thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-16--As A Formerly Incarcerated Addict, I'm Overjoyed About Oregon's New Drug Law

I cried when I saw it , tears of joy streaming down my face when I found out Oregon ’ s ballot initiative to decriminalize possession of illicit drugs had passed .
It passed on the birthday of my best friend ’ s sister , who hung herself in a jail cell , scared and alone , after being incarcerated on a non-violent possession charge .
She chose eternal darkness over the horror of withdrawing cold turkey from heroin in a jail cell .
Starting in February , individuals in Oregon caught with a small amount of drugs for personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be fined $ 100 instead of being imprisoned .
They may also avoid the fine by completing a health assessment at a drug treatment facility .
The measure will also expand access to drug and alcohol treatment facilities , harm reduction programs , and housing options that will give the addicted a fair chance at recovery .
It wasn ’ t my choice to begin taking drugs , just as it was not the choice of many of my fellow addicted friends .
I was fed narcotics at an early age by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 15-year addiction that I couldn ’ t seem to claw my way out of , until shortly after my 24th birthday when Narcan brought me back to life after a near-fatal dose of heroin .
I am one of the lucky ones .
The second time I was incarcerated , at age 21 , it was for possession of a small amount of marijuana , which I was using in my own home when a probation officer came knocking on my door .
Again , I lay sick , seizing and bleeding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail cell in the winter , being eaten alive by real bugs as an imaginary pack of hyenas tore at my insides while I futilely screamed for mercy .
Contrary to common stereotypes and misconceptions about substance abusers , I held a full-time job during my addiction .
I maintained that job right up until I was incarcerated the second time .
You can ’ t exactly call your employer collect from the county jail to let them know you won ’ t be coming in to work that week .
I had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received from my job to enter treatment once before , at age 19 .
While other kids were applying to colleges to kick-start their lives , I was applying to rehab facilities to kick my habit .
As it turns out , six days was not enough time to heal my 10-year drug addiction .
And I simply couldn ’ t afford to go to treatment any longer than that if I wanted to keep up with my rent and have a place to live .
Not only did I no longer have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment , even though I badly wanted to , but these events sent me into a far more deadly descent .
The week I was released from jail a second time is the week I became , for the first time , an intravenous drug user .
I could no longer afford the pills my body craved , but I also could not afford to enter treatment .
Without a job and with minimal funds , my only option was to switch to heroin , which is far less expensive than prescription opiates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a complex brain disease involving environmental , genetic , and psychological factors .
People with these disorders need treatment , therapy and resources to develop healthy alternative coping mechanisms , and those are not provided in jail .
To deal with withdrawal symptoms , they need medical care , drug and alcohol rehabilitation services , therapy and harm reduction programs , none of which are available in the majority of prisons around the country .
I did not receive treatment for my addiction while in jail or afterward .
I was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were any , and the only perceived deterrent to not using again that was discussed was one that could lead to more punishment : an ankle monitor .
At the time of my release , I was experiencing extreme post-acute withdrawal symptoms ( known as PAWS ) and began using again immediately .
While I take responsibility for the choices I made , none of us want to be addicted .
No one would choose this life , in fear of a destructive illness striking again at any moment .
A disease in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an invisible monster that can return to steal your health , family , hope and life without warning .
The science and data are clear , not only in the successful model already implemented in Portugal but in U.S. studies , that decriminalization of drugs will help mitigate the opiate epidemic .
Addiction lives in and thrives off shame , and jail feeds addiction its favorite meal .
Incarceration also makes the cycle of addiction more deadly as it costs people their jobs and their health care .
When we as a society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the notion that addiction is not a deplorable choice but a disease .
We are embracing the fact that drug abusers require treatment for complex brain disorders as well as empathy and understanding for their struggles .
All of which substance abusers desperately need in order to recover .

Igor Vershinsky via Getty Images
I cried when I saw it, tears of joy streaming down my face when I found out Oregon’s ballot initiative to decriminalize possession of illicit drugs had passed. It passed on the birthday of my best friend’s sister, who hung herself in a jail cell, scared and alone, after being incarcerated on a non-violent possession charge. She chose eternal darkness over the horror of withdrawing cold turkey from heroin in a jail cell.
She couldn’t be saved, but many others will be as a result of this life-altering measure enacted in the name of harm reduction.
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Starting in February, individuals in Oregon caught with a small amount of drugs for personal use, including cocaine and heroin, will be fined $100 instead of being imprisoned. They may also avoid the fine by completing a health assessment at a drug treatment facility. The measure will also expand access to drug and alcohol treatment facilities, harm reduction programs, and housing options that will give the addicted a fair chance at recovery.
Money saved by not incarcerating non-violent drug offenders will be channeled into a fund for further drug and alcohol treatment programs, helping to mitigate the opiate epidemic.
As an addict now nine years into recovery, and the adult child of two addicts, I am overjoyed about these changes in the law.
It wasn’t my choice to begin taking drugs, just as it was not the choice of many of my fellow addicted friends. I was fed narcotics at an early age by my caregivers, and that spiraled into a 15-year addiction that I couldn’t seem to claw my way out of, until shortly after my 24th birthday when Narcan brought me back to life after a near-fatal dose of heroin. I am one of the lucky ones.
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“I lay sick, seizing and bleeding on the cold floor of a Pennsylvania jail cell in the winter, being eaten alive by real bugs as an imaginary pack of hyenas tore at my insides while I futilely screamed for mercy.”
I was first incarcerated at age 20 for a week over a few unpaid parking tickets. I was forced to suffer the torture of withdrawal seizures in a jail cell without medical attention because of parking violations.
The second time I was incarcerated, at age 21, it was for possession of a small amount of marijuana, which I was using in my own home when a probation officer came knocking on my door. Again, I lay sick, seizing and bleeding on the cold floor of a Pennsylvania jail cell in the winter, being eaten alive by real bugs as an imaginary pack of hyenas tore at my insides while I futilely screamed for mercy.
These are the minuscule violations for which we are endangering the lives of citizens by forcing them into drug withdrawal in a jail cell alone, without medication-assisted treatment, without medical attention, and without mercy or humanity.
Contrary to common stereotypes and misconceptions about substance abusers, I held a full-time job during my addiction. I maintained that job right up until I was incarcerated the second time. You can’t exactly call your employer collect from the county jail to let them know you won’t be coming in to work that week.
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I had already used the health care benefits I received from my job to enter treatment once before, at age 19. While other kids were applying to colleges to kick-start their lives, I was applying to rehab facilities to kick my habit. As it turns out, six days was not enough time to heal my 10-year drug addiction. And I simply couldn’t afford to go to treatment any longer than that if I wanted to keep up with my rent and have a place to live.
If I wanted to enter treatment again, I needed to work. I had already planned and saved nearly enough money for my second rehab stint when I was incarcerated again, causing me to lose my job.
Not only did I no longer have access to health care benefits to enter treatment, even though I badly wanted to, but these events sent me into a far more deadly descent. The week I was released from jail a second time is the week I became, for the first time, an intravenous drug user.
I could no longer afford the pills my body craved, but I also could not afford to enter treatment. Without a job and with minimal funds, my only option was to switch to heroin, which is far less expensive than prescription opiates ― and far more deadly.
That’s my experience with how jail perpetuates the endless cycle of addiction.
“Addiction lives in and thrives off shame, and jail feeds addiction its favorite meal.”
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Addiction is a complex brain disease involving environmental, genetic, and psychological factors. People with these disorders need treatment, therapy and resources to develop healthy alternative coping mechanisms, and those are not provided in jail. To deal with withdrawal symptoms, they need medical care, drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, therapy and harm reduction programs, none of which are available in the majority of prisons around the country.
I did not receive treatment for my addiction while in jail or afterward. I was not counseled on available resources, if there were any, and the only perceived deterrent to not using again that was discussed was one that could lead to more punishment: an ankle monitor. At the time of my release, I was experiencing extreme post-acute withdrawal symptoms (known as PAWS) and began using again immediately.
Oregon’s decriminalization of drug possession will now make it possible for a substance abuser to receive treatment, and thus to end the cycle of addiction that has led so many of my fellow addicted friends to their graves.
While I take responsibility for the choices I made, none of us want to be addicted. No one would choose this life, in fear of a destructive illness striking again at any moment. A disease in which you must always remain vigilant of an invisible monster that can return to steal your health, family, hope and life without warning.
The science and data are clear, not only in the successful model already implemented in Portugal but in U.S. studies, that decriminalization of drugs will help mitigate the opiate epidemic. Addiction lives in and thrives off shame, and jail feeds addiction its favorite meal. Incarceration also makes the cycle of addiction more deadly as it costs people their jobs and their health care.
Advertisement
But throw substance abusers like myself a life preserver in the form of treatment and we can break free from servitude to our addiction.
When we as a society decriminalize drug use, we are enforcing the notion that addiction is not a deplorable choice but a disease. We are embracing the fact that drug abusers require treatment for complex brain disorders as well as empathy and understanding for their struggles. All of which substance abusers desperately need in order to recover.
Choosing to focus on harm reduction and treatment, instead of punishment, will not only reduce relapse and overdose rates but also crime and recidivism, which, if projections are correct, will save the government billions of dollars.
The societal stigma of addiction is the greatest barrier to rehabilitation and recovery. By not criminalizing a disease and those that suffer from it, we can create a safer haven for the addicted to receive treatment and heal.
Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch!


