thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-25--Illinois Veterans Nursing Home Investigated After 27 COVID-19 Deaths

State officials in Illinois have launched an investigation into a coronavirus outbreak at a veterans ’ nursing home that has infected 200 of its residents and staff , killing 27 of them .
The Illinois Department of Veterans ’ Affairs , or IDVA , ordered an independent review on Tuesday of the State Veterans Home at LaSalle , roughly 90 miles southwest of Chicago .
State and federal officials visited the facility on Nov. 13 and determined it had failed to take certain coronavirus safety measures as the virus surges .
Those failures included the facility primarily using an alcohol-free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
Staff members were also seen touching patients and multiple surfaces without changing their gloves or performing hand hygiene , according to reports shared by the IDVA .
The IDVA said it is implementing all the recommendations contained in reports from the Illinois Department of Public Health and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at all four of the state ’ s veterans homes .
This includes replacing the hand sanitizer with a more effective product , retraining staff on mask requirements and strengthening the health screening process for employees .
The Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s health department will carry out an investigation that focuses on “ uncovering any lapses in protocol and employee compliance with rules , which will enable IDVA to ensure best practices moving forward , ” IDVA ’ s office said in a statement .
“ These brave men and women sacrificed everything fighting for the freedoms we so often take for granted .
It is our moral obligation to care for them just as they have cared for us , ” said IDVA Director Linda Chapa LaVia , who promised full transparency in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 105 residents and 95 employees at the LaSalle facility have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic .
Of those infected , 38 residents and 76 staff have recovered , according to IDVA .
Daily coronavirus cases and deaths had been generally trending downward nationally since this summer , with the exception of the Midwest , where the situation has only worsened due to relaxed safety measures and people congregating inside as temperatures drop .
Illinois reported 11,378 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday , pushing the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 10 million .
LaVia , who testified Tuesday at a hearing of the state Senate ’ s Veterans Affairs Committee , said COVID-19 cases at the LaSalle facility rose at the same time that cases in the surrounding community rose .
She credited the facility ’ s staff and administration for having lower case counts compared to other long-term care facilities throughout the state during the pandemic ’ s first eight months .
In a statement Tuesday , Dr. Ngozi Ezike of the Illinois Department of Public Health stressed the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect vulnerable populations at these long-term care facilities .
“ Health care workers can be exposed to COVID-19 while away from work and then inadvertently introduce the virus into the facility .
We can all help protect our honored heroes in our Veterans ’ homes by decreasing the amount of virus circulating in our communities by staying home as much as possible , wearing our masks , and watching our distance , ” she said .

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State officials in Illinois have launched an investigation into a coronavirus outbreak at a veterans’ nursing home that has infected 200 of its residents and staff, killing 27 of them.
The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, or IDVA, ordered an independent review on Tuesday of the State Veterans Home at LaSalle, roughly 90 miles southwest of Chicago. State and federal officials visited the facility on Nov. 13 and determined it had failed to take certain coronavirus safety measures as the virus surges.
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Those failures included the facility primarily using an alcohol-free hand sanitizer found to be ineffective against COVID-19. Staff members were also seen touching patients and multiple surfaces without changing their gloves or performing hand hygiene, according to reports shared by the IDVA.
The Office of Inspector General for Illinois' health department has been tapped to investigate a deadly coronavirus outbreak at an Illinois veterans nursing home. DarcyMaulsby via Getty Images
The IDVA said it is implementing all the recommendations contained in reports from the Illinois Department of Public Health and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at all four of the state’s veterans homes. This includes replacing the hand sanitizer with a more effective product, retraining staff on mask requirements and strengthening the health screening process for employees.
The Office of Inspector General for the state’s health department will carry out an investigation that focuses on “uncovering any lapses in protocol and employee compliance with rules, which will enable IDVA to ensure best practices moving forward,” IDVA’s office said in a statement.
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“These brave men and women sacrificed everything fighting for the freedoms we so often take for granted. It is our moral obligation to care for them just as they have cared for us,” said IDVA Director Linda Chapa LaVia, who promised full transparency in officials’ review.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office has also opened an investigation into how the outbreak started, according to local media.
As of Tuesday, 105 residents and 95 employees at the LaSalle facility have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic. Of those infected, 38 residents and 76 staff have recovered, according to IDVA.
Daily coronavirus cases and deaths had been generally trending downward nationally since this summer, with the exception of the Midwest, where the situation has only worsened due to relaxed safety measures and people congregating inside as temperatures drop. Illinois reported 11,378 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, pushing the state’s total since the pandemic began to more than 10 million.
LaVia, who testified Tuesday at a hearing of the state Senate’s Veterans Affairs Committee, said COVID-19 cases at the LaSalle facility rose at the same time that cases in the surrounding community rose. She credited the facility’s staff and administration for having lower case counts compared to other long-term care facilities throughout the state during the pandemic’s first eight months.
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In a statement Tuesday, Dr. Ngozi Ezike of the Illinois Department of Public Health stressed the need for decreasing community spread in order to protect vulnerable populations at these long-term care facilities.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-25--U.S. Billionaires Grow Wealth By Over $1 Trillion Since Pandemic Began: Report

Billionaires in the U.S. have grown their wealth by over a third — or by more than $ 1 trillion — since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation in March , a new report finds .
At the same time , the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has left millions of Americans jobless and struggling to pay their mortgages , rents and food bills .
A report released Wednesday by the Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies tracked the net worth of the over 650 of the wealthiest Americans from March 18 to Nov. 24 , and found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this period and that 29 saw their wealth double amid the pandemic .
The net worth of this minuscule group is twice the amount of wealth of the bottom 50 % of U.S. households — about 160 million people , per the report .
Amazon ’ s Jeff Bezos saw his net worth grow 61 % since mid-March , from $ 113 billion to $ 182.4 billion .
Amazon ’ s workers , meanwhile , haven ’ t received hazard pay in months , even as they ’ ve continued working during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been infected with coronavirus , according to the company .
An Amazon spokesperson told HuffPost that “ nothing is more important than the health and safety of our employees , ” adding that the company pays workers at least $ 15 per hour and has provided masks and gloves , as well as on-site COVID-19 testing in certain locations .
Bezos is one of five “ centi-billionaires ” in the world — people with a net worth over $ 100 billion — alongside Louis Vuitton chairman Bernard Arnault , Microsoft founder Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Tesla CEO Elon Musk .
Three years ago , there were no centi-billionaires , according to the report .
The U.S. unemployment rate was nearly 7 % last month — with over 11 million Americans considered unemployed — nearly twice the level of February , before the pandemic hit .
The U.S. Census Bureau ’ s survey of American households found that from Oct. 28-Nov. 9 , over 15 million households — or 28 % of renters surveyed — had either “ no confidence ” or only “ slight confidence ” of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s payment .

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Billionaires in the U.S. have grown their wealth by over a third — or by more than $1 trillion — since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation in March, a new report finds.
At the same time, the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has left millions of Americans jobless and struggling to pay their mortgages, rents and food bills.
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A report released Wednesday by the Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies tracked the net worth of the over 650 of the wealthiest Americans from March 18 to Nov. 24, and found that dozens joined the ranks of billionaires during this period and that 29 saw their wealth double amid the pandemic.
The net worth of this minuscule group is twice the amount of wealth of the bottom 50% of U.S. households — about 160 million people, per the report.
Billionaires have hit a disturbing milestone:
ONE TRILLION DOLLARS in wealth gains during the pandemic.https://t.co/Za4TttVtl8 pic.twitter.com/Qqr6A3Duqd — Inequality.org (@inequalityorg) November 25, 2020
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An Amazon spokesperson told HuffPost that “nothing is more important than the health and safety of our employees,” adding that the company pays workers at least $15 per hour and has provided masks and gloves, as well as on-site COVID-19 testing in certain locations.
Bezos is one of five “centi-billionaires” in the world — people with a net worth over $100 billion — alongside Louis Vuitton chairman Bernard Arnault, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Three years ago, there were no centi-billionaires, according to the report.
The U.S. unemployment rate was nearly 7% last month — with over 11 million Americans considered unemployed — nearly twice the level of February, before the pandemic hit.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-25--German Restaurant Protests Pandemic Lockdowns With Stuffed Pandas

FRANKFURT , Nov 25 ( Reuters ) - The owner of a Frankfurt restaurant is staging a protest against the coronavirus lockdown in Germany by filling his tables with a hundred stuffed toy pandas , in a play on the word “ pandemic.
” German officials are expected on Wednesday to agree to extend until Dec. 20 a “ lockdown light ” they imposed on Nov. 2 that means bars , restaurants and entertainment venues must stay closed , while shops and schools can remain open .
“ We wanted to put some life back into our restaurant , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pino .
“ They are Panda-Mic pandas.
” The pandas are seated at the restaurant ’ s tables and propped up at the bar , some with bottles of Corona beer .
“ It is a silent protest .
An offer to our guests , ” Fichera said , adding he would keep the lights on all day and night as long as the lockdown lasts so passersby can enjoy the display .
The German government has said it will extend financial aid for firms hit by the restrictions , which , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 billion euros ( $ 23.81 billion ) in December , in addition to an estimated 10-15 billion in November .

