Communities in Denver are howling together each evening to show solidarity with people affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Shelsea Ochoa and Brice Maiurro came up with an idea to bring their friends together as both dealt with the consequences of the city's stay-at-home order.
The couple started a Facebook group called "Go Outside and Howl at 8pm" on March 27.
There are now more than 450,000 members, with some as far away as Switzerland and Brazil.
The description reads: "What better time to howl than this time of isolation?
"Every night at 8pm in your time zone, take a minute to step outside and let out a cathartic howl!
Howling in Larkspur ..and Mill Valley and maybe beyond. This is becoming a thing ..every evening at 8pm. In Italy they serenaded each other ...here we howl. pic.twitter.com/yPZumlVcmd
— Mark Matthews (@MarkMatthewsNBC) March 31, 2020
"We'll post up daily themes that may or may not be very, very, very important. INVITE YOUR PEEPS! Let's see how many people the world over we can get to howl in one night!
"Feel free to share a video or picture with the hashtag #howlat8."
Ochoa told the Denver Channel she initially got the idea after seeing people going to a beach in Brazil at sunset to cheer before performing capoeira, a martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music.
The pair were also inspired by people cheering, clapping or singing while in quarantine around the world.
"We just fell into it. We didn't really choose howling. I'm glad we ended up doing it because it's resonated with people," Maiurro said. "There's a sense of pushing through your inhibitions. I think there's something to be said about why wolves howl—it's to connect with other wolves."
Maiurro told Denver paper Westword that different people have put their own meaning on it. "We see people who say, 'I'm going to howl for all the hospital workers, the people on the front lines.' I think it was a fun thing," he said.
"It made sense with being in isolation; it makes people feel connected to each other when they howl and hear someone howl back."
The howl has also reportedly been heard in Atlanta, Idaho and Mill Valley, California, according to The Sacramento Bee. It has also been heard in New York City, where the death toll is continuing to rise steeply. The state has recorded 5,489 deaths, up from 4,758 a day earlier.
Newsweek has reached out to the organizers Ochoa and Maiurro for comment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advice on Using Face Coverings to Slow Spread of COVID-19
- CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
- A simple cloth face covering can help slow the spread of the virus by those infected and by those who do not exhibit symptoms.
- Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items. Guides are offered by the CDC. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html)
- Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly. A washing machine will suffice.
- Practice safe removal of face coverings by not touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash hands immediately after removing the covering.
World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Hygiene advice
- Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
- Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
- Avoid close contact with others if you have any symptoms.
- Stay at home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and runny nose, to avoid potential spread of the disease to medical facilities and other people.
- If you develop serious symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and contact local health authorities in advance.
- Note any recent contact with others and travel details to provide to authorities who can trace and prevent spread of the disease.
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask and glove usage
- Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
- Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
- Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
- Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
- Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask.
- Do not reuse single-use masks.
- Regularly washing bare hands is more effective against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves.
- The COVID-19 virus can still be picked up on rubber gloves and transmitted by touching your face.
