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10 Ways The Coronavirus Is Making People Change Their Daily Lives

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10 Ways The Coronavirus Is Making People Change Their Daily

By Ben Kesslen, Erik Ortiz and Yuliya Talmazan

 

The steady rise in coronavirus cases in the United States and across the globe has had a far-reaching effect on how we interact with one another. Some jittery people have turned to panic buying at grocery stores and pharmacies refused to shake hands and canceled or put off travel plans.

Here are some of the ways normal routines are being altered as the virus’ spread shows no sign of slowing down.

Kiss goodbye to shaking hands

People are finding alternative ways to greet each other at a time when direct contact is being frowned upon. In South Korea, residents are opting for fist bumps and deep bows.

French officials are recommending that people refrain from the traditional “la bise” greeting, or kissing on both cheeks. Instead, some people are tapping elbows or shaking feet instead of hands.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Australian leaders are suggesting people pat each other on the back in lieu of a handshake, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken to greeting people in “Namaste”-style — palms together and a slight bow.

From foot shakes to namaste: How greetings are changing to stop COVID-19

A lot of us didn’t realize just how much we were touching our faces until public health officials advised people to wash their hands more carefully to prevent the spread of germs.

Even President Donald Trump said he was trying to fight the urge.

“I haven’t touched my face in weeks,” Trump joked during a coronavirus briefing with airline executives. “I miss it.”

But while social media has magnified fears over face touching, health experts told NBC News that people shouldn’t become obsessed with their inability to stop. Face touching said Joseph Fair, a virologist and outbreak response specialist, “isn’t going to be the end of humanity.”

The BETTER way to protect yourself from coronavirus

Going out to eat and drink can be a regular ritual for many, but restaurants and eateries are changing how they do business.

Starbucks announced a pause on allowing baristas to make drinks in customer-provided mugs and tumblers as one way to “prevent the spread of coronavirus.”

Some mom-and-pop establishments are also scrubbing down tables, cutlery and cash registers more often, and one cheese and wine shop in New York City is even taking employees’ temperatures before they start their shifts.

In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, restaurant owner Claire Calvin told NBC affiliate WXII-TV that she has her employees wash their hands every hour and perform sanitation procedures three times a shift. She also is relaunching a dinner delivery program, knowing that customers may be more apt to just stay home instead of eating out.

Asian businesses and restaurants across the U.S. have taken a hit due to unfounded fears that Asian populations harbor coronavirus.

“I’ve never seen it this empty,” Alex Won, who was eating in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, told The Associated Press. “It’s sad.”

Work from home

Companies are prepping for scenarios where going to work might not be safe. In the Seattle area, which has become an epicenter for coronavirus deaths in the U.S., tech giants such as Amazon and Facebook have asked employees to work from home throughout March, and many companies in other cities are planning for a similar scenario.

Schools are also feeling the effects as students around the world are missing classes or doing long-distance learning, which has disrupted family schedules and caused working parents to scramble to figure out child care options.

Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

But some workers make their living by interacting with the public.

Tewodros Amare, a full-time Uber driver in Oakland, California, said he isn’t taking any chances when it comes to the coronavirus. He cleans his car with disinfectant wipes and rejects rides requested from San Francisco’s international airport.

“I wear rubber gloves,” he told NBC News. “And when I pick up more than two riders, I wear a mask.”

Gyms do their part

The idea that more people may choose to avoid the gym and work out from home has helped companies such as Peloton, which sells stationary bikes and has seen its stock climb in recent days.

But gyms and fitness studios are trying to stave off any customer loss by becoming a model of cleanliness and encouraging members to do their part by wiping down machines and mats.

“Cleanliness in a gym is obviously very important because we are sweating here and we have so many people in and out throughout the day,” Jason Wallace, the owner of Title Boxing Club in Louisville, Kentucky, told NBC affiliate WAVE.

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Aside from spraying down every bag and medicine ball, members at the club are asked to wash their hands before and after class and are urged to stay home if they’re feeling sick.

Be mindful on public transportation

Subways, buses and other forms of public transportation can feel like germ factories, but face masks and even gloves have become a common sight for commuters in recent weeks.

In New York City, trains and buses are being disinfected every three days, and officials said they have an arsenal of antiviral treatments.

“When you get on a bus or when a child goes to school, it’s not bad cologne or perfume,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “It is bleach.”