FRANKFURT, Nov 25 (Reuters) - The owner of a Frankfurt restaurant is staging a protest against the coronavirus lockdown in Germany by filling his tables with a hundred stuffed toy pandas, in a play on the word “pandemic.”
German officials are expected on Wednesday to agree to extend until Dec. 20 a “lockdown light” they imposed on Nov. 2 that means bars, restaurants and entertainment venues must stay closed, while shops and schools can remain open.
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“We wanted to put some life back into our restaurant,” said Guiseppe Fichera, manager of restaurant Pino. “They are Panda-Mic pandas.”
The pandas are seated at the restaurant’s tables and propped up at the bar, some with bottles of Corona beer.
“It is a silent protest. An offer to our guests,” Fichera said, adding he would keep the lights on all day and night as long as the lockdown lasts so passersby can enjoy the display.
The German government has said it will extend financial aid for firms hit by the restrictions, which, according to sources, could add up to 20 billion euros ($23.81 billion) in December, in addition to an estimated 10-15 billion in November.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-25--6 Useful Tips For Anyone Grieving Their Pre-Pandemic Life

Grief is commonly linked to the experience that comes after losing someone we care deeply about , often through death .
However , there are different kinds of grief and many of them have nothing to do with dying at all .
“ Chronic grief is being experienced in many ways : through feelings of hopelessness ; a sense of disbelief ; avoidance of any situation that may remind someone of the loss ; or loss of meaning and value in a belief system , ” said John Sovec , a grief counselor in Pasadena , California .
This grief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have time to properly grieve one loss before experiencing the next.
” “ [ People are ] taking a look in the mirror and not recognizing themselves ... Maybe their identity was tied to a job they no longer have , or maybe our nation ’ s racial reckoning is causing them to see their participation in anti-Blackness , ” Wade said .
“ They may not like what [ they ] see .
There is grief in forming a new identity after the loss of an old one.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before we feel it anywhere else , ” she said .
“ Our bodies might experience more pain — headaches , stomach aches or intensifying chronic pain — or might feel depleted and numb in response to grief .
Grief is exhausting , it impacts our overall ability to function and we may find ourselves distracted , forgetful and unable to focus .
We may lack energy and not find pleasure in many things , even those things that used to give us joy.
” This insurmountable grief is to be expected given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
But it ’ s important to find healthy coping mechanisms to help you deal with it ― and they might not be the same ones you ’ d use to cope with a death .
Here is some expert-backed advice that may make managing these specific losses a little bit easier : Allow yourself to feel the grief .
“ Grief is primitive , and although it can be managed , it resists being tamed or controlled , ” she said .
“ When overcome by powerful emotions — which can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often most healing to breathe into these feelings , presume they are part of our grief process , and allow them to dissipate naturally.
” Express to your family that you ’ re extremely upset about not being able to see them for the holidays .
Tell your friends you feel a lack of purpose without a job .
Being vulnerable is scary but it will help ― and perhaps it will also encourage others who might have been worried about speaking up , too .
Try to not compare your experiences to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you share your journey and struggles with those around you , avoid stacking yourself up to them .
Just because someone is coping with not being able to see their family differently doesn ’ t make it wrong or right .
Just because someone had more loss this year doesn ’ t mean your losses don ’ t matter .
We all handle grief in our own ways , and everyone ’ s losses are valid .
Find new rituals that provide you with a sense of routine .
This is especially important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss of “ normalcy ” right now ( and , really , who isn ’ t ? )
.
We don ’ t have control over a lot that ’ s going on in the world , so finding areas where we can introduce some stability can be grounding .
Try waking up at an earlier time every day , adding a daily workout to your afternoons or setting Fridays aside for takeout and Netflix .

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It's been one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Explore HuffPost's Bent Not Broken project to learn how the coronavirus has disrupted our mental health, and how to manage our well-being moving forward.
Grief is commonly linked to the experience that comes after losing someone we care deeply about, often through death. However, there are different kinds of grief and many of them have nothing to do with dying at all.
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In fact, experts believe the coronavirus pandemic has plunged the world into a sort of collective and chronic grief, as we mourn jobs, relationships, holidays, normalcy and other tangible and intangible losses.
“Chronic grief is being experienced in many ways: through feelings of hopelessness; a sense of disbelief; avoidance of any situation that may remind someone of the loss; or loss of meaning and value in a belief system,” said John Sovec, a grief counselor in Pasadena, California. This grief “can be stressful because you don’t have time to properly grieve one loss before experiencing the next.”
During this time, a lot of people are also experiencing a shift in identity, which is its own form of death in a way, according to writer and grief coach Breeshia Wade.
“[People are] taking a look in the mirror and not recognizing themselves ... Maybe their identity was tied to a job they no longer have, or maybe our nation’s racial reckoning is causing them to see their participation in anti-Blackness,” Wade said. “They may not like what [they] see. There is grief in forming a new identity after the loss of an old one.”
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This not only takes an emotional toll, but a physical one as well, added Julie G. Kays, manager and clinical counselor at the Counseling Center at Stella Maris in Timonium, Maryland.
“Sometimes we feel grief in our bodies before we feel it anywhere else,” she said. “Our bodies might experience more pain — headaches, stomach aches or intensifying chronic pain — or might feel depleted and numb in response to grief. Grief is exhausting, it impacts our overall ability to function and we may find ourselves distracted, forgetful and unable to focus. We may lack energy and not find pleasure in many things, even those things that used to give us joy.”
The continuous emotional and physical onslaught of grief can then lead to long-term problems. This may include “huge upswings in depression and anxiety as well as a deep emotional fatigue that is affecting people’s ability to cope with their daily emotional maintenance,” Sovec said.
This insurmountable grief is to be expected given all that we’ve endured this year. But it’s important to find healthy coping mechanisms to help you deal with it ― and they might not be the same ones you’d use to cope with a death. Here is some expert-backed advice that may make managing these specific losses a little bit easier:
Allow yourself to feel the grief.
Don’t brush off what you’re feeling or diminish it. Diana Concannon, a licensed psychologist and dean of the California School of Forensic Studies at Alliant International University, said it’s necessary to allow yourself to feel your emotions without trying to dictate them.
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“Grief is primitive, and although it can be managed, it resists being tamed or controlled,” she said. “When overcome by powerful emotions — which can arise unexpectedly while grieving — it is often most healing to breathe into these feelings, presume they are part of our grief process, and allow them to dissipate naturally.”
lechatnoir via Getty Images
Share your grief.
Because of the stigma associated with grief, it can often feel like an isolating experience. But you’re absolutely not the only one feeling this way.
Express to your family that you’re extremely upset about not being able to see them for the holidays. Tell your friends you feel a lack of purpose without a job. Being vulnerable is scary but it will help ― and perhaps it will also encourage others who might have been worried about speaking up, too.
“Identify what you’re feeling and know that you’re not alone,” said Jennifer Teplin, a licensed clinical social worker and the founder and clinical director of Manhattan Wellness. “When experiencing grief, things can feel extremely isolating. By sharing with others and being curious about their own experiences, we will immediately feel less alone.”
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Try to not compare your experiences to other people’s experiences.
As you share your journey and struggles with those around you, avoid stacking yourself up to them. Just because someone is coping with not being able to see their family differently doesn’t make it wrong or right. Just because someone had more loss this year doesn’t mean your losses don’t matter. We all handle grief in our own ways, and everyone’s losses are valid.
“The comparison can have detrimental effects on the natural grief process and reactions, as it suggests someone is not doing it right and this contributes to feelings of shame and guilt that stunt healing,” said Maggie Tipton, director of psychological services at Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania.
Find new rituals that provide you with a sense of routine.
“Figuring out new ways to add cadence and structure to your life with intentional rituals ... can help you integrate losses in a meaningful way,” said Abigail Nathanson, a licensed psychotherapist in New York City.
This is especially important if you’re struggling with the loss of “normalcy” right now (and, really, who isn’t?). We don’t have control over a lot that’s going on in the world, so finding areas where we can introduce some stability can be grounding. Try waking up at an earlier time every day, adding a daily workout to your afternoons or setting Fridays aside for takeout and Netflix.
The Good Brigade via Getty Images
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Try reflective journaling.
Journaling has a host of mental health benefits and can be extremely useful in the grieving process. Reflective journaling, in particular, can help you examine the losses you’re experiencing more closely, said Patricia Celan, a psychiatry resident at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
“Create a narrative around what happened, why it may have happened and how your life has been changed for both the worse and the better,” Celan said. “In this case, create a storyline around how your life has been impacted by the pandemic.”
While journaling, you could also take a moment to list a few things you are currently grateful for in your life, which can also help your mental health.
Dive deeper into self-care.
During this time, self-care has never been more important. (And no, we’re not just talking about slapping on a face mask and opening a bottle of wine.)
Sovec said it’s important that you are taking care of your body as well as your emotions during the grieving process. That means nourishing yourself, moving your body, sleeping, setting boundaries and allowing people to help you. And if at any point you’re struggling to function or do these basic things, it might be worth speaking to a mental health professional.
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“Often the last things that people focus on when grieving is taking care of themselves and this lack of self-care can exacerbate the emotional overwhelm that can accompany grief,” Sovec said. “When our tank is empty, it is even more challenging to process deep emotions.”
Grief “is not always a predictable journey,” he added. Some days you’ll wake up feeling OK and others you’ll feel pummeled by the weight of it all.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-25--COVID-19 Sick Leave Likely Prevented Thousands Of Cases. It’s About To Expire.

