month as the 49ers first met the media in Miami ahead of the Super Bowl .
A Chinese reporter asked defensive end Nick Bosa if he could give a public-service message , to which he obliged and said : “ To all my Chinese friends out there , wash your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virus going around .
Just hang in there .
And enjoy the Super Bowl.
” 49ers receivers Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd are slated to sign Saturday afternoon , while teammates Fred Warner and Kyle Juszczyk are scheduled for Sunday along with the Warriors ’ Thompson , former 49ers star Patrick Willis , ex-Raiders coach Tom Flores and former Stanford star Christian McCaffrey .
The autograph show will run Friday through Sunday .
Takahashi noted that a worker from Seattle has mutually agreed to stay home .
Hand sanitizer gel and wipes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not blind to what ’ s going on .
We ’ re trying to take preventative measures , ” Takahashi said .
• 49ers ’ Kyle Shanahan honored as top NFC coach — has to go to Kansas City to get the award • Five sleeper prospects the 49ers should target in NFL Draft • Kurtenbach : What the 49ers really need in this year ’ s NFL Draft Most of those featured are Bay Area residents who do not have to fly in for the event , and some who do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show opens Friday night with Ronnie Lott and Terry Bradshaw .
They ’ ll be joined in Saturday ’ s lineup by Samuel , Hurd , Montana , Young , Jerry Rice , John Taylor , Troy Aikman , Bo Jackson , Tim Brown , Isaac Bruce , Rod Woodson , Fred Biletnikoff , Warren Moon and Terrell Edmunds .
Takahashi said ticket sales are above pace from their last Santa Clara show in 2018 but he expects that traveling collectors may opt not to come .
— The 49ers reportedly picked up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as expected .
It calls for a $ 5.05 million base salary and $ 400,000 in bonuses , ESPN reported .
Juszczyk has made the Pro Bowl each of his three seasons since joining the 49ers in free agency .

SANTA CLARA — Concerns over the coronavirus have prompted 49ers running back Raheem Mostert to cancel his appearance at an autograph show this weekend with major stars, including Joe Montana, Steve Young and Klay Thompson.
The show will still go on as planned, according to Gary Takahashi of GT Sports Marketing in Hawaii.
“Due to the recent outbreak of coronavirus in the Bay Area, I have decided not to attend the signing on (Sunday) at the Santa Clara Convention,” Mostert wrote on an Instagram story.
Mostert’s rationale centers around his growing family. He announced that his wife, Devon, is expecting their second child this fall. They became parents 8 months ago to their son, Gunnar.
“As a husband and a father, it is my job to put my family first,” Mostert added. “Thank you all for your understanding. I will make it up to you soon!”
Mostert emerged as one of the 49ers’ bright stars last season and ran for a franchise-record 220 yards in their NFC Championship Game win over Green Bay.
Takahashi said he’s certainly understanding of Mostert’s situation, adding that former 49ers and Dallas Cowboys star Charles Haley is the only other who’s cancelled and that was not attributed to coronavirus concerns.
The coronavirus was a topic last month as the 49ers first met the media in Miami ahead of the Super Bowl. A Chinese reporter asked defensive end Nick Bosa if he could give a public-service message, to which he obliged and said: “To all my Chinese friends out there, wash your hands and stay clean because there is a virus going around. Just hang in there. And enjoy the Super Bowl.”
#49ers Nick Bosa asked to give a public-service message about the #coronoavirus pic.twitter.com/hZHcQtJK7d — Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 28, 2020
49ers receivers Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd are slated to sign Saturday afternoon, while teammates Fred Warner and Kyle Juszczyk are scheduled for Sunday along with the Warriors’ Thompson, former 49ers star Patrick Willis, ex-Raiders coach Tom Flores and former Stanford star Christian McCaffrey.
The autograph show will run Friday through Sunday. Takahashi noted that a worker from Seattle has mutually agreed to stay home. Hand sanitizer gel and wipes will be available.
“We’re not blind to what’s going on. We’re trying to take preventative measures,” Takahashi said.
