thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-24--Trump Hopes Country Will Be Reopened By Easter After Lockdown

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — With lives and the economy hanging in the balance , President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is hoping the country will be reopened by Easter , as he weighs how to refine nationwide social-distancing guidelines to put some workers back on the job amid the coronavirus outbreak .
As many public health officials call for stricter , not looser restrictions on public interactions , Trump said he was already looking toward easing the advisories that have sidelined workers , shuttered schools and led to a widespread economic slowdown .
“ I would love to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go by Easter , ” he said during a Fox News virtual town hall .
Health experts have made clear that unless Americans continue to dramatically limit social interaction — staying home from work and isolating themselves — the number of infections will overwhelm the health care system , as it has in parts of Italy , leading to many more deaths .
While the worst outbreaks are concentrated in certain parts of the country , such as New York , experts warn that the highly infectious disease is certain to spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Trump said during the virtual town hall from the Rose Garden .
He argued that tens of thousands of Americans die from the seasonal flu or in automobile accidents and “ we don ’ t turn the country off.
” “ We ’ ll assess at that time and we ’ ll give it some more time if we need a little more time , but we need to open this country up , ” he added .
“ We have to go back to work , much sooner than people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virtual town hall , Vice President Mike Pence said Trump has asked for recommendations from the White House coronavirus task force for how he can send people back to work while minimizing the public health risk .
He said Trump wants to find a way “ to open America back up.
” Trump ’ s enthusiasm for getting people back to work comes as he takes stock of the political toll the outbreak is taking .
It sets up a potential conflict with medical professionals , including many within his government , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to slow the spread of the virus , not fewer .
“ The president has listened to what I have said and to what the other people on the task force have said , when I have made recommendations he has taken them .
He ’ s never countered or overridden me , the idea of just pitting one against the other is just not helpful , ” Fauci said .
“ Our people want to return to work , ” the president tweeted .
“ They will practice Social Distancing and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over protectively & lovingly .
We can do two things together .
THE CURE CAN NOT BE WORSE ( by far ) THAN THE PROBLEM !
” Pence said there would be no formal decisions made until the current 15-day period of social distancing was complete when pressed on a specific timeline for lifting restrictions , according to a conference call participant who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of the private discussion .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — With lives and the economy hanging in the balance, President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is hoping the country will be reopened by Easter, as he weighs how to refine nationwide social-distancing guidelines to put some workers back on the job amid the coronavirus outbreak.
As many public health officials call for stricter, not looser restrictions on public interactions, Trump said he was already looking toward easing the advisories that have sidelined workers, shuttered schools and led to a widespread economic slowdown.
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“I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter,” he said during a Fox News virtual town hall.
Trump on why he picked Easter as the day he wants to end strict social distancing and reopen American businesses: "Easter is a very special day for me ... Easter Sunday, and you'll have packed churches all over our country." pic.twitter.com/6cXEtW8LmR — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 24, 2020
Health experts have made clear that unless Americans continue to dramatically limit social interaction — staying home from work and isolating themselves — the number of infections will overwhelm the health care system, as it has in parts of Italy, leading to many more deaths. While the worst outbreaks are concentrated in certain parts of the country, such as New York, experts warn that the highly infectious disease is certain to spread.
The U.S. is now more than a week into an unprecedented 15-day effort to encourage all Americans to drastically scale back their public activities.
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“I gave it two weeks,” Trump said during the virtual town hall from the Rose Garden. He argued that tens of thousands of Americans die from the seasonal flu or in automobile accidents and “we don’t turn the country off.”
“We’ll assess at that time and we’ll give it some more time if we need a little more time, but we need to open this country up,” he added. “We have to go back to work, much sooner than people thought.”
The reassessment comes as the White House is encouraging lawmakers on Capitol Hill to pass a roughly $2 trillion stimulus package to ease the financial pain for Americans and hard-hit industries.
President Donald Trump speaks with Vice President Mike Pence as they arrive for a Fox News Channel virtual town hall, at the White House, Tuesday, March 24, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ASSOCIATED PRESS
Appearing before the president at the virtual town hall, Vice President Mike Pence said Trump has asked for recommendations from the White House coronavirus task force for how he can send people back to work while minimizing the public health risk. He said Trump wants to find a way “to open America back up.”
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Trump’s enthusiasm for getting people back to work comes as he takes stock of the political toll the outbreak is taking. It sets up a potential conflict with medical professionals, including many within his government, who have called for more social restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, not fewer.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading expert on infectious diseases and a member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, told WMAL on Tuesday that Trump has always heeded his recommendations.
“The president has listened to what I have said and to what the other people on the task force have said, when I have made recommendations he has taken them. He’s never countered or overridden me, the idea of just pitting one against the other is just not helpful,” Fauci said.
Larry Kudlow, Trump’s top economic adviser, told reporters Tuesday that “public health includes economic health.”
“That’s the key point. And it’s not either-or. It’s not either-or, and that’s why we’re taking a fresh look at it,” he said.
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Earlier Tuesday, Trump took to Twitter.
“Our people want to return to work,” the president tweeted. “They will practice Social Distancing and all else, and Seniors will be watched over protectively & lovingly. We can do two things together. THE CURE CANNOT BE WORSE (by far) THAN THE PROBLEM!”
During a private conference call with roughly 30 conservative leaders on Tuesday, Pence reinforced Trump’s eagerness to lift coronavirus-related work and travel restrictions “in a matter of weeks, not months.”
Pence said there would be no formal decisions made until the current 15-day period of social distancing was complete when pressed on a specific timeline for lifting restrictions, according to a conference call participant who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of the private discussion.
Pence told the group that accommodations would need to be made for the highest-risk populations if and when restrictions begin to be lifted.
——
AP writer Steve Peoples in New York contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-24--Top Public Health Expert: Lifting Coronavirus Restrictions Now Could Kill Millions

The warning from Tom Inglesby , the director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , came as President Donald Trump said during a press conference that he was considering easing social distancing guidelines after March 30 .
“ Anyone advising the end of social distancing now , needs to fully understand what the country will look like if we do that , ” Inglesby wrote .
“ COVID would spread widely , rapidly , terribly , could kill potentially millions in the yr ahead with huge social and economic impact across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there have been over 46,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus , and at least 590 deaths , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
A week ago , there were just 5,000 or so confirmed cases in the country .
“ Some hospitals have said publicly that within a week they will not have ventilators to treat everyone with COVID anymore , ” Inglesby tweeted .
“ There continue to be big diagnostic limitations .
...
There continues to be terrible shortages in the masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from getting sick with this disease.
” How do we reduce the speed of spread in the U.S. and how do we lower the odds that intensive care units in hospitals will run out of supplies ?
Large-scale social distancing , Inglesby wrote .
He warned that social distancing measures take weeks to work , as seen in China , and noted that the U.S. was only about 7-10 days into this process as of Monday .
At least 16 states , including California , Louisiana and New York , have issued “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least four others have implemented similar restrictions in certain parts of the state .
“ To drop all these measures now would be to accept that COVID [ patients ] will get sick in extraordinary numbers all over the country , far beyond what the US health care system could bear , ” Inglesby wrote .
“ Many models report that health care systems will be completely overwhelmed/collapse by the peak of cases if major social distancing is not put in place.
” He warned that COVID-19′s fatality rate could surge in such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide care for the 15 % of patients expected to be severely ill due to the virus .
Social distancing guidelines , recommended by medical professionals and top U.S. public health officials , are necessary to prevent the spread of the virus .
For example , China has reported few new local infections in the last week after two months of imposing strict social distancing orders .
Italy , on the other hand , failed to impose such draconian measures as the virus began to spread within its borders .
Now , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 63,000 confirmed cases across the country and more than 6,000 deaths .
Because there are not enough ventilators available , Italian doctors are forced to essentially decide who lives and who dies .
“ Before considering big changes to social distancing measures now , we should as quickly as possible get to strongest possible position for COVID response ― we ’ re nowhere near that now , ” Inglseby wrote .
The U.S. must take several steps , including rapidly increasing the production of supplies , such as medical masks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of COVID-19 cases so those infected can be appropriately isolated , he said .
“ Once we have those things in place , it would be a far less risky time to take stock of social distancing measures in place and consider what might gradually be reduced with trial and error , ” Inglesby tweeted .
In that scenario , he said , there would still need to be a “ science informed dialogue about which businesses need to be closed vs what can stay open in some way if social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
”

