BNP Paribas Tennis Open in Indian Wells, CA CANCELLED due to coronavirus

The 2020 BNP Paribas Tennis Open has just been cancelled due to concerns related to the coronavirus, COVID-19. The Mens and Womens professional tournament is considered by many to be the fifth major tennis tournament in the world, next to the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.

Photo Credit: BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament website

Tournament officials just announced the cancellation via a statement on the tournament website. The reason given was that the Riverside County Public Health Department has declared a public health emergency for the Coachella Valley after a confirming a local case of the COVID-19 virus.

“There is too great a risk, at this time, to the public health of the Riverside County area in holding a large gathering of this size,” said Dr. David Agus, Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California. “It is not in the public interest of fans, players and neighboring areas for this tournament to proceed. We all have to join together to protect the community from the coronavirus outbreak.”

At the time of this writing, the Riverside County Public Health Department had not yet posted any information about the emergency on its website. However, the website did note that a Riverside County resident who was a passenger on the Diamond Princess cruise ship contracted the disease, but, was being quarantined in Northern California. Additionally, the County has activated a special Department Operations Center (DOC) in response to its efforts to ramp up its response to the virus.

(UPDATE, 3/9/20: The Riverside County Public Health Department website has just published the Emergency Declaration, dated March 8, 2020. You may see it at this link: Local Health Emergency )

“We appreciate the proactive stance tournament organizers are taking to ensure public health and safety,” said Martin Massiello, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Eisenhower Health.

“We are very disappointed that the tournament will not take place, but the health and safety of the local community, fans, players, volunteers, sponsors, employees, vendors, and everyone involved with the event is of paramount importance,” said Tournament Director Tommy Haas. “We are prepared to hold the tournament on another date and will explore options.”

Those who have purchased tickets may request refunds on the tournament website.

BNP Paribas Tennis Open taking steps to address Coronavirus COVID-19

One of California's biggest professional tennis tournaments,  the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, has just announced a major response to the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19.

The men's and women's professional tennis tournament, often referred to as the tennis world's 5th major, is scheduled for March 8 - 21, 2020.

Event organizers are offering refunds for tickets already purchased or an option to use them as a credit for the 2021 tournament.

Additional actions include:

• Installation of more than 250 hand sanitation stations throughout the facility.
• Players, and not ball kids, will be required to manage their own towels on court. Ball kids will not touch or move the towels.
• Ball kids, restaurant and food supply workers, and volunteers at ticket entrances will wear gloves.
• N95 masks are being secured for first aid and health personnel.
• Organized player and fan interaction will be limited.
• All common areas will be cleaned daily with antivirals.
• Coordinating with a local hospital and CDC approved testing for all individuals with symptoms.

For more information: Statement Regarding Coronavirus

Here's a USEPA approved list of disinfectants to use against the Coronavirus

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has just announced the release of a list of EPA-registered disinfectants that may be used against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Photo Credit: CDC Center for Disease Control and Prevention 

As you may know, California's Governor Gavin Newsome declared a state of emergency this past Wednesday as a result of the coronavirus outbreak in the state. 

“Using the correct disinfectant is an important part of preventing and reducing the spread of illnesses along with other critical aspects such as hand washing,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “There is no higher priority for the Trump Administration than protecting the health and safety of Americans. EPA is providing this important information in a public and transparent manner on disinfectant products to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

Some of the disinfectants appear to be products commonly found in grocery stores and other retail markets, including products made by Clorox, Lysol, and Purell, among others.

The EPA approved list may be found at this link: 

List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2

Here we go again - nearly 50,000 gallons of oil fluids released from Chevron's Cymric Oilfield seep

The Bakersfield Californian has just reported that Chevron's Cymric oil seep, the one that was instrumental in causing California Governor Gavin Newsome to stop the state from issuing new steam injection permits, has once again begun leaking oil to the surface.

The early days of Chevron's Cymric Oilfield seep in 2019

Photo Credit: California Office of Spill Prevention and Response 

The latest "spill" contained almost 47,000 gallons (115 barrels) of produced fluid, approximately 588 gallons of which were crude oil, according to the paper.

Chevron was fined $2.7 million dollars last October for the seepage from its operations near McKittrick, CA, raising questions about whether the oil industry has been sufficiently regulated in the state.

Those questions have resulted in the aforementioned ban and other changes in how oil development permits are issued to the industry and in Kern County in particular.