vox--2020-03-12--Disneyland is closing amid Covid-19 fears

When a pandemic sweeps the globe , making large gatherings of people incredibly dangerous , how does the Walt Disney Company respond ?
At first , with copious amounts of Purell , but as of March 12 , the operators of the world ’ s largest theme parks announced that California ’ s Disneyland would close on March 14 for only the fourth time since it opened in 1955 .
Earlier in the day , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced that Disneyland was exempt from a general order limiting groups of 250 or more people , citing the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” However , by early afternoon , the company issued a statement saying : “ We are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park ... beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month ” The company is currently making decisions on a park-by-park basis .
Walt Disney World Resort in Florida says it is monitoring the situation closely but remains open to the public with enhanced safety precautions in place .
Disneyland is not by any means the first Disney theme park to close .
The company closed Shanghai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on January 25 and 26 to contain the spread of Covid-19 , as the danger of the virus and the disease it causes quickly became clear , and both have remained closed since .
However , Shanghai ’ s Disneytown , the outdoor mall attached to the park , began welcoming guests this week — 45 days into the closures — in what could be an optimistic sign .
As “ the first step of a phased reopening , ” as reported by CNN , the mall is allowing guests to visit specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to wear masks throughout and present health records when entering a dining area .
But , even as promotional videos of furry characters play on social media , the rides stand still .
When Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo requested to postpone large gatherings for two weeks last month , Tokyo Disney Resort announced it would close temporarily starting February 29 .
This past Monday , March 9 , the park extended that closure through early April — pushing the opening of its new Beauty and the Beast ride and Fantasyland expansion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Its hotels remain open but with limited services , as character dining with Mickey Mouse and gift shops remain closed and buffets have been amended to table-service dining .
Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea — a locale that many theme park aficionados consider the holy grail — closed for 34 and 47 days , respectively , following the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami and earthquake , a threshold that could be exceeded if the closure lasts past April 15 .
A new opening date has not yet been announced , but Universal Studios Japan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Osaka , has extended through March 22 with the possibility of being pushed further , a far shorter window than Disney ’ s park .
Disneyland Paris , the most-visited location in France , also remains open , despite three employees having tested positive for coronavirus .
The staff worked “ backstage , ” the company term for not guest-facing , and are confirmed not to have had contact with guests , according to the Financial Times .
On Thursday , in an effort to enhance safety protocol , the Paris park announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large portion of its in-park entertainment through mid-April , and has limited capacity within lines , theaters , and larger indoor restaurants .
Disneyland Paris has also apparently restricted face-to-face contact with Disney princesses , replacing them with Mickey and Minnie — whose costumes don ’ t expose the performers ’ faces — at character meals and shuttering their meet-and-greet location in favor of a parade-style cavalcade , performed at a distance .
With the majority of Disney ’ s theme park portfolio on pause , it ’ s worth noting that domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are closer to home in ways less obvious , too .
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort both serve as a joint venture between the Walt Disney Company and local government — which owns the majority share — while Tokyo Disney Resort is overseen by the Oriental Land Company , a Japanese business that owns and operates the resort .
Disneyland and Walt Disney World , however , are singularly owned .
( The Walt Disney Company also regained ownership of Disneyland Paris back in 2017 . )
For a fantasy-filled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place on earth ” — open 365 days a year , come Floridian rain or humid shine , on all major holidays — theme park fans are watching and watching Walt Disney World to see what happens next .
Historically , Disney World and Disneyland have only closed for impending natural disasters or in the wake of a national tragedy ( like 9/11 or JFK ’ s death ) ; while other businesses may close up shop for Christmas and New Year ’ s Eve , here , it ’ s the busiest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s worth noting that both of Disney ’ s Chinese theme parks closed days before Lunar New Year — which typically sees a boom in park attendance . )
The Florida theme park resort is still functioning normally , with standard safety precautions like increased cleaning of high-touch surfaces and recommended hand-washing procedures for safety and contamination amid the pandemic .
The California park was open until March 12 , using the same precautions .
Antibacterial hand gel dispensers have been placed in key locations throughout Disney World , and earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stations .
( If that sounds too minimal , remember : The viral video of that kid licking a pole ?
It ’ s taken inside Magic Kingdom ’ s Tomorrowland . )
Antibacterial hand gel dispensers had been placed in key locations throughout Walt Disney World According to Travel Pulse , US Disney parks went as far as to add hand sanitizing and Covid-19 information locations to its virtual resort maps within the Disneyland and Walt Disney World apps — a prominent and worthwhile addition , given that both are used frequently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FastPass ride return time reservations .
Disney Cruise Line — yes , the mouse has his own fleet — is still in service despite warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , but with enhanced measures .
No guest or crew member who has traveled from , to , or through China , South Korea , Iran , Italy , or Japan or has had contact with anyone from those regions , including connecting flights , are able to board .
All eyes are on the Magic Kingdom , a cultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as Florida reports more than 30 confirmed Covid-19 cases .
As preventive measures ramp up within the parks , crowds don ’ t seem to have taken too much of a downturn .
According to guests of the Florida resort , and per attraction wait times , there are still plenty of people in the parks — likely a result of Disney ’ s new Star Wars attraction that requires a first-come , first-served “ boarding pass ” to ride , and its first Mickey Mouse ride , which opened just last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Disney-affiliated companies had seen “ business as usual , ” with one park-goer saying , “ If I ’ m going to get sick and die , I might as well do it at Disney World.
” That attitude seems to be changing , though .
Even before Disneyland ’ s closure , Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland resort began to offer temporary adjustments to package deals , waiving the $ 50 change fee for guests who have purchased theme park admission and a hotel room as a bundle .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be delayed to later in 2020 , as the Orlando Sentinel reports cancellation fees will not be waived ; individual Walt Disney World hotel booking guidelines and ticket policies remain intact .
For Disneyland guests , the company pledged in its statement to work with guests “ who wish to change or cancel their visits , and will provide refunds to those who have hotel bookings during this closure period.
” With travel increasingly discouraged , and more and more reactions and shutdowns from the entertainment industry , there could be further changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are , after all , an escape , but the severity of the pandemic continues to grow .
Updated with a statement from the California Governor ’ s office .
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When a pandemic sweeps the globe, making large gatherings of people incredibly dangerous, how does the Walt Disney Company respond? At first, with copious amounts of Purell, but the operators of the world’s largest theme parks announced on March 12 that California’s Disneyland would close for only the fourth time since it opened in 1955. The Walt Disney Company soon confirmed it would be also closing Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris on March 16, marking the first time in history all six Disney theme park resorts would be closed simultaneously.
On March 27, the Walt Disney Company announced that US parks would remain closed indefinitely, and that park employees — known as cast members — would be paid through April 18, saying in a statement:
While there is still much uncertainty with respect to the impacts of COVID-19, the safety and well-being of our guests and employees remains The Walt Disney Company’s top priority. As a result of this unprecedented pandemic and in line with direction provided by health experts and government officials, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort will remain closed until further notice. The Walt Disney Company has been paying its cast members since the closure of the parks, and in light of this ongoing and increasingly complex crisis, we have made the decision to extend paying hourly parks and resorts cast members through April 18.
The earliest available reservation at Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort is June 1. When the pandemic was declared, just the parks were intended to close. But the Walt Disney Company soon announced it would temporarily shutter all of its Walt Disney World hotels on March 20. (Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort closed on March 20 and Aulani, a Disney Resort in Hawaii, closed on March 24; both now remain shuttered until further notice.)
Disney-owned “malls” — Downtown Disney at Disneyland and Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort — were at first set to stay open following the park closures, but closed March 17; third-party-owned locations were initially able to make their own decisions, but some locations, like José Andrés’ Jaleo at Disney Springs, announced closures until further notice. The entirety of both malls is now closed for the time being.
Before Disneyland’s historic announcement came, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that Disneyland was exempt from a general order limiting groups of 250 or more people, citing the situation as “complex” and “unique.” However, by early afternoon, the company issued a statement saying:
While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California’s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month.
“Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort will remain closed until further notice”
Gov. Newsom’s office also issued a statement, saying:
Late last night, California put out a new policy on mass gatherings and engaged in deep conversations with Disney and other companies about how to meet it. Using that policy, Disney made the right call in the interest of public health and agreed to shut down their California parks. Expect more announcements like this shortly.
