thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-20--New York City Needs Help

New York City Needs Help

We all saw the projections from Italy and elsewhere and I think we intellectually knew what was coming , but there was a point maybe about 10 days ago where we could start to see the number of cases doubling every three to four days .
And it immediately became clear that this crisis was upon us and that New York was about to experience something that none of us had ever seen in my lifetime .
Supplies and equipment .
Staffing .
Space to some extent .
They are busy now .
They all have [ COVID-19 ] patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this point , not in large numbers yet .
But their emergency rooms are also crowded by people who really shouldn ’ t be there .
People who have mild symptoms , who should be healing at home , people who have fever and cough , which can be scary , but the truth is , doesn ’ t require medical attention .
Supplies .
Hospitals , I think are running on a one- to two-week supply .
People underestimate just how much they burn through in a single large hospital system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through a million masks a week throughout its system .
That ’ s not even the whole city .
So we just need an enormous amount of supplies .
We need 50 million surgical masks to manage this .
That ’ s the number that we ’ re pushing .
And we don ’ t have the ability to manufacture that so we ’ re relying on the federal government .
So there ’ s enormous concern about that .
Staffing is ultimately going to be one of the biggest problems because even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running one requires an around-the-clock team of three , and that ’ s a specialized job .
So they ’ re already asking doctors from outside of acute care to go back to the medical school books and read up on how to run a ventilator .
And so staffing is going to be a challenge .
Look , we ’ re facing a total overrunning of our hospital system and that means we all have to entirely rethink how we interact with health care .
And it means that we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who are in grave danger .
When I say every resource , I mean every hospital bed , every doctor ’ s visit , every chair in a waiting room , every phone line , every five minutes of a receptionist ’ s time , all of it needs to be cleared for people who are facing severe , potentially life-threatening circumstances .
The rest of us who have mild symptoms like high fever and cough , or are really worried , have to stay out of the way .
We got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is what the federal government exists for , to mobilize resources in a national crisis .
And a city like New York can not manufacture ventilators .
We rely on the nation as the industrial base of this nation and we need him to do what FDR did in World War II and ramp up production , force factories to retool , and use every resource at this country ’ s disposal to blunt the impact on what is going to be a crisis unprecedented in American history .
Is it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have one to two weeks of personal protective equipment stockpiled .
I don ’ t know how long it takes to purchase that equipment .
But I ’ m extremely worried that even if the order goes forth today that it can ’ t be turned around that quickly .
I don ’ t know .
It ’ s not my job to know .
It ’ s the federal government ’ s job to know and to do this .
I am enormously relieved that he took this step .
We desperately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heights , where I am , there are far too many people out .
There are far too many people going to work because they have to .
And there are far too many people doing nonessential errands and socializing .
We had to take this to the next level .
We had to mandate it .
The recommendations weren ’ t working .
And it ’ s been done now in cities and states around the country .
California did it last night .
It was time for New York to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we did .
The worst case doesn ’ t have to happen .
And there ’ s a lot we can do to prevent that .
If we can avoid the crush happening at once on our medical system , and slow this down , even if ultimately , most of us do get the virus , the medical system will be able to care for most of us .
And that ’ s why social distancing is critical .
And why staying out of the health care system , if you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we all have .
Look , we have so many assets here .
We have among the most advanced medical institutions in the world .
We have the largest and best public hospital system in the world .
We have the best , in my opinion , big city public health system , best health department in the world .
We have a government that has the resources and the will to help the most vulnerable .
And you know , we ’ ve been through a lot in New York City .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ survived the 1979 blackout , we survived 9/11 , and we survived the 2008 financial meltdown .
We will get through this , we will bounce back .
I really believe that .

Medical staff stand outside a coronavirus screening tent at the Brooklyn Hospital Center on Friday in Brooklyn, New York. ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images
NEW YORK — The five boroughs of New York have emerged as the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in America. There are more confirmed cases in the city — about 4,500 as of Friday — than in all of the United Kingdom. The 13-mile long island of Manhattan alone has more confirmed cases than Brazil, Canada, Portugal, or Australia.
And it’s only going to get worse here. Millions could get infected and thousands could die. On Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), in a bid to stop the spread of the virus, took the extraordinary step of ordering all nonessential workers to stay home. Schools, restaurants and bars in the city are already closed. Many churches, mosques and synagogues have shut their doors. Largely empty subway cars roll beneath the streets.
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But what’s most concerning officials here is the city’s hospitals, which are set to be overrun.
Within just two weeks, hospitals will be out of crucial medical supplies. The city has placed a mammoth order with the federal government for 15,000 ventilators (needed to save the lives of most severely ill patients), 50 million surgical masks, and about 25 million each of gloves, face masks, coveralls and surgical gowns.
New York City Council Member Mark Levine, the chair of the health committee, has had an intimate look at the burgeoning crisis facing the city’s hospitals, and has been trying to raise alarm over the destruction the virus will reap here if even more drastic measures aren’t taken soon.
City Hall itself is closed, so Levine spoke to HuffPost over the phone Friday from his new office: his Washington Heights apartment.
When did you have your first “oh shit” moment about the coronavirus? When did you realize this was gonna be a historic event in New York?
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We all saw the projections from Italy and elsewhere and I think we intellectually knew what was coming, but there was a point maybe about 10 days ago where we could start to see the number of cases doubling every three to four days. And it immediately became clear that this crisis was upon us and that New York was about to experience something that none of us had ever seen in my lifetime.
New York City Council Member Mark Levine at a City Hall hearing about the coronavirus on March 6. William Alatriste
I understand you’re in touch with a lot of hospitals all over the city. What are you hearing? What are doctors and nurses and hospital administrators most worried about right now?
Supplies and equipment. Staffing. Space to some extent. They are busy now. They all have [COVID-19] patients. They all have some on ventilators at this point, not in large numbers yet. But their emergency rooms are also crowded by people who really shouldn’t be there. People who have mild symptoms, who should be healing at home, people who have fever and cough, which can be scary, but the truth is, doesn’t require medical attention.
Supplies. Hospitals, I think are running on a one- to two-week supply. People underestimate just how much they burn through in a single large hospital system — like New York Presbyterian can go through a million masks a week throughout its system. That’s not even the whole city. So we just need an enormous amount of supplies. We need 50 million surgical masks to manage this. That’s the number that we’re pushing. And we don’t have the ability to manufacture that so we’re relying on the federal government. So there’s enormous concern about that.
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Staffing is ultimately going to be one of the biggest problems because even if you can produce additional ventilators, running one requires an around-the-clock team of three, and that’s a specialized job. So they’re already asking doctors from outside of acute care to go back to the medical school books and read up on how to run a ventilator. And so staffing is going to be a challenge.
Look, we’re facing a total overrunning of our hospital system and that means we all have to entirely rethink how we interact with health care. And it means that we have to preserve every resource in the system for those who are in grave danger. When I say every resource, I mean every hospital bed, every doctor’s visit, every chair in a waiting room, every phone line, every five minutes of a receptionist’s time, all of it needs to be cleared for people who are facing severe, potentially life-threatening circumstances. The rest of us who have mild symptoms like high fever and cough, or are really worried, have to stay out of the way. We gotta get out of all those channels.
You mentioned that, at this point, New York is kind of largely dependent on the federal government for equipment. If you had a minute to talk to President Donald Trump, what is one thing you would tell him?
This is what the federal government exists for, to mobilize resources in a national crisis. And a city like New York cannot manufacture ventilators. We rely on the nation as the industrial base of this nation and we need him to do what FDR did in World War II and ramp up production, force factories to retool, and use every resource at this country’s disposal to blunt the impact on what is going to be a crisis unprecedented in American history.
Is it too late in a way for that kind of mobilization?
Well, I think that the failure to test early is actually going to go down in history as the second biggest failure in this crisis. The failure to begin mobilizing mass production of medical equipment and supplies is going to be the most epic failure in this crisis.
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Is it too late? I told you we have one to two weeks of personal protective equipment stockpiled. I don’t know how long it takes to purchase that equipment. But I’m extremely worried that even if the order goes forth today that it can’t be turned around that quickly. I don’t know. It’s not my job to know. It’s the federal government’s job to know and to do this.
What did you think of Governor Cuomo’s kind-of lockdown order today? Did it come soon enough?
I am enormously relieved that he took this step. We desperately need it ... I mean certainly Washington Heights, where I am, there are far too many people out. There are far too many people going to work because they have to. And there are far too many people doing nonessential errands and socializing. We had to take this to the next level. We had to mandate it. The recommendations weren’t working. And it’s been done now in cities and states around the country. California did it last night. It was time for New York to do it and I’m very relieved we did.
How long can New Yorkers expect to be working from their homes, to be taking all these types of precautions? Do we know yet?
We don’t know. I would caution New Yorkers to prepare for a very long haul. I would tell them to prepare for eight weeks. But that is really just a guess. And it depends on a lot of factors we don’t yet understand about how fast the virus will spread.
As far as all the projections and estimates that you’ve seen … for a worst case scenario for New York, as far as the number of people infected, the number of people that will die, do you have a number you’re comfortable talking about?
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Worst case? Oh, my god. Worst case is that millions of people in New York City are infected and that a 100,000 or more could die.
The worst case doesn’t have to happen. And there’s a lot we can do to prevent that. If we can avoid the crush happening at once on our medical system, and slow this down, even if ultimately, most of us do get the virus, the medical system will be able to care for most of us. And that’s why social distancing is critical. And why staying out of the health care system, if you can avoid it, is also an obligation we all have.
OK. Are you sleeping at the moment?
[Laughs] Not enough. It’s very hard, very, very hard. You might hear it in my voice.
If you had words of encouragement for New Yorkers right now, what would it be?
Look, we have so many assets here. We have among the most advanced medical institutions in the world. We have the largest and best public hospital system in the world. We have the best, in my opinion, big city public health system, best health department in the world. We have a government that has the resources and the will to help the most vulnerable. And you know, we’ve been through a lot in New York City. We survived the Great Depression. We survived the 1979 blackout, we survived 9/11, and we survived the 2008 financial meltdown. We will get through this, we will bounce back. I really believe that.
Last question. If you had to imagine the day this is all over, everybody gets to go to bars and restaurants again, what is the first thing as a New Yorker that you will do to enjoy that moment?
I’ll be heading to Coogans in Washington Heights. Favorite neighborhood spot.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-21--Fox Business' Lou Dobbs Self-Quarantines After Staffer Tests Positive For COVID-19

