thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-16--U.S. Coronavirus Testing Will Initially Focus On Health Care Workers, Elderly

The retooled plan came two days after President Donald Trump previewed a nationwide network of drive-thru testing sites at chains like WalMart and Target linked by a Google-designed website .
But Sunday ’ s announcement focused mainly on traditional government efforts to deploy medical and emergency staff in U.S. communities .
Brett Giroir , a senior health administration official , said the Federal Emergency Management Agency and members of the U.S. public health service would coordinate with states to setup community testing centers .
Each site would be capable to testing 2,000 to 4,000 people per day .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You will see these sites rolling out progressively over the week , ” Giroir said .
“ This is not make believe , this is not fantasy.
” Trump tapped Giroir , assistant secretary of Health and Human Services , to become testing ‘ czar ’ earlier this week , amid growing complaints about the slow U.S. response .
Broad-scale testing is a critical part of tracking and containing pandemics .
But the U.S. effort has been hobbled by a series of missteps , including flaws with the testing kits first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurdles that held up testing by private laboratories .
Although federal agencies are responsible for tracking pandemics , Trump suggested in a Tweet that the onus is now on those outside Washington , “ The individual Governors of States , and local officials , must step up their efforts on drive up testing and testing sights , ” in conjunction with the CDC , Trump tweeted Sunday night .
Because of the lack of nationwide testing , public health experts have warned that the coronavirus is likely spreading undetected in parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly overwhelm intensive care units at U.S. hospitals .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 156,000 people and left more than 5,800 dead .
The death toll in the United States is more than 50 , while infections neared 3,000 across 49 states and the District of Columbia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , while those with more severe illness may take three weeks to six weeks to recover .
Countries in Europe and Asia have been using drive-thru testing sites to perform mass screening for weeks .
South Korea , for example , reports testing about 15,000 people per day .
Pence told reporters Sunday that 10 U.S. states now have drive-thru testing sites , including New York , Colorado , Texas and Delaware .
Pence said the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other tech companies ” to disseminate information about the coronavirus .
He said a website to help Americans screen themselves for symptoms and find testing locations would be available this week .
But it wasn ’ t clear if it would immediately have the features previously highlighted by Trump and his administration .
Verily , a health care subsidiary of Google , said earlier Sunday that its COVID-19 screening tool would launch online Monday in the San Francisco Bay area , allowing users to take an electronic survey to determine whether they should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company described the effort as in its “ early stages.
” Parent company Google said in an online post Sunday that it would launch a website dedicated to COVID-19 “ education , prevention , and local resources nationwide ” late Monday .
Trump seized on the statement to criticize media reports that he had overstated or exaggerated the company ’ s involvement .
“ I don ’ t know where the press got their fake news but they got it from some place , ” Trump said in the White House press room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweets .
He left the news conference before the task force discussed testing .
Since January , federal , state and local government labs have tested fewer than 20,000 U.S. patients , according to federal figures .
Currently , those labs are using a manual process to develop patient samples in small batches of less than 100 per day .
Those figures don ’ t reflect testing by private labs , which are beginning to ramp up their capacity .
Since Friday , two companies — Roche and Thermo Fisher— received emergency regulatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests for the virus .
The American Clinical Laboratory Association , which represents private labs , estimated the industry will be able to process 280,000 tests per week by April .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells people to seek testing if they have certain symptoms of the flu-like illness caused by the coronavirus – fever , cough and trouble breathing – and if they have traveled recently to a coronavirus outbreak area or have been in close contact with someone who ’ s been infected .
Public health officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hamper the health workforce ’ s response .
“ Increased testing of people with mild or no symptoms brings increased risk of infection while you wait to get tested , stresses health care that may be needed for people who are sicker , and is no guarantee that you won ’ t test positive tomorrow , ” said Dr. Tom Frieden , former director of the CDC , in an emailed statement .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for all content .

The retooled plan came two days after President Donald Trump previewed a nationwide network of drive-thru testing sites at chains like WalMart and Target linked by a Google-designed website.
But Sunday’s announcement focused mainly on traditional government efforts to deploy medical and emergency staff in U.S. communities.
Brett Giroir, a senior health administration official, said the Federal Emergency Management Agency and members of the U.S. public health service would coordinate with states to setup community testing centers. Each site would be capable to testing 2,000 to 4,000 people per day. He said the federal government would begin deploying Monday.
“You will see these sites rolling out progressively over the week,” Giroir said. “This is not make believe, this is not fantasy.” Trump tapped Giroir, assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, to become testing ‘czar’ earlier this week, amid growing complaints about the slow U.S. response.
Broad-scale testing is a critical part of tracking and containing pandemics.
But the U.S. effort has been hobbled by a series of missteps, including flaws with the testing kits first distributed by the federal government and bureaucratic hurdles that held up testing by private laboratories.
Although federal agencies are responsible for tracking pandemics, Trump suggested in a Tweet that the onus is now on those outside Washington,
“The individual Governors of States, and local officials, must step up their efforts on drive up testing and testing sights,” in conjunction with the CDC, Trump tweeted Sunday night.
Because of the lack of nationwide testing, public health experts have warned that the coronavirus is likely spreading undetected in parts of the U.S. A surge in COVID-19 cases could quickly overwhelm intensive care units at U.S. hospitals.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 156,000 people and left more than 5,800 dead. The death toll in the United States is more than 50, while infections neared 3,000 across 49 states and the District of Columbia.
The vast majority of people recover. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three weeks to six weeks to recover.
Countries in Europe and Asia have been using drive-thru testing sites to perform mass screening for weeks. South Korea, for example, reports testing about 15,000 people per day.
Pence told reporters Sunday that 10 U.S. states now have drive-thru testing sites, including New York, Colorado, Texas and Delaware.
Pence said the administration is working with Google and “many other tech companies” to disseminate information about the coronavirus. He said a website to help Americans screen themselves for symptoms and find testing locations would be available this week. But it wasn’t clear if it would immediately have the features previously highlighted by Trump and his administration.
Verily, a health care subsidiary of Google, said earlier Sunday that its COVID-19 screening tool would launch online Monday in the San Francisco Bay area, allowing users to take an electronic survey to determine whether they should be screened for the virus. The company described the effort as in its “early stages.”
Parent company Google said in an online post Sunday that it would launch a website dedicated to COVID-19 “education, prevention, and local resources nationwide” late Monday.
Trump seized on the statement to criticize media reports that he had overstated or exaggerated the company’s involvement.
“I don’t know where the press got their fake news but they got it from some place,” Trump said in the White House press room, holding a printout of the Google tweets. He left the news conference before the task force discussed testing.
Since January, federal, state and local government labs have tested fewer than 20,000 U.S. patients, according to federal figures. Currently, those labs are using a manual process to develop patient samples in small batches of less than 100 per day.
Those figures don’t reflect testing by private labs, which are beginning to ramp up their capacity.
Since Friday, two companies — Roche and Thermo Fisher— received emergency regulatory authorization for “high-volume,” automated tests for the virus.
The American Clinical Laboratory Association, which represents private labs, estimated the industry will be able to process 280,000 tests per week by April.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells people to seek testing if they have certain symptoms of the flu-like illness caused by the coronavirus – fever, cough and trouble breathing – and if they have traveled recently to a coronavirus outbreak area or have been in close contact with someone who’s been infected.
Public health officials have cautioned that unnecessary testing for coronavirus could hamper the health workforce’s response.
“Increased testing of people with mild or no symptoms brings increased risk of infection while you wait to get tested, stresses health care that may be needed for people who are sicker, and is no guarantee that you won’t test positive tomorrow,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the CDC, in an emailed statement.
___
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-16--‘Try Getting It Yourselves,’ Trump Tells Governors About Medical Equipment Amid Coronavirus