The company closed Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland in succession on January 25 and 26 to contain the spread of Covid-19, as the danger of the virus and the disease it causes quickly became clear, and both have remained closed since. However, Shanghai’s Disneytown, the outdoor mall attached to the park, began welcoming guests 45 days into the closures in what could be an optimistic sign. As “the first step of a phased reopening,” as reported by CNN, the mall is allowing guests to visit specific locations after undergoing temperature screenings, requiring them to wear masks throughout and present health records when entering a dining area. But even as promotional videos of furry characters play on social media, the rides stand still.
When Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo requested to postpone large gatherings for two weeks in February, Tokyo Disney Resort announced it would close temporarily. The park extended that closure through part of April — pushing the opening of its new Beauty and the Beast ride and Fantasyland expansion at least one month later than intended. Its hotels remain open but with limited services, as character dining with Mickey Mouse and gift shops remain closed and buffets have been amended to table-service dining. Now, according to TDR Explorer, the entirety of Tokyo Disney Resort including hotels will close until at least April 20, with its Fantasyland opening pushed to mid-May at the earliest.
Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea — a locale that many theme park aficionados consider the holy grail — closed for 34 and 47 days, respectively, following the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami and earthquake, a threshold that will now be exceeded, even if the park opens by April 20. A new opening date has not yet been announced for Universal Studios Japan, located a few hours away in Osaka, whose closure has been extended to April 12, with the likelihood of being pushed further.
Disneyland Paris, the most-visited location in France, remained open for days after three employees tested positive for the coronavirus. The staff worked “backstage,” the company term for not guest-facing, and were not confirmed not to have had contact with guests, according to the Financial Times.
The Paris park first announced newly enhanced safety protocols, temporarily suspending parades and a large portion of its in-park entertainment through mid-April, and limiting capacity within lines, theaters, and larger indoor restaurants. Disneyland Paris also restricted face-to-face contact with Disney princesses, shuttering their meet-and-greet location in favor of a parade-style cavalcade hours before announcing the park would be closed for the rest of March. Disneyland Paris then closed Disney Village and hotels as its current guests departed; as of March 30, the entire resort will be closed indefinitely.
With the entirety of the Walt Disney Company’s theme park portfolio experiencing closures — parks in France, China, and the US indefinitely and in Japan through mid-April — it’s worth noting that different locations have varied ownership, which could factor into when they reopen. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort both serve as a joint venture between the Walt Disney Company and the local government — which owns the majority share — while Tokyo Disney Resort is overseen by the Oriental Land Company, a Japanese business that owns and operates the resort. Disneyland and Walt Disney World, however, are singularly owned. (The Walt Disney Company also regained ownership of Disneyland Paris back in 2017.)
For a fantasy-filled destination whose brand is “the happiest place on earth” — open 365 days a year, come Floridian rain or humid shine, on all major holidays — it’s an unprecedented occurrence. Historically, Disney World and Disneyland have only closed for impending natural disasters or in the wake of a national tragedy (like 9/11 or JFK’s death); while other businesses may close up shop for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, here, it’s the busiest days of the year. (It’s worth noting that both of Disney’s Chinese theme parks closed days before Lunar New Year — which typically sees a boom in park attendance.)
Early in March, the Florida theme park resort was still functioning normally, with lengthy lines for roller coasters, increased cleaning of high-touch surfaces, and recommended hand-washing procedures amid the pandemic. These precautions remained in place through the March 16 closure; the California park also used these same precautions until it closed on March 14. Antibacterial hand gel dispensers were placed in key locations throughout Disney World, and the park added mobile hand-washing stations. (A thing to remember: The viral video of that kid licking a pole? It was taken inside Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland.)
Antibacterial hand gel dispensers had been placed in key locations throughout Walt Disney World
Disney Cruise Line — yes, the mouse has his own fleet — suspended departures starting March 14 through the end of the month. Now, all departures through April 28 have been canceled. Until March 12, the cruise line remained in service with enhanced measures despite warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No guest or crew member who had traveled from, to, or through China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, or Japan or has had contact with anyone from those regions, including connecting flights, was previously allowed to board.
Up until the closures, crowds didn’t seem to have taken much of a downturn. According to guests of the Florida resort, and per attraction wait times, there were still plenty of people in the parks — likely a result of Disney’s new Star Wars attraction that requires a first-come, first-served “boarding pass” to ride, and its first Mickey Mouse ride, which opened just last week. The New York Times reported that Disney-affiliated companies had seen “business as usual,” with one park-goer saying, “If I’m going to get sick and die, I might as well do it at Disney World.”
Disney stores throughout the country closed as well starting March 17.
An email was sent out to members of the Disney College Program that their program was being suspended starting March 16 and participants would need to travel home nearly immediately before housing closes on March 18.
Hours before the announced park closures, Walt Disney World Resort began offering temporary adjustments to package deals, waiving the $50 change fee for guests who have purchased theme park admission and a hotel room as a bundle directly from the company.
The Walt Disney Company is working with guests to refund or reschedule their travel plans due to closures. Annual passholders for Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks will have their dates extended as well.
Disney Parks are, after all, an escape, but the severity of the pandemic continues to grow.
Update, March 31: Updated throughout to reflect closure statuses.
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vox--2020-03-12--The Supreme Court has closed its building to the public due to coronavirus

The Supreme Court announced on Thursday that it was closing its building to the public effective almost immediately “ until further notice ” : A brief announcement posted on the Court ’ s website states that “ out of concern for the health and safety of the public and Supreme Court employees , the Supreme Court Building will be closed to the public from 4:30 p.m. on March 12 , 2020 , until further notice.
” Covid-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , is especially dangerous for older people , and several members of the Supreme Court are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bader Ginsburg is 86 , and Justice Stephen Breyer is 81 .
Justice Clarence Thomas is 71 , and Justice Samuel Alito turns 70 next month .
The Supreme Court ’ s announcement also states that the building “ will remain open for official business , and case filing deadlines are not extended under ” the Supreme Court ’ s rules .
So it appears the justices plan to continue to work and to receive briefings on pending cases .
It is unclear , however , whether the Court will still hold oral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned to hear later this month .
Those cases include several matters that are likely to interest the public , including several major religion cases and a trio of cases that could potentially give President Trump sweeping new immunity from congressional oversight or from criminal investigations .
It is also unclear whether the Court will allow members of the Supreme Court bar or members of the press to hear arguments if they do take place as scheduled .
As of this writing , the Supreme Court has not responded to an inquiry asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Court ’ s building .
Shortly after the Supreme Court announced that it would close its building , the chief judges of the federal trial and appeals courts in Washington , DC , also announced that they were closing their buildings to all except for “ judges , court staff , members of the media , and visitors with official business with the courts .
”

The Supreme Court announced on Thursday that it was closing its building to the public effective almost immediately “until further notice”: A brief announcement posted on the Court’s website states that “out of concern for the health and safety of the public and Supreme Court employees, the Supreme Court Building will be closed to the public from 4:30 p.m. on March 12, 2020, until further notice.”
Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, is especially dangerous for older people, and several members of the Supreme Court are in that age bracket. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 86, and Justice Stephen Breyer is 81. Justice Clarence Thomas is 71, and Justice Samuel Alito turns 70 next month.
The Supreme Court’s announcement also states that the building “will remain open for official business, and case filing deadlines are not extended under” the Supreme Court’s rules. So it appears the justices plan to continue to work and to receive briefings on pending cases.
It is unclear, however, whether the Court will still hold oral arguments on a raft of cases it planned to hear later this month. Those cases include several matters that are likely to interest the public, including several major religion cases and a trio of cases that could potentially give President Trump sweeping new immunity from congressional oversight or from criminal investigations.
It is also unclear whether the Court will allow members of the Supreme Court bar or members of the press to hear arguments if they do take place as scheduled. As of this writing, the Supreme Court has not responded to an inquiry asking for further clarification about who is allowed in the Court’s building.
Shortly after the Supreme Court announced that it would close its building, the chief judges of the federal trial and appeals courts in Washington, DC, also announced that they were closing their buildings to all except for “judges, court staff, members of the media, and visitors with official business with the courts.”


vox--2020-03-12--Iran’s growing coronavirus crisis, in 3 stunning photos

New satellite photos show the coronavirus crisis in Iran is likely much worse than its government is letting on — or , at least , that the country ’ s leaders are preparing for the worst .
