Saw my first swine-flu mask on the walk to Grand Central yesterday. It was an Asian woman of about 25, walking south on Park Avenue South around 32nd Street at around 5:35.
It’s worth mentioning that I sat next to a man on the northbound train Friday evening who wore disposable plastic gloves. I doubt it was swine-related–was anyone even talking about the dreaded porcine pox last week?–but it caught my eye regardless. Maybe he just didn’t like getting newsprint on his fingers.
This swine thing certainly makes you think when you’re boarding a train and sitting amongst a few hundred of your coughing and wheezing best pals.
Suddenly the semi-private 1 3/4-seater–that blessed Murphy bed of a seat across from the conductor’s booth–looks better than ever.
I haven’t seen any masks on my trains yet, just a few women who wrapped silk scarves around their noses and mouths. This may all change today though. This morning, Vice President Biden told Matt Lauer on the Today Show that he wouldn’t recommend traveling on planes,trains, buses or subways because swine flu can be spread in confined places. Health experts say this advice is an over-reaction.
My allergies have been really bad lately and this morning on the A train I coughed. The man sitting next to me stood up and moved to the other end of the train so fast! I’ve been seeing masks on folks walking around in Times Square for the past 2 days as well.