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The show opens Friday night with Ronnie Lott and Terry Bradshaw. They’ll be joined in Saturday’s lineup by Samuel, Hurd, Montana, Young, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Troy Aikman, Bo Jackson, Tim Brown, Isaac Bruce, Rod Woodson, Fred Biletnikoff, Warren Moon and Terrell Edmunds.
Takahashi said ticket sales are above pace from their last Santa Clara show in 2018 but he expects that traveling collectors may opt not to come.
— The 49ers reportedly picked up Juszcyzk’s 2020 contract option, as expected. It calls for a $5.05 million base salary and $400,000 in bonuses, ESPN reported. Juszczyk has made the Pro Bowl each of his three seasons since joining the 49ers in free agency.


mercurynews--2020-03-04--Bay Area races that may be too close to call for days after Super Tuesday

With hundreds of thousands of Bay Area ballots still yet to be counted , dozens of races from city council seats to local bond measures and school parcel taxes are still too close to call — and it may be days until a clear victory can be claimed .
That ’ s likely a side effect of efforts made by California lawmakers to make it easier for more people to vote , such as allowing same-day registration , say exports , who also noted that voters appear to holding onto their mail-in ballots until Election Day due to uncertainty over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ticket .
“ Because a lot of people were waiting to see what developed at the presidential level , we might not have a clear sense of who will be the top two or the outright winner in the down-ballot local races for two to three weeks , ” said Garrick Percival , an associate professor in the political science department at San Jose State University , adding that “ a lot of patience is required.
” In California ’ s 2018 election , more than two-thirds of voters cast vote-by-mail ballots .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can accept mail-in ballots that were postmarked before or on election day up until Friday .
On top of the mail-in ballots still trickling in , Tuesday ’ s primary election also marked the first time that Californians could both register and cast a vote on election day .
Those ballots , however , will also take additional time to count because the county election offices must verify them .
Because of the new developments , Percival said any races that are currently passing or failing by about 5 % or less still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would not at all be confident that those will be the final results in a couple of weeks time , ” he said .
As of Wednesday , Santa Clara County estimated that it still had 216,000 ballots uncounted and Contra Costa County estimated it still had about 112,000 ballots left to tabulate .
Officials at the Alameda County Elections Office said that they could not yet produce an estimate of ballots that need to be counted .
Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Shannon Bushey said Wednesday that she expects the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be counted in “ a week or so.
” As a result , in the East Bay , the outcomes of two county supervisor races are still up for grabs .
The race between four candidates vying to succeed longtime Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty is still neck and neck .
Dublin Mayor David Haubert and Fremont Councilman Vinnie Bacon were leading the pack on Wednesday — each with about 26 % of the vote — while Dublin Councilwoman Melissa Hernandez and state Sen. Bob Wieckowski trailed closely behind with — 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Contra Costa ’ s most contentious supervisor race , longtime incumbent Federal Glover is walking a thin line between an outright victory and a runoff race in November .
Glover , who was challenged by County Assessor Gus Kramer and Martinez Planning Commissioner Sean Trambley , was just short of the 50 % needed to clinch the win on Wednesday .
Kramer was following in second with about 27 percent — a few percentage points ahead of Trambley .
In the South Bay , at least one San Jose city council race was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcome on Wednesday .
Councilmember Dev Davis , who represents the Willow Glen and Rose Garden areas , had a commanding majority lead over her three challengers early Tuesday night .
But as more votes were tallied , her votes fell to 49 % — putting her in a position for a possible runoff race to defend her seat against biomedical engineer in November .
“ I was hoping to just be done with it , but I looked at the other races of the incumbents and it seems like there might have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Davis said on Wednesday , adding that she was optimistic even in the case of a runoff .
“ I ’ m looking forward to getting out there and having more conversations with residents.
” The only other San Jose council seat that appears headed for a runoff will likely be between Incumbent Lan Diep and Berryessa School District Board Member David Cohen .