Fox Business host Lou Dobbs — the staunch Trump ally who has previously downplayed the threat of the coronavirus pandemic — has placed himself into self-quarantine after a staffer tested positive for COVID-19 .
“ Lou is in self-quarantine tonight , ” fill-in host David Asman announced on Friday ’ s broadcast of “ Lou Dobbs Tonight.
” “ We just learned that one of his team members has tested positive for COVID-19 , ” Asman explained .
“ We fully support that employee 100 % who we all wish a speedy recovery.
” “ Lou feels well , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms , but , out of an abundance of caution , he and his team are taking the necessary precautions.
” “ As soon as we learned of the test result , we mandated that this employee ’ s direct co-workers/team self-quarantine for 14 days since last contact at the direction of our medical professionals , ” Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace said in a statement shared online by CNN ’ s Oliver Darcy .
“ We are fully supporting the employee and wishing them a speedy recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace inform staffers that a Fox Business employee in New York has tested positive for coronavirus .
Here 's the note that just went out .
pic.twitter.com/m3Mf8z0TCY — Oliver Darcy ( @ oliverdarcy ) March 20 , 2020 Dobbs only earlier this month accused the “ national left-wing media ” of “ playing up fears of the coronavirus ” in an effort to crash the stock market ― the implication being that they sought to hurt President Donald Trump , who Dobbs frequently and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , Dobbs asked viewers to rate Trump ’ s leadership amid the public health crisis , offering only positive ratings ranging from “ very good ” to “ superb.
” # LDTPoll : How would you grade President Trump ’ s leadership in the nation 's fight against the Wuhan Virus ... superb , great or very good ?
# KAG2020 # AmericaFirst # Dobbs — Lou Dobbs ( @ LouDobbs ) March 18 , 2020

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Fox Business host Lou Dobbs — the staunch Trump ally who has previously downplayed the threat of the coronavirus pandemic — has placed himself into self-quarantine after a staffer tested positive for COVID-19.
“Lou is in self-quarantine tonight,” fill-in host David Asman announced on Friday’s broadcast of “Lou Dobbs Tonight.”
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“We just learned that one of his team members has tested positive for COVID-19,” Asman explained. “We fully support that employee 100%, who we all wish a speedy recovery.”
“Lou feels well,” Asman added. “He has no symptoms, but, out of an abundance of caution, he and his team are taking the necessary precautions.”
Check out the clip here:
"Lou is in self-quarantine. One of his team members tested positive." pic.twitter.com/g76axSyayX — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 20, 2020
“As soon as we learned of the test result, we mandated that this employee’s direct co-workers/team self-quarantine for 14 days since last contact at the direction of our medical professionals,” Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace said in a statement shared online by CNN’s Oliver Darcy.
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“We are fully supporting the employee and wishing them a speedy recovery,” they added.
New: Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace inform staffers that a Fox Business employee in New York has tested positive for coronavirus. Here's the note that just went out. pic.twitter.com/m3Mf8z0TCY — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 20, 2020
Dobbs only earlier this month accused the “national left-wing media” of “playing up fears of the coronavirus” in an effort to crash the stock market ― the implication being that they sought to hurt President Donald Trump, whom Dobbs frequently and staunchly defends on his show.
On Wednesday, Dobbs asked viewers to rate Trump’s leadership amid the public health crisis, offering only positive ratings ranging from “very good” to “superb.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-20--Desperate AMA Calls On Trump Administration To Address 'Critical' COVID-19 Supply Shortage

“ For days , physicians and frontline healthcare workers have been sounding the alarm that there is nowhere near enough PPE [ personal protective equipment ] ... a shortage that endangers patients and jeopardizes the entire response to this virus , ” Dr. Patrice Harris , president of the AMA , said in a statement .
Supplies are so scarce that physicians are “ wearing a single mask all day , cleaning them at home , and sewing their own protective gear , ” according to the statement .
The plea from the organization , which represents a quarter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called on the White House to “ pull every lever at their disposal to ramp up test kit availability and to equip physicians and the healthcare workforce to fight the virus .
Anything less is unacceptable at this critical juncture.
” While President Donald Trump on Wednesday invoked the Defense Production Act that grants him emergency powers to increase the manufacture of critical medical supplies , it remains “ unclear to what degree that authority is being utilized , ” the statement said .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday to finally get production moving .
Trump assured the senator he would , then “ yelled to someone in his office to ‘ Do it now , ’ ” according to a Schumer spokesperson , Politico reported .
What is going on here , President Trump ?
We called on you to invoke the Defense Production Act .
But in addition , we expect you to use it immediately .
Why aren ’ t you using this authority now to make testing kits , masks , beds , ventilators ?
https : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) March 20 , 2020 Trump said Wednesday that he would only use the emergency production powers in the “ worst-case scenario.
” But he then declared at his news conference Friday : “ We are using it for certain things that we need , ” including ventilators and “ millions of masks that are coming.
” On Wednesday , the AMA sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence , the coronavirus task force head , noting that the administration had informed the organization that limited protective gear in the Strategic National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet the needs of our nation ’ s health workforce.
” The AMA also expressed deep concern about reports from physicians of a “ severe shortage ” of essential coronavirus testing components needed to assess samples .
“ Shortages of these essential supplies are forcing physicians to severely restrict access to testing services , ” the letter stated .
Trump falsely said early this month that “ anybody that needs a test gets a test , ” despite a major shortage of coronavirus tests .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testified last week that the testing situation in the U.S. was “ a failing.
” He said Friday that the “ reality ” is that people with symptoms are often still unable to get tests but that the situation is “ getting better .
”

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“For days, physicians and frontline healthcare workers have been sounding the alarm that there is nowhere near enough PPE [personal protective equipment] ... a shortage that endangers patients and jeopardizes the entire response to this virus,” Dr. Patrice Harris, president of the AMA, said in a statement.
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Supplies are so scarce that physicians are “wearing a single mask all day, cleaning them at home, and sewing their own protective gear,” according to the statement.
The plea from the organization, which represents a quarter of a million physicians in the U.S., called on the White House to “pull every lever at their disposal to ramp up test kit availability and to equip physicians and the healthcare workforce to fight the virus. Anything less is unacceptable at this critical juncture.”
While President Donald Trump on Wednesday invoked the Defense Production Act that grants him emergency powers to increase the manufacture of critical medical supplies, it remains “unclear to what degree that authority is being utilized,” the statement said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he urged Trump in a phone call Friday to finally get production moving. Trump assured the senator he would, then “yelled to someone in his office to ‘Do it now,’” according to a Schumer spokesperson, Politico reported.
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What is going on here, President Trump?
We called on you to invoke the Defense Production Act. But in addition, we expect you to use it immediately.
Why aren’t you using this authority now to make testing kits, masks, beds, ventilators? https://t.co/wL3kBTRgOO — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 20, 2020
Trump said Wednesday that he would only use the emergency production powers in the “worst-case scenario.” But he then declared at his news conference Friday: “We are using it for certain things that we need,” including ventilators and “millions of masks that are coming.”
On Wednesday, the AMA sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence, the coronavirus task force head, noting that the administration had informed the organization that limited protective gear in the Strategic National Stockpile “will not be able to meet the needs of our nation’s health workforce.”
The AMA also expressed deep concern about reports from physicians of a “severe shortage” of essential coronavirus testing components needed to assess samples. “Shortages of these essential supplies are forcing physicians to severely restrict access to testing services,” the letter stated.
Trump falsely said early this month that “anybody that needs a test gets a test,” despite a major shortage of coronavirus tests. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testified last week that the testing situation in the U.S. was “a failing.” He said Friday that the “reality” is that people with symptoms are often still unable to get tests but that the situation is “getting better.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-20--Why Social Distancing Could Go On A Lot Longer Than We Think

