JoAnn Fabrics Employees Are Not Paid Enough To Work Through This Pandemic

The chain JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts has kept many of its stores open during the coronavirus pandemic. And it turns out, keeping its doors open has apparently led to at least one customer visiting the store while awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test, putting workers and other shoppers at risk.

On Wednesday, one JoAnn employee overheard a shopper discussing her test results over the phone with a doctor. The customer had been browsing the store for more than an hour, touching fabrics and other materials. The overheard exchange set off a panic among the JoAnn staff, who worried they may have been exposed to the virus and that the store may have been contaminated.

The next day, after a deep cleaning, the store opened its doors again.

JoAnn Fabrics argues that it is “essential” because its products are being used to sew masks and gowns amid a shortage. At least three dozen JoAnn workers around the country have contacted HuffPost this week to say some stores are dangerously busy, many have run out of mask materials, and they are afraid to be working right now. They believe the company is endangering employees and customers by remaining open to make more sales.

An employee from the store told HuffPost, “We need help. We’re terrified.”

Below are portions of a group exchange that ensued that night between the store manager and employees, before a crew was brought in to sanitize the store. HuffPost has redacted workers’ names and the store location to protect workers’ jobs.

The back-and-forth reflects the fear and stress many workers across the country are experiencing during the pandemic, providing a service they do not believe is essential, and working only because they feel they cannot afford not to.

Extraneous texts have been edited out.

8:50 p.m.

Manager: Effective immediately, our store is closed. We had a customer come in tonight potentially with the virus. We’ll be bringing in a hazardous cleaning crew to sanitize the store. I don’t know when that will be or how long the doors will remain closed. Everyone will be paid for their time, so don’t worry about that. I also don’t know what operations will look like on the other side of this. I will get you the information as quickly as it comes in.

Worker 1: R u not doing the truck tomorrow [editor’s note: the store was scheduled to receive a truck full of product]

Worker 2: Holy smokes!

Manager: No, no one is allowed in the building until it’s cleaned. So, please just stay home. Any questions, please funnel through here. I’ll do my best to keep everyone up to date.

Worker 2: Also, do we know approximately when they came in & how many of us that worked today, may be more exposed? Just curiosity.

Worker 3: How did you find out?

Manager: It sounds like this person was in the store this evening around 6 pm while on her cell phone with her doctor. It’s unbelievably appalling behavior

Worker 4: So the only ones of us who would’ve come in contact with [the customer] were myself, [a second worker] (as far as I know she was the closest to him and I) [a third worker] [a fourth worker] [a fifth worker] and [a sixth worker]

Worker 2: Unbelievable!

Manager: We may have to come up with a creative solution for our warehouse truck… may look like we unload it in the parking lot somehow, perhaps at another store? I don’t know yet guys. I’ll keep you posted!

Worker 2: Will the people affected, be seen by a dr?

Worker 5: But if you unload it in the parking lot where are you gonna put it unless they get a container?

Manager: probably a container

Worker 3: The customer wouldn’t have been in the store room, can you get in the back door?

Worker 5: Was anyone called cuz if you think you have the virus they tell you to self quarantine if not you can be in trouble. She put many people at risk.

Manager: [on the question of whether employees should see a doctor] i don’t know yet; awaiting HR at the moment.

Worker 5: Just sucks.

Worker 2: Please let us know, they may need to be seen.

Worker 5: If they sanitize how is it done with all the fabric and yarn and all? Do we need to dispose of the merchandise or does the sanitizing take care of that

Worker 2: Super good question…. Was she asked to leave or how did that all go down?

Manager: I’m assuming we’re going to be shuttered for a couple days guys

Worker 5: Well we have never been through any of this. I would assume with the virus get rid of it [the merchandise]

Worker 6: No one really knew until [the customer] checked out I think

Worker 5: So she was all through the store

Worker 6: I heard it can only stay alive on objects for a few hours… Yeah she was in the store for hours I guess

Worker 2: I think that depends on the surfaces. Hard, is about 72 hours, I think I saw.

Worker 6: I don’t really know about any of that lol time to do some googling.

Worker 3: Yeah I read that it doesn’t last on porous objects

Manager: Like I said, I will get more info to u as it comes in. I know we have tons of questions, worries and fears. I’m going to let the experts tell us what protocol is before I speculate. Try to relax until we have more info and direction.

Worker 2: Sorry, [manager]. I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this. 