The pictures , taken on March 1 by the private space technology company Maxar Technologies , were first reported by the New York Times .
The images show two large burial trenches recently dug at a cemetery outside Qom , Iran ’ s religious capital .
The reason for the roughly 100 yards of new burial space is macabre : the country is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease that may only be growing larger .
Iran has about 10,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of March 12 , but there are suspicions there may be many more .
A Maxar analyst told me the trenches were made very quickly and differed from previous ways Iranians have dug plots at the site .
What ’ s more , there ’ s even an image showing a big pile of lime , which Iranian health officials had previously said was being used to bury those killed by coronavirus .
Which means these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with a growing body count .
A count the regime — which includes many top officials also ill with the disease — is struggling to curb .
It ’ s getting really bad in Iran , and Qom especially Last week , CNN reported that dozens of dead Iranians were laid in black body bags on the floor of a Qom morgue .
It ’ s unclear how many of those people were were killed by the virus , if any .
But it underscored how the city , a place considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center of Shia Islamic learning , is struggling to contend with a major crisis .
Two medical workers in Qom told CNN that worries over the coronavirus have led to a stop in traditional Islamic burials , which include washing the body with soap and water before laying it to rest .
Instead , those bodies are being treated with calcium oxide — lime — so they don ’ t infect the soil with the virus .
Ali Ramezani , the director of the Behesht-e Masoumeh morgue in Qom , told state-run television @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ pile up ” of bodies at the facility as they await testing .
It ’ s unclear if the regime will get a handle on the crisis any time soon .
In the meantime , Qom is aware of what ’ s at stake .
Correction : A previous version of the article said the photos were first reported on by the Washington Post .
The New York Times was first .

New satellite photos show the coronavirus crisis in Iran is likely much worse than its government is letting on — or, at least, that the country’s leaders are preparing for the worst.
The pictures, taken on March 1 by the private space technology company Maxar Technologies, were first reported by the New York Times. The images show two large burial trenches recently dug at a cemetery outside Qom, Iran’s religious capital. The reason for the roughly 100 yards of new burial space is macabre: the country is going through a deadly outbreak of the disease that may only be growing larger.
Iran has about 10,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of March 12, but there are suspicions there may be many more.
A Maxar analyst told me the trenches were made very quickly and differed from previous ways Iranians have dug plots at the site. What’s more, there’s even an image showing a big pile of lime, which Iranian health officials had previously said was being used to bury those killed by coronavirus.
Which means these trenches were likely made in haste to deal with a growing body count. A count the regime — which includes many top officials also ill with the disease — is struggling to curb.
It’s getting really bad in Iran, and Qom especially
Last week, CNN reported that dozens of dead Iranians were laid in black body bags on the floor of a Qom morgue. It’s unclear how many of those people were were killed by the virus, if any. But it underscored how the city, a place considered holy in Shia Islam and a major center of Shia Islamic learning, is struggling to contend with a major crisis.
Two medical workers in Qom told CNN that worries over the coronavirus have led to a stop in traditional Islamic burials, which include washing the body with soap and water before laying it to rest. Instead, those bodies are being treated with calcium oxide — lime — so they don’t infect the soil with the virus.
Ali Ramezani, the director of the Behesht-e Masoumeh morgue in Qom, told state-run television at the time that there was now a “pile up” of bodies at the facility as they await testing.
It’s unclear if the regime will get a handle on the crisis any time soon. In the meantime, Qom is aware of what’s at stake.
Correction: A previous version of the article said the photos were first reported on by the Washington Post. The New York Times was first.


vox--2020-03-12--Pandemic is one of the best board games ever made. It could be fun to play right now!

Are you the sort of person who enjoys imagining the dark thought of a new , potentially deadly disease spreading across the planet like wildfire , infecting cities , then regions , then continents , then planets ?
Does this wholly imaginary scenario play into a macabre desire to explore what a worst-case scenario might look like ?
Do you also like telling your friends what to do ?
Well , the board game Pandemic might be the ideal thing to pull down off your shelf if you suddenly find yourself spending a lot of time indoors for some reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ century board gaming , Pandemic was likely the most influential game of the 2000s — when its tense , cooperative gameplay , featuring up to four players working together to stop a small epidemic from becoming a disease that swallows the globe — and the 2010s , when spinoff Pandemic Legacy helped popularize a whole new style of board game .
When Pandemic begins , four different diseases — represented by different colored cubes — have sprung up around the globe , and you and your friends play employees of the Centers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Each of you is assigned a different specialty , and you must work together to curtail the spread of the diseases while developing vaccines for them .
If you can develop vaccines for all four , you win .
If any number of other scenarios happen , you lose .
( Seriously , there are so many ways to lose this game .
It ’ s mean . )
What makes Pandemic so good — and so enervating — is the way it quietly encourages you and your fellow players to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you gather around the table and quietly implore each other to do this thing or that thing , because it ’ s the only way to save the world .
If Sara is the medic , she should immediately travel to Tokyo , where an outbreak is about to happen , because she can curb it most efficiently .
But if Brad is the scientist , then Sara should also try to visit them on her way to Tokyo , to make sure they have the tools they need to prepare a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of saving humanity and also possibly destroying your friendships .
If you like to lean in to your apocalyptic anxieties like I do , it ’ s a great way to pass a long stretch of time spent indoors .
And if you already know Pandemic backward and forward ( or at least know it well enough to have developed a strategy that helps you win most games ) , Pandemic Legacy might be your jam .
Pandemic Legacy brings serialized storytelling to the world of Pandemic Pandemic Legacy combines the efforts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game genius Rob Daviau to create a game where your actions actually change the state of the ( in-game ) world .
Daviau had already experimented with this form of gameplay in Risk Legacy , which took the popular game of world conquest and added an element of continuation .
If , say , your army conquered France in one game , it would still be controlling France as the next game began .
( This style of serialized board game is now commonly called a “ legacy ” game , because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pandemic Legacy ramped up what was good about Risk Legacy and made it genuinely great .
If a city fell to a disease , it might stop being a place you could save .
Diseases would become resistant to vaccines .
The characters you played — who continued from game to game — could die or otherwise be taken out of the game .
And those developments could happen just in the first few gameplay sessions .
Each Legacy season — there are two , which are sold separately , like DVD box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed to be a finite experience , taking place over at least a dozen sessions .
( The game is structured so that each new session corresponds to one month out of the year , but certain mechanics allow for additional sessions beyond the base 12 . )
It features twists and turns , like a serialized TV show .
And the box itself holds secrets , in the form of sealed envelopes and tiny boxes that you only open after drawing cards that instruct you to do so .
You quickly learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these sealed compartments , things are likely to go from bad to worse .
I haven ’ t gotten as deep into the game ’ s second season , which radically alters many of the base ideas of Pandemic in ways that haven ’ t always worked for me .
But the season has its fans , and even if you ’ re not among them , the first season is a tension-filled classic , especially if you have a good group of friends who don ’ t mind frequently getting up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a game about a global pandemic might make you keep thinking about the importance of good hygiene for no particular reason .
( A third season , which will conclude the story , is planned but as of yet unreleased . )
Taking away from the fun of Legacy just a bit is that both seasons are quite expensive and sold separately .
( Season one costs just under $ 60 on Amazon and surely more at your local game store . )
But basic Pandemic is a heck of a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under $ 30 on Amazon , with a digital app version available for as little as 99 cents , depending on whether it ’ s on sale ) .
So , should you find yourself with a lot of time on your freshly washed hands in the immediate future , get some friends together to play as much Pandemic as you possibly can .
( You could also gather virtually , via a video-conferencing program , were you at all concerned about your health . )
Sure , it might make you think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected by a global pandemic , and that could be unpleasant .
But you ’ ll also have a lot of fun in the process , and you ’ ll get to be in a small , enclosed space with your friends , sharing snacks and breathing the same air and just generally having a chill time , which is a thing that could never in any way be a bad idea .

Are you the sort of person who enjoys imagining the dark thought of a new, potentially deadly disease spreading across the planet like wildfire, infecting cities, then regions, then continents, then planets? Does this wholly imaginary scenario play into a macabre desire to explore what a worst-case scenario might look like? Do you also like telling people what to do?
