newyorker--2020-04-23--The Challenges of Post-COVID-19 Care

The Challenges of Post-COVID-19 Care

Among the patients I care for at the hospital is a young woman recovering from COVID-19 .
To keep her blood oxygenated , she needs a device called a non-rebreather mask .
The mask is connected by a tube to a one-litre translucent bag , which is in turn connected to an oxygen cannister in the wall ; when she exhales , one-way valves shunt expired carbon dioxide into the room and prevent her from rebreathing it .
It ’ s considered an advanced oxygen-delivery device , because it supplies more oxygen than a simple nasal cannula ; it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the mask , my patient says , isn ’ t her biggest problem ; neither is her cough or shortness of breath .
Her biggest problem is her nightmares .
She can ’ t sleep .
When she closes her eyes , she ’ s scared she won ’ t wake up .
If she does fall asleep , she jolts awake , frenzied and sweating , consumed by a sense of doom .
She sees spider-like viruses crawling over her .
She sees her friends and family dying .
She sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of time .
For many people infected with the coronavirus , the disease is mild .
Asymptomatic infection is thought to be relatively common ; here in New York , most people who need to be hospitalized have been discharged within days .
But when the infection is bad , it ’ s really bad .
For reasons that aren ’ t entirely clear , COVID-19 patients who need to go on ventilators generally need them for much longer than people with other respiratory problems .
For patients with severe emphysema @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is about three days ; for those with other acute respiratory distress syndromes , it ’ s around eight .
At our hospital , most of the COVID-19 patients who have needed ventilators have needed them for weeks .
Extubation has been no guarantee of liberation : often , we ’ ve had to reinsert the tube within days , if not hours .
Prolonged intubation creates all sorts of problems .
While patients are intubated , they need powerful sedative medications ; many also receive paralyzing drugs to keep their reflexes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Some must be physically restrained to prevent them from pulling out catheters and tubes in their delirium . )
Patients who survive intubation often find themselves profoundly debilitated .
They experience weakness , memory loss , anxiety , depression , and hallucinations , and have difficulty sleeping , walking , and talking .
A quarter of them can ’ t push themselves to a seated position ; one-third have symptoms of P.T.S.D .
A 2013 study of discharged I.C.U .
patients , many of whom had been intubated , found that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forty per cent of them had cognitive test scores one and a half standard deviations below the mean—roughly equivalent to the effect of a moderate traumatic brain injury .
A quarter showed cognitive declines comparable to early Alzheimer ’ s disease .
The longer patients were in the I.C.U.
, the worse the consequences became .
The joy we all feel when patients at our hospital survive acute COVID-19 is followed , quickly , by the acknowledgment that it could be a long time before they fully recover , if they ever do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rehabilitation in unfamiliar facilities , cared for by masked strangers , unable to receive friends or loved ones .
Families who just weeks ago had been happy , healthy , and intact now face the prospect of prolonged separation .
Many spouses and children will become caregivers , which comes with its own emotional and physical challenges .
Roughly two-thirds of family caregivers show depressive symptoms after a loved one ’ s stay in the I.C.U .
Many continue to struggle years later .
Lindsay Lief , a critical-care physician at my hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have left the I.C.U.
, including those suffering from what ’ s known as post-I.C.U .
syndrome .
Lief got the idea for the clinic years ago , after caring for a forty-year-old woman from New Jersey who developed a serious infection , followed by profound septic shock .
In the I.C.U.
, the woman ’ s kidneys shut down ; she needed dialysis ; she couldn ’ t breathe .
She was intubated , extubated , intubated , extubated .
When , after weeks of treatment , she was finally in stable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be like for her to leave the hospital and return home .
“ This lady had such a traumatic I.C.U .
course , ” she said .
“ And I ’ m going to send her back to Jersey with no support—just a few papers about what we did ?
That seemed crazy.
” When Lief started the clinic , she saw patients by herself , most several weeks out from discharge .
Lief would walk them through what had happened in the hospital—for many , it was a blur .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , anxiety , and P.T.S.D.
, and assess how they were managing at home .
Were they gaining back the weight they ’ d lost in the I.C.U.
?
Had their sleep improved ?
She ’ d run through the medications they were taking and stop the ones that were no longer needed .
Over time , she added psychologists , therapists , nutritionists , pharmacists , and social workers to her team .
“ We try to offer holistic , whole-person care , ” Lief told me .
“ Sometimes patients have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve had their scars , lungs , and eyeballs examined , but no one has asked , ‘ How are you doing with all this ?
’ ” Patients , she learned , feel frustrated by their dependence on others .
They can ’ t return to work ; they ’ re forced to take taxis because they can ’ t climb the subway stairs .
Others have trouble paying bills and keeping track of medical appointments .
“ Often , what these patients need is not a doctor , ” Lief said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupational therapy , social interaction , case managers , financial planners .
They need people to help them get their lives back.
” To contend with the flood of patients who will be extubated in the coming weeks , we ’ re planning to create a COVID-19 survivors unit—essentially an in-patient version of Lief ’ s outpatient clinic .
The unit will bring together clinicians from various backgrounds : hospitalists , pulmonologists , rehab specialists , psychiatrists , dieticians , therapists .
It will develop COVID-19-specific protocols , which we hope will help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patients will receive daily “ pulmonary rehab ” —a stepwise approach to reducing oxygen support and slowly building strength and endurance .
They ’ ll learn breathing techniques and get help with gadgets they can use to clear mucus from the lungs .
Some will be shown how to cough better .
Physical and occupational therapists will help them recover motor skills that may have diminished during their hospitalizations ; psychiatrists and nutritionists will help with mood and food .
Many patients , because they are too sick , or need oxygen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , will need to spend days or weeks recovering in the hospital .
“ The best thing we can do is create a home-like environment , ” Lief told me .
“ The whole point is to help them stop being patients and start feeling human again.
” We tend to think of extubation as the point when a patient begins breathing independently .
But , in fact , it ’ s possible to be extubated while still depending on a ventilator to breathe .
If the thick intubation tube—inserted into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and resting in the lungs—is left in too long , it can damage surrounding tissue ; when that time comes , doctors make a small hole in the front of the neck , just below the thyroid gland , and insert a thin tracheostomy tube directly into the windpipe .
This tube allows for a permanent connection to a ventilator .
The patient has been extubated , but is no closer to his pre-coronavirus life .

