vox--2020-03-15--The risks in going to the gym during the coronavirus pandemic, explained by experts

Update March 15 , 2020 : Since this article was published , the coronavirus outbreak has escalated in the US and New York City in particular .
Though Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov .
Andrew Cuomo haven ’ t ordered gyms to close , both Barry ’ s and Peloton have closed their studios .
And in an email to some of its Flatiron members , fitness center Equinox said one of its patrons had tested positive for Covid-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
As the experts we consulted said , spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all social interactions , riskier .
Follow the guidance of local health and government officials concerning social distancing , even if gyms remain open .
Around 20 minutes into a group boot camp fitness class at the Upper East Side location of boutique workout studio Barry ’ s Friday morning , each one of us was ushered out of the room , like kids in a fire drill .
Our instructor , Michael Pugliese , shooed everyone out while he and the cleaning staff grabbed disinfectant wipes and spray ; then they began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from benches , mirrors , weights , and treadmills to the floor .
Six minutes later , we were let back in and allowed to continue with the workout .
The mid-session cleaning break , extra sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer in each studio , and shortening all classes by 10 minutes to give staff 20 minutes to spray down and clean the room , are just some of the changes Barry ’ s has implemented in light of the coronavirus pandemic .
And according to public health experts , Barry ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all gyms and boutique fitness classes should be taking .
In light of the coronavirus , we ’ ve learned how to wash our hands for 20 seconds , memorized what percentage of alcohol is necessary in hand sanitizer to kill the virus ( at least 60 percent ) , and analyzed every informational blast — social distancing , canceled events , transmission guidance — released by public health officials .
But while guidelines from health officials are helpful and awareness about the coronavirus is valuable , it ’ s difficult to figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should change and which ones we can maintain in order to have some semblance of normalcy in our lives .
With all the information out there , it feels as though we are simultaneously being told to brace for the worst and to keep calm , carry on , and try to live our lives as normally as possible .
For the millions of consumers worldwide that have helped make gyms and boutique fitness into a $ 94 billion industry , according to statistics from the International Health Racquet and Sportsclub Association , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fitness is therapy , exercise , and a de-stressor , which is why in these times of uncertainty , it ’ s a go-to .
Granted , if worse comes to the worst , I fully understand that putting a hold on the gym is a no-brainer .
And in the grand scheme of things , clearly , not being able to go to the gym isn ’ t so dire .
But to get a better understanding of where things stand in the middle of the coronavirus outbreak — barring any further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and officials specializing in transmission and cleanliness protocol for the best practices for going to the gym .
And that includes whether we should be going at all .
Going to the gym means taking precautions like wiping down all your equipment Sweat is a constant at gyms and fitness classes .
Every piece of equipment you touch has been touched by someone else ’ s sweat .
And it ’ s even more so when you do the math of how long gyms have held on to their equipment , multiplied by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a gym in any given hour , afternoon , day , or year .
So is coronavirus-laced sweat a possibility ?
Can the illness be transmitted through our buckets of sweat ?
“ As a respiratory virus , sweat isn ’ t generally a transmission route , though contaminated skin and hands can be , ” Dr. Tara Smith , a professor of epidemiology at Kent State University , told me over email .
“ Think more about how you might touch your nose and then touch equipment , or cough on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the sweat itself.
” The possibility of the virus living on weights or mats makes the gym a risk for transmission .
The precise risk of Covid-19 coronavirus infection from surfaces is not yet known , but gym-goers , SoulCyclers , and Barry ’ s Bootcampers , should wipe down all the surfaces they ’ re touching with an approved disinfectant .
They should take on that responsibility even if the gym or facility cleans the equipment as well .
“ I study MRSA ( a bacterium that can survive on surfaces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both before and after using it because you never know if the person ahead of you did a good job , but now is a good time to be extra careful about thorough cleaning , ” Smith told me .
Smith also recommends distancing yourself from fellow gym-goers .
This may mean doing something as simple as not going during the gym ’ s busy hours ( usually before and after work ) , but those hours might be different given the pandemic .
It also means no high-fives or handshakes at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet of social distance from others is all but impossible in sold-out group fitness classes where bikes and stations are planted next to each other .
Smith says to consider that before booking .
The experts maintain , however , that fitness studios and gyms aren ’ t any more or less hazardous than any other social setting we might place ourselves in — that is , barring the virus rapidly escalating and dependent on case/transmission rate in your area .
Gyms are not any more risky than “ anywhere else where you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close contact with people — but as the virus is spreading , all of those activities are becoming increasingly risky , especially if you are in a group that is likely to be more severely affected by Covid-19 , ” Smith said .
“ I think individuals may want to consider any aspect of how they go out in public during these times , both for themselves and the rest of their community , particularly vulnerable individuals.
” But the most important thing public health experts have stressed over and over applies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Stay home if you ’ re not feeling well .
“ The biggest thing right now is to stay home if you ’ re sick , ” Dr. Saskia Popescu , an infection prevention epidemiologist and biodefense researcher , told me .
“ If you ’ re well , try and practice social distancing and basic infection control measures .
This means don ’ t go to the gym if you ’ re sick .
If you ’ re well and want to work out , try to avoid larger group classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wipes , before and after use , use hand hygiene frequently , and avoid touching your face.
” Gyms and group fitness studios like Barry ’ s and SoulCycle are adapting stricter cleaning routines .
But some are shutting down for now .
Barry ’ s decision to require a break mid-class to disinfect the room seems to be the type of “ stepping up ” that Smith stresses .
I also noticed the studio had new sanitizing wipe dispensers , and hand sanitizer in addition to hand soap in the restrooms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut the number of spots in each class by half beginning Monday , allowing its clients to maintain a safe distance from fellow bootcampers .
A spokesperson for the company told Vox that it would “ continue to follow all CDC and Department of Public Health guidelines , and will follow best practices as they are released.
” SoulCycle , the expansive and ubiquitous spin class company , has also taken measures like removing the hand weight section from its classes , per a statement issued on March 12 .
Usually , SoulCycle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in which cyclers take a break from pedaling to perform bicep , tricep , and shoulder exercises .
Those are now eliminated .
The company also said it , too , was ramping up the availability of disinfecting wipes and hospital-grade cleaning solution .
On Friday , SoulCycle sent an email to its riders saying that it would cut class sizes in half — a move that seems to be in line with the guidance of social distancing .
National gyms like Equinox and Crunch have also stepped up efforts , sending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promising to step up cleaning efforts with detailed information as to what they plan to do .
There are also online classes , including Peloton and its vaunted bike .
In Beijing , online fitness classes have become trendy as officials there have urged civilians to stay inside and curb their social gatherings during the coronavirus outbreak .
For some gyms and group fitness studios , though , the best practice was shutting down .
Chelsea Piers , a fancy gym and fitness facility with outposts in New York City and Connecticut , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rowgatta , a New York City-based fitness class that combines weightlifting and rowing , has temporarily shut down .
“ We must do our part to protect our staff and to keep our Athletes safe , ” Rowgatta said in an email to its clients .
“ In a time when there is a lack of clear direction from authorities , we must do what we can to lead and contribute to the wellbeing of the community in which we live.
” Similarly , Barry ’ s has temporarily shut down international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Norway , and has promised to waive cancellation fees for clients .
In light of these closings , improvements , and cleaning measures being taken , I asked Smith and Popescu what are the most important things gyms should be doing to protect their clients .
“ I think they should be stepping up the cleaning they ’ re doing of all equipment in order to minimize the risk of transmission from weights , machines , mats , and also doorknobs and other surfaces , ” Smith said .
“ We all know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at doing this , so gyms should be extra vigilant to do so .
Remind clients to spread out as much as possible in fitness classes , and emphasize hand-washing.
” “ Gyms should be really reinforcing that people should not be there if they ’ re sick — both employees and clients — and providing ample opportunity for hand hygiene ( reminders are great ) , and disinfecting wipes for equipment , ” Popescu said , explaining that sanitizing wipes and disinfecting really help .
“ I also encourage people to really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and take some breaks for hand hygiene , ” Popescu added .
“ If you ’ re in a fitness class , try to do one with a smaller group of people in a more open space , so you can all have about three to six feet between you .
This is a great time to use the fitness apps and home gyms !
”