Well, the board game Pandemic might be the ideal thing to pull down off your shelf if you suddenly find yourself spending a lot of time indoors for some reason or another.
A classic of 21st century board gaming, Pandemic was likely the most influential game of the 2000s — when its tense, cooperative gameplay, featuring up to four players working together to stop a small epidemic from becoming a disease that swallows the globe — and the 2010s, when spinoff Pandemic Legacy helped popularize a whole new style of board game.
When Pandemic begins, four different diseases — represented by different colored cubes — have sprung up around the globe, and you and your friends play employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each of you is assigned a different specialty, and you must work together to curtail the spread of the diseases while developing vaccines for them.
If you can develop vaccines for all four, you win. If any number of other scenarios happen, you lose. (Seriously, there are so many ways to lose this game. It’s mean.)
What makes Pandemic so good — and so enervating — is the way it quietly encourages you and your fellow players to do just a touch of roleplaying, as you gather around the table and quietly implore each other to do this thing or that thing, because it’s the only way to save the world. If Sara is the medic, she should immediately travel to Tokyo, where an outbreak is about to happen, because she can curb it most efficiently. But if Brad is the scientist, then Sara should also try to visit them on her way to Tokyo, to make sure they have the tools they need to prepare a vaccine.
It’s a tense game of saving humanity and also possibly destroying your friendships. If you like to lean in to your apocalyptic anxieties like I do, it’s a great way to pass a long stretch of time spent indoors. And if you already know Pandemic backward and forward (or at least know it well enough to have developed a strategy that helps you win most games), Pandemic Legacy might be your jam.
Pandemic Legacy brings serialized storytelling to the world of Pandemic
Pandemic Legacy combines the efforts of original Pandemic designer Matt Leacock and board game genius Rob Daviau to create a game where your actions actually change the state of the (in-game) world.
Daviau had already experimented with this form of gameplay in Risk Legacy, which took the popular game of world conquest and added an element of continuation. If, say, your army conquered France in one game, it would still be controlling France as the next game began. (This style of serialized board game is now commonly called a “legacy” game, because of its origin in Risk Legacy.)
Pandemic Legacy ramped up what was good about Risk Legacy and made it genuinely great. If a city fell to a disease, it might stop being a place you could save. Diseases would become resistant to vaccines. The characters you played — who continued from game to game — could die or otherwise be taken out of the game. And those developments could happen just in the first few gameplay sessions.
Each Legacy season — there are two, which are sold separately, like DVD box sets of TV seasons — is also designed to be a finite experience, taking place over at least a dozen sessions. (The game is structured so that each new session corresponds to one month out of the year, but certain mechanics allow for additional sessions beyond the base 12.) It features twists and turns, like a serialized TV show. And the box itself holds secrets, in the form of sealed envelopes and tiny boxes that you only open after drawing cards that instruct you to do so. You quickly learn that any time you open one of these sealed compartments, things are likely to go from bad to worse.
I haven’t gotten as deep into the game’s second season, which radically alters many of the base ideas of Pandemic in ways that haven’t always worked for me. But the season has its fans, and even if you’re not among them, the first season is a tension-filled classic, especially if you have a good group of friends who don’t mind frequently getting up to wash their hands, solely because playing a game about a global pandemic might make you keep thinking about the importance of good hygiene for no particular reason. (A third season, which will conclude the story, is planned but as of yet unreleased.)
Taking away from the fun of Legacy just a bit is that both seasons are quite expensive and sold separately. (Season one costs just under $60 on Amazon and surely more at your local game store.) But basic Pandemic is a heck of a lot of fun and much, much cheaper (under $30 on Amazon, with a digital app version available for as little as 99 cents, depending on whether it’s on sale).
So, should you find yourself with a lot of time on your freshly washed hands in the immediate future, play as much Pandemic as you possibly can while following social distancing guidance. (You could also gather virtually, via a video-conferencing program, were you at all concerned about your health.)
Sure, it might make you think a lot about how life would be affected by a pandemic, and that could be unpleasant. But you’ll also have a lot of fun in the process, and you’ll get to be in a small, enclosed space, sharing snacks and breathing the same air and just generally having a chill time, which is a thing that could never in any way be a bad idea.
One Good Thing is Vox’s recommendations feature. In each edition, find one more thing from the world of culture that we highly recommend.


vox--2020-03-13--The Michigan primary results raised a striking question about sexism

Joe Biden outperformed Hillary Clinton in county after county in the Michigan Democratic primary on Tuesday , raising questions yet again about whether “ electability ” really is just about sexism .
Overall , Clinton lost by less than 2 percentage points in the state .
Biden won by 16 .
The difference in these outcomes was made all the more stark by the similarities between the candidates .
New York Times columnist Charles Blow pointed out what many former Clinton fans were thinking : “ Biden isn ’ t that much different from Hillary Clinton on the issues .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he isn ’ t. ” Former Clinton communications staffer Jess McIntosh had a grim read of the situation , too .
“ I ’ m more likely than most to blame sexism for the 2016 race , and it appears I underestimated it , ” she told Vox .
The swing toward Biden in 2020 was driven by white voters : Both white men and white women backed the former Vice President by 10 points more than they did Clinton in 2016 , according to CNN exit polls .
Sanders , notably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two groups after winning them last cycle .
Meanwhile , support for Clinton and Biden among black voters was about the same .
Given the support he saw , Biden ’ s win in Michigan wound up being decisive .
Rural counties including Huron , Luce , and Marquette , which went for Sanders in 2016 , flipped for Biden .
Biden also won white college graduates and white voters with no degree , two groups that Clinton lost by more than 10 points .
As Vox ’ s Ezra Klein put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cycles seem to set up a “ natural experiment ” to examine the “ role gender plays in voter preferences and judgments about electability.
” It ’ s worth noting that there are some key differences this time around , however .
For one , Democratic voters are much more eager to defeat Trump .
“ Female voters and African American voters went for Biden in pretty large numbers .
Part of the calculus those groups are making is not necessarily ‘ We love Joe Biden , ’ it ’ s probably ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and who do I think is going to beat Donald Trump , ’ ” says writer Jill Filipovic .
And that ’ s far from the only other variable at play .
In 2016 , Clinton put her progressive stance on social issues including gender and racial equity at the forefront of her campaign — and researchers theorized that these positions contributed to pushback from more socially conservative voters .
Additionally , she dealt with a set of political baggage that some have viewed as uniquely polarizing .
( Biden has also been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dogged by critiques of his own policy track record . )
Ultimately , it ’ s tough to parse out exactly how much the difference in the Michigan results was driven by sexism , but it ’ s a pretty sure bet that it was a factor .
“ When a man runs against a woman in a head-to-head contest for a male-coded position like the presidency , he reliably gets a boost due to prevalent gender biases , ” says philosopher Kate Manne , the author of Down Girl , a book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public life .
“ The fact that Sanders did so well against Clinton and so much worse against a fairly comparable male candidate in the form of Biden serves as some confirmation of this.
” Gender biases , conscious or unconscious , were pervasive in the 2016 election , a fact that ’ s well-documented by research .
In the general election , political scientists found that voters who backed Trump were more likely to score higher on a “ hostile sexism ” scale , which attempts to measure unconscious biases that voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who opted to switch from backing Sanders in the primary to Trump in the general election , rather than Clinton or a third party candidate , were also more sexist .
For members of Clinton ’ s team — and the candidate herself — the presence of these biases was evident .
Whether it was the uneven scrutiny of her plans compared to those of her competition , or the ongoing skepticism she faced from a subset of white male voters , they saw her being held to a different standard .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were bumping up against a lot of these theories of misogyny , no doubt , ” says Clinton ’ s former political director Amanda Renteria , who ’ s now a senior adviser for Emerge , an organization dedicated to electing more women to public office .
In Michigan specifically , Renteria cited the obstacles Clinton encountered as she courted labor union members for their support .
As CNN exit polls show , Clinton fared worse than Biden did this time around with union members .
Forty-six percent of voters in a union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 55 percent voted for Biden in 2020 .
“ It is easier for guys to create that connection within that union movement in places in the Midwest , ” says Renteria .
“ It ’ s one of the things we faced .
Women are not at gender parity in the labor movement.
” According to People ’ s World , women make up 45 percent of union membership nationally but comprise a much smaller share of its leaders .
In 2016 , union members highlighted Clinton ’ s support for the Trans-Pacific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — as part of their opposition .