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A top public health expert on Monday cautioned U.S. officials against prematurely lifting restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, saying that doing so could result in millions of deaths.
The warning from Tom Inglesby, the director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, came as President Donald Trump said during a press conference that he was considering easing social distancing guidelines after March 30.
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“We’re not going to let the cure be worse than the problem,” Trump said, noting how badly virus-induced measures have impacted businesses and workers.
But Inglesby, in a series of tweets, laid out just how bad the problem could get.
“Anyone advising the end of social distancing now, needs to fully understand what the country will look like if we do that,” Inglesby wrote. “COVID would spread widely, rapidly, terribly, could kill potentially millions in the yr ahead with huge social and economic impact across the country.”
Many models report that health care systems will be completely overwhelmed/collapse by the peak of cases if major social distancing is not put in place. 12/x — Tom Inglesby (@T_Inglesby) March 23, 2020
Anyone advising the end of social distancing now, needs to fully understand what the country will look like if we do that. COVID would spread widely, rapidly, terribly, could kill potentially millions in the yr ahead with huge social and economic impact across the country. 15/x — Tom Inglesby (@T_Inglesby) March 23, 2020
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In the U.S., there have been over 46,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and at least 590 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. A week ago, there were just 5,000 or so confirmed cases in the country.
“Some hospitals have said publicly that within a week they will not have ventilators to treat everyone with COVID anymore,” Inglesby tweeted. “There continue to be big diagnostic limitations. ... There continues to be terrible shortages in the masks that health care workers need to keep from getting sick with this disease.”
How do we reduce the speed of spread in the U.S. and how do we lower the odds that intensive care units in hospitals will run out of supplies? Large-scale social distancing, Inglesby wrote.
He warned that social distancing measures take weeks to work, as seen in China, and noted that the U.S. was only about 7-10 days into this process as of Monday. At least 16 states, including California, Louisiana and New York, have issued “stay at home” orders. At least four others have implemented similar restrictions in certain parts of the state.
“To drop all these measures now would be to accept that COVID [patients] will get sick in extraordinary numbers all over the country, far beyond what the US health care system could bear,” Inglesby wrote. “Many models report that health care systems will be completely overwhelmed/collapse by the peak of cases if major social distancing is not put in place.”
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He warned that COVID-19′s fatality rate could surge in such a scenario because hospitals would struggle to provide care for the 15% of patients expected to be severely ill due to the virus.
Social distancing guidelines, recommended by medical professionals and top U.S. public health officials, are necessary to prevent the spread of the virus. For example, China has reported few new local infections in the last week after two months of imposing strict social distancing orders.
Italy, on the other hand, failed to impose such draconian measures as the virus began to spread within its borders. Now, the Italian health care system is overwhelmed with more than 63,000 confirmed cases across the country and more than 6,000 deaths. Because there are not enough ventilators available, Italian doctors are forced to essentially decide who lives and who dies.
Italians, who have been on lockdown since March 9, have urged Americans to take the virus seriously and stay at home to avoid a similar outcome.
“Before considering big changes to social distancing measures now, we should as quickly as possible get to strongest possible position for COVID response ― we’re nowhere near that now,” Inglseby wrote.
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The U.S. must take several steps, including rapidly increasing the production of supplies, such as medical masks and ventilators, as well as significantly reducing the number of COVID-19 cases so those infected can be appropriately isolated, he said.
“Once we have those things in place, it would be a far less risky time to take stock of social distancing measures in place and consider what might gradually be reduced with trial and error,” Inglesby tweeted.
In that scenario, he said, there would still need to be a “science informed dialogue about which businesses need to be closed vs what can stay open in some way if social distancing can be put in place in them.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-24--Top House Republican Resists Trump's Openness To Relaxing Coronavirus Restrictions

“ There will be no normally functioning economy if our hospitals are overwhelmed and thousands of Americans of all ages , including our doctors and nurses , lay dying because we have failed to do what ’ s necessary to stop the virus , ” Rep. Liz Cheney ( R-Wyo . )
tweeted Tuesday .
Trump spent much of Monday repeating that the country should not let the “ cure be worse than the problem , ” signaling that his concern for the economy may outweigh the health and safety of millions of Americans who have been told to practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
“ America will again and soon be open for business — very soon , ” Trump said at the daily White House news conference on the virus , saying the country could both contain the disease and return to normal American life .
Experts have warned anything approaching normalcy will be near-impossible for months .
Cheney , the House Republican Conference chair , is the third-ranking GOP member of the House .
She ’ s in charge of House Republicans ’ communication strategy , both internally and externally .
So far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisan in her messaging .
But in the face of a global pandemic that ’ s quickly sweeping through the United States , Cheney appears to have separated from the president .
There will be no normally functioning economy if our hospitals are overwhelmed and thousands of Americans of all ages , including our doctors and nurses , lay dying because we have failed to do what ’ s necessary to stop the virus .
https : //t.co/AchwfXtuLi — Liz Cheney ( @ Liz_Cheney ) March 24 , 2020 “ So long as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die in historic numbers , middle aged folks doomed to prolonged ICU stays to fight for their lives , hospitals will be overwhelmed , and most Americans terrified to leave homes , eat out , take the subway , or go to the park , ” Gottlieb tweeted .
“ There are two ways to end this .
Let a vast swath of people catch Covid which is unthinkable , or break the epidemic .
We must choose the latter.
” Last week , the White House called on states to shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gyms and all indoor and outdoor community gathering places where there ’ s been a spread of the virus .
The current guidance , part of a 15-day plan to slow the infection rate , says social gatherings should be limited to no more than 10 people , and Americans should practice social distancing — staying in their homes and keeping at least six feet from others .
Trump tweeted Monday : “ WE CAN NOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF .
AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO !
” Health experts and economists have warned against loosening restrictions too early .
The idea behind the 15-day push was to lessen the stress on the health care system , which is short on critical medical supplies , including ICU beds , respiratory equipment and personal protective gear for health care workers .
The Washington Post reported that conservative economists like Stephen Moore and Art Laffer have been lobbying Trump to call for a return to normalcy — a position that has now been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s most ardent defenders .
On Monday , Texas Lt. Gov .
Dan Patrick went on Fox News saying those over the age of 70 , who are at the highest risk of dying if they contract the illness , would “ take care of ourselves.
” Patrick himself is 69 .

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A top House Republican is pushing back against President Donald Trump’s apparent willingness to defy medical experts and prematurely urge businesses to reopen, even as the coronavirus pandemic escalates in the United States.
“There will be no normally functioning economy if our hospitals are overwhelmed and thousands of Americans of all ages, including our doctors and nurses, lay dying because we have failed to do what’s necessary to stop the virus,” Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) tweeted Tuesday.
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Trump spent much of Monday repeating that the country should not let the “cure be worse than the problem,” signaling that his concern for the economy may outweigh the health and safety of millions of Americans who have been told to practice social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19.
“America will again and soon be open for business — very soon,” Trump said at the daily White House news conference on the virus, saying the country could both contain the disease and return to normal American life. Experts have warned anything approaching normalcy will be near-impossible for months.
Cheney, the House Republican Conference chair, is the third-ranking GOP member of the House. She’s in charge of House Republicans’ communication strategy, both internally and externally. So far, she’s been a staunch partisan in her messaging. But in the face of a global pandemic that’s quickly sweeping through the United States, Cheney appears to have separated from the president.
There will be no normally functioning economy if our hospitals are overwhelmed and thousands of Americans of all ages, including our doctors and nurses, lay dying because we have failed to do what’s necessary to stop the virus. https://t.co/AchwfXtuLi — Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) March 24, 2020
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Her comments echoed concerns raised by Scott Gottlieb, a former Trump administration Food and Drug Administration commissioner who’s now a fellow with the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute.
“So long as Covid-19 spreads uncontrolled, older people will die in historic numbers, middle aged folks doomed to prolonged ICU stays to fight for their lives, hospitals will be overwhelmed, and most Americans terrified to leave homes, eat out, take the subway, or go to the park,” Gottlieb tweeted. “There are two ways to end this. Let a vast swath of people catch Covid which is unthinkable, or break the epidemic. We must choose the latter.”
Last week, the White House called on states to shut down bars, restaurants, food courts, gyms and all indoor and outdoor community gathering places where there’s been a spread of the virus. The current guidance, part of a 15-day plan to slow the infection rate, says social gatherings should be limited to no more than 10 people, and Americans should practice social distancing — staying in their homes and keeping at least six feet from others.
But one week in, Trump ― staring at a sinking economy and the threat of record high unemployment ― appeared weary of the effort.
Trump tweeted Monday: “WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO!”
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Health experts and economists have warned against loosening restrictions too early. The idea behind the 15-day push was to lessen the stress on the health care system, which is short on critical medical supplies, including ICU beds, respiratory equipment and personal protective gear for health care workers.
The Washington Post reported that conservative economists like Stephen Moore and Art Laffer have been lobbying Trump to call for a return to normalcy — a position that has now been taken up by some of the president’s most ardent defenders.
On Monday, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick went on Fox News saying those over the age of 70, who are at the highest risk of dying if they contract the illness, would “take care of ourselves.” Patrick himself is 69.
However, Cheney’s message shows Trump may not have unified support among Republicans in Congress should he decide to scale back restrictions.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-24--Hillary Clinton Drags Trump's Coronavirus Advice With Savage Throwback