At the state level , a crowded race for the Assembly District 25 seat , which will be vacated by incumbent Kansen Chu , is going to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still unclear who will be the top two candidates facing off against one another .
Republican Bob Brunton on Wednesday held a big lead , with 24 % , in his bid to claim the seat representing portions of North San Jose , Milpitas , Santa Clara , Fremont and Newark .
But the next two candidates , Former State Legislative Aid Alex Lee and West Valley-Mission Community College Board Member Anne Kepner , are within two points of one another — 15 % and 13 % respectively .
In addition to some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a dozen local city , county and school bond measures are also still up in the air .
In the South Bay , for instance , a $ 60 bond measure for San Jose ’ s East San Jose High School District aimed at building an affordable housing development for staff was losing by just 1 % to get the 55 % approval required to pass as of Wednesday .
And in the East Bay , Alameda Unified ’ s Measure A parcel tax to help pay for teacher salary had picked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — still about 4 % shy of the two-thirds majority needed to pass .

With hundreds of thousands of Bay Area ballots still yet to be counted, dozens of races from city council seats to local bond measures and school parcel taxes are still too close to call — and it may be days until a clear victory can be claimed.
That’s likely a side effect of efforts made by California lawmakers to make it easier for more people to vote, such as allowing same-day registration, said experts, who also noted that voters appeared to be holding onto their mail-in ballots until Election Day due to uncertainty over who to choose for the Democratic presidential ticket.
“Because a lot of people were waiting to see what developed at the presidential level, we might not have a clear sense of who will be the top two or the outright winner in the down-ballot local races for two to three weeks,” said Garrick Percival, an associate professor in the political science department at San Jose State University, adding that “a lot of patience is required.”
In California’s 2018 election, more than two-thirds of voters cast vote-by-mail ballots. And under state law, county registrars can accept mail-in ballots that were postmarked before or on election day up until Friday.
On top of the mail-in ballots still trickling in, Tuesday’s primary election also marked the first time that Californians could both register and cast a vote on election day. Those ballots, however, will also take additional time to count because the county election offices must verify them.
Because of the new developments, Percival said any races that are currently passing or failing by about 5% or less still have the potential to flip.
“I would not at all be confident that those will be the final results in a couple of weeks time,” he said.
As of Wednesday, Santa Clara County estimated that it still had 216,000 ballots uncounted and Contra Costa County estimated it still had about 112,000 ballots left to tabulate. Officials at the Alameda County Elections Office said that they could not yet produce an estimate of ballots that need to be counted.
Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Shannon Bushey said Wednesday that she expects the “bulk” of the remaining ballots to be counted in “a week or so.”
As a result, in the East Bay, the outcomes of two county supervisor races are still up for grabs.
The race between four candidates vying to succeed longtime Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty is still neck and neck. Dublin Mayor David Haubert and Fremont Councilman Vinnie Bacon were leading the pack on Wednesday — each with about 26% of the vote — while Dublin Councilwoman Melissa Hernandez and state Sen. Bob Wieckowski trailed closely behind with — 25% and 22% respectively.
In Contra Costa’s most contentious supervisor race, longtime incumbent Federal Glover is walking a thin line between an outright victory and a runoff race in November. Glover, who was challenged by County Assessor Gus Kramer and Martinez Planning Commissioner Sean Trambley, was just short of the 50% needed to clinch the win on Wednesday. Kramer was following in second with about 27 percent — a few percentage points ahead of Trambley.
In the South Bay, at least one San Jose city council race was still looking too close to judge an outcome on Wednesday.
Councilmember Dev Davis, who represents the Willow Glen and Rose Garden areas, had a commanding majority lead over her three challengers early Tuesday night. But as more votes were tallied, her votes fell to just under 49% — putting her in a position for a possible runoff race to defend her seat against biomedical engineer in November.
“I was hoping to just be done with it, but I looked at the other races of the incumbents and it seems like there might have been an anti-incumbent sentiment going on,” Davis said on Wednesday, adding that she was optimistic even in the case of a runoff. “I’m looking forward to getting out there and having more conversations with residents.”