Yet the United States , unlike most developed countries , doesn ’ t have federally mandated paid sick leave for all .
And the limited policy passed by Congress in March to deal with the pandemic expires at the end of next month .
One study estimated that the measure , which effectively provides about 20 million workers with 10 days of paid sick time , prevented about 400 coronavirus cases per day per state over the six-week period examined .
That ’ s about 600,000 cases over the time period , said Nicolas Ziebarth , an associate professor at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unless Congress acts , it is just really going to be a disaster .
We are in the middle of a surge right now .
Every indication is , if people don ’ t take all the right steps [ during ] the holidays , it is going to [ get ] even worse .
Right when we ’ re seeing the largest increase in numbers , months before we are going to be able to have a vaccine available , people are going to be sick and have no way to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves or to do what they need to do to stop the spread .
So before the end of this year , we have to pass what ’ s called an omnibus bill , which extends spending .
If we don ’ t , the government shuts down .
It is the one opportunity we have to add some provisions for extensions for [ paid sick leave ] and other provisions that expire at the end of the year .
That ’ s what I ’ m pushing to do .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least take care of themselves and their family .
It ’ s not only important for them , it ’ s important for stopping the spread .
If you do not have paid sick leave , if you can not take work off , you go to work when you ’ re sick .
But if you do not have any paid sick leave , you ’ re going to go to work .
You need to put food on the table .
You need to pay your rent .
People go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be OK , I just have to go to work.
” Everyone should be able to do that .
Everyone has to be able to do that .
It ’ s not only the right thing to do for the health of people , it ’ s the right thing to do for the economic health of our country .
Definitely , I don ’ t want that sandwich either .
Did you see that story about the Iowa pork plant where managers were betting to see how many workers got sick ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay on the line even when they exhibited COVID-19 symptoms .
At least five died of the virus . ]
It ’ s completely dependent on whether the Republican [ Senate ] majority leader is willing to bring it up .
So far he ’ s said no , we ’ re not doing anything .
Everybody is pushing for this that has any kind of understanding of what people are going through today .
Many of them [ in the GOP ] don ’ t want anybody to believe this is real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help support people now , you ’ re going against your own message that this isn ’ t real .

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Paid sick leave helps stop the spread of COVID-19 by making it easier for workers to stay home if they catch the coronavirus.
Yet the United States, unlike most developed countries, doesn’t have federally mandated paid sick leave for all. And the limited policy passed by Congress in March to deal with the pandemic expires at the end of next month. One study estimated that the measure, which effectively provides about 20 million workers with 10 days of paid sick time, prevented about 400 coronavirus cases per day per state over the six-week period examined. That’s about 600,000 cases over the time period, said Nicolas Ziebarth, an associate professor at Cornell University who co-authored the study.
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The end of that pandemic provision couldn’t come at a worse time, as the number of COVID-19 cases is rising out of control in most of the country and is expected to increase even more after the holiday season.
Last week, HuffPost talked by phone with Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a longtime advocate for paid sick leave, about the looming expiration, why paid sick leave is crucial and what needs to be done to deal with the onslaught of coronavirus cases.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
So, we’re at a crisis point.
Unless Congress acts, it is just really going to be a disaster. We are in the middle of a surge right now. Every indication is, if people don’t take all the right steps [during] the holidays, it is going to [get] even worse.
Right when we’re seeing the largest increase in numbers, months before we are going to be able to have a vaccine available, people are going to be sick and have no way to take time off or to take care of themselves or to do what they need to do to stop the spread.
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I know there are giant loopholes in the sick leave policy that passed in the spring. [Companies with more than 500 workers are exempt.] How effective do you think it’s been?
Somewhat. Obviously, the House-passed HEROES Act is much more effective. It extends the deadline and expands the number of people who can use it. It covers a lot more people.
But that’s not going to get passed [in the Senate] before Dec. 31. My colleague spoke to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who said there would be something passed, possibly in the omnibus, to extend the policy. Other senators were less hopeful.
So before the end of this year, we have to pass what’s called an omnibus bill, which extends spending. If we don’t, the government shuts down. It is the one opportunity we have to add some provisions for extensions for [paid sick leave] and other provisions that expire at the end of the year. That’s what I’m pushing to do.
How’s that going?
Well, right now, [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is not conceding that he’s willing to do anything.
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And what would it look like, if you got this put in? Would it just extend the current policy?
They could do a straight extension. That’s better than nothing. Or they can do the expanded language. We’re working as hard as we can to try and get the Republicans in the Senate to try to agree to that.
Where is paid sick leave on your list of priorities? Certain unemployment benefits are about to run out, too.
This is one of our priorities so people can at least take care of themselves and their family. It’s not only important for them, it’s important for stopping the spread. If you do not have paid sick leave, if you cannot take work off, you go to work when you’re sick.
And we haven’t learned the lesson yet. One of the things we know people need to do is to isolate themselves if they’re exposed. That’s how you stop the spread.
But if you do not have any paid sick leave, you’re going to go to work. You need to put food on the table. You need to pay your rent. People go, “I’m going to be OK, I just have to go to work.”
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You’re hearing from people worried about this?
Yes. Panicked.
Senators, you guys, have sick leave?
Well, technically, senators are required to be there for votes. But certainly, yes, if a senator has COVID, if they’re positive or have been exposed, they stay home for two weeks.
And do they still get paid?
Of course.
Everyone should be able to do that, right?
Everyone should be able to do that. Everyone has to be able to do that. It’s not only the right thing to do for the health of people, it’s the right thing to do for the economic health of our country.
Long term, would you like to see something permanent passed?
I have long been an advocate of that. If people do not have paid sick leave and they have the regular flu ― or they have something else that is highly contagious ― and they go to work, they expose everybody.
A woman I met a number of years ago, who worked at a deli in a grocery store, said to me, “I’m sick. I’m at work. I have no choice. I gotta pay the rent. Do you want to come get a sandwich from me?”
What did you say?
I said no. We all want her home, right?
Definitely, I don’t want that sandwich either. Did you see that story about the Iowa pork plant where managers were betting to see how many workers got sick? [Managers allegedly allowed some workers to stay on the line even when they exhibited COVID-19 symptoms. At least five died of the virus.]
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It’s just absolutely appalling. The lack of care about human life from some people is unbelievable.
We’re all waiting to see what Congress does now with regards to care for human life.
Yeah, and we just have a few weeks left and a lot of work to do. And what Mitch McConnell is doing in the Senate right now is just passing judges.
What are the other priorities?
Local and state support right now is critical. The unemployment extension. The Federal Reserve emergency lending program. Evictions. Foreclosure. Student loan payments. There’s a whole list. If we don’t extend, people are going to get smacked in January right when we are going to see the largest numbers.
The vaccine’s coming though. So won’t we be OK?
Yeah, so let’s talk about that. I am excited that there’s a vaccine. There is hope in the future.
We are told if everything goes well, and that’s an “if,” maybe by the end of this year we’ll have some vaccines available. But to have large-scale vaccines manufactured and distributed with everybody getting it is going to be a huge, gigantic effort.
Any thoughts on schools right now? Seems like a mess.
We have not taken the efforts at the federal level to make sure our kids can learn during a pandemic. Just even providing support for personal protective equipment, for smaller class sizes, for making sure there is the capability for all kids to be able to learn equitably ― it has not been done.
What are the chances of any of this happening?
It’s completely dependent on whether the Republican [Senate] majority leader is willing to bring it up. So far he’s said no, we’re not doing anything. Everybody is pushing for this that has any kind of understanding of what people are going through today.
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It seems like the GOP thinks the economy is recovering.
Many of them [in the GOP] don’t want anybody to believe this is real, so if you do something to help support people now, you’re going against your own message that this isn’t real.
That makes sense.
It doesn’t make sense.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-24--COVID-19 Positivity Rates: What Parents Need To Know