Another direct hit from the most `` popular '' woman of 2016 .
Seriously , Hillary Clinton is getting better @ @ @ @ @ at Donald Trump on social media .
I can almost imagine her voice and facial @ @ @ @ @ .
And it 's good advice .
Never trust Trump .
pic.twitter.com/dN3g3bzVrT

Another direct hit from the most "popular" woman of 2016.
Seriously, Hillary Clinton is getting better and better at throwing shade at Donald Trump on social media.
I can almost imagine her voice and facial expression as she types it.
And it's good advice. Never trust Trump. pic.twitter.com/dN3g3bzVrT


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-24--Americans' Concerns About Coronavirus Continue To Grow

About half of Americans , 49 % , now say they ’ re very concerned about the spread of coronavirus in the U.S. , up from 35 % in a poll taken one week earlier .
Eighty percent are at least somewhat concerned .
A partisan gap remains : Democrats are 25 percentage points more likely than Republicans to describe themselves as “ very concerned.
” That ’ s down , however , from a 36-point gap last week .
Since then , people in both parties have become more alarmed , but Republican opinion has moved more dramatically .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seriousness of the situation , now calling ― against expert advice ― for relaxed restrictions , it remains to be seen whether the trend will hold .
Four in 10 Americans now say they ’ re very concerned that they or a family member will contract coronavirus , up from 28 % in the previous survey ; 72 % are now at least somewhat concerned by the possibility .
Most Americans Say Their Daily Life Is At Least Somewhat Changed Most Americans say the outbreak has yet to significantly affect their finances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their emotional health .
But in each case , a substantial minority are already feeling some strain .
A third say their finances are in worse shape than they were before the outbreak started , with 30 % saying the same thing about their exercise habits , 26 % about their eating habits , and 35 % about their emotional health .
Partisanship appears to play a significant role in the response to several questions : Democrats are , for instance , 23 points likelier than Republicans to say that the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , notably , an equal three-quarters of both Democrats and Republicans said their daily life had been at least somewhat affected .
Some demographic divides are also evident .
City-dwellers are 20 points likelier than those in rural areas to say their daily lives have changed a lot since the start of the outbreak , and are also more prone to report negative changes in their exercise routines and diets .
Americans say by a 9-point margin , 50 % to 41 % , that they approve of the government ’ s handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ margin , 49 % to 42 % , that they approve of President Trump ’ s response .
Trump ’ s ratings represent a modest uptick from polling a week prior , when the public was close to evenly split on his handling of the outbreak .
Americans are closely split on their faith in government information on the outbreak , with 46 % saying they ’ re at least somewhat confident that government statements on coronavirus are reliable and accurate , and 43 % not very or not at all confident .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the widget below to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov survey , using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups :

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Americans’ concerns about the coronavirus are continuing to rise sharply, a new HuffPost/YouGov poll finds, as most of the nation adjusts to a new normal of shuttered schools and workplaces, canceled events and empty public spaces.
About half of Americans, 49%, now say they’re very concerned about the spread of coronavirus in the U.S., up from 35% in a poll taken one week earlier. Eighty percent are at least somewhat concerned.
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A partisan gap remains: Democrats are 25 percentage points more likely than Republicans to describe themselves as “very concerned.” That’s down, however, from a 36-point gap last week. Since then, people in both parties have become more alarmed, but Republican opinion has moved more dramatically. With President Trump, who briefly emphasized the seriousness of the situation, now calling ― against expert advice ― for relaxed restrictions, it remains to be seen whether the trend will hold.
About half of Americans now say they're very concerned by the coronavirus outbreak. Ariel Edwards-Levy/HuffPost
Four in 10 Americans now say they’re very concerned that they or a family member will contract coronavirus, up from 28% in the previous survey; 72% are now at least somewhat concerned by the possibility.
About four in 10 Americans now say they're very concerned they or a family member will come down with the virus. Ariel Edwards-Levy/HuffPost
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Most Americans Say Their Daily Life Is At Least Somewhat Changed
A 41% plurality of Americans say their daily life has changed a lot since the outbreak began, with 29% saying it’s changed somewhat, 18% it’s changed a little, and 10% that it hasn’t changed much at all.
Most Americans say the outbreak has yet to significantly affect their finances, their eating and exercise habits, and their emotional health. But in each case, a substantial minority are already feeling some strain. A third say their finances are in worse shape than they were before the outbreak started, with 30% saying the same thing about their exercise habits, 26% about their eating habits, and 35% about their emotional health.
Partisanship appears to play a significant role in the response to several questions: Democrats are, for instance, 23 points likelier than Republicans to say that the outbreak has worsened their emotional health. But, notably, an equal three-quarters of both Democrats and Republicans said their daily life had been at least somewhat affected.
Some demographic divides are also evident. City-dwellers are 20 points likelier than those in rural areas to say their daily lives have changed a lot since the start of the outbreak, and are also more prone to report negative changes in their exercise routines and diets.
Americans Give Positive Marks To Government Response
Americans say by a 9-point margin, 50% to 41%, that they approve of the government’s handling of coronavirus, and by a 7-point margin, 49% to 42%, that they approve of President Trump’s response. Trump’s ratings represent a modest uptick from polling a week prior, when the public was close to evenly split on his handling of the outbreak.
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Americans are closely split on their faith in government information on the outbreak, with 46% saying they’re at least somewhat confident that government statements on coronavirus are reliable and accurate, and 43% not very or not at all confident.
More On Public Opinion About Coronavirus
Monmouth University’s latest polling : “The nation’s governors get better marks than the President for handling the COVID-19 outbreak...Still, Donald Trump receives a net positive rating for his actions around the pandemic and his overall job rating has improved slightly since last month. Federal health agencies garner better marks than either the president or Congress for dealing with the crisis, but reviews are more mixed for how the media and the American public as a whole have handled it.”
Anthony Salvanto, Jennifer De Pinto, Kabir Khanna and Fred Backus, on the latest CBS News poll : “Most Americans (57%) say the nation’s efforts to combat the coronavirus are going badly right now, most call it a crisis and see a months-long process before it is contained. But the public is pinning its hopes heavily on the nation’s scientists, with eight in 10 optimistic about their ability to eventually find a cure or vaccine, and most are also optimistic that Americans themselves can take steps to slow the spread.”
Lydia Saad, on Gallup’s polling : “In the span of a week, Americans have gone from tepid adoption of social distancing to majorities engaging in nearly every major practice advocated by government and health officials as ways to contain community spread of the novel coronavirus. But there is a long way to go to approach full compliance.”
Ipsos, on international response to coronavirus : “The public is becoming more engaged and concerned in countries such as China and Italy but still remains somewhat distant for those in North America even though the polling was conducted as social distancing measures and travel bans became active.”
Margaret Talev, on new Axios/Ipsos polling : ″‘We’ve never seen this widespread, systemic, forced behavioral change — never in American history — this quickly,’ said Cliff Young, president of Ipsos U.S. Public Affairs. ‘It’s unprecedented.’”
Democratic pollster Navigator Research, on new tracking data : “Americans increasingly recognize the severity of the crisis, with a dramatic change in the way they perceive the state of the national economy; The public is anxious about the crisis, viewing personal and family health as a top concern – speaking in a way that meets people where they are is critical at this time; A majority approve of Trump’s handling of the crisis, but there are warning signs for the president as it progresses.”
Political scientist David A. Hopkins, on presidential approval polling : ″[R]ealistically, it’s far too soon to glean much about either the American public’s ultimate response to Trump’s management of the pandemic or its implications for the upcoming election. Here are four good reasons to exercise some patience before jumping to conclusions.”
FiveThirtyEight’s Geoffrey Skelley, on lessons from previous elections during crises : “There’s still a lot we don’t know about the current health crisis we find ourselves in — how long will the urgency of the coronavirus threat last, for example, or how things will look come November — but if we’re looking at elections comparable to our current moment, the most relevant may be the 1918 midterm.”
GOP pollster Public Opinion Strategies, on how the outbreak has affected its polling: “People want to talk! Our incidence and cooperation rates were higher last week. We also extended our interviewing hours earlier in the day to cellphone respondents and received a strong response.”
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov survey, using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups:
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The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted March 20-22 among U.S. adults, using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population.
HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov’s nationally representative opinion polling. More details on the polls’ methodology are available here.
Most surveys report a margin of error that represents some but not all potential survey errors. YouGov’s reports include a model-based margin of error, which rests on a specific set of statistical assumptions about the selected sample rather than the standard methodology for random probability sampling. If these assumptions are wrong, the model-based margin of error may also be inaccurate. Click here for a more detailed explanation of the model-based margin of error.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-24--What Pandemic? Trump Administration Presses Forward With Long-Term Benefit Cuts.