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-16--Michiganders Rise Up To Hail Gutsy 'Big Gretch' Whitmer And Her New COVID-19 Safety Rules

“ Big Gretch ” — Michiganders ’ nickname for their governor immortalized in a rap by Detroit ’ s GmacCash — was trending on Twitter as supporters hailed her three-week emergency order imposing new restrictions against the surging COVID-19 pandemic , despite Trump administration intimidation .
Whitmer ’ s order on Sunday restricts some activities and social gatherings as the state experienced an all-time record seven-day stretch of infections last week , with more than 44,000 new COVID-19 cases and 416 deaths .
The new rules , issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services , halt in-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoor dining , organized sports and group exercise classes , and shuts down theaters , stadiums and casinos .
“ The only way this stops is if people rise up , “ Atlas , who has no formal training in treating infectious diseases , snapped about the new rules on Twitter .
“ You get what you accept.
” Whitmer responded on CNN : “ We know that the White House likes to single us out here in Michigan , me out in particular .
I ’ m not going to be bullied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals.
” Big Gretch enforcing this shutdown after being harrassed , bullied , and was threatned to be kidnapped is a true testimate to her character .
Glad to have that woman from michigan as my governor .
— Dylan ( @ DylanjohnJones ) November 15 , 2020 Does armed militia storming the Capitol scare Big Gretch ?
?
Does Trump 's constant bullying scare Big Gretch ?
?
Does a foiled kidnapping plot scare Big Gretch ?
?
Nope 🔥 She 's doing what 's right for the people of MI to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WearAMask # DemVoice1 # Leadership https : //t.co/xozKl6E6k1 pic.twitter.com/jX6kci0KeA — Jake Lobin ( @ JakeLobin ) November 15 , 2020 Big Gretch has faced constant harassment , threats , and a foiled kidnapping plot , but she still came through today to enforce stricter restrictions and I ’ m here for it .
# MaskUpMichigan https : //t.co/fAxNd134e7 — Allysin Kay ( @ Sienna ) November 15 , 2020 You KNOW I stand with Governor Whitmer , I 'm hoping Big Gretch locks us down again because Covid-19 is out of control here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is heartless and USELESS .
MASK UP MICHIGAN .
-art by me # maskup # maskupmichigan # biggretch # wearamask pic.twitter.com/bGRUrISIx1 — L.Chenault ( @ LacyChenault ) November 15 , 2020 big gretch had people plotting to kidnap and execute her for simply wanting to keep us safe and she could ’ ve easily let it intimidate her into not taking action but here she is again trying to save our lives .
nothing but respect for my governor .
pic.twitter.com/cEpUN6glfz — ares ( @ gobeheroes ) November 15 , 2020 Big Gretch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Stay home , and stay safe .
And for fucks sake ... wear a fucking mask if you have to go out .
— lisastark35 ( @ lisastark351 ) November 15 , 2020 Remember when Gov .
Big Gretch was handling Covid response and was kicking butt and got us to stage 5 but then the Republican majority took her to court and voted her power away and now we ’ re gearing up to go into a full out state of emergency again ?
?
I do — BNFang ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 👏👏👏 Big Gretch just threw some shade at Trump on CNN : WOLF ... Are you concerned about Trump 's election lawsuits to not certify Michigan 's results ?
BIG GRETCH ... No , because Biden 's victory margin was 14 times the amount Trump had in 2016 .
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 # Savage # DemVoice1 pic.twitter.com/tL6we1j67N — Jake Lobin ( @ JakeLobin ) November 16 , 2020 Whitmer has been a special target of Trump , who has called her “ that woman ” who complains .
( “ We don ’ t like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Sean Hannity . )
The president made the remark after Whitmer ’ s desperate requests for federal help earlier this year to obtain protective gear for health care workers as her state battled coronavirus .
She later reported that medical supply vendors had been told not to fill her orders .
Whitmer blamed Trump ’ s repeated attacks on her for inciting an alleged plot to kidnap and kill her by members of the far-right paramilitary group Wolverine Watchmen , who were arrested by the FBI last month .

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Whitmer’s order on Sunday restricts some activities and social gatherings as the state experienced an all-time record seven-day stretch of infections last week, with more than 44,000 new COVID-19 cases and 416 deaths.
The new rules, issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, halt in-person learning in high schools and colleges, indoor dining, organized sports and group exercise classes, and shuts down theaters, stadiums and casinos.
“The only way this stops is if people rise up,“Atlas, who has no formal training in treating infectious diseases, snapped about the new rules on Twitter. “You get what you accept.”
Whitmer responded on CNN: “We know that the White House likes to single us out here in Michigan, me out in particular. I’m not going to be bullied into not following reputable scientists and medical professionals.”
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Whitmer’s supporters were there for her.
Big Gretch enforcing this shutdown after being harrassed, bullied, and was threatned to be kidnapped is a true testimate to her character. Glad to have that woman from michigan as my governor. — Dylan (@DylanjohnJones) November 15, 2020
Does armed militia storming the Capitol scare Big Gretch??
Does Trump's constant bullying scare Big Gretch??
Does a foiled kidnapping plot scare Big Gretch??
Nope 🔥
She's doing what's right for the people of MI to get #COVID19 back in line.#WearAMask #DemVoice1 #Leadership https://t.co/xozKl6E6k1 pic.twitter.com/jX6kci0KeA — Jake Lobin (@JakeLobin) November 15, 2020
Big Gretch has faced constant harassment, threats, and a foiled kidnapping plot, but she still came through today to enforce stricter restrictions and I’m here for it. #MaskUpMichigan https://t.co/fAxNd134e7 — Allysin Kay (@Sienna) November 15, 2020
You KNOW I stand with Governor Whitmer, I'm hoping Big Gretch locks us down again because Covid-19 is out of control here in Michigan and our GOP majority legislature is heartless and USELESS. MASK UP MICHIGAN. -art by me #maskup #maskupmichigan #biggretch #wearamask pic.twitter.com/bGRUrISIx1 — L.Chenault (@LacyChenault) November 15, 2020
big gretch had people plotting to kidnap and execute her for simply wanting to keep us safe and she could’ve easily let it intimidate her into not taking action but here she is again trying to save our lives. nothing but respect for my governor. pic.twitter.com/cEpUN6glfz — ares (@gobeheroes) November 15, 2020
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Big Gretch is locking us down again in Michigan.
Stay home, and stay safe.
And for fucks sake... wear a fucking mask if you have to go out. — lisastark35 (@lisastark351) November 15, 2020
Big Gretch has my 100% respect 👏 pic.twitter.com/ifOKl7YKNW — United for the People 💛🥁 (@people4kam) November 16, 2020
Remember when Gov. Big Gretch was handling Covid response and was kicking butt and got us to stage 5 but then the Republican majority took her to court and voted her power away and now we’re gearing up to go into a full out state of emergency again??
I do — BNFang (@BNeufang) November 13, 2020
Y’all should’ve just let Big Gretch do her job 😤 https://t.co/vyJuD3GycE — Jelly Bells🔔🤶🏾 (@berry_jello) November 13, 2020
OMG 👏👏👏
Big Gretch just threw some shade at Trump on CNN:
WOLF... Are you concerned about Trump's election lawsuits to not certify Michigan's results?
BIG GRETCH... No, because Biden's victory margin was 14 times the amount Trump had in 2016.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥#Savage #DemVoice1 pic.twitter.com/tL6we1j67N — Jake Lobin (@JakeLobin) November 16, 2020
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👏 Big Gretch 👏 pic.twitter.com/IdsFDCn0Uj — Maddy VerVaecke is all masked up (@mandy_itis_then) November 15, 2020
Big Gretch has bigger balls than trump.
Three Week Pause to Save Lives pic.twitter.com/nO7WWOUNod — Mel 🆘 the Enforcer (@Fah_Lo_Me) November 15, 2020
Whitmer has been a special target of Trump, who has called her “that woman” who complains. (“We don’t like to see the complaints,” Trump told Sean Hannity.)
The president made the remark after Whitmer’s desperate requests for federal help earlier this year to obtain protective gear for health care workers as her state battled coronavirus. She later reported that medical supply vendors had been told not to fill her orders.
Whitmer blamed Trump’s repeated attacks on her for inciting an alleged plot to kidnap and kill her by members of the far-right paramilitary group Wolverine Watchmen, who were arrested by the FBI last month.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-16--Moderna Coronavirus Vaccine Nearly 95% Effective, Early Data Shows