Among the patients I care for at the hospital is a young woman recovering from COVID-19. To keep her blood oxygenated, she needs a device called a non-rebreather mask. The mask is connected by a tube to a one-litre translucent bag, which is in turn connected to an oxygen cannister in the wall; when she exhales, one-way valves shunt expired carbon dioxide into the room and prevent her from rebreathing it. It’s considered an advanced oxygen-delivery device, because it supplies more oxygen than a simple nasal cannula; it is also cumbersome and uncomfortable to wear. But the mask, my patient says, isn’t her biggest problem; neither is her cough or shortness of breath. Her biggest problem is her nightmares. She can’t sleep. When she closes her eyes, she’s scared she won’t wake up. If she does fall asleep, she jolts awake, frenzied and sweating, consumed by a sense of doom. She sees spider-like viruses crawling over her. She sees her friends and family dying. She sees herself intubated in an I.C.U. for the rest of time.
For many people infected with the coronavirus, the disease is mild. Asymptomatic infection is thought to be relatively common; here in New York, most people who need to be hospitalized have been discharged within days. But when the infection is bad, it’s really bad. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, COVID-19 patients who need to go on ventilators generally need them for much longer than people with other respiratory problems. For patients with severe emphysema, the average duration of mechanical ventilation is about three days; for those with other acute respiratory distress syndromes, it’s around eight. At our hospital, most of the COVID-19 patients who have needed ventilators have needed them for weeks. Extubation has been no guarantee of liberation: often, we’ve had to reinsert the tube within days, if not hours.
Prolonged intubation creates all sorts of problems. While patients are intubated, they need powerful sedative medications; many also receive paralyzing drugs to keep their reflexes from fighting the ventilator’s tube. (Some must be physically restrained to prevent them from pulling out catheters and tubes in their delirium.) Patients who survive intubation often find themselves profoundly debilitated. They experience weakness, memory loss, anxiety, depression, and hallucinations, and have difficulty sleeping, walking, and talking. A quarter of them can’t push themselves to a seated position; one-third have symptoms of P.T.S.D. A 2013 study of discharged I.C.U. patients, many of whom had been intubated, found that, three months after leaving the I.C.U., forty per cent of them had cognitive test scores one and a half standard deviations below the mean—roughly equivalent to the effect of a moderate traumatic brain injury. A quarter showed cognitive declines comparable to early Alzheimer’s disease. The longer patients were in the I.C.U., the worse the consequences became.
The joy we all feel when patients at our hospital survive acute COVID-19 is followed, quickly, by the acknowledgment that it could be a long time before they fully recover, if they ever do. Many will suffer through months of rehabilitation in unfamiliar facilities, cared for by masked strangers, unable to receive friends or loved ones. Families who just weeks ago had been happy, healthy, and intact now face the prospect of prolonged separation. Many spouses and children will become caregivers, which comes with its own emotional and physical challenges. Roughly two-thirds of family caregivers show depressive symptoms after a loved one’s stay in the I.C.U. Many continue to struggle years later.
Lindsay Lief, a critical-care physician at my hospital, runs a clinic for patients who have left the I.C.U., including those suffering from what’s known as post-I.C.U. syndrome. Lief got the idea for the clinic years ago, after caring for a forty-year-old woman from New Jersey who developed a serious infection, followed by profound septic shock. In the I.C.U., the woman’s kidneys shut down; she needed dialysis; she couldn’t breathe. She was intubated, extubated, intubated, extubated. When, after weeks of treatment, she was finally in stable condition, Lief began thinking about what it would be like for her to leave the hospital and return home. “This lady had such a traumatic I.C.U. course,” she said. “And I’m going to send her back to Jersey with no support—just a few papers about what we did? That seemed crazy.”
When Lief started the clinic, she saw patients by herself, most several weeks out from discharge. Lief would walk them through what had happened in the hospital—for many, it was a blur. She’d screen them for depression, anxiety, and P.T.S.D., and assess how they were managing at home. Were they gaining back the weight they’d lost in the I.C.U.? Had their sleep improved? She’d run through the medications they were taking and stop the ones that were no longer needed. Over time, she added psychologists, therapists, nutritionists, pharmacists, and social workers to her team.
“We try to offer holistic, whole-person care,” Lief told me. “Sometimes patients have already seen twenty doctors. They’ve had their scars, lungs, and eyeballs examined, but no one has asked, ‘How are you doing with all this?’ ” Patients, she learned, feel frustrated by their dependence on others. They can’t return to work; they’re forced to take taxis because they can’t climb the subway stairs. Others have trouble paying bills and keeping track of medical appointments. “Often, what these patients need is not a doctor,” Lief said. “They need physical therapy, occupational therapy, social interaction, case managers, financial planners. They need people to help them get their lives back.”
To contend with the flood of patients who will be extubated in the coming weeks, we’re planning to create a COVID-19 survivors unit—essentially an in-patient version of Lief’s outpatient clinic. The unit will bring together clinicians from various backgrounds: hospitalists, pulmonologists, rehab specialists, psychiatrists, dieticians, therapists. It will develop COVID-19-specific protocols, which we hope will help patients progress to a fuller recovery. Patients will receive daily “pulmonary rehab”—a stepwise approach to reducing oxygen support and slowly building strength and endurance. They’ll learn breathing techniques and get help with gadgets they can use to clear mucus from the lungs. Some will be shown how to cough better. Physical and occupational therapists will help them recover motor skills that may have diminished during their hospitalizations; psychiatrists and nutritionists will help with mood and food. Many patients, because they are too sick, or need oxygen, or because no rehab facility will accept them, will need to spend days or weeks recovering in the hospital. “The best thing we can do is create a home-like environment,” Lief told me. “The whole point is to help them stop being patients and start feeling human again.”
We tend to think of extubation as the point when a patient begins breathing independently. But, in fact, it’s possible to be extubated while still depending on a ventilator to breathe. If the thick intubation tube—inserted into the mouth, pushed through the vocal cords, and resting in the lungs—is left in too long, it can damage surrounding tissue; when that time comes, doctors make a small hole in the front of the neck, just below the thyroid gland, and insert a thin tracheostomy tube directly into the windpipe. This tube allows for a permanent connection to a ventilator. The patient has been extubated, but is no closer to his pre-coronavirus life.
After New York and New Jersey, Massachusetts now has the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. In Chelsea, a working-class, predominantly Hispanic town near Boston, as much as one-third of the population is thought to have had the virus. George Alba, an I.C.U. doctor in Boston, told me that his hospital, which has seen a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases, has also had to start using tracheostomy tubes for patients who remain dependent on ventilators. To the well-known problems of ventilator and respiratory-staff shortages, tracheostomies add an infection-control issue: the tube into the windpipe provides a ready path for aerosolization of the virus. “People worry about the peak, but I’m concerned about the plateau,” he said. “We’ve never seen so many patients need tracheostomies at the same time. Some will need long-term support. Where will all these people go?”
Alba, too, has been working with his colleagues to create a comprehensive follow-up clinic for patients who have survived severe COVID-19. He hopes that the clinic will also help researchers study the long-term effects of the virus. How much lung damage will remain? Will the immune system return to normal? Does hard-won immunity persist, or wane with time? Initially, the clinic will operate through telemedicine; eventually, it will function as a hub through which patients can access a battery of tests and services—pulmonary-function tests, blood samples, cognitive assessments, and referrals to other specialties.
COVID-19 patients who aren’t intubated—the vast majority—may also struggle to return to their prior lives. In addition to a survivors unit within the hospital, we’re developing a telemedicine-based rehab program for patients who are well enough to go home. When they’re discharged, these patients are given an oxygen monitor and scheduled for a video call with a sports-medicine specialist. The doctor will perform a virtual assessment—counting the number of biceps curls a patient can do, or gauging whether she can stand from a seated position. “Believe me, watching someone step in place for two straight minutes feels like an eternity,” Alfred Gellhorn, the rehabilitation specialist who’s leading the effort, told me. “But it gives you an important sense of their ability and endurance.”
COVID-19 has forced us to deliver remote rehabilitation, which may seem suboptimal. But evidence is emerging that, for the right patients, telemedicine-based programs are just as good as those delivered in person. In one study, patients with emphysema were randomly assigned to a home-based regimen, in which they received weekly phone calls and instructions, or to a clinic-based program, which required patients to physically report to the office three days a week. A year later, both groups had improved significantly, and there was no difference in their symptoms or exercise tolerance.
Gellhorn, whose team includes psychologists and therapists, is also concerned about the mental-health consequences of serious coronavirus infection. “Patients’ experiences in the hospital are really scary. They’re in rooms, completely isolated. Family can’t visit. Doctors are covered in protective gear. Patients are really affected. For those I’ve seen in follow-up, the anxiety lingers. So we can’t just say, ‘O.K., you’re ready for discharge, good luck.’ ”
The Bowery Mission isn’t far from my apartment. It’s offered sanctuary and services to New York City’s poor since the eighteen-seventies, and is among America’s oldest homeless shelters. A white flag bearing the shelter’s name in large black letters hangs from the second floor of the small brick building. An American flag waves nearby.
Even before the coronavirus ravaged New York, the city’s homeless population had been growing. Now the problem is likely to get worse. In a recent poll, three-quarters of New Yorkers said they were concerned that the pandemic would cause them serious financial hardship; four in ten said they worried about affording food.
The Mission serves three meals a day. On many mornings, as I’m leaving for the hospital, a line has already started to form. It snakes around the corner, down a barren street into Manhattan’s Lower East Side. In recent weeks, it seems to be growing—whether because more people are waiting or because they stand farther apart, I’m not sure. As I pass by, I think about what it will take to shorten that line—and how, almost certainly, it will stretch before it will shrink. And I worry that, inside the hospital and out on the streets, the virus will cast a long shadow in its wake.
More Medical Dispatches


newyorker--2020-04-23--“The Craziest Thing”: Georgia Hairdressers Weigh the Order to Reopen During a Pandemic