Manager: Pretty sure this is heavy duty stuff they’re using. [Redacted] hinted that the store may smell pretty bad for a couple days after the sanitation…. Don’t be sorry, guys, just try to find some normalcy; it’ll help with the worry. I’m here for whatever you guys need.

Worker 3: Why would you go wander around a store while you’re waiting to hear from your Dr?

Worker 5: I guess we will completely stop worrying when we hear from you but I doubt it.

10:38 p.m.

Manager: Hazmat is on site right now. It’s a 5 hour process to complete. Sounds like it’s aerosol based, probably won’t smell nice. But we go for a normal opening at 9 am. I’ll have more info on exposure soon.

Worker 2: Is this for real? This wasn’t enough for corporate to realize we aren’t safe. What about the people who were in contact with this person?

Manager: All team members who were there tonight are to stay home, instructions to follow.

A call to the store Friday morning confirmed that it was open for business.

A worker employed at the store, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, said any benefits of the makeshift masks being sewn for health care workers by JoAnn customers would be outweighed by the dangers posed by keeping the stores open to foot traffic. The customer base tends to skew old, and many customers are simply shopping for craft projects, the worker noted.

“The bottom line is we need to shut down,” the worker said. “We have elderly employees who are continuing to work because they can’t take the time off because they can’t afford to.” The worker added that the store manager “has been amazing” during the pandemic, supporting employees at a time when corporate decisions have put the workforce under intense stress.

“I don’t know what to do,” the worker said.

In an email, a JoAnn spokesperson said this particular store followed the correct steps when learning a shopper may have been infected: “We have a protocol in place that does require a store to close and bring in a deep clean maintenance parter to fully sanitize the store in any case where anyone in our store may have been diagnosed, is suspected or is awaiting results from COVID-19 testing.”

The spokesperson said some JoAnn stores were remaining open “to supply critical materials to serve America’s health care systems, small businesses and volunteers who are giving to charity.” The company has moved exclusively to curbside pickup in some stores but not all of them.

Have a tip about your workplace during coronavirus? Email us.

  • Stay up to date with our live blog as we cover the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Trump rejects New York’s desperate plea for ventilators
  • What you need to know about at-home coronavirus test kits
  • How to file for unemployment if you’ve been laid off
  • Avoiding going to the store? Here’s how to order groceries online.
  • What to do if you live with someone with COVID-19
  • How to get the most out of the weekend despite coronavirus
  • The HuffPost guide to working from home
  • What coronavirus questions are on your mind right now? We want to help you find answers.

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Even Donald Trump Is Slamming GOP Lawmaker Delaying Coronavirus Bill

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has managed to unite leaders from both parties ― they largely think he is, in the words of former Secretary of State John Kerry, “an asshole.”

The congressman has refused to go along with a so-called voice vote that would not require members to be present in the House chamber in order to vote on coronavirus relief legislation. As a result, many politicians are having to fly to Washington, D.C., and risk getting infected to vote on the bill in person.

And they weren’t happy. Even President Donald Trump attacked Massie, calling him a “third rate Grandstander” on Twitter.

Kerry, who has had his own encounters with the Republican congressman, didn’t mince words.

Other politicians from both sides of the aisle also chimed in. 

Some reportedly tried to reason with Massie while on the floor of the House ― but were unsuccessful.

Many people noted that Massie forcing an in-person vote ― on a bill that is almost guaranteed to pass anyway ― could have dire consequences.

To be fair, a couple of Massie’s Republican colleagues did defend him for being “principled.”

But Republican strategist Rick Wilson saw a bigger issue at play.

  • Stay up to date with our live blog as we cover the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Trump rejects New York’s desperate plea for ventilators
  • What you need to know about at-home coronavirus test kits
  • How to file for unemployment if you’ve been laid off
  • Avoiding going to the store? Here’s how to order groceries online.
  • What to do if you live with someone with COVID-19
  • How to get the most out of the weekend despite coronavirus
  • The HuffPost guide to working from home
  • What coronavirus questions are on your mind right now? We want to help you find answers.

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Google promises $800M in coronavirus aid to small businesses, other groups

Trump thanks Google for coronavirus collaboration

President Trump discusses working with Google to set up a website to facilitate coronavirus testing across the country.

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Google is pledging more than $800 million to help with the worldwide response to the coronavirus pandemic, including free advertising credits for small businesses, CEO Sundar Pichai announced Friday.