Update March 16, 2020: Since this article was published, the coronavirus outbreak has escalated in the US and New York in particular. Both Barry’s and Peloton have closed their studios. And in an email to some of its New York City members, fitness center Equinox said one of its patrons had tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. As the experts we consulted said, spread of the virus makes visits to the gym, and all social interactions, riskier. Follow the guidance of local health and government officials concerning social distancing, even if gyms remain open.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that gyms and casinos in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey would be closing at 8 pm ET.
Around 20 minutes into a group boot camp fitness class at the Upper East Side location of boutique workout studio Barry’s Friday morning, each one of us was ushered out of the room, like kids in a fire drill. Our instructor, Michael Pugliese, shooed everyone out while he and the cleaning staff grabbed disinfectant wipes and spray; then they began wiping down the entire sweaty room — from benches, mirrors, weights, and treadmills to the floor.
Six minutes later, we were let back in and allowed to continue with the workout.
The mid-session cleaning break, extra sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer in each studio, and shortening all classes by 10 minutes to give staff 20 minutes to spray down and clean the room, are just some of the changes Barry’s has implemented in light of the coronavirus pandemic. And according to public health experts, Barry’s intense cleaning is the type of measure all gyms and boutique fitness classes should be taking.
In light of the coronavirus, we’ve learned how to wash our hands for 20 seconds, memorized what percentage of alcohol is necessary in hand sanitizer to kill the virus (at least 60 percent), and analyzed every informational blast — social distancing, canceled events, transmission guidance — released by public health officials.
But while guidelines from health officials are helpful and awareness about the coronavirus is valuable, it’s difficult to figure out which aspects of daily life we should change and which ones we can maintain in order to have some semblance of normalcy in our lives. With all the information out there, it feels as though we are simultaneously being told to brace for the worst and to keep calm, carry on, and try to live our lives as normally as possible.
For the millions of consumers worldwide that have helped make gyms and boutique fitness into a $94 billion industry, according to statistics from the International Health Racquet and Sportsclub Association, it is part of our lives. Fitness is therapy, exercise, and a de-stressor, which is why in these times of uncertainty, it’s a go-to.
Granted, if worse comes to the worst, I fully understand that putting a hold on the gym is a no-brainer. And in the grand scheme of things, clearly, not being able to go to the gym isn’t so dire.
But to get a better understanding of where things stand in the middle of the coronavirus outbreak — barring any further escalation — I asked public health experts and officials specializing in transmission and cleanliness protocol for the best practices for going to the gym. And that includes whether we should be going at all.
Going to the gym means taking precautions like wiping down all your equipment
The CDC and the WHO recommend several basic measures to help prevent the spread of Covid-19: Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects.
Practice social distancing, and stay home when you are sick.
Contact a health worker if you have symptoms; fever and a dry cough are most common. Guidance may change. Stay informed, and stay safe, with Vox’s coronavirus coverage hub.
Sweat is a constant at gyms and fitness classes. Every piece of equipment you touch has been touched by someone else’s sweat. And it’s even more so when you do the math of how long gyms have held on to their equipment, multiplied by the number of people in and out of a gym in any given hour, afternoon, day, or year.
So is coronavirus-laced sweat a possibility? Can the illness be transmitted through our buckets of sweat?
“As a respiratory virus, sweat isn’t generally a transmission route, though contaminated skin and hands can be,” Dr. Tara Smith, a professor of epidemiology at Kent State University, told me over email. “Think more about how you might touch your nose and then touch equipment, or cough on a hand and touch equipment, than about the sweat itself.”
The possibility of the virus living on weights or mats makes the gym a risk for transmission. The precise risk of Covid-19 coronavirus infection from surfaces is not yet known, but gym-goers, SoulCyclers, and Barry’s Bootcampers, should wipe down all the surfaces they’re touching with an approved disinfectant. They should take on that responsibility even if the gym or facility cleans the equipment as well.
“I study MRSA (a bacterium that can survive on surfaces) so I always wipe off equipment both before and after using it because you never know if the person ahead of you did a good job, but now is a good time to be extra careful about thorough cleaning,” Smith told me.
Smith also recommends distancing yourself from fellow gym-goers. This may mean doing something as simple as not going during the gym’s busy hours (usually before and after work), but those hours might be different given the pandemic. It also means no high-fives or handshakes at the gym.
But maintaining the recommended six feet of social distance from others is all but impossible in sold-out group fitness classes where bikes and stations are planted next to each other. Smith says to consider that before booking.
The experts maintain, however, that fitness studios and gyms aren’t any more or less hazardous than any other social setting we might place ourselves in — that is, barring the virus rapidly escalating and dependent on case/transmission rate in your area.
Gyms are not any more risky than “anywhere else where you would be touching things and in somewhat close contact with people — but as the virus is spreading, all of those activities are becoming increasingly risky, especially if you are in a group that is likely to be more severely affected by Covid-19,” Smith said. “I think individuals may want to consider any aspect of how they go out in public during these times, both for themselves and the rest of their community, particularly vulnerable individuals.”
But the most important thing public health experts have stressed over and over applies to everyone and everywhere, including the gym: Stay home if you’re not feeling well.
“The biggest thing right now is to stay home if you’re sick,” Dr. Saskia Popescu, an infection prevention epidemiologist and biodefense researcher, told me. “If you’re well, try and practice social distancing and basic infection control measures. This means don’t go to the gym if you’re sick. If you’re well and want to work out, try to avoid larger group classes, wipe down your equipment with disinfection wipes, before and after use, use hand hygiene frequently, and avoid touching your face.”
Gyms and group fitness studios like Barry’s and SoulCycle are adapting stricter cleaning routines. But some are shutting down for now.
Barry’s decision to require a break mid-class to disinfect the room seems to be the type of “stepping up” that Smith stresses. I also noticed the studio had new sanitizing wipe dispensers, and hand sanitizer in addition to hand soap in the restrooms. Barry’s also said it would cut the number of spots in each class by half beginning Monday, allowing its clients to maintain a safe distance from fellow bootcampers.
A spokesperson for the company told Vox that it would “continue to follow all CDC and Department of Public Health guidelines, and will follow best practices as they are released.”
SoulCycle, the expansive and ubiquitous spin class company, has also taken measures like removing the hand weight section from its classes, per a statement issued on March 12. Usually, SoulCycle classes involve an “arms” series, in which cyclers take a break from pedaling to perform bicep, tricep, and shoulder exercises. Those are now eliminated. The company also said it, too, was ramping up the availability of disinfecting wipes and hospital-grade cleaning solution. On Friday, SoulCycle sent an email to its riders saying that it would cut class sizes in half — a move that seems to be in line with the guidance of social distancing.
National gyms like Equinox and Crunch have also stepped up efforts, sending emails to clients about hygiene practices and promising to step up cleaning efforts with detailed information as to what they plan to do.
There are also online classes, including Peloton and its vaunted bike. In Beijing, online fitness classes have become trendy as officials there have urged civilians to stay inside and curb their social gatherings during the coronavirus outbreak.
For some gyms and group fitness studios, though, the best practice was shutting down. Chelsea Piers, a fancy gym and fitness facility with outposts in New York City and Connecticut, has closed through March 31, 2020. Rowgatta, a New York City-based fitness class that combines weightlifting and rowing, has temporarily shut down.
“We must do our part to protect our staff and to keep our Athletes safe,” Rowgatta said in an email to its clients. “In a time when there is a lack of clear direction from authorities, we must do what we can to lead and contribute to the wellbeing of the community in which we live.”
Similarly, Barry’s has temporarily shut down international locations in Italy, Sweden, and Norway, and has promised to waive cancellation fees for clients.
In light of these closings, improvements, and cleaning measures being taken, I asked Smith and Popescu what are the most important things gyms should be doing to protect their clients.
“I think they should be stepping up the cleaning they’re doing of all equipment in order to minimize the risk of transmission from weights, machines, mats, and also doorknobs and other surfaces,” Smith said. “We all know that some gym patrons are just terrible at doing this, so gyms should be extra vigilant to do so. Remind clients to spread out as much as possible in fitness classes, and emphasize hand-washing.”
Popescu offered similar advice.
“Gyms should be really reinforcing that people should not be there if they’re sick — both employees and clients — and providing ample opportunity for hand hygiene (reminders are great), and disinfecting wipes for equipment,” Popescu said, explaining that sanitizing wipes and disinfecting really help.
“I also encourage people to really be mindful of not touching their face and take some breaks for hand hygiene,” Popescu added. “If you’re in a fitness class, try to do one with a smaller group of people in a more open space, so you can all have about three to six feet between you. This is a great time to use the fitness apps and home gyms!”