For the second time this month , there ’ s promising news from a COVID-19 vaccine candidate : Moderna said Monday its shots provide strong protection , a dash of hope against the grim backdrop of coronavirus surges in the U.S. and around the world .
Moderna said its vaccine appears to be 94.5 % effective , according to preliminary data from the company ’ s still ongoing study .
A week ago , competitor Pfizer Inc. announced its own COVID-19 vaccine appeared similarly effective — news that puts both companies on track to seek permission within weeks for emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give us all hope that actually a vaccine is going to be able to stop this pandemic and hopefully get us back to our lives , ” Hoge told The Associated Press .
A vaccine can ’ t come fast enough , as virus cases topped 11 million in the U.S. over the weekend — 1 million of them recorded in just the past week .
The pandemic has killed more than 1.3 million people worldwide , more than 245,000 of them in the U.S .
Still , if the Food and Drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s or Pfizer ’ s candidates , there will be limited , rationed supplies before the end of the year .
Both require people to get two shots , several weeks apart .
Moderna expects to have about 20 million doses , earmarked for the U.S. , by the end of 2020 .
Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech expect to have about 50 million doses globally by year ’ s end .
Moderna ’ s vaccine , created with the National Institutes of Health , is being studied in 30,000 volunteers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dummy shot .
On Sunday , an independent monitoring board broke the code to examine 95 infections that were recorded starting two weeks after volunteers ’ second dose — and discovered all but five illnesses occurred in participants who got the placebo .
The study is continuing , and Moderna acknowledged the protection rate might change as more COVID-19 infections are detected and added to the calculations .
Also , it ’ s too soon to know how long protection lasts .
Both cautions apply to Pfizer ’ s vaccine as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ muscle aches and injection-site pain after the vaccine ’ s second dose , at rates that Hoge characterized as more common than with flu shots but on par with others such as shingles vaccine .
The Cambridge , Massachusetts , company ’ s vaccine is among 11 candidates in late-stage testing around the world , four of them in huge studies in the U.S .
Both Moderna ’ s shots and the Pfizer-BioNTech candidate are so-called mRNA vaccines , a brand-new technology .
They aren ’ t made with the coronavirus itself , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could catch it from the shots .
Instead , the vaccine contains a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognize the spiked protein on the surface of the virus .
The strong results were a surprise .
Scientists have warned for months that any COVID-19 shot may be only as good as flu vaccines , which are about 50 % effective .
Another steep challenge : distributing doses that must be kept very cold .
Both the Moderna and Pfizer shots are frozen but at different temperatures .
Moderna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doses can last longer in a refrigerator than initially thought , up to 30 days .
Pfizer ’ s shots require long-term storage at ultra-cold temperatures .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
For the second time this month, there’s promising news from a COVID-19 vaccine candidate: Moderna said Monday its shots provide strong protection, a dash of hope against the grim backdrop of coronavirus surges in the U.S. and around the world.
Moderna said its vaccine appears to be 94.5% effective, according to preliminary data from the company’s still ongoing study. A week ago, competitor Pfizer Inc. announced its own COVID-19 vaccine appeared similarly effective — news that puts both companies on track to seek permission within weeks for emergency use in the U.S.
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Dr. Stephen Hoge, Moderna’s president, welcomed the “really important milestone” but said having similar results from two different companies is what’s most reassuring.
“That should give us all hope that actually a vaccine is going to be able to stop this pandemic and hopefully get us back to our lives,” Hoge told The Associated Press.
“It won’t be Moderna alone that solves this problem. It’s going to require many vaccines” to meet the global demand, he added.
A vaccine can’t come fast enough, as virus cases topped 11 million in the U.S. over the weekend — 1 million of them recorded in just the past week. The pandemic has killed more than 1.3 million people worldwide, more than 245,000 of them in the U.S.
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Still, if the Food and Drug Administration allows emergency use of Moderna’s or Pfizer’s candidates, there will be limited, rationed supplies before the end of the year. Both require people to get two shots, several weeks apart. Moderna expects to have about 20 million doses, earmarked for the U.S., by the end of 2020. Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech expect to have about 50 million doses globally by year’s end.
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine lab tech Sendy Puerto processes blood samples from study participants in the specimen processing lab￼, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020 in Miami. The volunteers are taking part in testing the NIH funded Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (AP Photo/Taimy Alvarez) ASSOCIATED PRESS
Moderna’s vaccine, created with the National Institutes of Health, is being studied in 30,000 volunteers who received either the real vaccination or a dummy shot. On Sunday, an independent monitoring board broke the code to examine 95 infections that were recorded starting two weeks after volunteers’ second dose — and discovered all but five illnesses occurred in participants who got the placebo.
The study is continuing, and Moderna acknowledged the protection rate might change as more COVID-19 infections are detected and added to the calculations. Also, it’s too soon to know how long protection lasts. Both cautions apply to Pfizer’s vaccine as well.
But Moderna’s independent monitors reported some additional, promising tidbits: All 11 severe COVID-19 cases were among placebo recipients, and there were no significant safety concerns.
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The main side effects were fatigue, muscle aches and injection-site pain after the vaccine’s second dose, at rates that Hoge characterized as more common than with flu shots but on par with others such as shingles vaccine.
The Cambridge, Massachusetts, company’s vaccine is among 11 candidates in late-stage testing around the world, four of them in huge studies in the U.S.
Both Moderna’s shots and the Pfizer-BioNTech candidate are so-called mRNA vaccines, a brand-new technology. They aren’t made with the coronavirus itself, meaning there’s no chance anyone could catch it from the shots. Instead, the vaccine contains a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognize the spiked protein on the surface of the virus.
The strong results were a surprise. Scientists have warned for months that any COVID-19 shot may be only as good as flu vaccines, which are about 50% effective.
Another steep challenge: distributing doses that must be kept very cold. Both the Moderna and Pfizer shots are frozen but at different temperatures. Moderna announced Monday that once thawed, its doses can last longer in a refrigerator than initially thought, up to 30 days. Pfizer’s shots require long-term storage at ultra-cold temperatures.
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___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-15--Cuomo Bashes Trump, Threatens Legal Action For Equal Access To COVID-19 Vaccine

Gov .
Andrew Cuomo tore into Donald Trump on Sunday after the president ’ s threat to hold up COVID-19 vaccine distribution to his state — and warned he ’ s prepared to sue for equal access for New Yorkers .
“ I ’ ve tried to work with the Trump administration and argue morality and principle for four years , ” Cuomo said in remarks in Riverside Church in Manhattan .
“ You ’ re better off trying to argue with a rock ...
There can be no more fundamental right in this moment than access to the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a message to Trump : “ Stop the abuse .
Stop the division .
Stop the anger .
Stop the hatred .
Stop the narcissism , and spend your last months actually trying to help people.
” On Friday , Trump said that a highly promising COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer could be released as soon as April “ to the entire general population — with the exception of places like New York state.
” He claimed that for “ political reasons , ” the governor “ wants to take his time with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump ’ s claim was absolutely “ untrue ” and that the state ’ s advisory task force would not block or hinder the distribution of any safe vaccine .
But on Sunday , the governor also accused the Trump administration of planning a vaccine distribution system heavily reliant on private companies that would poorly serve communities of color , which have borne the biggest toll of COVID-19 .
“ The president talks about CVS and Walgreens and national chains ... [ that ] are mainly located in rich communities , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear — the Black and brown communities that were first on the list of who died can not be last on the list of who receives the vaccine , period , ” he said .
If the Trump administration doesn ’ t address the problem of unequal access to the vaccine , New York will join the NAACP and the Urban League in a lawsuit to force changes , Cuomo declared .
“ If the Trump administration does not change this plan and does not provide an equitable vaccine process , we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring legal action to protect New Yorkers.
” He added : “ Enough people have died and enough injustice has been done during COVID .
It stops now , it stops with this vaccine.
” Cuomo said on Friday that “ luckily ” Trump will no longer be in the White House when the vaccine is likely to be distributed on a wide scale .

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo tore into Donald Trump on Sunday after the president’s threat to hold up COVID-19 vaccine distribution to his state — and warned he’s prepared to sue for equal access for New Yorkers.
“I’ve tried to work with the Trump administration and argue morality and principle for four years,” Cuomo said in remarks in Riverside Church in Manhattan. “You’re better off trying to argue with a rock ... There can be no more fundamental right in this moment than access to the vaccine,” he added.
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He said in a message to Trump: “Stop the abuse. Stop the division. Stop the anger. Stop the hatred. Stop the narcissism, and spend your last months actually trying to help people.”
On Friday, Trump said that a highly promising COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer could be released as soon as April “to the entire general population — with the exception of places like New York state.” He claimed that for “political reasons,” the governor “wants to take his time with the vaccine.”
Cuomo fired back then that Trump’s claim was absolutely “untrue” and that the state’s advisory task force would not block or hinder the distribution of any safe vaccine.
But on Sunday, the governor also accused the Trump administration of planning a vaccine distribution system heavily reliant on private companies that would poorly serve communities of color, which have borne the biggest toll of COVID-19.
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The Trump administration’s plan “basically has private health care companies administer the vaccines,” Cuomo explained Sunday.
“The president talks about CVS and Walgreens and national chains ... [that] are mainly located in rich communities, not in poor communities. Let me be clear — the Black and brown communities that were first on the list of who died cannot be last on the list of who receives the vaccine, period,” he said.
If the Trump administration doesn’t address the problem of unequal access to the vaccine, New York will join the NAACP and the Urban League in a lawsuit to force changes, Cuomo declared.
“If the Trump administration does not change this plan and does not provide an equitable vaccine process, we will enforce our legal right; we will bring legal action to protect New Yorkers.” He added: “Enough people have died and enough injustice has been done during COVID. It stops now, it stops with this vaccine.”
Trump hasn’t spoken publicly about details of a distribution plan for the vaccine.
Cuomo said on Friday that “luckily” Trump will no longer be in the White House when the vaccine is likely to be distributed on a wide scale.
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Trump is still refusing to concede that he lost the presidential election.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-15--Science Will Save Us From COVID-19, But First We Have To Save Ourselves