Amid the coronavirus pandemic , President Donald Trump told governors on a call Monday that states should work on acquiring much-needed medical equipment , such as ventilators or respirators , on their own .
“ Respirators , ventilators , all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves , ” the president told the governors during a conference call , first reported The New York Times , which obtained a recording of the call .
( CNN later confirmed the report . )
“ We will be backing you , but try getting it yourselves .
Point of sales , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can get it yourself , ” he said .
Ventilators , in particular , are necessary to treat more severe cases of COVID-19 , an infection that affects the respiratory system .
Health experts have expressed concern that there may not be enough ventilators in hospitals across the U.S. to meet the need if there is a significant increase in severe cases , as there have been in China and Italy .
“ If one state doesn ’ t get the resources and materials they need , the entire nation continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham ( D ) told the Times .
A White House spokesperson told HuffPost that Trump ’ s remarks were not meant as an “ either/or ” and that the president was saying states should get materials as well .
“ If they can get them faster by getting them on their own , in other words , go through a supply chain that they may have , because … during normal times , the governors buy a lot of things not necessarily through federal government , ” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be faster if they can get them directly , if they need them , and I ’ ve given them authorization to order directly , ” Trump told reporters .
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have grown rapidly over the past month , with roughly 4,000 cases and more than 60 dead nationwide .
On Friday , 57 members of Congress wrote to Trump , urging him to use his powers under the Defense Production Act to mass-produce medical supplies urgently needed to address the pandemic , including face masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the latest updates on the coronavirus at our live blog .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump told governors on a call Monday that states should work on acquiring much-needed medical equipment, such as ventilators or respirators, on their own.
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” the president told the governors during a conference call, first reported The New York Times, which obtained a recording of the call. (CNN later confirmed the report.)
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“We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself,” he said.
Ventilators, in particular, are necessary to treat more severe cases of COVID-19, an infection that affects the respiratory system. Health experts have expressed concern that there may not be enough ventilators in hospitals across the U.S. to meet the need if there is a significant increase in severe cases, as there have been in China and Italy.
“If one state doesn’t get the resources and materials they need, the entire nation continues to be at risk,” New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) told the Times.
A White House spokesperson told HuffPost that Trump’s remarks were not meant as an “either/or” and that the president was saying states should get materials as well.
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Trump explained further during a press briefing on Monday.
“If they can get them faster by getting them on their own, in other words, go through a supply chain that they may have, because … during normal times, the governors buy a lot of things not necessarily through federal government,” Trump said.
“It’s always going to be faster if they can get them directly, if they need them, and I’ve given them authorization to order directly,” Trump told reporters.
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have grown rapidly over the past month, with roughly 4,000 cases and more than 60 dead nationwide.
On Friday, 57 members of Congress wrote to Trump, urging him to use his powers under the Defense Production Act to mass-produce medical supplies urgently needed to address the pandemic, including face masks, respirators and ventilators.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-16--Trump On His Response To Coronavirus: 'I'd Rate It A 10'

President Donald Trump said Monday that on a scale of 1 to 10 , he would rate his performance in response to the coronavirus crisis at the top .
The president also said the buck “ normally ” stops with him , “ but this has never been done in this country.
” In the same press briefing , Trump urged Americans to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people and to stay away from public areas in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
“ We ’ ve made the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the infection now , ” the president said .
“ We ’ d much rather be ahead of the curve than behind it , and that ’ s what we are.
” Despite the president ’ s perfect self-rating , there is evidence that his leadership has been poor during the pandemic .
His administration ’ s failure started in 2018 , when Trump disbanded the White House office specifically dedicated to preparing for a pandemic .
During the Monday briefing , Trump downplayed the U.S. ’ s slow response to the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem that a month ago nobody ever thought about.
” However , the U.S. confirmed its first coronavirus case almost two months ago .
In an attempt to save the markets , Trump told CNBC on Jan. 22 that the U.S. had it “ totally under control.
” And while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned in February that the virus would spread throughout the country and cause “ severe ” disruption to everyday life , Trump ’ s top economic adviser , Larry Kudlow , falsely claimed the disease was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since then , confirmed COVID-19 cases have increased in the U.S. to about 4,000 ― and that ’ s even without access to enough tests ― and more than 60 people have died .
And the markets have not been saved .
The U.S. is still responding slowly to the crisis that is growing exponentially by the day .
The country is only carrying out a small number of coronavirus tests in comparison with other countries where people are infected .
The president also spent much of his time on Monday criticizing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the the crisis , which included only declaring a national emergency late last week .
“ Respirators , ventilators , all of the equipment ― try getting it yourselves , ” the president said , according to The New York Times and CNN .
“ We will be backing you , but try getting it yourselves .
Point of sales , much better , much more direct if you can get it yourself.
” And during a prime-time address from the Oval Office last week , Trump messed up several facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , congratulated himself and blamed other countries for allowing the disease to spread .
On Friday , Trump announced new measures meant to open up additional funding to address the outbreak .
But instead of spending his news conference talking about what the federal government was going to do to help the public , Trump devoted much of his time to praising the private sector .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
President Donald Trump said Monday that on a scale of 1 to 10, he would rate his performance in response to the coronavirus crisis at the top.
During the White House’s daily coronavirus news briefing, Yahoo News reporter Hunter Walker brought up the president’s previous comments about not being responsible for the country’s lack of testing.
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“Very simple question: Does the buck stop with you?” Walker asked. “And on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your response to this crisis?”
“I’d rate it a 10,” Trump answered. “I think we’ve done a great job.”
The president also said the buck “normally” stops with him, “but this has never been done in this country.”
President Trump on how he would rate his response to the #coronavirus outbreak in the US on a scale out of 10: “I’d rate it a 10.”#CheddarLive pic.twitter.com/Sfuu07mMps — Cheddar🧀 (@cheddar) March 16, 2020
The remarks came the day the Dow Jones hit -3,000 points, its worst drop in three decades, amid growing fears that the pandemic will lead to a global economic recession.
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In the same press briefing, Trump urged Americans to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people and to stay away from public areas in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The new recommendations apply to everyone, “including the young and healthy,” for the next 15 days, he said.
“We’ve made the decision to further toughen the guidelines and blunt the infection now,” the president said. “We’d much rather be ahead of the curve than behind it, and that’s what we are.”
Despite the president’s perfect self-rating, there is evidence that his leadership has been poor during the pandemic. His administration’s failure started in 2018, when Trump disbanded the White House office specifically dedicated to preparing for a pandemic.
During the Monday briefing, Trump downplayed the U.S.’s slow response to the crisis by saying the country has “a problem that a month ago nobody ever thought about.” However, the U.S. confirmed its first coronavirus case almost two months ago. In an attempt to save the markets, Trump told CNBC on Jan. 22 that the U.S. had it “totally under control.”
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And while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned in February that the virus would spread throughout the country and cause “severe” disruption to everyday life, Trump’s top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, falsely claimed the disease was “contained” in the U.S.
Since then, confirmed COVID-19 cases have increased in the U.S. to about 4,000 ― and that’s even without access to enough tests ― and more than 60 people have died. And the markets have not been saved.
The U.S. is still responding slowly to the crisis that is growing exponentially by the day. The country is only carrying out a small number of coronavirus tests in comparison with other countries where people are infected.
The president also spent much of his time on Monday criticizing the media and Democrats for not praising his response to the the crisis, which included only declaring a national emergency late last week.
Earlier Monday, Trump told concerned governors on a call that states should try getting necessary medical equipment on their own in order to combat the outbreak.
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“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment ― try getting it yourselves,” the president said, according to The New York Times and CNN. “We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself.”
And during a prime-time address from the Oval Office last week, Trump messed up several facts about his administration’s response to the pandemic, congratulated himself and blamed other countries for allowing the disease to spread.
On Friday, Trump announced new measures meant to open up additional funding to address the outbreak. But instead of spending his news conference talking about what the federal government was going to do to help the public, Trump devoted much of his time to praising the private sector.
Trump has given himself a 10 out of 10 rating once before: after a hurricane destroyed Puerto Rico in 2017 and killed thousands of its residents.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-16--Trump Urges Avoiding Crowds Over 10 People To Prevent Coronavirus Spread