And it ’ s especially hard to know what to make of local COVID-19 positivity rates , because there ’ s no consensus on what should happen as a result of those rates .
How high is too high ?
When should parents be rethinking various activities ?
And how will this all change as we head into what we ’ ve been warned will be a long , very hard winter ?
Here are some basics to have in mind : The COVID-19 positivity rate is NOT a direct measure of how many cases are in your area .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate could be high if the number of cases is high ( suggesting that COVID-19 is pretty widespread around you ) .
But it could also be high if the number of total tests being done in your area is really low .
Experts warn that a 5 % positivity rate is cause for concern ; 10 % is “ very concerning.
” For example , I live in New York City , where public schools recently closed because our positivity rate hit a 3 % seven-day average .
In several neighboring states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though positivity rates are higher .
I have no idea what to make of this , nor do I have a clear sense of what the 3 % positivity rate means ( or should mean ) for questions like : Should I still be having a babysitter watch my toddler ?
Should either of my kids be playing with friends ?
In the absence of uniform guidelines around positivity rates and what parents should make of them , one threshold to consider is 5 % .
In May , the World Health Organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positivity rates should be at 5 % or lower for at least two weeks .
Parents should take into account other metrics , like hospitalizations , and get familiar with your state ’ s plans .
He urged parents to “ get used to following those , because then you ’ ll have a sense of what direction things are moving.
” How you react to those directional shifts will have a lot to do with your personal risk tolerance and factors like whether you ’ ve got anyone in your home who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with COVID-19 .
“ My advice to parents is to pay close attention to what is going on at a state level .
Each state has their own plan for their populations and communities , ” and their local thresholds are influenced by things like population dynamics and local hospitals , she continued .
“ For example , thresholds for states with limited ICU beds per person may need to have stricter criteria for closures as they will max out their resources more rapidly.
” When in doubt , ask your child ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Imgorthand via Getty Images How should percent positive rates influence parents' choices for their kids this winter? Experts share some basics to have in mind.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, parents around the country have become versed in a new vocabulary, from asymptomatic spread to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.
But it is still challenging to decode all the information swirling around us in order to make informed decisions about what our kids should and shouldn’t do — and how to weigh the risks versus benefits.
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And it’s especially hard to know what to make of local COVID-19 positivity rates, because there’s no consensus on what should happen as a result of those rates. How high is too high? When should parents be rethinking various activities? And how will this all change as we head into what we’ve been warned will be a long, very hard winter? Here are some basics to have in mind:
The COVID-19 positivity rate is NOT a direct measure of how many cases are in your area.
The local positivity rate is the percentage of COVID-19 tests performed in your area that come back positive. (It’s often used interchangeably with the “percent-positive” rate.)
“Positivity rates tell you what percentage of the population tested positive within a time frame, often taken in a window of the last seven days,” Priya Soni, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, wrote in an email to HuffPost.
“It is NOT a measure of how prevalent the virus is in communities,” she continued, “but rather, reflects how well a certain area is doing with testing capacity.”
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In other words, the local positivity rate could be high if the number of cases is high (suggesting that COVID-19 is pretty widespread around you). But it could also be high if the number of total tests being done in your area is really low.
Experts warn that a 5% positivity rate is cause for concern; 10% is “very concerning.”
The million-dollar question for parents is: What constitutes a “high” positivity rate? And what is the magic number at which parents should rethink things like sending kids to schools, daycares, playgrounds, outdoor playdates, etc.?
Unfortunately, “there’s no uniformity,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with the University of Colorado Denver and co-chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ committee on infectious diseases.
For example, I live in New York City, where public schools recently closed because our positivity rate hit a 3% seven-day average. In several neighboring states, however, schools remain open even though positivity rates are higher. I have no idea what to make of this, nor do I have a clear sense of what the 3% positivity rate means (or should mean) for questions like: Should I still be having a babysitter watch my toddler? Should either of my kids be playing with friends?
In the absence of uniform guidelines around positivity rates and what parents should make of them, one threshold to consider is 5%. In May, the World Health Organization advised governments that before they reopen, positivity rates should be at 5% or lower for at least two weeks.
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Experts, as well as local policymakers, are reluctant to go on the record about what percent positivity rates are appropriate thresholds to influence parental decisions, but O’Leary offered some thoughts.
In his opinion, New York City’s 3% threshold was “pretty low — lower than I think most places would use, and certainly not without controversy,” he told HuffPost.
“As you get higher than 10% and see rates going up, that’s very concerning. We can probably all agree on that,” he said. “But it’s a bit of a gray area in between there though.”
Parents should take into account other metrics, like hospitalizations, and get familiar with your state’s plans.
Unfortunately, we don’t have uniform data collection on a national level, O’Leary said. So he urged parents to get used to what metrics are available in your area by checking in with your local and state health department, or in some cases, your child’s school district.
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“Things I’ve been looking at fairly regularly on my own state’s health department website have been things like percent positivity and hospitalizations, because they’re not nearly as sensitive to testing capacity as many of the other metrics,” O’Leary said.
He urged parents to “get used to following those, because then you’ll have a sense of what direction things are moving.” How you react to those directional shifts will have a lot to do with your personal risk tolerance and factors like whether you’ve got anyone in your home who is at particular risk of severe illness with COVID-19.
“All of this can be very confusing for parents who are trying to make sound decisions for their children and family,” Soni added.
“My advice to parents is to pay close attention to what is going on at a state level. Each state has their own plan for their populations and communities,” and their local thresholds are influenced by things like population dynamics and local hospitals, she continued. “For example, thresholds for states with limited ICU beds per person may need to have stricter criteria for closures as they will max out their resources more rapidly.”
Because ultimately parents have to think beyond our own kiddos and families; we’ve also got to consider the impact our decisions and behaviors have on our broader community.
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When in doubt, ask your child’s pediatrician. And mask up.
Though we parents have done a pretty damn commendable job of navigating the pandemic and learning about COVID-19, most of us are not medical professionals.
So if you have any concerns about whether you should be rethinking certain activities for your child, start by talking to their pediatrician or a trusted health care professional to get their take.
Then stick to the basics: wash hands, maintain social distance and make sure you and any children you have over the age of 2 wear a mask. Because if there is one thing public health experts are overwhelmingly clear on, it’s that masks protect others and you.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-24--Pope Francis Shows Support For George Floyd Protests In New Book

ROME ( AP ) — Pope Francis is supporting demands for racial justice in the wake of the U.S. police killing of George Floyd and is blasting COVID-19 skeptics and the media that spread their conspiracies in a new book penned during the Vatican ’ s coronavirus lockdown .
In “ Let Us Dream , ” Francis also criticizes populist politicians who whip up rallies in ways reminiscent of the 1930s , and the hypocrisy of “ rigid ” conservative Catholics who support them .
But he also criticizes the forceful downing of historic statues during protests for racial equality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ purify the past.
” At its core , “ Let Us Dream ” aims to outline Francis ’ vision of a more economically and environmentally just post-coronavirus world where the poor , the elderly and weak aren ’ t left on the margins and the wealthy aren ’ t consumed only with profits .
At one point , Francis reveals that after he offered in 2012 to retire as archbishop of Buenos Aires when he turned 75 , he planned to finally finish the thesis he never completed on the 20th-century German @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the book was the first written by a pope during a major world crisis and Ivereigh said it was done as a response to the coronavirus and the lockdown .
For Francis , the pandemic offers an unprecedented opportunity to imagine and plan for a more socially just world .
At times , it seems he is directing that message squarely at the United States , as Donald Trump ’ s administration winds down four years of “ America first ” policies that excluded migrants from Muslim countries and diminished U.S. reliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. or Trump by name , Francis singles out Christian-majority countries where nationalist-populist leaders seek to defend Christianity from perceived enemies .
“ Today , listening to some of the populist leaders we now have , I am reminded of the 1930s , when some democracies collapsed into dictatorships seemingly overnight , ” Francis wrote .
“ We see it happening again now in rallies where populist leaders excite and harangue crowds , channeling their resentments and hatreds against imagined enemies to distract from the real problems.
” Francis addressed the killing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the knee of a policeman set off protests this year across the United States .
He also reflected on the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church and other # MeToo abuses of power that he said are rooted in a sense of entitlement , domination and arrogance over others .
But he warned that protests can be manipulated and decried the attempt to erase history by downing statues of U.S. Confederate leaders .
A better way , he said , is to debate the past through dialogue .
“ You ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death of George Floyd , or joining a demonstration because there are shantytowns where children lack water or education , ” he wrote .
“ They turned into a cultural battle what was in truth an effort to ensure the protection of life.
” In urging the world to use the pandemic as an opportunity for a reset , Francis offers “ three COVID-19 ” moments , or personal crises of his own life , that gave him the chance to stop , think and change course .
The first was the respiratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 21 and in his second year at the Buenos Aires diocesan seminary .
After being saved , Francis decided to join the Jesuit religious order .
The second COVID-19 moment was when he moved to Germany in 1986 to work on his thesis and felt such loneliness and isolation he moved back to Argentina without finishing it .
The third moment occurred during the nearly two years he spent in exile in Cordoba , northern Argentina , as penance for his authoritarian-laced reign as head of the Jesuit order in the country @

