More Thursday morning rail news:
— New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority will require subway, commuter rail, and bus passengers to wear face masks as of Friday, the New York Post reports. The move reflects an executive order issued Wednesday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo requiring face coverings in busy public areas because of the coronavirus pandemic. MTA Chairman Patrick J. Foye said in a statement that “wearing masks and other face coverings in public will help stop the spread and ultimately save lives.” Face masks are being required by an increasing number of transit agencies; Capital Metro in Austin, Texas, has also begun requiring masks in response to an order by the city.
— New York transit advocacy group TransitCenter says in a new report that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will need another $4.4 billion to $8 billion in aid over the next 12 months to offset losses in fares, tolls, dedicated tax revenue, and increased costs such as disinfecting equipment. The range of estimates reflects two models — one anticipating the coronavirus crisis lasts for six months, and one in which the virus disruption continues for 12 months. The MTA is currently seeing declines of up to 98% in fare revenue and 65% in toll income. The MTA received $3.7 billion in funding help from the coronavirus relief act passed in March.
— Sonona-Marin Area Rail Transit will look to cut $6 million from its budget by this summer in response to the defeat of a March ballot initiative that would have funded the agency through 2059 as well as the revenue hit from the COVID-19 outbreak. The cuts would involve both a reduction of train frequency of the commuter rail agency’s workforce; the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports other possible cuts could involve ending free onboard internet service, deferred maintenance, and cuts of contracts for lobbyists to pursue future state and federal grants.
MTA requiring masks? They are about 10,000 deaths too late…those poor train operators
Based on the latest U.S. Census Bureau population statistics, .039% of the estimated New Jersey population has died from COVID-19.
Based on the New Jersey Division of Labor Market and Demographic Research population figures for 1917-1918, 3,427 casualties – assumes number is correct – was .001% of the New Jersey population for the period.
When the COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, as well as other statistics, are put in context, the picture is dramatically different than when one just looks at raw numbers.
Mr. Smith – you made the point I was going to make next.
I had to wear a mask for the first time yesterday during a visit with my oncologist. Quickly discovered every time I exhaled, my glasses would fog up. Ended up spending the better part of an hour and fifteen minutes with my glasses on top of my head.
Murphy closed his press conference then faced Thursday morning numbers that showed another 350 New Jersey residents dead from the virus, Plus, an update moved New Jersey deaths to 3,518, more than the Garden State casualties (3,427) of World War 1.
If I show up in a plague doctor outfit will that qualify?
The above comments are generic in nature and do not form the basis for an attorney/client relationship. They do not constitute legal advice. I am not your attorney. I’s retarded.
This mandatory face mask is getting ridiculous.
Mr. Kelly… I would check your facts on the number of people killed during WW One… the total casualties from that war were in the 10s of millions. Not trying to down play the casualties of this virus or brush the victims off.. just want to keep the hyperbole in check.
J. Robert Wayman,
It depends on where you are located. My country had 12 hospitalized for the virus out a total bed capacity of about 400, much of which are empty as non-emergency medical treatment has been postponed. No problem with medical supplies. 70 cases out of a population of 155,000 gradually over 3 weeks, no new ones in the last 5 days. Other counties around us have even less, some only 1 or 2 cases. No deaths in any of these counties so far. PA’s governor has just declared we must mask up so most are doing it including me. But it does seem ridiculous that so many businesses have to be closed in these counties just because Gov. Wolf says the entire state has to do so because things are so bad in the greater Philadelphia area plus some problems in the greater Pittsburgh area.
At least we’re not Michigan. I still can’t believe the Michigan governor is allowing open stores to only sell certain items in them that she determines are allowed. That makes no sense whatsoever. Once a customer is in the store, they’re in the store.
According to the latest CDC numbers, as of April 15th, 31,071 people in the U.S. have died of COVID-19. That’s .009% of the total population. Of those that have gotten sick, .19% of the population, 4.9% have died.
