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What It’s Like to Come Home to the Stigma of Coronavirus What It’s Like to Come Home to the Stigma of Coronavirus
(32 minutes later)
Frank King has gotten death threats. So many angry strangers have called his phone in recent weeks that he changed his number. And his neighbors have offered to bring food to his doorstep if he would just agree to stay inside his house.Frank King has gotten death threats. So many angry strangers have called his phone in recent weeks that he changed his number. And his neighbors have offered to bring food to his doorstep if he would just agree to stay inside his house.
“I have a whole new respect for the plight of pariahs,” said Mr. King, who was among 650 Americans who returned to the United States last month after being stuck for more than a week on a cruise ship that no country initially allowed to dock because of fear of coronavirus.“I have a whole new respect for the plight of pariahs,” said Mr. King, who was among 650 Americans who returned to the United States last month after being stuck for more than a week on a cruise ship that no country initially allowed to dock because of fear of coronavirus.
One person from that ship, the Westerdam, was said to have briefly tested positive on the way home, sparking an international panic. In the days that followed, 1,580 crew members and passengers tested negative, including Mr. King. Nonetheless, Mr. King has been the target of rage because of his decision to fly home before he received the test results.One person from that ship, the Westerdam, was said to have briefly tested positive on the way home, sparking an international panic. In the days that followed, 1,580 crew members and passengers tested negative, including Mr. King. Nonetheless, Mr. King has been the target of rage because of his decision to fly home before he received the test results.
The scathing criticism he has received illustrates how swiftly societal pressure can bear down on people who are perceived to be endangering public health, even if they pose no actual threat.The scathing criticism he has received illustrates how swiftly societal pressure can bear down on people who are perceived to be endangering public health, even if they pose no actual threat.
As the virus spreads, a growing number of people across the country are living under the cloud of having been associated with it, however remotely. Some have had longtime friends and neighbors disappear on them. Others have had babysitters abruptly quit. Still others, like Christina Kerby, have been shamed for buying lunch in public, even after they were cleared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to move about freely.As the virus spreads, a growing number of people across the country are living under the cloud of having been associated with it, however remotely. Some have had longtime friends and neighbors disappear on them. Others have had babysitters abruptly quit. Still others, like Christina Kerby, have been shamed for buying lunch in public, even after they were cleared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to move about freely.
“I’m now feeling the firsthand effects of stigma,” said Ms. Kerby, a Westerdam passenger who has received angry Twitter messages from strangers who believe she should self-quarantine.“I’m now feeling the firsthand effects of stigma,” said Ms. Kerby, a Westerdam passenger who has received angry Twitter messages from strangers who believe she should self-quarantine.
“It takes an incident like this for someone to realize who their true loyal friends and family are,” said Michael Parry, another Westerdam passenger who said he was uninvited from a family baby shower taking place after his return to the United States.“It takes an incident like this for someone to realize who their true loyal friends and family are,” said Michael Parry, another Westerdam passenger who said he was uninvited from a family baby shower taking place after his return to the United States.
The sharpest insults appear to have been reserved for those who were perceived to have endangered public health by failing to isolate themselves sufficiently.The sharpest insults appear to have been reserved for those who were perceived to have endangered public health by failing to isolate themselves sufficiently.
Jeri Seratti-Goldman, a passenger evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that carried hundreds of coronavirus patients, including her husband, has received many supportive messages, but also hate mail that accused her of knowingly bringing the virus to the United States.Jeri Seratti-Goldman, a passenger evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that carried hundreds of coronavirus patients, including her husband, has received many supportive messages, but also hate mail that accused her of knowingly bringing the virus to the United States.
“The primary way we think about risk is through our gut feelings,” said Paul Slovic, professor of psychology at the University of Oregon who is also president of Decision Research, an institute that studies decision-making and risk. “The modern way to deal with risk is through science and statistics. We can think that way, but it’s hard to do.”“The primary way we think about risk is through our gut feelings,” said Paul Slovic, professor of psychology at the University of Oregon who is also president of Decision Research, an institute that studies decision-making and risk. “The modern way to deal with risk is through science and statistics. We can think that way, but it’s hard to do.”