vox--2020-03-16--Live results for the March 10 primaries

Live results for the March 10 primaries

The Democratic presidential race is now a two-way contest between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders — and Tuesday , we got our first real look at how that head-to-head matchup will play out .
These March 10 contests were much less “ super ” than those from last week , but it ’ s an important day for the nomination battle — it ’ s the third-biggest delegate day left in the calendar .
About 9 percent of Democrats ’ pledged delegates were up for grabs in six states : Michigan , Washington , Missouri , Mississippi , Idaho , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Super Tuesday with a significant but not overwhelming delegate lead over Sanders .
Since then , the former vice president has surged in both national polls and polls of the March 10 states , suggesting he has an opportunity to dramatically expand that advantage .
Sanders , meanwhile , is behind .
He needs to change the dynamics of the race to have any hopes of catching up .
He won four of these six states last time around against Hillary Clinton , and lost a fifth quite narrowly ( Missouri ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders fails to make up ground here in the delegate count , or if he falls further behind , then he will have come up short in one of his best opportunities to turn things around .
We ’ ll display the latest vote totals in each contest , courtesy of our friends at Decision Desk ( click on a state on the map to see that state ’ s results ) .
But it ’ s important to keep in mind that what matters most now is the delegate count .
Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a landslide win for Biden in Mississippi is more important to the delegate count than a narrow win for Sanders in a state where there are more delegates at stake .
Tuesday ’ s results will also matter greatly because another crucial day of primaries — March 17 ’ s Florida , Illinois , Ohio , and Arizona contests — is rapidly approaching .
After that day , there will in theory be nearly three months left in the Democratic contest .
But because the calendar is frontloaded , 61 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locked down .
And if Biden builds a large lead by then , it could become all but impossible for Sanders to come back .
We ’ ll post who wins each of the states holding primaries or caucuses Tuesday below , once Decision Desk makes a call .
How to think about the March 10 contests — and the delegate math Even though voting in the nomination contest just began a little over a month ago and is scheduled to continue through June , the March 10 contests bring us nearly to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Once the votes are counted , about 47 percent of total pledged Democrats in the nomination contest will have been allotted .
And though Super Tuesday holds the crown for delegates at stake , the March 10 contests are nothing to sneeze at : Nearly 9 percent of Democrats ’ total pledged delegates will be allotted in these states .
Particularly if you consider these contests alongside next week ’ s March 17 primaries , when another 14.5 percent of pledged delegates are up for grabs , this is a crucial period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Super Tuesday results can either be ratified ( if Biden expands his delegate lead ) or rejected ( if there ’ s an unexpected late swing to Sanders ) .
It will determine the shape of the rest of the contest — if there even is a rest of the contest .
It ’ s clear that Super Tuesday gave Biden a lead in the delegate count , but the exact size of that lead remains unclear due to slow vote-counting in California and other states with many mail ballots .
Decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead over Sanders , while the Associated Press says he ’ s up by 91 delegates .
So though the question of who wins each state will be interesting , what matters most is whether Biden can expand that lead further , by getting a large share of the 352 delegates up for grabs on Tuesday .
But recent polls also suggest that Biden has a real shot of dealing Sanders defeats in some , or even all , of the March 10 states Sanders did well in last time .
If he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off , the Sanders campaign would really be on the ropes — and at risk of what could effectively be a knockout blow on March 17 .
What to expect in the March 10 primaries and caucuses The overall narrative of these contests likely hinges on the outcomes in two states : Michigan and Missouri .
Michigan has symbolic importance because , in 2016 , it was the site for a poll-defying Bernie Sanders win after the Vermont senator lost badly to Hillary Clinton on Super Tuesday .
Now , that win was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders cut into Clinton ’ s delegate lead .
But it gave him a “ win ” with which he could stoke hope among his supporters and justify continuing the race .
Sanders was hoping for a similar comeback in Michigan this time around , which did not materialize .
The polls looked grim for him .
The 10 polls of the state released since Super Tuesday show Biden winning by between 13 and 41 points .
Those outcomes would have drastically different implications for the delegate math , but neither would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and to reverse that , he needs to win states .
Missouri , meanwhile , didn ’ t loom as large in pundits ’ imagination , but its demographic makeup and 2016 outcome are actually quite similar to Michigan ’ s ( Clinton won Missouri by just 0.25 percentage points ) .
There were several polls of Missouri since Super Tuesday , showing Biden leading by between 4 and 38 points .
Together , if Biden performed at the upper end of his polls — winning strongly in both Michigan and Missouri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s thoroughly in command of the race going forward .
If he wins more narrowly in both , he ’ s still in a good place .
Elsewhere on the map , Biden ’ s best chance for an overwhelming win over Sanders was in Mississippi , which he achieved .
It ’ s one of the smaller states voting Tuesday , with only 36 delegates at stake , but Mississippi ’ s Democratic electorate will likely be more than 80 percent black .
The only state that ’ s voted so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black voters in the Democratic electorate is Alabama , where Biden won by nearly 47 percentage points .
Alabama is currently Biden ’ s single best state in terms of net delegates , so Mississippi could be similarly beneficial to the former vice president .
Meanwhile , Sanders ’ s likely best state in the lineup is Washington .
It was where he netted the most delegates over Hillary Clinton in 2016 — though he won so big partly because Washington Democrats used caucuses then , and they are not doing so this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation ’ s most severe coronavirus outbreak , but luckily , the state uses mail voting rather than crowded in-person polling places .
In an ominous sign for Sanders , though , polls conducted after Super Tuesday show the race being quite close .
A shocking defeat in Washington would be a devastating result for Sanders .
However , because mail ballots take longer to count ( they have to be verified ) , we may not know the outcome here until later in the week as well .
Finally , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucuses .
Sanders won both states against Clinton .
But his support among rural white voters has been weaker this time around .
It was not inconceivable that Biden could win in both of these states , but Sanders pulled out a win in North Dakota .

The Democratic presidential race is now a two-way contest between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders — and Tuesday, we got our first real look at how that head-to-head matchup will play out.
These March 10 contests were much less “super” than those from last week, but it’s an important day for the nomination battle — it’s the third-biggest delegate day left in the calendar. About 9 percent of Democrats’ pledged delegates were up for grabs in six states: Michigan, Washington, Missouri, Mississippi, Idaho, and North Dakota.
Biden emerged from Super Tuesday with a significant but not overwhelming delegate lead over Sanders. Since then, the former vice president has surged in both national polls and polls of the March 10 states, suggesting he has an opportunity to dramatically expand that advantage.
Sanders, meanwhile, is behind. He needs to change the dynamics of the race to have any hopes of catching up. He won four of these six states last time around against Hillary Clinton, and lost a fifth quite narrowly (Missouri).
The flip side of that is if Sanders fails to make up ground here in the delegate count, or if he falls further behind, then he will have come up short in one of his best opportunities to turn things around.
We’ll display the latest vote totals in each contest, courtesy of our friends at Decision Desk (click on a state on the map to see that state’s results). But it’s important to keep in mind that what matters most now is the delegate count. Democrats allot their delegates proportionally. That means that a landslide win for Biden in Mississippi is more important to the delegate count than a narrow win for Sanders in a state where there are more delegates at stake.
Tuesday’s results will also matter greatly because another crucial day of primaries — March 17’s Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Arizona contests — is rapidly approaching. After that day, there will in theory be nearly three months left in the Democratic contest. But because the calendar is frontloaded, 61 percent of all pledged delegates will have already been locked down. And if Biden builds a large lead by then, it could become all but impossible for Sanders to come back.
The quick results, by state
We’ll post who wins each of the states holding primaries or caucuses Tuesday below, once Decision Desk makes a call.
Michigan (125 delegates) — Winner: Biden
Washington (89 delegates) — Winner: Biden
Missouri (68 delegates) — Winner: Biden
Mississippi (36 delegates) — Winner: Biden
Idaho (20 delegates) — Winner: Biden
North Dakota (14 delegates) — Winner: Sanders
How to think about the March 10 contests — and the delegate math
Even though voting in the nomination contest just began a little over a month ago and is scheduled to continue through June, the March 10 contests bring us nearly to the halfway point in the delegate count. Once the votes are counted, about 47 percent of total pledged Democrats in the nomination contest will have been allotted.
And though Super Tuesday holds the crown for delegates at stake, the March 10 contests are nothing to sneeze at: Nearly 9 percent of Democrats’ total pledged delegates will be allotted in these states.
Particularly if you consider these contests alongside next week’s March 17 primaries, when another 14.5 percent of pledged delegates are up for grabs, this is a crucial period. It’s the time when the Super Tuesday results can either be ratified (if Biden expands his delegate lead) or rejected (if there’s an unexpected late swing to Sanders). It will determine the shape of the rest of the contest — if there even is a rest of the contest.
It’s clear that Super Tuesday gave Biden a lead in the delegate count, but the exact size of that lead remains unclear due to slow vote-counting in California and other states with many mail ballots. Decision Desk estimates that Biden has a 78-delegate lead over Sanders, while the Associated Press says he’s up by 91 delegates.
So though the question of who wins each state will be interesting, what matters most is whether Biden can expand that lead further, by getting a large share of the 352 delegates up for grabs on Tuesday.
But recent polls also suggest that Biden has a real shot of dealing Sanders defeats in some, or even all, of the March 10 states Sanders did well in last time. If he manages to come close to pulling that off, the Sanders campaign would really be on the ropes — and at risk of what could effectively be a knockout blow on March 17.
What to expect in the March 10 primaries and caucuses
The overall narrative of these contests likely hinges on the outcomes in two states: Michigan and Missouri.
Michigan has symbolic importance because, in 2016, it was the site for a poll-defying Bernie Sanders win after the Vermont senator lost badly to Hillary Clinton on Super Tuesday. Now, that win was quite narrow, so it barely helped Sanders cut into Clinton’s delegate lead. But it gave him a “win” with which he could stoke hope among his supporters and justify continuing the race.
Sanders was hoping for a similar comeback in Michigan this time around, which did not materialize. The polls looked grim for him. The 10 polls of the state released since Super Tuesday show Biden winning by between 13 and 41 points. Those outcomes would have drastically different implications for the delegate math, but neither would be good for Sanders — he is losing, and to reverse that, he needs to win states.
Missouri, meanwhile, didn’t loom as large in pundits’ imagination, but its demographic makeup and 2016 outcome are actually quite similar to Michigan’s (Clinton won Missouri by just 0.25 percentage points). There were several polls of Missouri since Super Tuesday, showing Biden leading by between 4 and 38 points.
Together, if Biden performed at the upper end of his polls — winning strongly in both Michigan and Missouri — it would signal that he’s thoroughly in command of the race going forward. If he wins more narrowly in both, he’s still in a good place.
Elsewhere on the map, Biden’s best chance for an overwhelming win over Sanders was in Mississippi, which he achieved. It’s one of the smaller states voting Tuesday, with only 36 delegates at stake, but Mississippi’s Democratic electorate will likely be more than 80 percent black. The only state that’s voted so far that has anywhere near that proportion of black voters in the Democratic electorate is Alabama, where Biden won by nearly 47 percentage points. Alabama is currently Biden’s single best state in terms of net delegates, so Mississippi could be similarly beneficial to the former vice president.
Meanwhile, Sanders’s likely best state in the lineup is Washington. It was where he netted the most delegates over Hillary Clinton in 2016 — though he won so big partly because Washington Democrats used caucuses then, and they are not doing so this time around. Washington is experiencing the nation’s most severe coronavirus outbreak, but luckily, the state uses mail voting rather than crowded in-person polling places. In an ominous sign for Sanders, though, polls conducted after Super Tuesday show the race being quite close. A shocking defeat in Washington would be a devastating result for Sanders. However, because mail ballots take longer to count (they have to be verified), we may not know the outcome here until later in the week as well.
Finally, there are the Idaho primary and the North Dakota caucuses. Sanders won both states against Clinton. But his support among rural white voters has been weaker this time around. It was not inconceivable that Biden could win in both of these states, but Sanders pulled out a win in North Dakota.