“As the coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen around the world, it’s taking a devastating toll on lives and communities,” Pichai wrote in a blog post announcing the financial commitment.

Google committed to providing $250 million in ad grants to help the World Health Organization and more than 100 world government agencies to provide information about preventing the virus’s spread on top of $25 million the company announced last month and $20 million in ad grants for nongovernment organizations and community financial institutions to run public service announcements.

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The company also promised a $200 million investment fund to support those NGOs and financial institutions providing small businesses with capital.

“As one example, we’re working with the Opportunity Finance Network in the U.S. to help fill gaps in financing for people and communities underserved by mainstream financial institutions,” Pichai wrote.

For small- and medium-sized businesses with active Google Ads accounts over the past year, the company pledged to provide a total of $340 million in credits usable at any point this year.

“We hope it will help to alleviate some of the cost of staying in touch with their customers,” Pichai wrote.

GOOGLE LAUNCHES CORONAVIRUS WEBSITE IN THE UNITED STATES

In this file photo, Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks during a news conference. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal, File)

Google also said it was providing a $20 million pool in Google Cloud credits for academic institutions and researchers studying potential vaccines and track critical data in order to combat the virus.

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The company also offered financial support to Magid Glove & Safety to ramp up production of face masks to provide to the CDC Foundation.

“Together, we’ll continue to help our communities — including our businesses, educators, researchers and nonprofits — to navigate the challenges ahead,” Pichai wrote.

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Universal credit for self employed: Can I apply for Universal Credit if I’m self employed?

Cleaners, plumbers, electricians, journalists, musicians, actors along with many other self-employed people will now also be able to apply for the Government’s Job Retention Scheme. The Government has promised to pay out up to £2,500 in compensation for missed wages.

Chancellor Rishi Sunk said: “Self-employed people are a crucial part of the UK’s workforce who’ve understandably been looking for reassurance and support during this national emergency.

“The package for the self-employed I’ve outlined today is one of the most generous in the world that has been announced so far.

“It targets support to those who need help most, offering the self-employed the same level of support as those in work.

“Together with support packages for businesses and for workers, I am confident we now have the measures in place to ensure we can get through this emergency together.”

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  • Rishi Sunak unveils HUGE plan to help self-employed

Can I apply for Universal Credit if I’m self-employed?

Universal Credit is the new welfare system, which replaces six benefits – including working tax credit and housing benefits – with one monthly lump sum.

There’s no set amount you can earn under Universal Credit, or hours you have to work as these all depend from claimant to claimant.

The Universal Credit standard monthly allowance currently ranges between £251.77 and £498.89 depending on age and whether or not you are single.

More can be added on top if you have children, a disability, or you care for someone that does.

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Chancellor Sunak revealed on Friday, March 20 that he would be increasing these limits by up to £1,040 for new claimants from April 6 onwards.

This is on top of an already planned increase due to inflation. The pay rise is automatic so claimants don’t need to do anything to get it.

In addition to this, the Chancellor suspended the self-employed Universal Credit minimum income floor for everyone that has been adversely affected by COVID-19.

Mr Sunak says the move will allow more self-employed people to access Universal Credit at a rate equivalent to the £94.25 Statutory Sick Pay paid to workers.

The minimum income floor applies only to those who have been self-employed for over a year.

It uses your average monthly pay to work out how much Universal Credit you are entitled to on top of your existing income.

Critics have been quick to blast the scheme though and say the biggest problem is that self-employed people’s income varies on a monthly basis and so they can end up with fewer benefits than others on contracted employment.

The idea is the minimum income floor is equivalent to someone of your age working full time on minimum wage, and if you earn below this in any given month, you are assumed to have earned the minimum income floor.

If you are earning more than the minimum income floor, your actual income is taken into account instead.

All of this is set to come into effect on April 6 for new and existing claimants.

People off from work because of the coronavirus could also be able to get help with their income loss by signing up to contributory Employment and Support Allowance, which can be done at the same time as a Universal Credit application.

To qualify for this scheme, you must have worked as an employee or been self-employed and paid enough National Insurance contributions in the past two to three years.

The Government has also given people longer to pay their income tax and has extended payments due in July 2020 under self-assessment to January 2021.

VAT payments have also been delayed from now until June 30 2020, although most self-employed people earn below the £85,000 threshold to have to pay VAT in the first place.