The only other San Jose council seat that appears headed for a runoff will likely be between Incumbent Lan Diep and Berryessa School District Board Member David Cohen.
At the state level, a crowded race for the Assembly District 25 seat, which will be vacated by incumbent Kansen Chu, is going to a runoff. Yet, it’s still unclear who will be the top two candidates facing off against one another.
Republican Bob Brunton on Wednesday held a big lead, with 24%, in his bid to claim the seat representing portions of North San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara, Fremont and Newark. But the next two candidates, Former State Legislative Aid Alex Lee and West Valley-Mission Community College Board Member Anne Kepner, are within two points of one another — 15% and 13% respectively.
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Judge Chutkan: Trump’s right to free speech ‘not absolute’ Politics | A conservative case for disqualifying Donald Trump in 2024 In addition to some big-name races, the outcome of more than a dozen local city, county and school bond measures are also still up in the air.
In the South Bay, for instance, a $60 bond measure for San Jose’s East San Jose High School District aimed at building an affordable housing development for staff was failing by just 1% to get the 55% approval required to pass as of Wednesday.
And in the East Bay, Alameda Unified’s Measure A parcel tax to help pay for teacher salary had picked up support from 63% of voters — still about 4% shy of the two-thirds majority needed to pass.


mercurynews--2020-03-04--Foster City residents vote to recall vice mayor for being rude and a bully

In a decisive rebuke , Foster City Vice Mayor Herb Perez is on the verge of being recalled from the City Council after complaints of bullying and derisive behavior toward residents .
More than 4,300 voters — about 77 percent — favored recalling Perez , according to election results reported Wednesday by the San Mateo County Registrar of Voters .
If the results hold , it would be only the second recall election involving San Mateo County elected officials in the past two decades .
It will take at least a few more days to count last-minute vote-by-mail and conditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still change .
“ All along he ’ s said we are a small handful of special interest groups with a personal vendetta .
The reality is … this was an overwhelming mandate from Foster City voters , ” said Jeff Regan , an organizer with the recall campaign , which collected 4,380 signatures for the recall petition .
Reached by phone Wednesday afternoon , the two-term councilman framed the recall vote as a positive development after his long public service career .
Perez was first elected to the City Council in 2011 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that ’ s an amazing result , I think that ’ s great , ” Perez said .
“ I ’ ve had a great public service career … my record is unbelievable and outstanding .
I ’ m glad I had the opportunity to serve my community.
” Recall proponents — including three former council members — cited brash , bullying behavior by the councilman over the years , including comments at public meetings referring to residents as “ delusional morons ” , “ malfeasant malcontents ” and “ miscreants.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nasty email response , maybe it was being talked down to at a council meeting for having the audacity to disagree with him — he ’ s been called out for years , ” said Regan , who is also a member of Foster City Residents for Responsible Development , a group calling for slowing down new housing developments in the city .
Proponents also cited poor attendance at council meetings and other committee meetings where Perez represents the city and his failure to “ protect Foster City from over-development.
” Perez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ never heard ” any complaints about his demeanor or bullying behavior toward residents , either in person or in newspaper articles .
“ A couple of people in my community don ’ t like me , I ’ m OK with that , ” Perez said .
Asked why more than 4,300 voters would vote to kick him off the council , Perez said he could only guess .
“ I think we ’ re in a Trump world , and that ’ s unfortunate , and I ’ m not on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very vitriolic entity , ” Perez said .
“ I ’ m meeting with residents on a regular basis…and those people seem relatively happy.
” The recall cuts short Perez ’ s second term , which would have expired at the end of this year .
Regan said he and other residents pursued a recall because Perez could “ do a lot of damage ” in his last year on the council .
“ We hope the recall will give us stability — we will not have a disruptive council member who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullies and berates his council colleagues and residents , ” Regan said .
“ It can only get better from here…we want to move past what this man has done.
” Those who opposed the recall have called the effort divisive .
Former councilman Charlie Bronitsky has said both he and Perez have been accused of being beholden to developers .