Congress is working on an unprecedented plan to send more than $ 1,000 to practically everyone in America to blunt the economic devastation of the coronavirus pandemic .
But the prospect of massive economic disruption won ’ t stop the Trump administration ’ s long-planned cuts to social programs such as nutrition assistance ― cuts that have been a core part of the president ’ s domestic policy agenda and that would make life harder for the poorest Americans .
During the first three years of Donald Trump ’ s presidency , Congress refused to go along with cutting benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food , housing and medical care .
Undaunted , the Trump administration has been busily issuing regulations that cut benefits without congressional buy-in , through a number of government agencies .
Now , even as the coronavirus toll rises and the economy crashes , and Congress lines up an array of cash payments to American households , those regulations are still coming .
The Social Security Administration is “ still going full-steam ahead ” on new rules limiting disability benefits , according to a source in the agency .
One set of proposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of thousands of applicants each year if finalized .
The agency previously said to expect the new rule in June ; spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment .
The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Housing and Urban Development will continue their regular rulemaking processes , according to spokespeople .
Pending rules include a January proposal to reduce automatic reenrollment in health coverage , and a draft rule that would make it harder for renters to sue landlords for racial discrimination .
“ While the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be our highest priority , the Department of Housing and Urban Development remains committed to serving those that rely on HUD ’ s resources and fulfilling its mission through these difficult times , ” a HUD spokesperson said .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said it will comply with a recently passed law suspending limits on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) benefits for unemployed adults for the duration of the coronavirus crisis .
The law effectively halted a regulation that would have taken effect next month , cutting benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to comply with the legislation which really pauses that during this public health emergency , ” USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said last week .
( A federal judge also issued an injunction halting the rule ’ s implementation . )
Nutrition assistance enrollment will rise automatically as people lose their incomes and become eligible for benefits , and the department has taken steps to make sure schools can still feed kids even if their cafeterias are closed .
But there are two other SNAP cuts pending , and USDA spokespeople declined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finalize an eligibility change that would shrink enrollment by about 3 million .
The USDA has previously said it would publish a final version of the rule in May .
Trump initially downplayed the coronavirus threat , and only advised federal agencies to maximize telework among their employees last week , after thousands of cases had been confirmed across the country .
One USDA employee described agency operations as business as usual this week , saying he ’ d been deemed “ essential ” and required to come to the office even though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is in no way an essential position to the health , safety , and protection of human lives.
” The idea of cutting benefits is counter to the policy objectives that Republicans , Democrats and the Trump administration all said they agree are necessary amid the economic shutdown that public health experts say is necessary to curb the spread of the virus .
Trump , after downplaying the coronavirus threat , adopted what the White House called a “ whole of government ” response earlier this month .
But the trillion-dollar stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulatory benefit cuts are supposed to be permanent .
And the president said Monday that he hoped things would start getting back to normal soon , despite recommendations from public health experts that Americans continue “ social distancing ” for weeks or months .
“ America will again and soon be open for business , very soon , a lot sooner than three or four months , as somebody was suggesting , ” Trump said .
“ We can not let the cure be worse than the problem itself .
”

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Congress is working on an unprecedented plan to send more than $1,000 to practically everyone in America to blunt the economic devastation of the coronavirus pandemic.
But the prospect of massive economic disruption won’t stop the Trump administration’s long-planned cuts to social programs such as nutrition assistance ― cuts that have been a core part of the president’s domestic policy agenda and that would make life harder for the poorest Americans.
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During the first three years of Donald Trump’s presidency, Congress refused to go along with cutting benefits that help people with low incomes afford food, housing and medical care. Undaunted, the Trump administration has been busily issuing regulations that cut benefits without congressional buy-in, through a number of government agencies.
Now, even as the coronavirus toll rises and the economy crashes, and Congress lines up an array of cash payments to American households, those regulations are still coming.
The Social Security Administration is “still going full-steam ahead” on new rules limiting disability benefits, according to a source in the agency. One set of proposed changes to the claims process could affect hundreds of thousands of applicants each year if finalized. The agency previously said to expect the new rule in June; spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment.
The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Housing and Urban Development will continue their regular rulemaking processes, according to spokespeople. Pending rules include a January proposal to reduce automatic reenrollment in health coverage, and a draft rule that would make it harder for renters to sue landlords for racial discrimination.
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“While the health and safety of the American people continues to be our highest priority, the Department of Housing and Urban Development remains committed to serving those that rely on HUD’s resources and fulfilling its mission through these difficult times,” a HUD spokesperson said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said it will comply with a recently passed law suspending limits on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for unemployed adults for the duration of the coronavirus crisis. The law effectively halted a regulation that would have taken effect next month, cutting benefits for 700,000 annually.
“We are going to comply with the legislation which really pauses that during this public health emergency,” USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said last week. (A federal judge also issued an injunction halting the rule’s implementation.)
Nutrition assistance enrollment will rise automatically as people lose their incomes and become eligible for benefits, and the department has taken steps to make sure schools can still feed kids even if their cafeterias are closed.
But there are two other SNAP cuts pending, and USDA spokespeople declined to say whether the department still planned to finalize an eligibility change that would shrink enrollment by about 3 million. The USDA has previously said it would publish a final version of the rule in May.
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Trump initially downplayed the coronavirus threat, and only advised federal agencies to maximize telework among their employees last week, after thousands of cases had been confirmed across the country.
One USDA employee described agency operations as business as usual this week, saying he’d been deemed “essential” and required to come to the office even though he works in an “insect-rearing facility that is in no way an essential position to the health, safety, and protection of human lives.”
A White House spokesperson declined to comment on the regulatory process. A spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget, which oversees regulations, did not respond to requests for comment.
The idea of cutting benefits is counter to the policy objectives that Republicans, Democrats and the Trump administration all said they agree are necessary amid the economic shutdown that public health experts say is necessary to curb the spread of the virus. Trump, after downplaying the coronavirus threat, adopted what the White House called a “whole of government” response earlier this month.
But the trillion-dollar stimulus efforts are a short-term policy; the regulatory benefit cuts are supposed to be permanent. And the president said Monday that he hoped things would start getting back to normal soon, despite recommendations from public health experts that Americans continue “social distancing” for weeks or months.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-24--100 NYPD Cops Have Tested Positive For Coronavirus