vox--2020-03-16--Joe Biden wins Washington state — showing just how much momentum he’s picked up

Joe Biden just in Washington state — further solidifying his delegate lead against Bernie Sanders , who won the state handily in 2016 , nearly a week after the state ’ s primary Election Day .
Given Washington ’ s more progressive lean , this Biden victory , in particular , highlights just how much momentum he ’ s picked up since Super Tuesday .
Four years ago , Sanders won the Washington caucuses by nearly 45 points , while losing a nonbinding primary that took place later in the year .
( In 2016 , the state held a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in May — a practice that ’ s required by state law — though only the outcome of the former mattered in the delegates race . )
This time around , the state has opted to switch entirely from a caucus to primary with mail-in ballots , and the change likely helped Biden .
Sanders in the past has performed very strongly in caucuses because of how dedicated his base of voters is , but in multiple states that switched their method of voting this cycle — including both Minnesota and Washington — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of the election had Biden and Sanders neck-in-neck with one another : According to the RealClearPolitics average , Biden was up by just two points with 41.5 percent support the Monday before the primary , while Sanders had 39.5 percent .
Biden ’ s gains from Washington — which has 89 pledged delegates — are notable , in part because the state was seen as one that could give Sanders a much-needed boost .
Questions about voter turnout had also emerged in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak , which the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because Washington has such an accessible mail-in ballot system , however , many voters were still likely able to participate while following public health officials ’ guidance about remaining home when possible .
( Voters received mail-in ballots at least 18 days before the election and were able to submit them through election day . )
Biden ’ s success in Washington offers a tough message for Sanders as four more states go to the polls on Tuesday , even amid the coronavirus outbreak .
“ Here we are , a really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supportive of Bernie four years ago , ” former Washington Gov .
Christine Gregoire , a Biden supporter , told Politico .
“ So , if Bernie Sanders can ’ t win , and win big here , I think that is a really troubling message for the campaign for Bernie Sanders .
”

Joe Biden just won Washington state — further solidifying his delegate lead against Bernie Sanders, who won the state handily in 2016. The results were called nearly a week after the state’s primary Election Day.
Given Washington’s more progressive lean, this Biden victory, in particular, highlights just how much momentum he’s picked up since Super Tuesday. Four years ago, Sanders won the Washington caucuses by nearly 45 points, while losing a nonbinding primary that took place later in the year. (In 2016, the state held a caucus in March and a nonbinding primary in May — a practice that’s required by state law — though only the outcome of the former mattered in the delegates race.)
This time around, the state has opted to switch entirely from a caucus to primary with mail-in ballots, and the change likely helped Biden. Sanders in the past has performed very strongly in caucuses because of how dedicated his base of voters is, but in multiple states that switched their method of voting this cycle — including both Minnesota and Washington — he’s fallen short.
Polling ahead of the election had Biden and Sanders neck-and-neck with one another: According to the RealClearPolitics average, Biden was up by just two points with 41.5 percent support the Monday before the primary, while Sanders had 39.5 percent.
Biden’s gains from Washington — which has 89 pledged delegates — are notable, in part because the state was seen as one that could give Sanders a much-needed boost.
Questions about voter turnout had also emerged in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, which the state has been dealing with in recent weeks. Because Washington has such an accessible mail-in ballot system, however, many voters were still likely able to participate while following public health officials’ guidance about remaining home when possible. (Voters received mail-in ballots at least 18 days before the election and were able to submit them through election day.)
Biden’s success in Washington offers a tough message for Sanders as four more states go to the polls on Tuesday, even amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“Here we are, a really blue state, very progressive, very supportive of Bernie four years ago,” former Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, a Biden supporter, told Politico. “So, if Bernie Sanders can’t win, and win big here, I think that is a really troubling message for the campaign for Bernie Sanders.”


vox--2020-03-16--Most courts closed due to coronavirus — but not those that serve high-risk populations

Update March 16 6:40 pm : The Social Security Administration announced it will be closing its doors for in-person services , including hearings , effective March 17 .
Many immigration courts , meanwhile , are expected to remain open .
While courts around the country and shutting down because of Covid-19 fears , the Social Security Administration is still requiring in-person disability hearings — which poses a high risk to large number of seniors seeking aid .
HuffPost reporter Jennifer Bendery first tweeted a release from the Association of Administrative Law Judges on Monday morning .
Leaders of AALJ , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearings , criticized the SSA for continuing in-person proceedings , especially when many immunocompromised senior citizens frequent the courtrooms .
To protect its claimants from the virus , the group asked for the government to cancel hearings for a limited time .
“ We care deeply about our claimants and about hearing their cases , ” AALJ president Judge Melissa McIntosh told Vox .
“ So we didn ’ t ask for [ the cancellations ] lightly or without much care , concern , and deliberation .
We sincerely believe we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half to four weeks in order to protect the American public.
” Disability hearings are held to determine whether one ’ s condition is too disabling to continue work .
After a series of questions about medical treatment and employment history , a judge will determine whether the claimant is eligible for benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance .
The hearings are usually held in small conference rooms with close contact between the lawyers , judges , and claimants .
This environment provides a particularly dangerous setting for older claimants , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 .
Although there ’ s little data on the people who pass through disability hearings , the largest percentage of disabled worker beneficiaries of SSDI in 2018 were between the ages of 60 and 64 .
Yet McIntosh said the government has failed to respond to AALJ ’ s concern for its senior claimants .
In February , she said her organization tried to get ahead of the crisis by proposing phone hearings for those who exhibited Covid-19 symptoms .
SSA , however , has only allowed limited telework , leaving claimants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And while these tele-hearings would be ideal in keeping cases rolling , they ’ re still not the best measure for safety because they require the staff , judges , and a hearing reporter to be in the office — which is why AALJ is advocating for a complete shutdown .
“ They wouldn ’ t take any of our suggestions , ” McIntosh said .
“ So now we ’ re just a critical mess .
It ’ s just entirely irresponsible without all of those safeguards being put into place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceed with hearings .
We really need to hit pause.
” The few courts that are still open handle the most vulnerable populations It ’ s not just disability hearings that are left open .
Immigration courts are also continuing proceedings , which has outraged prosecutors , judges , and lawyers alike .
Although the three groups — prosecutors from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement , the National Association of Immigration Judges , and the American Immigration Lawyers Association — may seem like unlikely allies , they ’ ve joined forces to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country .
“ Our nation is currently in the throes of a historic global pandemic , ” they wrote in a joint statement on Sunday .
“ The Department of Justice ’ s ( DOJ ) current response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its spread is insufficient and not premised on transparent scientific information .
The DOJ is failing to meet its obligations to ensure a safe and healthy environment within our Immigration Courts.
” As of now , an immigration court has been shut down in Seattle , while some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of states , including Miami , San Francisco , Los Angeles , and New York City , according to BuzzFeed .
That ’ s not enough , however , to mitigate the dangers of Covid-19 , especially for children going through the immigration court system , said Jennifer Nagda , policy director at the Young Center for Immigrant Children ’ s Rights .
“ The best available guidance today is that people should not be gathering in groups of more than 10 , ” Nagda said .
“ That can ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are coming into the courts from facilities , and there is no reason that the children should be subjected to a situation that is less safe than what the government is requiring for all people.
” The continued openings of both disability hearings and immigration courts point to a disturbing trend in our judiciary system in the midst of Covid-19 : The most vulnerable groups are being forced to put themselves in high-risk situations for proceedings they dare not miss .
In disability hearings , those seeking benefits are often senior citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely face financial difficulties because of a disability that limits their employment opportunities .
Likewise , many of the immigrants that travel to court are low-income with limited access to health care .
A large portion use public transportation for their court cases , which in many cases have been dragging on for months .
Neither of these groups has the luxury to skip their proceedings — even if they may not be emergencies — out of fear of getting Covid-19 , yet the government isn ’ t doing much to protect them @ @