Listen to music, stream events at home

France last month banned gatherings of more than 5,000 people in confined spaces in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which could mean fewer concerts and rallies.

Tomorrowland Winter 2020, which was set to take place this month at a French alpine ski resort and feature artists Steve Aoki and Afrojack, was canceled because of the ban.

Other artists, including K-pop boy band BTS, Louis Tomlinson, and Queen, have canceled or postponed concerts in Asia, France and elsewhere, upsetting fans.

Big tech is scared, too: Apple and Twitter pulled out of the South by Southwest festival over coronavirus concerns, Adobe canceled its live summit, and Facebook announced it is canceling an annual 5,000-person marketing conference in San Francisco.

Worship differently

Drinking wine out of shared chalices during Holy Communion and shaking hands are regular parts of a church service. But the coronavirus has church leaders rethinking worshipers’ interactions.

Paul Etienne, the Catholic archbishop of Seattle, said in a letter to parish leaders that wine should not be distributed during Communion until further notice and churchgoers should receive the sacrament wafer in their hands, not on their tongues, the AP reported.

Furthermore, sick parishioners are being urged to stay home and those who do attend Mass are asked to avoid the traditional act of shaking hands at the sign of peace.

In Chicago, the archdiocese is requiring priests, deacons and other personnel to wash their hands before each Mass and use hand sanitizer before and after Communion.

Meanwhile, photos and videos circulating on social media have shown a dramatic change at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The holy site, which is typically crowded with worshipers, is nearly empty.

Saudi officials are working to curb the coronavirus, which has infected at least five people in the kingdom.

Switch to FaceTime

A quick trip to visit friends and family is suddenly causing people to think twice. Instead of getting on a bus, driving a few hours or taking a train, people are staying home and communicating online.

Airports have caused particular panic for some, with people delaying trips or canceling flights in an effort to assuage their anxieties over the virus.

Global airline carriers, including United, Delta, and American, have suspended flights and cut down on routes. And some of the world’s busiest airports have turned into ghost towns.

Don’t place your bets

After an employee of the Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Pendleton, Oregon contracted the coronavirus, the owners closed down for two days for deep cleaning. The process involved the use of a Clorox Total 360 System, an electrostatic spraying unit used by hospitals and clinics.

The larger gambling industry is bracing for a slowdown in business as analysts fear visitors might cut back on trips and look to avoid rubbing shoulders with strangers or coming into contact with tables and machines. The Las Vegas area has seen at least one confirmed case of the coronavirus.

Workers on the Strip have noticed a small decrease in business and people who do visit are taking precautions.

“I definitely have seen a lot more people, in general, walking around wearing face masks,” showgirl Lexi McKimmey told NBC News.

FOOTNOTES: Contributing Writers:

Ben Kesslen is a reporter for NBC News. 

Erik Ortiz is a staff writer for NBC News focusing on racial injustice and social inequality.

Yuliya Talmazan

Yuliya Talmazan is a London-based journalist.

Alex Shi, Matteo Moschella , Andy Eckardt, Paul Goldman, Nancy Ing, Stella Kim, and Alyssa Newcomb contributed.

Hangers to Host Prom Dress Event Starts Today

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With prom just around the corner, EVSC Foundation is helping students by hosting a no-cost formal dress giveaway. Students are invited to a day of shopping with friends and a selection of over 1,000 beautiful dresses—all donated by the community. Students can shop for a dress on any of the following “Blitz” days: March 7, 14, 21, and April 4 (9 am – 1 pm) at Academy of Innovative Studies (former North High School). Use door 27.

Although the Hangers program provides service exclusively to EVSC students, this event will be open to students from surrounding counties. For non-EVSC student shoppers, Hangers asks for a $20 donation in exchange for a dress.

Since March 2018, over 700 students have hand-picked a dress from Hangers for a dance or other special occasion. For interested donors, this is an opportunity to free up closet space and support young people. Hangers accepts donations of dresses or gently-used clothing all year long, Monday – Thursday (8 am to 12 pm). Individuals may drop off donations at Hangers, located behind the Academy for Innovative Studies Diamond (use entrance on Wedeking Ave).

 About Hangers

Hangers is a clothing resource committed to serving students in need in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. School uniforms and school-appropriate clothing, shoes, coats, hygiene products, and special event items (prom dresses, choir concert suits, etc.) are all provided free of charge at Hangers. This service helps students focus on their education.