Biden , too , once supported the agreement , but he hasn ’ t seemed to face the same pushback .
Neera Tanden , the president of the Center for American Progress and a prominent Clinton surrogate , also points to broader biases in the framing of media coverage .
“ Do you cover emails as a Lady Macbeth plot or is it just that Hillary didn ’ t ascribe to email protocols delineated by the State Department ?
” she said .
The groups that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Biden this cycle are among those more likely to be sexist , according to a study of general election voters conducted by University of Arkansas political scientist Angie Maxwell .
“ White respondents were more sexist than black Americans , ” Rebecca Onion wrote in a write-up describing the findings for Slate ; this analysis , though , included Republican as well as Democratic voters .
Gender biases have been apparent in 2020 , too .
Throughout the primary , women candidates have been scrutinized for their likability , trustworthiness , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t been .
“ I think the proof of the argument that it was not unique to Hillary is that the women candidates have all faced difficult challenges , ” says Tanden .
YouGov ’ s Sam Luks and Tufts University ’ s Brian Schaffner found that likely Democratic primary voters who were more likely to agree with statements tied to hostile sexism were less likely to consider the top women candidates as their pick in 2020 .
There are other factors at play , too Political scientists acknowledge the presence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but also caution that its effects can be tough to pin down among myriad other factors .
“ I am not sure how we parse out how much of [ the result ] might have been related to reaction to Clinton and how much of it is motivated by the panic so many Democratic voters seem to be expressing in their desperate search to decide which candidate will beat President Trump , ” University of Wisconsin political science professor Kathleen Dolan tells Vox .
According to CNN exit polls , the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a candidate who could beat Trump , and 62 percent of people who said that was a priority ended up choosing Biden this year .
During the Michigan primary in 2016 , which also took place in March , Trump had yet to be selected as the nominee .
“ At that point , there wasn ’ t as clear of an opponent , ” says Kelly Dittmar , a political science professor at Rutgers and scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics .
Dittmar notes that Biden ’ s success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be indicative of the broader momentum he ’ s picked up — and his higher favorability ratings , which are also inextricably tied to gender .
Political scientists Brian Schaffner , Matthew MacWilliams and Tatishe Nteta have also concluded that another issue may have affected Clinton ’ s reception by socially conservative voters in the 2016 general election : the messaging she put forth that focused on gender and racial equity .
This same approach could have affected how these voters responded to her — compared to Biden — in the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Virginia ’ s Jennifer Lawless argues that Clinton ’ s tenure in politics played a big role .
“ Hillary Clinton was an imperfect candidate with 25 years of very public baggage .
It ’ s impossible to know whether voters chose Sanders over her because of sexism or ‘ Clintonism , ’ ” she says .
Biden , of course , has also been in politics for decades and has faced scrutiny for an array of actions including his treatment of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas hearings in the 1990s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime bill , and his multiple failed presidential bids — one of which involved a plagiarism scandal .
Sanders struggled with a gender gap in both years There were some trends that stayed consistent across 2016 and 2020 , including the gender gap that Sanders faced in Michigan .
Clinton beat him with women voters by six points in 2016 , and Biden did the same by 23 points in 2020 .
There are a couple reasons for this that have been floated by political observers .
Concerns about electability are chief among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color may feel as though they have more to lose in the case of another Trump term .
Public perceptions about the misogyny of a small subset of Sanders supporters and the fierce competition between Clinton and Sanders in 2016 also likely influenced some voters .
Earlier in this campaign cycle , Sanders dealt with allegations of sexism and harassment levied by aides about the culture of his 2016 campaign , all of which he has condemned .
“ I think a lot of women who were inspired by Hillary Clinton ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t look too kindly to Sanders because of that , ” Filipovic told me .
Renteria credits the endorsements of Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and the in-state campaigning conducted by other surrogates of the Biden campaign like Sens .
Amy Klobuchar and Kamala Harris as factors that may have also helped him boost his numbers with women .
Beyond the questions of if sexism played a role in 2016 and 2020 — ones that are increasingly settled — there ’ s a big outstanding one about how to deal with it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centers on how best to combat sexism in the presidential race and acknowledge it without forcing women candidates into fielding subsequent questions about electability .
“ How do you accurately describe the misogyny in America without reaffirming the risk that misogyny creates ?
” Tanden asks .
The solution , for now , seems to be continuing to call it out — and to continue running more women candidates .

Joe Biden outperformed Hillary Clinton in county after county in the Michigan Democratic primary on Tuesday, raising questions yet again about whether “electability” really is just about sexism.
Overall, Clinton lost by less than 2 percentage points in the state. Biden won by 16.
The difference in these outcomes was made all the more stark by the similarities between the candidates. New York Times columnist Charles Blow pointed out what many former Clinton fans were thinking: “Biden isn’t that much different from Hillary Clinton on the issues. Big difference: she was a woman and he isn’t.”
Former Clinton communications staffer Jess McIntosh had a grim read of the situation, too. “I’m more likely than most to blame sexism for the 2016 race, and it appears I underestimated it,” she told Vox.
The swing toward Biden in 2020 was driven by white voters: Both white men and white women backed the former Vice President by 10 points more than they did Clinton in 2016, according to CNN exit polls. Sanders, notably, saw double-digit dips in support across the two groups after winning them last cycle. Meanwhile, support for Clinton and Biden among black voters was about the same.
Given the support he saw, Biden’s win in Michigan wound up being decisive. Rural counties including Huron, Luce, and Marquette, which went for Sanders in 2016, flipped for Biden. Biden also won white college graduates and white voters with no degree, two groups that Clinton lost by more than 10 points.
As Vox’s Ezra Klein put it, the parallels between the two cycles seem to set up a “natural experiment” to examine the “role gender plays in voter preferences and judgments about electability.”
It’s worth noting that there are some key differences this time around, however. For one, Democratic voters are much more eager to defeat Trump.
“Female voters and African American voters went for Biden in pretty large numbers. Part of the calculus those groups are making is not necessarily ‘We love Joe Biden,’ it’s probably ‘we’re in an emergency, and who do I think is going to beat Donald Trump,’” says writer Jill Filipovic.
And that’s far from the only other variable at play. In 2016, Clinton put her progressive stance on social issues including gender and racial equity at the forefront of her campaign — and researchers theorized that these positions contributed to pushback from more socially conservative voters. Additionally, she dealt with a set of political baggage that some have viewed as uniquely polarizing. (Biden has also been in politics for decades and has been dogged by critiques of his own policy track record.)
Ultimately, it’s tough to parse out exactly how much the difference in the Michigan results was driven by sexism, but it’s a pretty sure bet that it was a factor.
“When a man runs against a woman in a head-to-head contest for a male-coded position like the presidency, he reliably gets a boost due to prevalent gender biases,” says philosopher Kate Manne, the author of Down Girl, a book that examines the impact of misogyny on public life. “The fact that Sanders did so well against Clinton and so much worse against a fairly comparable male candidate in the form of Biden serves as some confirmation of this.”
Sexism was undoubtedly a factor in 2016
Gender biases, conscious or unconscious, were pervasive in the 2016 election, a fact that’s well-documented by research.
In the general election, political scientists found that voters who backed Trump were more likely to score higher on a “hostile sexism” scale, which attempts to measure unconscious biases that voters may have about women. Relatedly, those who opted to switch from backing Sanders in the primary to Trump in the general election, rather than Clinton or a third party candidate, were also more sexist.
For members of Clinton’s team — and the candidate herself — the presence of these biases was evident. Whether it was the uneven scrutiny of her plans compared to those of her competition, or the ongoing skepticism she faced from a subset of white male voters, they saw her being held to a different standard.
“In 2016, we knew we were bumping up against a lot of these theories of misogyny, no doubt,” says Clinton’s former political director Amanda Renteria, who’s now a senior adviser for Emerge, an organization dedicated to electing more women to public office.
In Michigan specifically, Renteria cited the obstacles Clinton encountered as she courted labor union members for their support. As CNN exit polls show, Clinton fared worse than Biden did this time around with union members. Forty-six percent of voters in a union household went for Clinton in 2016 while 55 percent voted for Biden in 2020.
“It is easier for guys to create that connection within that union movement in places in the Midwest,” says Renteria. “It’s one of the things we faced. Women are not at gender parity in the labor movement.” According to People’s World, women make up 45 percent of union membership nationally but comprise a much smaller share of its leaders.
