In an abrupt about-face, the movie theater chain AMC said Friday it would require guests to wear face masks when its theaters reopen, after CEO Adam Aron earlier said it would not. The Verge reports: “This announcement prompted an intense and immediate outcry from our customers, and it is clear from this response that we did not go far enough on…
Tag: reopen
Covid-19 spreads through the air. That’s a big challenge for reopening
Clear, straightforward information on how a virus spreads, from a scientist who studies infectious disease Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/coronavirus-covid19-how-virus-spreads-through-air-reopening…
Coronavirus second waves emerge in several US states as they reopen
As they reopen, several US states are seeing rises in coronavirus cases and hospitalisations – but this may also be driven by poor health care and lags in contact tracing Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2246057-coronavirus-second-waves-emerge-in-several-us-states-as-they-reopen/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
California To Allow Movie Theaters To Reopen In Most Counties
California counties, including Los Angeles County, could decide to reopen movie theaters as early as Friday. The Los Angeles Times reports: Each local health officer has the authority to decide whether to move forward with relaxing restrictions on reopening theaters. While the state provides guidance on how businesses can reopen, counties decide when they occur. The new rules would limit the…
Slashback: Forced Social Isolation Causes Neural Craving Similar To Hunger
This is the first story in a new occasional article series we’re calling Slashback. We’ll be covering a topic that may not be breaking news, but is interesting to us. Today’s Slashback story features an article from Scientific American highlighting the profound effect of severe social isolation on the brain. From the report: The feeling of “wanting” something has repeatedly been…
The Pandemic Brings a New Surge in Popularity For Electric Bikes
Battery-powered bikes “have become a compelling alternative for commuters who are being discouraged from taking public transportation and Ubers,” according to the New York Times’ lead consumer tech writer. In March, sales of e-bikes jumped 85% from a year earlier, according to the NPD Group, a research firm. Amazon, Walmart and Specialized are sold out of most models. Even smaller brands…
COVID-19 Crippled Movie Theaters and That Could Force Streamers To Be More Transparent About Viewership Data
Sarah Whitten writes via CNBC: The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the entertainment industry. With movie theaters shuttered, studios have been forced to either delay their film releases or turn to on-demand and streaming options to present their content to audiences. While cinemas are preparing to reopen this month, eagerly awaiting new films in July, it’s still unclear if there is…
AI Isn’t Magical and Won’t Help You Reopen Your Business
The coronavirus is helping to erode the hype around artificial intelligence; data scientists get the axe and some ‘old-fashioned’ solutions work better. From a report: When SharpestMinds, a startup that sells mentoring services to data scientists, surveyed its alumni in April and again in May, it found that 6% of respondents had been affected by furloughs, pay cuts or layoffs. That’s…
Dutch Restaurant Will Re-Open With Robot Waiters
When Dutch restaurants open tomorrow, one will be using two shiny white-and-red robot waiters, reports the Associated Press: “Hello and welcome,” the robots say — in a voice best described as pre-programmed. Their duties will include greeting customers, serving drinks and dishes and returning used glasses and crockery. It’s unclear whether diners will be expected to tip. One thing the robots…
As Coronavirus Hospitalizations Rise in the US, Many States Hide Their Data
In America, “Federal and state officials across the country have altered or hidden public health data crucial to tracking the coronavirus’ spread, hindering the ability to detect a surge of infections as President Donald Trump pushes the nation to reopen rapidly,” reports Politico: In at least a dozen states, health departments have inflated testing numbers or deflated death tallies by changing…