On Monday , within hours of Governor Brian Kemp ’ s announcement that many Georgia businesses could reopen on Friday , Maureen , a sixty-nine-year-old retired schoolteacher , texted her hairdresser , who owns a salon in Atlanta , about an hour from Maureen ’ s home , in Athens .
“ The Gov says you can open !
: ) My appointment is on Friday of this week .
What ’ s your plan ?
” Maureen , who voted for Kemp , made the appointment eight weeks earlier , before the coronavirus pandemic had shut down much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep it .
Her hairdresser , a man in his early sixties who asked that I not use his name , did not vote for Kemp .
He told her that he would not be reopening until the following Monday—and only in a limited way .
Maureen could try one of his other hairdressers , he said , but he wouldn ’ t be seeing clients himself until May 12th at the earliest .
And , the hairdresser told me a few days later , if “ Kemp ’ s science project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant badly— “ then I have no idea when.
” Nearly a thousand people in Georgia have died , so far , of complications from the coronavirus , according to the numbers that have been reported .
( The actual number may be higher . )
Like the Central Georgia health board and many others in the state and around the country , the hairdresser did not think it was time to shift pandemic protocols in order to reopen businesses , even with precautions like masks , gloves , and disinfectant .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision any governor could have ever made , ” he said , “ given the science we ’ re presented with , what Fauci and the other guys are saying.
” The hairdresser checks the daily case counts regularly , he said .
“ Atlanta has been spiking up and down , ” he noted .
“ I think yesterday we had maybe twelve hundred new cases .
Today , maybe seven hundred or so—but it ’ s not midnight yet , I don ’ t know.
” There are more than twenty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He went on , “ It ’ s pretty damn silly , insisting on a haircut right now .
But , you have to understand , my clientele is very privileged .
To them , this is a very big sacrifice , to go without a haircut .
I ’ ve had people offer me money to come to their houses—what ’ s the difference that ’ s gon na make ?
I don ’ t know .
It ’ s a very entitled world.
” The hairdresser ’ s employees are contractors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the salon .
Shortly after the announcement , he sent them the Georgia State Board of Cosmetologists and Barbers ’ guidelines on reopening , which he called “ the craziest thing—social distancing while giving a haircut is hard.
” The board recommends that barbers wear a face shield and gloves , as a start .
“ You need to be in a smock , too , ” the salon owner went on , “ and change your smock after every haircut , into another clean , sanitized smock .
The client is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then you have to sanitize your whole station and chair.
” Taking each client ’ s temperature and having them answer a health questionnaire is also recommended .
“ If I were getting paid the salary of a surgeon , ” the hairdresser said , “ it might be worth all the scrubbing.
” Some of the contractors are willing to take risks to pay their bills .
“ We could wait , ” the owner said , referring to reopening .
“ But I feel like these hairdressers chomping at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it and really take it seriously , and I ’ m there to monitor it—I can ’ t say no to them .
But , ” he added , “ I ’ m kind of a wimp.
” One of these contractors , Brittany , who ’ s thirty-five , has been at the salon for four years .
“ If Home Depot can be open and people can shop because they ’ re bored and want to buy houseplants , and Target can be open for people to buy yoga pants , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t see the harm in me—carefully and safely—doing a client.
” Brittany said that she is a Republican but did not vote for Kemp .
She charges around two hundred dollars per session .
“ Twelve hundred doesn ’ t even pay half my booth rent , ” she said , referring to the stimulus check she received from the federal government .
( The salon owner did not charge booth rent while the store was closed . )
“ So you don ’ t want to be unsafe , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose clients or income .
It ’ s a rock and a hard place , you know ?
” I spoke with Brittany and with Maureen on Wednesday night , shortly after President Trump said he “ strongly ” opposed Kemp ’ s decision to reopen , that it was “ just too soon.
” Trump has expressed support , on Twitter , for scattered protests in a handful of states that have called for governors to allow businesses to reopen ; his remarks came as a surprise .
Both Brittany and Maureen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s confusing , ” Maureen said , of the mixed messages people were getting .
Brittany had a theory .
“ I think Trump used Kemp to see how people will react , ” she said .
“ Then Trump can come save the day.
” She added , “ Personally , I think Kemp is stupid enough to be that guinea pig .
He took the bait.
” Maureen , for her part , didn ’ t understand how Kemp had selected which types of businesses could reopen—in addition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bowling alleys , and massage parlors .
( Her husband , she said , couldn ’ t believe that tattoo parlors were also on the list . )
“ This is maybe superficial , ” she added , “ but Kemp has a wife and daughters .
Maybe they encouraged him to open up the hairdressers and nail salons ?
” George Chidi , a columnist and public-policy advocate , put forward another theory , in a widely circulated letter to a local Web site .
“ It ’ s about making sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Chidi wrote .
As unemployment claims have reached record highs , the shutdown has endangered Georgia ’ s unemployment fund , which would be hard to replenish , Chidi argued .
He believes that Kemp may have seen an opportunity : people working in bowling alleys and at massage and tattoo parlors now won ’ t be able to claim that they ’ re involuntarily unemployed .
“ The purpose of this isn ’ t to open up these businesses , ” Chidi concluded .
“ It ’ s to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about this theory , a spokesperson for Kemp pointed me to a press release issued by the governor ’ s office on Wednesday , which explains that , in keeping with an emergency rule issued late last month , individuals in Georgia can make up to three hundred dollars per week without reducing their unemployment benefits , and will still qualify for the six-hundred-dollar weekly federal supplement included in the CARES Act .
The release also notes that individuals who decide “ to separate from his/her place of employment ” can file unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case-by-case basis .
Heidi Shierholz , a senior economist and the director of policy at the Economic Policy Institute , a left-leaning think tank , told me that Kemp ’ s directive was unlikely to save the state much on unemployment benefits .
Shierholz added , “ Governor Kemp ’ s decision to reopen much of Georgia ’ s economy is a reckless decision that will cost lives and will likely , if anything , make the Georgia economy worse off in the long run.
” Elsewhere in the city , other barbershop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when to reopen .
Some will open next week .
Some the week after .
Some still didn ’ t know .
“ Our first concern is ensuring the safety of our employees and patrons , ” Michael Render , the rapper and entrepreneur better known as Killer Mike , said in a statement about his East Atlanta barbershop , the SWAG Shop .
“ While we obviously want to reopen , and we have an incentive to do so as business owners , we do not want to contribute to the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we will follow the advice of public health experts and we will not reopen.
” Brian Kemp ’ s barber , Tommy Thomas , whose family-owned shop in northwest Atlanta is a favorite spot for local conservative politicians , was , on the other hand , unreservedly ready to reopen .
He also had nothing but good things to say about Kemp ’ s leadership .
“ He ’ s done a heck of a great job , ” Thomas said , of Kemp , who , he told me , last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shop closed , in late March .
“ From the time it took off , until it tipped at the top and started coming down , he informed everybody in the state of Georgia , ” Thomas added .
( Kemp was one of the last governors to issue a stay-at-home order , weeks after a severe outbreak in the southwest part of the state , as cases climbed in Atlanta and elsewhere . )
Thomas also believes that President Trump has done a “ fantastic ” job , and is frustrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are “ holding stuff up to keep Trump from getting reëlected .
”

On Monday, within hours of Governor Brian Kemp’s announcement that many Georgia businesses could reopen on Friday, Maureen, a sixty-nine-year-old retired schoolteacher, texted her hairdresser, who owns a salon in Atlanta, about an hour from Maureen’s home, in Athens. “The Gov says you can open! :) My appointment is on Friday of this week. What’s your plan?” Maureen, who voted for Kemp, made the appointment eight weeks earlier, before the coronavirus pandemic had shut down much of the country, and she was hoping to keep it. Her hairdresser, a man in his early sixties who asked that I not use his name, did not vote for Kemp. He told her that he would not be reopening until the following Monday—and only in a limited way. Maureen could try one of his other hairdressers, he said, but he wouldn’t be seeing clients himself until May 12th at the earliest. And, the hairdresser told me a few days later, if “Kemp’s science project goes as expected”—by which he meant badly—“then I have no idea when.”
Nearly a thousand people in Georgia have died, so far, of complications from the coronavirus, according to the numbers that have been reported. (The actual number may be higher.) Like the Central Georgia health board and many others in the state and around the country, the hairdresser did not think it was time to shift pandemic protocols in order to reopen businesses, even with precautions like masks, gloves, and disinfectant. “I thought it was the most asinine decision any governor could have ever made,” he said, “given the science we’re presented with, what Fauci and the other guys are saying.” The hairdresser checks the daily case counts regularly, he said. “Atlanta has been spiking up and down,” he noted. “I think yesterday we had maybe twelve hundred new cases. Today, maybe seven hundred or so—but it’s not midnight yet, I don’t know.” There are more than twenty thousand confirmed cases in the state. He went on, “It’s pretty damn silly, insisting on a haircut right now. But, you have to understand, my clientele is very privileged. To them, this is a very big sacrifice, to go without a haircut. I’ve had people offer me money to come to their houses—what’s the difference that’s gonna make? I don’t know. It’s a very entitled world.”
The hairdresser’s employees are contractors, who rent booths from him at the salon. Shortly after the announcement, he sent them the Georgia State Board of Cosmetologists and Barbers’ guidelines on reopening, which he called “the craziest thing—social distancing while giving a haircut is hard.” The board recommends that barbers wear a face shield and gloves, as a start. “You need to be in a smock, too,” the salon owner went on, “and change your smock after every haircut, into another clean, sanitized smock. The client is in sanitized cape and smock and neck wrap. Then you have to sanitize your whole station and chair.” Taking each client’s temperature and having them answer a health questionnaire is also recommended. “If I were getting paid the salary of a surgeon,” the hairdresser said, “it might be worth all the scrubbing.”
Some of the contractors are willing to take risks to pay their bills. “We could wait,” the owner said, referring to reopening. “But I feel like these hairdressers chomping at the bit—if they’re willing to do it and really take it seriously, and I’m there to monitor it—I can’t say no to them. But,” he added, “I’m kind of a wimp.”
One of these contractors, Brittany, who’s thirty-five, has been at the salon for four years. “If Home Depot can be open and people can shop because they’re bored and want to buy houseplants, and Target can be open for people to buy yoga pants,” she told me, “I don’t see the harm in me—carefully and safely—doing a client.” Brittany said that she is a Republican but did not vote for Kemp. She charges around two hundred dollars per session. “Twelve hundred doesn’t even pay half my booth rent,” she said, referring to the stimulus check she received from the federal government. (The salon owner did not charge booth rent while the store was closed.) “So you don’t want to be unsafe, but you also don’t want to lose clients or income. It’s a rock and a hard place, you know?”
I spoke with Brittany and with Maureen on Wednesday night, shortly after President Trump said he “strongly” opposed Kemp’s decision to reopen, that it was “just too soon.” Trump has expressed support, on Twitter, for scattered protests in a handful of states that have called for governors to allow businesses to reopen; his remarks came as a surprise. Both Brittany and Maureen watched his briefing on Wednesday. “It’s confusing,” Maureen said, of the mixed messages people were getting. Brittany had a theory. “I think Trump used Kemp to see how people will react,” she said. “Then Trump can come save the day.” She added, “Personally, I think Kemp is stupid enough to be that guinea pig. He took the bait.” Maureen, for her part, didn’t understand how Kemp had selected which types of businesses could reopen—in addition to barbershops, the list includes gyms, bowling alleys, and massage parlors. (Her husband, she said, couldn’t believe that tattoo parlors were also on the list.) “This is maybe superficial,” she added, “but Kemp has a wife and daughters. Maybe they encouraged him to open up the hairdressers and nail salons?”
George Chidi, a columnist and public-policy advocate, put forward another theory, in a widely circulated letter to a local Web site. “It’s about making sure people can’t file unemployment,” Chidi wrote. As unemployment claims have reached record highs, the shutdown has endangered Georgia’s unemployment fund, which would be hard to replenish, Chidi argued. He believes that Kemp may have seen an opportunity: people working in bowling alleys and at massage and tattoo parlors now won’t be able to claim that they’re involuntarily unemployed. “The purpose of this isn’t to open up these businesses,” Chidi concluded. “It’s to get the workers there off the dole.” Asked about this theory, a spokesperson for Kemp pointed me to a press release issued by the governor’s office on Wednesday, which explains that, in keeping with an emergency rule issued late last month, individuals in Georgia can make up to three hundred dollars per week without reducing their unemployment benefits, and will still qualify for the six-hundred-dollar weekly federal supplement included in the CARES Act. The release also notes that individuals who decide “to separate from his/her place of employment” can file unemployment claims that will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Heidi Shierholz, a senior economist and the director of policy at the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank, told me that Kemp’s directive was unlikely to save the state much on unemployment benefits. Shierholz added, “Governor Kemp’s decision to reopen much of Georgia’s economy is a reckless decision that will cost lives and will likely, if anything, make the Georgia economy worse off in the long run.”
Elsewhere in the city, other barbershop and salon owners are debating if and when to reopen. Some will open next week. Some the week after. Some still didn’t know. “Our first concern is ensuring the safety of our employees and patrons,” Michael Render, the rapper and entrepreneur better known as Killer Mike, said in a statement about his East Atlanta barbershop, the SWAG Shop. “While we obviously want to reopen, and we have an incentive to do so as business owners, we do not want to contribute to the spread of the virus. As of now, we will follow the advice of public health experts and we will not reopen.” Brian Kemp’s barber, Tommy Thomas, whose family-owned shop in northwest Atlanta is a favorite spot for local conservative politicians, was, on the other hand, unreservedly ready to reopen. He also had nothing but good things to say about Kemp’s leadership. “He’s done a heck of a great job,” Thomas said, of Kemp, who, he told me, last came in for a cut just before the shop closed, in late March. “From the time it took off, until it tipped at the top and started coming down, he informed everybody in the state of Georgia,” Thomas added. (Kemp was one of the last governors to issue a stay-at-home order, weeks after a severe outbreak in the southwest part of the state, as cases climbed in Atlanta and elsewhere.) Thomas also believes that President Trump has done a “fantastic” job, and is frustrated by the Democrats, who he thinks are “holding stuff up to keep Trump from getting reëlected.”