In 2016, union members highlighted Clinton’s support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a position she later changed — as part of their opposition. Biden, too, once supported the agreement, but he hasn’t seemed to face the same pushback.
Neera Tanden, the president of the Center for American Progress and a prominent Clinton surrogate, also points to broader biases in the framing of media coverage. “Do you cover emails as a Lady Macbeth plot or is it just that Hillary didn’t ascribe to email protocols delineated by the State Department?” she said.
The groups that moved away from Sanders and in favor of Biden this cycle are among those more likely to be sexist, according to a study of general election voters conducted by University of Arkansas political scientist Angie Maxwell. “White respondents were more sexist than black Americans,” Rebecca Onion wrote in a write-up describing the findings for Slate; this analysis, though, included Republican as well as Democratic voters.
Gender biases have been apparent in 2020, too. Throughout the primary, women candidates have been scrutinized for their likability, trustworthiness, and qualifications in ways that men simply haven’t been.
“I think the proof of the argument that it was not unique to Hillary is that the women candidates have all faced difficult challenges,” says Tanden.
YouGov’s Sam Luks and Tufts University’s Brian Schaffner found that likely Democratic primary voters who were more likely to agree with statements tied to hostile sexism were less likely to consider the top women candidates as their pick in 2020.
There are other factors at play, too
Political scientists acknowledge the presence of gender bias in the Michigan primary outcome, but also caution that its effects can be tough to pin down among myriad other factors.
“I am not sure how we parse out how much of [the result] might have been related to reaction to Clinton and how much of it is motivated by the panic so many Democratic voters seem to be expressing in their desperate search to decide which candidate will beat President Trump,” University of Wisconsin political science professor Kathleen Dolan tells Vox.
According to CNN exit polls, the majority of Michigan primary voters were interested in a candidate who could beat Trump, and 62 percent of people who said that was a priority ended up choosing Biden this year. During the Michigan primary in 2016, which also took place in March, Trump had yet to be selected as the nominee.
“At that point, there wasn’t as clear of an opponent,” says Kelly Dittmar, a political science professor at Rutgers and scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics. Dittmar notes that Biden’s success across voting groups including men and women could be indicative of the broader momentum he’s picked up — and his higher favorability ratings, which are also inextricably tied to gender.
Political scientists Brian Schaffner, Matthew MacWilliams and Tatishe Nteta have also concluded that another issue may have affected Clinton’s reception by socially conservative voters in the 2016 general election: the messaging she put forth that focused on gender and racial equity. This same approach could have affected how these voters responded to her — compared to Biden — in the primary as well.
Additionally, the University of Virginia’s Jennifer Lawless argues that Clinton’s tenure in politics played a big role. “Hillary Clinton was an imperfect candidate with 25 years of very public baggage. It’s impossible to know whether voters chose Sanders over her because of sexism or ‘Clintonism,’” she says.
Biden, of course, has also been in politics for decades and has faced scrutiny for an array of actions including his treatment of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas hearings in the 1990s, his role in authoring the 1994 crime bill, and his multiple failed presidential bids — one of which involved a plagiarism scandal.
Sanders struggled with a gender gap in both years
There were some trends that stayed consistent across 2016 and 2020, including the gender gap that Sanders faced in Michigan. Clinton beat him with women voters by six points in 2016, and Biden did the same by 23 points in 2020.
There are a couple reasons for this that have been floated by political observers. Concerns about electability are chief among them — particularly because women and voters of color may feel as though they have more to lose in the case of another Trump term.
Public perceptions about the misogyny of a small subset of Sanders supporters and the fierce competition between Clinton and Sanders in 2016 also likely influenced some voters. Earlier in this campaign cycle, Sanders dealt with allegations of sexism and harassment levied by aides about the culture of his 2016 campaign, all of which he has condemned.
“I think a lot of women who were inspired by Hillary Clinton’s run remember 2016 and perhaps don’t look too kindly to Sanders because of that,” Filipovic told me.
Renteria credits the endorsements of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the in-state campaigning conducted by other surrogates of the Biden campaign like Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Kamala Harris as factors that may have also helped him boost his numbers with women.
Beyond the questions of if sexism played a role in 2016 and 2020 — ones that are increasingly settled — there’s a big outstanding one about how to deal with it. At this point, that question centers on how best to combat sexism in the presidential race and acknowledge it without forcing women candidates into fielding subsequent questions about electability.
“How do you accurately describe the misogyny in America without reaffirming the risk that misogyny creates?” Tanden asks.
The solution, for now, seems to be continuing to call it out — and to continue running more women candidates.


vox--2020-03-13--Should you take public transit during a pandemic?

The National Basketball Association has suspended its entire season , churches across the nation are canceling religious services , and presidential candidates have stopped hosting rallies — all for the sake of public health .
In the face of the coronavirus outbreak , health officials are advising Americans to avoid crowds whenever possible , and people are increasingly worried about being in close contact with strangers .
For those who take public transit , this concern is top of mind .
On recent commutes between Brooklyn and Manhattan , it appeared as though every single rider was trying to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s been emptier than usual as more and more New Yorkers ( mostly people like me , who are white-collar workers ) are asked to work from home .
Still , I often catch a glimpse of a cautious commuter either wearing a surgical mask or rubber gloves and carrying hand sanitizer at the ready .
It feels almost taboo to cough or sneeze on the subway , as many people have joked about online .
Health experts know Covid-19 is a respiratory disease , but they ’ re still figuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmitted between people .
It ’ s similar to the common cold and other respiratory viruses , which is usually spread through exposure to tiny droplets from a sick person ’ s cough or sneeze .
As Vox ’ s Julia Belluz reported , “ Researchers are on the lookout for potential airborne transmission , and there ’ s a lot of speculation about whether inanimate objects — like door handles — can pass on the virus.
” As a result , most cities with large transit systems are doubling down on deep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnstiles , and handrails — doing their best to assuage riders ’ concerns .
Still , this active cleaning , however thorough and consistent , is seemingly doing little to dispel concerns as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases grows .
In early March , the American Public Transportation Association ( APTA ) re-issued a 2016 report on pandemic planning and response , reminding agencies of the impact it could have on riders and employees .
According to Chad Chitwood of APTA , “ Public transit systems have longstanding contagious virus response plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and put into action , ” most of which revolve around cleaning and reminding riders about best hygiene practices .
Washington , DC ’ s , Metro system launched its pandemic task force in late February ( weeks before the World Health Organization classified the coronavirus as a pandemic ) ; New York City ’ s transit agency said its fleet of trains and buses will get a deep clean every 72 hours ( vehicles are typically swept and wiped clean daily but only undergo a thorough disinfectant process about five times a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rapid transit system promised to isolate and disinfect any train car visited by a person suspected or confirmed to have the coronavirus .
If the outbreak gets significantly worse in the US , the discretion to entirely shut down a system or reduce service is up to transit and local officials .
So far , no US transit agency has suggested taking that measure yet .
Authorities in Wuhan , China , the epicenter of the outbreak , closed all transportation hubs in an unprecedented quarantine , stopping all trains , ferries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city when the disease started to take hold in late January .
In packed metropolitan areas like New York City , San Francisco , and Seattle , public transportation is an integral part of millions of people ’ s lives , and few can afford to carry on insulated from the public , without access to a subway or bus .
However , there are measures you can take to reduce risk for others and effectively slow the rate of the virus ’ s spread in your community .
If you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to , consider commuting during non-peak hours , relying on other forms of transportation , or working from home entirely .
Major tech companies , like Google , Amazon , and Microsoft , have asked employees to telecommute , and JPMorgan recently instituted a staggered work-from-home plan for analysts .
If you are feeling sick or part of the demographic that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorizes as “ at higher risk ” of contracting the coronavirus ( older adults , people with chronic medical conditions ) , staying home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
How worried should you be about public transit ?
Many people assume public transit , because of the sheer number of commuters who use it daily , is a fertile breeding ground for diseases .
That ’ s just a general assumption and there ’ s no clear evidence showing that , when it comes to the coronavirus , a subway car is more dangerous than a crowded supermarket or an office .
According to the CDC , people should try to stay about six feet from a sick person to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Generally speaking , close contact with people in crowded spaces ( whether that be a subway , airplane , or office ) makes a person more susceptible to transmission .