NEW YORK — Over 100 employees of the New York Police Department have tested positive for the coronavirus and nearly 7 % of cops have called out sick , the department announced Monday .
In a press statement , the NYPD said that 100 uniformed cops and 29 “ civilians ” have tested positive for the virus .
That ’ s about double the number of positive tests from three days earlier .
The department also said that over 2,400 cops , or about 7 % of the entire force , called out sick Monday , double the daily average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of employees on sick report was anticipated and given the nature of the virus , it is expected that this number will grow , ” the NYPD said in its statement .
“ So far these absences have had a minimal impact on our ability to keep the people of New York City safe and respond to those requiring assistance.
” In an internal memo sent to the entire force earlier this month , NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea warned officers that , due to interaction with the public , officers would “ without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic and that “ many members may become ill. ” In Monday ’ s statement , the department said it has “ distributed over 204,000 pairs of gloves , 75,000 N95 masks , 340,000 surgical masks and distributed 125,000 alcohol wipes and hand sanitizer to employees.
” The spread of the virus among the nation ’ s largest police force underscores the crisis in New York City , which has emerged as an epicenter of this historic pandemic .
The city is on lockdown , with schools and all nonessential businesses closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13,000 people in the city , killing 125 .
Over 2,200 people have been hospitalized with the virus , city officials said Monday .
Of those , over 500 are in intensive care .
The city ’ s hospitals are expected to be overrun with patients in the coming weeks .
Doctors and nurses there are in desperate need of crucial medical supplies , including masks and ventilators .
Both Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov .
Andrew Cuomo have criticized President Donald Trump ’ s slow and inadequate response to the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invoke the Defense Production Act , which would ramp up production of medical supplies .
“ The president of the United States is from New York City and he will not lift a finger to help his hometown , ” de Blasio said on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press ” on Sunday .
“ I can ’ t be blunt enough : If the president doesn ’ t act , people will die who could have lived otherwise.
” In the meantime , the NYPD says it has started “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and educate members of the public on safe social distancing.
” Officers , the department says , “ are stopping by restaurants , bars , supermarkets , salons and public spaces to remind individuals gathered of the ban on congregating in public spaces and to practice social distancing.
” Local police reform and social justice advocates have called on the NYPD to suspend low-level arrests — which disproportionately target black and brown New Yorkers — during the pandemic .
Incarcerating people , the activists argue , will only serve to spread the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Correction employees and 21 inmates have tested positive for the virus .

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NEW YORK — Over 100 employees of the New York Police Department have tested positive for the coronavirus and nearly 7% of cops have called out sick, the department announced Monday.
In a press statement, the NYPD said that 100 uniformed cops and 29 “civilians” have tested positive for the virus. That’s about double the number of positive tests from three days earlier.
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The department also said that over 2,400 cops, or about 7% of the entire force, called out sick Monday, double the daily average.
“The increase in the number of employees on sick report was anticipated and given the nature of the virus, it is expected that this number will grow,” the NYPD said in its statement. “So far these absences have had a minimal impact on our ability to keep the people of New York City safe and respond to those requiring assistance.”
In an internal memo sent to the entire force earlier this month, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea warned officers that, due to interaction with the public, officers would “without a doubt, suffer” during the coronavirus pandemic and that “many members may become ill.”
In Monday’s statement, the department said it has “distributed over 204,000 pairs of gloves, 75,000 N95 masks, 340,000 surgical masks and distributed 125,000 alcohol wipes and hand sanitizer to employees.”
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The spread of the virus among the nation’s largest police force underscores the crisis in New York City, which has emerged as an epicenter of this historic pandemic. The city is on lockdown, with schools and all nonessential businesses closed.
The virus has infected at least 13,000 people in the city, killing 125. Over 2,200 people have been hospitalized with the virus, city officials said Monday. Of those, over 500 are in intensive care.
The city’s hospitals are expected to be overrun with patients in the coming weeks. Doctors and nurses there are in desperate need of crucial medical supplies, including masks and ventilators.
An NYPD police officer wears a protective face mask in Times Square on March 22. Noam Galai via Getty Images
Both Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have criticized President Donald Trump’s slow and inadequate response to the crisis. Both have asked the president to invoke the Defense Production Act, which would ramp up production of medical supplies.
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“The president of the United States is from New York City and he will not lift a finger to help his hometown,” de Blasio said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “I can’t be blunt enough: If the president doesn’t act, people will die who could have lived otherwise.”
Millions could become infected in the city, officials say, and thousands could die.
In the meantime, the NYPD says it has started “a new series of patrols to monitor locations and educate members of the public on safe social distancing.”
Officers, the department says, “are stopping by restaurants, bars, supermarkets, salons and public spaces to remind individuals gathered of the ban on congregating in public spaces and to practice social distancing.”
Local police reform and social justice advocates have called on the NYPD to suspend low-level arrests — which disproportionately target black and brown New Yorkers — during the pandemic.
Incarcerating people, the activists argue, will only serve to spread the virus. So far, 17 Department of Correction employees and 21 inmates have tested positive for the virus.
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But at a press conference Friday, Shea said there would be no such slowdown in arrests.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-24--American Students Trapped In Peru Urge Trump To Bring Them Home

But by the second week , a number of clinics began to cancel their site visits as a precaution due to the worsening coronavirus outbreak .
A few days later , the students met with other foreigners in Peru , who informed them that the government planned to halt all of its inbound and outbound flights .
Last week , President Donald Trump said he was aware of the situation and that the U.S military was working on a solution to bring back the more than 1,400 Americans stranded in the country .
But according to Peru ’ s defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to coordinate the exit of its foreign nationals has passed .
Argentina , Chile , Israel , and Mexico all arranged exits for their citizens to leave Peru .
The U.K. government announced last week that rescue flights to bring back hundreds of British tourists stranded in Peru will begin this week .
“ We did not at all expect Peru to close its borders to let anybody out , ” said 26-year-old Erica West , an Augusta University student stranded in Cusco , a southwestern city over 600 miles away from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give any indication or warning.
” HuffPost spoke to the Georgia-based students on a call who described how hard it was to find a way out of Peru .
On March 15 , the students stayed up all night trying to book flights out of Peru earlier than their original March 26 date in order to meet Peru ’ s 24-hour window to leave the country , but everything was already booked .
The group also tried to find flights to other nations , including Canada , in order to get closer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either sold out or unaffordable .
Their attempts to reach the American consulate , by phone and online , were unsuccessful .
They tried going in person , but they discovered the building was closed .
On the front door was a notice with a nonworking phone number .
They asked local cab drivers to take them to an airport , where they decided they would camp out until they found an available flight ― but the driver refused , noting it was closed .
During Ghazzawi ’ s last trip back from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was forced to go through a checkpoint where a military officer told her she needed special paperwork to be outside and was only allowed to shop from one specific grocery store .
The students said they were grateful to be residing together and are in touch with their families .
Their universities have also been in touch and are working with local advocacy organizations back in Georgia to find ways to get them home .
But there is only so much they can do .
“ They ’ re just limited with what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is on the federal government to help coordinate for us to be able to leave , ” said Ghazzawi .
Last week , the Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations sent two letters ― one to Secretary Mike Pompeo and one to the consulate in Cusco , noting that the “ American government ’ s response has up to now lagged behind that of other countries ” and urged officials to act immediately .
“ We just want to like make sure people are aware that there are like over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of who are children , some who have medical issues that need to get home to get their medicine , some who need to return to their children , ” said Erin Hill , another student at Augusta University , who noted that they are not the only ones .