The Upper Midwest Is Now The Nation ’ s Worst Hot Spot This really is the worst it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Dan Diekema , infectious disease division at the University of Iowa Public Gatherings Are Spreading @ @ @ @ @ most definitely had an uptick in the Upper Peninsula that was directly related to travel @ @ @ @ @ work in one state and live in the other , ” said Emily Martin , @ @ @ @ @ of Michigan .
“ However , what we are seeing now is not so much @ @ @ @ @ is a breakdown in prevention happening in multiple areas of the state at once .
@ @ @ @ @ Michigan , and the west side of Michigan especially , never got close enough to @ @ @ @ @ and so every region still had enough embers around to restart a fire as soon @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Not Too Late To Avoid the Worst For The Winter

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The past week has brought some of the most hopeful pandemic news in a long time ― first when Pfizer announced that its experimental COVID-19 vaccine appeared to be 90% effective at preventing symptomatic disease and then, on Monday, when Moderna announced its very similar vaccine was 94.5% effective.
Both shots need further testing and outside review, in part to be more certain about safety. Still, the prevailing assumption has been that a COVID-19 vaccine would be a lot like the flu shot, which in most years is effective around half the time. If these company-reported results from Pfizer and Moderna hold up, and if other vaccines show similar promise, the U.S. could be months away from getting the pandemic under control.
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But months away is still … months away. And right now the COVID-19 situation in the U.S. is as bleak as it’s been since the pandemic’s start. The case total is above 10 million. The death tally is approaching 250,000. And both numbers are climbing at an accelerating rate ― just as cold weather is pushing people indoors, where the virus spreads most efficiently, and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday promises both more travel and large indoor gatherings.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem boasted at August's Republican National Convention about her defiance of "an elite class of so-called experts." South Dakota's per capita COVID-19 death rate is now among the highest in the nation. Handout via Getty Images
It doesn’t have to be this way. We know a lot more about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 than we did in the spring, just as we know a lot more about how to treat those who have it. And the two go hand in hand. The health care system can save many more people as long as it has the time and the resources, which depend on containing the spread so providers don’t become overwhelmed.
But knowledge alone is not enough. Containing COVID-19 requires both collective will and political leadership, neither of which is in great supply right now ― the former because the entire country is so understandably tired of living this way, the latter because Donald Trump will still be president until Jan. 20, and many of his allies will remain in power afterward.
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The Upper Midwest Is Now The Nation’s Worst Hot Spot
The part of the country hardest hit right now is the Upper Midwest, where several governors have resisted taking the kind of aggressive public health action their counterparts in other parts of the country did.
Two Republican governors stand out in this regard. From the earliest stages of the pandemic, Govs. Kristi Noem of South Dakota and Kim Reynolds of Iowa ignored calls to require masks or to limit public activity more strictly on the grounds that their states’ wide open spaces and spirit of rugged individualism dictated a different approach.
“South Dakota is not New York City,” Noem said in April.
The bit about the virus not spreading in airy, wide open spaces at least had some scientific plausibility to it. And if every single person in Iowa and South Dakota were doing nothing all day but driving tractors, fishing or skipping across the prairie, then stricter rules truly wouldn’t have made sense. But even in the Great Plains, people gather indoors sometimes ― at churches and on college campuses, not to mention in meatpacking plants and prisons.
And then there was the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, which drew nearly half a million bikers from across the country in August. The bikers spent a lot of time outdoors, where perhaps the risk was low. They also spent a lot of time packed into bars, where the risk was almost certainly high. Mask wearing was sporadic. Experts agreed that the event likely led to thousands of cases, if not tens or even hundreds of thousands, as bikers returned home.
“This really is the worst it’s been in our hospitals.” - Dan Diekema, infectious disease division at the University of Iowa
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South Dakota’s big surge started shortly after the rally, whether it was because of Sturgis or some other combination of factors. But Noem, who had used her August speech at the Republican National Convention to brag about her state’s defiance of public health experts, insisted the numbers were misleading even as the numbers climbed. “We’re doing really good,” she said, citing among other things the state’s low rates of hospitalization and death.
Epidemiologists predicted it was only a matter of time before hospitalizations and deaths spiked, too. They were right. The state’s current death rate, 165 per 100,000 residents, is among the highest in the country. On Saturday, the state reported 53 new deaths, a new record. The test positivity rate is sitting at an eye-popping 60%, which could mean there’s even more spread in the community, while hospital administrators are struggling to find staffed beds for new patients.
In Iowa, Reynolds spurned calls ― including some from the White House’s own coronavirus task force ― to limit indoor bar and restaurant service more aggressively. In the last few days, Reynolds has relented a bit by issuing a limited mask order and urging residents to be vigilant by social distancing and avoiding activities that seem risky. But the mask order applies only to large gatherings and businesses such as barbershops.
“You can still go to a movie and work out at the gym — and in many states you can’t do that,” Reynolds said in announcing the new measures. “Iowa is open for business, and we intend to keep it that way.”
Meanwhile, the state’s health care infrastructure is buckling, much as South Dakota’s is. “This really is the worst it’s been in our hospitals,” Daniel Diekema, director of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Iowa, told HuffPost this week.
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The main shortage right now isn’t rooms or equipment, Diekema said. It’s personnel, because many workers end up sick or in quarantine ― frequently because of the inevitable exposures outside the hospital, where they are in the community.
Hospitals can adjust by reducing non-COVID-19, non-essential procedures and bringing in personnel from different specialties or out of retirement. But, Diekema said, rural hospitals were already struggling financially and might not survive without the revenue from elective procedures ― many of which, such as biopsies for possible cancer, are not really that elective and could lead to serious health consequences if delayed. Retired health care workers are usually older, putting them at greater risk for severe COVID-19 complications, while workers shifted from other departments don’t have the same level of specialized experience.
If it sounds a lot like the dire situation that some cities faced when the pandemic first hit, Diekema said, that’s because his state and those around him are approaching that point with no immediate relief in sight.
“It could get to the point where the health system is just overwhelmed, similar to what was happening in Italy or New York City, where you’re running out of protective gear again, having to ration care, keeping people home or sending them home even though they should be in the hospital,” he said. “It could definitely get that bad.”
Public Gatherings Are Spreading The Disease Everywhere
It could get that bad in other places, too. Pretty much every state now has rising COVID-19 cases, and many have desperate front-line workers sounding alarms as they confront a mentally and physically draining onslaught of patients
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Geographic spread from the Midwest is part of the story here. In Michigan, a state that had the outbreak mostly under control during the summer and early fall, the third wave started with the virus coming across the Wisconsin border to the Upper Peninsula and from Indiana into the state’s southwest corner.
But regional spread alone doesn’t explain what’s happening in Michigan or other states now seeing more COVID-19. A gradual loosening of guidelines and a growing ambivalence about social distancing among individuals are also big factors, sparking new outbreaks in areas where COVID-19 had receded but not disappeared altogether.
“We most definitely had an uptick in the Upper Peninsula that was directly related to travel to Wisconsin or people who work in one state and live in the other,” said Emily Martin, an epidemiologist at the University of Michigan. “However, what we are seeing now is not so much a spread pattern as it is a breakdown in prevention happening in multiple areas of the state at once. ... The reality is that Michigan, and the west side of Michigan especially, never got close enough to containment over the summer, and so every region still had enough embers around to restart a fire as soon as behavior changed.”
Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-Iowa) and President Donald Trump have both resisted calls for more aggressive public health efforts. Iowa, like South Dakota, is now one of the worst hot spots in the country. Pool via Getty Images
Maybe the most vivid example of how public gatherings seed outbreaks is the now-infamous superspreader event in Maine, whose record at controlling the virus was otherwise as good as any state’s.
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The event was a wedding attended by 55 people at an inn in Millinocket, a previously COVID-19-free town of about 5,000 people. The wedding party and guests, many of whom came from out of state, got tested before attending and took temperature checks on the day of the event. But the room was slightly overcapacity, and, according to a subsequent investigation by state health inspectors, many guests “did not comply” with a posted requirement to wear masks.
A few days later, a local resident who attended as a guest developed COVID-19 symptoms. It’s not clear how this “index patient” got it, but soon several other people at the wedding also got sick, including inn staff members. They in turn spread it to the community, infecting, among others, a worker at a local long-term care facility, who then infected some patients.
Over the span of 38 days, 176 people became ill, and seven died. None of the seven had been at the wedding.
National Leadership Continues To Fail
Among the other superspreader events in the news lately were those involving Trump, starting with the late September Rose Garden ceremony celebrating the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett and followed more recently by the election-night soiree at the White House. Administration officials keep getting sick, as Trump himself did a month ago. This week brought news that at least 30 members of his personal protection detail in the Secret Service tested positive as well.
None of this has affected the administration’s outlook, which is (notwithstanding official denials) to embrace a “herd immunity” strategy of letting the virus run rampant while supposedly protecting the elderly and the vulnerable. By now, the flaws of this strategy are well known: Isolating and protecting the vulnerable isn’t really feasible, since community spread inevitably gets into long-term care facilities, and a huge number of vulnerable people are younger and not in such facilities anyway.
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Nor can the economy survive when the virus runs rampant because, with or without official restrictions, most people aren’t going to shop and socialize at normal levels when they are afraid of a deadly illness. The best proof of this comes from Sweden, which tried a version of this strategy. Its economy didn’t perform markedly better than that of other nations. But it did have a high number of deaths, especially relative to its immediate neighbors in Scandinavia.
“We know what’s coming the next few weeks. But how long it continues and how bad it gets, that really depends on our actions today.” - Nahid Bhadelia, Boston Medical Center Special Pathogens Unit
Europe has its own surge now, which is a reminder that attentive leadership is a necessary condition for containing the virus but not a sufficient one. Experts there put much of the blame on everyday Europeans who, feeling the same sort of fatigue as everyday Americans, flouted social distancing rules during August vacations. But rates remain dramatically lower in countries such as Germany, which throughout the pandemic has been among those successful both at containing the virus and supporting its citizens during the inevitable economic slowdown.
This was actually the part of the pandemic response that the U.S. handled reasonably well for much of 2020. A series of relief measures — most important among them the CARES Act — propped up businesses and individuals, especially low-income people.
But that money has run out, and Congress hasn’t found its way to agreement on a renewal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wants a major package that, among other things, will help financially depleted local and state governments. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) insists a relatively small bill is enough, given that the economy has held up reasonably well so far.
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It’s Not Too Late To Avoid the Worst For The Winter
It’s true that the economy has not deteriorated as much as experts once predicted. But more than 20 million Americans remain out of work; extra benefits are expiring; and the new spike in the virus is sure to deter economic growth as the majority of people, scared of contracting or spreading the virus, reduce their activity. (Some kind of rescue for bars and restaurants in particular could save those businesses and help save lives, too, by making it easier for those venues to scale down operations until it is safe to serve people indoors again.)
How much economic assistance the country needs and for how long will ultimately depend on the duration of the pandemic ― which, in turn, depends not only on whether the vaccines really work but also on whether they can get to the population quickly and efficiently.
That is no small thing. The Pfizer vaccine, for example, requires two doses and storage in subfreezing conditions because it is sensitive to heat. Smaller rural hospitals will have trouble getting the equipment to handle the vaccine, and there are reports that dry ice, which is necessary for shipment, is in short supply.
The Trump administration said that it has distribution under control and that 20 million doses could be administered before the end of the year, which is a perfectly reasonable boast — except that Trump administration boasts along those lines almost never turn out to be true.
There’s good reason to think the Biden administration will be better prepared, starting with this week’s announcement that the White House chief of staff will be Ronald Klain, whose long resume of highly relevant experience includes coordinating President Barack Obama’s Ebola response, an effort considered now to be a model. Other advisers include Ezekiel Emanuel, also an Obama administration veteran, who over the summer co-wrote a paper with Topher Spiro of the Center for American Progress with a detailed plan for managing vaccine production and distribution.
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That report included some detailed benchmarks to hit, such as securing an adequate supply of vials and plungers and getting enough freezers for the vaccine. At this point it’s impossible to know whether the Trump administration has met such goals: It is not sharing information that it is supposed to during the presidential transition because Trump still won’t allow that to happen.
So for the next two months, the crisis response from Washington may amount to nothing ― or worse than nothing, which is what happened last week when congressional leaders from both parties inexplicably decided to host indoor dinners for incoming members of Congress. At a time when public health experts beg families to stay home and avoid large gatherings over the holidays, the Republican and Democratic leaders of Congress apparently decided it would be a fine time to have some. (Democrats subsequently canceled their dinner; it’s not clear whether Republicans did.)
The mixed messaging couldn’t come at a worse time. Hospitalizations and deaths are sure to increase over the next month because they lag a few weeks behind the infection rate. But things could improve afterward if the public takes the COVID-19 threat seriously and the infection rate falls.
“That’s why you’re hearing desperation in the voices of so many of us,” Nahid Bhadelia, medical director at the Boston Medical Center Special Pathogens Unit, told HuffPost. “We know what’s coming the next few weeks. But how long it continues and how bad it gets, that really depends on our actions today.”
Some officials are paying attention. On Sunday, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a wave of new restrictions, following the lead of Democratic governors in New Mexico and Oregon. But there’s only so much they can do without federal help.
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That help may come on Jan. 20. And eventually, science will stop this plague. But until those things happen, Americans may have to save themselves.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-15--Boris Johnson Self-Isolating After Being Exposed To COVID-19