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House Approves $2 Trillion Virus Relief Bill, Sends to Trump

The House approved the largest stimulus package in U.S. history Friday as part of the response to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature.

Hundreds of House members traveled back to Washington to overcome the demand from one Republican to hold a recorded vote. The House passed the $2 trillion package by voice vote Friday, after the Senate’s 96-0 vote Wednesday to approve the measure.

Trump will sign the bill at 4 p.m. Friday in Washington, the White House said.

“Our nation faces an economic and health emergency of historic proportions,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said before the vote. “We do know that we must do more.”

Trump will sign the measure “as soon as possible,” said White House congressional liaison Eric Ueland.

Congressional action comes as the U.S. is reeling from the effects of the global health crisis. Infections in the U.S. have topped 92,000, passing the number of cases in China where the disease first emerged. Unemployment claims spiked to 3.3 million last week, dwarfing previous highs in Labor Department reports published since 1967.

“To the American public, if you do your part, I promise we will do ours,” Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said Friday. “We are going to help Americans through this. We are going to do this together.”

The size of the stimulus package is unprecedented, surpassing the approximately $800 billion Obama stimulus that passed five months after the 2008 financial crash. Together with Federal Reserve actions, the legislation will amount to a injection of $6 trillion into the economy, according to White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow, or about 30% of annual gross domestic product.

The House vote took place under unusual circumstances, with three members known to be infected with the coronavirus, including Democrat Joe Cunningham of South Carolina, who said he learned Friday that he had tested positive. Others have placed themselves in quarantine because of possible contact.

Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, angered many of his colleagues — and Trump — by insisting on a vote procedure that requires the presence of at least half of the House members. Lawmakers gathered on the House floor and in the visitor’s gallery to provide a quorum while maintaining the social distance recommended to avoid spreading the virus.

Enactment of the bill will send direct payments to low- and middle- income Americans, and the unemployed will receive expanded benefits through at least July. Companies of all sizes will have access to emergency financing and tax breaks if they retain employees.

Stocks rose sharply this week as the Senate completed work on the bill. The S&P 500 had its best three day increase since 1933 before declining as much as 4% Friday.

Pots of Money

The package provides about $500 billion in loans and assistance for big companies, provided they do not conduct stock buybacks and retain most employees. Airlines are eligible for grants in exchange for giving the government equity stakes.

There is a separate pot of about $350 billion for small businesses loans, which won’t have to be paid back if used to to make payroll or pay mortgage interest and rents.

For individuals, the relief measure includes direct payments of $1,200 for each adult and $500 for each child, with the payment phasing out for individuals making more than $75,000 per year and couples making more than $150,000. Those without income, or with income solely from government benefits, like seniors on Social Security, are eligible. Individuals making above $99,000 and couples making more than $198,000 receive no payment.

The stimulus bill provides funding to allow states to boost weekly unemployment benefits by $600 through July 31. Maximum state benefit range from $235 in Mississippi to $823 in Massachusetts depending on income. The added boost would be four months for those laid off now, but less time for those losing their jobs closer to July.

Other Benefits

Those affected by the virus would be allowed to take up to $100,000 out of their employer-sponsored retirement funds without penalty. It also would let older retirees avoid having to sell retirement investments in a down market by waiving minimum distribution requirements for Individual Retirement Accounts. Students get relief from student loans, and some mortgage holders with government backed loans will be able to delay payments.

The package also contains $340 billion in emergency supplemental funding for government and local efforts stem the outbreak. That portion includes $117 billion for hospitals and veterans’ health care.

Congress has now enacted three major bills in response to the coronavirus pandemic, including an $8 billion bill funding agencies tasked with fighting the disease and a $100 billion measure focused on providing paid sick leave to workers to encourage them to stay home if infected.

Lawmakers have already begun discussing a fourth stimulus measure. Democrats want to see stronger workplace protections, more money for hard-hit states like New York, expanded food stamp benefits and expanded family leave for those caring for covid-19 patients.

Pelosi on Thursday predicted another round of direct payments and expressed hope for infrastructure spending.

“The interest rates are low,” Pelosi said. “The chairman of the Fed, Mr. Powell, said to me, ‘the interest rates are as low as they’ll ever be. Think big because whatever you borrow to do with this is going to be at the lowest interest.’“

— With assistance by Josh Wingrove

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NYC mayor thanks Musk for coronavirus ventilator production

Angel investor using technology for coronavirus ventilator, mask production

Angel investor and Virgin Hyperloop One co-founder Shervin Pishevar on helping to create 3D-printed ventilators and masks.