Update March 16 6:40 pm: The Social Security Administration announced it will be closing its doors for in-person services, including hearings, effective March 17. Many immigration courts, meanwhile, are expected to remain open.
While courts around the country and shutting down because of Covid-19 fears, the Social Security Administration is still requiring in-person disability hearings — which poses a high risk to large number of seniors seeking aid.
HuffPost reporter Jennifer Bendery first tweeted a release from the Association of Administrative Law Judges on Monday morning. Leaders of AALJ, which represents 1,300 judges who oversee disability hearings, criticized the SSA for continuing in-person proceedings, especially when many immunocompromised senior citizens frequent the courtrooms. To protect its claimants from the virus, the group asked for the government to cancel hearings for a limited time.
“We care deeply about our claimants and about hearing their cases,” AALJ president Judge Melissa McIntosh told Vox. “So we didn’t ask for [the cancellations] lightly or without much care, concern, and deliberation. We sincerely believe we need to postpone the hearings for two and a half to four weeks in order to protect the American public.”
So... the Social Security Admin is still requiring people to do in-person disability hearings all over the country. Many of these people are senior citizens + report compromised immunity.
Maybe it's time to, uh, pause this ASAP, @SocialSecurity? pic.twitter.com/WuOsE14eiE — Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) March 16, 2020
Disability hearings are held to determine whether one’s condition is too disabling to continue work. After a series of questions about medical treatment and employment history, a judge will determine whether the claimant is eligible for benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance.
The hearings are usually held in small conference rooms with close contact between the lawyers, judges, and claimants. This environment provides a particularly dangerous setting for older claimants, who are statistically more likely to die from Covid-19. Although there’s little data on the people who pass through disability hearings, the largest percentage of disabled worker beneficiaries of SSDI in 2018 were between the ages of 60 and 64.
Yet McIntosh said the government has failed to respond to AALJ’s concern for its senior claimants. In February, she said her organization tried to get ahead of the crisis by proposing phone hearings for those who exhibited Covid-19 symptoms. SSA, however, has only allowed limited telework, leaving claimants vulnerable to Covid-19 risks, she said. And while these tele-hearings would be ideal in keeping cases rolling, they’re still not the best measure for safety because they require the staff, judges, and a hearing reporter to be in the office — which is why AALJ is advocating for a complete shutdown.
“They wouldn’t take any of our suggestions,” McIntosh said. “So now we’re just a critical mess. It’s just entirely irresponsible without all of those safeguards being put into place. It’s just irresponsible to proceed with hearings. We really need to hit pause.”
The few courts that are still open handle the most vulnerable populations
It’s not just disability hearings that are left open. Immigration courts are also continuing proceedings, which has outraged prosecutors, judges, and lawyers alike. Although the three groups — prosecutors from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the National Association of Immigration Judges, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association — may seem like unlikely allies, they’ve joined forces to ask for a shutdown of immigration courts across the country.
“Our nation is currently in the throes of a historic global pandemic,” they wrote in a joint statement on Sunday. “The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) current response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its spread is insufficient and not premised on transparent scientific information. The DOJ is failing to meet its obligations to ensure a safe and healthy environment within our Immigration Courts.”
As of now, an immigration court has been shut down in Seattle, while some hearings have been canceled in a handful of states, including Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City, according to BuzzFeed. That’s not enough, however, to mitigate the dangers of Covid-19, especially for children going through the immigration court system, said Jennifer Nagda, policy director at the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights.
“The best available guidance today is that people should not be gathering in groups of more than 10,” Nagda said. “That can’t be done for children who are in custody who are coming into the courts from facilities, and there is no reason that the children should be subjected to a situation that is less safe than what the government is requiring for all people.”
The continued openings of both disability hearings and immigration courts point to a disturbing trend in our judiciary system in the midst of Covid-19: The most vulnerable groups are being forced to put themselves in high-risk situations for proceedings they dare not miss.
In disability hearings, those seeking benefits are often senior citizens with compromised immune systems. Many also likely face financial difficulties because of a disability that limits their employment opportunities. Likewise, many of the immigrants that travel to court are low-income with limited access to health care. A large portion use public transportation for their court cases, which in many cases have been dragging on for months. Neither of these groups has the luxury to skip their proceedings — even if they may not be emergencies — out of fear of getting Covid-19, yet the government isn’t doing much to protect them either.


vox--2020-03-16--How the coronavirus outbreak is roiling the film and entertainment industries

The Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak , which was first identified in China in December , has had sweeping effects in the public health , business , and travel sectors , among others .
And while the repercussions for the entertainment industry may seem to pale in comparison to the clear threat the virus poses to human life , the ripple effects do have implications for the people around the world who make a living producing and distributing movies , music , and more .
The immense and lucrative Chinese film industry was hit almost immediately as movie theaters across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hollywood soon began to feel the effects too , and as time passes , the impact of the coronavirus on the global film and entertainment industries will certainly grow .
Consequences of the outbreak on these industries could range from lowered attendance at film festivals and disruptions in film distribution to delayed or canceled movie releases and concert dates to curtailed on-location film shoots .
Financial ramifications will likely be felt by studios , filmmakers , theater owners , and more for months or even years .
Here are the biggest and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to the outbreak .
Most recently , while movie theaters began shutting down across the US , with reduced seating capacity in some cities , NBCUniversal announced that it would make some of its current films available digitally and would release others , including Trolls World Tour , in theaters and digitally simultaneously .
Meanwhile , London ’ s West End shut down and Regal Cinemas announced that its 543 theaters across the US will close indefinitely .
K-pop concerts canceled , including BTS shows : On February 28 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series of planned concerts in Seoul .
The shows were scheduled for April 11 and 12 and April 18 and 19 at Seoul ’ s Olympic Stadium .
The group ’ s management agency said the decision was made due to the impossibility of predicting the scale of the outbreak in South Korea come April and cited the health and safety of the musicians themselves , workers , and concertgoers .
Two hundred thousand fans were expected to attend .
Days earlier , BTS had asked fans to avoid a series of TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Map Of The Soul : 7 , which had originally been planned to include studio audiences .
The group also appealed to fans via a streamed press conference .
“ Health is always on our minds these days , and our messages of facing your inner self and loving yourself are ultimately only possible when you ’ re healthy , especially since it is very risky outside these days , ” one of the singers , Jimin , said .
” I hope you take care of yourself.
” The entire Korean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak , and K-pop has been hit particularly hard , with groups including GOT7 , Winner , Sechs Kies , ( G ) I-DLE , and others canceling scheduled tour dates .
Variety reported that box office revenue in South Korea was down 30 to 40 percent in January 2020 compared to previous years .
SXSW canceled : On March 6 , the city of Austin , Texas , declared a state of disaster , requiring the cancellation of public gatherings and events for the near future .
The most notable of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the annual music , film , TV , and technology festival that serves as a significant financial powerhouse for the city .
The announcement came after a week full of major companies — including Netflix , Apple , Amazon , WarnerMedia , Facebook , Twitter , TikTok , Mashable , Intel , and more — dropping out of the well-attended event , canceling panels , premieres , and other appearances .
Days later , SXSW organizers announced that they had laid off one-third of the festival ’ s employees in what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , step.
” Emerald City Comic Con delayed : The organizing body behind Emerald City Comic Con , the largest convention of its kind in Seattle , Washington , announced on March 6 that it will postpone the event until sometime this summer .
The event was to run March 12 to 16 .
“ We did everything that we could to run the event as planned , but ultimately , we are following the guidance of the local public health officials indicating that conventions should now be postponed , ” convention organizers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Emerald City Comic Con website .
Cannes Film Festival remains in question : The 2020 edition of the Cannes Film Festival , arguably the most prestigious film festival in the world , is still in question following the French government ’ s ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people through at least the end of May .
( The festival is slated to take place May 12 to 23 and draws thousands of industries and press from around the globe each year . )
The festival issued a statement on February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in nearby Nice , France , was confirmed by the city ’ s mayor , saying that organizers were monitoring the situation but planned for the festival to go forward .
( Cannes is a seaside resort town located on the French Riviera , about 30 km from Nice . )
Variety reported on March 10 that the festival ’ s organizers had previously elected not to carry a buy-back option on its insurance , meaning that if the event is canceled , the festival will not be able to rely on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , on March 10 , the UK sales outfit GFM became the first film industry company to confirm that it would not be traveling to Cannes in May .
Coachella delayed : Goldenvoice , the organizers of Coachella , one of the largest annual music festivals in the US , announced on March 10 that the festival would be postponed due to concerns about the outbreak .
Another Goldenvoice festival , the country music-oriented Stagecoach , has also been postponed .
The Indio , California-based event was originally set to run for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17-19 , with the same talent lineups performing both weekends .
It will now run October 9-11 and October 16-18 .
Stagecoach 2020 has been pushed back from April to October 23-25 .
Electronics Entertainment Expo ( E3 ) canceled : The 2020 Electronic Entertainment Expo ( E3 ) — the single biggest trade show in the video game industry — has been canceled .
The Entertainment Software Association , which organizes the event , announced that it would not go forward with the annual event due to coronavirus fears in California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was scheduled for June 9 to 11 .
The organization said it will contact exhibitors and attendees about receiving full refunds for passes , and that it is considering ways to “ coordinate an online experience ” in lieu of the in-person event .
It also maintains that E3 will return next year as planned .
The NBA suspended basketball games indefinitely : A player on the Utah Jazz tested positive for coronavirus on March 11 , leading NBA officials to call off that night ’ s Jazz game just before tip-off .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ league issued a statement that it would suspend the basketball season “ until further notice.
” Prior to putting an early pause on the rest of the season , the NBA made other efforts to protecting players and fans .
The league barred media from locker rooms , and publicly considered having teams play to empty arenas , before ultimately stopping play altogether .
NBCUniversal to release major films digitally : In an unprecedented move , NBCUniversal announced on March 16 that it would make some movies available digitally the same day they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open , including Trolls World Tour , which is set to hit theaters on April 10 .
Movies currently in theatrical release will also be available on-demand , including The Hunt , The Invisible Man , and Emma .
According to the Hollywood Reporter , those films may become available on-demand as early as Friday , March 20 .
Movies will be available for a 48-hour rental period for $ 19.99 in the US and an equivalent price abroad .
Disney postpones major releases : On March 12 , Disney confirmed that three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Mulan ( scheduled for March 27 ) , The New Mutants ( scheduled for April 3 ) , and Antlers ( scheduled for April 17 ) — would be postponed out of an abundance of caution .
Disney did not set a new release date .
The Chinese and European premieres of Mulan had previously been delayed as well .
No Time to Die : On February 16 , MGM announced that it would cancel the Chinese premiere and publicity tour planned for the new James Bond movie , No Time To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On March 4 , the studio announced that it had delayed the film ’ s release until late November , making the film the first major tentpole release to be delayed worldwide .
Sonic the Hedgehog : On February 24 , Paramount Pictures announced that it would delay the release of Sonic the Hedgehog in China , with a new release date to be determined .
Peter Rabbit 2 : On March 10 , Sony announced that it would push the global release of Peter Rabbit 2 : The Runaway from late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Place Part II : On March 12 , A Quiet Place Part II director John Krasinski announced via Twitter that the movie ’ s planned March 19 release date would be delayed .
“ One of the things I ’ m most proud of is that people have said our movie is one you have to see all together .
Well due to the ever-changing circumstances of what ’ s going on in the world around us , now is clearly not the right time to do that , ” he wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all of you to see this movie ...
I ’ m gon na wait to release the film till we CAN see it all together !
So here ’ s to our group movie date !
See you soon !
” Fast and Furious 9 : On March 12 , Universal Pictures announced that it would delay the release date of the ninth installment in the Fast and Furious franchise by 11 months , from May 22 , 2020 to April 2 , 2021 .
Chinese movies scrapped theatrical release and premiere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s year are usually scheduled to release during the Lunar New Year holiday , near the end of January , but mounting fears of the coronavirus and public reticence to be in crowded spaces caused distributors to voluntarily cancel or postpone several film releases .
Huanxi , distributor of the Chinese blockbuster Lost in Russia , announced on January 22 that the film would premiere online for free .
Promotional materials encouraged audiences to “ stay safely at home and watch Lost in Russia with your mom.
” On January 31 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major Chinese film to premiere online , as theaters are closed by order of the government .
Film and TV productions halted , altered , or shut down TV shows suspend production : Hundreds of shows have delayed or suspended production , including Apple ’ s The Morning Show and Little America ; Netflix shows including Russian Doll ; the CW ’ s Riverdale ; NBC shows including the Chicago dramas and The Kelly Clarkson Show ; CBS shows including the NCIS dramas , The Amazing Race , and Survivor ; and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on March 16 that it would suspend its next three shows , the first of which was scheduled for March 28 , with John Krasinski hosting .
( Krasinski ’ s film A Quiet Place Part II , originally scheduled for release on March 19 , was also delayed . )
Late-night shows suspend production or tape without a studio audience : Originally , on March 11 , producers of shows including NBC ’ s The Tonight Show ( hosted by Jimmy Fallon ) and Late Night With Seth Meyers , CBS ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TBS ’ s Full Frontal with Samantha Bee , and Comedy Central ’ s Daily Show ( hosted by Trevor Noah ) all announced they would begin taping without a live studio audience on March 16 .
A day later , NBC announced that The Tonight Show and Late Night would suspend production beginning the week of March 16 ; Stephen Colbert also announced that the Late Show would suspend production .
All three shows were already scheduled to go into hiatus on March 23 .
On March 13 , Jimmy Kimmel Live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production : On March 13 , Disney announced that production on its live-action movies would suspend production .
Affected films include The Little Mermaid , a Home Alone reboot , and Peter Pan .
Earlier in the day , production on Marvel ’ s Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings had been suspended due to director Destin Daniel Cretton ’ s decision to self-isolate upon advice of a doctor .
( Marvel is owned by Disney . )
Jia Zhangke project delayed : At the Berlin Film Festival in February , famed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Purest White , A Touch of Sin ) told Indiewire that production on his new film , which was slated to begin in April , was delayed indefinitely .
Jia spoke with Indiewire at the Berlin Film Festival , where his documentary Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue premiered .
But he said that before he left , he ’ d feared his flight to Berlin would be canceled , and that some of his collaborators chose not to make the trip .
Regarding his next film , he said : Mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 , Paramount Pictures announced that it had halted a planned three-week shoot in Venice for the seventh installment in the Mission : Impossible franchise .
“ Out of an abundance of caution for the safety and well-being of our cast and crew , and efforts of the local Venetian government to halt public gatherings in response to the threat of coronavirus , we are altering the production plan for our three-week shoot in Venice , the scheduled first leg of an extensive production for Mission : Impossible 7 , ” a Paramount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During this hiatus we want to be mindful of the concerns of the crew and are allowing them to return home until production starts .
We will continue to monitor this situation , and work alongside health and government officials as it evolves.
” Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune tape without a studio audience : Though Sony declined to comment , sources told the Hollywood Reporter on March 9 that scheduled tapings of the shows would go forward without a live studio audience .
The measure was taken partly as a precaution for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has stage 4 pancreatic cancer .
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson announce they ’ ve contracted the virus : One of Hollywood ’ s biggest stars , Tom Hanks , announced that he and his wife Rita Wilson had contracted the coronavirus while shooting Baz Luhrmann ’ s untitled Elvis Presley film in Australia : In a message posted publicly on March 11 , Hanks was his typical upbeat self : All Disney parks shut down : On January 25 , Disney shut down its Shanghai Disneyland park over fears of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major revenue generator , with 11.8 million guests in 2018 , 50 percent from outside the Shanghai region , and an estimated $ 1 billion in annual revenue and $ 50 million in operating profit .
A day after Shanghai Disneyland ’ s closure , Hong Kong Disneyland shut down .
Both Disney parks in Japan closed on February 29 and Disney announced on March 11 that they will remain closed through at least the end of April .
Late in the day on March 12 , Disneyland in California announced it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening , the company announced that all of its parks would close , including those in Florida and Disneyland Paris ( where three staff had previously tested positive for coronavirus ) .
North American movie theaters shut down or begin “ social distancing ” measures : On March 13 , a number of theaters and theater chains , including AMC Theatres , and the Canadian chain Cineplex , announced that they would be reducing the number of tickets sold to screenings by as much as 50 % in order to enable patrons to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing ” measures .
On March 15 , theaters in New York and Los Angeles were shut down by order of their respective mayors .
On March 16 , Regal announced it would shut down all of its 543 US theaters indefinitely .
New York City cultural sites closed : On March 12 , major cultural sites in New York City began to close , including the Metropolitan Museum of Art .
Other institutions cancelled programming for the month of March , such as the New York Public Library and Carnegie Hall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 , New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that beginning at 5:00pm , Broadway would be closed , part of a ban on gatherings of more than 500 people .
West End closes : On March 16 , London ’ s West End shut down , following Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’ s speech urging Britons to avoid public spaces .
The theaters , including the Royal Opera House , will stay closed indefinitely .
Italian cultural sites closed : In February , a number of major museums in Venice , Milan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were closed as part of the government ’ s aggressive attempt to contain the virus , and annual Carnivale celebrations stopped early .
By early March , with the country under complete lockdown , cultural sites across Italy were closed , including the Colosseum and Pompeii .
Chinese movie theaters shut down : Hoping to contain the coronavirus outbreak , on January 23 the Chinese government decided to temporarily shut down movie theaters throughout the country until further notice .
A total film production shutdown soon followed .
Loss of revenue over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , during which movie theaters typically see an uptick in ticket sales , amounted to a staggering $ 1 billion , according to analysts .
Chinese cultural attractions closed : Other cultural attractions and institutions in China that have been closed to the public include Tiananmen Square ’ s National Museum of China , the Forbidden City , and a section of the Great Wall of China located near Beijing .
We will continue to update this article as the story develops .

The Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, which was first identified in China in December, has had sweeping effects in the public health, business, and travel sectors, among others. And while the repercussions for the entertainment industry may seem to pale in comparison to the clear threat the virus poses to human life, the ripple effects do have implications for the people around the world who make a living producing and distributing movies, music, and more.
The immense and lucrative Chinese film industry was hit almost immediately as movie theaters across the country were closed and major releases were delayed. Hollywood soon began to feel the effects, too, and as time passes, the impacts of the coronavirus on the global film and entertainment industries continue to be vast.
Consequences of the pandemic on these industries could range from lowered attendance at film festivals and disruptions in film distribution to delayed or canceled movie releases and concert dates to curtailed on-location film shoots. Financial ramifications will likely be felt by studios, filmmakers, theater owners, and more for months or even years.
Here are the biggest and most significant developments in the entertainment industry in response to the pandemic. Most recently, Disney announced more delays to several of its biggest films slated for 2020, including West Side Story and Black Widow.
Major entertainment festival cancellations and postponements
K-pop concerts canceled, including BTS shows: On February 28, the hugely popular K-pop group BTS canceled a series of concerts in Seoul. The shows were scheduled for April 11 and 12 and April 18 and 19 at Seoul’s Olympic Stadium. The group’s management agency said the decision was made due to the impossibility of predicting the scale of the outbreak in South Korea come April and cited the health and safety of the musicians themselves, workers, and concertgoers. Two hundred thousand fans were expected to attend.
Days earlier, BTS had asked fans to avoid a series of TV appearances scheduled to promote their newest album, Map of the Soul: 7, which had originally been planned to include studio audiences. The group also appealed to fans via a streamed press conference. “Health is always on our minds these days, and our messages of facing your inner self and loving yourself are ultimately only possible when you’re healthy, especially since it is very risky outside these days,” one of the singers, Jimin, said. ”I hope you take care of yourself.”
The entire Korean entertainment sector has been affected by the outbreak, and K-pop has been hit particularly hard, with groups including GOT7, Winner, Sechs Kies, (G) I-DLE, and others canceling scheduled tour dates. Variety reported that box office revenue in South Korea was down 30 to 40 percent in January 2020 compared to previous years.
SXSW canceled: On March 6, the city of Austin, Texas, declared a state of disaster, requiring the cancellation of public gatherings and events for the near future. The most notable of those is the cancellation of South by Southwest, the annual music, film, TV, and technology festival that serves as a significant financial powerhouse for the city.
The announcement came after a week full of major companies — including Netflix, Apple, Amazon, WarnerMedia, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Mashable, Intel, and more — dropping out of the well-attended event, canceling panels, premieres, and other appearances. Days later, SXSW organizers announced that they had laid off one-third of the festival’s employees in what they called “a necessary, but heartbreaking, step.”
Emerald City Comic Con delayed: The organizing body behind Emerald City Comic Con, the largest convention of its kind in Seattle, Washington, announced on March 6 that it will postpone the event until sometime this summer. The event was scheduled to run from March 12 to 16.
“We did everything that we could to run the event as planned, but ultimately, we are following the guidance of the local public health officials indicating that conventions should now be postponed,” convention organizers Reedpop said in a statement published on the Emerald City Comic Con website.
Cannes Film Festival delayed: Initially, the 2020 edition of the Cannes Film Festival, arguably the most prestigious film festival in the world, was left in limbo following an announcement from the festival’s organizers on March 19 that the gathering could be delayed until “late June or early July,” or another time. (The festival had been slated to take place May 12 to 23 and draws thousands of industries and press from around the globe each year.) The festival first issued a statement on February 28 after the first case of coronavirus in nearby Nice, France, was confirmed by the city’s mayor, saying that organizers were monitoring the situation but planned for the festival to go forward. (Cannes is a seaside resort town located on the French Riviera, about 30 km from Nice.)
By late spring, the organizers announced that the 2020 edition would be canceled. All films that would have played in the official and sidebar programs at the festival will bear the official Cannes seal when released in theaters or potentially at partner festivals in the fall, such as those that take place in Venice and Toronto. They announced these selections on June 3.
Coachella delayed, then canceled: Goldenvoice, the organizers of Coachella — one of the largest annual music festivals in the US — announced on March 10 that the festival would be postponed due to concerns about Covid-19. Another Goldenvoice festival, the country-music-oriented Stagecoach, was also delayed.
The Indio, California-based event was originally set to run for two weekends (April 10-12 and April 17-19), with the same talent lineup performing both weekends. The postponement moved Coachella to October 9-11 and October 16-18; Stagecoach 2020 was pushed back from April to October 23-25.
But on June 10, both events were canceled by an order from the public health officer of Riverside County, California.
Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) canceled: The 2020 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) — the single biggest trade show in the video game industry — has been canceled. The Entertainment Software Association, which organizes the event, announced that it would not go forward with the annual event due to coronavirus fears in California, where E3 takes place. The event was scheduled for June 9 to 11.
The organization said it will contact exhibitors and attendees about receiving full refunds for passes, and that it is considering ways to “coordinate an online experience” in lieu of the in-person event. It also maintains that E3 will return next year as planned.
The NBA suspended basketball games: A player on the Utah Jazz tested positive for coronavirus on March 11, leading NBA officials to call off that night’s Jazz game just before tip-off. As a further precautionary measure, the league issued a statement that it would suspend the basketball season “until further notice.”
Prior to putting an early pause on the rest of the season, the NBA made other efforts to protect players and fans. The league barred media from locker rooms and publicly considered having teams play to empty arenas before ultimately stopping play altogether.
Games resumed on July 30.
2020 Tokyo Olympics delayed: On March 24, following pressure from athletes and multiple nations’ Olympic committees, the International Olympic Committee and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe announced that the 2020 Summer Olympics would be postponed, possibly until 2021; on March 30, the dates were set for July 23-August 8, 2021.
San Diego Comic-Con 2020 canceled: On April 17, the organizers of San Diego Comic-Con announced that the yearly fan convention will not go on as planned in 2020. The event will resume once again in July 2021 at the San Diego Convention Center. The cancellation marks the first time in Comic-Con’s 50-year history that the event, the largest convention of its kind in the US, will not take place.
Major film release dates postponed or canceled
Warner Bros. changes release plans: On April 20, Warner Bros. announced changes to its slate. The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson, shifted from a release date of June 25, 2021, to October 1, 2021. The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel to The Sopranos, was delayed from September 25, 2020, to March 12, 2021. King Richard, a biopic about Venus and Serena Williams’ father starring Will Smith, shifted from November 25, 2020, to November 19, 2021. An untitled Elvis movie moved from October 1, 2021 to November 5, 2021.
Two DC titles also shifted dates: Shazam! 2 is delayed from April 1, 2022 to November 4, 2022, and The Flash moved from July 1, 2022, to June 3, 2022.
On April 21, the studio announced that the big-screen adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, originally set for June 26, 2020, would move to June 18, 2021, because of pandemic-related post-production delays. Malignant, a thriller from Aquaman director James Wan that had originally been scheduled for August 14 was pulled from the release schedule.
On June 12, the studio announced that Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, previously slated for release on July 17, would move to July 31. Wonder Woman 1984, which was set for August 14, moved to October 2. (Wonder Woman 1984 previously shifted from June to August.)
On July 20, with case numbers rising around the US and most theaters remaining closed, Warner Bros. announced that Tenet’s release would be delayed indefinitely. A week later, the studio announced that the film would be released on a staggered schedule: on August 26 in 70 international territories and then in select US theaters beginning September 3.
On September 11, the studio announced that it had delayed Wonder Woman 1984 again, reportedly until Christmas.
Related Wonder Woman 1984 has been postponed until August 14
Newest Pixar film delayed: On April 13, Disney announced that Pixar’s latest release, Soul, would open on November 20, 2020. The film was previously set to open on June 19.
Disney makes sweeping changes to release calendar: On April 3, Disney made huge changes to its release calendar, setting dates for movies it had previously pulled without a date and moving others. Mulan was set to open on July 24, 2020, while Jungle Cruise, which had been set to release that day, moved to July 30, 2021. An untitled Indiana Jones film moved from July 9, 2021, to July 29, 2022.
Changes in the MCU calendar also set off a domino effect. Black Widow was newly set for November 6, 2020, while the previous release on that date, Shang-Chi, shifted to May 7, 2021. Originally, Doctor Strange 2 was set to release on that date; it’s now set to open November 5, 2021, displacing Thor: Love and Thunder until February 28, 2022. Black Panther 2 is still currently set for May 6, 2022, and Captain Marvel 2 moved from July 22 to July 8, 2022.
Disney also owns 20th Century Films and Searchlight Films, which had a number of changes. The Ryan Reynolds film Free Guy moved from July 3 to December 11, 2020. West Side Story is still set for December 18 and Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel for Christmas Day.
On July 23, however, Disney announced a series of sweeping scheduling changes once again. Mulan was pulled off the release calendar, indefinitely delaying its debut. Disney also took Wes Anderson’s newest film, The French Dispatch, off the calendar indefinitely, after it had initially moved from July 24 to October 16, 2020. Disney moved its upcoming trio of Star Wars movies forward by one year; they’re now slated to release in 2023, 2025, and 2027. And James Cameron’s Avatar sequels were moved back by a year as well, with the first set to premiere in December 2022.
The August 28 date for Disney’s The New Mutants remains August 28, for now; it was originally slated for April 3. And a release date for The Woman in the Window (originally slated for May 15) has not been set yet.
On August 4, Disney announced that Mulan would be released on its Disney+ streaming service. Subscribers will pay an additional $29.99 to rent the movie, available September 4. In territories where Disney+ is not available, Mulan will open in theaters that same day. (Notably, Disney+ is not available in China.)
On September 23, Disney announced more sweeping changes to its release schedule. Black Widow, originally set for November 6, is now slated to open on May 7, 2021. That delay shifted release dates for several other movies in the MCU, including Eternals (from February 12, 2021, to November 5, 2021) and Shang-Chi (from May 7, 2021, to July 9, 2021).
West Side Story, which had been set to release in the prime awards-season slot of December 18, 2020, will now open a full year later on December 10, 2021. The King’s Man — which had initially been set to open in September 2020, then delayed into 2021 — now has a release date of February 16, 2021. And Deep Water, starring Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas, moved from November 13, 2020, to August 13, 2021.