“ I ’ m not gon na say Herb can ’ t be pretty vicious in his attacks at times , ” Bronitsky said in August .
“ But I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I felt like he was looking out for himself rather than the community as a whole.
” In the contest to replace Perez , Jon Froomin , a former city police department employee and community activist , has picked up almost 60 percent of the votes counted so far .
The other candidate is Patrick Sullivan , a business owner and podcast host .
Perez has previously served on the city ’ s Park and Recreation Committee and owns a number of martial arts education businesses .
He said he ’ ll now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ busy with his other community roles , including a position on an ethics committee for the Association of National Olympic Committees .
“ You know where I ’ m going ?
I ’ m going to Disneyland , ” Perez said .
“ I ’ m going to take the moment to enjoy my family and this amazing outcome of the election .
”

In a decisive rebuke, Foster City Vice Mayor Herb Perez is on the verge of being recalled from the City Council after complaints of bullying and derisive behavior toward residents.
More than 4,300 voters — about 77 percent — favored recalling Perez, according to election results reported Wednesday by the San Mateo County Registrar of Voters.
If the results hold, it would be only the second recall election involving San Mateo County elected officials in the past two decades. It will take at least a few more days to count last-minute vote-by-mail and conditional and provisional ballots, so results could still change.
“All along he’s said we are a small handful of special interest groups with a personal vendetta. The reality is … this was an overwhelming mandate from Foster City voters,” said Jeff Regan, an organizer with the recall campaign, which collected 4,380 signatures for the recall petition.
Reached by phone Wednesday afternoon, the two-term councilman framed the recall vote as a positive development after his long public service career. Perez was first elected to the City Council in 2011 and re-elected in 2015.
“I think that’s an amazing result, I think that’s great,” Perez said. “I’ve had a great public service career … my record is unbelievable and outstanding. I’m glad I had the opportunity to serve my community.”
Recall proponents — including three former council members — cited brash, bullying behavior by the councilman over the years, including comments at public meetings referring to residents as “delusional morons”, “malfeasant malcontents” and “miscreants.”
“Everyone had a story…maybe it was a nasty email response, maybe it was being talked down to at a council meeting for having the audacity to disagree with him — he’s been called out for years,” said Regan, who is also a member of Foster City Residents for Responsible Development, a group calling for slowing down new housing developments in the city.
Proponents also cited poor attendance at council meetings and other committee meetings where Perez represents the city and his failure to “protect Foster City from over-development.”
Perez said in an interview Wednesday that he “never heard” any complaints about his demeanor or bullying behavior toward residents, either in person or in newspaper articles.
“A couple of people in my community don’t like me, I’m OK with that,” Perez said.
Asked why more than 4,300 voters would vote to kick him off the council, Perez said he could only guess.
“I think we’re in a Trump world, and that’s unfortunate, and I’m not on Nextdoor, but apparently it’s a very vitriolic entity,” Perez said. “I’m meeting with residents on a regular basis…and those people seem relatively happy.”
The recall cuts short Perez’s second term, which would have expired at the end of this year.
Regan said he and other residents pursued a recall because Perez could “do a lot of damage” in his last year on the council.
“We hope the recall will give us stability — we will not have a disruptive council member who rides shotgun over the staff, who bullies and berates his council colleagues and residents,” Regan said. “It can only get better from here…we want to move past what this man has done.”
Those who opposed the recall have called the effort divisive.
Former councilman Charlie Bronitsky has said both he and Perez have been accused of being beholden to developers.
“I’m not gonna say Herb can’t be pretty vicious in his attacks at times,” Bronitsky said in August. “But I’ve never seen him take a position that I felt like he was looking out for himself rather than the community as a whole.”
In the contest to replace Perez, Jon Froomin, a former city police department employee and community activist, has picked up almost 60 percent of the votes counted so far. The other candidate is Patrick Sullivan, a business owner and podcast host.
Perez has previously served on the city’s Park and Recreation Committee and owns a number of martial arts education businesses.