People tend to react most strongly against risks they cannot control, Dr. Slovic said, adding that because the new coronavirus can be transmitted by people who show no symptoms, it triggers a “heightened sense of fear.”People tend to react most strongly against risks they cannot control, Dr. Slovic said, adding that because the new coronavirus can be transmitted by people who show no symptoms, it triggers a “heightened sense of fear.”
Jane Futcher, a 72-year-old Westerdam passenger, said a close friend in the San Francisco area refused to let her and her partner stay over the night they returned to the United States.Jane Futcher, a 72-year-old Westerdam passenger, said a close friend in the San Francisco area refused to let her and her partner stay over the night they returned to the United States.
“That kind of hurt, especially since we were so tired,” said Ms. Futcher, who stayed in a motel instead. “It reminded me of the old days in the AIDS epidemic when people didn’t know if you could touch a person with AIDS.”“That kind of hurt, especially since we were so tired,” said Ms. Futcher, who stayed in a motel instead. “It reminded me of the old days in the AIDS epidemic when people didn’t know if you could touch a person with AIDS.”
After the Westerdam was allowed to dock in Cambodia, Mr. King, a stand-up comedian who performed on the ship, arranged his own travel home. He boarded a commercial flight the same day he was swabbed for the coronavirus test, before receiving the results.After the Westerdam was allowed to dock in Cambodia, Mr. King, a stand-up comedian who performed on the ship, arranged his own travel home. He boarded a commercial flight the same day he was swabbed for the coronavirus test, before receiving the results.
Holland America, the cruise ship company that operates the Westerdam, said guests were supposed to wait for their results before getting on a plane. But Mr. King said that a member of the C.D.C. told him there was no reason he could not return home since he had no symptoms and had not traveled through mainland China.Holland America, the cruise ship company that operates the Westerdam, said guests were supposed to wait for their results before getting on a plane. But Mr. King said that a member of the C.D.C. told him there was no reason he could not return home since he had no symptoms and had not traveled through mainland China.
Updated June 12, 2020Updated June 12, 2020
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
“I wish I’d said, ‘Can I get that in writing?’” he said. “If the gentleman from the C.D.C. had said, ‘Look, you need to hang around,’ I would have sat tight. I’m not going to put the public at risk.” A spokeswoman for the C.D.C. said she could not confirm or deny his account.“I wish I’d said, ‘Can I get that in writing?’” he said. “If the gentleman from the C.D.C. had said, ‘Look, you need to hang around,’ I would have sat tight. I’m not going to put the public at risk.” A spokeswoman for the C.D.C. said she could not confirm or deny his account.
Since his return, people have sent him messages saying they hope he dies of the flu. One angry person pledged to ruin his comedy career and make sure he never got booked for another gig.Since his return, people have sent him messages saying they hope he dies of the flu. One angry person pledged to ruin his comedy career and make sure he never got booked for another gig.
“People are giving my wife a hard time, asking, ‘Is he sorry now?’” said Mr. King, who initially declined an interview but eventually told his story. Although the C.D.C. has since declared Westerdam passengers to be “low risk,” he said, “I’m sorry that I scared anyone.”“People are giving my wife a hard time, asking, ‘Is he sorry now?’” said Mr. King, who initially declined an interview but eventually told his story. Although the C.D.C. has since declared Westerdam passengers to be “low risk,” he said, “I’m sorry that I scared anyone.”
Mr. King says the silver lining is that he has grown much more aware of the plight of teenagers who are bullied online. In addition to hate mail, he has also received supportive messages from friends and strangers alike. A veterinarian declined to charge him simply because he had been having a tough time.Mr. King says the silver lining is that he has grown much more aware of the plight of teenagers who are bullied online. In addition to hate mail, he has also received supportive messages from friends and strangers alike. A veterinarian declined to charge him simply because he had been having a tough time.
“The acts of kindness have made me weep,” he said.“The acts of kindness have made me weep,” he said.