newyorker--2020-04-23--The Rise of the Quarantine Beard

The Rise of the Quarantine Beard

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has guidance for those with beards and twirly mustaches .
A C.D.C .
chart illustrating thirty-three styles of facial hair and their respective fit with a respirator mask incited a small controversy in February , over fears that the C.D.C .
was directing people to shave in order to ward off the coronavirus .
But the chart approved an array of raffish handlebars and Zorros and side whiskers , and it came from the days of pre-pandemic public-health policy , part of a 2017 blog targeting No-Shave November aspirants who wore masks for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggests that everyone wear some cloth face covering where social distancing is difficult .
Short-supplied N95-type masks should still be saved for those at greatest risk of or from exposure , but the details of the infographic may be newly relevant for those who do use such respirators : a chevron mustache is great , the chin curtain a no ; and , for a villain or a horseshoe , “ careful not to cross the seal.
” The national public-health institution has had , so far , nothing direct to say about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest installment of The New Yorker ’ s “ Annals of Obsession ” video series , above , Michael ( MJ ) Johnson , who has competed in , won , and now co-owns the National Beard and Moustache Championships , describes his sleepless night after he heard rumors of mandated shaving .
“ I was thinking , What are the circumstances I would have to be in where I would shave completely ?
” Johnson hasn ’ t shaved completely since 2008 ; when he discovered the world of competitive bearding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participate in the natural-mustache category .
“ But then I let the sideburns grow , and the sideburns were actually better than my mustache.
” After realizing that he might improve his competitive-bearding chances by , essentially , branding—an idea he picked up from Shepard Fairey—he began grooming his oversized sideburns into steely wings , which make eye-popping ascents from each cheek .
Johnson is animated about online campaigns around facial-hair growth in lockdown , including Jim Carrey ’ s # letsgrowtogether .
( Carrey has gone quiet regarding his beard status since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but one can follow the progress of Blake Shelton ’ s mullet . )
As Nathan Heller wrote , in 2015 , of the shocking new bearded style then sported by David Letterman , and now by an untold number of the housebound , “ It is not a bohemian power beard , as worn by ZZ Top or The New Yorker ’ s own Richard Brody , and it also shouldn ’ t be confused with the beard of disaffection , à la Ted Kaczynski , or James Mason during his cross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have given up on the world , ’ the achievement beard declares , ‘ I am away , but not gone.
’ ” Quarantined beards may function as a social-media signifier of a somewhat opaque , and perhaps itchy , form of solidarity , but they have a far-reaching social history , covered , in part , in these pages .
The first kiss captured on film , by Thomas Edison , an eighteen-second hit from 1896 , can not proceed until a mustache is unfurled .
Many notable revolutionaries are associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Karl Marx to Fidel Castro , whose beard was so iconic that the C.I.A .
wanted to remove it , via thallium salts in his shoes .
Some studies report a positive correlation between mustaches and perceptions of efficiency , creativity , and rigor in the American workplace , though results may be skewed : at least one was conducted in the immediate aftermath of Tom Selleck ’ s run on “ Magnum , P.I.
” Feelings about facial hair are constantly shifting—for every Donald Glover or Dennis Hopper , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people find the bearded unsexy and untrustworthy .
Keith Flett , the spokesperson of the Beard Liberation Front , calls the stereotypes and discrimination “ beardism ” —or outright pogonophobia .
A “ Marxist trade unionist & beard campaigner , ” per his Twitter page , Flett views beardism in the workplace as a form of respectability politics , constraining the lives of “ anyone who does not conform to the stereotype of a young , single white man in a suit.
” American politicians , it is thought , suffer at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while Sikhs and other religious minorities face violence for their visibility .
Jeremy Corbyn , the eight-time winner of the U.K. ’ s Parliamentary Beard of the Year , is , to his critics , according to the BBC , “ almost a caricature of the archetypal ‘ bearded leftie.
’ ” However , Flett , whose organization dispenses the annual honor , told the Independent , after Corbyn ’ s sixth win , that the award would have easily gone to the hereditary peer Lord Hylton , who wears a broad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ octogenarian and his fellows in the House of Lords “ knew anything about how to vote.
” ( Flett reports Russian interference in the 2018 contest . )
Under lockdown , some are becoming mustachioed for the first time .
Alex Smith , a Brooklyn resident who started taking testosterone a few months before the primary election was postponed in New York , has been nurturing peach fuzz on their upper lip , and at least one rogue beard hair .
“ I can ’ t tell if it ’ s new or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder lately , ” Smith told me , but “ I can ’ t wait to see where they go.
” In the privacy of my home-quarantine , I ’ ve begun applying a flat little Jeremy Irons mustache ( what the C.D.C .
might call the lampshade ) with the burnt end of a cedar stick , worn under a mask during occasional walks nowhere and back , and , increasingly , on Zooms both professional and personal .
It has been one rail-thin consolation , amid unthinkable catastrophe , for friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mustache .
If , after all this , you ’ re still moved to grow , together with Jim Carrey , or to elaborate ends with Johnson , the C.D.C .
blog of 2017 has a few more tips for you .
Rather than forming the most fulsome beard possible , “ channel your inner Frank Zappa , Rhett Butler , or Zorro , ” all of whom could easily achieve a tight N95 seal .
Zorro , who , through the lensing of Hollywood , used his rapier to fight for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the oppressed , may not be a bad model during a pandemic marked by gross inequities .
But , for this fight , the mask goes over the mustache .