He said he’ll now spend time with his family and stay busy with his other community roles, including a position on an ethics committee for the Association of National Olympic Committees.
“You know where I’m going? I’m going to Disneyland,” Perez said. “I’m going to take the moment to enjoy my family and this amazing outcome of the election.”


mercurynews--2020-03-04--Sports leagues should take lead on coronavirus prevention. Here’s why they won’t.

The coronavirus — specifically COVID-19 — is here and it doesn ’ t appear to be going away anytime soon .
And the big business of sports has a role to play in stopping it in its tracks .
All leagues — big and small — should be proactive and consider reschedulings , closed-door games , and cancellations in the near future .
Sadly , I don ’ t expect the leagues or teams here in the Bay Area or across the United States to do much .
And I won ’ t blame them for that — just as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie theater or corner bar for not shutting down amid the outbreak .
Capitalism trumps caution .
These sports teams are billion-dollar businesses , after all .
• Kurtenbach : Mauricio Dubón ’ s strong spring shows the Giants ’ rebuild is on track • Five sleeper prospects the 49ers should target in NFL Draft • Kurtenbach : What the 49ers really need in this year ’ s NFL Draft • What Steph Curry ’ s impending return means to the Warriors Now , I ’ m no doctor .
I am a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has legitimately been preparing for a moment like this my entire adult life .
I ’ m a person who can tell you that airlines clean their airplanes only once every 20 hours , but that larger jets have hospital-grade HEPA filters for their air circulation system ( this , in addition to by 6-foot-8 frame , is why I don ’ t fly on regional jets ) .
I wipe down tray tables ( and everything else in my vicinity ) as if my life depends on it .
I clean my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spay , and hydrogen peroxide..
I ’ m the type who has an extreme and often physical reaction to someone sneezing directly their hand , or not covering it up at all .
I have confrontations with strangers about this roughly once a quarter .
It ’ s all a projection of my phobia .
Needless to say , I ’ m a big fan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Right now , the CDC is recommending that everyone adopt “ social distancing ” in an effort to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means staying away from congregations of people and ideally maintaining a distance of six feet from everyone .
In the Bay Area , where a studio apartment goes for $ 4,000 , I don ’ t think we ’ re all going to be allotted six feet of space .
And I don ’ t think that the local sports teams will be leading the way when it comes to social distancing .
For now , every team in the area has or will soon have a statement that will include these lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care about our employees and fans and their health.
” “ We are consulting with the league office , local , and CDC officials .
If anything changes , we ’ ll let you know.
” • Kurtenbach : Mauricio Dubón ’ s strong spring shows the Giants ’ rebuild is on track • Five sleeper prospects the 49ers should target in NFL Draft • Kurtenbach : What the 49ers really need in this year ’ s NFL Draft • What Steph Curry ’ s impending return means to the Warriors That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment .
And don ’ t expect them to do anything more .
Not without government intervention , that is .
When people take sports too seriously , I like to remind everyone that the games — at least on the professional level — are merely elaborate reality TV shows with a live studio audience .
If American professional sports lose those audiences , though , many will go into the red .
That is far more motivating than having an abundance of caution .
In other places around the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s no choice to be made anymore .
In Italy — where over 100 people have died and more than 3,000 are confirmed to be infected — all sporting events will take place behind closed doors — aka with no fans — until April 3 .
In Switzerland , it ’ s illegal to have gatherings of more than 1,000 people .
France has a threshold of 5,000 and that is likely to drop soon .
But remember , it will be governments who enact those rules .
We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never reach that point .
Now , unlike the non-faux professional sports leagues , the NCAA could handle empty arenas for its upcoming basketball tournaments .
The NCAA receives almost all of its revenue from television deals .
It would make sense for NCAA officials to get ahead of this , especially with a men ’ s regional happening in Washington state , where the death toll is 10 .
But when has the NCAA ever turned down money or done the right thing ?
Right now , it ’ s on sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s every man for himself out there .
