NYC Ebola Patient Attended CMJ Venue, Events Canceled
UPDATE 10/23 10:15PM: Officials say Dr. Spencer attended only the Gutter, not Brooklyn Bowl as early reports suggested.
UPDATE 10/24: The Gutter has shared on Facebook: “We’ve been in constant contact with the health department and they have determined that there was no risk to our customers. Closing today was simply a precautionary measure.”
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New York City has its first diagnosed case of of Ebola, according to the New York Times. Panic has spread among attendees of this week’s CMJ Music Marathon as reports say the patient, Dr. Craig Spencer, attended two Williamsburg venues last night that are hosting CMJ events, the Gutter and Brooklyn Bowl. Tonight’s Goodnight Records showcase at the Gutter (featuring performances from Heaven, Big Sleep, Friend Roulette, and Sun Club) has been cancelled in the wake of this news.
our @GoodnightRecord show at @thegutter canceled tonight because of an #ebola scare in #Williamsburg ..still @MercuryLoungeNY tonight @ 1am!
— HEAVEN (@heavenbandNYC) October 23, 2014
Two hours before the Ebola case was confirmed, Brooklyn Bowl opened its doors for tonight’s Flood Magazine event with Beach Fossils and Small Black.
We are aware of the reports that an individual who may possibly be infected with Ebola attended an event in Williamsburg last night.
— brooklynbowl (@brooklynbowl) October 23, 2014
Brooklyn Bowl has not been contacted by authorities and has no further information.
— brooklynbowl (@brooklynbowl) October 23, 2014
Doors are open for @FLOOD_magazine w/@beachfossils and Small Black (@SmallBlk).
— brooklynbowl (@brooklynbowl) October 23, 2014
Questlove, who regularly DJs at Brooklyn Bowl on Thursday nights, tweeted that the venue is “open and clean.”
Ladies & Gents @brooklynbowl is safe (*said* bowling alley in WB is called "The Gutter") out bowling alley is open and clean #BowlTrain
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) October 24, 2014
Dr. Spencer arrived in New York from Guinea, where he was treating Ebola patients as part of Doctors Without Borders. The Times reports that he traveled by subway and taxi last night, and when he came down with a 103 degree fever this morning he was taken to Bellevue Hospital and placed in isolation.
Per an official statement from the NYC Department Of Health:
As a further precaution, beginning today, the Health Department’s team of disease detectives immediately began to actively trace all of the patient’s contacts to identify anyone who may be at potential risk. The Health Department staff has established protocols to identify, notify, and, if necessary, quarantine any contacts of Ebola cases.
At a press conference this evening, Mayor Bill de Blasio said, “Our understanding is that very few people were in direct contact with him.”
This is a developing story…
First news crew outside Brooklyn Bowl pic.twitter.com/DbaTuSGf2V
— Molly Oswaks (@mollyoswaks) October 24, 2014