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has guidance for those with beards and twirly mustaches. A C.D.C. chart illustrating thirty-three styles of facial hair and their respective fit with a respirator mask incited a small controversy in February, over fears that the C.D.C. was directing people to shave in order to ward off the coronavirus. But the chart approved an array of raffish handlebars and Zorros and side whiskers, and it came from the days of pre-pandemic public-health policy, part of a 2017 blog targeting No-Shave November aspirants who wore masks for workplace safety. The C.D.C. now suggests that everyone wear some cloth face covering where social distancing is difficult. Short-supplied N95-type masks should still be saved for those at greatest risk of or from exposure, but the details of the infographic may be newly relevant for those who do use such respirators: a chevron mustache is great, the chin curtain a no; and, for a villain or a horseshoe, “careful not to cross the seal.”
The national public-health institution has had, so far, nothing direct to say about the proliferation of quarantine beards. In the latest installment of The New Yorker’s “Annals of Obsession” video series, above, Michael (MJ) Johnson, who has competed in, won, and now co-owns the National Beard and Moustache Championships, describes his sleepless night after he heard rumors of mandated shaving. “I was thinking, What are the circumstances I would have to be in where I would shave completely?”
Johnson hasn’t shaved completely since 2008; when he discovered the world of competitive bearding, in 2009, he hoped to participate in the natural-mustache category. “But then I let the sideburns grow, and the sideburns were actually better than my mustache.” After realizing that he might improve his competitive-bearding chances by, essentially, branding—an idea he picked up from Shepard Fairey—he began grooming his oversized sideburns into steely wings, which make eye-popping ascents from each cheek.
Johnson is animated about online campaigns around facial-hair growth in lockdown, including Jim Carrey’s #letsgrowtogether. (Carrey has gone quiet regarding his beard status since April 4th, or Day 13, but one can follow the progress of Blake Shelton’s mullet.) As Nathan Heller wrote, in 2015, of the shocking new bearded style then sported by David Letterman, and now by an untold number of the housebound, “It is not a bohemian power beard, as worn by ZZ Top or The New Yorker’s own Richard Brody, and it also shouldn’t be confused with the beard of disaffection, à la Ted Kaczynski, or James Mason during his cross period. Rather than saying, ‘I have given up on the world,’ the achievement beard declares, ‘I am away, but not gone.’ ”
Quarantined beards may function as a social-media signifier of a somewhat opaque, and perhaps itchy, form of solidarity, but they have a far-reaching social history, covered, in part, in these pages. The first kiss captured on film, by Thomas Edison, an eighteen-second hit from 1896, cannot proceed until a mustache is unfurled. Many notable revolutionaries are associated with equally notable facial hair—from Emiliano Zapata and Karl Marx to Fidel Castro, whose beard was so iconic that the C.I.A. wanted to remove it, via thallium salts in his shoes. Some studies report a positive correlation between mustaches and perceptions of efficiency, creativity, and rigor in the American workplace, though results may be skewed: at least one was conducted in the immediate aftermath of Tom Selleck’s run on “Magnum, P.I.”
Feelings about facial hair are constantly shifting—for every Donald Glover or Dennis Hopper, there are associations with the alt-right, or reports that people find the bearded unsexy and untrustworthy. Keith Flett, the spokesperson of the Beard Liberation Front, calls the stereotypes and discrimination “beardism”—or outright pogonophobia. A “Marxist trade unionist & beard campaigner,” per his Twitter page, Flett views beardism in the workplace as a form of respectability politics, constraining the lives of “anyone who does not conform to the stereotype of a young, single white man in a suit.” American politicians, it is thought, suffer at the ballot box for their facial hair, while Sikhs and other religious minorities face violence for their visibility. Jeremy Corbyn, the eight-time winner of the U.K.’s Parliamentary Beard of the Year, is, to his critics, according to the BBC, “almost a caricature of the archetypal ‘bearded leftie.’ ” However, Flett, whose organization dispenses the annual honor, told the Independent, after Corbyn’s sixth win, that the award would have easily gone to the hereditary peer Lord Hylton, who wears a broad, corn-silky billy-goat scrim, if the octogenarian and his fellows in the House of Lords “knew anything about how to vote.” (Flett reports Russian interference in the 2018 contest.)
Under lockdown, some are becoming mustachioed for the first time. Alex Smith, a Brooklyn resident who started taking testosterone a few months before the primary election was postponed in New York, has been nurturing peach fuzz on their upper lip, and at least one rogue beard hair. “I can’t tell if it’s new or if I’ve just been looking harder lately,” Smith told me, but “I can’t wait to see where they go.” In the privacy of my home-quarantine, I’ve begun applying a flat little Jeremy Irons mustache (what the C.D.C. might call the lampshade) with the burnt end of a cedar stick, worn under a mask during occasional walks nowhere and back, and, increasingly, on Zooms both professional and personal. It has been one rail-thin consolation, amid unthinkable catastrophe, for friends to smile on a pixelated new ash mustache.
If, after all this, you’re still moved to grow, together with Jim Carrey, or to elaborate ends with Johnson, the C.D.C. blog of 2017 has a few more tips for you. Rather than forming the most fulsome beard possible, “channel your inner Frank Zappa, Rhett Butler, or Zorro,” all of whom could easily achieve a tight N95 seal. Zorro, who, through the lensing of Hollywood, used his rapier to fight for the defrauded, the working class, and the oppressed, may not be a bad model during a pandemic marked by gross inequities. But, for this fight, the mask goes over the mustache.


newyorker--2020-04-23--Trump and Biden Face Off Over China and the Coronavirus

Around the world , COVID-19 is fundamentally altering politics .
In China , the Communist Party is lauding its handling @ @ @ @ @ disinformation about the virus in the U.S. And , as attacks on Chinese-Americans increase , @ @ @ @ @ accuse each other of being overly cozy with Beijing .
Evan Osnos joins Dorothy Wickenden @ @ @ @ @ is affecting the course of the 2020 Presidential election .

Photograph by Sarah Silbiger / Getty
Around the world, COVID-19 is fundamentally altering politics. In China, the Communist Party is lauding its handling of the crisis and spreading disinformation about the virus in the U.S. And, as attacks on Chinese-Americans increase, the Biden and Trump campaigns accuse each other of being overly cozy with Beijing. Evan Osnos joins Dorothy Wickenden to discuss how the coronavirus is affecting the course of the 2020 Presidential election.


newyorker--2020-04-23--Trump’s Firing of a Top Infectious-Disease Expert Endangers Us All

Donald Trump , who hawks wondrous COVID-19 elixirs from the White House lectern as if he were a nineteenth-century patent-medicine salesman , knows nothing about pandemic planning , vaccine development , antiviral drugs , or how to design the diagnostic tools required to track an epidemic such as the one that has devastated the nation he leads .
Rick A .
Bright , perhaps more than any other federal health official in the United States , has devoted his career to studying those very issues : first , at the Centers for Disease Control , where for a decade he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then as the scientific director of the Influenza Vaccine Project at PATH , an international , nonprofit global health organization based in Seattle .
Since 2010 , Bright has worked for the federal government at BARDA , the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority .
He began as the director of the agency ’ s Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases Division , and , since 2016 , he has been the head of the agency itself .
This week , Bright was abruptly fired from his job because he insisted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making scientific decisions .
Bright said in a statement yesterday that he was fired , in particular , because he insisted that hydroxychloroquine , the anti-malaria drug Trump has repeatedly touted as a “ miracle cure ” for COVID-19 , be tested rigorously .
In an era when the President of the United States withdrew all American funding for the World Health Organization in the middle of a global pandemic , Bright ’ s adherence to the primacy of data doomed him .
Anthony S. Fauci , the director of the National Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also consistently failed to echo Trump ’ s enthusiasm for hydroxychloroquine .
At a daily White House briefing , on April 5th , as Trump continued to put forth the notion , without any basis in fact , that this drug could conquer the virus , a reporter asked Fauci , who is the nation ’ s leading infectious-disease expert , to comment .
Trump refused to let him speak .
Fauci , though , is the public face of the epidemic-response team and immensely popular .
To fire him , simply because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political risk that Trump is apparently unwilling to take—for now .
Bright , a deeply reserved man who is not known to the public , was easier to toss aside .
At Wednesday night ’ s briefing , Trump ridiculed a reporter who suggested that Bright was gifted and highly qualified .
“ Why did you say that he has great gifts or gifts ?
” Trump asked .
“ What , do you know him ?
” Bright , for his part , has made it clear that he has no intention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the National Institutes of Health without a fight .
In his statement yesterday , he accused the Trump Administration of putting “ politics and cronyism ahead of science.
” He elaborated that , “ specifically , and contrary to misguided directives , I limited the broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine , promoted by the Administration as a panacea , which clearly lack scientific merit.
” Bright also said that he has engaged two attorneys to represent him in a whistle-blower case against the government .
He said that he resisted “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand to the American public.
’ ’ Bright ’ s colleagues in the field were astonished at his sudden removal .
Bruce Gellin , who runs the global immunization program for the Sabin Vaccine Institute , spent fifteen years as the director of the National Vaccine Program Office , a position in which he worked often with Bright .
Gellin told me , “ Rick was able to advance our national pandemic preparedness for drugs , diagnostics , and vaccines , ” adding , “ He knows the science and embraces cutting-edge technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hamburg , who was the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration under President Barack Obama , also worked closely with Bright .
“ This is hard to understand , ’ ’ she said .
“ Rick is exactly the person you want to have at the table when planning new programs , especially in the midst of a pandemic.
’ ’ I have known Bright for years .
He is measured , technical , and scientific in his approach to problems .
For that reason , I found his statement startling .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke out .
This week , preliminary data from a large study showed that coronavirus patients given hydroxychloroquine were no less likely to need mechanical ventilation and had higher death rates than those who were not .
The study , which reviewed veterans ’ medical charts , was posted Tuesday on MedRxiv , a preprint server , meaning that it was not peer reviewed or published in a medical journal .
The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the University of Virginia .
( Such a study is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know the ultimate results .
But no responsible physician would read it and say , Hey , let ’ s get this drug out to millions of people right away . )
Late last year , at a panel discussion on the future of influenza pandemics , Bright explained his fundamental concerns : the country was not investing enough in creating vaccines that could potentially limit the impact of the annual flu season as well as potential pandemics .
“ We can make better vaccines and make them faster , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion dollars every year is our economic cost for seasonal influenza , and a pandemic goes into the trillions of dollars .
We have to take that sense of urgency and economic assets to explain this disruption and the lives lost.
” It had been a continual frustration to Bright—as well as to Fauci and many others—that political leaders don ’ t seem to learn this lesson .
We are entering a dangerous new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Rick Bright ’ s vision has never been needed more .
Even now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severity of the pandemic or how far we are from being able to safely “ open ” the country .
That is a depressing reality , and we will need leaders to help explain and guide us to a safer and healthier future .
Rick Bright has always been one of those leaders .
Bright said in his statement , “ Sidelining me in the middle of this pandemic and placing politics and cronyism ahead of science puts lives at risk and stunts national efforts to safely and effectively address this urgent public-health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is true .
Unfortunately , it is no longer clear that we live in a country where expertise matters .
• How to practice social distancing , from responding to a sick housemate to the pros and cons of ordering food .
• Can survivors help cure the disease and rescue the economy ?
• The long crusade of Dr. Anthony Fauci , the infectious-disease expert pinned between Donald Trump and the American people .
• The success of Hong Kong and Singapore in stemming the spread holds lessons for how to contain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The coronavirus is likely to spread for more than a year before a vaccine is widely available .
• With each new virus , we have scrambled for a new treatment .
Can we prepare antivirals to combat the next global crisis ?
• How pandemics have propelled public-health innovations , prefigured revolutions , and redrawn maps .
• What to read , watch , cook , and listen to under coronavirus quarantine .