In his most serious remarks yet about the dangers of the coronavirus outbreak , President Donald Trump urged Americans on Monday to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people and to stay away from various public places .
He said the new guidelines apply to everyone , “ including the young and healthy , ” for the next 15 days .
His tone was very different from it has been at previous news conferences , when he has downplayed the threat of the virus .
“ We ’ ve made the decision to further toughen the guidelines and blunt the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ d much rather be ahead of the curve than behind it , and that ’ s what we are.
” Trump said people should participate in school from home if possible , avoid discretionary travel , and stop going out to bars and restaurants .
While answering reporters ’ questions after his initial address , Trump contradicted himself and said these guidelines could be in place until July or August .
However , Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , stepped in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place for 15 days .
Trump brushed off criticism that the U.S. has been too slow in responding to the crisis , saying , “ We have a problem that a month ago nobody ever thought about.
” The U.S. confirmed its first coronavirus case , in Washington state , nearly two months ago .
He also commended his administration for focusing on controlling the spread via border control , calling various travel bans “ very good early decisions.
” When asked how he ’ d rate his response to the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 10 , much like he did after a hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico in 2017 .
But the U.S. is still only conducting a small fraction of the number of coronavirus tests that other countries are doing ― a comparison that appeared to peeve Trump .
“ I noticed a lot of people are talking about South Korea because they ’ ve done a good job on one side , ” he said , an apparent reference to the country ’ s high volume of testing .
“ But on the other side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keep up with the latest updates on the coronavirus at our live blog .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
In his most serious remarks yet about the dangers of the coronavirus outbreak, President Donald Trump urged Americans on Monday to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people and to stay away from various public places.
He said the new guidelines apply to everyone, “including the young and healthy,” for the next 15 days. His tone was very different from it has been at previous news conferences, when he has downplayed the threat of the virus.
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“We’ve made the decision to further toughen the guidelines and blunt the infection now,” Trump said. “We’d much rather be ahead of the curve than behind it, and that’s what we are.”
NEW: Pres. Trump outlines new guidelines for Americans, "including the young and healthy," including engaging in home education, avoiding gatherings of more than 10, avoiding discretionary travel, and avoiding bars, restaurants and food courts. https://t.co/DE3Gmeo5cQ pic.twitter.com/O4DRltS84s — ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 16, 2020
Trump said people should participate in school from home if possible, avoid discretionary travel, and stop going out to bars and restaurants.
While answering reporters’ questions after his initial address, Trump contradicted himself and said these guidelines could be in place until July or August. However, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, stepped in to clarify that these guidelines are only in place for 15 days.
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Trump brushed off criticism that the U.S. has been too slow in responding to the crisis, saying, “We have a problem that a month ago nobody ever thought about.” The U.S. confirmed its first coronavirus case, in Washington state, nearly two months ago.
He also commended his administration for focusing on controlling the spread via border control, calling various travel bans “very good early decisions.” When asked how he’d rate his response to the virus, he gave himself a 10 out of 10, much like he did after a hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico in 2017.
But the U.S. is still only conducting a small fraction of the number of coronavirus tests that other countries are doing ― a comparison that appeared to peeve Trump.
“I noticed a lot of people are talking about South Korea because they’ve done a good job on one side,” he said, an apparent reference to the country’s high volume of testing. “But on the other side, tremendous problems at the beginning.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-16--Mitt Romney Proposes Sending Americans $1,000 To Deal With Coronavirus Downturn

“ Every American adult should immediately receive $ 1,000 to help ensure families and workers can meet their short-term obligations and increase spending in the economy , ” the Utah senator and 2012 GOP presidential nominee said in a statement .
“ While expansions of paid leave , unemployment insurance , and SNAP benefits are crucial , the check will help fill the gaps for Americans that may not quickly navigate different government options.
” The direct payments were part of a package of ideas from Romney , who also proposed providing grants to small businesses , loan deferrals to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover telemedicine and beefing up Pell grants to take the recent epidemic into account .
With his proposal , Romney joins a chorus of economists urging the federal government to move now to send cash to Americans to deal with a severe economic downturn .
Jason Furman , former chief economist to President Barack Obama , recently wrote in The Wall Street Journal that the federal government should send out $ 1,000 checks .
Most economists now agree that the U.S. is likely headed into a recession because of the business slowdown tied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begun in sectors like travel and hospitality , and stock markets are falling .
The money gives people “ a little buffer .
And a little time , ” said Claudia Sahm , director of macroeconomic policy at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth and a former section chief at the Federal Reserve , who has researched the effectiveness of direct payments during recessions .
“ I ’ ve talked a lot in the last several weeks about how direct payments to households are a good idea in recession , ” Sahm said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s highly likely we ’ re in a recession and they ’ re a good idea now.
” Sahm noted that the federal government doesn ’ t quite have the infrastructure at the ready to simply mail out checks tomorrow .
She suggested a patchwork of options ― including letting companies adjust withholding in workers ’ paychecks and having the IRS send out tax rebate checks .
Sending out funds is not unprecedented .
Then-President George W. Bush sent out direct payments to Americans in 2001 after the dot com bubble burst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial crisis .
Subsequent research showed that the payments helped lessen the pain of the crisis .
While economists have keyed into the idea of sending out money , only three other lawmakers have so far proposed direct payments to Americans to deal with the pandemic .
Democratic Reps. Tim Ryan of Ohio and Rho Khanna of California proposed sending out checks to Americans earning less than $ 65,000 a year .
Sen. Sherrod Brown ( D-Ohio ) tweeted a similar proposal .
Little has been done for workers who face layoffs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of having their kids home from school .
The Senate is expected to vote this week on a package that would offer a boost to unemployment insurance and food stamps , as well as very limited paid sick leave for workers at small businesses .
“ The House coronavirus response package contains critical measures to help families in Utah and across the nation in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak , and the Senate should act swiftly on this legislation , ” he said .
“ We also urgently need to build on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families and small businesses meet their short-term financial obligations .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney on Monday proposed sending out a $1,000 check to every American adult to help deal with the increasingly painful economic fallout of the coronavirus.
“Every American adult should immediately receive $1,000 to help ensure families and workers can meet their short-term obligations and increase spending in the economy,” the Utah senator and 2012 GOP presidential nominee said in a statement. “While expansions of paid leave, unemployment insurance, and SNAP benefits are crucial, the check will help fill the gaps for Americans that may not quickly navigate different government options.”
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The direct payments were part of a package of ideas from Romney, who also proposed providing grants to small businesses, loan deferrals to recent graduates, mandating that health insurers cover telemedicine and beefing up Pell grants to take the recent epidemic into account.
With his proposal, Romney joins a chorus of economists urging the federal government to move now to send cash to Americans to deal with a severe economic downturn. Jason Furman, former chief economist to President Barack Obama, recently wrote in The Wall Street Journal that the federal government should send out $1,000 checks.
Most economists now agree that the U.S. is likely headed into a recession because of the business slowdown tied to the coronavirus. Layoffs have already begun in sectors like travel and hospitality, and stock markets are falling.
The money gives people “a little buffer. And a little time,” said Claudia Sahm, director of macroeconomic policy at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth and a former section chief at the Federal Reserve, who has researched the effectiveness of direct payments during recessions.
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“I’ve talked a lot in the last several weeks about how direct payments to households are a good idea in recession,” Sahm said Monday. “Now I think it’s highly likely we’re in a recession and they’re a good idea now.”
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) pauses to speak to media before a briefing on the coronavirus outbreak on March, 12, 2020. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Sahm noted that the federal government doesn’t quite have the infrastructure at the ready to simply mail out checks tomorrow. She suggested a patchwork of options ― including letting companies adjust withholding in workers’ paychecks and having the IRS send out tax rebate checks.
Sending out funds is not unprecedented. Then-President George W. Bush sent out direct payments to Americans in 2001 after the dot com bubble burst and in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Subsequent research showed that the payments helped lessen the pain of the crisis.
While economists have keyed into the idea of sending out money, only three other lawmakers have so far proposed direct payments to Americans to deal with the pandemic. Democratic Reps. Tim Ryan of Ohio and Rho Khanna of California proposed sending out checks to Americans earning less than $65,000 a year. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) tweeted a similar proposal.
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But thus far, the idea has not caught on more broadly in Congress.
The Federal Reserve, recognizing the economic slowdown, has cut interest rates drastically twice in recent weeks in emergency measures.
Little has been done for workers who face layoffs, cutbacks at work and the added pressure of having their kids home from school.
The Senate is expected to vote this week on a package that would offer a boost to unemployment insurance and food stamps, as well as very limited paid sick leave for workers at small businesses.
Romney said Monday that he supports the legislation but wants to do more.
“The House coronavirus response package contains critical measures to help families in Utah and across the nation in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, and the Senate should act swiftly on this legislation,” he said. “We also urgently need to build on this legislation with additional action to help families and small businesses meet their short-term financial obligations.”
Keep up with the latest updates on the coronavirus at our live blog.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-16--5 Dead, Including Officer And Gunman, In Missouri Shooting