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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio thanked Tesla founder Elon Musk for his Wednesday pledge to dedicate Tesla's Buffalo, N.Y., Gigafactory to ventilator production.

The pledge came as U.S. hospitals face a ventilator shortage because of the coronavirus pandemic, which causes respiratory problems, including pneumonia.

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TSLA TESLA INC. 523.73 -4.43 -0.84%

"I spoke with [Musk] late last night," de Blasio tweeted Friday. "He’s donating hundreds of ventilators to New York City and state, including our public hospitals. We’re deeply grateful. We need every ventilator we can get our hands on these next few weeks to save lives."

Tesla factory Sparks Nevada / iStock

Musk replied to de Blasio, saying he is "most welcome" and he gave credit to his "Tesla team," adding that the company will do its best to "help in any way."

BEZOS, MUSK, OTHER TECH TITANS JOIN CORONAVIRUS FIGHT

"Biggest value Tesla is providing is precise delivery of ventilators exactly to the ICU where [and]  when they’re needed," Musk continued in another tweet. "There are many ventilators in warehouses, but stuck in logistics/routing/paperwork issues."

The SpaceX founder also responded to criticism of his March 6 tweet saying the panic surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak "is dumb."

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – FEBRUARY 26: Maye Musk (L) and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk attend the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 26, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by M

"Just as with groceries, the panic is also causing hoarding of ventilators, preventing them from reaching the hospitals where they are needed," Musk said in a Friday reply tweet.

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The popular electric carmaker suspended production at the auto plant on March 20 in response to the rapid spread of the virus in New York.

Musk's decision to reopen the factory came in response to state Assemblyman Sean Ryan's letter on Tuesday urging the billionaire engineer to reopen the facility "ramp up ventilator production … immediately," WKBW reported.

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Musk is reportedly planning to slash on-site staff at a Tesla battery plant in Nevada by around 75 percent after its Japanese battery partner, Panasonic Corp, said it was scaling down operations, Reuters reported Thursday.

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Trump Pushes to Knock Hundreds of Thousands off Food Stamps While COVID-19 Death Toll Rises

While U.S. unemployment claims are shattering the all-time record due to the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump’s administration is continuing its attempts to throw hundreds of thousands off the government food stamp program known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell ruled that a change sought by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue was unlawful and blocked the agency from enforcing it. According to a report by the AP on Wednesday, Perdue said that the “USDA disagrees with the court’s reasoning and will appeal its decision.”

But Howell’s “reasoning” was spot on, and Perdue’s insistence with going ahead with an appeal is heartless in the face of a pandemic.

The rule change that USDA is looking to put in place would halt the states’ ability to waive certain federal work and time limit requirements for SNAP recipients. As a result, the change would remove approximately 700,000 people from SNAP rolls starting on April 1.

The federal SNAP requirements, mandate that “able-bodied adults without dependents must show they’ve worked at least 80 hours per month for more than three months in a 36-month period to stay in the SNAP” program.

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The rules are of dubious utility — to put it mildly — in regular times, but with nationwide social-distancing recommendations and businesses unable to hire, the goal of the USDA’s appeal seems to be to remove people from food stamps regardless of the change in the employment environment brought on by the coronavirus.

In her ruling on a lawsuit brought by 19 states plus the District of Columbia and New York City, Howell wrote: “Especially now, as a global pandemic poses widespread health risks, guaranteeing that government officials at both the federal and state levels have flexibility to address the nutritional needs of residents and ensure their well-being through programs like SNAP, is essential.”

Remember this in the coming weeks when Trump touts his kindness in signing the $2 trillion disaster relief bill recently passed by Congress that will bail out corporations, send a one-time cash infusion to taxpayers and expand unemployment benefits. Because behind the scenes, the president and his team are looking to take control of what has historically been a state’s right in order to keep hundreds of thousands from accessing a resource as essential as food. And they’re doing it at a time where it’s virtually impossible to meet the employment standards set by the USDA.

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What You Need to Know About the Coronavirus Stimulus Checks: You May Get $1,200 — or More

Many people across America should soon expect checks or direct deposits from the federal government to help with the financial pain caused by efforts to stop the still-spreading coronavirus pandemic, which has shuttered or upended numerous businesses.