Donald Trump, who hawks wondrous COVID-19 elixirs from the White House lectern as if he were a nineteenth-century patent-medicine salesman, knows nothing about pandemic planning, vaccine development, antiviral drugs, or how to design the diagnostic tools required to track an epidemic such as the one that has devastated the nation he leads.
Rick A. Bright, perhaps more than any other federal health official in the United States, has devoted his career to studying those very issues: first, at the Centers for Disease Control, where for a decade he evaluated the comparative merits of antiviral drugs, and then as the scientific director of the Influenza Vaccine Project at PATH, an international, nonprofit global health organization based in Seattle. Since 2010, Bright has worked for the federal government at BARDA, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. He began as the director of the agency’s Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases Division, and, since 2016, he has been the head of the agency itself.
This week, Bright was abruptly fired from his job because he insisted that the federal government rely on science when making scientific decisions. Bright said in a statement yesterday that he was fired, in particular, because he insisted that hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug Trump has repeatedly touted as a “miracle cure” for COVID-19, be tested rigorously.
In an era when the President of the United States withdrew all American funding for the World Health Organization in the middle of a global pandemic, Bright’s adherence to the primacy of data doomed him. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, has also consistently failed to echo Trump’s enthusiasm for hydroxychloroquine. At a daily White House briefing, on April 5th, as Trump continued to put forth the notion, without any basis in fact, that this drug could conquer the virus, a reporter asked Fauci, who is the nation’s leading infectious-disease expert, to comment. Trump refused to let him speak.
Fauci, though, is the public face of the epidemic-response team and immensely popular. To fire him, simply because he tells the truth, carries a political risk that Trump is apparently unwilling to take—for now.
Bright, a deeply reserved man who is not known to the public, was easier to toss aside. At Wednesday night’s briefing, Trump ridiculed a reporter who suggested that Bright was gifted and highly qualified. “Why did you say that he has great gifts or gifts?” Trump asked. “What, do you know him?” Bright, for his part, has made it clear that he has no intention of shuffling off to some lesser job at the National Institutes of Health without a fight. In his statement yesterday, he accused the Trump Administration of putting “politics and cronyism ahead of science.” He elaborated that, “specifically, and contrary to misguided directives, I limited the broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, promoted by the Administration as a panacea, which clearly lack scientific merit.” Bright also said that he has engaged two attorneys to represent him in a whistle-blower case against the government. He said that he resisted “efforts to provide an unproven drug on demand to the American public.’’
Bright’s colleagues in the field were astonished at his sudden removal. Bruce Gellin, who runs the global immunization program for the Sabin Vaccine Institute, spent fifteen years as the director of the National Vaccine Program Office, a position in which he worked often with Bright. Gellin told me, “Rick was able to advance our national pandemic preparedness for drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines,” adding, “He knows the science and embraces cutting-edge technology like few others.’’ Margaret A. Hamburg, who was the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration under President Barack Obama, also worked closely with Bright. “This is hard to understand,’’ she said. “Rick is exactly the person you want to have at the table when planning new programs, especially in the midst of a pandemic.’’
I have known Bright for years. He is measured, technical, and scientific in his approach to problems. For that reason, I found his statement startling. It is a good thing that Bright spoke out. This week, preliminary data from a large study showed that coronavirus patients given hydroxychloroquine were no less likely to need mechanical ventilation and had higher death rates than those who were not. The study, which reviewed veterans’ medical charts, was posted Tuesday on MedRxiv, a preprint server, meaning that it was not peer reviewed or published in a medical journal. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the University of Virginia. (Such a study is not conclusive; it is too soon to know the ultimate results. But no responsible physician would read it and say, Hey, let’s get this drug out to millions of people right away.)
Late last year, at a panel discussion on the future of influenza pandemics, Bright explained his fundamental concerns: the country was not investing enough in creating vaccines that could potentially limit the impact of the annual flu season as well as potential pandemics. “We can make better vaccines and make them faster,” he said. “But three hundred and fifty-one billion dollars every year is our economic cost for seasonal influenza, and a pandemic goes into the trillions of dollars. We have to take that sense of urgency and economic assets to explain this disruption and the lives lost.” It had been a continual frustration to Bright—as well as to Fauci and many others—that political leaders don’t seem to learn this lesson.
We are entering a dangerous new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rick Bright’s vision has never been needed more. Even now, the President refuses to acknowledge the severity of the pandemic or how far we are from being able to safely “open” the country. That is a depressing reality, and we will need leaders to help explain and guide us to a safer and healthier future. Rick Bright has always been one of those leaders. Bright said in his statement, “Sidelining me in the middle of this pandemic and placing politics and cronyism ahead of science puts lives at risk and stunts national efforts to safely and effectively address this urgent public-health crisis.” Every one of those words is true. Unfortunately, it is no longer clear that we live in a country where expertise matters.
A Guide to the Coronavirus


newyorker--2020-04-23--The American Girl Pandemic Collection

The American Girl Pandemic Collection

These days , we at American Girl are more aware than ever of the importance of the young women who shape this nation .
Now is your moment—in the face of an Administration and at least three previous generations that have failed you , it is on you to take up the mantle , and to embody what our business model has defined as the Principles That Define America .
Awesome !
So it is with pleasure that we present the next crop of American Girls—the Pandemic Collection .
Despite the fact that these dolls continue to be available exclusively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to go into debt to see a child smile during one of the bleakest periods in our country ’ s history , we hope that this counts as doing our part .
Elsie , Who Has Started Talking to Inanimate Objects Elsie Han was thrilled to move into her first apartment without roommates about a month before the coronavirus quarantine began , and now her relationship with reality is rapidly deteriorating !
She is still speaking with her co-workers for five hours a day on Zoom , and , late at night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things that are unnecessary .
But recently , she pretended to marry the one dish that she owns , which can ’ t be good .
Opal , Who Fled to Her Parents ’ Estate Opal Chandelier was utterly dismayed to find her dream of becoming a third-tier character in a free-form show destroyed by a global pandemic that , given her privilege , will probably affect no one she knows .
With her future wrecked , Opal decided to throw caution to the wind and leave her Manhattan apartment to actively endanger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in North Carolina .
Spunky and shameless , Opal defends her decision to put her parents at risk by noting that they have committed white-collar crimes , which they have .
Rarity , Who Is Frantically Posting Thot Pics and Going on Socially Distanced Dates Rarity Stevens is as petrified of the apocalypse as the rest of her friends , but she can ’ t help but take advantage of an opportunity to get an unprecedented amount of attention online .
During the outbreak , Rarity has donated to local food banks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the fact remains—she is so horny .
Last week , after an elaborately staged ring-light photo yielded a match who wasn ’ t a complete monster , Rarity and an undisclosed second party masturbated in their respective parked cars while locking eyes through filthy car windows , as uneaten Del Taco meals rotted in their passenger seats .
Alexis , the Essential Worker Who ’ s F***ing Had it Alexis Carter is a working nurse and a hero and has had it with hearing about how stressful it is sitting at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone .
She would write more here , but she is BUSY SAVING LIVES .
Crowley Peck has taken the coronavirus so in stride that it makes her loved ones slightly nervous .
“ This is actually the kick in the pants I needed to take up a new hobby !
” she told her best friend on the phone , through gritted teeth , while compartmentalizing existential dread , her body aching from the compulsive five-hour workouts she does to distract from the terror of having witnessed so many tragedies already in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new hobby , so nothing else could possibly be wrong !
We look forward to your rampant criticism on Twitter !
!
!