SPRINGFIELD , Mo .
( AP ) — Five people including a police officer and a gunman have died in a shooting at a Missouri gas station after the gunman went inside and opened fire , police said Monday .
The dead also include three citizens , Springfield police Chief Paul Williams announced Monday , and an officer was injured along with another citizen .
Williams said police received reports of “ multiple shooting calls throughout the city ” late Sunday .
As officers were responding , witnesses reported a vehicle crashed into a Kum & Go .
gas station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran inside and began shooting customers and employees , Williams said .
The first two officers who arrived were shot .
Other officers pulled the injured officers from the store and then went inside , finding three citizens dead .
The gunman also was found dead , apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot , Williams said .
Officer Christopher Walsh died at a hospital , Williams said .
He was with the Springfield police for 3 1/2 years , was an Army veteran and was active in the Army reserves .
Officer Josiah Overton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been with Springfield police for two years , he said .
“ Both officers showed significant bravery and were heroic in their actions , ” Williams said .
The identifies of the other victims have not been released pending notification of relatives .
Police are still working to determine a motive for the shooting , the chief said .
He said it was too early to comment on the impact the shooting had on his department .
“ We ’ re still investigating multiple crime scenes and dealing with grieving the loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Five people including a police officer and a gunman have died in a shooting at a Missouri gas station after the gunman went inside and opened fire, police said Monday.
The dead also include three citizens, Springfield police Chief Paul Williams announced Monday, and an officer was injured along with another citizen.
Williams said police received reports of “multiple shooting calls throughout the city” late Sunday. As officers were responding, witnesses reported a vehicle crashed into a Kum & Go. gas station and convenience store, and the gunman ran inside and began shooting customers and employees, Williams said. The first two officers who arrived were shot.
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Other officers pulled the injured officers from the store and then went inside, finding three citizens dead. The gunman also was found dead, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot, Williams said.
Officer Christopher Walsh died at a hospital, Williams said. He was with the Springfield police for 3 1/2 years, was an Army veteran and was active in the Army reserves. Officer Josiah Overton, whose injuries are not life-threatening, has been with Springfield police for two years, he said.
“Both officers showed significant bravery and were heroic in their actions,” Williams said.
The identifies of the other victims have not been released pending notification of relatives.
Police are still working to determine a motive for the shooting, the chief said.
He said it was too early to comment on the impact the shooting had on his department.
“We’re still investigating multiple crime scenes and dealing with grieving the loss of one of our own,” he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-16--Mar-a-Lago Gets A 'Deep Cleaning' After Party Guests Test Positive For Coronavirus

Mar-a-Lago , which hosted a fundraising weekend for Trump and the Republican National Committee that brought together nearly 1,000 donors earlier this month , was shut down Monday , according to an email obtained by HuffPost .
At least four of the event ’ s attendees later tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
“ Mar a Lago will undergo a thorough deep cleaning of the main house , guest rooms , and dining areas on Monday , March 16th .
Please take note that no one will be permitted to enter the main house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The beach club will remain open .
Deep cleaning of all other areas will follow in the days to come and we will keep you updated.
” The Mar-a-Lago “ deep cleaning ” email , which details which amenities will be available in the coming days , was sent to the club ’ s hundreds of members Saturday evening .
“ There will be no breakfast served in the main house this week , ” it reads .
“ Starting Tuesday , the beach club will offer continental breakfast beginning daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 11:00 am in both the main house and beach club , until further notice .
Dinner will be served as always Tuesday through Saturday evenings in the main house.
” A person who answered the number listed in the email confirmed that a “ deep cleaning ” was underway Monday , but would not say whether it was related to coronavirus .
“ I ’ m not authorized to answer that , ” said the man , who identified himself on the phone as “ Trump security.
” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dinner at Mar-a-Lago on March 6 , which brought in about 900 donors from all over the country .
Donors there gave as much as $ 560,800 .
The money was to be divided among Trump ’ s reelection campaign , the RNC and various state Republican parties .
“ That was the biggest event we ’ d seen for that , ” said one top RNC donor on the condition of anonymity , adding that he is feeling fine but is nevertheless self-quarantining .
Brazil ’ s authoritarian president , Jair Bolsonaro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The weekend also included a birthday party for Kimberly Guilfoyle , the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. and an adviser to the Trump Victory fundraising committee .
McDaniel came down with “ fever and flu-like symptoms ” on Friday night , according to an RNC spokesperson .
Her doctor in Michigan ordered a test for the virus , but the results are not yet known , the spokesperson said Monday .
Trump announced Saturday that he had been tested for coronavirus , and the White House said hours later that the test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which straddles the barrier island between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean , doubled its initiation fee from $ 100,000 to $ 200,000 right after Trump was elected president in 2016 .
Its profits flow to the Trump Organization , and then to a revocable trust Trump created just before entering office in 2017 .
He is the trust ’ s sole beneficiary .
Exactly how much the resort puts into Trump ’ s personal bank account , however , can not be determined because he has refused to release his tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says he earned $ 22,692,146 from Mar-a-Lago in calendar year 2018 , but Trump appears to conflate net profit with gross revenues , based on a HuffPost analysis of figures he has filed on the document compared to other official filings .

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WASHINGTON — As the federal government grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, an early hot spot for the disease — President Donald Trump’s for-profit Florida country club ― is getting a “deep cleaning.”
Mar-a-Lago, which hosted a fundraising weekend for Trump and the Republican National Committee that brought together nearly 1,000 donors earlier this month, was shut down Monday, according to an email obtained by HuffPost. At least three of the event’s attendees later tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
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“Mar a Lago will undergo a thorough deep cleaning of the main house, guest rooms, and dining areas on Monday, March 16th. Please take note that no one will be permitted to enter the main house all day,” the email reads. “The beach club will remain open. Deep cleaning of all other areas will follow in the days to come and we will keep you updated.”
An email from President Donald Trump's for-profit Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, that details the "deep cleaning." HuffPost US
The Mar-a-Lago “deep cleaning” email, which details which amenities will be available in the coming days, was sent to the club’s hundreds of members Saturday evening.
“There will be no breakfast served in the main house this week,” it reads. “Starting Tuesday, the beach club will offer continental breakfast beginning daily at 10:00 am with lunch service following at 11:00 am in both the main house and beach club, until further notice. Dinner will be served as always Tuesday through Saturday evenings in the main house.”
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The note closes with: “Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!”
A person who answered the number listed in the email confirmed that a “deep cleaning” was underway Monday, but would not say whether it was related to coronavirus. “I’m not authorized to answer that,” said the man, who identified himself on the phone as “Trump security.”
Monday’s cleaning was first reported by CNN. The Trump Organization, the president’s family business that owns Mar-a-Lago, did not respond to HuffPost’s requests for comments.
Trump hosts a working dinner with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 7. Tom Brenner / Reuters
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and Trump both went to a fundraising dinner at Mar-a-Lago on March 6, which brought in about 900 donors from all over the country. Donors there gave as much as $560,800. The money was to be divided among Trump’s reelection campaign, the RNC and various state Republican parties.
“That was the biggest event we’d seen for that,” said one top RNC donor on the condition of anonymity, adding that he is feeling fine but is nevertheless self-quarantining.
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Brazil’s authoritarian president, Jair Bolsonaro, was at the event as well. The weekend also included a birthday party for Kimberly Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. and an adviser to the Trump Victory fundraising committee.
On Friday, donors who went to a brunch at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday, March 8, were notified that one person in attendance had tested positive.
A Brazilian diplomat stationed in Washington, D.C., who was in attendance later tested positive for COVID-19, as did Bolsonaro’s press aide.
McDaniel came down with “fever and flu-like symptoms” on Friday night, according to an RNC spokesperson. Her doctor in Michigan ordered a test for the virus, but the results are not yet known, the spokesperson said Monday.
Trump announced Saturday that he had been tested for coronavirus, and the White House said hours later that the test had come back negative.
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Mar-a-Lago, which straddles the barrier island between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, doubled its initiation fee from $100,000 to $200,000 right after Trump was elected president in 2016. Its profits flow to the Trump Organization, and then to a revocable trust Trump created just before entering office in 2017. He is the trust’s sole beneficiary.
The resort has charged Secret Service agents who must stay with Trump as much as $650 a night for rooms, according to The Washington Post.
Exactly how much the resort puts into Trump’s personal bank account, however, cannot be determined because he has refused to release his tax returns. His latest financial disclosure statement says he earned $22,692,146 from Mar-a-Lago in calendar year 2018, but Trump appears to conflate net profit with gross revenues, based on a HuffPost analysis of figures he has filed on the document compared to other official filings.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-16--Coronavirus Bailouts Aren't The Problem: Corporations Are