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ROME (AP) — Pope Francis is supporting demands for racial justice in the wake of the U.S. police killing of George Floyd and is blasting COVID-19 skeptics and the media that spread their conspiracies in a new book penned during the Vatican’s coronavirus lockdown.
In “Let Us Dream,” Francis also criticizes populist politicians who whip up rallies in ways reminiscent of the 1930s, and the hypocrisy of “rigid” conservative Catholics who support them. But he also criticizes the forceful downing of historic statues during protests for racial equality this year as a misguided attempt to “purify the past.”
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The 150-page book, due out Dec. 1, was ghost-written by Francis’ English-language biographer, Austen Ivereigh, and at times the prose and emphasis seems almost more Ivereigh’s than Francis.’
At its core, “Let Us Dream” aims to outline Francis’ vision of a more economically and environmentally just post-coronavirus world where the poor, the elderly and weak aren’t left on the margins and the wealthy aren’t consumed only with profits.
But it also offers new personal insights into the 83-year-old Argentine pope and his sense of humor.
Pope Francis celebrates Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, November 22, 2020. Vincenzo Pinto/Pool via REUTERS
At one point, Francis reveals that after he offered in 2012 to retire as archbishop of Buenos Aires when he turned 75, he planned to finally finish the thesis he never completed on the 20th-century German intellectual, Romano Guardini.
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“But in March 2013, I was transferred to another diocese,” he deadpans. Francis was elected pope, and bishop of Rome, on March 13, 2013.
The publisher said the book was the first written by a pope during a major world crisis and Ivereigh said it was done as a response to the coronavirus and the lockdown. For Francis, the pandemic offers an unprecedented opportunity to imagine and plan for a more socially just world.
At times, it seems he is directing that message squarely at the United States, as Donald Trump’s administration winds down four years of “America first” policies that excluded migrants from Muslim countries and diminished U.S. reliance on multilateral diplomacy. Without identifying the U.S. or Trump by name, Francis singles out Christian-majority countries where nationalist-populist leaders seek to defend Christianity from perceived enemies.
“Today, listening to some of the populist leaders we now have, I am reminded of the 1930s, when some democracies collapsed into dictatorships seemingly overnight,” Francis wrote. “We see it happening again now in rallies where populist leaders excite and harangue crowds, channeling their resentments and hatreds against imagined enemies to distract from the real problems.”
People fall prey to such rhetoric out of fear, not true religious conviction, he wrote.
Francis addressed the killing of Floyd, a Black man whose death at the knee of a policeman set off protests this year across the United States. He also reflected on the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church and other #MeToo abuses of power that he said are rooted in a sense of entitlement, domination and arrogance over others.
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Referring to Floyd by name, Francis said: “Abuse is a gross violation of human dignity that we cannot allow and which we must continue to struggle against.”
But he warned that protests can be manipulated and decried the attempt to erase history by downing statues of U.S. Confederate leaders. A better way, he said, is to debate the past through dialogue.
“Amputating history can make us lose our memory, which is one of the few remedies we have against repeating the mistakes of the past,” he wrote.
Pope Francis met with NBA players at the Vatican on Monday, lauding them as “champions” and saying he supported their work on social justice. The group reportedly underwent COVID-19 testing before meeting the pope. Vatican Media / Reuters
Turning to the pandemic, Francis blasted people who protested anti-virus restrictions “as if measures that governments must impose for the good of their people constitute some kind of political assault on autonomy or personal freedom!”
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He accused some in the church and Catholic media of being part of the problem.
“You’ll never find such people protesting the death of George Floyd, or joining a demonstration because there are shantytowns where children lack water or education,” he wrote. “They turned into a cultural battle what was in truth an effort to ensure the protection of life.”
In urging the world to use the pandemic as an opportunity for a reset, Francis offers “three COVID-19” moments, or personal crises of his own life, that gave him the chance to stop, think and change course.
The first was the respiratory infection that nearly killed him when he was 21 and in his second year at the Buenos Aires diocesan seminary. After being saved, Francis decided to join the Jesuit religious order.
“I have a sense of how people with the coronavirus feel as they struggle to breathe on ventilators,” Francis wrote.
The second COVID-19 moment was when he moved to Germany in 1986 to work on his thesis and felt such loneliness and isolation he moved back to Argentina without finishing it.
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The third moment occurred during the nearly two years he spent in exile in Cordoba, northern Argentina, as penance for his authoritarian-laced reign as head of the Jesuit order in the country.
“I’m sure I did a few good things, but I could be very harsh. In Cordoba, they made me pay and they were right to do so,” he wrote.
But he also revealed that while in Cordoba he read a 37-volume of the “History of the Popes.”
“Once you know that papal history, there’s not that much that goes on in the Vatican Curia and the church today that can shock you,” he wrote.
Francis repeated his call for a universal basic income, for welcoming migrants and for what he calls the three L’s that everyone needs: land, lodging and labor.
“We need to set goals for our business sector that — without denying its importance — look beyond shareholder value to other kinds of values that save us all: community, nature and meaningful work,” he wrote.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-24--COVID-19 Outbreak Forces World's Largest Medical Glove Maker To Shutter Factories

Top Glove , the world ’ s largest manufacturer of medical latex gloves , has closed and reduced capacity at more than two dozen factories in Malaysia after 42 % of the 5,767 workers it screened for COVID-19 tested positive .
The company ’ s 2,524 positive cases are almost entirely foreign-born factory workers , Malaysia ’ s Director-General of Health Noor Hisham Abdullah said Monday .
That figure will likely rise as an additional 1,913 people are still awaiting results .
The country ’ s health ministry plans to test around 13,000 people across the 28 manufacturing facilities affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began last Tuesday .
Military personnel install barbed wire around the Top Glove worker 's hostel in Klang , Malaysia , on Nov. 17 .
Most of the 5,700 affected workers live in company dormitories in the city of Meru , roughly 25 miles west of Kuala Lumpur .
Top Glove ’ s labor practices have come under scrutiny as the global pandemic triggered unprecedented demand and led to soaring profits .
In July , U.S. Customs and Border Protection banned imports from two of the company ’ s subsidiaries , accusing them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gloves .
In the arrangement , foreign workers are typically charged various fees to land jobs in Malaysia , then are confined to cramped company dorms ( paid for via another fee ) and factories while they work to pay off the debt .
In this Aug. 26 file photo , a worker inspects disposable gloves at the Top Glove factory in Shah Alam on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia .
“ We have completed full screening of about 5,700 workers at our hostels , ” Top Glove said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to proceed with the [ health ministry ’ s recommended COVID-19 screening test of the balance [ of ] workers and staff at our factories in Meru , Klang .
”

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Top Glove, the world’s largest manufacturer of medical latex gloves, has closed and reduced capacity at more than two dozen factories in Malaysia after 42% of the 5,767 workers it screened for COVID-19 tested positive.
The company’s 2,524 positive cases are almost entirely foreign-born factory workers, Malaysia’s Director-General of Health Noor Hisham Abdullah said Monday.
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That figure will likely rise as an additional 1,913 people are still awaiting results. The country’s health ministry plans to test around 13,000 people across the 28 manufacturing facilities affected by the government-ordered factory shutdowns, which began last Tuesday.
Military personnel install barbed wire around the Top Glove worker's hostel in Klang, Malaysia, on Nov. 17. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Most of the 5,700 affected workers live in company dormitories in the city of Meru, roughly 25 miles west of Kuala Lumpur. Top Glove’s labor practices have come under scrutiny as the global pandemic triggered unprecedented demand and led to soaring profits.
In July, U.S. Customs and Border Protection banned imports from two of the company’s subsidiaries, accusing them of using forced foreign labor to manufacture gloves.
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In the arrangement, foreign workers are typically charged various fees to land jobs in Malaysia, then are confined to cramped company dorms (paid for via another fee) and factories while they work to pay off the debt.
In this Aug. 26 file photo, a worker inspects disposable gloves at the Top Glove factory in Shah Alam on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Top Glove started making remediation payments to migrant workers in August, seeking to resolve the matter.
“We have completed full screening of about 5,700 workers at our hostels,” Top Glove said in a release Monday. “We are committed to proceed with the [health ministry’s recommended COVID-19 screening test of the balance [of] workers and staff at our factories in Meru, Klang.”
The 5,700 affected workers represents more than a quarter of Top Glove’s global workforce.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-24--'We're Drowning': COVID Cases Flood Hospitals In America's Heartland

After pounding big U.S. cities in the spring , COVID-19 now has engulfed rural and small-town America , seeming to seep into the country ’ s every nook and cranny .
According to Reuters ’ interviews with more than a dozen medical care providers and public health officials in the nation ’ s heartland , many hospitals are severely lacking in beds , equipment and - most critically - clinical staff , including specialists and nurses .
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are spiking nationally .
But the Midwest - encompassing a dozen states between Ohio and the Dakotas - has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are more than double that of any other region in the United States , according to the COVID Tracking Project , a volunteer-run data provider .
From mid-June to mid-November , reported cases in the Midwest rose more than twentyfold .
For the week ending November 19 , North Dakota reported an average of 1,769 daily new cases per 1 million residents , according to the tracking project .
South Dakota recorded nearly 1,500 per million residents , Wisconsin and Nebraska around 1,200 , and Kansas nearly 1,000 .
Even in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with business closed and panic gripping the public - the state never averaged more than 500 new cases per million people .
California never topped 253 .
Facilities like Kearny , known as “ critical access ” hospitals , weren ’ t made for this .
Often sparsely funded , they mainly provide basic or emergency care to residents who live long distances away from bigger medical centers .
Now , “ we have to plan on being able to care for whomever comes in , ” said Miller , whose specialty is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top .
President Donald Trump often has held shoulder-to-shoulder rallies in the Midwest and elsewhere and treated masks as a matter of personal choice .
Although Trump was not re-elected , about two months remain in his tenure , with little sign of change in his coronavirus strategy , even as the crisis grows .
All told , COVID-19 has claimed more than 256,000 lives in the United States .
The virus ’ mortality rate has dropped as doctors have learned more about the disease , and vaccines developed by Moderna Inc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market early next year .
In the meantime , smaller hospitals say they are employing the same drugs - such as remdesivir and dexamethasone - that big-city facilities do , but don ’ t have the same access to ICU equipment or specialized expertise .
Shortages of staff , rather than beds , are the biggest single problem in many hospitals , the health officials said .
“ Just because you can take a cot and put it in a room doesn ’ t mean you have the appropriate nursing staff to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Anthony Hericks , director of critical care with Avera Health in Sioux Falls , South Dakota .
Nurses must observe COVID-19 patients even more closely than others , because of the potential for rapid decline , said Melisa Hazell , a critical care nurse at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center , in Hutchinson , Kansas .
She said she recently recovered from COVID-19 herself , returning to work as soon as she was certain she wouldn ’ t spread the virus .
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has refused to mandate mask-wearing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or public gatherings , saying she would leave such matters to “ individual responsibility.
” In July , she hosted an Independence Day celebration with Trump at Mt .
Rushmore , where the crowd was close together and many attendees were maskless .