Greetings, American Girls!
These days, we at American Girl are more aware than ever of the importance of the young women who shape this nation. Now is your moment—in the face of an Administration and at least three previous generations that have failed you, it is on you to take up the mantle, and to embody what our business model has defined as the Principles That Define America. Awesome!
So it is with pleasure that we present the next crop of American Girls—the Pandemic Collection. Despite the fact that these dolls continue to be available exclusively to the upper-middle class or to those willing to go into debt to see a child smile during one of the bleakest periods in our country’s history, we hope that this counts as doing our part.
Elsie, Who Has Started Talking to Inanimate Objects
Elsie Han was thrilled to move into her first apartment without roommates about a month before the coronavirus quarantine began, and now her relationship with reality is rapidly deteriorating! She is still speaking with her co-workers for five hours a day on Zoom, and, late at night, she texts exes to apologize for things that are unnecessary. But recently, she pretended to marry the one dish that she owns, which can’t be good.
Opal, Who Fled to Her Parents’ Estate
Opal Chandelier was utterly dismayed to find her dream of becoming a third-tier character in a free-form show destroyed by a global pandemic that, given her privilege, will probably affect no one she knows. With her future wrecked, Opal decided to throw caution to the wind and leave her Manhattan apartment to actively endanger her sexagenarian parents at their tax-haven manse in North Carolina. Spunky and shameless, Opal defends her decision to put her parents at risk by noting that they have committed white-collar crimes, which they have.
Rarity, Who Is Frantically Posting Thot Pics and Going on Socially Distanced Dates
Rarity Stevens is as petrified of the apocalypse as the rest of her friends, but she can’t help but take advantage of an opportunity to get an unprecedented amount of attention online. During the outbreak, Rarity has donated to local food banks, digital tip jars, and more, but the fact remains—she is so horny. Last week, after an elaborately staged ring-light photo yielded a match who wasn’t a complete monster, Rarity and an undisclosed second party masturbated in their respective parked cars while locking eyes through filthy car windows, as uneaten Del Taco meals rotted in their passenger seats.
Alexis, the Essential Worker Who’s F***ing Had it
Alexis Carter is a working nurse and a hero and has had it with hearing about how stressful it is sitting at home all day. Read the room, everyone. She would write more here, but she is BUSY SAVING LIVES.
Crowley, Who Is Manically Pursuing Crafting Projects
Crowley Peck has taken the coronavirus so in stride that it makes her loved ones slightly nervous. “This is actually the kick in the pants I needed to take up a new hobby!” she told her best friend on the phone, through gritted teeth, while compartmentalizing existential dread, her body aching from the compulsive five-hour workouts she does to distract from the terror of having witnessed so many tragedies already in her lifetime. Crowley Peck has a new hobby, so nothing else could possibly be wrong!
We look forward to your rampant criticism on Twitter!!!


newyorker--2020-04-23--“Onward,” the Silly, Cynical Pixar Movie That Strikes a Nerve During Quarantine

A few days into shelter-in-place , I heard the news that we were getting a new Pixar movie .
“ Onward ” had opened in theatres in early March , but its race to profit was kneecapped by the burgeoning coronavirus crisis .
Two weeks after its theatrical début , Disney decided to release the film on streaming platforms , straight to a captive audience .
As business decisions go , it looked almost like altruism : a new movie gave people like me—housebound parents of children young enough to be diverted by cartoons—something to look forward to .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids ’ animation is pap : conventions and tropes punched up with smarmy double entendre for the benefit of the adults who bought the tickets .
Pixar ’ s prestige entertainments are easily understood by little ones , but not so mindless as to exhaust the big people with them .
Most contemporary family movies pander to adults , but in Pixar films , the references are rarely off-color—it ’ s fine if , say , the kids catch on that a character in “ The Incredibles ” is modelled on Edith Head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look at—the undersea foliage of “ Finding Nemo , ” the afterlife cityscape of “ Coco ” —rewarding sustained attention and yielding to repeat viewing .
Pixar ’ s finest movies are forthright yet somehow also respectful of childhood ’ s inherent innocence .
The deservedly famous opening montage of “ Up ” tells the story of an entire life—its highs and lows , joys and losses—in about five minutes .
Neither “ Inside Out ” nor the “ Toy Story ” series , particularly the gutting third installment , shy away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grow up .
Pixar makes kids happy and leaves adults in tears .
When I took my sons to see the Day of the Dead fantasia “ Coco , ” there were many grownups in attendance unaccompanied by children .
While I ’ d never go to a family movie without children in tow , I still eagerly joined my sons for a living-room screening of “ Onward ” —yes , Disney , give me a laugh or a cry .
I don ’ t need catharsis ; I ’ ll accept any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under quarantine .
In “ Onward , ” elves , folkloric figures , and creatures from Greek mythology share a hodgepodge world in which magic has been supplanted by technology and suburbanization .
Ian , a teen-age elf , learns that his late father left him the tools for a spell , one that can resurrect his dad for one day only .
Ian ’ s first attempt brings back only the lower half of his father ’ s body , so he , his brother Barley , and their dad ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to finish the trick .
My children are thrilled by “ Onward , ” but my children , bless them , have terrible taste .
They don ’ t notice the stock characters : the mother is both doting and embarrassing ; the goofy big brother is the type you ’ d find in his mom ’ s basement playing Dungeons & Dragons all night .
The kids don ’ t care about the tired deployment of trope , like the physically small person—a pixie in this instance—with an outsized tough attitude .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ legs amusing in a way I did not , and maybe it follows that they ’ d be moved watching a story about mourning one ’ s dad while sitting next to both of their dad .
I want to raise my kids to be critical consumers without wholly spoiling life ’ s mindless pleasures .
The true disappointment of “ Onward ” is that its lazier turns demand this kind of parental interference .
My sons are too young for me to explain my central quibble with the narrative : that its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when everyone did magic reminds me of the desire to Make America Great Again .
I did , however , point out to them that the reduction of people of color to supporting roles is especially indefensible in an animated movie .
Octavia Spencer plays the Manticore , who could be a heroic figure but is here mostly a sassy sidekick .
More to the point , there ’ s no reason Spencer couldn ’ t have played Laurel , the boys ’ mother .
That role went to one of our finest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s performance feels pro forma , like she recorded it on her iPhone in her spare time .
Laurel ultimately saves her sons ’ lives , though she ’ s never given credit for it .
In the film ’ s ponderous last moments , the camera lingers over family snapshots of the boys ’ late father , finally panning to a picture of Laurel beaming proudly over her sons—but the camera moves downward to focus on the boys , effectively decapitating their mother .
The credits roll .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My kids were aghast when I pointed out that the last flourish of “ Onward , ” a movie about children raised almost entirely by a single mother , is to cut off the mother ’ s head .
They didn ’ t want critiques ; they wanted only to watch a movie , to parachute out of our new , weird reality .
After these weeks of forced family togetherness , it ’ s hard to believe that my husband and I once found summer weekends interminable .
On those very long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill a couple of hours ; in winter , we go to the theatre when it feels too cold to hit the playground .
Embarrassing to admit , but my family will often see a movie twice , not because we love it but because there are only so many new releases .
What I find myself missing about theatregoing is what Richard Brody recently described as “ the physical experience of the big screen and the dark room and the carved-out , shared block of time.
” It ’ s an opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cede some of the responsibility to Hollywood .
Watching movies at home might engross the kids for a while , but they ’ ll still demand snacks or wander about in search of toys .
In the theatre , the screen overwhelms , the dark soothes , the noise fills the space , and I can not distract myself with the small screen of my phone .
Like every parent at home right now , I bounce between dealing with my kids and staring at my phone .
Going to the movies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today ’ s movie theatres are almost too comfortable—certainly our go-to cinema is , with its deeply reclining seats .
I ’ ve slept through “ The Boss Baby ” and I ’ ve slept through “ Teen Titans GO !
to the Movies.
” I ’ ve dozed during “ Bumblebee ” and “ Ferdinand ” and the “ Jumanji ” reboot and “ Storks ” and “ Aquaman.
” Tickets and popcorn for four are no mean treat , but I ’ m an adult and don ’ t expect “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to captivate me .
The price of admission is just the cost of a nap .
Had I been able to sleep through most of “ Onward , ” I ’ d probably have succumbed to its few charms .
I relish taking the boys to the movies , though , and not only because I ’ m lazy .
It ’ s our great good fortune to have a family life shaped by routine , and this is one of my favorites .
Buying snacks , polling the kids about which of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about .
( The answer is all of them , always . )
Beyond supervising the occasional trip to the bathroom , I ’ m barely needed .
There ’ s something lovely in that .
The boys are ten and seven now , and the day when I ’ ll drop them at the theatre then kill a couple of hours reading at the Starbucks across the street seems inevitable .
When we saw “ Sonic the Hedgehog ” —how I hope that is not the last film I ever see in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the concession stand , paying for our food with my money , practicing for the day he ’ s able to do this all on his own .