Find Your Indiana School’s 2019 Federal Accountability Rating

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Find Your Indiana School’s 2019 Federal Accountability Rating
By Emma Kate Fittes 

  January 5, 202

Most of Indiana’s more than 1,800 schools are considered to be meeting or approaching the state’s expectations, according to 2019 federal ratings released Friday.

Few schools — just 87 — rose to “exceeding expectations.” Around 200, or 11%, were not considered to be meeting standards and scored in the lowest category.

The 2019 federal ratings offer the first gauge of how schools performed last year while state A-F grades remain tied up by a potential hold harmless exemption to protect schools from low test scores in the first year of the new ILEARN exam.

The state adopted this second measure in 2017 to comply with new federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act without changing state grades. Schools are scored based on whether they are on track to meet the state’s long-term goals in seven different areas: test scores, growth scores, attendance rates, graduation rates, the percentage of students who earn honors diplomas, gaps in passing rates among student groups, and progress for English-language learners.

This is the first year schools were put into categories. In 2018, they were given federal A-F grades, but the Indiana Department of Education altered its approach after the practice was criticized for being confusing

But it also makes it difficult to judge how schools are truly performing. State Board of Education members didn’t discuss the results before approving them on Wednesday. And unlike previous years, the Indiana Department of Education released a bare-bones spreadsheet that didn’t break down how schools’ grades were calculated or what scores were factored in, saying that would “undermine the hold harmless.”

Under the state’s second accountability measure, known as federal grades, most of Indiana’s schools were considered to be meeting or approaching the state’s expectations. The federal measure, released in January, was not included in the hold harmless and was calculated using the low 2019 scores.

 

Gov. Holcomb Announces First Coronavirus Case, Declares Public Health Emergency

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Governor Eric J. Holcomb signed an executive order declaring a public health emergency to increase coordination across all levels of government in the state’s response to coronavirus. This is also a step in making Indiana eligible for federal dollars to respond to the outbreak. A copy of the executive order is attached.

“With the help of our federal, state and local partners, Indiana is responding to this case as we have planned and prepared for weeks,” Gov. Holcomb said. “The Hoosier who has been diagnosed has taken responsible steps to stay isolated.”

This morning, Gov. Holcomb and the Indiana State Department of Health confirmed the first case of coronavirus in a Marion County resident with a recent history of travel to a Boston event tied to several cases in other states.

ISDH is working closely with the Marion County Public Health Department, Community Hospital North and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that any close contacts of the patient are identified and monitored and that all infection control protocols are being followed. State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, said the adult patient has been in quarantine since arriving back in Indianapolis and that the risk to the general public is low.

 

Wheeler Selected As 2020-21 Editor-In-Chief Of The USI “Shield”

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Rhonda Wheeler, a University of Southern Indiana sophomore currently undecided on major, will serve as the editor-in-chief for The Shield, USI’s independent student newspaper, for the 2020-21 academic year. She will replace Riley Guerzini, who will finish his term at the end of the Spring 2020 semester.

As editor-in-chief, Wheeler will be responsible for the overall operations for the media outlet. She will plan and conduct weekly editorial board and budget meetings, determine the content and general layout of the weekly newspaper and meet with the sales and marketing director to set editorial content and advertising distribution.

“The goal of any student publication is to inform the students and community about what is going on inside the campus and the surrounding area and act as a voice for students,” said Wheeler. “We are a student-run, independent forum which gives us the ability to voice all concerns without the administration controlling the content.”

Wheeler currently serves as the news editor for The Shield, where she reports and assigns stories and serves as the leader and manager of the news reporters for the newspaper. She has also served as the community engagement editor for The Shield and as news director for 95.7 The Spin, USI’s student radio station.

Wheeler says that one of her goals is to increase communication between the newspaper staff and the campus community. “There have been many changes made to the paper and, while I agree with them, I feel better communication with our audience would help our readers know what to consistently expect from us.” This includes determining the printed size and length of the newspaper, reaching out to incoming freshmen through the UNIV 101 program and expanding the amount of advertisements sold.

In a letter of support, Casey Pycior, assistant professor of English, said that Wheeler is “the kind of student I could always count on to speak up when the rest of the class might have been hesitant” and that she is “communicative, responsible and respectful of others’ work, traits that I’m sure will be valuable in her role as editor-in-chief of The Shield.”