According to the CDC, masks will not keep you from getting COVID-19, and they are only marginally effective in preventing its spread. Moreover, the CDC is urging people not to attempt to get professional grade masks; they are needed by healthcare providers and first responders.
Unless they fit perfectly, which is difficult to achieve, and are put on and removed properly, the effectiveness of homemade masks is problematic. Having said that, I am wearing a railroad bandana Butch Cassidy style mask. It is largely ineffective, but most of the people around me don’t know it.
I live alone. I go to the grocery store, or I don’t eat. Starving to death would be an effective way to prevent coming down with COVID-19. I attempted to get home delivery. No problem. The next available date from all the grocery stores in my neck of the woods is approximately 18 days. But I could do better with curbside pick-up. It is available in two weeks.
What we are witnessing is a dysfunction government that has little if any idea how to realistically confront COVID-19. The best example is telling people to wear a mask when there are no suitable masks available. Brilliant!
{got posted before finishing}
so I have “hunkered” down. My granddaughter is in her last semester before getting her masters degree in epidemiology and has convinced me to not go shopping. I have a great case of cabin fever but I respect the need to not be a problem by not adding to the load on the medical system.
To those who think your rights are being trampled upon by requirements to wear masks, I’m sure you will want medical attention if you are infected and need care. The hospitals are overloaded with cases and you might not be able to get the care you need. And the staff are having trouble with getting the PPE needed to keep them safe (and some are dying)
And if you are a spreader with no symptoms and are unknowingly infecting others, shame on you. Grow up and be responsible to the rest of us. I am fortunate to have children who procure my grocerys
wuhan china was in an area where the air was so bad virtually 100% of the people wore masks all the time. How did that work out for them?
I won’t comment on face masks as I’m not a doctor. I will comment on the mickey mouse stuff – the one-way aisles in Publix, counting the number of customers allowed in Lowes. Nonsense. Won’t make any difference. If someone’s going to get the virus they’ll get it whether the aisles in Publix are one-way or two-way. All this is accomplishing is exactly nothing and turning us into a nation of 1984-ish morons.
I was yelled at at Lowe’s because I stood on the wrong blue square at the checkout. You know with literally my whole life placed on indefinite hold, the least dignity left as an American citizen is that I can read for myself the writing on the blue sqaure on the floor. All that’s left in my life is I can buy a new light fixture for my daughter’s laundry room (thankfully we don’t live in Michigan, where the people can’t even do that) and I get yelled at at the checkout.
Grow up folks, get a grip. Recalim your rights as American citizens. Bravo for the folks who drove to Lansing to protest.
Try finding a mask, if you don’t know how to make one (not everyone knows how).
Anna if you can put up with a moon suite go for it.
How many vets from the cold war and after can remember drilling in MOP protection. For those of you who have not, remember during the Gulf War the gas masks and chemical warfare protection that soldiers were issued. I can remember wearing them and working in them when I was in the military. I felt for the service members who were working in the suits in 100°f+ temperatures.
It used to be if you went into a convenience store, bank, or check cashing business it was absolutely prohibited from wearing any kind of face covering. Now it is required.
Stay safe people. It is needed to protect those around you.
More than 34,000 people in the United States have died from this virus. In New Jersey, more people have died from this virus than were killed in World War One. But yeah, covering your face is a huge burden. Grow up.
I wish the government would supply the masks, some people do not have them.
Wake up folks; it’s working. If you have the virus and you”re asymptomatic, as are many, you are spreading it to others. I hope you’re nowhere near me or my family, you are poison..
“and cuts of contracts for lobbyists to pursue future state and federal grants”
Well, that really does it! No more legislative lunches on someone’s dime anymore. No lobbyist paid trips to some exotic locale to show off their modern horse driven transit system to the local beach.
I agree with Mr. McFarlane. It is getting out of hand.
There’s an online photo of someone wearing a scuba diving outfit in a store.