Chinatown in the time of coronavirus

I know there have been articles elsewhere, but I wanted to document here that is was sad to go to Cai yesterday for dim sum and find the place about 1/3 full at noon. Normally, that late on a Sunday I would expect a packed house and a long wait. The Chinatown North parking was also only about half full. Ugh.

I'd be up for an outing

HI,

Heard on the radio over the weekend, Burberry in China declared an 80% drop in sales in January due to people not circulating.

The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 was observed two years ago. I attended a few lectures on circumstances around that time. Public gatherings were discouraged, so meetings, theaters and church services were not held or scarcely populated. I have the feeling school was still in session, which is a hot bed for disease transfer.

The pandemic hit Great Lakes Naval Station quite hard. There was even a coffin shortage in the region. These people were young, robust without any compromised health, which usually can fight off disease.

I am not surprised by people's reactions by staying home or avoiding circumstances.

Yesterday, I was supposed to go to Chicago for something. I was hoping to take the family to Chinatown for supper. I thought there might be easier parking than usual.

Regards,
Cathy2

It has been eerily quiet for most of this calendar year, including during Lunar New Year; I'm a twice-weekly Chinatown visitor on my commute home from Hyde Park to Oak Park. Empty parking spaces in the new mall and on Wentworth, few tourists in line at Chiu Quon and Joy Yee bubble tea counter, and desolate gift shops are most noticeable. More disconcerting is minimal activity in the back tea rooms of the bakeries, empty Richland food court, and businesses including Strings Ramen, Ahjoomah's Apron, and Pho Cafe also taking a significant hit per conversations with staff.

WBEZ had an interview today with two association leaders urging non-Chinese Chicagoans to come back to encourage residents to feel comfortable enough to come out - there is a feeling of isolation in friends I know in the residential community as well, stemming more at this point from overall depression on the topic than fear of contagion, at least yet. I will continue to eat and enjoy but can take no joy in the temporarily easier parking situation.

Hi,

My parents are no longer young-old. Ease of parking can make or break whether we go to one place or another. Temporarily this allows us to go places we might not ordinarily.

I had correspondence with people from Asia who inquire about our flu season. So this fear can go both ways.

Regards,
Cathy2