There ’ s More Than One Way To Flatten A Curve Herd Immunity Could Limit The Spread Of Disease — But Not Enough “ Herd immunity ” is a term that comes up every flu season ( and in just about every anti-vaccination debate ) .
It means that if enough people in a given population are immune to a disease , then the disease won ’ t be able to spread as easily from person to person .
When it comes to diseases for which there are vaccines , like measles or the seasonal flu , that means a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t get sick , and therefore can ’ t infect someone who hasn ’ t been vaccinated .
And it means that if you do get sick , you won ’ t pass the infection on to people who have been vaccinated .
Even when a vaccine isn ’ t perfect , it can still help to keep a disease from tearing through your town .
We ’ re Going To Have To Keep Up Social Distancing Cases Of The Virus Could Go Down — And Then Go Way Back Up This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tends to go down in the summer when it ’ s hotter and more humid and people are spending less time cooped up indoors .
Then rates rebound in the fall .
It ’ s possible that the novel coronavirus could behave similarly , though Gordon points out that it seems to be transmitting quite easily in hot , humid climates like Singapore and Indonesia .
Scientists don ’ t know enough about it to make a prediction .
A summer slump and autumn rise could have to do with seasonality of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timing .
The Prospects Are ‘ Scary ’ ― But The More We Learn , The More We ’ ll Know

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If and when the world sees a reduction in the number of new coronavirus cases, we may have the work of Neil Ferguson, a British mathematical biologist, to thank. A widely respected epidemiologist, Ferguson has used mathematical models to study the transmission of swine flu, Ebola, Zika and other diseases. In early February, Ferguson and his colleagues at Imperial College London were among the first to conclude, using statistical analysis, that China had radically undercounted COVID-19 cases.
But it is a report that Ferguson released on March 16 that jolted governments in the U.S. and U.K. into action. If allowed to spread wholly unchecked, the disease would claim some 510,000 lives in Britain and up to 2.2 million in the United States, the study predicted (though it noted it’s unlikely any government would impose no control measures at all). Even with moderate levels of social distancing, the study warned, we’d see a surge of infections that would overwhelm hospitals and swamp health care systems.
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Ferguson concluded that “intensive, and socially disruptive interventions ... most notably, large scale social distancing, will need to be in place for many months, perhaps until a vaccine becomes available.”
By week’s end, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had abruptly shifted course, after previously minimizing social distancing on the premise that large numbers of Brits would need to contract the disease to develop “herd immunity.” In the U.S., President Donald Trump discouraged gatherings of more than 10 people, and the state of California ordered all of its residents to shelter in place on March 19.
Ferguson and his colleagues had shared preliminary drafts of their study with British and American officials before they publicly released it. What else is in the report that so alarmed both Downing Street and the White House?
The Imperial College researchers predicted the ways that various interventions could slow rates of infection, hospitalization and death in the continued absence of effective medical treatments or a vaccine. The study looked at five interventions: home isolation of cases (staying home for a week if you have symptoms); household quarantine (where anyone who lives in the same house as someone with symptoms self-isolates for two weeks); social distancing (reducing contact with other people by 75%); social distancing of those over 70 (who are most at risk of dying after contracting COVID-19); and closing schools and universities.
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Using data from China and other countries on how the virus is transmitted and how the infection progresses in patients, layered over models of social contacts in the U.K. and the U.S., the team created simulations to see how these interventions would work alone or in concert — and how they compared to no interventions at all.
All the interventions won out over complete inaction, and combinations of these methods were even more effective. But no one set of measures modeled in the simulations could stop the spread, save the most lives, and unburden an overwhelmed health care system all at once.
There’s More Than One Way To Flatten A Curve
You’ve probably seen some version of a graph representing potential COVID-19 cases with two curving lines on it. One line goes up real high, real fast, then comes back down; the other rises more gradually and doesn’t get as high, but takes much longer to return to zero. That second line is the “flattened” curve. That’s the goal.
If we were to let the virus spread unchecked, the number of cases would shoot up rapidly, and the influx of sick people would quickly overwhelm the capacity of hospitals. If, on the other hand, we implemented strategies to contain the spread of the virus — like practicing social distancing — it would pass from person to person more slowly, so there would be fewer cases at once, giving our health care system a fighting chance to respond.
That’s the basic picture. Of course, how to flatten the curve is an extremely complicated question. The Imperial College report modeled out the effects of two fundamental strategies — one set of interventions aimed at “mitigation,” or limiting deaths from the disease while still allowing some transmission, and one set aimed at “suppression,” or reducing the number of cases as much as possible. The researchers concluded that both approaches have the potential to flatten the curve, but neither is likely to stop the spread of the coronavirus any time soon.
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Herd Immunity Could Limit The Spread Of Disease — But Not Enough
“Herd immunity” is a term that comes up every flu season (and in just about every anti-vaccination debate). It means that if enough people in a given population are immune to a disease, then the disease won’t be able to spread as easily from person to person. When it comes to diseases for which there are vaccines, like measles or the seasonal flu, that means a person who’s been vaccinated won’t get sick, and therefore can’t infect someone who hasn’t been vaccinated. And it means that if you do get sick, you won’t pass the infection on to people who have been vaccinated. Even when a vaccine isn’t perfect, it can still help to keep a disease from tearing through your town.
But we don’t have a vaccine for this coronavirus yet, because it is totally new to us. And because it’s totally new to us, people haven’t had the chance to build up natural immunity to it, the way most of us probably have some immunological memory of past flus (antibodies) that help us resist getting sick every year.
What if we gave the population time to build up immunity? That’s part of the thinking behind the mitigation approach. If we isolate the most vulnerable (older people and people with existing health conditions) and those who are showing symptoms, but we let healthy (mostly younger) people go about life ― possibly passing the virus around, but not feeling sick as a result ― those people will build up antibodies to the novel coronavirus, and eventually herd immunity will naturally hamper its spread.
The Imperial College report concluded that with a combination of social distancing just among seniors and isolation of people with symptoms of COVID-19 and those who live with them, we could “reduce peak critical care demand by two-thirds and halve the number of deaths” over three to four months’ time.
But there’s a “but”: “This will not be enough to prevent health systems being overwhelmed,” Ferguson said. Even in this “‘optimal’ mitigation scenario,” the report warns, the need for critical care would be eight times higher than what hospitals in the U.S. and the U.K. can handle. (Capacity is represented by the flat red line in the graph below.) And a lot of people would still die: 250,000 Brits and as many as 1.2 million Americans.
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Mitigation strategy scenarios for Great Britain showing critical care (ICU) bed requirements. The black line shows the unmitigated epidemic. The green line shows a mitigation strategy incorporating closure of schools and universities; the orange line shows case isolation; the yellow line shows case isolation and household quarantine; and the blue line shows case isolation, home quarantine and social distancing of those aged over 70. The blue shading shows the three-month period in which these interventions are assumed to remain in place. Imperial College London
We’re Going To Have To Keep Up Social Distancing
The alternative to the mitigation route would be trying for suppression, to get the total number of cases as low as we can, which the Imperial College London researchers concluded “is the only viable strategy at the current time.” That means imposing social distancing to physically keep people from being able to pass the virus to each other. Millions of people in the U.S. and Europe are already getting a sense of what this is like. Get used to it.
“It’s not going to be a short-term process if we try to do suppression,” said Aubree Gordon, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, who was not involved in the study.
According to the projections, to stop or significantly staunch human-to-human transmission in the U.S. or U.K. would require a combination of social distancing of the entire population, isolating known cases, and either quarantining the households of known cases or closing schools and universities.
Though they recognize that these measures would be “disruptive,” the researchers believe they would minimize the number of new cases enough to not overwhelm hospitals, so the sickest can be treated. “While there are many uncertainties,” the report acknowledges, “such a combined strategy is the most likely one to ensure that critical care bed requirements would remain within surge capacity.” (One of the uncertainties is what happens when health care professionals can’t get child care and have to miss work.)
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There’s a “but” here, too. Social distancing prevents herd immunity from developing. As soon as isolation and social distancing restrictions are lifted, the coronavirus will start spreading all over again.
“The problem is that no one other than those who have recovered from the infection are likely to be immune,” Barry Bloom, an infectious disease and immunology expert at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told HuffPost.
And since the whole point of suppression is that very few people will get it, that means very few will develop immunity. The herd could get hit hard once again.
Cases Of The Virus Could Go Down — And Then Go Way Back Up
According to the model, if the U.S. were to put social distancing measures in place by the end of March and enforce them for five months (yes, five whole months), you could expect to see infection rates decrease, or at least stay more or less within hospitals’ critical care capacity, until restrictions are lifted. After that, they would rise again, peaking sometime between October and December.
Suppression strategy scenarios for the U.S. showing ICU bed requirements. The black line shows the unmitigated epidemic. Green shows a suppression strategy incorporating closure of schools and universities, case isolation and population-wide social distancing beginning in late March 2020. The orange line shows a containment strategy incorporating case isolation, household quarantine and population-wide social distancing. The red line is the estimated surge ICU bed capacity in the U.S. The blue shading shows the five-month period in which these interventions are assumed to remain in place. Imperial College London
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This pattern may seem familiar. The flu tends to go down in the summer when it’s hotter and more humid and people are spending less time cooped up indoors. Then rates rebound in the fall. It’s possible that the novel coronavirus could behave similarly, though Gordon points out that it seems to be transmitting quite easily in hot, humid climates like Singapore and Indonesia. Scientists don’t know enough about it to make a prediction. A summer slump and autumn rise could have to do with seasonality of the infection — or it could be coincidental timing.
“No one really knows that this virus will survive the summer and come back in the fall,” Bloom said. “Everybody, including the model makers, are speculating.”
What’s pretty certain is that we won’t have a vaccine for a year to 18 months (or more), and that’s too long to keep people from going to work or school. What’s more, the better social distancing works, the worse things will be when the virus returns. “The more successful a strategy is at temporary suppression, the larger the later epidemic is predicted to be in the absence of vaccination, due to lesser build-up of herd immunity,” the report says.
That’s why the Imperial College model suggests that after an initial period of strict social distancing, people could start to move about again — until the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital ICUs rises to a certain level, at which point the restrictions would kick back in.
It might look like this: We spend April, May, June and July living a no-school, socially distanced existence, until critical cases fall dramatically. Then we get a few weeks’ reprieve before cases climb up to the trigger point and school is canceled again.
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The “triggering” model is more nimble; the thresholds can be raised or lowered as trends change, or on a state-to-state basis. And it allows for periods of normalcy, although social distancing would be in effect two-thirds of the time. (Case isolation, household quarantine and social distancing of people 70 and over would remain in effect throughout.) And the number of cases would continue bouncing up and down until we found an effective vaccine. The researchers’ simulation goes for two years.
The Prospects Are ‘Scary’ ― But The More We Learn, The More We’ll Know
“The challenges we collectively face are daunting,” said Christl Donnelly, one of the authors of the Imperial College report, in a statement. “However, our work indicates if a combination of measures are implemented, then transmission can be substantially reduced. These measures will be disruptive but uncertainties will reduce over time, and while we await effective vaccines and drugs, these public health measures can reduce demands on our healthcare systems.”
“It’s a very well done study,” Gordon said, “and very scary.” But she emphasized that the model will be continually updated and refined as we learn more about the virus and how to treat it, and as we ramp up testing to see how it’s spreading here.
Policy and decision-making will depend on testing and “having really smart people model the course of the epidemic in real time, not just in analogy to China,” Bloom said.
Ferguson may be personally modeling the course and how to slow it. The scientist, an adviser to the British government who recently attended a Downing Street briefing, tweeted Wednesday that he had a cough and fever and was self-isolating.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-21--Andrew Cuomo Emerges As Heartfelt Voice Of Coronavirus Reason. Trump, Not So Much