The USI Student Publications Committee annually selects the editor-in-chief for The Shield. Applications for positions are available online or in The Shield office. To get involved, call 812-465-1682, or visit the office in the lower level of University Center East, Room 227.

Grant Opportunity Provided For Specialty Crop Growers

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The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is currently accepting proposals for the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. These funds are allocated to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, which are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops.

“Indiana is home to such a diverse agriculture industry and this diversity adds so much to our economy and society,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “I encourage specialty crop growers and organizations to take full advantage of this funding opportunity.”

The Specialty Crop Block Grant program offers federal funding to the state departments of agriculture to support the specialty crop industry. The allocation amount for Indiana is unknown at this time.

Applicants can include producer groups, trade associations, nonprofits, colleges, and universities. Grants should focus on improving marketing, training, food safety,  pest control and plant health. Organizations interested in this funding opportunity must apply through the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

Funding will not be awarded to projects that benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual. Each project must identify at least one expected measurable outcome that specifically demonstrates the project’s impact on enhancing the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops.  And, must be in one of the following funding priorities:

  • Funding Area I: Market Enhancement
  • Funding Area II: Access, Education, and Training
  • Funding Area III: Research

“This funding will go a long way in shoring up Indiana’s specialty crops in incomplete areas, like research and marketing,” said Bruce Kettler, Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director. “I encourage organizations to look at the key issues they are facing and see if this funding opportunity is something they would like to pursue to improve this diverse sector.”

Applications are due by March 22, 2020, and proposals must be submitted online through the Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s Grants Management System.

CHOICES & CONSEQUENCES

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CHOICES & CONSEQUENCES

Gavel Gamut By Jim Redwine

Should you have read last week’s column you may remember the specific topic was the Electoral College and the general topic was our Constitution’s guarantee of our right to matter or free choice. Free choice, that is what separates humans from animals and America from many other countries. Our Founders designed a government where the ideal was: All matter, but none too much. Of course, as with most ideals, America’s vaunted guarantees of freedom of choice and equality for everyone remain as goals not yet attained. On the other hand, it is no small thing that America not only proclaimed these ideals but set them forth in writing at our founding. And we have struggled mightily since our Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787 to live up to our ideals which were declared on July 04, 1776 to be: “That all men are endowed with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Although the term “all” was advisory only.  

To me these ideals come under the general category of a right to make our own choices but with an understanding our choices have consequences. These Civics lessons were burned into my psyche in a most graphic manner one day in Junior High School by one of my teachers who was straight forward, stern and strict; I liked and respected him. As he was also my Junior High football coach I always called him Coach even in the classroom probably because football was a lot more important to me than Civics. Coach’s successful coaching techniques relied heavily on those previously mentioned traits coupled with a no-nonsense attitude that victory came only through sweat. In the Pawhuska, Oklahoma school system of the 1950’s such was the general credo of the entire staff. And remembering my student days I confess such a system was necessary to force an education into me as my personal credo tended more toward the laissez-faire when it came to school work. Alas, the same was also true for some of my classmates including my friends Abby and Jack whom you will meet soon.

An example of how Coach’s attitude helped instill American history in me occurred during our Civics class section on the Civil War. Coach was one of those teachers who did not allow Political Correctness to cloud the facts. When it came to the reasons why the South seceded he taught that the immorality of slavery was a choice supported within our Constitution and the Civil War was about that choice. States Rights to determine whether to allow slavery, not slavery itself, was the gravamen of “The Cause” at the beginning of the war for the South and preservation of the Union, not the elimination of slavery, was the cause for the North. It was these competing choices and their consequences that brought about the Civil War that eventually both ended slavery and preserved the Union. 

I probably would have remembered no more of these Junior High Civics lessons about States Rights and slavery than the other lessons I daydreamed through in school had Coach not given that particular lecture right after grabbing my attention with a long, thin paddle. That otherwise hazy school day began with Coach being called away from class for a brief meeting. When he left his discipline left with him and some of us fell immediately back into our natural educational state of benign ignorance.