Andrew Kelly / Reuters A trader reacts as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York City on March 11 , 2020 .
The global economy is hurtling toward a disaster of historic proportions .
Supply chains have been broken , businesses have been shuttered , and every measure that the United States can now take to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic will bring economic life to a standstill .
If people are to avoid contact with one another ― an essential step at this point ― they can not go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to work , the economy does not function .
Large corporations are announcing widespread layoffs and the economists at Goldman Sachs now predict a 5 % contraction in the U.S. economy over the next three months ― the worst such drop since the administration of President Herbert Hoover .
There is no way for any nation to survive what is coming without massive economic support from the government .
The obvious , easy remedies include immediate financial relief for working families .
An infusion of cold , hard cash to households can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recession , but it can rescue families and maintain some foundation for commercial society .
People still have bills to pay when the economy craters .
This simple task has already proved too arduous for President Donald Trump and House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) , whose first effort at a paid sick leave bill can only be described as pathetic , providing only partial sick leave benefits to just 20 % of the American workforce .
One can hope that the escalating severity of the crash will persuade them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have swayed radicals like Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) , who on Monday proposed sending $ 1,000 a month to every American adult for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak .
But helping households is the easy part .
Other necessary rescue measures will prove far more controversial .
Many , if not most , sectors of American industry will require government help to make it to the other side of this collapse .
And the prospect of public assistance to massive corporations will not sit well with a public still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank bailouts .
Rescuing American industry should not be inherently scandalous .
Most people want there to be airlines and factories and banks and retailers when this crisis is over , and only a tiny percentage of hardline libertarian true believers would resist the idea that the government should actually do something about a once-in-a-century pandemic .
It is not the bailouts that should be offensive , but American industry itself .
Over the past 35 years , policymakers in both parties have encouraged risky corporate excess that has delivered tremendous short-term gains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and leaving companies unprepared for the unexpected .
Economists sometimes refer to this practice as “ efficiency , ” but to ordinary people , it looks more like theft .
In 2018 , corporations spent a record $ 806 billion buying back their own stock ― by far the highest number on record , followed by $ 710 billion in 2019 , the second-highest annual total on record .
This is an economy-wide phenomenon .
American Airlines spent $ 15 billion buying back its own stock between 2014 and 2020 .
In June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to buy back over $ 29 billion of its own stock over the next 12 months .
The Marriott hotel chain buys back 5 % of its stock every year and has been increasing direct cash payouts to shareholders for more than eight years .
Pharmaceutical companies spend more money on stock buybacks than they do on research for new drugs .
Which is great , if you own stock .
But about half of U.S. households don ’ t ― not even through retirement plans ― while only 22 % own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher up the wealth ladder you go , the fewer people there are , and the bigger their chunk of stock ownership .
Bailing out this inequality machine is quite reasonably abhorrent to most people .
They struggle to make ends meet as these companies pay workers barely enough to get by so that people at the top can become fabulously wealthy .
And when a disaster comes , it is vile to think of the richest people in the world being rewarded for their recklessness .
The solution is not to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with very strong strings attached .
Corporations who accept public money in any form ― be it emergency lending from the Federal Reserve , cash bailouts from Congress , or creative new tax breaks ― should be prohibited from paying dividends or buying back stock for , say , a decade .
Executive compensation from the past decade should be clawed back , and , most importantly , shareholders in these companies should be wiped out .
Stock prices should go to zero , and new stock issued to prevent old shareholders from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and retirement accounts could swap their stock for government bonds before being wiped out to prevent the stock write-offs from hitting retirees .
The U.S. economy can not and should not go through the coronavirus pandemic without government help .
As John Maynard Keynes observed more than 80 years ago , there is no natural bottom to an economic downturn .
Things can — and in this case , in particular — will keep getting worse until our leaders step in to restore economic order .
But we must ensure that aid benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zach Carter is the author of “ The Price of Peace : Money , Democracy , and the Life of John Maynard Keynes , ” available now for pre-order from Random House .

A trader reacts as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York City on March 11, 2020. Andrew Kelly / Reuters
The global economy is hurtling toward a disaster of historic proportions. Supply chains have been broken, businesses have been shuttered, and every measure that the United States can now take to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic will bring economic life to a standstill.
If people are to avoid contact with one another ― an essential step at this point ― they cannot go to work. If people do not go to work, the economy does not function. Large corporations are announcing widespread layoffs and the economists at Goldman Sachs now predict a 5% contraction in the U.S. economy over the next three months ― the worst such drop since the administration of President Herbert Hoover.
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There is no way for any nation to survive what is coming without massive economic support from the government. The obvious, easy remedies include immediate financial relief for working families. An infusion of cold, hard cash to households cannot at this point prevent a devastating recession, but it can rescue families and maintain some foundation for commercial society. People still have bills to pay when the economy craters.
This simple task has already proved too arduous for President Donald Trump and House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), whose first effort at a paid sick leave bill can only be described as pathetic, providing only partial sick leave benefits to just 20% of the American workforce. One can hope that the escalating severity of the crash will persuade them to take economic support seriously. It seems to have swayed radicals like Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who on Monday proposed sending $1,000 a month to every American adult for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak.
But helping households is the easy part. Other necessary rescue measures will prove far more controversial. Many, if not most, sectors of American industry will require government help to make it to the other side of this collapse. And the prospect of public assistance to massive corporations will not sit well with a public still stinging from the outrages of the 2008 bank bailouts.
Rescuing American industry should not be inherently scandalous. Most people want there to be airlines and factories and banks and retailers when this crisis is over, and only a tiny percentage of hardline libertarian true believers would resist the idea that the government should actually do something about a once-in-a-century pandemic.
Advertisement
It is not the bailouts that should be offensive, but American industry itself. Over the past 35 years, policymakers in both parties have encouraged risky corporate excess that has delivered tremendous short-term gains to shareholders and executives while shortchanging workers and leaving companies unprepared for the unexpected. Economists sometimes refer to this practice as “efficiency,” but to ordinary people, it looks more like theft. In 2018, corporations spent a record $806 billion buying back their own stock ― by far the highest number on record, followed by $710 billion in 2019, the second-highest annual total on record.
“It is not the bailouts that should be offensive, but American industry itself.”
This is an economy-wide phenomenon. American Airlines spent $15 billion buying back its own stock between 2014 and 2020. In June of last year, J.P. Morgan announced plans to buy back over $29 billion of its own stock over the next 12 months. The Marriott hotel chain buys back 5% of its stock every year and has been increasing direct cash payouts to shareholders for more than eight years. Pharmaceutical companies spend more money on stock buybacks than they do on research for new drugs.
Companies could put this money to better use ― investing in new ideas, upgrading equipment or simply paying workers more. Stock buybacks just inflate the short-term value of a company’s shares. If you own stock, they make you richer.
Which is great, if you own stock. But about half of U.S. households don’t ― not even through retirement plans ― while only 22% own at least $25,000 worth. The higher up the wealth ladder you go, the fewer people there are, and the bigger their chunk of stock ownership.
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In short, the primary product of American business is inequality. Our corporations are designed to create a small number of very rich people. Whatever else they produce in the process is incidental.
Bailing out this inequality machine is quite reasonably abhorrent to most people. They struggle to make ends meet as these companies pay workers barely enough to get by so that people at the top can become fabulously wealthy. And when a disaster comes, it is vile to think of the richest people in the world being rewarded for their recklessness.
The solution is not to block the bailouts, but to implement them with very strong strings attached. Corporations who accept public money in any form ― be it emergency lending from the Federal Reserve, cash bailouts from Congress, or creative new tax breaks ― should be prohibited from paying dividends or buying back stock for, say, a decade. Executive compensation from the past decade should be clawed back, and, most importantly, shareholders in these companies should be wiped out. Stock prices should go to zero, and new stock issued to prevent old shareholders from profiting from public largesse. Pension funds and retirement accounts could swap their stock for government bonds before being wiped out to prevent the stock write-offs from hitting retirees.
If you need the government to save you in bad times, you don’t deserve to keep your profits from the good times.
The U.S. economy cannot and should not go through the coronavirus pandemic without government help. As John Maynard Keynes observed more than 80 years ago, there is no natural bottom to an economic downturn. Things can — and in this case, in particular — will keep getting worse until our leaders step in to restore economic order. But we must ensure that aid benefits the public, not the superrich.
Zach Carter is the author of “The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes,” available now for pre-order from Random House.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-16--Meghan McCain On GOP's COVID-19 Response: Americans Have 'To Call Out B.S.'

Meghan McCain usually believes conservative policies are the best way to handle problems , but even she has her limits .
On Monday , the co-host of “ The View ” lambasted the way the Trump administration and her fellow Republicans have handled the coronavirus outbreak .
“ The mixed messaging coming out of the White House now is not only irresponsible but it ’ s downright dangerous , ” she said .
“ We have Rep. Devin Nunes going on television saying , Oh , it ’ s OK. Go socialize .
It ’ s OK .
Hug people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also called out President Donald Trump for not following the recommendations made by health officials to minimize the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
“ When you have the president of the United States that can ’ t even handle not shaking hands during a press conference — lead by example !
” she said .
“ I ’ m not seeing a lot of profiles in courage in the White House right now and I think that ’ s what ’ s stoking anxiety.
” At one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News ’ chief medical correspondent and a guest on “ The View , ” suggested not “ pointing the finger ” at the people trying to deal with the crisis .
Although McCain agreed that she didn ’ t want to turn things into a right vs. left battle , she also felt it important to give credit where it was due : “ I also don ’ t like the idea of politicizing it in the sense that it ’ s all Republicans ’ fault or all Democrats ’ fault .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to call out B.S .
when we see it.
” She added : “ And when you have people from the administration going on TV saying they don ’ t know if we ’ re going to have enough ventilators , we don ’ t know if our hospitals can handle it .
It is more than fair to have righteous indignation as American citizens that I don ’ t believe they are handling it as well as they should be .
”