A number of Disney’s films — among them Soul, the latest from Pixar — are still set for 2020 release. Soul has retained its November 20 date, at least for now. Death on the Nile shifted from October 23 to December 18. And the horror film The Empty Man is now set to open on October 23 rather than December 4.
Sony delays nearly all its movies until 2021: On March 30, Sony announced that nearly all of its summer tentpole films would be delayed until late 2020 or early 2021. Delayed movies include Kevin Hart’s Fatherhood, Jared Leto’s Morbius, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Uncharted, and the previously delayed Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. The only film that appeared unaffected was the Spider-Man: Far From Home sequel, which is still set for theatrical release on July 16, 2020.
NBCUniversal to release major films digitally: In an unprecedented move, NBCUniversal announced on March 16 that it would make some movies available digitally the same day they are released in movie theaters that remain open, including Trolls World Tour, which is set to hit theaters on April 10. Movies currently in theatrical release will also be available on-demand, including The Hunt, The Invisible Man, and Emma. Movies are available for a 48-hour rental period for $19.99 in the US and an equivalent price abroad.
No Time to Die: On February 16, MGM announced that it would cancel the Chinese premiere and publicity tour planned for the new James Bond movie, No Time To Die, which was scheduled for April. On March 4, the studio announced that it had delayed the film’s release until November 25, making the film the first major tentpole release to be delayed worldwide. The film’s release date moved again on June 12, from November 25 to November 20.
Paramount changes release dates: On March 12, John Krasinski, director of Paramount’s A Quiet Place Part II, announced via Twitter that the movie’s March 19 release date would be delayed. “One of the things I’m most proud of is that people have said our movie is one you have to see all together. Well due to the ever-changing circumstances of what’s going on in the world around us, now is clearly not the right time to do that,” he wrote. “As insanely excited as we are for all of you to see this movie ... I’m gonna wait to release the film till we CAN see it all together! So here’s to our group movie date! See you soon!”
On July 23, Paramount announced that the Quiet Place sequel would be pushed to April 23, 2021. Top Gun Maverick was also delayed from December 23, 2020 to July 2, 2021. And that bumped Jackass, previously scheduled for July 2, 2021, to September 3, 2021.
Fast and Furious 9: On March 12, Universal Pictures announced that it would delay the release date of the ninth installment in the Fast and Furious franchise by 11 months, from May 22 to April 2, 2021.
Chinese movies scrapped theatrical release and premiere online: The biggest films of China’s year are usually scheduled to release during the Lunar New Year holiday, near the end of January, but mounting fears of the coronavirus and public reticence to be in crowded spaces caused distributors to voluntarily cancel or postpone several film releases. Huanxi, distributor of the Chinese blockbuster Lost in Russia, announced on January 22 that the film would premiere online for free. Promotional materials encouraged audiences to “stay safely at home and watch Lost in Russia with your mom.” On January 31, Enter the Fat Dragon became the second major Chinese film to premiere online, as theaters are closed by order of the government.
Film and TV productions halted, altered, or shut down
Saturday Night Live aired remotely produced content: On April 9, the producers of Saturday Night Live, which had been on hiatus since mid-March, announced that new, remotely produced material would air on NBC in the show’s usual Saturday night slot, 11:30 pm on April 11, including a “Weekend Update” segment.
The coronavirus has touched Saturday Night Live in at least two ways. The show’s long-time music supervisor, Hal Willner, passed away on April 7 at the age of 64; he was not formally diagnosed with the virus but had consistent symptoms. And Michael Che, one of the show’s co-head writers and co-anchor with Colin Jost of “Weekend Update,” announced via social media on April 6 that his grandmother had passed away from coronavirus complications.
The show joined other late-night comedy shows, such as NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, in creating comedy content remotely.
Eurovision canceled: On March 18, the organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest announced via Twitter that the 2020 edition of the event was canceled. The event had been planned for May.
TV shows suspend production: Hundreds of shows have delayed or suspended production, including Apple’s The Morning Show and Little America; Netflix shows including Russian Doll; the CW’s Riverdale; NBC shows including the Chicago dramas and The Kelly Clarkson Show; CBS shows including the NCIS dramas, The Amazing Race, and Survivor; and many more.
Late-night shows suspend production or tape without a studio audience: Originally, on March 11, producers of shows including NBC’s The Tonight Show (hosted by Jimmy Fallon) and Late Night With Seth Meyers, CBS’s Late Show With Stephen Colbert, TBS’s Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and Comedy Central’s Daily Show (hosted by Trevor Noah) all announced they would begin taping without a live studio audience on March 16.
A day later, NBC announced that The Tonight Show and Late Night would suspend production beginning the week of March 16; Stephen Colbert also announced that the Late Show would suspend production. All three shows were already scheduled to go into hiatus on March 23. On March 13, Jimmy Kimmel Live also suspended production. Most shows eventually began producing remotely, often with hosts and guests working from home studios.
Disney suspends live-action production: On March 13, Disney announced that production on its live-action movies would suspend production. Affected films include The Little Mermaid, a Home Alone reboot, and Peter Pan. Earlier in the day, production on Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings had been suspended due to director Destin Daniel Cretton’s decision to self-isolate upon advice of a doctor. (Marvel is owned by Disney.)
Jia Zhangke project delayed: At the Berlin Film Festival in February, famed Chinese director Jia Zhangke (Ash Is Purest White, A Touch of Sin) told Indiewire that production on his new film, which was slated to begin in April, was delayed indefinitely. Jia spoke with Indiewire at the Berlin Film Festival, where his documentary Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue premiered. But he said that before he left, he’d feared his flight to Berlin would be canceled, and that some of his collaborators chose not to make the trip. Regarding his next film, he said:
For some film companies and studios involved in pre-production, a lot of costs are going down the drain, and those that already started production have to be somehow cut short or suspended. Some of them are already in the process of distributing films and they’ve paid for a lot of promotion and PR costs. The economy is now taking a huge hit, and I think the investment side will be hugely impacted as well.
Mission: Impossible production paused: On February 26, Paramount Pictures announced that it had halted a planned three-week shoot in Venice for the seventh installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise. “Out of an abundance of caution for the safety and well-being of our cast and crew, and efforts of the local Venetian government to halt public gatherings in response to the threat of coronavirus, we are altering the production plan for our three-week shoot in Venice, the scheduled first leg of an extensive production for Mission: Impossible 7,” a Paramount spokesperson told the Hollywood Reporter. “During this hiatus we want to be mindful of the concerns of the crew and are allowing them to return home until production starts. We will continue to monitor this situation, and work alongside health and government officials as it evolves.”
Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune tape without a studio audience: Though Sony declined to comment, sources told the Hollywood Reporter on March 9 that scheduled tapings of the shows would go forward without a live studio audience. The measure was taken partly as a precaution for the health of Jeopardy host Alex Trebek, who has stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson announce they’ve contracted the virus: One of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Tom Hanks, announced that he and his wife Rita Wilson had contracted the coronavirus while shooting Baz Luhrmann’s untitled Elvis Presley film in Australia:
In a message posted publicly on March 11, Hanks was his typical upbeat self:
Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no? We’ll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves!
Entertainment venues and attractions shut down
All Disney parks shut down: On January 25, Disney shut down its Shanghai Disneyland park over fears of the coronavirus. The park is a major revenue generator, with 11.8 million guests in 2018, 50 percent from outside the Shanghai region, and an estimated $1 billion in annual revenue and $50 million in operating profit. A day after Shanghai Disneyland’s closure, Hong Kong Disneyland shut down. Both Disney parks in Japan closed on February 29 and Disney announced on March 11 that they will remain closed through at least the end of April.
Late in the day on March 12, Disneyland in California announced it would close the following day; by that evening, the company announced that all of its parks would close, including those in Florida and Disneyland Paris (where three staff had previously tested positive for coronavirus).
In July, Disney World reopened amid a spike in Florida coronavirus cases.
North American movie theaters shut down: On March 13, a number of theaters and theater chains, including AMC Theatres, and the Canadian chain Cineplex, announced that they would be reducing the number of tickets sold to screenings by as much as 50 percent in order to enable patrons to sit further apart as part of “social distancing” measures.
On March 15, theaters in New York and Los Angeles were shut down by order of their respective mayors. On March 16, Regal announced it would shut down all of its 543 US theaters indefinitely; later in the day, AMC followed suit.
New York City cultural sites closed: On March 12, major cultural sites in New York City began to close, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Other institutions canceled programming for the month of March, such as the New York Public Library and Carnegie Hall.
Within days, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced that it anticipated staying closed through July and laying off much of its staff. On March 19, the Metropolitan Opera laid off all of its union employees, including musicians and chorus.
Broadway shows closed: On March 12, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that beginning at 5:00 pm, Broadway would be closed, part of a ban on gatherings of more than 500 people. On April 8, the Broadway League announced that theaters would remain closed through June, and probably longer. On June 29, the League extended the shutdown through January 3, 2021.
West End closes: On March 16, London’s West End shut down, following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s speech urging Britons to avoid public spaces. The theaters, including the Royal Opera House, will stay closed indefinitely. As of June, the West End closures remained in effect through at least August 2.
Italian cultural sites closed: In February, a number of major museums in Venice, Milan, Turin, and other northern Italian cities were closed as part of the government’s aggressive attempt to contain the virus, and annual Carnivale celebrations stopped early. By early March, with the country under complete lockdown, cultural sites across Italy were closed, including the Colosseum and Pompeii.
Chinese movie theaters shut down for months, tentatively begin to reopen, then re-close: Hoping to contain the coronavirus outbreak, on January 23 the Chinese government temporarily shut down movie theaters throughout the country until further notice. A total film production shutdown soon followed. Loss of revenue over the Lunar New Year holiday in late January, during which movie theaters typically see an uptick in ticket sales, amounted to a staggering $1 billion, according to analysts.
By March 23, about 500 cinemas had reopened in China, roughly 5 percent of the cinemas in the country that were open before the outbreak. Variety reported that box office earnings remained minimal. But by March 27, they were closed again. Some Chinese movie theaters began to open in late July.
We will continue to update this article as the story develops.