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(Reuters) - Dr. Drew Miller knew his patient had to be moved.
The vital signs of the 30-year-old COVID-19 victim were crashing, and Kearny County Hospital in rural Lakin, Kansas, just wasn’t equipped to handle the case. Miller, Kearny’s chief medical officer - who doubles as the county health officer - called around to larger hospitals in search of an ICU bed. With coronavirus cases soaring throughout Kansas, he said, he couldn’t find a single one.
By the time a bed opened elsewhere the following day, the young man was near death. For a full 45 minutes, Miller and his staff performed chest compressions in a desperate attempt to save him.
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Somehow, Miller said, the patient regained a pulse, and was dispatched in an ambulance to the larger facility about 25 miles away. Miller then prayed with the family, whom he knew “very well” from Lakin, a town of just a few thousand people.
“It’s truly a miracle he has survived,” Miller said.
Healthcare personnel prepare to discharge a patient who had been quarantining after a possible exposure to COVID-19 at a hospital in Lakin, Kansas, U.S., November 19, 2020. (REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) Callaghan O'Hare / Reuters
After pounding big U.S. cities in the spring, COVID-19 now has engulfed rural and small-town America, seeming to seep into the country’s every nook and cranny. According to Reuters’ interviews with more than a dozen medical care providers and public health officials in the nation’s heartland, many hospitals are severely lacking in beds, equipment and - most critically - clinical staff, including specialists and nurses.
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are spiking nationally. But the Midwest - encompassing a dozen states between Ohio and the Dakotas - has been especially brutalized. Reported case rates are more than double that of any other region in the United States, according to the COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer-run data provider. From mid-June to mid-November, reported cases in the Midwest rose more than twentyfold.
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For the week ending November 19, North Dakota reported an average of 1,769 daily new cases per 1 million residents, according to the tracking project. South Dakota recorded nearly 1,500 per million residents, Wisconsin and Nebraska around 1,200, and Kansas nearly 1,000. Even in New York’s worst week in April - with business closed and panic gripping the public - the state never averaged more than 500 new cases per million people. California never topped 253.
Jade Carabajal-Richter worries about a lack of beds for patients with COVID-19 as case numbers surge at a hospital in Lakin, Kansas, U.S., November 19, 2020. (REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare) Callaghan O'Hare / Reuters
Hospital officials in the Midwest told Reuters they’re at capacity or nearly so. Most have tried to increase availability by repurposing wings or cramming multiple patients in a single room, and by asking staffers to work longer hours and more frequent shifts.
Facilities like Kearny, known as “critical access” hospitals, weren’t made for this. Often sparsely funded, they mainly provide basic or emergency care to residents who live long distances away from bigger medical centers. Now, “we have to plan on being able to care for whomever comes in,” said Miller, whose specialty is family medicine.
As cases spike in many conservative states and counties, medical workers say they often face a challenge just in convincing patients and local leaders that the disease should be taken seriously and isn’t a Democrat-perpetuated hoax.
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Such viewpoints flow from the top. President Donald Trump often has held shoulder-to-shoulder rallies in the Midwest and elsewhere and treated masks as a matter of personal choice. Although Trump was not re-elected, about two months remain in his tenure, with little sign of change in his coronavirus strategy, even as the crisis grows.
The White House press office did not respond to a request for comment.
Some medical officials and hospital staffers find it hard to reconcile laissez-faire policies with the sickness and suffering they see.
“There’s a disconnect in the community, where we’re seeing people at bars and restaurants, or planning Thanksgiving dinners,” said Dr. Kelly Cawcutt, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. As health workers, she said, “we feel kind of dejected.”
All told, COVID-19 has claimed more than 256,000 lives in the United States. The virus’ mortality rate has dropped as doctors have learned more about the disease, and vaccines developed by Moderna Inc, Pfizer Inc and others could hit the market early next year. In the meantime, smaller hospitals say they are employing the same drugs - such as remdesivir and dexamethasone - that big-city facilities do, but don’t have the same access to ICU equipment or specialized expertise.
With low temperatures sending people indoors and holiday travel underway, doctors in the region aren’t expecting relief anytime soon.
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“I don’t think the worst is here yet,” Miller said.
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
Hospital leaders described demoralization among staffers struggling to reckon with overwork, grief and death.
Shortages of staff, rather than beds, are the biggest single problem in many hospitals, the health officials said. “Just because you can take a cot and put it in a room doesn’t mean you have the appropriate nursing staff to care for a patient,” said Dr. Anthony Hericks, director of critical care with Avera Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Nurses must observe COVID-19 patients even more closely than others, because of the potential for rapid decline, said Melisa Hazell, a critical care nurse at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, in Hutchinson, Kansas. She said she recently recovered from COVID-19 herself, returning to work as soon as she was certain she wouldn’t spread the virus.
“I was off for 12 days,” she said. “Was I mentally and physically ready to go back to work? No, but my teammates needed me.”
Remote hospitals don’t keep a full staff on board in the best of times. They hire traveling nurses as the number of patients surge. Now it’s tough to find any available.
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Aya Health, a San Diego, California-based nurse staffing agency, was posting around 14,000 open positions in the spring, said April Hansen, an executive vice president. That number has now doubled, she said, and pay rates have shot up with demand.
Mary Helland, a chief nursing officer with CommonSpirit Health in North Dakota, said she has put in requests for traveling nurses for the 11 critical access hospitals she oversees in North Dakota and Minnesota. But “bigger hospitals are using them all up,” she said.
At Hutchinson Regional, which has 190 beds, Chief Nursing Officer Amanda Hullet has begun taking floor shifts, even though she had long since graduated to a desk job.
The physical and emotional fatigue is constant, Hullet said, and even harder when the patient is a close friend or colleague.
Hullet recalled the recent deaths of local couple Bill and Judy Mason, just weeks apart, from COVID-19. Judy had taught dance in town for decades, Hullet said, and her students included some of the hospital’s employees.
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Holly Thomas, 37, who is married to the couple’s grandson, said Judy was the “glue” that kept the family together.
Referring to COVID-19 the Midwest, Thomas said “we sat by idly from March to August not seeing a whole lot.” Now she hears of about two deaths a day. “My PE teacher from high school and his wife died within 12 hours of each other, too,” she said.
Hazell, the Hutchinson Regional nurse, encountered a patient who was a former bowling buddy. “He’s just fantastic,” she said. “Great heart, always willing to sit down and share a story or two.”
He’s on a ventilator now, not doing well. “Over next week or two, there’s going to be some tough decisions,” she said.
The Kearny County Hospital is seen amid a surge of COVID-19 in Lakin, Kansas, U.S., November 19, 2020. (REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare) Callaghan O'Hare / Reuters
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‘FED UP’
Medical workers told Reuters that denial about the disease is frustratingly common among public officials, community members and even patients.
One patient at SSM Health in Janesville, Wisconsin, refused to believe COVID-19 was a serious threat, even as it consumed him, said Dr. Alison Schwartz, an infectious disease physician there. When he died, “the family did not want to admit this patient had died of COVID, because they didn’t believe COVID kills people,” she said.
Some Midwestern states and local jurisdictions been loath to mandate masks or social distancing.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, a Republican, went so far as to say he would not allow municipalities to impose mask mandates.
Ricketts’ office declined to comment, but the governor said in a Nov. 13 press conference, “I’m against broad-based mandates in favor of educating people about how to use masks.”
“Masks work, but they’re just one tool,” Ricketts said, urging people to also focus on keeping their distance and avoiding large gatherings.
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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has refused to mandate mask-wearing, and has not imposed restrictions on businesses or public gatherings, saying she would leave such matters to “individual responsibility.” In July, she hosted an Independence Day celebration with Trump at Mt. Rushmore, where the crowd was close together and many attendees were maskless.
Doctors say trying to change such behavior can feel like a hopeless task. “Everyone [is] continuing to go about their lives,” Schwartz said, but “we sort of feel like we’re drowning.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-24--Are Dining Tents A Safe Way To Eat Out During The Pandemic?