A few days into shelter-in-place, I heard the news that we were getting a new Pixar movie. “Onward” had opened in theatres in early March, but its race to profit was kneecapped by the burgeoning coronavirus crisis. Two weeks after its theatrical début, Disney decided to release the film on streaming platforms, straight to a captive audience. As business decisions go, it looked almost like altruism: a new movie gave people like me—housebound parents of children young enough to be diverted by cartoons—something to look forward to.
And a Pixar movie at that! Most kids’ animation is pap: conventions and tropes punched up with smarmy double entendre for the benefit of the adults who bought the tickets. Pixar’s prestige entertainments are easily understood by little ones, but not so mindless as to exhaust the big people with them. Most contemporary family movies pander to adults, but in Pixar films, the references are rarely off-color—it’s fine if, say, the kids catch on that a character in “The Incredibles” is modelled on Edith Head. They’re also uncommonly lovely to look at—the undersea foliage of “Finding Nemo,” the afterlife cityscape of “Coco”—rewarding sustained attention and yielding to repeat viewing. Pixar’s finest movies are forthright yet somehow also respectful of childhood’s inherent innocence. The deservedly famous opening montage of “Up” tells the story of an entire life—its highs and lows, joys and losses—in about five minutes. Neither “Inside Out” nor the “Toy Story” series, particularly the gutting third installment, shy away from the terrible fact that children must grow up. Pixar makes kids happy and leaves adults in tears. When I took my sons to see the Day of the Dead fantasia “Coco,” there were many grownups in attendance unaccompanied by children.
While I’d never go to a family movie without children in tow, I still eagerly joined my sons for a living-room screening of “Onward”—yes, Disney, give me a laugh or a cry. I don’t need catharsis; I’ll accept any break from the routine of our days under quarantine. In “Onward,” elves, folkloric figures, and creatures from Greek mythology share a hodgepodge world in which magic has been supplanted by technology and suburbanization. Ian, a teen-age elf, learns that his late father left him the tools for a spell, one that can resurrect his dad for one day only. Ian’s first attempt brings back only the lower half of his father’s body, so he, his brother Barley, and their dad’s disembodied legs set out on a quest to finish the trick.
My children are thrilled by “Onward,” but my children, bless them, have terrible taste. They don’t notice the stock characters: the mother is both doting and embarrassing; the goofy big brother is the type you’d find in his mom’s basement playing Dungeons & Dragons all night. The kids don’t care about the tired deployment of trope, like the physically small person—a pixie in this instance—with an outsized tough attitude. They found the father’s disembodied legs amusing in a way I did not, and maybe it follows that they’d be moved watching a story about mourning one’s dad while sitting next to both of their dad.
I want to raise my kids to be critical consumers without wholly spoiling life’s mindless pleasures. The true disappointment of “Onward” is that its lazier turns demand this kind of parental interference. My sons are too young for me to explain my central quibble with the narrative: that its characters’ yearning for a simpler time when everyone did magic reminds me of the desire to Make America Great Again. I did, however, point out to them that the reduction of people of color to supporting roles is especially indefensible in an animated movie. Octavia Spencer plays the Manticore, who could be a heroic figure but is here mostly a sassy sidekick. More to the point, there’s no reason Spencer couldn’t have played Laurel, the boys’ mother.
That role went to one of our finest comic actors, but Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s performance feels pro forma, like she recorded it on her iPhone in her spare time. Laurel ultimately saves her sons’ lives, though she’s never given credit for it. In the film’s ponderous last moments, the camera lingers over family snapshots of the boys’ late father, finally panning to a picture of Laurel beaming proudly over her sons—but the camera moves downward to focus on the boys, effectively decapitating their mother. The credits roll. It’s a choice too specific to be accidental. My kids were aghast when I pointed out that the last flourish of “Onward,” a movie about children raised almost entirely by a single mother, is to cut off the mother’s head. They didn’t want critiques; they wanted only to watch a movie, to parachute out of our new, weird reality.
After these weeks of forced family togetherness, it’s hard to believe that my husband and I once found summer weekends interminable. On those very long Saturdays, we see a matinée to kill a couple of hours; in winter, we go to the theatre when it feels too cold to hit the playground. Embarrassing to admit, but my family will often see a movie twice, not because we love it but because there are only so many new releases.
What I find myself missing about theatregoing is what Richard Brody recently described as “the physical experience of the big screen and the dark room and the carved-out, shared block of time.” It’s an opportunity to check out as a parent, to cede some of the responsibility to Hollywood. Watching movies at home might engross the kids for a while, but they’ll still demand snacks or wander about in search of toys. In the theatre, the screen overwhelms, the dark soothes, the noise fills the space, and I cannot distract myself with the small screen of my phone. Like every parent at home right now, I bounce between dealing with my kids and staring at my phone. Going to the movies could alleviate both of those burdens.
Today’s movie theatres are almost too comfortable—certainly our go-to cinema is, with its deeply reclining seats. I’ve slept through “The Boss Baby” and I’ve slept through “Teen Titans GO! to the Movies.” I’ve dozed during “Bumblebee” and “Ferdinand” and the “Jumanji” reboot and “Storks” and “Aquaman.” Tickets and popcorn for four are no mean treat, but I’m an adult and don’t expect “The Secret Life of Pets 2” to captivate me. The price of admission is just the cost of a nap. Had I been able to sleep through most of “Onward,” I’d probably have succumbed to its few charms.
I relish taking the boys to the movies, though, and not only because I’m lazy. It’s our great good fortune to have a family life shaped by routine, and this is one of my favorites. Buying snacks, polling the kids about which of the coming attractions they’re excited about. (The answer is all of them, always.) Beyond supervising the occasional trip to the bathroom, I’m barely needed. There’s something lovely in that. The boys are ten and seven now, and the day when I’ll drop them at the theatre then kill a couple of hours reading at the Starbucks across the street seems inevitable. When we saw “Sonic the Hedgehog”—how I hope that is not the last film I ever see in a theatre—my older son ordered for us at the concession stand, paying for our food with my money, practicing for the day he’s able to do this all on his own.
Before the disruption of our school year, the three of us would take the subway to school in the morning, and my fifth grader would rehearse for commuting independently: exiting the train from a different door than his little brother and me, leaving the station from another exit. We’d all walk the same street, with me and little brother hand in hand on one side, big brother making his way alone on the other. I’d sometimes lose sight of him, his black puffy jacket disappearing into the streetscape, but then he’d linger on the opposite corner, waiting for the light to change, and I’d realize I’d been holding my breath for the moments I was unable to see him.
There’s no consistent logic to the universe of “Onward,” and nothing especially funny about how it depicts a dad as just a pair of legs, half-risen from the dead. The movie’s climax is cheap and cynical: the dad made whole again, for the briefest moment, which only his older son is able to experience. The movie wants you to cry—it’s what we’ve come to expect Pixar movies to do—and it doesn’t care what it needs to do in order to make that happen. But this is the state I already inhabit: perpetually close to tears, not of exalted emotion but confusion, frustration, despair. It’s the same state as anyone reading the news these days. It’s a small thing, but maybe we all miss the comforts of the old familial routines. Maybe I mourn our daily rehearsals for independence; perhaps selfishly, I just miss those naps.


Homeschool Spirit Week!

Hi , students and parents of Morningside Elementary !
Thank you for being so patient as we navigate this strange new educational reality .
( Boy , who knew Zoom classes for first graders could get so chaotic ? )
As we work out the kinks in our homeschooling system , I ’ m happy to announce that we ’ ll be going ahead with Spirit Week .
.
.
from home !
MONDAY : Pajama Day !
Today ’ s the day to pretend you haven ’ t been in pajamas since this whole thing started .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit , consider putting on clean pajamas !
TUESDAY : Wacky Hair Day !
Parents , are you too stressed out to make sure your kids are brushing their teeth , much less their hair ?
Today is especially for you !
Bring your best snarls , tangles , and four-day bedhead—maybe you ’ ve even tried to give your family haircuts ?
We can ’ t wait to see the results !
WEDNESDAY : School Colors Day !
Are all your school-color clothes dirty ?
DEFINITELY DON ’ T LEAVE THE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOOD GOD , WHO CARES ?
( Note to self : delete before publishing to the school chat . )
THURSDAY : Character ( from Apocalypse Fiction ) Day !
Dress up as your favorite character from any end-of-days book , movie , or TV show .
Let ’ s see your very best “ Walking Dead , ” “ Terminator , ” or “ 12 Monkeys ” looks .
Parents , if you haven ’ t read “ The Road ” to your kids , now ’ s the time !
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FRIDAY : Stare Into the Camera and Weep Day !
Some of you have been doing this already , so I know you ’ ve got this one in the bag .
We ’ re looking forward to seeing everybody ’ s get-ups—this should really help us all keep track of what day it even is , as linear time mutates into an unquantifiable blob .
Upload your best looks to your class ’ s homework folder ( assuming it doesn ’ t crash again—sorry about that ! )
.
And STAY SAFE @ @ @

Hi, students and parents of Morningside Elementary! Thank you for being so patient as we navigate this strange new educational reality. (Boy, who knew Zoom classes for first graders could get so chaotic?) As we work out the kinks in our homeschooling system, I’m happy to announce that we’ll be going ahead with Spirit Week . . . from home!
MONDAY: Pajama Day! Today’s the day to pretend you haven’t been in pajamas since this whole thing started. If you’d like to mix it up a bit, consider putting on clean pajamas!
TUESDAY: Wacky Hair Day! Parents, are you too stressed out to make sure your kids are brushing their teeth, much less their hair? Today is especially for you! Bring your best snarls, tangles, and four-day bedhead—maybe you’ve even tried to give your family haircuts? We can’t wait to see the results!
WEDNESDAY: School Colors Day! Are all your school-color clothes dirty? DEFINITELY DON’T LEAVE THE HOUSE TO GO TO THE LAUNDROMAT, GOOD GOD, WHO CARES? (Note to self: delete before publishing to the school chat.)
THURSDAY: Character (from Apocalypse Fiction) Day! Dress up as your favorite character from any end-of-days book, movie, or TV show. Let’s see your very best “Walking Dead,” “Terminator,” or “12 Monkeys” looks. Parents, if you haven’t read “The Road” to your kids, now’s the time! The baby scene should prove especially instructive.
FRIDAY: Stare Into the Camera and Weep Day! Some of you have been doing this already, so I know you’ve got this one in the bag.
We’re looking forward to seeing everybody’s get-ups—this should really help us all keep track of what day it even is, as linear time mutates into an unquantifiable blob. Upload your best looks to your class’s homework folder (assuming it doesn’t crash again—sorry about that!). And STAY SAFE, everybody!