The House of Representatives on Friday passed an approximately $2 trillion stimulus package which, after President Donald Trump signs it into law, will provide a check of $1,200 for adults with an adjusted gross income of up to  $75,000 a year, according to an analysis by the office of Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of Senate Committee on Finance.

But the more someone earns, the less money they will get from Uncle Sam.

The payment amount decreases by $5 for every $100 made above $75,000, capped for individuals with a gross income of $99,000 and above.  

Married couples earning up to $150,000 will receive $2,400 and payments are progressively decreased until they are phased out at $198,000 for couples, according to Grassley’s office. 

In addition, the payments would include an additional $500 per child who is 16 years and under for parents beneath the income threshold.

What do you need to do to get the money?

“For the vast majority of Americans, no action on their part will be required in order to receive a rebate check as IRS will use a taxpayer’s 2019 tax return if filed, or in the alternative their 2018 return,” according to the analysis by Grassley’s office. 

People who rely on Social Security benefits will also receive a check, Grassley’s office noted. 

When will you get your check?

You should start getting the money “within three weeks,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC on Thursday. 

How will you get the money?

“Most of these will be direct deposit,” Mnuchin told CNBC. “It will be within three weeks. We’re determined to get money in people’s pockets immediately.”

If someone doesn’t have direct deposit with the IRS, they will get a check in the mail, economist Diane Lim of the Penn Wharton Budget Model of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania tells PEOPLE. 

Who qualifies?

A Social Security Number is required to receive a payment, according to Grassley’s office. 

If you don’t file taxes because your income is too low, you are still eligible to receive a check, but you need to file a tax return for 2019 to qualify for the payment, according to the AARP. 

What is your ‘adjusted gross income’?

A person’s adjusted gross income is not the same as taxable income and is found on their tax return — IRS Form 1040.

For 2019 tax returns, the adjusted gross income is on line eight-b of the 1040 form. On 2018 tax returns, it is on line seven.

Where does the $2 trillion for the stimulus package come from?

“We are going to borrow it. We’re going to deficit finance it,” says Lim, the economist. “We issue more bonds. The Fed is going to increase the money supply.”

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments and visit our coronavirus hub.

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My Secret Terrius episode 10 'coronavirus' scene explained – and when was it filmed?

NETFLIX drama My Secret Terrius is causing a stir as shocked fans claim it predicted the coronavirus pandemic two years ago.

Here's everything you need to know about the drama and its eerie episode 10.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

What is My Secret Terrius?

My Secret Terrius is a 2018 South Korean television series.

It aired from September to November 2018 on channel MBC and can now be viewed on Netflix.

It follows the story of a woman named Go Ae-rin who loses her husband and then discovers he was part of a huge conspiracy.

The show was filmed in South Korea and Poland.

The first script read for the show is said to have taken place in June 2018 so filming for the 32 episodes would have occurred after this.

Why is My Secret Terrius being linked to coronavirus?

Fans are linking the programme to the current coronavirus pandemic because of episode 10 of the show.

A scene describes how a coronavirus has been mutated by terrorists to be used as a weapon, leaving doctors desperate to find a cure.

There are several different types of coronavirus, including one that led to the MERS outbreak in 2015 and the most recent one, which causes the disease Covid-19.

An eagle-eyed Twitter user spotted similarities between the ongoing pandemic and the fictional virus described in the final episode of the first series of My Secret Terrius, which stars So Ji-sub, Jung In-sun, Son Ho-jun and Im Se-mi.

User @eoeoes posted a clip from the show lat week, admitting that the episode had given her "goosebumps".

In the video, a character compares the fictional virus to MERS, saying: "Someone tweaked it to increase the mortality rate to 90%.

"What’s more serious," she adds, "is that the coronavirus has an incubation period of two to 14 days.

"The virus was manipulated to attack the lungs directly within just five minutes of being exposed."

She goes on to describe how there's no cure for the disease.

Later on in the episode, schoolchildren are taught how to wash their hands properly to avoid the spread of the virus.

The tweeted clip got hundreds of Twitter users in a tiff over the show's supposed "prediction" of the Covid-19 outbreak.

My Secret Terrius originally aired on South Korean channel MBC and appeared on Netflix later down the line.


One person remarked: "This s**t had me speechless. But still a dope show".

Another added: "Just gonna leave this here but i am massively spooked. This series My Secret Terrius is on netflix but came out 2 years ago and talks about the coronavirus we’re going through rn…"

"F**king scary stuff," a third user wrote.