Are dining tents a safe way to eat out during the pandemic ?
Health experts say outdoor dining tents are generally safer than dining inside , but caution that they ’ re not all equal .
Many restaurants are erecting individual tents , igloos and other outdoor structures that let people who are dining together avoid being indoors , where the coronavirus spreads more easily .
Experts say the structures should be well-ventilated .
A tent with four walls and a roof , for example , might not have better ventilation than an indoor dining room .
“ The more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is , ” says Dr. Isaac Weisfuse , a public health expert at Cornell University .
Igloos and individual tents are a creative solution but shouldn ’ t be shared with people who aren ’ t in your household , says Craig Hedberg , a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health .
“ If it ’ s keeping you from being in a common airspace with other people , then that ’ s a good thing , ” he says .
Between parties , tents should be cleaned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes , says Aubree Gordon , an associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health .
She also suggests servers should be able to leave food on a tray outside to minimize contact with diners .
Tents are helping many restaurants get through lean times .
But they may cost extra .
In Detroit , Lumen restaurant charges $ 30 per person to reserve a heated structure with windows for two hours .
Lumen ’ s igloos and greenhouses can each seat six people , and the party must spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party leaves , the structure is cleaned , sprayed with sanitizing fog and aired out for 30 minutes , says Gabby Milton , the restaurant ’ s managing partner .
Experts are still learning about COVID-19 .
The information in this story is what was known or available as of publication , but guidance can change as scientists discover more about the virus .
Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations .

Noam Galai via Getty Images Igloo dining tents are set up at the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park as the city continues the re-opening efforts following restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus on November 16, 2020 in New York City.
Are dining tents a safe way to eat out during the pandemic?
Health experts say outdoor dining tents are generally safer than dining inside, but caution that they’re not all equal.
Many restaurants are erecting individual tents, igloos and other outdoor structures that let people who are dining together avoid being indoors, where the coronavirus spreads more easily.
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Experts say the structures should be well-ventilated. A tent with four walls and a roof, for example, might not have better ventilation than an indoor dining room.
“The more airflow through the structure, the better it is,” says Dr. Isaac Weisfuse, a public health expert at Cornell University.
Igloos and individual tents are a creative solution but shouldn’t be shared with people who aren’t in your household, says Craig Hedberg, a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
“If it’s keeping you from being in a common airspace with other people, then that’s a good thing,” he says.
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Between parties, tents should be cleaned and left open for at least 20 minutes, says Aubree Gordon, an associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She also suggests servers should be able to leave food on a tray outside to minimize contact with diners.
Tents are helping many restaurants get through lean times. But they may cost extra. In Detroit, Lumen restaurant charges $30 per person to reserve a heated structure with windows for two hours. Lumen’s igloos and greenhouses can each seat six people, and the party must spend at least $300.
Once a party leaves, the structure is cleaned, sprayed with sanitizing fog and aired out for 30 minutes, says Gabby Milton, the restaurant’s managing partner.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-25--Trump Pardons Former Adviser Michael Flynn, Who Pleaded Guilty In Russia Probe

Carlos Barria/Reuters Former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and later sought to withdraw that plea .
President Donald Trump pardoned Michael Flynn on Wednesday , more than two years after the former national security adviser pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during an explosive investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
Flynn was accused of “ willfully and knowingly ” making “ materially false , fictitious , and fraudulent statements ” in a Jan. 24 , 2017 , interview with FBI agents on topics including his past communications with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He resigned from his post in February 2017 , after allegedly also misleading top administration officials about his conversations with Moscow .
Trump , limited in his pardoning power by his time left in office , said on Twitter that he pardoned Flynn with the hopes that he and his family “ have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving.
” It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon .
Congratulations to @ GenFlynn and his wonderful family , I know you will now have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) November 25 , 2020 The former aide pleaded guilty on Dec. 1 , 2017 .
He agreed to cooperate in special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin , hoping to avoid jail time .
But Flynn filed to withdraw that plea earlier this year — after federal prosecutors accused him and his legal counsel of growing increasingly uncooperative and recommended that he serve up to six months in prison .
In January , Flynn ’ s attorneys alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ bad faith ” investigation .
“ Mr .
Flynn refused to lie for the prosecution .
In pure spite , the government retaliated , ” they claimed .
“ Justice is not a game , and there should be no room for such gamesmanship in the Department of Justice.
” Attorney General William Barr ordered an outside prosecutor review of Flynn ’ s case in February , renewing questions about the Justice Department ’ s treatment of Trump ’ s allies .
Flynn was the first person who served in Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mueller ’ s investigation .
Discussion about the limits of the president ’ s legal authority ― such as Trump ’ s ability to pardon himself if he were charged with a crime ― has continued since he tweeted about his “ complete power to pardon ” months after he took office .

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and later sought to withdraw that plea. Carlos Barria/Reuters
President Donald Trump pardoned Michael Flynn on Wednesday, more than two years after the former national security adviser pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during an explosive investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Flynn was accused of “willfully and knowingly” making “materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements” in a Jan. 24, 2017, interview with FBI agents on topics including his past communications with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. He resigned from his post in February 2017, after allegedly also misleading top administration officials about his conversations with Moscow.
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Trump, limited in his pardoning power by his time left in office, said on Twitter that he pardoned Flynn with the hopes that he and his family “have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving.”
It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2020
The former aide pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2017. He agreed to cooperate in special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, hoping to avoid jail time. But Flynn filed to withdraw that plea earlier this year — after federal prosecutors accused him and his legal counsel of growing increasingly uncooperative and recommended that he serve up to six months in prison.
In January, Flynn’s attorneys alleged that he was the victim of a “bad faith” investigation.
“Mr. Flynn refused to lie for the prosecution. In pure spite, the government retaliated,” they claimed. “Justice is not a game, and there should be no room for such gamesmanship in the Department of Justice.”
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Attorney General William Barr ordered an outside prosecutor review of Flynn’s case in February, renewing questions about the Justice Department’s treatment of Trump’s allies.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-25--Ga. Sen. Perdue Boosts Wealth With Well-Timed Stock Trades