This week Americans glued to press briefings have seen two prominent U.S. political leaders with strikingly different personalities talking about the same thing — the coronavirus pandemic — in a dramatically different manner .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has been straight-forward , calm , lecturing .
President Donald Trump has been scattershot , boastful and angry .
The Recount political site did a mashup of scenes from the men ’ s very different presentations .
The clips don ’ t provide much the of information delivered , but do dramatically reveal the stark contrast between the tone and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out above .
As Trump lashes out at reporter , Cuomo talks about love .
Cuomo ’ s briefings on the battle against the pandemic have triggered a surprise outpouring of support for the third-term governor many take for granted .
Even Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani has grudgingly admitted “ my governor , Andrew Cuomo ... is keeping us well informed.
” I continue to be impressed with the briefings given by @ realDonaldTrump and his world-class experts .
Similarly , my Governor , Andrew Cuomo who is keeping us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of excessive fear , which can be as dangerous as Covid-19 .
— Rudy W. Giuliani ( @ RudyGiuliani ) March 19 , 2020 Cuomo and Trump have been at loggerheads over coronavirus .
After a “ good ” teleconference with governors on Monday , it was Cuomo Trump singled out for criticism , saying he has to “ do more.
” Trump had told the governors it was up to them to find medical supplies such as ventilators and protective gear for health-care workers amid a dangerously inadequate supply .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ YOU have to do something !
You ’ re supposed to be the president !
” I have to do more ?
No — YOU have to do something !
You ’ re supposed to be the President .
https : //t.co/tYeDt1lcOZ — Andrew Cuomo ( @ NYGovCuomo ) March 16 , 2020 But Cuomo said on “ Morning Joe ” on Thursday that he had spoken with the president and told him : “ You step up , you help my state , you help my people , you help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my hand out in partnership 100 % because politics be darned right now , right ?
”

This week, Americans glued to press briefings have seen two prominent U.S. political leaders with strikingly different personalities talking about the same thing — the coronavirus pandemic — in a dramatically different manner.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been straightforward, calm, lecturing. President Donald Trump has been scattershot, boastful and angry.
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The Recount political site did a mashup of scenes from the men’s very different presentations. The clips don’t provide much of the information delivered, but do dramatically reveal the stark contrast between the executives’ tone and personality. Check it out above. As Trump lashes out at a reporter, Cuomo talks about love.
The Associated Press on Friday deemed Cuomo the “Democratic counter” to Trump’s coronavirus response.
Cuomo’s briefings on the battle against the pandemic have triggered a surprise outpouring of support for the third-term governor many take for granted. Even Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani has grudgingly admitted “my governor, Andrew Cuomo ... is keeping us well informed.”
I continue to be impressed with the briefings given by @realDonaldTrump and his world-class experts.
Similarly, my Governor, Andrew Cuomo who is keeping us well informed.
Both are countering effectively the spread of excessive fear, which can be as dangerous as Covid-19. — Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) March 19, 2020
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Cuomo and Trump have been at loggerheads over the coronavirus. After a “good” teleconference with governors on Monday, it was Cuomo Trump singled out for criticism, saying he has to “do more.”
Trump had told the governors it was up to them to find medical supplies such as ventilators and protective gear for health care workers amid a dangerously inadequate supply. “No,” Cuomo tweeted back. “YOU have to do something! You’re supposed to be the president!”
Just had a very good tele-conference with Nation’s Governors. Went very well. Cuomo of New York has to “do more”. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2020
I have to do more?
No — YOU have to do something! You’re supposed to be the President. https://t.co/tYeDt1lcOZ — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 16, 2020
But Cuomo said on “Morning Joe” on Thursday that he had spoken with the president and told him: “You step up, you help my state, you help my people, you help this country, and I will put my hand out in partnership 100% because politics be darned right now, right?”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-20--During A Global Pandemic, Idaho Lawmakers Prioritize Attacking Trans Kids’ Rights

Keith Ridler/ASSOCIATED PRESS The Idaho House passed two anti-transgender bills before ending its session early because of the coronavirus .
The Idaho state legislature has not yet passed any measures designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus or to help residents with the economic fallout .
It has , however , found time to pass two unprecedented anti-transgender bills , one of which specifically targets trans children .
The two measures , informally known as the birth certificate bill and the sports bill , would have a deep and lasting impact on the LGBTQ community in Idaho if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HuffPost .
The sports bill bans all transgender and intersex girls from competing in girls sports in public schools throughout the state .
The birth certificate bill prevents all transgender and gender non-conforming people from changing the gender marked on their birth certificate to match their true gender identity .
The bills passed both chambers in the state legislature this week and now head to Gov .
Brad Little ’ s desk .
Little , a Republican , has not signaled whether he will sign either into law .
He has until Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re also coming at a disturbing time , when most people are focused on their health and finances as COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , spreads around the nation and the economy wavers .
LGBTQ rights activists are appalled that this kind of legislation remains a priority .
“ In the midst of a global crisis , the message that ’ s coming from Idaho right now is that it is a priority to attack trans youth , ” Chris Mosier , a Team USA duo athlete and a transgender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters on Thursday .
But the legislature has taken no action to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state , which had 23 confirmed cases as of Friday , other than decide to end its legislative session early .
In the neighboring state of Washington , with 1,376 confirmed coronavirus cases and 74 deaths , the state legislature has passed several bills to help fight the pandemic including more funding for health departments , affordable housing and transportation .
LGBTQ rights advocates worry that the Republican-controlled legislature in Idaho may be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest of the nation is preoccupied fighting a pandemic .
“ The corresponding outrage that should be coming with these bills has not been as loud as it might otherwise because everyone is occupied with a true emergency , ” Oakley said .
If signed by the governor , the sports bill would be the first of its kind at the state level .
Both bills have been deemed unconstitutional and discriminatory by the attorney general of Idaho , who discouraged the legislature from passing either .
He said the bills would tie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could become a drain on public funds .
This year , Republican lawmakers across the country have introduced a record-breaking number of anti-transgender measures , filing 60 specifically anti-trans bills in just the first three months of 2020 .
During all of last year , there were only 19 anti-trans bills introduced in the U.S .
This year , 16 states have filed 25 bills to ban trans and intersex girls from competing in women ’ s sports .
The states include Alabama , Louisiana , Missouri and South Carolina .
The two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ furthest , other than Idaho , are Tennessee and Arizona , but both have also slowed momentum on the legislation and shifted focus to fighting the coronavirus .
These sports bills , like other anti-LGBTQ legislation , prey on fear and miseducation .
It ’ s a “ nefarious and dishonest ” way for the right to push their anti-trans agenda , Oakley said , pointing to the myth that trans women are simply cisgender men posing as women in order to assault cis women .
“ Trans folks in Idaho and across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not transgender people should have the same experiences as their peers , ” Mosier said .
“ And it doesn ’ t really matter at this point if the bill gets [ enacted ] or not , some of the damage has already been done to the trans community .
”