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Meghan McCain usually believes conservative policies are the best way to handle problems, but even she has her limits.
On Monday, the co-host of “The View” lambasted the way the Trump administration and her fellow Republicans have handled the coronavirus outbreak.
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“The mixed messaging coming out of the White House now is not only irresponsible but it’s downright dangerous,” she said. “We have Rep. Devin Nunes going on television saying, Oh, it’s OK. Go socialize. It’s OK. Hug people. It’s fine.”
McCain also called out President Donald Trump for not following the recommendations made by health officials to minimize the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“When you have the president of the United States that can’t even handle not shaking hands during a press conference — lead by example!” she said. “I’m not seeing a lot of profiles in courage in the White House right now and I think that’s what’s stoking anxiety.”
At one point, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News’ chief medical correspondent and a guest on “The View,” suggested not “pointing the finger” at the people trying to deal with the crisis.
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Although McCain agreed that she didn’t want to turn things into a right vs. left battle, she also felt it important to give credit where it was due: “I also don’t like the idea of politicizing it in the sense that it’s all Republicans’ fault or all Democrats’ fault. But it’s our job as citizens to call out B.S. when we see it.”
She added: “And when you have people from the administration going on TV saying they don’t know if we’re going to have enough ventilators, we don’t know if our hospitals can handle it. It is more than fair to have righteous indignation as American citizens that I don’t believe they are handling it as well as they should be.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-16--National Teachers Union Calls On All Schools To Shut Down

Alex Wong via Getty Images American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten ( right ) and National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia ( second from right ) lead a group to deliver report cards to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on Feb. 8 , 2018 .
The National Education Association , the largest national teachers union in the country , is calling on all schools to shut down immediately for at least two weeks to combat the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “ has recommended banning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but exempted schools .
We are calling on the CDC to update their guidance and include schools for the safety of everyone , ” said a statement from NEA President Lily Eskelsen García provided to HuffPost .
on Monday .
The American Federation of Teachers , the other national teachers union , said earlier in the day that all U.S. schools needed to plan for a shutdown , but stopped short of calling for one immediately .
It said a national school shutdown is “ inevitable.
” “ Closing schools is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s the inevitable and correct one in the midst of this unprecedented national emergency , ” said a statement from AFT President Randi Weingarten .
There are nearly 51 million children enrolled in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade , according to the National Center for Education Statistics .
As of March 15 , some 64,000 schools in the U.S. had closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic , affecting 32.5 million students , according to EdWeek .
Many of the schools that have closed are setting up distance-learning programs so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be problematic for families without access to a computer or the internet .
Some schools are also setting up programs to provide breakfast and lunch for students even when classes are canceled .
As of 2017 , nearly 13 million children under the age of 18 were members of families living in poverty .
For these families , schools can be a lifeline to childcare , health care and food , in addition to academics .
“ When we close schools , we need to be doubly sure that adequate supports are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
“ That means services for medically fragile students and other vulnerable children , an emergency support plan for all first responders and healthcare workers to support child care and other needs , access to appropriate testing and care , feeding programs , and learning packets and specific guidance for online learning.
” “ I have to deal with the anxiety my members are having .
We looked really carefully at the guidance the CDC gave , and we realized it has to be long term , ” AFSA President Ernest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve never done this before .
We can handle snow days .
We can handle pipe bursts.
” Last week , the CDC released guidance saying that only long-term school closures of eight weeks or more are likely to mitigate the spread of the virus .
Short- to medium-term closures , of two to four weeks , do not appear to limit the virus ’ s spread , according to the guidance .
Logan said he hoped that , if anything , perhaps the pandemic would show the public how many services schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He referenced students who rely on school for showers and hot meals , behavioral and occupational therapy , and basic health needs like care for asthma and eyesight .
“ The crisis has woke up people to say , ‘ Oh my god , schools are more than just places where people take tests.
’ The problem is there is no backup , ” Logan said .

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The National Education Association, the largest national teachers union in the country, is calling on all schools to shut down immediately for at least two weeks to combat the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “has recommended banning all gatherings of more than 50 people, but exempted schools. We are calling on the CDC to update their guidance and include schools for the safety of everyone,” said a statement from NEA President Lily Eskelsen García provided to HuffPost. on Monday.
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The American Federation of Teachers, the other national teachers union, said earlier in the day that all U.S. schools needed to plan for a shutdown, but stopped short of calling for one immediately. It said a national school shutdown is “inevitable.”
“Closing schools is an agonizing decision, but, with caveats, it’s the inevitable and correct one in the midst of this unprecedented national emergency,” said a statement from AFT President Randi Weingarten.
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten (right) and National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia (second from right) lead a group to deliver report cards to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on Feb. 8, 2018. Alex Wong via Getty Images
The National Education Association represents over 3 million members who work in classrooms across the country. The American Federation of Teachers represents 1.7 million members.
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There are nearly 51 million children enrolled in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. As of March 15, some 64,000 schools in the U.S. had closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, affecting 32.5 million students, according to EdWeek.
Many of the schools that have closed are setting up distance-learning programs so that students can learn remotely, though this can be problematic for families without access to a computer or the internet. Some schools are also setting up programs to provide breakfast and lunch for students even when classes are canceled. As of 2017, nearly 13 million children under the age of 18 were members of families living in poverty. For these families, schools can be a lifeline to childcare, health care and food, in addition to academics.
“When we close schools, we need to be doubly sure that adequate supports are in place,” noted Weingarten in a statement. “That means services for medically fragile students and other vulnerable children, an emergency support plan for all first responders and healthcare workers to support child care and other needs, access to appropriate testing and care, feeding programs, and learning packets and specific guidance for online learning.”
On Sunday, the American Federation of School Administrators also called for a national school shutdown. The AFSA is a trade union representing around 20,000 school administrators, including principals and vice principals.
“I have to deal with the anxiety my members are having. We looked really carefully at the guidance the CDC gave, and we realized it has to be long term,” AFSA President Ernest Logan told HuffPost. “We’ve never done this before. We can handle snow days. We can handle pipe bursts.”
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Last week, the CDC released guidance saying that only long-term school closures of eight weeks or more are likely to mitigate the spread of the virus. Short- to medium-term closures, of two to four weeks, do not appear to limit the virus’s spread, according to the guidance.
Logan said he hoped that, if anything, perhaps the pandemic would show the public how many services schools are expected to provide with limited resources. He referenced students who rely on school for showers and hot meals, behavioral and occupational therapy, and basic health needs like care for asthma and eyesight.
“The crisis has woke up people to say, ‘Oh my god, schools are more than just places where people take tests.’ The problem is there is no backup,” Logan said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-16--Which Tech Bro Is Fleeing Coronavirus On This 'Lord Of The Rings' Plane?

But even the 1 % has to deal with the DMV .
( Maybe .
Who knows . )
And anyone who owns a plane has to register that aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration .
If you know a plane ’ s tail number — the unique identifier the FAA assigns to every United States aircraft — you can plug it into various databases and watch the plane soar around the globe in real time .
In the past , reporters have used that information to identify which masters of the universe attended a secretive Koch brothers summit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s terrorist rendition program .
Watching the flight path of Thiel ’ s plane might allow me to divine which donor summits he attends , or which politicians borrow or ride his plane and generally benefit from his patronage .
That is , after all , exactly what the richest of the rich are doing .
As COVID-19 spreads around the world , they ’ re swapping their villas for yachts and chartering private jets to avoid catching the contagion from the general public .
They are arranging private , VIP medical care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly retreating into a “ medical bunker ” she built for these exact circumstances .
Thiel doesn ’ t have a bunker , exactly , but he does have a multimillion-dollar estate in New Zealand , the preferred doomsday destination for the world ’ s wealthiest individuals .
Friends of Thiel ’ s have said they plan to escape there with him when society finally collapses .
Thiel acquired New Zealand citizenship under eyebrow-raising circumstances in 2011 ( he did not meet its general residency requirements , but he sure gave New Zealand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owns a $ 4.8 million estate there with a newly constructed panic room .
For Thiel , there is the added charm that New Zealand is where Peter Jackson filmed “ The Lord of The Rings.
” Thiel loves “ The Lord of the Rings.
” He ’ s given several of his companies cheeky names inspired by J.R.R .
Tolkien ’ s novels : Valar Ventures , Mithril Capital .
Palantir Technologies , his spooky data analytics firm of which the CIA is a client , is named after a set of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has more experience covering the rich and powerful , told me that if Thiel owned a jet , it was likely registered to a shell company set up specifically for the purpose of keeping his plane ’ s information private .
My search would be “ confounded , ” this person said , unless I came across the name of said shell company , or if one of Thiel ’ s dumber friends had posted a selfie with the plane ’ s tail number in view .
According to Wikipedia , the eagle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doom after the Battle of the Black Gate .
But , and I mean no offense to the war hero , “ Gwaihir ” doesn ’ t exactly roll off the tongue .
By contrast , Wikipedia tells me “ The Lord of Eagles in the First Age , said in The Silmarillion to be the ‘ mightiest of all birds that have ever been , ’ with a wingspan of thirty fathoms ( 54.9 meters , or 180 feet ) and a beak of gold , ” was named Thorondor .
Thorondor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect Thiel ’ s plane to fly .
It took constant trips between San Francisco , the tech capital of the nation , and Los Angeles , where Thiel moved in 2018 .
The plane took occasional jaunts to executive airports near Washington , D.C. , and New York City .
And several times a year , it flew from California to New Zealand , usually by way of Hawaii .
In the course of my reporting , I discovered that Apercen Partners or its attorneys were also the registrants for several Thiel-linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s is such a unique mind .
He relishes in the subversiveness of being one of Silicon Valley ’ s most outspoken conservatives , as when he declared that his move to Los Angeles was a bid to escape San Francisco ’ s liberal monoculture .
He is also a great admirer of René Girard , a French philosopher who posits that all human behavior is based on imitation .
Knowing this gives you a leg up on those who don ’ t .
“ You might not be able to escape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ but if you ’ re sensitive to the way it drives us then you ’ re already ahead of most.
” Yet no sooner did I entertain this thought — that Thiel is not so different from his fellow tech titans — than I came up with alternative theories of who owns Thorondor .
Chief among them is Napster founder Sean Parker .
Parker ( Justin Timberlake played him in “ The Social Network ” ) has patronized Apercen Partners to administer his main philanthropic foundation , public records show .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco and Los Angeles and has business investments and relationships in New Zealand , including an investment with “ The Lord of the Rings ” director Peter Jackson .