So much has changed since the deciding game of the Stanley Cup Final in 1919 was canceled because of the Spanish Flu .
But if things start to escalate , I ’ d expect leagues and teams to push the limit of how long they can keep their doors open .
And if we ’ re all eventually going to be cooped up in our homes — separated from society outside of our normal ways of separating ourselves — I should note that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Something to watch every night while we wait this out .
Hey , maybe this is what will finally improve the NBA ’ s ratings .
Seriously , though : be safe folks .
And if you need a recipe for homemade sanitizer hit me up .

The coronavirus — specifically COVID-19 — is here and it doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon.
And the big business of sports has a role to play in stopping it in its tracks. All leagues — big and small — should be proactive and consider reschedulings, closed-door games, and cancellations in the near future.
Sadly, I don’t expect the leagues or teams here in the Bay Area or across the United States to do much.
And I won’t blame them for that — just as I won’t blame the local movie theater or corner bar for not shutting down amid the outbreak.
Capitalism trumps caution. These sports teams are billion-dollar businesses, after all.
Now, I’m no doctor. I am a germaphobe — a real one — who has legitimately been preparing for a moment like this my entire adult life.
I’m a person who can tell you that airlines clean their airplanes only once every 20 hours, but that larger jets have hospital-grade HEPA filters for their air circulation system (this, in addition to my 6-foot-8 frame, is why I don’t fly on regional jets). I wipe down tray tables (and everything else in my vicinity) as if my life depends on it. I clean my house with bleach, 99 percent alcohol spay, and hydrogen peroxide.
I’m the type who has an extreme and often physical reaction to someone sneezing directly into their hand, or not covering it up at all. I have confrontations with strangers about this roughly once a quarter. It’s all a projection of my phobia.
Needless to say, I’m a big fan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Right now, the CDC is recommending that everyone adopt “social distancing” in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing means staying away from congregations of people and ideally maintaining a distance of six feet from everyone.
In the Bay Area, where a studio apartment goes for $4,000, I don’t think we’re all going to be allotted six feet of space.
And I don’t think that the local sports teams will be leading the way when it comes to social distancing.
Again, blame the system.
For now, every team in the area has or will soon have a statement that will include these lines or something like it:
“We care about our employees and fans and their health.”
“We are monitoring the situation.”
“We are consulting with the league office, local, and CDC officials. If anything changes, we’ll let you know.”
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When people take sports too seriously, I like to remind everyone that the games — at least on the professional level — are merely elaborate reality TV shows with a live studio audience. If American professional sports lose those audiences, though, many will go into the red.
That is far more motivating than having an abundance of caution.
In other places around the world, the outbreak of COVID-19 is such that there’s no choice to be made anymore. In Italy — where over 100 people have died and more than 3,000 are confirmed to be infected — all sporting events will take place behind closed doors — aka with no fans — until April 3. In Switzerland, it’s illegal to have gatherings of more than 1,000 people. France has a threshold of 5,000 and that is likely to drop soon.
But remember, it will be governments who enact those rules. We’re not there yet. I hope we never reach that point.
Now, unlike the non-faux professional sports leagues, the NCAA could handle empty arenas for its upcoming basketball tournaments. The NCAA receives almost all of its revenue from television deals. It would make sense for NCAA officials to get ahead of this, especially with a men’s regional happening in Washington state, where the death toll is 10.
But when has the NCAA ever turned down money or done the right thing?
Right now, it’s on sports fans to stay diligent. Sadly, it’s every man and woman for themselves out there. So much has changed since the deciding game of the Stanley Cup Final in 1919 was canceled because of the Spanish Flu. But if things start to escalate, I’d expect leagues and teams to push the limit of how long they can keep their doors open.
And if we’re all eventually going to be cooped up in our homes — separated from society outside of our normal ways of separating ourselves — I should note that sports will be a welcome reprieve. Something to watch every night while we wait this out.
Hey, maybe this is what will finally improve the NBA’s ratings.
Seriously, though: be safe folks. And if you need a recipe for homemade sanitizer hit me up.