LONDON ( AP ) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is self-isolating after being told he came into contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus , officials said Sunday .
“ He will carry on working from Downing Street , including on leading the government ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic , ” a statement from his office said .
Johnson “ is well and does not have any symptoms of COVID-19 , ” it added .
Johnson met with a small group of lawmakers for about a half-hour on Thursday , including one who subsequently developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was notified by the National Health Service ’ s Test and Trace system Sunday and told he should self-isolate because of factors including the length of the meeting .
Officials said they will discuss with parliamentary authorities how Johnson can take part remotely in Parliament ’ s business .
He plans to “ continue speaking to the country during his self-isolation period , ” they added .
The statement didn ’ t say how long Johnson planned to isolate , but U.K. health authorities ’ guidance is that anyone contacted by Test and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In April , Johnson was hospitalized in intensive care for three nights after contracting COVID-19 .
After he was discharged , he thanks health workers for saving his life and said for 48 hours during his hospital stay “ things could have gone either way.
” His partner Carrie Symonds , who was pregnant at the time , also experienced symptoms and had to self-isolate .
The prime minister later said he wanted to build up his fitness , and in the summer he launched a national campaign to tackle obesity after acknowledging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he fell ill .

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LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is self-isolating after being told he came into contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Sunday.
“He will carry on working from Downing Street, including on leading the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic,” a statement from his office said.
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Johnson “is well and does not have any symptoms of COVID-19,” it added.
Johnson met with a small group of lawmakers for about a half-hour on Thursday, including one who subsequently developed coronavirus symptoms and tested positive.
He was notified by the National Health Service’s Test and Trace system Sunday and told he should self-isolate because of factors including the length of the meeting.
Officials said they will discuss with parliamentary authorities how Johnson can take part remotely in Parliament’s business. He plans to “continue speaking to the country during his self-isolation period,” they added.
The statement didn’t say how long Johnson planned to isolate, but U.K. health authorities’ guidance is that anyone contacted by Test and Trace should quarantine for 14 days.
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In April, Johnson was hospitalized in intensive care for three nights after contracting COVID-19. After he was discharged, he thanks health workers for saving his life and said for 48 hours during his hospital stay “things could have gone either way.”
His partner Carrie Symonds, who was pregnant at the time, also experienced symptoms and had to self-isolate.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-15--Biden Advisers To Meet Vaccine Firms As Trump Stalls Handoff

