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Fee Waivers, Virtual Art Shows and Online Cooking Lessons Fee Waivers, Virtual Art Shows and Online Cooking Lessons
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With flights canceled around the world, and bars and restaurants shutting down as efforts to control coronavirus cases accelerate, some hotels, cultural institutions and car rental companies are extending a helping hand with efforts that range from community outreach to fee waivers. Others, including museums, are coming up with virtual offerings.With flights canceled around the world, and bars and restaurants shutting down as efforts to control coronavirus cases accelerate, some hotels, cultural institutions and car rental companies are extending a helping hand with efforts that range from community outreach to fee waivers. Others, including museums, are coming up with virtual offerings.
Enterprise car rental is waiving fees for prepaid rentals and is dropping fees if customers need to drive cars and drop them off at a different location from the pickup points. “If your doctor says you can’t fly home at this time, and you need to drive the car back to Michigan, the drop-off fees will be waived,” a customer service representative said.Enterprise car rental is waiving fees for prepaid rentals and is dropping fees if customers need to drive cars and drop them off at a different location from the pickup points. “If your doctor says you can’t fly home at this time, and you need to drive the car back to Michigan, the drop-off fees will be waived,” a customer service representative said.
The holistic-minded Soul Community Planet’s 49-room property in Redmond, Ore., typically offers weekly yoga and meditation classes in partnership with Namaspa Yoga & Massage; these have transitioned online through the Zoom app or Facebook live and are posted on the hotel’s Facebook timeline for everyone to use.The holistic-minded Soul Community Planet’s 49-room property in Redmond, Ore., typically offers weekly yoga and meditation classes in partnership with Namaspa Yoga & Massage; these have transitioned online through the Zoom app or Facebook live and are posted on the hotel’s Facebook timeline for everyone to use.
“A lot of our community members have formed great relationships with the instructors, and since it’s currently socially irresponsible to gather in groups right now, they get to interact with the instructors they know, online,” said the chief executive, Ken Cruse.“A lot of our community members have formed great relationships with the instructors, and since it’s currently socially irresponsible to gather in groups right now, they get to interact with the instructors they know, online,” said the chief executive, Ken Cruse.
Many cultural institutions, including museums, are bringing their collections to armchair travelers.Many cultural institutions, including museums, are bringing their collections to armchair travelers.
The digital platform, Google Arts & Culture, has partnered with more than 2,000 cultural institutions from 80 countries, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. Exhibitions feature works like Vincent Van Gogh’s “Terrace of a Café at Night,” from the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands, to modern art collections from the Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Milan.The digital platform, Google Arts & Culture, has partnered with more than 2,000 cultural institutions from 80 countries, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. Exhibitions feature works like Vincent Van Gogh’s “Terrace of a Café at Night,” from the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands, to modern art collections from the Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Milan.
Irvin Lippman, executive director of the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Florida has just started a series of free online programs for children called “Keep Kids Smart with ART” to help families who can’t travel but want to foster creativity at home. “We are still developing these digital programs for all ages, not only for children, but also for seniors,” Mr. Lippman said. The museum and art school, which opened in 1950, normally receives more than 100,000 annual visitors.Irvin Lippman, executive director of the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Florida has just started a series of free online programs for children called “Keep Kids Smart with ART” to help families who can’t travel but want to foster creativity at home. “We are still developing these digital programs for all ages, not only for children, but also for seniors,” Mr. Lippman said. The museum and art school, which opened in 1950, normally receives more than 100,000 annual visitors.
The moving and storage company U-Haul, which has 22,000 truck and trailer-sharing locations, is offering 30 days of free storage to students who have been displaced.The moving and storage company U-Haul, which has 22,000 truck and trailer-sharing locations, is offering 30 days of free storage to students who have been displaced.
Jeremy Collins, a U-Haul representative, said that “for serious conditions in the world, we’ve typically offered people a free month of storage.” (Storage rates for a 5-by-10-foot unit typically start from $99.95 per month).Jeremy Collins, a U-Haul representative, said that “for serious conditions in the world, we’ve typically offered people a free month of storage.” (Storage rates for a 5-by-10-foot unit typically start from $99.95 per month).
The six-year old Gaythering hotel in Miami, which caters to the L.G. B. T. Q. community, has taken its weekly karaoke, bingo and trivia nights online.The six-year old Gaythering hotel in Miami, which caters to the L.G. B. T. Q. community, has taken its weekly karaoke, bingo and trivia nights online.