However, not everyone was convinced, with some assuring users that the parallels were merely a coincidence.

Scientists have known about different types of coronavirus since the mid-20th century, so it's no surprise they would have cropped up in various TV shows down the years.

One user said: "Everyone freaking out about #mysecretterrius knowing about the Corona virus … but you guys realise we didn’t discovered just now… that some Corona Viruses types cause SARS, MERS, and even some common cold strains. Chill…"

Covid-19 has killed around 25,000 people so far and infected around 500,000 across the globe.

Unlike the fictional coronavirus in My Secret Terrius, Covid-19 is thought to have a death rate of around 1%.


Use Netflix on a computer or laptop? Try these useful shortcuts

Here are some handy keyboard shortcuts…

  • Spacebar – toggle play / pause
  • Enter – toggle play / pause
  • F – full screen
  • Esc – exit full screen
  • Left Arrow – rewind 10 seconds
  • Right Arrow – fast-forward 10 seconds
  • Up arrow – volume up
  • Down arrow – volume down
  • M – mute toggle
  • Shift-Alt-Left Click – adjust the streaming bitrate (to improve or reduce the quality of the video)

In other news, Netflix will make its video quality in Europe worse for a month to stop binge-watchers from overloading the internet.

Your internet may be getting slower as the coronavirus outbreak causes a huge surge in web traffic.

And, Apple recently revealed how to clean your iPhone without breaking it.

Do you have any Netflix-related theories? Let us know in the comments…

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Oregon distillery making and giving away hand sanitizer

(CNN)Hand sanitizer is a hot commodity right now.

We all know the advice: Wash your hands often with soap and water to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. When you can’t, use hand sanitizer.
But actually finding hand sanitizer anywhere is another story. Bottles of Purell and other sanitizers are few and far between on store shelves, and if you do manage to come across a solution with at least 60% alcohol, chances are it has a hefty price tag.

    Why we can't find hand sanitizer
    Enter liquor distilleries.
    Distilleries are stepping in to help combat the hand sanitizer shortage by using the alcohol in their facilities to create their own alcohol-based solutions. Some are packaging it in small bottles while others are encouraging people to bring in their own containers for refills.

    Old Fourth Distillery in Atlanta started making hand sanitizer and distributing it for free on Thursday.
    “Due to the recent reports of outages and low supply in our community, We have decided to provide hand sanitizer free of charge to anyone in need. Made with aloe vera gel and 95% ethanol,” the business wrote in an Instagram post last week.
    “This is no substitute for washing your hands but in a pinch it will get the job done. Available at the Distillery starting March 12th at 5pm. If you have a container please bring it and we will be happy to fill it!”

    View this post on Instagram

    Thank you to the community for its overwhelming support! Because of the large turnout we received, we are currently out of hand sanitizer at the moment. We are waiting on a shipment of ingredients to arrive Monday, at which time we will resume production. We will be making a post next week to keep you updated once we have more available. Thank you for your understanding and we’ll see you next week! If you would like to donate to help us make more for our community (not necessary at all) we now have a link in our bio available.

    A post shared by Old Fourth Distillery (@oldfourthdistillery) on

    But even that has run out.
    Old Fourth Distillery’s solution has been so popular that by Saturday, its supply of homemade sanitizer had been cleared out. The business said in another Instagram post that it was expecting another shipment of ingredients on Monday and would resume production after.
    Moonrise Distillery in Clayton, Georgia, is making hand sanitizer using botanical gin infused with natural aloe vera.
    “We are a community of huggers and hand shakers and we want to do our part to keep that warmth around but in as safe a manner as possible,” the business wrote in a Facebook post over the weekend. “While washing hands with soap and water remains the best solution we hope the sanitizer will help when that is not possible.”
    Don't try to make your own hand sanitizer just because there's a shortage from coronavirus
    Both Old Fourth Distillery and Moonrise Distillery said they were accepting donations to offset the costs of making the hand sanitizers.

      Durham Distillery in Durham, North Carolina, is helping out its colleagues in the hospitality industry who are in need of sanitizing solution. The distillery developed a sanitizing solution of about 70% ethanol and distilled water and is donating it to hospitality workers so that they can wipe down high-touch surfaces like door handles and sink faucets, it said in a statement.
      Shine Distillery in Oregon said last week that it was handing out free hand sanitizer while supplies last.
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