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Joe Biden ’ s scientific advisers will meet with vaccine makers in coming days as the presidential transition remains stalled because of President Donald Trump ’ s refusal to acknowledge that he lost the election .
That delayed handoff is especially problematic during a public health crisis , the government ’ s top infectious disease expert said .
“ Of course it would be better if we could start working with them , ” said Dr. Anthony Fauci , head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who has been through multiple presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He likened the process to runners passing on the baton in a relay race .
“ You don ’ t want to stop and then give it to somebody , ” he said .
“ You want to just essentially keep going.
” The president-elect ’ s outreach to the vaccine manufacturers comes as the coronavirus pandemic in the United States has entered perhaps its most dangerous phase .
The seven-day rolling average for new daily cases stood at 145,400 on Saturday , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million new cases a week , and deaths averaged 820 a day as of Saturday , a 33 % increase in just two weeks .
Klain said Biden ’ s experts also need a detailed understanding of distribution plans being finalized by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Pentagon .
In some ways , that ’ s the more critical issue , he said .
“ We need to be talking to them as quickly as possible , ” Klain said .
“ It ’ s great to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ save lives : vaccinations save lives .
And that means you ’ ve got to get that vaccine into people ’ s arms all over this country .
It ’ s a giant logistical project.
” Fauci stressed the arrival of vaccines won ’ t be like flipping a switch to return to normal life .
The first doses will become available for people in high-risk groups later this year .
He said Americans will have to keep up preventive measures such as wearing masks , observing social distancing and frequently washing their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everyone is sensitive to what we call ‘ COVID fatigue , ’ “ Fauci said .
“ People are worn out about this .
But we have got to hang in there a bit longer .
... We have got to hang together on this.
” The government has launched a program called “ Operation Warp Speed , ” backed by the White House , to quickly manufacture and distribute tens of millions of doses of vaccines .
The shots will be free to Americans , and the goal is to have most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Many people will need two doses .
“ If we do these things combined with the testing that we have , we can flatten the curve , ” he said .
“ If we do not do these things , the cases will continue to go up.
” Giroir said the country is in a critical situation .
Pressed on whether the administration should be talking to the Biden team , Giroir responded : “ Look , I want to be as transparent as possible with everybody .
This is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue of public health and saving American lives .
And I think there ’ s nothing more important than that.
” The risks are real .
Around the country , hospitals report that doctors and nurses are being stretched to cope with rising numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients requiring special care .
In some communities , hospitals have started limiting elective procedures in order to conserve resources .
“ In the spring , when we didn ’ t know a lot about COVID , we responded in a sense with an on/off switch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut things down because ... we didn ’ t know exactly how this was spreading and where it was spreading .
“ We learned a lot more since then , ” he added .
“ The better way to think about these safety restrictions is more a dial that we turn up and down defending on severity , and that ’ s really the key here , is applying this , these restrictions judiciously and precisely .
”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden’s scientific advisers will meet with vaccine makers in coming days as the presidential transition remains stalled because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to acknowledge that he lost the election. That delayed handoff is especially problematic during a public health crisis, the government’s top infectious disease expert said.
“Of course it would be better if we could start working with them,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who has been through multiple presidential transitions during 36 years of government service. He likened the process to runners passing on the baton in a relay race. “You don’t want to stop and then give it to somebody,” he said. “You want to just essentially keep going.”
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The president-elect’s outreach to the vaccine manufacturers comes as the coronavirus pandemic in the United States has entered perhaps its most dangerous phase. The seven-day rolling average for new daily cases stood at 145,400 on Saturday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. That means the U.S. is adding about 1 million new cases a week, and deaths averaged 820 a day as of Saturday, a 33% increase in just two weeks.
“We’re going to start those consultations this week,” said Biden’s chief of staff, Ron Klain, citing Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies.
Pfizer’s announcement that preliminary data indicate its vaccine is 90% effective lifted financial markets last week and gave people worldwide hope that an end to the pandemic will be coming.
Klain said Biden’s experts also need a detailed understanding of distribution plans being finalized by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Pentagon. In some ways, that’s the more critical issue, he said.
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“We need to be talking to them as quickly as possible,” Klain said. “It’s great to have a vaccine, but vaccines don’t save lives: vaccinations save lives. And that means you’ve got to get that vaccine into people’s arms all over this country. It’s a giant logistical project.”
Fauci stressed the arrival of vaccines won’t be like flipping a switch to return to normal life. The first doses will become available for people in high-risk groups later this year. He said Americans will have to keep up preventive measures such as wearing masks, observing social distancing and frequently washing their hands well into next year.
“Everyone is sensitive to what we call ‘COVID fatigue,’ “ Fauci said. “People are worn out about this. But we have got to hang in there a bit longer. ... We have got to hang together on this.”
Other vaccine makers are also in the final phase of testing their formulations, and Fauci said he expects those vaccines will also be highly effective.
The government has launched a program called “Operation Warp Speed,” backed by the White House, to quickly manufacture and distribute tens of millions of doses of vaccines. The shots will be free to Americans, and the goal is to have most people vaccinated by about this time next year. Many people will need two doses.
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Initial access to the vaccine will be limited to high-priority groups such as hospital and nursing home workers.
A top Trump administration health official said 20 million doses could be available by the end of this month, and an additional 20 million by the end of the year.
But Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant HHS secretary, seconded Fauci’s admonition that Americans must keep following basic public health precautions such as wearing masks.
“If we do these things combined with the testing that we have, we can flatten the curve,” he said. “If we do not do these things, the cases will continue to go up.” Giroir said the country is in a critical situation.
Pressed on whether the administration should be talking to the Biden team, Giroir responded: “Look, I want to be as transparent as possible with everybody. This is not a political issue. This is an issue of public health and saving American lives. And I think there’s nothing more important than that.”
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The risks are real. Around the country, hospitals report that doctors and nurses are being stretched to cope with rising numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients requiring special care. In some communities, hospitals have started limiting elective procedures in order to conserve resources.
A leading Biden adviser, former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, sought to tamp down speculation about a national lockdown, calling that a measure of last resort.
“In the spring, when we didn’t know a lot about COVID, we responded in a sense with an on/off switch,” Murthy said. “We shut things down because ... we didn’t know exactly how this was spreading and where it was spreading.
“We learned a lot more since then,” he added. “The better way to think about these safety restrictions is more a dial that we turn up and down defending on severity, and that’s really the key here, is applying this, these restrictions judiciously and precisely.”
Fauci was on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Klain appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Giroir spoke on ABC’s “This Week,” and Murthy was interviewed on “Fox News Sunday.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-15--Minnesota GOP State Senate Warns Only Republicans Of COVID-19 Outbreak

Observers were stunned this week when Minnesota GOP legislative officials urgently warned only Republicans about a serious COVID-19 outbreak in the state Senate .
No one said a word to Democratic politicians or staff who shared the same spaces .
The outbreak amid a number of GOP senators and staff appeared to be linked to a Republican senator who tested positive after attending a party caucus earlier this month .
Senate Republican chief of staff Craig Sondag alerted Republicans to the outbreak in a memo Tuesday , and instructed all GOP Senate staffers to work from home , The Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outrageous and completely unacceptable that Senate DFL members were not notified of the recent COVID-19 outbreak among Senate Republicans prior to Thursday ’ s floor session , ” Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent said in a statement .
“ This lack of transparency is a blatant disregard for the health and safety of others : our DFL and nonpartisan staff , members , and the communities we go home to.
” Gov .
Tim Walz ( D ) issued a statement Saturday saying that anyone who knows about a positive COVID-19 test has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others who may be at risk .
“ As elected officials , we must lead by example .
I simply do not understand why Senate Republicans chose only to share that there were positive cases in their caucus with members of their own party before Thursday ’ s floor session , ” he said .
COVID-19 doesn ’ t operate along party lines , and neither can we .
If we know of a positive case , we have a moral obligation to share that information with others so they can protect themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walz ( @ GovTimWalz ) November 14 , 2020 I do not understand why Senate Republicans chose to share positive cases only with members of their own party , putting staff and other senators at risk .
We must put aside our differences and look out for our neighbors .
At the end of the day , we ‘ re all Minnesotans .
— Governor Tim Walz ( @ GovTimWalz ) November 14 , 2020 A memo Saturday from Senate Republicans insisted that “ the only people in close , prolonged contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some GOP staff.
” The memo claimed that the COVID-19 outbreak secrecy was being “ misconstrued for political purposes .
”

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Observers were stunned this week when Minnesota GOP legislative officials urgently warned only Republicans about a serious COVID-19 outbreak in the state Senate. No one said a word to Democratic politicians or staff who shared the same spaces.
The outbreak amid a number of GOP senators and staff appeared to be linked to a Republican senator who tested positive after attending a party caucus earlier this month.
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Senate Republican chief of staff Craig Sondag alerted Republicans to the outbreak in a memo Tuesday, and instructed all GOP Senate staffers to work from home, The Star Tribune reported Saturday.
But there wasn’t a peep to state Senate Democrats (or as the party is known in Minnesota, Democratic-Farmer-Labor), who attended a special floor session Thursday amid the secret outbreak.
“It is outrageous and completely unacceptable that Senate DFL members were not notified of the recent COVID-19 outbreak among Senate Republicans prior to Thursday’s floor session,” Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent said in a statement. “This lack of transparency is a blatant disregard for the health and safety of others: our DFL and nonpartisan staff, members, and the communities we go home to.”
Gov. Tim Walz (D) issued a statement Saturday saying that anyone who knows about a positive COVID-19 test has a “moral obligation” to inform others who may be at risk.
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“As elected officials, we must lead by example. I simply do not understand why Senate Republicans chose only to share that there were positive cases in their caucus with members of their own party before Thursday’s floor session,” he said.
COVID-19 doesn’t operate along party lines, and neither can we. If we know of a positive case, we have a moral obligation to share that information with others so they can protect themselves and their families. — Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) November 14, 2020
I do not understand why Senate Republicans chose to share positive cases only with members of their own party, putting staff and other senators at risk. We must put aside our differences and look out for our neighbors. At the end of the day, we‘re all Minnesotans. — Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) November 14, 2020
A memo Saturday from Senate Republicans insisted that “the only people in close, prolonged contact with COVID-positive GOP senators were GOP senators and some GOP staff.”
But DFL members have since tested positive for COVID-19.
The memo claimed that the COVID-19 outbreak secrecy was being “misconstrued for political purposes.”
COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing to new records in the state.
MN Senate GOP sends memo outlining actions, timeline re covid cases: pic.twitter.com/pclJb5JAxi — Torey Van Oot (@toreyvanoot) November 14, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-14--COVID-19 Vaccine Czar Awaiting Trump OK To Reach Out To Biden To Save Lives

The head of the Trump administration ’ s COVID-19 vaccine project is awaiting President Donald Trump ’ s crucial approval to interact with President-elect Joe Biden ’ s health team for a smooth transition that could save “ thousands ” of lives .
Former pharmaceutical executive Moncef Slaoui , appointed by Trump to help boost the development of a vaccine and therapeutics in Operation Warp Speed , told The Financial Times that it ’ s crucial for the project to continue to operate smoothly or lives could be at risk .
Making contact with Biden ’ s team is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yet Slaoui said he can ’ t do that unless he gets approval from the White House .
“ It ’ s not for us to decide , ” he explained .
“ I hope nothing interferes ” with Operation Warp Speed , he told the newspaper .
“ It is a matter of life and death for thousands of people .
The operation has always been about making vaccines and therapeutics available faster for the country and for the world.
” Trump has refused to concede the election to Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Services Administration to recognize Biden ’ s victory .
That ’ s a requirement before an official administration transition can begin .
Pfizer announced last week that its promising vaccine could be ready before the end of the year — possibly for high-risk populations — and for distribution to the general public in 2021 .
The vaccine is a joint creation of Pfizer and German partner BioNTech .
Pfizer officials have emphasized that the vaccine development has never been part of Trump ’ s Operation Warp Speed , even though Trump falsely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
“ We were never part of the Warp Speed , ” Kathrin Jansen , a Pfizer senior vice president , told The New York Times last week .
“ We have never taken any money from the U.S. government , or from anyone.
” Pfizer signed an incentivizing agreement with the U.S. government in July worth $ 1.95 billion to supply 100 million doses if the vaccine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration .
Slaoui ’ s time as Trump ’ s “ vaccine czar , ” has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under harsh criticism for failing to divest his pharmaceutical stocks , creating a potential conflict of interest concerning rival companies ’ vaccine development .
He held stocks as recently as September , according to financial filings .