Since health experts are currently unsure of exactly how the coronavirus spreads between people , it ’ s difficult to quantify the precise risks that come with taking a bus or train .
That said , if you ’ re ill or at-risk , you should stay home and avoid public transit and crowded spaces in general .
Previous research has shown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person ’ s risk of catching a respiratory infection ( the flu or common cold ) , since “ buses and [ trains ] are generally poorly ventilated carriages of people sitting and standing in close proximity ” to one another .
The study , however , does acknowledge that frequent riders regularly exposed to these common respiratory viruses are more likely to develop immunity .
That isn ’ t the case for the coronavirus , since it ’ s a new strain of disease .
The risk of a rider contracting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a train or bus is and how long they spend on it .
Transit systems are required by law to have ventilation and air conditioning to reduce the spread of airborne viruses .
“ There ’ s a higher level of concern when it comes to air travel because we tend to spend much more time on an airplane than on a bus or subway car , ” said Charles Haas , a microbiologist at Drexel University , in an interview .
“ But there are standards for ventilation on trains and buses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to for people ’ s safety.
” “ There ’ s a higher level of concern when it comes to air travel because we tend to spend much more time on an airplane than on a bus or subway car ” “ I have not seen any data on the relative risk of public transportation compared with [ dense places like ] workplaces or schools , ” Timothy Brewer , an epidemiology professor at the University of California Los Angeles , told me in an email .
“ Preliminary data from China suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of transmission outside of Wuhan , suggesting that prolonged contact [ with a sick person ] increases the risk of transmission .
If correct , then the time spent commuting and the density of people commuting could be important factors in assessing if public transportation is a risk factor for the disease ’ s transmission.
” Because public transit naturally requires people to share space with others , it goes against the “ social distancing ” practices that health officials have recommended , such as closing schools , encouraging remote work , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events , concerts , or religious meetings .
“ In areas with community transmission , reducing one ’ s time with large crowds in close contact with each other is probably helpful , ” Brewer added , so commuting when transit systems are less crowded and washing hands afterward are reasonable measures to take .
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also encouraged residents to “ do their part in reducing overcrowding , ” like boarding less-packed trains , working from home , staggering work schedules , or walking or biking if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism online for suggesting people avoid transit if possible , these actions will overall help “ flatten the curve , ” or slow the pandemic ’ s spread .
Collectively , these actions help reduce risk for people who have inflexible work schedules , such as service or hourly workers , and those whose only means to get to work is public transit .
In 2011 , several researchers created a hypothetical simulation that examined how an influenza epidemic could spread in New York City , focusing on the role of the subway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the 1957-1958 flu pandemic .
They found that transmissions were in fact happening on the subway , but only at a rate of 4 percent .
The possibility of contracting the disease in a person ’ s own household or school was much higher , at 30 percent and 24.5 percent respectively .
The study ’ s results , which specifically focus on New York and the flu pandemic , is not applicable to all cities fighting a pandemic , but it does reveal our outsized fear of transit during a disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed out , “ Riding public transportation in and of itself is probably not where people get sick .
It is all the places riding transit enables them to go.
” Travel — and transit — is expected to decline .
What ’ s next ?
There ’ s not much data on whether public transit is a petri dish for viruses any more than other crowded spaces , but that perception has persisted across countries and pandemics .
During the 2014 Ebola outbreak , de Blasio was publicly photographed riding a train @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take the subway after an infected doctor rode it prior to his diagnosis .
( You can ’ t contract Ebola through airborne transmission , however , as it ’ s not a respiratory disease . )
According to a 2005 survey conducted in eight regions affected by the 2003 SARS outbreak ( which is a respiratory disease ) , six locales — Hong Kong , Spain , Poland , Denmark , Great Britain , and the Netherlands — deemed public transportation ( which includes buses , trains , and airplanes ) the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in comparison to entertainment places , shops , hospitals , and workplaces or schools .
Taiwan ’ s capital , Taipei , lost about 50 percent of its daily subway ridership during the SARS epidemic in 2003 that significantly affected the city .
In San Francisco , authorities say that ridership has already “ dropped significantly ” as more people work from home or rely on other transit methods .
A New York City MTA spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that subway and bus ridership has fallen almost 20 percent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar day last year .
( Other US transit agencies haven ’ t publicly stated whether they ’ ve seen any meaningful changes in ridership . )
Countries like Italy , Iran , Japan , and South Korea — some of which have a more robust commuter culture than the US — have seen a dip in ridership , in part because schools , businesses , and even entire cities have shut down .
Cities are still operating some train and bus routes , in addition to thoroughly sanitizing them .
In Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still running , although less frequently and at limited capacity , the Atlantic reported .
Some transit systems are using technology to monitor at-risk individuals .
Taiwan ’ s metro agency installed an infrared tool to measure people ’ s body temperature before allowing them to enter a train , barring anyone with a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius ( or 100 degrees Fahrenheit ) from riding .
In addition to employing heat-sensing like Taiwan , a Chinese tech firm recently developed an algorithm for Beijing subway officials to identify commuters not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Hong Kong ’ s railway operator rolled out a robot to disinfect trains , in addition to deploying cleaning staff .
While it ’ s unclear as of yet how effective these high-tech measures are , they ’ re part of a state-led effort to curb the spread of coronavirus .
In some cases like Taiwan , a rapid and aggressive response could make a difference .
Since the US has several major transit systems that are governed separately , Chitwood of the American Public Transportation Association told me that any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ would be made at the local level.
” Currently , it doesn ’ t seem like any US city will implement a social monitoring system at the scale of China ’ s or Taiwan ’ s on public transit anytime soon , but it ’ s possible for health officials to recommend measures to further curb the spread of coronavirus .
On March 11 , the World Health Organization finally declared Covid-19 a pandemic , as now 33 percent of all cases are found outside of mainland China .
Experts say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spike in cases , since the nation has lagged in testing people for the virus .
It ’ s likely that in certain communities or cities where clusters of the disease have popped up , such as dense urban areas , people will be asked to socially distance themselves or self-isolate .
” I haven ’ t seen evidence of a heightened level of concern around mass transit , ” Haas , the microbiologist , told me .
“ I ride it myself [ in Pennsylvania ] , but the situation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be seen .
Wash your hands , maintain distance , and think carefully about your commuting patterns.
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The National Basketball Association has suspended its entire season, churches across the nation are canceling religious services, and presidential candidates have stopped hosting rallies — all for the sake of public health. In the face of the coronavirus outbreak, health officials are advising Americans to avoid crowds whenever possible, and people are increasingly worried about being in close contact with strangers. For those who take public transit, this concern is top of mind.
On recent commutes between Brooklyn and Manhattan, it appeared as though every single rider was trying to avoid touching a grimy handrail or pole. It’s been emptier than usual as more and more New Yorkers (mostly people like me, who are white-collar workers) are asked to work from home. Still, I often catch a glimpse of a cautious commuter either wearing a surgical mask or rubber gloves and carrying hand sanitizer at the ready. It feels almost taboo to cough or sneeze on the subway, as many people have joked about online.
Health experts know Covid-19 is a respiratory disease, but they’re still figuring out how exactly the novel coronavirus is transmitted between people. It’s similar to the common cold and other respiratory viruses, which is usually spread through exposure to tiny droplets from a sick person’s cough or sneeze. As Vox’s Julia Belluz reported, “Researchers are on the lookout for potential airborne transmission, and there’s a lot of speculation about whether inanimate objects — like door handles — can pass on the virus.”
As a result, most cities with large transit systems are doubling down on deep cleaning their subway cars, buses, turnstiles, and handrails — doing their best to assuage riders’ concerns. Still, this active cleaning, however thorough and consistent, is seemingly doing little to dispel concerns as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases grows. In early March, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) re-issued a 2016 report on pandemic planning and response, reminding agencies of the impact it could have on riders and employees. According to Chad Chitwood of APTA, “Public transit systems have longstanding contagious virus response plans that are being adapted, updated, and put into action,” most of which revolve around cleaning and reminding riders about best hygiene practices.
Washington, DC’s, Metro system launched its pandemic task force in late February (weeks before the World Health Organization classified the coronavirus as a pandemic); New York City’s transit agency said its fleet of trains and buses will get a deep clean every 72 hours (vehicles are typically swept and wiped clean daily but only undergo a thorough disinfectant process about five times a year); and San Francisco’s rapid transit system promised to isolate and disinfect any train car visited by a person suspected or confirmed to have the coronavirus.