Napster founder Sean Parker and venture capitalist Peter Thiel. Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/HuffPost; Photos: Getty
Two handy things to know, when you’re reporting on an ultraweathy individual, is whether that person owns a private jet, and where that jet has been. So last year, when an editor assigned me to report on tech billionaire and major right-wing donor Peter Thiel, I set out to find his plane.
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Tracing Thiel’s clout, in other words, is extremely difficult. The uber-rich have endless tools to maintain such secrecy. They channel their billions with the invisibility of deep ocean currents through offshore accounts and dark money groups, leaving the public with little ability to divine how they are shaping governance, policy, public opinion and life in general for the rest of us.
But even the 1% has to deal with the DMV. (Maybe. Who knows.) And anyone who owns a plane has to register that aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration. If you know a plane’s tail number — the unique identifier the FAA assigns to every United States aircraft — you can plug it into various databases and watch the plane soar around the globe in real time. In the past, reporters have used that information to identify which masters of the universe attended a secretive Koch brothers summit, and to crack open the CIA’s terrorist rendition program. Watching the flight path of Thiel’s plane might allow me to divine which donor summits he attends, or which politicians borrow or ride his plane and generally benefit from his patronage.
In a time of global crisis — say, when a deadly coronavirus is sweeping the planet at pandemic speeds — I might even be able to see where Thiel takes cover.
That is, after all, exactly what the richest of the rich are doing. As COVID-19 spreads around the world, they’re swapping their villas for yachts and chartering private jets to avoid catching the contagion from the general public. They are arranging private, VIP medical care, and a New York heiress is reportedly retreating into a “medical bunker” she built for these exact circumstances. Thiel doesn’t have a bunker, exactly, but he does have a multimillion-dollar estate in New Zealand, the preferred doomsday destination for the world’s wealthiest individuals. Friends of Thiel’s have said they plan to escape there with him when society finally collapses.
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I don’t know if he’s en route. But I’m pretty positive Thiel owns a jet. And I’m somewhat confident I may have found it. That jet took off Thursday night from Los Angeles International Airport en route to the Hawaiian Island of Lanai, before it was diverted to the nearby island of Maui. On Friday, the jet reached Lanai. On Monday afternoon, it’s scheduled to return to Los Angeles.
Is he shuttling friends to safety?
Did Peter Thiel just make the first leg of his escape?
A Plane, A Plan
There’s no reporting that proves Thiel even owns a private jet, but the evidence is highly suggestive. In 2016, The New Yorker reported that Sam Altman, then president of the tech incubator Y-Combinator, has a doomsday plan that involves a remote secure location, Thiel and a plane: “If the pandemic does come, Altman’s backup plan is to fly with his friend Peter Thiel, the billionaire venture capitalist, to Thiel’s house in New Zealand.”
Prepping for the end of civilization in one’s own luxury bunker has become quite trendy among the rich, especially among billionaires from Silicon Valley — who, for some reason, have a particular flair for imagining an apocalyptic near-future. Beautiful, remote New Zealand is especially attractive to prepper Americans because the primary language is English.
“Is this the first leg of Peter Thiel's escape?”
Thiel acquired New Zealand citizenship under eyebrow-raising circumstances in 2011 (he did not meet its general residency requirements, but he sure gave New Zealand charities a lot of money) and owns a $4.8 million estate there with a newly constructed panic room. For Thiel, there is the added charm that New Zealand is where Peter Jackson filmed “The Lord of The Rings.” Thiel loves “The Lord of the Rings.” He’s given several of his companies cheeky names inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels: Valar Ventures, Mithril Capital. Palantir Technologies, his spooky data analytics firm of which the CIA is a client, is named after a set of sinister seeing-stones.
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Altman’s plan to rely on Thiel to fly and house him in a time of global crisis suggests that the jet they plan to use is Thiel’s. But here’s a more straightforward argument: If you were worth an estimated $2.3 billion, wouldn’t you own a private jet?
A Code Name
The FAA’s database of private aircraft contains tens of thousands of registrations. The primary ways to search for a specific plane are by looking up the plane’s serial number, its registrant (i.e. the person or company who owns the plane), or its tail number, also known as the N-number.
But searching the registry for Thiel’s name and those of his companies didn’t yield any promising results.
Another journalist, who has more experience covering the rich and powerful, told me that if Thiel owned a jet, it was likely registered to a shell company set up specifically for the purpose of keeping his plane’s information private. My search would be “confounded,” this person said, unless I came across the name of said shell company, or if one of Thiel’s dumber friends had posted a selfie with the plane’s tail number in view.
Both seemed unlikely. Thiel is notoriously privacy-obsessed. After the website Gawker outed him to the general public in 2007, Thiel went on a secret annihilation campaign and bankrolled the Hulk Hogan lawsuit that bankrupted Gawker in 2016.
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I was crestfallen. And then I wasn’t. Like a clap of thunder, I realized I knew exactly what Thiel would name his private jet holding company. I opened up a fresh browser tab and searched “lord of the rings eagles.”
I’ve never read Tolkien’s novels. But even I know that there are mythical giant eagles that rescue the main characters, Talmudic debates about why Frodo couldn’t just ride the eagles to Mount Doom, and, given the immense volume of Tolkien lore needed to sustain these debates, names for the eagles.
According to Wikipedia, the eagle Gwaihir rescued Frodo and Sam from Mount Doom after the Battle of the Black Gate. But, and I mean no offense to the war hero, “Gwaihir” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. By contrast, Wikipedia tells me “The Lord of Eagles in the First Age, said in The Silmarillion to be the ‘mightiest of all birds that have ever been,’ with a wingspan of thirty fathoms (54.9 meters, or 180 feet) and a beak of gold,” was named Thorondor.
I typed “Thorondor” into the FAA registry. One result was for a company that registered a four-seat Cessna in Tennessee. The other was for Thorondor LLC, which holds the registration for a top-of-the-line Gulfstream G550 business jet.
Thorondor LLC’s address is listed as care of Apercen Partners, a law firm that performs tax planning and compliance services for venture capitalists, hedge funders, entrepreneurs and “high net-worth individual clients” in Palo Alto, California, the heart of Silicon Valley.
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Reader, I gasped.
A Twist
For weeks after my discovery, I watched as Thorondor rocketed around the globe, and I began to log the places it had flown in the past.
As tracking planes goes, this wasn’t easy. There are several websites where one can look up a plane’s flight history using the tail number, but all of these returned some version of the same message when I looked up Thorondor’s tail number: “This aircraft is not available for public tracking per request from the owner/operator.” Classic Thiel.
In a few online forums of plane enthusiasts, however, plane watchers (and they are legion) had logged the unique call sign associated with Thorondor’s tail number. Whoever had blocked the tail number on these websites had failed or forgotten to block the call sign, which became my window into Thorondor’s world.
Thorondor flew to the exact destinations one would expect Thiel’s plane to fly. It took constant trips between San Francisco, the tech capital of the nation, and Los Angeles, where Thiel moved in 2018. The plane took occasional jaunts to executive airports near Washington, D.C., and New York City. And several times a year, it flew from California to New Zealand, usually by way of Hawaii. In the course of my reporting, I discovered that Apercen Partners or its attorneys were also the registrants for several Thiel-linked nonprofits.
“Thorondor. The Lord of Eagles in the First Age, said in The Silmarillion to be the "mightiest of all birds that have ever been," with a wingspan of thirty fathoms and a beak of gold.” - Wikipedia
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And yet there were times when Thorondor wasn’t where it should have been. On a Friday in August, when Thiel appeared live on “Fox & Friends” in New York, the plane appears to have flown from Los Angeles to Fiji. In September, when Thiel and Ann Coulter hosted a political fundraiser in Thiel’s Park Avenue apartment, the plane was apparently parked in California.
Could it be that the plane I was shadowing belonged to another Silicon Valley billionaire — one with highly similar tastes in travel, fantasy novels and money managers?
It seemed unlikely. Thiel’s is such a unique mind. He relishes in the subversiveness of being one of Silicon Valley’s most outspoken conservatives, as when he declared that his move to Los Angeles was a bid to escape San Francisco’s liberal monoculture. He is also a great admirer of René Girard, a French philosopher who posits that all human behavior is based on imitation. Knowing this gives you a leg up on those who don’t. “You might not be able to escape imitation entirely,” Thiel has said, “but if you’re sensitive to the way it drives us then you’re already ahead of most.”
Yet no sooner did I entertain this thought — that Thiel is not so different from his fellow tech titans — than I came up with alternative theories of who owns Thorondor. Chief among them is Napster founder Sean Parker. Parker (Justin Timberlake played him in “The Social Network”) has patronized Apercen Partners to administer his main philanthropic foundation, public records show. He’s owned homes in San Francisco and Los Angeles and has business investments and relationships in New Zealand, including an investment with “The Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson.
This brings us to Parker’s 2013 wedding. For his nuptials, Parker spent $4.5 million transforming parts of Big Sur into a wooded fantasyland. He hired “Lord of the Rings” costume designer Ngila Dickson to style the wedding party and his guests, and he offered actor Ian McKellen a reported $1.5 million to officiate the wedding dressed as Gandalf. McKellen declined, saying, “Gandalf doesn’t do weddings.” Parker later paid a settlement of $2.5 million for what the California Coastal Commission claimed was potential destruction to old-growth redwood forest from all the digging, bulldozing and building of fake ruins. (The bride wore Elie Saab.)
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Now there’s a guy who would name his private jet holding company Thorondor LLC.
I reached out to Apercen Partners to ask who owned the jet. The firm didn’t respond. I reached out to a representative for Thiel to ask if the jet was his, and got no response. I reached out to a representative for Parker with the same question and got no response.
I discovered that the jet once flew to a secret conservative confab held by the American Enterprise Institute on an island resort in Georgia. Very Thiel-y! But I searched in vain for a comprehensive copy of that year’s guest list, and along the way, I learned that Parker had been a guest in a previous year. I saw flights that placed Parker and the plane on different sides of the country, based on Parker’s public appearances. I dug up the incorporation documents for Thorondor LLC in Delaware — no additional clues. I toyed with the idea of staking out Teterboro, the preferred executive airport of greater New York, until a plane-watching enthusiast advised me that the only public viewing spot is highly monitored by the police.
At the end of all that, I have no idea who owns this very distinctive plane. What I do know is that theirs is a lucky lifestyle, one of frequent trips between beautiful destinations and carefree access to transpacific travel, even at a time of global pandemonium.
I wish them all the best.
CORRECTION: This article misidentified Sam Altman as a co-founder of Y-Combinator. He was the company’s president and, at the time of publication, is its chairman (not its president).