And for the second time in less than two months , Perdue ’ s timing was impeccable .
He avoided a sharp loss and reaped a stunning gain by selling and then buying the same stock : Cardlytics , an Atlanta-based financial technology company on whose board of directors he once served .
The Cardlytics transactions were just a slice of a large number of investment decisions made in the early days of the pandemic by Perdue and other senators .
They stirred public outrage after it became clear that some members of Congress had been briefed on the economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The transactions were mentioned briefly in a story published by the Intercept in May .
Now that Perdue is locked in a pitched battle for reelection in a Jan. 5 runoff , his trades during a public health and economic crisis have become an issue in what already has become a negative , expensive campaign that will determine which party controls the Senate .
There is no evidence that Perdue , who is among the wealthier members of the Senate , acted on information gained as a member of Congress or through his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s illegal to use nonpublic information gained as a company insider or member of Congress to make investment decisions .
But Donna Nagy , an Indiana University law professor , said that type of arrangement doesn ’ t preclude Perdue from directing an adviser to make specific transactions .
She said one way for members of Congress to avoid questions about their financial holdings is to put them in a blind trust , which Perdue has not done .
“ All of these questions about the motivations behind our members of Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleviated if Congress passed a law that limited investments , ” said Nagy , who specializes in securities law .
“ Ordinary citizens should not have to question members of Congress about their investments.
” The issue was enough of a liability that Perdue abruptly sold off between $ 3.2 million and $ 9.4 million of his stock portfolio over a four-day period in mid-April , according to an Associated Press review of mandatory financial disclosures he has submitted to the Senate .
He did not sell his stock in Cardlytics .
Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most attention and stepped down as Senate Intelligence Committee chair amid a probe of his sale of upward of $ 1.7 million in stock , which came when he was privately warning some well-heeled constituents about the virus while publicly downplaying the threat .
Perdue acquired 75,000 shares in Cardlytics through stock options offered for his service on the company ’ s board from 2010 to 2014 , when he stepped down after winning his Senate seat , Securities and Exchange Commission filings show .
The company , which at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered him options that would become available in October 2020 and January 2022 .
“ I said I need to be as patently pure and patently clean as anybody , and the best way to do that is a blind trust , ” Isakson , who served on the Senate ’ s finance and ethics committees , told the Atlanta Journal Constitution in 2017 .
“ I don ’ t know what I own .
”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — As the ravages of the novel coronavirus forced millions of people out of work, shuttered businesses and shrank the value of retirement accounts, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged to a three-year low.
But for Sen. David Perdue, a Georgia Republican, the crisis last March signaled something else: a stock buying opportunity.
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And for the second time in less than two months, Perdue’s timing was impeccable. He avoided a sharp loss and reaped a stunning gain by selling and then buying the same stock: Cardlytics, an Atlanta-based financial technology company on whose board of directors he once served.
On Jan. 23, as word spread through Congress that the coronavirus posed a major economic and public health threat, Perdue sold off $1 million to $5 million in Cardlytics stock at $86 a share before it plunged, according to congressional disclosures.
Weeks later, in March, after the company’s stock plunged further following an unexpected leadership shakeup and lower-than-forecast earnings, Perdue bought the stock back for $30 a share, investing between $200,000 and $500,000.
Those shares have now quadrupled in value, closing at $121 a share on Tuesday.
Republican candidate for Senate Sen. David Perdue during a campaign stop at Peachtree Dekalb Airport Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The Cardlytics transactions were just a slice of a large number of investment decisions made in the early days of the pandemic by Perdue and other senators. They stirred public outrage after it became clear that some members of Congress had been briefed on the economic and health threat the virus posed. The transactions were mentioned briefly in a story published by the Intercept in May.
Now that Perdue is locked in a pitched battle for reelection in a Jan. 5 runoff, his trades during a public health and economic crisis have become an issue in what already has become a negative, expensive campaign that will determine which party controls the Senate.
There is no evidence that Perdue, who is among the wealthier members of the Senate, acted on information gained as a member of Congress or through his long-standing relationship with company officials. It’s illegal to use nonpublic information gained as a company insider or member of Congress to make investment decisions.
But legal experts say the timing of his sale, the fact that he quickly bought Cardlytics stock back when it had lost two-thirds of its market value and his close ties to company officials all warrant scrutiny.
“This does seem suspicious,” said John C. Coffee Jr., a Columbia University law school professor who specializes in corporate and securities issues. But he added, “You need more than suspicions to convict.”
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The Perdue campaign declined a request for an interview with the senator. In a statement, Perdue spokesperson John Burke said the senator had been cleared of wrongdoing but did not provide details.
“The bi-partisan Senate Ethics Committee, DOJ and SEC all independently and swiftly cleared Senator Perdue months ago, which was reported on,” Burke said.
Perdue’s opponent, Democrat Jon Ossoff, has seized on his stock trading while trying to brand him as a “crook.”
Perdue is not the only senator on the ballot in Georgia. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, also a Republican, is running against Democrat Raphael Warnock in a bid to complete the remainder of retired Sen. Johnny Isakson’s term.
Perdue’s Cardlytics transactions fit into a broader pattern of stock moves he made when the coronavirus first struck the U.S.
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At the time, Perdue publicly maintained that the economy was strong and praised President Donald Trump during a Feb. 24 interview on Fox News Channel for “executing the greatest economic turnaround in U.S. history.”
A series of swift transactions in his portfolio told a different story, however, showing the senator dumped some company stocks, while investing in others — like protective equipment maker DuPont and pharmaceutical company Pfizer — that were poised to do well during the pandemic.
Perdue has previously said that outside financial advisers make most of his trades.
But Donna Nagy, an Indiana University law professor, said that type of arrangement doesn’t preclude Perdue from directing an adviser to make specific transactions. She said one way for members of Congress to avoid questions about their financial holdings is to put them in a blind trust, which Perdue has not done.
“All of these questions about the motivations behind our members of Congress and their personal securities trading could be alleviated if Congress passed a law that limited investments,” said Nagy, who specializes in securities law. “Ordinary citizens should not have to question members of Congress about their investments.”
The issue was enough of a liability that Perdue abruptly sold off between $3.2 million and $9.4 million of his stock portfolio over a four-day period in mid-April, according to an Associated Press review of mandatory financial disclosures he has submitted to the Senate. He did not sell his stock in Cardlytics.
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Still, Perdue has largely avoided the same degree of scrutiny faced by some of his colleagues.
Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina drew the most attention and stepped down as Senate Intelligence Committee chair amid a probe of his sale of upward of $1.7 million in stock, which came when he was privately warning some well-heeled constituents about the virus while publicly downplaying the threat.
Cardlytics works at the intersection of banking and online marketing. It helps run rewards programs for financial institutions, including Wells Fargo, using data the banks have gathered on their customers to market to them — similar to what Facebook does with targeted ads.
The company did not respond to a request for comment.
After the March turmoil, its share price dramatically rebounded. Lynne Laube, Cardlytics’ current CEO, said the pandemic had a lot to do with it, driving consumer interest in savings programs.
“I hate to say this pandemic is playing in our favor, but it’s playing in our favor,” she said during an earnings call in May.
Perdue acquired 75,000 shares in Cardlytics through stock options offered for his service on the company’s board from 2010 to 2014, when he stepped down after winning his Senate seat, Securities and Exchange Commission filings show. The company, which at the time had not yet gone public, also offered him options that would become available in October 2020 and January 2022.
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Perdue’s latest financial disclosures do not indicate whether he has exercised the options that became available in October.
But according to Coffee, the Columbia University law professor, it’s an unusual move by the company.
“I’ve never seen options extended from 2014 to 2022,” he said. “That’s a very long extension.”
While Perdue left the company’s board, he has maintained ties to some of its executives, who have donated more than $30,000 to his political committees. Donations made to Perdue account for nearly 80% of all giving to federal candidates by Cardlytics employees over the past decade, records show.
Perdue, meanwhile, has used social media to publicize the company. In August 2016, he took a tour of its office and posed for a photo with Laube and then-CEO Scott Grimes, which he posted to Facebook. In fall 2019, he introduced Laube and Grimes at a gala in Atlanta, where they received a business achievement award.
Isakson, who served with Perdue, took steps to avoid the type of scrutiny Perdue is now facing. Isakson, a Republican, put most of his own holdings in a blind trust after some of his assets drew unwanted attention in 2012.
“I said I need to be as patently pure and patently clean as anybody, and the best way to do that is a blind trust,” Isakson, who served on the Senate’s finance and ethics committees, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution in 2017. “I don’t know what I own.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-25--Georgia's Republican Secretary Of State Says He Was 'Thrown Under The Bus' By Trump

In a USA Today op-ed published Wednesday , Georgia ’ s Republican secretary of state , Brad Raffensperger , claimed he was “ thrown under the bus ” by President Donald Trump when he wouldn ’ t help to declare Republicans the winners of elections they lost in the state .
In the article , Raffensperger commends the state of Georgia for conducting a “ wildly successful and smooth election , ” and he said that feat is worthy of celebration even among people whose preferred presidential candidate lost .
“ For those wondering , mine lost , ” Raffensperger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family voted for him , donated to him and are now being thrown under the bus by him.
” Last week , Raffensperger alleged Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham ( S.C. ) and other members of his party urged him to unlawfully disqualify ballots cast in Georgia , a state President-elect Joe Biden won by thousands of votes .
Following Trump ’ s lead , Graham , Georgia Republican Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue , and other conservatives throughout the country have pushed absurd conspiracy theories about voting irregularities in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s voting machines were engineered to disenfranchise Trump voters .
Since election day , Raffensperger has become a pariah among conservatives for his refusal to hand Republicans victories in races they lost .
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger gives an update on the state of the election and ballot count during a news conference at the State Capitol in Atlanta , Georgia , on Nov. 6 .
On Nov. 10 , after the ballot count found Biden defeating Trump by more than 10,000 votes in Georgia , the Trump campaign requested and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and his allies never stopped lobbing unfounded accusations of impropriety at Georgia election officials , conjuring vitriol among his supporters even as the recount he requested was underway .
In a Nov. 14 tweet that has since been flagged as disinformation , Trump baselessly claimed Raffensperger , Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp , and Democrat and former gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams were allies in a scheme to “ cheat ” this election cycle .
“ Even as Georgia embarked on its first statewide audit , a process that was only possible because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper-ballot system , those who requested the full hand recount triggered by the audit of such a close race lined up to undermine its credibility , ” Raffensperger wrote in his op-ed Wednesday .
“ Those who had so long been beneficiaries of the electoral process sought to tear it apart at its very foundations.
” On Friday , Kemp and Raffensperger certified Georgia ’ s election results after a recount confirmed Biden won the state by 12,670 votes .
On Saturday , the Trump campaign requested another recount , yet there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will alter the outcome .

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In a USA Today op-ed published Wednesday, Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, claimed he was “thrown under the bus” by President Donald Trump when he wouldn’t help to declare Republicans the winners of elections they lost in the state.
In the article, Raffensperger commends the state of Georgia for conducting a “wildly successful and smooth election,” and he said that feat is worthy of celebration even among people whose preferred presidential candidate lost.
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“For those wondering, mine lost,” Raffensperger said, referencing Trump. “My family voted for him, donated to him and are now being thrown under the bus by him.”
Last week, Raffensperger alleged Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and other members of his party urged him to unlawfully disqualify ballots cast in Georgia, a state President-elect Joe Biden won by thousands of votes. Following Trump’s lead, Graham, Georgia Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, and other conservatives throughout the country have pushed absurd conspiracy theories about voting irregularities in the state, including a theory alleging Georgia’s voting machines were engineered to disenfranchise Trump voters. Since election day, Raffensperger has become a pariah among conservatives for his refusal to hand Republicans victories in races they lost.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger gives an update on the state of the election and ballot count during a news conference at the State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia, on Nov. 6. Dustin Chambers / Reuters
On Nov. 10, after the ballot count found Biden defeating Trump by more than 10,000 votes in Georgia, the Trump campaign requested and were later afforded a recount. But Trump and his allies never stopped lobbing unfounded accusations of impropriety at Georgia election officials, conjuring vitriol among his supporters even as the recount he requested was underway.
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In a Nov. 14 tweet that has since been flagged as disinformation, Trump baselessly claimed Raffensperger, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, and Democrat and former gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams were allies in a scheme to “cheat” this election cycle.
“Even as Georgia embarked on its first statewide audit, a process that was only possible because of the state’s new printed paper-ballot system, those who requested the full hand recount triggered by the audit of such a close race lined up to undermine its credibility,” Raffensperger wrote in his op-ed Wednesday. “Those who had so long been beneficiaries of the electoral process sought to tear it apart at its very foundations.”
“But still, integrity matters,” he added.