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On Feb. 29, over a dozen students from several universities arrived in Cusco, Peru, for an experience of a lifetime.
For several weeks, students from Augusta University, University of Georgia, Lenoir-Rhyne University and the University of Alabama embarked on a program to complete their clinical rotations for their health programs.
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For the first week, the students went to rural areas where they conducted breast exams, cervical cancer screenings and other medical examinations at local clinics and hospitals in Cusco.
But by the second week, a number of clinics began to cancel their site visits as a precaution due to the worsening coronavirus outbreak. A few days later, the students met with other foreigners in Peru, who informed them that the government planned to halt all of its inbound and outbound flights.
Panic quickly settled in.
Those 15 Georgia students are among hundreds of Americans stuck in Peru after the government closed its borders, canceled flights and implemented martial law in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.
Last week, President Donald Trump said he was aware of the situation and that the U.S military was working on a solution to bring back the more than 1,400 Americans stranded in the country. But according to Peru’s defense minister, the deadline for the U.S. to coordinate the exit of its foreign nationals has passed. Argentina, Chile, Israel, and Mexico all arranged exits for their citizens to leave Peru. The U.K. government announced last week that rescue flights to bring back hundreds of British tourists stranded in Peru will begin this week.
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“We did not at all expect Peru to close its borders to let anybody out,” said 26-year-old Erica West, an Augusta University student stranded in Cusco, a southwestern city over 600 miles away from the capital. “They didn’t give any indication or warning.”
For two weeks, professional Health Science and paramedic students from Georgia’s Augusta University, as well as students Lenoir/Rhyne University and the University of Georgia, embarked on a program to complete their clinical rotations for their physician assistant programs. Photo provided by Nurin Ghazzawi
HuffPost spoke to the Georgia-based students on a call who described how hard it was to find a way out of Peru. On March 15, the students stayed up all night trying to book flights out of Peru earlier than their original March 26 date in order to meet Peru’s 24-hour window to leave the country, but everything was already booked. The group also tried to find flights to other nations, including Canada, in order to get closer to American borders, but the flights were either sold out or unaffordable.
Their attempts to reach the American consulate, by phone and online, were unsuccessful. They tried going in person, but they discovered the building was closed. On the front door was a notice with a nonworking phone number. They asked local cab drivers to take them to an airport, where they decided they would camp out until they found an available flight ― but the driver refused, noting it was closed.
Defeated, the students went back to their residence hall.
“Things change so rapidly here. One minute we felt really comfortable and safe and the next minute, it’s just filled with a lot of uncertainty,” Nurin Ghazzawi, a 26-year-old in her second year of physician assistant studies, told HuffPost.
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She said that the situation was becoming more dire with each passing day. The students just spent their last Peruvian Sol, the local currency.
During Ghazzawi’s last trip back from the grocery store, she said she was forced to go through a checkpoint where a military officer told her she needed special paperwork to be outside and was only allowed to shop from one specific grocery store.
The students said they were grateful to be residing together and are in touch with their families. Their universities have also been in touch and are working with local advocacy organizations back in Georgia to find ways to get them home. But there is only so much they can do.
“They’re just limited with what they can do because, ultimately, this is on the federal government to help coordinate for us to be able to leave,” said Ghazzawi.
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Last week, the Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations sent two letters ― one to Secretary Mike Pompeo and one to the consulate in Cusco, noting that the “American government’s response has up to now lagged behind that of other countries” and urged officials to act immediately.
“We just want to like make sure people are aware that there are like over 1,000 plus U.S. citizens here, some of who are children, some who have medical issues that need to get home to get their medicine, some who need to return to their children,” said Erin Hill, another student at Augusta University, who noted that they are not the only ones.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-24--Trump's Priorities Inspire New Hashtag: #NotDying4WallStreet

President Donald Trump seems convinced that reducing coronavirus restrictions will keep the economy afloat .
However , many Americans have a message for the White House : They ’ re not willing to risk death just so corporate America can reap huge profits .
The president suggested on Tuesday that he is hoping the country will be reopened by Easter , despite concerns from medical professionals that doing so will hasten the spread of COVID-19 and overwhelm the nation ’ s hospitals , potentially leading to millions of preventable deaths .
Although some Republican leaders have suggested that older Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the coronavirus in order to save the economy , many Twitter users are skeptical about doing something that seems designed to mainly help the president ’ s bottom line .
Consequently , # notdying4wallstreet became a trending hashtag as Twitter users made clear that they weren ’ t willing to , in the words of another trending hashtag , # dieforthedow .
Some of the angrier tweets included ... Well I 'm just shocked that an obese 73 year old w/high cholesterol who eats garbage , never exercises , sleeps 4 hrs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would ignore the advice of doctors.
# coronaviruslockdown # ReopenAmerica # NotDying4WallStreet — John Fugelsang ( @ JohnFugelsang ) March 24 , 2020 Not one single human being deserves to die for somebody else 's stock portfolio .
Not one daughter , son , mother , father , sister , brother , aunt , uncle , grandmother or grandfather .
That 's not American .
That 's not even human.
# NotDying4WallStreet # danpatrick # trump — Anne Boleyn ( Sussex Supporter ) ( @ TudorChick1501 ) March 24 , 2020 a faction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we should sacrifice at least a million of our citizens to keep the “ economy ” going , by which they mean the stock market .
blood for shareholder value .
— b-boy bouiebaisse ( @ jbouie ) March 24 , 2020 Many pundits are blissfully unaware that many people already live in conditions that they would describe as a crisis .
We need a # GreenNewDeal and a bailout for the people because we sure as hell are # NotDying4WallStreet .
h/t @ EclecticRadical — Adriel `` Green New Deal NOW !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 , 2020 Wow .
I can not believe the craven greed of those asking our elderly to roll over and croak so their portfolios can be revived and they can get another $ 100M bonus .
I am deeply involved in financial technology and investing and find this directive abhorrent .
# NotDying4WallStreet — Theresa W. Carey ( @ twcarey ) March 24 , 2020 Greedy oligarchs and plutocrats may have no problem sacrificing lives for money & power .
But for the rest of us , THE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave ourselves vulnerable to an even worse catastrophe.
# NotDying4WallStreet — Peter Daou ( @ peterdaou ) March 24 , 2020

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President Donald Trump seems convinced that reducing coronavirus restrictions will keep the economy afloat.
However, many Americans have a message for the White House: They’re not willing to risk death just so corporate America can reap huge profits.
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The president suggested on Tuesday that he is hoping the country will be reopened by Easter, despite concerns from medical professionals that doing so will hasten the spread of COVID-19 and overwhelm the nation’s hospitals, potentially leading to millions of preventable deaths.
Although some Republican leaders have suggested that older Americans might be willing to take a chance against the coronavirus in order to save the economy, many Twitter users are skeptical about doing something that seems designed to mainly help the president’s bottom line.
Consequently, #notdying4wallstreet became a trending hashtag as Twitter users made clear that they weren’t willing to, in the words of another trending hashtag, #dieforthedow.
Some of the angrier tweets included...
Well I'm just shocked that an obese 73 year old w/high cholesterol who eats garbage, never exercises, sleeps 4 hrs a night & looks directly at eclipses would ignore the advice of doctors.#coronaviruslockdown#ReopenAmerica #NotDying4WallStreet — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) March 24, 2020
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I’ll let Wall Street flat line before my grandma does. #NotDying4WallStreet pic.twitter.com/lTD2LJSdl3 — Stay Home For Grandma (@ohnoitsreal1) March 24, 2020
Not one single human being deserves to die for somebody else's stock portfolio. Not one daughter, son, mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandmother or grandfather.
That's not American. That's not even human.#NotDying4WallStreet #danpatrick #trump — Anne Boleyn (Sussex Supporter) (@TudorChick1501) March 24, 2020
a faction of american elites are openly arguing that we should sacrifice at least a million of our citizens to keep the “economy” going, by which they mean the stock market. blood for shareholder value. — b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) March 24, 2020
Many pundits are blissfully unaware that many people already live in conditions that they would describe as a crisis.
We need a #GreenNewDeal and a bailout for the people because we sure as hell are #NotDying4WallStreet.
h/t @EclecticRadical — Adriel "Green New Deal NOW!" Hampton (@adrielhampton) March 24, 2020
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Wow. I cannot believe the craven greed of those asking our elderly to roll over and croak so their portfolios can be revived and they can get another $100M bonus. I am deeply involved in financial technology and investing and find this directive abhorrent. #NotDying4WallStreet — Theresa W. Carey (@twcarey) March 24, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-24--Amy Klobuchar Says Husband Remains On Oxygen After Coronavirus Diagnosis

Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) said her husband is continuing to receive oxygen at a hospital after she revealed Monday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
The former 2020 presidential candidate opened up about husband John Bessler ’ s condition on “ Good Morning America ” on Tuesday and described the pain of not being able to be physically by his side .
It ’ s a struggle that she expects most people are going to experience at some point with a friend or loved one as hospitals isolate patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ A lot of Americans have this and worse going on , and one of the hardest things about the disease is you can ’ t visit your loved one , ” she said .
“ I would , as much as I love being on your show , I would rather be there with him right now , and I can ’ t do that.
” Klobuchar said her husband , age 52 , had been healthy with no preexisting conditions when he came down with what first felt like a common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up blood .
He has since been given oxygen to help with what she described as “ dangerously low ” oxygen levels .
At the start of the illness , she said he self-quarantined in their Washington , D.C. , apartment and was tested for the virus while she was in Minnesota .
When she returned to the capital , they stayed in separate places .
The senator said it ’ s been at least two weeks since she ’ s had physical contact with him , and since she has not shown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not taken a test for it .
The senator is seen with her husband and daughter , Abigail Bessler , after she announced her 2020 presidential bid in Minneapolis .
For now , she said she and her daughter communicate electronically with him and his medical staff , whom she noted are people “ I ’ ve never even met.
” “ This isn ’ t just my story .
Everyone ’ s going to know someone in their family where this happens , or their friends , ” she said .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said she ’ s devoted to working to get a congressional bill passed this week that will help other Americans who are out of work due to the virus and those in need of medical care .
“ Everyone here has been working around the clock to get the bill done , ” she said .
“ I am actually optimistic that we will have an agreement .
”

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Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said her husband is continuing to receive oxygen at a hospital after she revealed Monday that he has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The former 2020 presidential candidate opened up about husband John Bessler’s condition on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday and described the pain of not being able to be physically by his side. It’s a struggle that she expects most people are going to experience at some point with a friend or loved one as hospitals isolate patients to prevent the virus from spreading.
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“A lot of Americans have this and worse going on, and one of the hardest things about the disease is you can’t visit your loved one,” she said. “I would, as much as I love being on your show, I would rather be there with him right now, and I can’t do that.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar said her husband, John Bessler, remains hospitalized after contracting the coronavirus. Andrew H. Walker via Getty Images
Klobuchar said her husband, age 52, had been healthy with no preexisting conditions when he came down with what first felt like a common cold that grew into pneumonia and coughing up blood. He has since been given oxygen to help with what she described as “dangerously low” oxygen levels.
At the start of the illness, she said he self-quarantined in their Washington, D.C., apartment and was tested for the virus while she was in Minnesota. When she returned to the capital, they stayed in separate places.
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The senator said it’s been at least two weeks since she’s had physical contact with him, and since she has not shown any symptoms of the virus she has not taken a test for it.
The senator is seen with her husband and daughter, Abigail Bessler, after she announced her 2020 presidential bid in Minneapolis. Stephen Maturen via Getty Images
For now, she said she and her daughter communicate electronically with him and his medical staff, whom she noted are people “I’ve never even met.”
“This isn’t just my story. Everyone’s going to know someone in their family where this happens, or their friends,” she said.
Despite her own family’s concerns, she said she’s devoted to working to get a congressional bill passed this week that will help other Americans who are out of work due to the virus and those in need of medical care.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-24--They Thought They Escaped Homelessness. Then Came Coronavirus.

Braswell and her three sons ― 3-year-old twins and a 5-year-old ― were homeless in November 2017 .
Since then , she ’ s done everything right .
She found steady work , a home , and got back on her feet .
Until last week , she worked two jobs .
She paid her bills on time .
Her kids went to a good day care .
She had a friendly relationship with her landlord .
She became a fixture in her community , getting involved with a local semi-professional football team .
There are over 550,000 homeless people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night , according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development .
Over 180,000 of these people are families with children .
Braswell ’ s family is one of the thousands more that got back on their feet in the past few years ― and are now on the verge of spiraling downward amid an economic shutdown due to COVID-19 .
They ’ re families on the brink .
“ Right now would be the worst time for a family to become homeless .
It could not be a worse time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Family Promise , a nonprofit that helps families experiencing homelessness .
“ Massive changes in hours and jobs for low-wage workers , and all of a sudden schools are closing , which we hadn ’ t anticipated .
There was no way to get ready for it.
” Organizations like Ehlers ’ are struggling to serve at-risk families , too .
Shelter capacity has fallen as it becomes dangerous to house too many people together at once .
Volunteers for organizations like Family Promise are primarily over the age of 60 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting seriously ill. Fundraisers have been canceled , stretching nonprofits ’ financial resources .
Cain has already picked up another job , driving cabs for 12 hours a day , to try and make up for the lost wages .
Nearly no one she ’ s driven around , she says , is concerned about their health .
Everyone is concerned about losing their jobs .
The couple has three children .
Two are still in day care , which has remained open .
The eldest , 10 , is now out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19 .
The family doesn ’ t have a computer , but expects the school district to deliver one soon .
Cain ’ s heard rumors the district will start providing free lunch to needy students too , which would be a godsend .
She canceled the service just four days before she was let go from her job and two days before her kids ’ day care shut down .
She needed the money for rent , and thought she would be able to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic had hit her community .
It feels like a lifetime ago .
In the short term , she wonders , how much can she stretch her food supply ?
If she does go to get groceries , where can she go that won ’ t have a line out the door ?
If she goes to the food pantry , will there be anything left ?
Will people let her cut to the front of the line if she tells them she has three kids she needs to feed three times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , how can she make sure her kids are still learning and engaged ?
She doesn ’ t mind being with them all the time , but how will that feel after weeks of isolation together ?
When day care does open back up , will she have the money to pay for it after weeks ― potentially months ― of lost income ?
If she has the money to pay the necessary fees , will she have the gas money to get them there ?
She does the mental calculations ― it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day , five days a week .
And , at that point , where will she and the kids even be living ?
Braswell ’ s landlord has been kind and patient , but at the end of the day , she has bills to pay , too .
Braswell has a Section 8 housing voucher .
If she ’ s unable to pay her rent , she will lose that ― which she said would be paramount to losing “ everything ” ― and she might not be able to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the day , “ Being sick is the farthest thing from my mind , ” she said .
“ After all this and after we use all our money and the virus is gone , what do we do next ?
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Kenyal Braswell, 28, can’t sleep. She stays awake until 5 in the morning, sweeping every corner of her house. Even when her eyelids hang heavy, her mind is awake with worry.
She worries if she’ll be able to make rent. And if she can’t, will she lose her house, again?
Braswell and her three sons ― 3-year-old twins and a 5-year-old ― were homeless in November 2017. Since then, she’s done everything right. She found steady work, a home, and got back on her feet. Until last week, she worked two jobs. She paid her bills on time. Her kids went to a good day care. She had a friendly relationship with her landlord. She became a fixture in her community, getting involved with a local semi-professional football team.
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She felt prepared. But she couldn’t have prepared for a global pandemic.
“This is like a bomb that dropped,” said Braswell from her North Carolina home, about 30 minutes outside of Charlotte.
There are over 550,000 homeless people in the United States on any given night, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Over 180,000 of these people are families with children. Braswell’s family is one of the thousands more that got back on their feet in the past few years ― and are now on the verge of spiraling downward amid an economic shutdown due to COVID-19. They’re families on the brink.
“Right now would be the worst time for a family to become homeless. It could not be a worse time,” said Claas Ehlers, CEO of Family Promise, a nonprofit that helps families experiencing homelessness. “Massive changes in hours and jobs for low-wage workers, and all of a sudden schools are closing, which we hadn’t anticipated. There was no way to get ready for it.”
“Right now would be the worst time for a family to become homeless. It could not be a worse time.” - Claas Ehlers, CEO of Family Promise
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Organizations like Ehlers’ are struggling to serve at-risk families, too. Shelter capacity has fallen as it becomes dangerous to house too many people together at once. Volunteers for organizations like Family Promise are primarily over the age of 60, and thus, the most at risk of getting seriously ill. Fundraisers have been canceled, stretching nonprofits’ financial resources.
“We’re all trying to do a lot of prognosticating, and every day is about three weeks,” said Ehlers.
Braswell fell into homelessness several years ago after her husband left. She spent months living in churches with the help of her local Family Promise branch.
But last week, Braswell’s primary job ― working as a hostess at Olive Garden ― stopped giving her hours. Two days later, her children’s day care closed, making it impossible for her to get the child care necessary to work her second job cleaning buildings.
Her carefully regimented routine suddenly came crashing down with overwhelming force.
“It’s like it all got burned down,” she said.
The Worst Type Of Déjà Vu
Chyna Cain is a mother of three in Florida. Photo courtesy of Chyna Cain
Chyna Cain, of Brevard County, Florida, has been having trouble sleeping, too.
Her family just got stable housing a month ago. Then the coronavirus hit.
Cain works for a company scheduling health services for government workers. Last Thursday, the company put her on temporary leave. Her husband, who works washing linens for hospitals, has also seen his hours cut, with his employer seemingly trying to stagger the amount of time employees spend together.
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Cain has already picked up another job, driving cabs for 12 hours a day, to try and make up for the lost wages. Nearly no one she’s driven around, she says, is concerned about their health. Everyone is concerned about losing their jobs.
“I know the virus is a very real thing. But so is my rent and my light bill. So that’s really what’s stressing me out,” she said.
The couple has three children. Two are still in day care, which has remained open. The eldest, 10, is now out of school after the district shut down in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19. The family doesn’t have a computer, but expects the school district to deliver one soon. Cain’s heard rumors the district will start providing free lunch to needy students too, which would be a godsend.
Cain fell into homelessness after the last government shutdown in early 2019 ― another situation in which her hours were drastically reduced. She’s determined not to fall back ― “it’s one of my worst fears,” she said.
“It’s kind of like reliving that,” said Cain. “It’s a déjà vu I was hoping to never experience.”
‘We Need Help’
Kenyal Braswell with one of her sons. Photo courtesy of Kenyal Braswell
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Braswell would like to look for other jobs that she could do for home, but she doesn’t have internet access.
She canceled the service just four days before she was let go from her job and two days before her kids’ day care shut down. She needed the money for rent, and thought she would be able to make it up soon. It was before the pandemic had hit her community. It feels like a lifetime ago.
Braswell has considered filing for unemployment. But when she calls the number to ask for advice, she can’t get anyone on the line.
“For a single parent, this is probably the worst thing that could happen,” Braswell said.
Now her day to day is organized into a portfolio of immediate and longer-term concerns.
In the short term, she wonders, how much can she stretch her food supply? If she does go to get groceries, where can she go that won’t have a line out the door? If she goes to the food pantry, will there be anything left? Will people let her cut to the front of the line if she tells them she has three kids she needs to feed three times a day?
“I don’t want to ask for favors, but we need help,” said Braswell, who has been delivering meals to other families who don’t have cars. “It’s kind of like every man for himself. And I’m not used to that.”
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In the medium term, how can she make sure her kids are still learning and engaged? She doesn’t mind being with them all the time, but how will that feel after weeks of isolation together? When day care does open back up, will she have the money to pay for it after weeks ― potentially months ― of lost income? If she has the money to pay the necessary fees, will she have the gas money to get them there? She does the mental calculations ― it’s a 10-minute drive, twice a day, five days a week.
And, at that point, where will she and the kids even be living? Braswell’s landlord has been kind and patient, but at the end of the day, she has bills to pay, too. Braswell has a Section 8 housing voucher. If she’s unable to pay her rent, she will lose that ― which she said would be paramount to losing “everything” ― and she might not be able to get it back anytime soon.
And at the end of all this, what will her community even look like? Will there be any jobs? If she gets her job back, will there be enough hours? Her thoughts race at all hours of the night.
She has prepared for the coronavirus, stocking up on medicine and food. Though its been rough, she feels God is in control.
At the end of the day, “Being sick is the farthest thing from my mind,” she said. “After all this and after we use all our money and the virus is gone, what do we do next?”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-24--Wisconsin Pushing Ahead With April 7 Primary Election Despite Coronavirus Concerns