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The head of the Trump administration’s COVID-19 vaccine project is awaiting President Donald Trump’s crucial approval to interact with President-elect Joe Biden’s health team for a smooth transition that could save “thousands” of lives.
Former pharmaceutical executive Moncef Slaoui, appointed by Trump to help boost the development of a vaccine and therapeutics in Operation Warp Speed, told The Financial Times that it’s crucial for the project to continue to operate smoothly or lives could be at risk. Making contact with Biden’s team is an important part of that, he said.
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Yet Slaoui said he can’t do that unless he gets approval from the White House. “It’s not for us to decide,” he explained.
“I hope nothing interferes” with Operation Warp Speed, he told the newspaper. “It is a matter of life and death for thousands of people. The operation has always been about making vaccines and therapeutics available faster for the country and for the world.”
Trump has refused to concede the election to Biden. He also won’t allow the General Services Administration to recognize Biden’s victory. That’s a requirement before an official administration transition can begin.
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Pfizer announced last week that its promising vaccine could be ready before the end of the year — possibly for high-risk populations — and for distribution to the general public in 2021.
The vaccine is a joint creation of Pfizer and German partner BioNTech. Pfizer officials have emphasized that the vaccine development has never been part of Trump’s Operation Warp Speed, even though Trump falsely took credit for the vaccine in remarks Friday.
“We were never part of the Warp Speed,” Kathrin Jansen, a Pfizer senior vice president, told The New York Times last week. “We have never taken any money from the U.S. government, or from anyone.”
But the company could end up being a vaccine supplier in Operation Warp Speed.
Pfizer signed an incentivizing agreement with the U.S. government in July worth $1.95 billion to supply 100 million doses if the vaccine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Slaoui’s time as Trump’s “vaccine czar,” has not been without controversy. He has come under harsh criticism for failing to divest his pharmaceutical stocks, creating a potential conflict of interest concerning rival companies’ vaccine development. He held stocks as recently as September, according to financial filings.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-16--Lindsey Graham Denies Pressuring Georgia Official To Toss Legal Ballots

“ It sure looked like he was wanting to go down that road , ” he said .
After Graham ’ s response came out , he stood by his assertion on CNN .
“ The implication is ‘ Look hard and see how many ballots you can throw , ’ ” he said .
Since Trump lost his bid for reelection , Graham has been part of the GOP chorus questioning the integrity of the electoral process and expressing outrage at the media for calling the winner based on results released by the states , despite that being the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , for example , Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton conceded to Trump the day after the election , based on vote projections , even though final tallies were days or even weeks away in several states .
“ This is a contested election , ” Graham said on Fox News last week .
“ The media doesn ’ t decide who becomes president .
If they did , you would never have a Republican president forever .
So we ’ re discounting them.
” He added : “ If I were President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this to court .
I ’ d fight back .
... .
If we don ’ t fight back in 2020 , we ’ re never going to win again presidentially .
A lot ’ s at stake here .
”

“It sure looked like he was wanting to go down that road,” he said. After Graham’s response came out, he stood by his assertion on CNN.
“The implication is ‘Look hard and see how many ballots you can throw,’” he said.
Since Trump lost his bid for reelection, Graham has been part of the GOP chorus questioning the integrity of the electoral process and expressing outrage at the media for calling the winner based on results released by the states, despite that being the case in all modern elections. In 2016, for example, Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton conceded to Trump the day after the election, based on vote projections, even though final tallies were days or even weeks away in several states.
“This is a contested election,” Graham said on Fox News last week. “The media doesn’t decide who becomes president. If they did, you would never have a Republican president forever. So we’re discounting them.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-16--Here’s Joe Biden’s Message To Republicans Who Won’t Acknowledge He Won

President-elect Joe Biden doesn ’ t seem to mind that nearly every elected Republican official is refusing to acknowledge his historic victory in the 2020 presidential race over President Donald Trump , who has yet to concede .
Asked Monday what his message was to GOP officials who have not accepted his win , the former vice president said he understood their position and suggested he wouldn ’ t hold it against them when he takes office next year .
“ I will work with you .
I understand a lot of your reluctance because of the way the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news conference in Delaware after a meeting with top economic and labor leaders .
Biden said that it would be a “ shame ” if the party did not come to grips with reality until Jan. 20 , Inauguration Day , before conceding that “ maybe that ’ s the only way to get it done.
” Although a handful of GOP lawmakers have congratulated Biden on being elected president by a wide margin , many of their colleagues have yet to do so publicly out of fear of angering Trump and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate runoff elections in Georgia that could determine which party controls the upper chamber in January .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) , for example , did not answer questions about whether he believed Biden to be president-elect when asked by reporters on Monday , more than one week after Biden was projected to be the winner of the 2020 election based on official vote counts from all 50 states .
Other GOP officials have said Trump should be given an opportunity to challenge election results in court before declaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Trump campaign , however , are seen as frivolous .
All but one so far have been rejected in court .
Trump , meanwhile , tweeted several times over the weekend that he “ won the election , ” despite the fact that he lost .
On Monday , after spreading baseless conspiracy theories about supposed voter fraud , he fired a warning shot at Ohio ’ s Republican Gov .
Mike DeWine after he acknowledged Biden ’ s victory and called on Trump to begin the formal transition process before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter followers who would run in the “ hotly contested ” gubernatorial primary in Ohio , a state he won by nearly 10 percentage points in the Nov. 3 election .
During his news conference Monday , Biden complimented DeWine and a few other Republican governors for issuing mask mandates to fight the spread of the coronavirus in their states .
The Trump administration has resisted signing the paperwork that would give Biden access to millions of dollars in funds to run his transition team and has barred him from access to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The administration also hasn ’ t provided Biden ’ s transition team with its coronavirus vaccine distribution plan .
Experts fear the delayed handoff to Biden could slow the coronavirus vaccine rollout , especially since vaccine trials are advancing rapidly .
“ I find this more embarrassing for the country than debilitating for my ability to get started , ” he added of Trump ’ s refusal to concede and to begin cooperating on a transition .

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President-elect Joe Biden doesn’t seem to mind that nearly every elected Republican official is refusing to acknowledge his historic victory in the 2020 presidential race over President Donald Trump, who has yet to concede.
Asked Monday what his message was to GOP officials who have not accepted his win, the former vice president said he understood their position and suggested he wouldn’t hold it against them when he takes office next year.
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“I will work with you. I understand a lot of your reluctance because of the way the president operates,” Biden said at a news conference in Delaware after a meeting with top economic and labor leaders.
Biden said that it would be a “shame” if the party did not come to grips with reality until Jan. 20, Inauguration Day, before conceding that “maybe that’s the only way to get it done.”
Although a handful of GOP lawmakers have congratulated Biden on being elected president by a wide margin, many of their colleagues have yet to do so publicly out of fear of angering Trump and his supporters ahead of a crucial pair of Senate runoff elections in Georgia that could determine which party controls the upper chamber in January.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), for example, did not answer questions about whether he believed Biden to be president-elect when asked by reporters on Monday, more than one week after Biden was projected to be the winner of the 2020 election based on official vote counts from all 50 states.
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Other GOP officials have said Trump should be given an opportunity to challenge election results in court before declaring Biden the winner. The lawsuits initiated by the Trump campaign, however, are seen as frivolous. All but one so far have been rejected in court.
Trump, meanwhile, tweeted several times over the weekend that he “won the election,” despite the fact that he lost. On Monday, after spreading baseless conspiracy theories about supposed voter fraud, he fired a warning shot at Ohio’s Republican Gov. Mike DeWine after he acknowledged Biden’s victory and called on Trump to begin the formal transition process before Biden takes office.
“It’s clear ... that Joe Biden is the president-elect and that ... it’s important for a normal transition to start,” DeWine said on CNN.
Trump asked his Twitter followers who would run in the “hotly contested” gubernatorial primary in Ohio, a state he won by nearly 10 percentage points in the Nov. 3 election.
Who will be running for Governor of the Great State of Ohio? Will be hotly contested! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2020
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During his news conference Monday, Biden complimented DeWine and a few other Republican governors for issuing mask mandates to fight the spread of the coronavirus in their states.
The Trump administration has resisted signing the paperwork that would give Biden access to millions of dollars in funds to run his transition team and has barred him from access to the daily classified briefings the president receives. The administration also hasn’t provided Biden’s transition team with its coronavirus vaccine distribution plan. Experts fear the delayed handoff to Biden could slow the coronavirus vaccine rollout, especially since vaccine trials are advancing rapidly.
“The sooner that we have access to the administration’s distribution plan, the sooner this transition would be smoothly moved forward,” Biden said Monday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-16--Eric Trump Can't Accept That Rally Attendance And Votes Are Different