The drag queen Karla Croqueta hosted a virtual karaoke night on Instagram on Monday, March 16 from 8 to 10 p.m., which drew 485 viewers. “We sang Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’ and Salt-N-Pepa’s ‘Shoop’ and we could have kept going,” the co-owner Alex Guerra said. Virtual Trivia nights are on Wednesdays at 8 p.m., and Bingo nights are on Thursdays at 9 p.m., on the property’s social media channels.The drag queen Karla Croqueta hosted a virtual karaoke night on Instagram on Monday, March 16 from 8 to 10 p.m., which drew 485 viewers. “We sang Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’ and Salt-N-Pepa’s ‘Shoop’ and we could have kept going,” the co-owner Alex Guerra said. Virtual Trivia nights are on Wednesdays at 8 p.m., and Bingo nights are on Thursdays at 9 p.m., on the property’s social media channels.
“When kids are stuck at home, they can still travel the world through storybooks,” said the author Sucheta Rawal, who has written a series of five “Beato Goes To” books, in which the main character, an explorer cat, visits places from Greenland to Japan.“When kids are stuck at home, they can still travel the world through storybooks,” said the author Sucheta Rawal, who has written a series of five “Beato Goes To” books, in which the main character, an explorer cat, visits places from Greenland to Japan.
Children around the world are invited to join 30-minute-long live session to “meet” the author and listen to a book reading; sessions are held on her Facebook page.Children around the world are invited to join 30-minute-long live session to “meet” the author and listen to a book reading; sessions are held on her Facebook page.
Silvia Grossi, executive chef of the 44-room villa, Il Salviatino, in Fiesole, near Florence, Italy, has taken to social media to host cooking lessons from her own kitchen.Silvia Grossi, executive chef of the 44-room villa, Il Salviatino, in Fiesole, near Florence, Italy, has taken to social media to host cooking lessons from her own kitchen.
Updated June 2, 2020 Updated June 5, 2020
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.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.)
More than 40 million people — the equivalent of 1 in 4 U.S. workers — have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic took hold. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said.
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.
She said that these are “easy recipes that can be created with ingredients most people already have in their homes — flour, spices, canned foods and eggs, for example.” Her Instagram stories are conducted in Italian and have had an “uplifting response,” she said. “It’s incredible how connected we are, even when apart.”She said that these are “easy recipes that can be created with ingredients most people already have in their homes — flour, spices, canned foods and eggs, for example.” Her Instagram stories are conducted in Italian and have had an “uplifting response,” she said. “It’s incredible how connected we are, even when apart.”
She kicked off her lessons with a homemade whole grain pici pasta (a thick, hand-rolled pasta), garnished with spring onions, spices and bergamot.She kicked off her lessons with a homemade whole grain pici pasta (a thick, hand-rolled pasta), garnished with spring onions, spices and bergamot.
The wine educator Caroline Conner, who works with tourists in Lyon, France, is hosting free virtual wine tastings that meet through the Zoom app, for six people at a time. “I’ll talk them through how to write a tasting note, we’ll compare our wines and hopefully have a fun, distracting and social experience,” she said. Participants can sign up and see the complete schedule here.The wine educator Caroline Conner, who works with tourists in Lyon, France, is hosting free virtual wine tastings that meet through the Zoom app, for six people at a time. “I’ll talk them through how to write a tasting note, we’ll compare our wines and hopefully have a fun, distracting and social experience,” she said. Participants can sign up and see the complete schedule here.
The 85-room Hari hotel in Belgravia, London, is supporting its neighborhood by lending a helping hand to those in need in the form of grocery and general shopping services, collecting supplies from the pharmacy and even being on-hand for a friendly phone call.The 85-room Hari hotel in Belgravia, London, is supporting its neighborhood by lending a helping hand to those in need in the form of grocery and general shopping services, collecting supplies from the pharmacy and even being on-hand for a friendly phone call.
“Hotels have a kind of responsibility to provide their community with what they really need,” said the general manager Andrew Coney, adding that the property has started working with local suppliers and has helped 40 to 50 households in just a few days. “The response has been phenomenal.” If you live in London, send @theharilondon a direct message through Instagram or email info@thehari.com for any assistance.“Hotels have a kind of responsibility to provide their community with what they really need,” said the general manager Andrew Coney, adding that the property has started working with local suppliers and has helped 40 to 50 households in just a few days. “The response has been phenomenal.” If you live in London, send @theharilondon a direct message through Instagram or email info@thehari.com for any assistance.
Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation.Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation.