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--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Support for this show comes from ServiceNow. AI is only as powerful as the platform it's built into, don't you know? That's why it's no surprise that more than 85% of the Fortune 500 use the ServiceNow AI platform. Didn't know that. While other platforms duct tape tools together, ServiceNow seamlessly unifies people, data, workflows, and AI, connecting every corner of your business. And with AI agents working together autonomously, anyone in any department can focus on the work that matters most. I've never met an AI agent. Learn how ServiceNow puts AI to work for people at ServiceNow.com.
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--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): We all have moments where we could have done better, like cutting your own hair. Oh, yikes. Or forgetting sunscreen so now you look like a tomato. Ouch. Could have done better. Same goes for where you invest. Level up and invest smarter with Schwab. Get market insights, education, and human help when you need it. Learn more at Schwab.com.
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--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Last night, coronavirus infection rates in the United States forced a reckoning. In Oklahoma City, an NBA game was about to start when an official made an announcement. Fans, due to unforeseen circumstances, the game tonight has been postponed. You are all safe. And take your time in leaving the arena tonight and do so in an orderly fashion. Thank you for coming out tonight. Soon after, the NBA announced that a player had tested positive for coronavirus just before the game. Starting tomorrow, NBA play is suspended. and then the league is going to use that hiatus to decide their next steps, how they'll go forward. But this is the last night of NBA games for the foreseeable future. But the NBA wasn't the only one closing down.
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--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): All right, we do want to give you some breaking news because we understand now that Seattle Public Schools will close for at least two weeks starting tomorrow. Mosques, churches, synagogues. It had already been a part of the discussion here among staff about what is going to happen come Holy Week, come Easter, expectations of huge crowds, all those kinds of things. Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson even tested positive. What's up, everyone? Yeah, it's true. My parents got coronavirus. Crazy. They're both down in Australia right now because my dad was shooting a movie down there.
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--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Then, at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, President Trump gave a national address. After consulting with our top government health professionals, I have decided to take several strong but necessary actions to protect the health and well-being of all Americans. To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days. Jen Kirby, Vox, this travel ban that President Trump announced last night, does it start immediately?
--:-- Jen Kirby: It starts effective Friday at midnight.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): So the president said that this is suspending all travel from Europe to the U.S. What exactly counts as Europe?
--:-- Jen Kirby: Yeah, so it specifically refers to the European Union Schengen Zone, which is 26 countries, which includes France, Germany, Spain, among a bunch of others. And there was one country that he explicitly exempted. These restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Why was the U.K. not included?
--:-- Jen Kirby: It's not really clear why the U.K. wasn't included. We don't really have any reason. The U.K. is not part of the Schengen zone. But, you know, the president is in the middle of trade talks with the U.K. and has a close relationship with Boris Johnson. So that might be why they're left out of the ban. But we ultimately don't know.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): And is this for everyone like American citizens in Europe? Can they still come back?
--:-- Jen Kirby: Yeah. Right now, the ban only applies to foreign nationals who are coming from these 26 Schengen countries. It does not apply to U.S. citizens or to legal permanent residents.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): But there was some confusion about that leading to some hecticness and chaos at European airports today. And is this ban just for people or does it include everything coming from Europe?
--:-- Jen Kirby: It is just people, according to the president of the White House. But they had to clarify that after the fact, because during the speech, Trump apparently misspoke and said that it would include cargo, which led to an absolute freak out because the European Union and the U.S. are major trading partners. And that would probably be extraordinarily disruptive to the economy. But it turns out it was just a mistake. Just a mistake. In the speech.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Yeah. So it's not included in the order. The order just applies to people. But for, you know, a few minutes there, it seemed as if everything, both goods and people coming from Europe were banned. But that turns out not to be the case.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): And how has the EU responded to this ban?
--:-- Jen Kirby: The EU has responded pretty harshly and directly. They condemned the United States for taking this action, basically saying that this is a time for cooperation and not unilateral action. And they basically said that they were not consulted on this pretty dramatic plan by the White House which is incredible because these are some of our closest allies.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): So to not even give them a heads up as we institute this dramatic measure is pretty remarkable. Yeah, I imagine, you know, fighting the coronavirus is going to take some pretty intense international collaboration. Is this going to impact our ability to do that going forward? I mean, I think that's sort of the main question.
--:-- Jen Kirby: You would believe at a time like this in a global pandemic where every country is preparing for and expecting to see the coronavirus on their shores, you would think for something that the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic would require, you know, international cooperation and everybody working together to take measures to slow the spread of the disease. So this sort of nationalism in the wake of a crisis that is definitely not respecting national borders is pretty remarkable.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): You know, I imagine restricting international travel, at least on some level, is helpful. Is there a sense that Trump may have backed into something at least slightly helpful here?
--:-- Jen Kirby: So Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is a well-respected member of Trump's coronavirus task force, did say that he believed that stopping people from coming in as well as working to prevent the spread in the United States would be an effective measure. So he is somebody who seems to agree that at least preventing some people from coming in will be helpful. But I think a lot of experts believe that the important component is making sure that you stop the spread in the United States. And the fear is that something like a travel ban kind of distracts from the very urgent measures that needs to be done in the U.S. and sort of places blame on Europe, for example, when right now everybody's kind of all in this together.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Has this ban had any broader impact yet?
--:-- Jen Kirby: So the market does not seem happy about this order by the White House. Coming on the air with breaking news and the turmoil on Wall Street amid the coronavirus outbreak, all three major averages, the Dow, the Nasdaq and the S&P, set to plunge as the trading day begins, as it has just a few seconds ago. We see what's happening right there. That's the Dow Jones down about 7 percent this morning in the trading.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Of course, the stock market isn't the economy, But it's a sign that, you know, the United States may not be as on top of this pandemic and that might lead to economic disruptions worldwide. But we do not know the long term economic impact of a ban like this. So it's certainly not helping the economy.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Is it at least helping calm people down a bit? Did Trump's speech put anyone at ease at all?
--:-- Jen Kirby: I don't, I mean, it's hard to sort of gauge for how everybody felt. But, you know, public health experts have largely said this ban is a distraction and a waste of, you know, time and energy. And you have a lot of, you know, private entities, for example, you know, the NBA, which is now suspending its season, taking these kind of more drastic measures that the U.S. government hasn't really taken, at least when it comes to inside the U.S. So there's definitely a disconnect.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): And given the way the markets are reacting and some public health officials are speaking out, it seems that Trump's Oval Office speech didn't have the intended effect of calming the nation.
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--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Even if you don't have coronavirus yourself, there's a lot you can do to help keep it from spreading. That's next.
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--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): www.adio.com will have your email and calendars synced. You'll see all your relationships in a fully-fledged platform, they say, all enriched with that actionable data. And they say you can build AI-powered automations and use its research agent to tackle some of your most complex processes so that you can focus on what matters, building your company. You can join industry leaders such as Flatfile, Replicate, Modal, and so much more. You can go to adio.com slash todayexplained to get 15% off your first year.
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--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): one-stop shop for fall's latest trends and must-haves, curated by their experts. Add a statement shoe to your collection, like the calf hair loafers from Steve Madden, or tap into your romantic side with flowy dresses from CC and sheer pieces from INC. You can even throw in some textural layers for contrast like a faux fur bomber jacket from Karl Lagerfeld Paris Whether your old favorite sweater or coat is on its last threads or you just craving a new vibe to switch things up Macy's has got you covered this season. Find the perfect layering pieces for you by exploring the Macy's Fall Fashion Style Guide. Shop in-store or online at Macy's.com.
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--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): The WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic. Eliza Barkley, science and health editor at Vox, yesterday's announcement from the WHO means that we're now officially dealing with a pandemic. Was this a surprise?
--:-- Eliza Barkley: We actually expected this. Public health experts have been saying actually now for a couple of weeks, this really looks like a pandemic. We can pretty much call it one. WHO tends to be cautious. They wanted to hold off until they were certain that it was really severe enough to call a pandemic. And I think it reflects their concern of how far it has spread and the fact that several countries are now dealing with very serious outbreaks.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): So far, the U.S. hasn't had the number of cases that Italy or China or South Korea has. Is that about to change?
--:-- Eliza Barkley: All the signs suggest yes. Yesterday, Dr. Tony Fauci of the NIH said, We will see more cases and things will get worse than they are right now. And part of that has to do with the fact we're going to be testing more. So we're going to find more cases. But also it seems that the virus is spreading in the United States and it may spread very rapidly, very quickly if we don't take all these measures that we're being asked to take to slow down the spread and prevent new cases.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Is that really all we can hope for right now to slow down the spread? We can't stop the spread?
--:-- Eliza Barkley: Yes, that is correct. Containment is now pretty much off the table. There are too many cases. It's too contagious. We are just going to have to try to slow it down.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): And what happens if we don't take steps to slow down the spread? The consequences of that are not just lots of cases and deaths, but that our health care system, which, by the way, is at capacity right now, can be totally overwhelmed.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: And so that means that people who are sick with the virus, who need to be on a ventilator to breathe. And we're talking about here people who are very, very sick, who have severe pneumonia. Those people, if we get an explosion of them, there won't be enough ventilators or beds for them. And then think about a hospital that's just overwhelmed with suddenly this influx of COVID-19 patients. That hospital then is going to not be as well equipped to care for everyone else who's going to have their issues.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): So when we talk about why we need to slow down this epidemic now, we're trying to avoid that worst case scenario.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: So what should we do to prevent the worst case scenario from happening?
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): So social distancing is about slowing social contact. So think about those of us who live in a city. We go to the grocery store. We go to the gym. We go to work. We're on the metro. We're on a bus. We're constantly around a lot of other people. And so the idea with social distancing is to reduce the intensity and the frequency of possible exposure to the virus.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: What this means in terms of what public health authorities are asking us is avoid crowds, cancel mass public gatherings, maybe stay home from work depending on where you work, whether there's a lot of cases in your area, maybe close your school.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): In epidemiology world, this whole concept of trying to slow down the outbreak is called flattening the curve. The idea is what we don't want is a huge surge in cases where they're peaking and we get to that situation of overwhelming the health care system that I mentioned. Instead, we want a slow curve.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: So while containment's not an option anymore, and we may still get a lot of cases, in this situation, we want to see those cases spread out over a very long period of time so that the health care system can manage and care for the people who are going to be really sick.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Is there any chance that the Trump administration calls for a full lockdown? That seems pretty unlikely, in part because the federal government doesn't really have the power to do a national lockdown.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: So there's actually a significant debate even among public health experts about whether a lockdown type of policy where you are saying to people stay home for the most part except for essential travel, whether those really work or if you can get by with these other kinds of social distancing measures which just say let's close some schools for a period of time. Let's ask people to work from home if they can. Those things alone may be enough.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): And also we're advising, especially the most vulnerable groups to avoid crowds to stay home you know more than they would.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: What this situation shows us right is that we are all in this together. We have a collective responsibility to protect the most vulnerable. And that means ideally everyone follows these guidelines because nobody has immunity to this disease.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): So if I'm young and healthy and I get sick, I may be asymptomatic. But if I'm out and about in a lot of public spaces, I'm potentially infecting people who may or may not be vulnerable, but they might take it home to their vulnerable grandmother.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: We are very interconnected in this situation. And that's why we've seen in the last week, you know, a couple of governors making pretty big decisions for their citizens. Governor Jay Inslee on Tuesday announced new rules about visiting nursing homes in Washington state. Number one, we are requiring compliance that residents are limited to one visitor per day. Visitors must be adults and the visit must take place in the resident's room.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Visitors must follow COVID-19 screening and follow reasonable precautionary measures.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: And then yesterday he said that all public gatherings of more than 250 people in the Seattle area will be canceled. These events that are prohibited are gatherings for social, recreational, spiritual, and other matters, including but not limited to community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events. Parades, concerts, festivals, conventions, fundraisers, and similar activities of that dimension are prohibited as we go forward.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): And then lastly, the first school district in the country, the Seattle Public School District, announced it was closing. And that begins today and it will last for two weeks.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: What about other places around the country? In New York State, we have Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a new one-mile containment area around New Rochelle because there is a cluster of coronavirus cases there.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Let's look at the situation. We have about 108 cases in New Rochelle. Just to put it in perspective, we have 36 cases in New York City. New York City is 100 times the size of New Rochelle, okay? So New Rochelle is the hottest spot, if you will, in the country.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: Yesterday, Governor Cuomo declared a two-week ban on all large gatherings in the area, where thousands of people live and work, effectively shutting down its schools, houses of worship, and athletic clubs.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): We're also going to use the National Guard in the containment area to deliver food to homes, to help with the cleaning of public spaces. So this is the first time we're seeing this type of measure in the United States.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: It sounds like a, I think, more severe measure than it is. Containment doesn't mean that everyone can't leave. It just means they're actively trying to contain this cluster of cases in this community, not let it spread outside.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): It doesn't seem obvious to me that everyone would just abide by these rules if they're handed down by states or companies.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: I read this story about this guy in Missouri who was told to self-quarantine and then went to his father-daughter dance. I mean, are there measures in place to hold people accountable if they break quarantine? Or is this sort of an honor system at this point?
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): In general, I think we can expect local government to try voluntary measures first. So many people have been told to self-quarantine at this point. If they have symptoms, they may not have been tested yet or they may so far be testing negative. But they're still being told to stay home in case they might have it and then potentially get tested.
--:-- Eliza Barkley: But in general, if you're not sick, minimize your time in crowded places, wash your hands a lot, and look out for the vulnerable. I mean, the other thing we can do is if we know someone who is, let's say, has a chronic medical condition, we can help them by doing their grocery shopping for them, things like that.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): You know, we've covered this from so many different angles on the show. I mean, Sean actually spoke to someone who had the coronavirus, and even though he was in a high-risk group, it didn't seem like having it necessarily was such a terrible experience. But I guess to be clear, what you're saying is that even if we don't have it, it's important for us to act differently?
--:-- Eliza Barkley: Yes, because we could get other people sick without knowing it. We all want to be able to use the health care system, you know, whenever we want to. But if we have a situation where we have so many people who are sick with coronavirus overloading our hospitals, then that's going to affect everyone. So we do this now to prevent that.
--:-- Host (Noam Hassenfeld): Eliza Barkley is the science and health editor at Vox. I'm Noam Hassenfeld, filling in for Sean Ramas for him while he's on vacation. This is Today Explained. Thank you.
