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It’s April Fools’ Day, So a K-Pop Star Pulled a Coronavirus Prank It’s April Fools’ Day, So a K-Pop Star Pulled a Coronavirus Prank
(2 months later)
For most people, the coronavirus is no laughing matter. But the Korean star known as Jaejoong of the K-pop group JYJ decided to pretend to have the virus on Wednesday in a misfired attempt at an April Fools’ Day joke.For most people, the coronavirus is no laughing matter. But the Korean star known as Jaejoong of the K-pop group JYJ decided to pretend to have the virus on Wednesday in a misfired attempt at an April Fools’ Day joke.
He made the claim on his Instagram account, which had nearly two million followers, and his legions of fans reacted with shock and concern.He made the claim on his Instagram account, which had nearly two million followers, and his legions of fans reacted with shock and concern.
Social media lit up with expressions of support. News outlets and K-pop fan sites immediately covered the announcement. Jaejoong would have been among the biggest celebrities to become infected. South Korea was an early hot spot for the virus and had 9,887 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, including 165 deaths.Social media lit up with expressions of support. News outlets and K-pop fan sites immediately covered the announcement. Jaejoong would have been among the biggest celebrities to become infected. South Korea was an early hot spot for the virus and had 9,887 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, including 165 deaths.
Then, he confessed to the prank less than an hour later. His fans’ support was quickly replaced with widespread anger.Then, he confessed to the prank less than an hour later. His fans’ support was quickly replaced with widespread anger.
“How can you pull a prank like this when the situation right now is so serious?” one fan responded on Instagram. “It’s really disappointing.”“How can you pull a prank like this when the situation right now is so serious?” one fan responded on Instagram. “It’s really disappointing.”
Hours after the deluge of criticism, he deactivated the account.Hours after the deluge of criticism, he deactivated the account.
Across the globe, celebrities, athletes and public figures have humanized the virus’s grim toll by announcing they have been infected, making it hit closer to home for many of their admirers. Figures like the actor Tom Hanks, the basketball player Kevin Durant and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain have shared their experiences.Across the globe, celebrities, athletes and public figures have humanized the virus’s grim toll by announcing they have been infected, making it hit closer to home for many of their admirers. Figures like the actor Tom Hanks, the basketball player Kevin Durant and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain have shared their experiences.
In the original post on Wednesday afternoon, Jaejoong, real name Kim Jae-joong, appeared to be following that path, writing that he had been hospitalized and was “sorry to those who could have been infected because of me.”In the original post on Wednesday afternoon, Jaejoong, real name Kim Jae-joong, appeared to be following that path, writing that he had been hospitalized and was “sorry to those who could have been infected because of me.”
“It was because I lived carelessly, disregarding all of the cautions provided by the government and those around me,” he wrote.“It was because I lived carelessly, disregarding all of the cautions provided by the government and those around me,” he wrote.
In his follow-up post revealing the prank, he said he would “accept all punishments that I would get for this post.”In his follow-up post revealing the prank, he said he would “accept all punishments that I would get for this post.”
“This prank was too much to be considered a simple April Fools’ Day joke, but many people expressed their worry for me during that short period of time,” he said.“This prank was too much to be considered a simple April Fools’ Day joke, but many people expressed their worry for me during that short period of time,” he said.
His label, C-JeS Entertainment, told the news website Allkpop that it “just came across the post now. We will check on the matter.”His label, C-JeS Entertainment, told the news website Allkpop that it “just came across the post now. We will check on the matter.”
Updated June 1, 2020
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.
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.
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.
Yes, but make sure you keep six feet of distance between you and people who don’t live in your home. Even if you just hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and hopefully sunshine, is a good idea.
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.
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.
Charity Navigator, which evaluates charities using a numbers-based system, has a running list of nonprofits working in communities affected by the outbreak. You can give blood through the American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen has stepped in to distribute meals in major cities.
Governments worldwide have been concerned that April Fools’ Day could spark more misinformation on the virus, as health authorities around the globe have fought to contain what they have called an “infodemic.”Governments worldwide have been concerned that April Fools’ Day could spark more misinformation on the virus, as health authorities around the globe have fought to contain what they have called an “infodemic.”
The police in Thailand warned that anyone disseminating false information about the coronavirus on April Fools’ Day could face up to five years in jail and a fine of up to about $3,000, according to The Bangkok Post.The police in Thailand warned that anyone disseminating false information about the coronavirus on April Fools’ Day could face up to five years in jail and a fine of up to about $3,000, according to The Bangkok Post.
Government officials in Taiwan, India and Germany made similar warnings.Government officials in Taiwan, India and Germany made similar warnings.
The authorities in South Korea have said misinformation related to the virus would fall under laws on obstruction of official duties and defamation, according to The Korea Herald.The authorities in South Korea have said misinformation related to the virus would fall under laws on obstruction of official duties and defamation, according to The Korea Herald.
It was not immediately clear how or if that would apply to the pop star.It was not immediately clear how or if that would apply to the pop star.
Su-Hyun Lee contributed reporting.Su-Hyun Lee contributed reporting.