The Idaho House passed two anti-transgender bills before ending its session early because of the coronavirus. Keith Ridler/ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Idaho state legislature has not yet passed any measures designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus or to help residents with the economic fallout. It has, however, found time to pass two unprecedented anti-transgender bills, one of which specifically targets trans children.
The two measures, informally known as the birth certificate bill and the sports bill, would have a deep and lasting impact on the LGBTQ community in Idaho if they became law, LGBTQ rights advocates told HuffPost. The sports bill bans all transgender and intersex girls from competing in girls sports in public schools throughout the state. The birth certificate bill prevents all transgender and gender non-conforming people from changing the gender marked on their birth certificate to match their true gender identity.
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The bills passed both chambers in the state legislature this week and now head to Gov. Brad Little’s desk. Little, a Republican, has not signaled whether he will sign either into law. He has until Tuesday to make his decision.
Both measures are “flagrantly unconstitutional,” Cathryn Oakley, state legislative director and senior counsel for the Human Rights Campaign, told HuffPost.
They’re also coming at a disturbing time, when most people are focused on their health and finances as COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, spreads around the nation and the economy wavers. LGBTQ rights activists are appalled that this kind of legislation remains a priority.
“In the midst of a global crisis, the message that’s coming from Idaho right now is that it is a priority to attack trans youth,” Chris Mosier, a Team USA duo athlete and a transgender man, said during a call with reporters on Thursday.
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Last week, Little declared a state of emergency in Idaho over the coronavirus, which led to some school districts and workplaces closing.
The Idaho state legislature has not found the time to pass any bills to slow the spread of COVID-19. Keith Ridler/ASSOCIATED PRESS
But the legislature has taken no action to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state, which had 23 confirmed cases as of Friday, other than decide to end its legislative session early. In the neighboring state of Washington, with 1,376 confirmed coronavirus cases and 74 deaths, the state legislature has passed several bills to help fight the pandemic including more funding for health departments, affordable housing and transportation.
LGBTQ rights advocates worry that the Republican-controlled legislature in Idaho may be able to sneak these bills through since the rest of the nation is preoccupied fighting a pandemic. “The corresponding outrage that should be coming with these bills has not been as loud as it might otherwise because everyone is occupied with a true emergency,” Oakley said.
If signed by the governor, the sports bill would be the first of its kind at the state level. Both bills have been deemed unconstitutional and discriminatory by the attorney general of Idaho, who discouraged the legislature from passing either. He said the bills would tie the state up in major litigation and could become a drain on public funds.
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This year, Republican lawmakers across the country have introduced a record-breaking number of anti-transgender measures, filing 60 specifically anti-trans bills in just the first three months of 2020. During all of last year, there were only 19 anti-trans bills introduced in the U.S.
This year, 16 states have filed 25 bills to ban trans and intersex girls from competing in women’s sports. The states include Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri and South Carolina. The two states that have moved their bills the furthest, other than Idaho, are Tennessee and Arizona, but both have also slowed momentum on the legislation and shifted focus to fighting the coronavirus.
These sports bills, like other anti-LGBTQ legislation, prey on fear and miseducation. It’s a “nefarious and dishonest” way for the right to push their anti-trans agenda, Oakley said, pointing to the myth that trans women are simply cisgender men posing as women in order to assault cis women.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-20--Joe Biden 'Desperately' Wants To Talk To Americans

Former Vice President Joe Biden wants to get himself out there on people ’ s screens every day — he ’ s just waiting for his team to finish setting it up .
“ We ’ re in the process of setting up the mechanisms by which we can do that , ” Biden told reporters Friday about his campaign ’ s efforts to have a more robust virtual presence during the coronavirus outbreak .
His campaign is working to set up a system where he can be covered by the “ networks , ” he said , adding , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above my pay grade.
” Both Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) campaigns have canceled all public appearances , rallies and town halls as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the country , forcing many into their homes and shutting down large gatherings of people .
The relative silence of Biden , whose status as the all-but-certain nominee of the party has worried Democrats who are afraid the party isn ’ t matching the messaging heft of President Donald Trump ’ s daily White House press conferences .
From the call , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustration : “ I want to be in daily or at least significant contact with the American people and communicate what I would be doing and what I think we should be doing , ” he said , adding he “ desperately ” wants to communicate with the public more .
“ I promise you ’ re going to hear more of me than you want to , ” he added at the end of the call .
Biden ’ s campaign ’ s first virtual town hall struggled with production and technical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off camera , sound cut in and out and Biden ended the event by apologizing for the “ disjointed effort.
” “ Feel like Joe Biden is missing a major opportunity by not having a weekly livestream that begins with some words of support and empowerment for those Americans fearful of what Coronavirus means for their families , their jobs , and their retirement accounts , ” Democratic strategist and media pundit Max Burns tweeted Friday .
Sanders , whose campaign has emphasized having an online presence throughout the last year , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remote work : a digital town hall , fireside chat and a digital rally with musical performances from Willie Nelson and the lead singer of My Morning Jacket .
But Biden ’ s campaign , which admittedly has a much older less digital base of support , hasn ’ t focused on building that same online infrastructure .
Meanwhile , President Donald Trump has been holding daily press conferences with members of his coronavirus task force and getting wall-to-wall coverage on cable news .
During these , he ’ s praised his administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , hyped up a possible vaccine and downplayed any economic fallout .
On Friday , Trump said the media was over-sensationalizing the pandemic , contradicting his own advisers .
Biden started the call Friday by lambasting Trump ’ s response to the pandemic , and said the president needed to focus more on delivering needed medical supplies to hospitals and guaranteeing reliable COVID-19 tests for every American who needs one .
“ He ’ s all over the map .
In a crisis we need leadership that ’ s straightforward , clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Stop swerving between over-promising , buck-passing , and start delivering protection to our people.
” “ The only thing Joe Biden knows about handling a public health crisis is that the Obama White House had to apologize for his remarks that set off a panic during the swine flu outbreak in 2009 , ” Tim Murtaugh , Trump ’ s 2020 campaign spokesperson , said in a statement .
“ The President is leading an unprecedented mobilization of America against the coronavirus and all Joe Biden can offer is ineffective partisan sniping @ @ @ @ @

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Former Vice President Joe Biden wants to get himself out there on people’s screens every day — he’s just waiting for his team to finish setting it up.
“We’re in the process of setting up the mechanisms by which we can do that,” Biden told reporters Friday about his campaign’s efforts to have a more robust virtual presence during the coronavirus outbreak. His campaign is working to set up a system where he can be covered by the “networks,” he said, adding, jokingly, that it’s “above my pay grade.”
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Both Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) campaigns have canceled all public appearances, rallies and town halls as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the country, forcing many into their homes and shutting down large gatherings of people. The relative silence of Biden, whose status as the all-but-certain nominee of the party has worried Democrats who are afraid the party isn’t matching the messaging heft of President Donald Trump’s daily White House press conferences.
From the call, it was clear that Biden shares their frustration: “I want to be in daily or at least significant contact with the American people and communicate what I would be doing and what I think we should be doing,” he said, adding he “desperately” wants to communicate with the public more.
“I promise you’re going to hear more of me than you want to,” he added at the end of the call.
Biden’s campaign’s first virtual town hall struggled with production and technical issues; the former vice president paced off camera, sound cut in and out and Biden ended the event by apologizing for the “disjointed effort.”
Since, Biden’s campaign has livestreamed a speech on the coronavirus epidemic, and held press availabilities, leaving room for more interactions with supporters.
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“I promise you’re going to hear more of me than you want to.” - Joe Biden, Democratic presidential candidate
“Feel like Joe Biden is missing a major opportunity by not having a weekly livestream that begins with some words of support and empowerment for those Americans fearful of what Coronavirus means for their families, their jobs, and their retirement accounts,” Democratic strategist and media pundit Max Burns tweeted Friday.
Sanders, whose campaign has emphasized having an online presence throughout the last year, has held several livestreamed events since transitioning to remote work: a digital town hall, fireside chat and a digital rally with musical performances from Willie Nelson and the lead singer of My Morning Jacket. But Biden’s campaign, which admittedly has a much older less digital base of support, hasn’t focused on building that same online infrastructure.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has been holding daily press conferences with members of his coronavirus task force and getting wall-to-wall coverage on cable news. During these, he’s praised his administration’s response to the public health crisis, hyped up a possible vaccine and downplayed any economic fallout. On Friday, Trump said the media was over-sensationalizing the pandemic, contradicting his own advisers.
Biden started the call Friday by lambasting Trump’s response to the pandemic, and said the president needed to focus more on delivering needed medical supplies to hospitals and guaranteeing reliable COVID-19 tests for every American who needs one.
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“He’s all over the map. In a crisis we need leadership that’s straightforward, clear and reliable,” Biden said. “Stop swerving between over-promising, buck-passing, and start delivering protection to our people.”
Biden also suggested corporations who receive federal bailout money as part of a stimulus package should be barred from stock buybacks or executive bonuses, and suggested ending evictions during the pandemic.
Trump’s presidential campaign brushed off Biden’s advice.
“The only thing Joe Biden knows about handling a public health crisis is that the Obama White House had to apologize for his remarks that set off a panic during the swine flu outbreak in 2009,” Tim Murtaugh, Trump’s 2020 campaign spokesperson, said in a statement. “The President is leading an unprecedented mobilization of America against the coronavirus and all Joe Biden can offer is ineffective partisan sniping from the sidelines.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-21--Elizabeth Warren Calls Out Walmart, Amazon And McDonald’s Over Sick Leave

Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
is calling on Walmart , Amazon and McDonald ’ s ― three of the largest employers in the U.S. ― to provide real paid sick leave to all their employees , franchise workers and contractors to combat the coronavirus epidemic sweeping the U.S .
While all three have introduced some kind of emergency sick leave policy in response to the outbreak , none of the policies are sufficient to address the public health crisis , she says .
“ I appreciate that your stores have remained open during this difficult time , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure that Americans have access to food during the pandemic , ” Warren wrote in letters to the companies .
“ As one of the largest employers in the United States , you have a responsibility in this escalating public health emergency to act to protect your workers and ensure your company ’ s policies are not exacerbating a pandemic , ” the senator continued .
“ I am concerned that gaps in these policies will leave many workers without the option to follow best medical advice when they are sick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their communities at greater risk.
” McDonald ’ s sick pay doesn ’ t extend to workers in its franchises , which make up 95 % of its stores , Warren wrote .
Meanwhile , Walmart ’ s policy is only accessible if you either test positive for the virus or are under official quarantine .
Workers there told HuffPost that they ’ re not able to access paid time off for a variety of reasons right now .
Amazon ’ s policy doesn ’ t apply to its many contractors and subcontractors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thereof are under the spotlight right now as the U.S. faces a massive public health crisis .
More than half of workers at large employers say they don ’ t actually have access to paid sick leave .
That means millions of people are facing a dark choice between their own health and that of their community and a paycheck .
The U.S. does not guarantee workers paid sick time , standing apart from most other developed countries .
The current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is that if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should stay home .
Other workers need to be home right now to care for kids who are home from school or to deal with sick family members , Warren points out .
The CDC also recommends that Americans avoid the doctor ’ s office right now to reduce the burden on the health care system .
That puts workers who need medical documentation to get sick leave in a double-bind .
In the letters , Warren urges the companies to follow the policy laid out in a bill proposed recently by Sens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kirsten Gillibrand ( D-N.Y. ) , that would give workers 14 days of emergency paid leave with no strings ― regardless of how long they ’ ve been at a company , or if they have a doctor ’ s note , and without having to use any other accrued paid time off .
Though President Donald Trump recently signed legislation that would provide workers with 10 days of paid sick leave during the outbreak , his administration pushed for a massive loophole in the bill that leaves out workers at companies with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the workers at the three companies Warren called out .
She writes that companies should not require that workers get documentation to prove they ’ re sick or need to be quarantined .
Finally , she wants companies to make sure that those who are still working are protected with adequate cleaning supplies and staffing levels .
On Friday , Sens .
Cory Booker ( D-N.J. ) , Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , Bob Menendez ( D-N.J. ) and Sherrod Brown ( D-Ohio ) sent a similar letter to Amazon CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more to protect warehouse workers after the company announced an employee in its Queens facility was diagnosed with COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
Amazon employees have said that they do not feel protected at this time , even as the company is facing a surge in orders amid the outbreak .
Recently , the company said it would pay workers $ 2 more an hour to deal with the increase in work and it ’ s looking to hire more employees .

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is calling on Walmart, Amazon and McDonald’s ― three of the largest employers in the U.S. ― to provide real paid sick leave to all their employees, franchise workers and contractors to combat the coronavirus epidemic sweeping the U.S.
While all three have introduced some kind of emergency sick leave policy in response to the outbreak, none of the policies are sufficient to address the public health crisis, she says.
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“I appreciate that your stores have remained open during this difficult time, and that you are doing your part to make sure that Americans have access to food during the pandemic,” Warren wrote in letters to the companies.
“As one of the largest employers in the United States, you have a responsibility in this escalating public health emergency to act to protect your workers and ensure your company’s policies are not exacerbating a pandemic,” the senator continued. “I am concerned that gaps in these policies will leave many workers without the option to follow best medical advice when they are sick, putting themselves, their colleagues, and their communities at greater risk.”
McDonald’s sick pay doesn’t extend to workers in its franchises, which make up 95% of its stores, Warren wrote. Meanwhile, Walmart’s policy is only accessible if you either test positive for the virus or are under official quarantine. Workers there told HuffPost that they’re not able to access paid time off for a variety of reasons right now. Amazon’s policy doesn’t apply to its many contractors and subcontractors.
Company sick leave policies or lack thereof are under the spotlight right now as the U.S. faces a massive public health crisis. More than half of workers at large employers say they don’t actually have access to paid sick leave. That means millions of people are facing a dark choice between their own health and that of their community and a paycheck. The U.S. does not guarantee workers paid sick time, standing apart from most other developed countries.
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The current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is that if any worker is feeling sick, they should stay home. Other workers need to be home right now to care for kids who are home from school or to deal with sick family members, Warren points out.
“I urge you to rise to the imperative of this public health crisis by providing universal, flexible paid leave and adequate health and safety protections for all your employees.” - Sen. Elizabeth Warren
The CDC also recommends that Americans avoid the doctor’s office right now to reduce the burden on the health care system. That puts workers who need medical documentation to get sick leave in a double-bind.
In the letters, Warren urges the companies to follow the policy laid out in a bill proposed recently by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), that would give workers 14 days of emergency paid leave with no strings ― regardless of how long they’ve been at a company, or if they have a doctor’s note, and without having to use any other accrued paid time off.
Though President Donald Trump recently signed legislation that would provide workers with 10 days of paid sick leave during the outbreak, his administration pushed for a massive loophole in the bill that leaves out workers at companies with more than 500 employees. Essentially, all the workers at the three companies Warren called out.
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Though Trump said he’d work on extending sick leave to more businesses, the latest proposal for coronavirus relief put forth by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell does not provide any additional sick leave.
Warren says that sick leave should apply to everyone, including part-time and new workers, as well as those at franchises, subsidiaries, contractors and subcontractors.
She writes that companies should not require that workers get documentation to prove they’re sick or need to be quarantined. Finally, she wants companies to make sure that those who are still working are protected with adequate cleaning supplies and staffing levels.
On Friday, Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) sent a similar letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, asking him to do more to protect warehouse workers after the company announced an employee in its Queens facility was diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Amazon employees have said that they do not feel protected at this time, even as the company is facing a surge in orders amid the outbreak. Recently, the company said it would pay workers $2 more an hour to deal with the increase in work and it’s looking to hire more employees.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-21--Ohio Is Trying To Use The Coronavirus Crisis To Stop Abortions