My friend Abby who sat in the front row got up to talk to a girl two aisles over. When she did my friend Jack saw fit to sneak behind her and remove a thumbtack from the bulletin board then place it, business end up, on the seat of Abby’s desk. Somehow Abby sensed Coach was returning so she turned and hurried back to her seat. Abby sat down on the tack just as Coach entered the classroom and observed and heard Abby react appropriately.

The Coach affixed his terrifying stare on each of us individually and when he got to Jack, Jack folded like a pair of dirty socks. Coach called Jack up to the front of the class and ordered him to bend over and grab his ankles. From an assortment of paddles he kept hanging from the chalk rail Coach chose a thin paddle about two feet long and pushed a thumbtack through it. After the Coach vigorously applied paddle to posterior while Jack manly gritted his teeth in silence, we had our Civics lesson on choices and consequences concerning the Constitution, slavery, States Rights, the Union and the Civil War. I remember them well. And if any of my classmates from that day read this article I bet they do too.

For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com

Or “Like” us on Facebook at JPegRanchBooks&Knitting

McNamara’s Bill Raising Penalty For Failure To Yield To An Emergency Vehicle Heads To Governor

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State Rep. Wendy McNamara’s (R-Evansville) bill raising the penalty for drivers who fail to yield to an emergency vehicle, causing an accident involving serious bodily injury or death, could soon become law.

McNamara, chair of the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee, said drivers need to be aware of first responders who by virtue of their jobs, are placed in dangerous situations every day.

“I look forward to this proposal becoming law to help ensure justice is done for our first responders who are out there trying to keep us safe,” McNamara said. “I heard firsthand from officers whose lives were permanently changed by careless drivers, and we want to make sure that they are protected and that drivers are paying attention.”

Current Indiana “move over” laws can result in a fine and a license suspension up to two years. This proposal would raise the infraction to a level 6 felony, which is punishable by at least six months in jail, and a fine of up to $10,000 if a driver fails to yield to an emergency vehicle, causing serious injury or death.

House Enrolled Act 1225 is now eligible to be signed into law by the governor. Visit iga.in.gov for more information.

 

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

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 Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.

Joseph Ashton Walker: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)

Kaylie Erin Savoyard: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony)

Brett Gabriel Rowans: Theft (Level 6 Felony)

Kelli Mari Costello: Theft (Level 6 Felony)

Aron Anthony Eugene Rowans: Failure of a sex offender to possess identification (Level 6 Felony)

Larquendius Talpheal Simpson: Criminal recklessness (Level 6 Felony), Carrying a handgun without a license (Class A Misdemeanor)

Jason M. Cater: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Rick Dewayne Kemper: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)

Joseph L. Martin: Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 2 Felony), Unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon (Level 4 Felony)

Margaret Lawley Gibson: Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 2 Felony)

Brooke Nicole Carter: Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 2 Felony)

Christina M. Powell: Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 4 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)

 Man Arrested after Entering a Home and Threatening Resident with a Handgun

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 DATE: Friday, March 06, 2020

An Evansville man who threatened a friend with a handgun is in custody after a standoff at his northern Vanderburgh County home.

On Friday, March 06, 2020, at 2:14 PM the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Sharon Place off Whetstone Road upon the report of a subject with a gun. The 911 caller reported that Mr. Ralph Chandley had entered the home without permission and was threatening one of the residents with a handgun.

Chandley left the scene prior to sheriff’s deputies arriving. The residents explained that Chandley was a family friend, but arrived at their residence intoxicated and angrily accused one of the residents of theft while pointing a handgun at him.

Sheriff’s deputies drove to Chandley’s residence on Cemetery Road south of E. Baseline Road where they located his vehicle in the driveway. Chandley refused to exit his residence and a Sheriff’s Office crisis negotiator was called to the scene. Mr. Chandley repeatedly told a negotiator that he would not peacefully surrender to law enforcement and made other suicidal statements. At one point Chandley told deputies he had an AK-47 rifle and that he would engage in a shootout.

After nearly two hours, Chandley agreed to exit his residence and surrendered without incident. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and numerous firearms were seized.

Chandley was later booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail and will make an initial court appearance on Monday.

ARRESTED:

Ralph Dixon Chandley II (pictured above in 2011), 56, of Evansville. Burglary while Armed with Deadly Weapon as a Level 2 Felony, Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon as a Level 5 Felony, Pointing a Loaded Firearm as a Level 6 Felony

FOOTNOTE: Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

 

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