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Counting the Days Under Virus Lockdown by the Length of Trudeau’s Hair Counting the Days Under Virus Lockdown by the Length of Trudeau’s Hair
(1 day later)
TORONTO — It’s moppish. It’s unruly. It’s mesmerizing.TORONTO — It’s moppish. It’s unruly. It’s mesmerizing.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s hair has long been a subject of fascination, ridicule and adulation in Canada. But three months into the coronavirus pandemic, as he has appeared day after day at televised briefings to answer questions — and sweep the bangs off his face — commentary on Mr. Trudeau’s mane has become a national sport.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s hair has long been a subject of fascination, ridicule and adulation in Canada. But three months into the coronavirus pandemic, as he has appeared day after day at televised briefings to answer questions — and sweep the bangs off his face — commentary on Mr. Trudeau’s mane has become a national sport.
Was it the pandemic version of a hockey playoff beard? Was he embodying the inner haggardness of the nation, stuck at home for months?Was it the pandemic version of a hockey playoff beard? Was he embodying the inner haggardness of the nation, stuck at home for months?
Letters to the editor have been written and newspaper columns crafted. Videos of his hair flip — and the beard he started before the virus struck — have been set to various styles of music and uploaded to YouTube. One has garnered more than 265,000 views.Letters to the editor have been written and newspaper columns crafted. Videos of his hair flip — and the beard he started before the virus struck — have been set to various styles of music and uploaded to YouTube. One has garnered more than 265,000 views.
Mr. Trudeau might be the country’s prime minister, but he is following the rules and not getting a haircut like much of his unkempt nation, with residents of Ontario, the most populous province, and Montreal barred from visiting barber shops and salons since March.Mr. Trudeau might be the country’s prime minister, but he is following the rules and not getting a haircut like much of his unkempt nation, with residents of Ontario, the most populous province, and Montreal barred from visiting barber shops and salons since March.
Still, Mr. Trudeau is a master of image branding, and most people believe there is a political point.Still, Mr. Trudeau is a master of image branding, and most people believe there is a political point.
“One thing he understands very well is the importance of symbolism in a leader,” said Peter Donolo, the director of communications for a former Liberal prime minister, Jean Chrétien, and now the vice chairman of a public relations and lobbying firm.“One thing he understands very well is the importance of symbolism in a leader,” said Peter Donolo, the director of communications for a former Liberal prime minister, Jean Chrétien, and now the vice chairman of a public relations and lobbying firm.
“Also, it helps that he looks like a million dollars with his hair long,” he added.“Also, it helps that he looks like a million dollars with his hair long,” he added.
Unlike Americans, Canadians demand that their leaders be proletarian — no perks, no special treatment or favors. When it was discovered that another prime minister, Stephen Harper, paid a stylist to do his makeup and hair, the country roared in mockery and anger.Unlike Americans, Canadians demand that their leaders be proletarian — no perks, no special treatment or favors. When it was discovered that another prime minister, Stephen Harper, paid a stylist to do his makeup and hair, the country roared in mockery and anger.
Case in point: Mr. Trudeau does his briefings before his relatively modest red brick home, which is not the official residence of the prime minister. That grows more dilapidated by the week because he is not willing to spend the tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to fix it up.Case in point: Mr. Trudeau does his briefings before his relatively modest red brick home, which is not the official residence of the prime minister. That grows more dilapidated by the week because he is not willing to spend the tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to fix it up.
“Can you imagine the negative media coverage that would arise if he was getting special access to someone to give him a haircut, while we can’t?” asked Alex Marland, a professor of political science at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland.“Can you imagine the negative media coverage that would arise if he was getting special access to someone to give him a haircut, while we can’t?” asked Alex Marland, a professor of political science at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
For three months, Mr. Trudeau has held the briefings as often as seven times a week, speaking directly to a captive audience. For many, his briefings have become daily goal posts, his growing hair like a wall chart documenting the days under lockdown.For three months, Mr. Trudeau has held the briefings as often as seven times a week, speaking directly to a captive audience. For many, his briefings have become daily goal posts, his growing hair like a wall chart documenting the days under lockdown.
“It’s this intimate, almost nervous reaction,” said Katy Jean of the prime minister’s habit of running his hand through his locks.“It’s this intimate, almost nervous reaction,” said Katy Jean of the prime minister’s habit of running his hand through his locks.
Ms. Jean, a stay-at-home mom in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, has watched all but two of Mr. Trudeau’s briefings since March 16. She calls him “Handsome One” in tweets, and has posted various gifs of his hair management.Ms. Jean, a stay-at-home mom in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, has watched all but two of Mr. Trudeau’s briefings since March 16. She calls him “Handsome One” in tweets, and has posted various gifs of his hair management.
Updated June 30, 2020
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.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
“He doesn’t do it when he’s talking, but when he’s thinking,” she said. “I’ve also noticed he does it with his left hand, although he’s right-handed.”“He doesn’t do it when he’s talking, but when he’s thinking,” she said. “I’ve also noticed he does it with his left hand, although he’s right-handed.”
There are other things Ms. Jean has noticed: Mr. Trudeau’s ties are slightly crooked and he recently whitened his teeth, she theorized, likely using stuff from the drugstore.There are other things Ms. Jean has noticed: Mr. Trudeau’s ties are slightly crooked and he recently whitened his teeth, she theorized, likely using stuff from the drugstore.
“You can only hear answers about CERB so much,” she said, referring to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.“You can only hear answers about CERB so much,” she said, referring to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
Ms. Jean said she did not vote for Mr. Trudeau, who was re-elected with a minority in Parliament for his party last year. But she and many other Canadians think he’s done a good job managing the crisis, polls show.Ms. Jean said she did not vote for Mr. Trudeau, who was re-elected with a minority in Parliament for his party last year. But she and many other Canadians think he’s done a good job managing the crisis, polls show.
So the hair has not hurt, which is ironic, as a tag line of political attack ads against him in 2015 was “nice hair, though.”So the hair has not hurt, which is ironic, as a tag line of political attack ads against him in 2015 was “nice hair, though.”
On Friday, barber shops and hair salons are set to reopen in Ottawa, the nation’s capital. The question is: Will the prime minister get a haircut, or will he continue to suffer in solidarity with voters in areas of Canada where they remain shuttered?On Friday, barber shops and hair salons are set to reopen in Ottawa, the nation’s capital. The question is: Will the prime minister get a haircut, or will he continue to suffer in solidarity with voters in areas of Canada where they remain shuttered?
And if he gets it cut, will the king-of-the-photo op bring his personal photographer with him?And if he gets it cut, will the king-of-the-photo op bring his personal photographer with him?
“He needs to shift from Mr. Batten-down-the-hatches to Mr. Let’s-get-the-economy-moving,” Mr. Donolo said. “He should do a photo op at the barber, but I wouldn’t go to a fancy stylist.”“He needs to shift from Mr. Batten-down-the-hatches to Mr. Let’s-get-the-economy-moving,” Mr. Donolo said. “He should do a photo op at the barber, but I wouldn’t go to a fancy stylist.”