Wisconsin ’ s April 7 primary election is expected to go ahead despite concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus and the state ’ s stay-at-home order , Gov .
Tony Evers ( D ) said Monday .
Evers said he was determined to keep the election date despite political and community pressure to delay the vote ― and the recent decisions by several states including Rhode Island , Georgia and Louisiana to postpone their own elections .
The governor explained that Wisconsin ’ s ballot doesn ’ t just include the presidential primary , but also many local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks or months if the date is changed .
These include many mayoral and county seats , whose occupants may be called upon to make critical decisions during the coronavirus crisis , NPR noted .
“ I just want to make sure people understand the complexity of our spring general election .
It ’ s not a primary election .
It ’ s only a primary election for the presidential candidates , ” Evers told reporters last week .
“ How long do we potentially leave offices not filled because we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t held a general election ?
” he added .
.
@ GovEvers says he 's talked w/public # health experts , business leaders & lawmakers , and all agree we need to do more to stop the spread of # COVID19_WI .
That 's why tomorrow he and # DHSWI Secretary-designee Andrea Palm will issue a # SaferAtHome order : https : //t.co/XmFXG2qknE pic.twitter.com/V0aY2F2z6v — WIDeptHealthServices ( @ DHSWI ) March 23 , 2020 The state has no-excuse absentee voting , the paper noted , and voters have until April 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by email , fax or through the mail .
Officials , however , have recommended voters request a mail-in ballot as soon as possible because of the surge of such ballots expected .
In-person early voting may also still be available at local clerks ’ offices ― though this may soon change .
Milwaukee recently canceled in-person early voting in an effort to safeguard the well-being of election workers ; the Journal Sentinel noted that other areas may soon do the same .
Residents should check their municipal court ’ s website to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the paper said .
Evers encouraged voters on Monday to cast mail-in ballots from the comfort and safety of their own homes ― something he said he and his wife had already done .
“ It ’ s very easy , ” the governor said .
“ If we can do it , you can do it .
”

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Wisconsin’s April 7 primary election is expected to go ahead despite concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus and the state’s stay-at-home order, Gov. Tony Evers (D) said Monday.
Evers said he was determined to keep the election date despite political and community pressure to delay the vote ― and the recent decisions by several states including Rhode Island, Georgia and Louisiana to postpone their own elections.
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The governor explained that Wisconsin’s ballot doesn’t just include the presidential primary, but also many local elected offices which could remain unfilled for weeks or months if the date is changed. These include many mayoral and county seats, whose occupants may be called upon to make critical decisions during the coronavirus crisis, NPR noted.
“I just want to make sure people understand the complexity of our spring general election. It’s not a primary election. It’s only a primary election for the presidential candidates,” Evers told reporters last week.
“How long do we potentially leave offices not filled because we’re into July, August and we haven’t held a general election?” he added.
.@GovEvers says he's talked w/public #health experts, business leaders & lawmakers, and all agree we need to do more to stop the spread of #COVID19_WI. That's why tomorrow he and #DHSWI Secretary-designee Andrea Palm will issue a #SaferAtHome order: https://t.co/XmFXG2qknE pic.twitter.com/V0aY2F2z6v — WIDeptHealthServices (@DHSWI) March 23, 2020
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The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Monday explained the voting options available to Wisconsin residents.
The state has no-excuse absentee voting, the paper noted, and voters have until April 2 to request an absentee ballot online, by email, fax or through the mail. Officials, however, have recommended voters request a mail-in ballot as soon as possible because of the surge of such ballots expected.
In-person early voting may also still be available at local clerks’ offices ― though this may soon change. Milwaukee recently canceled in-person early voting in an effort to safeguard the well-being of election workers; the Journal Sentinel noted that other areas may soon do the same. Residents should check their municipal court’s website to find out more about early voting, the paper said.
Several groups have called for Wisconsin's April 7 election to be postponed, but so far it's going forward, with adjustments to online voter registration.https://t.co/ds3tzSPCCD — Journal Sentinel (@journalsentinel) March 24, 2020
Evers encouraged voters on Monday to cast mail-in ballots from the comfort and safety of their own homes ― something he said he and his wife had already done.
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