Eric Trump is having a hard time understanding that his dad lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden .
He also is having difficulty recognizing that attendance at President Donald Trump ’ s campaign rallies doesn ’ t equate to votes in the election .
The president ’ s second-oldest son on Monday falsely declared the election “ was rigged from the beginning ” because Biden didn ’ t hold rallies during the coronavirus pandemic like the president did .
Biden couldn ’ t get 10 people to a rally & went days without leaving his house .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , nearly doubled African American support - this was every stop , multiple times a day .
This election was rigged from the beginning .
pic.twitter.com/iM3tcSIMmf — Eric Trump ( @ EricTrump ) November 16 , 2020 Eric Trump has tried to make a similar case before , like when he argued boat parades of Trump supporters were a better sign of voter preference than , you know , scientific polls and stuff like that .
Granted , the polls underestimated the president ’ s support , like they did in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s campaign rallies and boat parades overestimate his appeal .
Many Twitter users attempted to help the presidential son understand how it works .
Of all eligible voters , almost 70 % voted .
This represents the highest percentage ( & , of course , raw number ) since 1900 .
Of course @ realDonaldTrump garnered more votes than he did in 2016 .
That ’ s math .
— Michelle ( @ Michell67804140 ) November 16 , 2020 Others reminded him that Biden didn ’ t hold rallies like his dad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the pandemic .
Still others on Twitter used examples to point out the frailty of Trump ’ s argument .
Some subtly suggested that the president ’ s son may not be an intellectual giant .
Eric Trump is so dumb that : When he counts to eleven , he unzips Don Jr .
He thinks Covid-19 is hair product .
When he hears Libs are coming for his guns , he puts on long sleeves .
He thought his kid brother was named Barron because Melania was .
— Eric Winer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 One person didn ’ t understand why the Trumps just can ’ t handle the truth .
I really want to understand why you just can ’ t comprehend that five million people thought Biden was better than your dad .
Ps .
We don ’ t like him .
Or you .
— ReShonda Tate Billingsley ( @ ReShondaT ) November 16 , 2020

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The president’s second-oldest son on Monday falsely declared the election “was rigged from the beginning” because Biden didn’t hold rallies during the coronavirus pandemic like the president did.
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Biden couldn’t get 10 people to a rally & went days without leaving his house. @realDonaldTrump received 11 million more votes than 2016, nearly doubled African American support - this was every stop, multiple times a day. This election was rigged from the beginning. pic.twitter.com/iM3tcSIMmf — Eric Trump (@EricTrump) November 16, 2020
Eric Trump has tried to make a similar case before, like when he argued boat parades of Trump supporters were a better sign of voter preference than, you know, scientific polls and stuff like that.
Granted, the polls underestimated the president’s support, like they did in the 2016 election. But attendance at Trump’s campaign rallies and boat parades overestimate his appeal.
Many Twitter users attempted to help the presidential son understand how it works.
Of all eligible voters, almost 70% voted. This represents the highest percentage (&, of course, raw number) since 1900. Of course @realDonaldTrump garnered more votes than he did in 2016. That’s math. — Michelle (@Michell67804140) November 16, 2020
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Biden got 79 million votes
People with a life don't need to go to cult rallies — Rick Newman (@rickjnewman) November 16, 2020
Others reminded him that Biden didn’t hold rallies like his dad did because, duh, it’s the pandemic.
That was a strategic move....to display covid caution.... it was actually a smart move. — 💀TeamDokken💀 (@TeamDokken) November 16, 2020
250,000 missing votes ... on Daddy’s watch pic.twitter.com/L4G7sW8eFz — Lisa Walton -Philly Girl🦅🏈 #Equality🇺🇸🏳🌈 (@lisawaltonlcsw) November 16, 2020
Still others on Twitter used examples to point out the frailty of Trump’s argument.
Using your logic then Freddy Mercury should be President pic.twitter.com/tS8GgPFEfS — Rick Ingram 🧢 (@MrRickIngram) November 16, 2020
Some subtly suggested that the president’s son may not be an intellectual giant.
Eric Trump is so dumb that:
When he counts to eleven, he unzips Don Jr.
He thinks Covid-19 is hair product.
When he hears Libs are coming for his guns, he puts on long sleeves.
He thought his kid brother was named Barron because Melania was. — Eric Winer (@TheWeeklyWiner) November 16, 2020
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One person didn’t understand why the Trumps just can’t handle the truth.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-16--Trump Will Have To Pay $7.9 Million If He Really Wants Wisconsin Recount

MADISON , Wis. ( AP ) — President Donald Trump will have to pay $ 7.9 million if he wants a statewide recount of unofficial results in Wisconsin showing him losing to Democrat Joe Biden by about 20,500 votes .
That is four times higher than what the recount cost four years ago , a cost increase that elections officials said was driven by expenses related to conducting a recount during the coronavirus pandemic .
Counties had until Tuesday to certify the election results .
Assuming the last county canvass isn ’ t filed until Tuesday as expected , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday to request the recount .
The recount could begin as soon as Thursday and be done no later than Dec. 1 .
“ We still have not received any indication that there will or will not be a recount , ” said Meagan Wolfe , the state 's chief election official .
“ But we want Wisconsin ’ s voters to know we are ready.
” Trump has made unfounded claims of voting irregularities and fraud , even though Wisconsin elections officials have said there were no irregularities or widespread problems reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed a federal lawsuit last week seeking to exclude some ballots in Milwaukee , Dane and Menominee counties withdraw their lawsuit .
Attorney James Bopp said he could not say why because of attorney-client privilege .
The voters had alleged widespread fraud in absentee balloting .
Trump has been raising money off the expected recount and has indicated that he will move ahead with it , even though Wisconsin ’ s 10 electoral votes would not be enough to change the outcome of the race .
Recounts are not automatic under Wisconsin law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within 1 point of the winner can request one .
Trump lost by about six-tenths of a point , based on unofficial results .
Candidates must pay for recounts if they are more than 0.25 points behind the winner .
As of midday Monday , 68 of 72 counties had completed certification of the vote .
Those results , which include provisional ballots that were counted after Election Day , show that Biden picked up 122 votes and Trump gained 107 statewide so far .
The net gain was 15 for Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cost if the estimate is too high .
He could also decide to pursue a recount only in some counties , which would also reduce costs .
Wolfe said the higher cost this year was due to factors caused by the pandemic that were n't an issue then , such as needing larger spaces to permit public observation and social distancing , security for those spaces , the higher number of absentee ballots , a compressed timeframe over the Thanksgiving holiday , and renting high-speed ballot scanning equipment .
Dane County Clerk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 740,000 and take place at the Monona Terrace convention center , located just down the street from the city-county building .
Renting that space , which allows for more distancing between workers , cost $ 88,500 , McDonell said .
Milwaukee County had the highest estimated cost at just over $ 2 million .
Of that , $ 649,600 was for space rental to do that recount .

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — President Donald Trump will have to pay $7.9 million if he wants a statewide recount of unofficial results in Wisconsin showing him losing to Democrat Joe Biden by about 20,500 votes.
That is four times higher than what the recount cost four years ago, a cost increase that elections officials said was driven by expenses related to conducting a recount during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Counties had until Tuesday to certify the election results. Assuming the last county canvass isn’t filed until Tuesday as expected, Trump would then have until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to request the recount. The recount could begin as soon as Thursday and be done no later than Dec. 1.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission on Monday released the recount timeline and cost estimate, which was based on costs submitted by the 72 counties.
“We still have not received any indication that there will or will not be a recount,” said Meagan Wolfe, the state's chief election official. “But we want Wisconsin’s voters to know we are ready.”
Trump has made unfounded claims of voting irregularities and fraud, even though Wisconsin elections officials have said there were no irregularities or widespread problems reported. Separately Monday, three voters who filed a federal lawsuit last week seeking to exclude some ballots in Milwaukee, Dane and Menominee counties withdraw their lawsuit. Attorney James Bopp said he could not say why because of attorney-client privilege. The voters had alleged widespread fraud in absentee balloting.
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Trump has been raising money off the expected recount and has indicated that he will move ahead with it, even though Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes would not be enough to change the outcome of the race.
Trump’s Wisconsin campaign spokeswoman Anna Kelly did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the estimated cost.
Recounts are not automatic under Wisconsin law. But any losing candidate who is within 1 point of the winner can request one. Trump lost by about six-tenths of a point, based on unofficial results. Candidates must pay for recounts if they are more than 0.25 points behind the winner.
As of midday Monday, 68 of 72 counties had completed certification of the vote. Those results, which include provisional ballots that were counted after Election Day, show that Biden picked up 122 votes and Trump gained 107 statewide so far. The net gain was 15 for Biden.
In 2016, Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein paid $3.5 million in advance for the recount. It ended up costing $2 million, and she was refunded $1.5 million.
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Trump could also be refunded some of the cost if the estimate is too high. He could also decide to pursue a recount only in some counties, which would also reduce costs.
Wolfe said the higher cost this year was due to factors caused by the pandemic that weren't an issue then, such as needing larger spaces to permit public observation and social distancing, security for those spaces, the higher number of absentee ballots, a compressed timeframe over the Thanksgiving holiday, and renting high-speed ballot scanning equipment.
Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell said the recount would cost $740,000 and take place at the Monona Terrace convention center, located just down the street from the city-county building. Renting that space, which allows for more distancing between workers, cost $88,500, McDonell said.
Milwaukee County had the highest estimated cost at just over $2 million. Of that, $649,600 was for space rental to do that recount.
The state elections commission, which is also allowed to charge for recount costs, estimated its expenses at $30,000.
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