In an effort to ensure health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak have proper access to personal protective equipment , or PPE , authorities at both the state and federal level are asking doctors and patients to forego “ nonessential ” operations .
“ [ Y ] ou and your facility are ordered to immediately stop performing non-essential and elective surgical abortions .
Non-essential surgical abortions are those that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of a patient , ” Yost wrote in the letters , which were obtained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Women ’ s Med Center in Dayton , Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio ’ s Cincinnati Surgery Center , and Preterm in Cleveland .
It remains unclear whether medication abortion is still allowed in Ohio , as “ the pill ” would not require PPE to complete but can require a physical exam .
“ If you or your facility do not immediately stop performing non-essential or elective surgical abortions in compliance with the attached order , the Department of Health will take all appropriate measures , ” he warned the providers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , said in a statement that the Health Department ’ s order does not prohibit it from providing abortion care , including surgical abortion .
The department ’ s order , issued Tuesday , was a broad directive telling all the state ’ s health care providers to cancel all “ non-essential surgeries and procedures ” effective 5 p.m. Wednesday .
It did not mention abortion or outline any specific procedures that were considered nonessential .
To decide the necessity of any given procedure , the order gave four example criteria : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life if surgery or procedure is not performed ; ” “ threat of permanent dysfunction of an extremity or organ system ; ” “ risk of metastasis or progression of staging ; ” and “ risk of rapidly worsening to severe symptoms.
” NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland emphasized Saturday how limiting abortion access during a pandemic was “ reckless , ” as women could be forced to go out-of-state at a time when travel is actively discouraged .
“ People decide to end their pregnancies for a complex constellation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and birth on their health , ability to work , and strained economic circumstances .
These are conditions that do not go away ― and are likely heightened — in pandemic conditions , ” Copeland said in a statement .
She continued : “ Denying or delaying abortion care places an immediate burden on patients , their families , and the health system , and can have profound and lasting consequences.
” Reproductive rights groups have warned that the rapidly growing coronavirus outbreak could cripple abortion services , particularly in states where abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns have revolved around preventing doctors from contracting the virus , which would prohibit them from giving care for weeks on end .
Others have addressed how the issue of limited PPE is currently playing out in Ohio .
“ We worry that all health care resources are being channeled to nonelective procedures , and abortion tends to be classified as an elective procedure , ” Very Rev .
Katherine Hancock Ragsdale , president of the National Abortion Federation , previously told HuffPost .
“ We understand that abortion isn ’ t a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can be scheduled out .
But it can ’ t be scheduled out indefinitely .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
In an effort to ensure health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak have proper access to personal protective equipment, or PPE, authorities at both the state and federal level are asking doctors and patients to forego “nonessential” operations.
Ohio’s Department of Health, however, appears to be extending that order to what is widely considered essential health care: abortion.
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Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, sent letters dated Friday to three of the state’s abortion providers ordering them to stop providing surgical abortions effective immediately.
“[Y]ou and your facility are ordered to immediately stop performing non-essential and elective surgical abortions. Non-essential surgical abortions are those that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of a patient,” Yost wrote in the letters, which were obtained by HuffPost. They were addressed separately to the Women’s Med Center in Dayton, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio’s Cincinnati Surgery Center, and Preterm in Cleveland.
It remains unclear whether medication abortion is still allowed in Ohio, as “the pill” would not require PPE to complete but can require a physical exam.
Yost claimed he was enforcing an order from the Ohio Department of Health.
“If you or your facility do not immediately stop performing non-essential or elective surgical abortions in compliance with the attached order, the Department of Health will take all appropriate measures,” he warned the providers.
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Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio, however, said in a statement that the Health Department’s order does not prohibit it from providing abortion care, including surgical abortion.
The department’s order, issued Tuesday, was a broad directive telling all the state’s health care providers to cancel all “non-essential surgeries and procedures” effective 5 p.m. Wednesday. It did not mention abortion or outline any specific procedures that were considered nonessential.
To decide the necessity of any given procedure, the order gave four example criteria: “Threat to the patient’s life if surgery or procedure is not performed;” “threat of permanent dysfunction of an extremity or organ system;” “risk of metastasis or progression of staging;” and “risk of rapidly worsening to severe symptoms.”
NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland emphasized Saturday how limiting abortion access during a pandemic was “reckless,” as women could be forced to go out-of-state at a time when travel is actively discouraged.
“People decide to end their pregnancies for a complex constellation of reasons that include the impact of pregnancy and birth on their health, ability to work, and strained economic circumstances. These are conditions that do not go away ― and are likely heightened — in pandemic conditions,” Copeland said in a statement.
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She continued: “Denying or delaying abortion care places an immediate burden on patients, their families, and the health system, and can have profound and lasting consequences.”
Reproductive rights groups have warned that the rapidly growing coronavirus outbreak could cripple abortion services, particularly in states where abortion is already hard to secure. Some concerns have revolved around preventing doctors from contracting the virus, which would prohibit them from giving care for weeks on end.
Others have addressed how the issue of limited PPE is currently playing out in Ohio.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-21--What It's Like To Wait For Coronavirus To Get To You In Prison