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-16--Ohio Governor Requests Postponing State's Democratic Primary Due To Coronavirus

Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine ( R ) said Monday that he is requesting that his state postpone its primary election , moving it from this Tuesday to June 2 , due to the coronavirus outbreak .
“ It is clear that tomorrow ’ s in-person voting does not conform and can not conform with these CDC guidelines .
We can not conduct this election tomorrow , ” he said , referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance about COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new coronavirus .
I believe when we look back on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
The votes that have already been cast will still be counted - and this recommendation would allow others to vote in the future .
# COVID19 # COVID19OhioReady — Governor Mike DeWine ( @ GovMikeDeWine ) March 16 , 2020 DeWine ’ s announcement follows the CDC ’ s recommendation that large events across the country , consisting of 50 people or more , be canceled or postponed to prevent the disease ’ s spread .
To help this effort , DeWine said all of Ohio ’ s gyms , fitness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , indoor water parks , movie theaters and trampoline parks have been ordered to close , indefinitely , starting at the end of Monday ’ s workday .
DeWine said he doesn ’ t have the power to extend his state ’ s primary and so will file a lawsuit in Franklin County on Monday to get a judge ’ s approval .
He expects the filing will be done with individuals at risk of severe complications for COVID-19 , the Cincinnati Enquirer reported .
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general to not contest the lawsuit .
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine said Monday that he wants to postpone his state 's primary election that was scheduled for Tuesday .
If successfully postponed , voters will still be able to request absentee ballots and any ballots already submitted will not be counted until the election commences , LaRose said .
Primaries are also scheduled on Tuesday for Arizona , Florida and Illinois .
At the time of DeWine ’ s press conference , they had not been postponed .
Asked about that decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on them but on his own constituents .
“ Everybody has to make their own call about what they think is the right thing to do , ” he said .
The Ohio Department of Health has confirmed 50 cases of COVID-19 in the state , 14 of which led to hospitalizations , as of Monday .
DeWine declared a state of emergency in his state on March 9 to help contain the spread of the disease .
CORRECTION : An earlier version of this article said DeWine postponed Tuesday ’ s primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power .
He was requesting the primary be postponed and plans to file a lawsuit to make it happen .

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said Monday night that he is declaring a statewide health emergency in order to postpone Tuesday’s primary election due to the coronavirus, essentially overriding a judge’s ruling just hours earlier that blocked the governor’s request to delay the election until June 2.
“During this time when we face an unprecedented public health crisis, to conduct an election tomorrow would force poll workers and voters to place themselves at an unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus,” DeWine tweeted.
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DeWine said in his health emergency announcement that Secretary of State Frank LaRose will “seek a remedy through the courts to extend voting options so that every voter who wants to vote will be granted that opportunity.”
During this time when we face an unprecedented public health crisis, to conduct an election tomorrow would force poll workers and voters to place themselves at an unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus. — Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 17, 2020
After DeWine’s announcement, LaRose issued a directive postponing the primaries to June 2.
DeWine said earlier on Monday that he wanted to move Ohio’s primary election amid concerns about the health risks that come with in-person voting during the pandemic, particularly for older and immunocompromised residents.
“It is clear that tomorrow’s in-person voting does not conform and cannot conform with these CDC guidelines. We cannot conduct this election tomorrow,” he said, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance about COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
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Because the governor doesn’t have the power to change the election date, he first needs a judge’s approval to move the date of the primary. Former Ohio Department of Aging Director Judith Brachman, 81, filed a lawsuit Monday in Franklin County so that elderly voters don’t need to choose between their health and voting, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Richard A. Frye denied that request on Monday evening.
For folks who are confused:
Governor Mike Dewine recommended we move the election.
A lawsuit was filed to do that.
Some folks running in the election challenged that.
A municipal judge in Columbus was like “We can’t move the election. It will be tomorrow.” — Paige Southwick Pfleger (@PaigePfleger) March 16, 2020
With DeWine’s new health emergency announcement, the back-and-forth on whether polls will be open Tuesday has left many poll workers and voters in Ohio wondering whether to cast their ballot in person.
DeWine’s recommendation follows the CDC’s guidance that large events across the country, consisting of 50 people or more, be canceled or postponed to prevent the disease’s spread.
To help this effort, DeWine said all of Ohio’s gyms, fitness centers, recreation centers, bowling alleys, indoor water parks, movie theaters and trampoline parks have been ordered to close, indefinitely, starting at the end of Monday’s workday.
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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Monday that he wants to postpone his state's primary election that was scheduled for Tuesday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Primaries are also scheduled on Tuesday for Arizona, Florida and Illinois. At the time of DeWine’s press conference, they had not been postponed. Asked about that decision, DeWine said his focus is not on them but on his own constituents.
“Everybody has to make their own call about what they think is the right thing to do,” he said.
The Ohio Department of Health has confirmed 50 cases of COVID-19 in the state, 14 of which led to hospitalizations, as of Monday.
DeWine declared a state of emergency in his state on March 9 to help contain the spread of the disease.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article said DeWine postponed Tuesday’s primary, but he does not have that power. He was requesting the primary be postponed and plans to file a lawsuit to make it happen.
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