If the outbreak gets significantly worse in the US, the discretion to entirely shut down a system or reduce service is up to transit and local officials. So far, no US transit agency has suggested taking that measure yet. Authorities in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak, closed all transportation hubs in an unprecedented quarantine, stopping all trains, ferries, buses, and planes from leaving the city when the disease started to take hold in late January.
In packed metropolitan areas like New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle, public transportation is an integral part of millions of people’s lives, and few can afford to carry on insulated from the public, without access to a subway or bus. However, there are measures you can take to reduce risk for others and effectively slow the rate of the virus’s spread in your community. If you’re a healthy person who’s able to, consider commuting during non-peak hours, relying on other forms of transportation, or working from home entirely. Major tech companies, like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, have asked employees to telecommute, and JPMorgan recently instituted a staggered work-from-home plan for analysts.
If you are feeling sick or part of the demographic that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorizes as “at higher risk” of contracting the coronavirus (older adults, people with chronic medical conditions), staying home or self-quarantining is the best thing to do.
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.
How worried should you be about public transit?
Many people assume public transit, because of the sheer number of commuters who use it daily, is a fertile breeding ground for diseases. That’s just a general assumption and there’s no clear evidence showing that, when it comes to the coronavirus, a subway car is more dangerous than a crowded supermarket or an office. According to the CDC, people should try to stay about six feet from a sick person to minimize the risk of catching the virus. Generally speaking, close contact with people in crowded spaces (whether that be a subway, airplane, or office) makes a person more susceptible to transmission.
Since health experts are currently unsure of exactly how the coronavirus spreads between people, it’s difficult to quantify the precise risks that come with taking a bus or train. That said, if you’re ill or at-risk, you should stay home and avoid public transit and crowded spaces in general.
Previous research has shown that taking public transit can increase a person’s risk of catching a respiratory infection (the flu or common cold), since “buses and [trains] are generally poorly ventilated carriages of people sitting and standing in close proximity” to one another. The study, however, does acknowledge that frequent riders regularly exposed to these common respiratory viruses are more likely to develop immunity. That isn’t the case for the coronavirus, since it’s a new strain of disease.
The risk of a rider contracting a disease varies, depending on how well-ventilated a train or bus is and how long they spend on it. Transit systems are required by law to have ventilation and air conditioning to reduce the spread of airborne viruses.
“There’s a higher level of concern when it comes to air travel because we tend to spend much more time on an airplane than on a bus or subway car,” said Charles Haas, a microbiologist at Drexel University, in an interview. “But there are standards for ventilation on trains and buses, and those presumably are being adhered to for people’s safety.”
“There’s a higher level of concern when it comes to air travel because we tend to spend much more time on an airplane than on a bus or subway car”
“I have not seen any data on the relative risk of public transportation compared with [dense places like] workplaces or schools,” Timothy Brewer, an epidemiology professor at the University of California Los Angeles, told me in an email. “Preliminary data from China suggests that household contact was an important means of transmission outside of Wuhan, suggesting that prolonged contact [with a sick person] increases the risk of transmission. If correct, then the time spent commuting and the density of people commuting could be important factors in assessing if public transportation is a risk factor for the disease’s transmission.”
Because public transit naturally requires people to share space with others, it goes against the “social distancing” practices that health officials have recommended, such as closing schools, encouraging remote work, and postponing or canceling mass gatherings like sporting events, concerts, or religious meetings.
“In areas with community transmission, reducing one’s time with large crowds in close contact with each other is probably helpful,” Brewer added, so commuting when transit systems are less crowded and washing hands afterward are reasonable measures to take.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also encouraged residents to “do their part in reducing overcrowding,” like boarding less-packed trains, working from home, staggering work schedules, or walking or biking if they can. While he has received criticism online for suggesting people avoid transit if possible, these actions will overall help “flatten the curve,” or slow the pandemic’s spread. Collectively, these actions help reduce risk for people who have inflexible work schedules, such as service or hourly workers, and those whose only means to get to work is public transit.
Plan to have some extra travel time in your commute. If the train that pulls up is too packed, move to a different car or wait to take the next one.
Bike or walk to work if you can. — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 8, 2020
In 2011, several researchers created a hypothetical simulation that examined how an influenza epidemic could spread in New York City, focusing on the role of the subway in transmitting the disease and using data from the 1957-1958 flu pandemic. They found that transmissions were in fact happening on the subway, but only at a rate of 4 percent. The possibility of contracting the disease in a person’s own household or school was much higher, at 30 percent and 24.5 percent respectively. The study’s results, which specifically focus on New York and the flu pandemic, is not applicable to all cities fighting a pandemic, but it does reveal our outsized fear of transit during a disease.
As Vice transportation reporter Aaron Gordon pointed out, “Riding public transportation in and of itself is probably not where people get sick. It is all the places riding transit enables them to go.”
Travel — and transit — is expected to decline. What’s next?
There’s not much data on whether public transit is a petri dish for viruses any more than other crowded spaces, but that perception has persisted across countries and pandemics. During the 2014 Ebola outbreak, de Blasio was publicly photographed riding a train to prove that it was safe to take the subway after an infected doctor rode it prior to his diagnosis. (You can’t contract Ebola through airborne transmission, however, as it’s not a respiratory disease.)
According to a 2005 survey conducted in eight regions affected by the 2003 SARS outbreak (which is a respiratory disease), six locales — Hong Kong, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Great Britain, and the Netherlands — deemed public transportation (which includes buses, trains, and airplanes) the riskiest place to be during a pandemic, in comparison to entertainment places, shops, hospitals, and workplaces or schools.
Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, lost about 50 percent of its daily subway ridership during the SARS epidemic in 2003 that significantly affected the city. In San Francisco, authorities say that ridership has already “dropped significantly” as more people work from home or rely on other transit methods. A New York City MTA spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that subway and bus ridership has fallen almost 20 percent and 15 percent respectively, compared with a similar day last year. (Other US transit agencies haven’t publicly stated whether they’ve seen any meaningful changes in ridership.)
Countries like Italy, Iran, Japan, and South Korea — some of which have a more robust commuter culture than the US — have seen a dip in ridership, in part because schools, businesses, and even entire cities have shut down. Cities are still operating some train and bus routes, in addition to thoroughly sanitizing them. In Italy, airports are still open and trains are still running, although less frequently and at limited capacity, the Atlantic reported.
Some transit systems are using technology to monitor at-risk individuals. Taiwan’s metro agency installed an infrared tool to measure people’s body temperature before allowing them to enter a train, barring anyone with a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius (or 100 degrees Fahrenheit) from riding. In addition to employing heat-sensing like Taiwan, a Chinese tech firm recently developed an algorithm for Beijing subway officials to identify commuters not wearing a mask or wearing it improperly, and Hong Kong’s railway operator rolled out a robot to disinfect trains, in addition to deploying cleaning staff. While it’s unclear as of yet how effective these high-tech measures are, they’re part of a state-led effort to curb the spread of coronavirus. In some cases like Taiwan, a rapid and aggressive response could make a difference.
Since the US has several major transit systems that are governed separately, Chitwood of the American Public Transportation Association told me that any major decisions, like shutting down routes, “would be made at the local level.” Currently, it doesn’t seem like any US city will implement a social monitoring system at the scale of China’s or Taiwan’s on public transit anytime soon, but it’s possible for health officials to recommend measures to further curb the spread of coronavirus.
On March 11, the World Health Organization finally declared Covid-19 a pandemic, as now 33 percent of all cases are found outside of mainland China. Experts say the US is on track to see a spike in cases, since the nation has lagged in testing people for the virus. It’s likely that in certain communities or cities where clusters of the disease have popped up, such as dense urban areas, people will be asked to socially distance themselves or self-isolate.
”I haven’t seen evidence of a heightened level of concern around mass transit,” Haas, the microbiologist, told me. “I ride it myself [in Pennsylvania], but the situation is changing so rapidly, it remains to be seen. Wash your hands, maintain distance, and think carefully about your commuting patterns.”
Sign up for The Goods’ newsletter. Twice a week, we’ll send you the best Goods stories exploring what we buy, why we buy it, and why it matters.