By the next morning , the A and B units of the prison were placed in “ precautionary quarantine ” with “ restricted movement ” for the next nine days .
Some days , two prisoners said , they were only allowed to leave their cells in groups of 20 for about 30 minutes a day , enough time to either shower or use the phone .
Prisoners at Monroe — which is just 17 miles from the Life Care Center nursing home linked to at least 129 COVID-19 cases — had been bracing for a coronavirus lockdown .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being able to adequately protect themselves from potential exposure to a deadly virus .
A lack of clarity on who can get tested and what will happen to prisoners who get sick has the facility on edge .
Prisons and jails are uniquely dangerous places to be during a public health crisis .
It is impossible for most prisoners to follow basic recommended guidelines around social distancing , hand washing , and disinfecting surfaces .
Many incarcerated people live in a shared cell , sleep on bunk beds , and eat , exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The types of hand sanitizer and cleaning products that are strong enough to kill the coronavirus are banned in most detention facilities .
Even under regular circumstances , medical care is dismal .
Waiting In Fear Of An Outbreak Already , medical care inside the facility has not been great .
It “ was an eight-year fight ” for Cook and her husband to get him things like his own cell , access to gloves , a mask , and an EpiPen to manage his illness , she said .
When Rafay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him a week to get antibiotics , despite coughing up blood , he said .
Just last year , the head doctor at Monroe Correctional Complex was fired after several prisoners died due to inadequate medical care — including a man who never received treatment for a cancerous lump found more than a year before his death .
As the coronavirus outbreak surged in the areas around the prison , the DOC lagged in providing clear answers on the most basic elements of their response to the pandemic .
For more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many prison employees and how many incarcerated individuals had been tested for coronavirus .
When family members of prisoners pressed the question , they were told told only that there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 among the state ’ s incarcerated population — a fact that carried little significance without knowing how many people had been tested .
When the Monroe employee tested positive for coronavirus , the DOC suspended visitation through the state .
At Monroe , the A and B units — the two sections of the facility with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus-positive employee — on a precautionary quarantine .
The quarantine is expected to end on Sunday , Guthrie said .
Until then , they eat meals and receive medicine in their cells , where they are confined for most of the day .
At first , Rafay said , several prisoners refused to have their temperatures checked or report symptoms .
Being sick in prison often means being put into isolation away from their books , letters , legal documents and communication equipment .
To some prisoners , the A and B side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ do something ” than a meaningful effort at containment : People in the A and B units had come into frequent contact with people from C and D units at the gym , education areas and at work in the days between the infected employee ’ s shifts and the quarantine .
The corrections officers , who are more likely to become exposed to the virus than prisoners , work both sides of the prison .
DOC didn ’ t announce new screening procedures and temperature checks for its employees until March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for COVID-19 .
“ We started ordering thermometers on 3/11 but several times those orders were cancelled as out of stock , ” Guthrie wrote in an email in response to a question about the delay .
“ We also needed to work out details such as screening protocols , union concerns , etc .
and we were still waiting for guidance on leave from our state Human Resources office which continued to be updated through 3/14/20.
” Initially , employees who failed the screening questions or temperature checks were sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use their own leave to cover their absence , a policy that would incentivize employees not to disclose symptoms .
Earlier this week , DOC agreed to provide paid administrative leave to employees sent home as a result of the screening while the department establishes a secondary screening process for employees to return back to work .
Family members of prisoners who are not currently on lockdown worry that if enough corrections officers stay home , the prison will put additional units on lockdown because of a staff shortage .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in place an “ intensive cleaning protocol focusing on sanitizing high-touch surfaces ” and provided hand sanitizer to incarcerated individuals in supervised locations .
But the partner of a Monroe prisoner , who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation , said the cleaning supplies were inadequate .
The hand sanitizer made available to her partner was not alcohol-based and one of the all purpose cleaners prisoners have access to is supposed to be left on a surface for 10 to 15 minutes before being wiped down — making it useless for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisoners and their loved ones described an impossible situation : If they stayed quiet about what they viewed as insufficient safety measures , the virus could spread and kill people .
But if they spoke out , they risked losing access to the few things that make incarceration more bearable : time outside , visitors and education and training programs .
By the exceedingly low levels of transparency set by the nation ’ s prison system , Washington ’ s Department of Corrections has taken useful steps towards transparency .
The state has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carns , who has been holding daily conference calls , in which she answers questions submitted by citizens .
There is also a Family Council of individuals who advocate for their incarcerated family members from the outside .
“ We will muster every tool of public health , science and medicine to try to keep our patients safe .
We will apply every novel treatment and scare test , ” Ross MacDonald , the chief medical officer for New York ’ s Correctional Health Services tweeted on Wednesday .
“ But we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We can not socially distance dozens of elderly men living in a dorm , sharing a bathroom .
We have told you who is at risk .
Please let as many out as you possibly can .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
At around 2 a.m. on March 13, Atif Rafay was startled awake inside his prison cell to find a printed out piece of paper dropped on his bed. A prison employee, the memo said, had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and had potentially exposed prisoners in two units to it.
The employee, who last came to work at Monroe Correctional Complex in Washington state on March 8, took the test two days later and received the results on March 12. That evening, about 50 prisoners crowded into a room for movie night. They watched ”Harriet,” unaware that they had potentially been exposed to the coronavirus.
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The men “were not taking precautions at all,” said Rafay, who was a subject of ”The Confession Tapes,” a Netflix documentary series about possible false confessions. At that point, he continued, “we weren’t worried about it.”
The state Department of Corrections didn’t receive the information about the employee who tested positive until late on March 12, the department’s communications director Janelle Guthrie wrote in an email.
By the next morning, the A and B units of the prison were placed in “precautionary quarantine” with “restricted movement” for the next nine days. Some days, two prisoners said, they were only allowed to leave their cells in groups of 20 for about 30 minutes a day, enough time to either shower or use the phone.
Monroe Correctional Complex Maxar Technologies/US Geological Survey/Google Earth
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Prisoners at Monroe — which is just 17 miles from the Life Care Center nursing home linked to at least 129 COVID-19 cases — had been bracing for a coronavirus lockdown. Now prisoners are facing the reality of not being able to adequately protect themselves from potential exposure to a deadly virus. A lack of clarity on who can get tested and what will happen to prisoners who get sick has the facility on edge.
Prisons and jails are uniquely dangerous places to be during a public health crisis. It is impossible for most prisoners to follow basic recommended guidelines around social distancing, hand washing, and disinfecting surfaces. Many incarcerated people live in a shared cell, sleep on bunk beds, and eat, exercise and shower among crowds of other people. The types of hand sanitizer and cleaning products that are strong enough to kill the coronavirus are banned in most detention facilities. Even under regular circumstances, medical care is dismal.
Criminal justice advocates have been warning for weeks that it is a matter of when, not if, the deadly virus made its way into the country’s jails and prisons. Just this week, detention facilities in Pennsylvania, California and New York, including Rikers Island and Sing Sing, confirmed their first coronavirus cases.
Millions of lives hang in the balance if corrections officials don’t find a fix — immediately.
Waiting In Fear Of An Outbreak
“It feels like we’re sitting on the precipice of this incredible disaster,” said Suzanne Cook, who is married to a 62-year-old man with severe health problems who is incarcerated at Monroe.
Already, medical care inside the facility has not been great. It “was an eight-year fight” for Cook and her husband to get him things like his own cell, access to gloves, a mask, and an EpiPen to manage his illness, she said. When Rafay got pneumonia last year, it took him a week to get antibiotics, despite coughing up blood, he said. Just last year, the head doctor at Monroe Correctional Complex was fired after several prisoners died due to inadequate medical care — including a man who never received treatment for a cancerous lump found more than a year before his death.
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As the coronavirus outbreak surged in the areas around the prison, the DOC lagged in providing clear answers on the most basic elements of their response to the pandemic. For more than a week, the department would not disclose how many prison employees and how many incarcerated individuals had been tested for coronavirus. When family members of prisoners pressed the question, they were told told only that there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 among the state’s incarcerated population — a fact that carried little significance without knowing how many people had been tested.
At the end of the week, the DOC announced that it had tested 28 people among the state’s incarcerated population. Six tests came back negative, 22 are still pending.
Guthrie could not confirm how many prison employees had been tested because “staff are self-reporting as under privacy law so we have no way to know unless they tell us.”
When the Monroe employee tested positive for coronavirus, the DOC suspended visitation through the state. At Monroe, the A and B units — the two sections of the facility with prisoners who were recently exposed to the coronavirus-positive employee — on a precautionary quarantine. The quarantine is expected to end on Sunday, Guthrie said. Until then, they eat meals and receive medicine in their cells, where they are confined for most of the day.
At first, Rafay said, several prisoners refused to have their temperatures checked or report symptoms. Being sick in prison often means being put into isolation away from their books, letters, legal documents and communication equipment. To some prisoners, the A and B side lockdown seemed more like an effort to “do something” than a meaningful effort at containment: People in the A and B units had come into frequent contact with people from C and D units at the gym, education areas and at work in the days between the infected employee’s shifts and the quarantine. The corrections officers, who are more likely to become exposed to the virus than prisoners, work both sides of the prison.
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Unless individuals are in close contact with the individual who tested positive for COVID-19, they are considered at low risk, Guthrie said, citing Department of Health guidance.
DOC didn’t announce new screening procedures and temperature checks for its employees until March 15, three days after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. “We started ordering thermometers on 3/11 but several times those orders were cancelled as out of stock,” Guthrie wrote in an email in response to a question about the delay. “We also needed to work out details such as screening protocols, union concerns, etc. and we were still waiting for guidance on leave from our state Human Resources office which continued to be updated through 3/14/20.”
Initially, employees who failed the screening questions or temperature checks were sent home and were told they would need to use their own leave to cover their absence, a policy that would incentivize employees not to disclose symptoms. Earlier this week, DOC agreed to provide paid administrative leave to employees sent home as a result of the screening while the department establishes a secondary screening process for employees to return back to work. Family members of prisoners who are not currently on lockdown worry that if enough corrections officers stay home, the prison will put additional units on lockdown because of a staff shortage.
According to Guthrie, the state’s prisons put in place an “intensive cleaning protocol focusing on sanitizing high-touch surfaces” and provided hand sanitizer to incarcerated individuals in supervised locations. But the partner of a Monroe prisoner, who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation, said the cleaning supplies were inadequate. The hand sanitizer made available to her partner was not alcohol-based and one of the all purpose cleaners prisoners have access to is supposed to be left on a surface for 10 to 15 minutes before being wiped down — making it useless for cleaning high-use surfaces like telephones.
“Everyone’s really anxious, there’s a lot of uncertainty,” the prisoner’s partner said.
Several prisoners and their loved ones described an impossible situation: If they stayed quiet about what they viewed as insufficient safety measures, the virus could spread and kill people. But if they spoke out, they risked losing access to the few things that make incarceration more bearable: time outside, visitors and education and training programs.
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By the exceedingly low levels of transparency set by the nation’s prison system, Washington’s Department of Corrections has taken useful steps towards transparency. The state has an Office of Corrections Ombuds, Joanna Carns, who has been holding daily conference calls, in which she answers questions submitted by citizens. There is also a Family Council of individuals who advocate for their incarcerated family members from the outside.
But still, family members remain unsettled. “All they have are punitive measures,” said Cook. The DOC’s “mindset is all punishment and security but now they are supposed to be handling health and well-being,” she continued.
Prison reform advocates and medical experts nationwide are calling for the release of elderly and medically vulnerable prisoners and those who are being held in pretrial detention because they can’t afford bail, as well as a pause on imprisoning more people for low-level offenses.
“We will muster every tool of public health, science and medicine to try to keep our patients safe. We will apply every novel treatment and scare test,” Ross MacDonald, the chief medical officer for New York’s Correctional Health Services tweeted on Wednesday. “But we cannot change the fundamental nature of jail. We cannot socially distance dozens of elderly men living in a dorm, sharing a bathroom. We have told you who is at risk. Please let as many out as you possibly can.”
On Thursday, a coalition of Washington state lawmakers, criminal justice reform advocates, doctors, lawyers, academics, and family members of prisoners sent Gov. Jay Inslee (D) and DOC Secretary Stephen Sinclair a letter outlining steps to combat coronavirus in Washington’s prisons. The group proposed expanding testing of incarcerated individuals; creating non-punitive quarantines; allowing prisoners to have alcohol-based hand sanitizer, bleach, gloves, and masks; providing free or reduced cost phone and video calls; and releasing the elderly prisoners.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-21--Andrew Cuomo Emerges As Heartfelt Voice Of Coronavirus Reason. Trump, Not So Much.

This week , Americans glued to press briefings have seen two prominent U.S. political leaders with strikingly different personalities talking about the same thing — the coronavirus pandemic — in a dramatically different manner .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has been straightforward , calm , lecturing .
President Donald Trump has been scattershot , boastful and angry .
The Recount political site did a mashup of scenes from the men ’ s very different presentations .
The clips don ’ t provide much of the information delivered , but do dramatically reveal the stark contrast between the executives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out above .
As Trump lashes out at a reporter , Cuomo talks about love .
Cuomo ’ s briefings on the battle against the pandemic have triggered a surprise outpouring of support for the third-term governor many take for granted .
Even Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani has grudgingly admitted “ my governor , Andrew Cuomo ... is keeping us well informed.
” I continue to be impressed with the briefings given by @ realDonaldTrump and his world-class experts .
Similarly , my Governor , Andrew Cuomo who is keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effectively the spread of excessive fear , which can be as dangerous as Covid-19 .
— Rudy W. Giuliani ( @ RudyGiuliani ) March 19 , 2020 Cuomo and Trump have been at loggerheads over the coronavirus .
After a “ good ” teleconference with governors on Monday , it was Cuomo Trump singled out for criticism , saying he has to “ do more.
” Trump had told the governors it was up to them to find medical supplies such as ventilators and protective gear for health care workers amid a dangerously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuomo tweeted back .
“ YOU have to do something !
You ’ re supposed to be the president !
” I have to do more ?
No — YOU have to do something !
You ’ re supposed to be the President .
https : //t.co/tYeDt1lcOZ — Andrew Cuomo ( @ NYGovCuomo ) March 16 , 2020 But Cuomo said on “ Morning Joe ” on Thursday that he had spoken with the president and told him : “ You step up , you help my state , you help my people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will put my hand out in partnership 100 % because politics be darned right now , right ?
”