thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-10--Coronavirus Outbreak Isn’t Stopping Biden, Sanders From Shaking Hands

ASSOCIATED PRESS Some supporters wore face masks as they attended a campaign rally for Democratic presidential contender Sen. Bernie Sanders in Los Angeles on March 1 .
Former Vice President Joe Biden is known for his hugs , or bringing his head close with a supporter and sharing a private moment .
Or shaking hands — a lot of hands .
After Biden touched a lot of hands in Los Angeles last week , Los Angeles Times reporter Matt Pearce spotted him touching his face .
But that may all be changing .
As the U.S. struggles to contain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been told to be careful about touching their faces and shaking hands , and to practice social distancing .
Until now , the two leading Democratic presidential candidates , Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) and Biden ― both men in their late 70s , a population at higher risk of experiencing deadly symptoms — haven ’ t appeared to personally take precautions on the campaign trail .
“ I am running for president of the United States and that requires a whole lot of work , ” Sanders told NBC News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sanders , again pressed on what he personally is doing to avoid the virus , acknowledged that “ every American has to think about it.
” “ It ’ s awfully hard , ” he said .
“ I , you know , went down , waved to people , went through , touched arms , fist-bumped , that kind of thing .
And I think you ’ re going to see more of that on the part of everyone , and they ’ re going to be guided by the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big indoor rallies , those kinds of things .
That ’ s all in motion right now.
” More than 760 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the U.S. , as well as more than two dozen deaths , as of Tuesday afternoon .
The two Democratic campaigns are taking precautions for their supporters .
Sanders ’ team said they have been in contact with local officials to ensure their rallies don ’ t put people at risk , and offered hand sanitizer at events during the candidate ’ s weekend Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ squirting hand sanitizer upon entry for all rally attendees in Detroit .
But even as companies are calling for workers to stay home to slow the spread of the virus , campaign events remain in full swing — until the Centers for Disease Control recommends they stop , the campaigns have said .
( On Tuesday , Sanders ’ campaign announced it was canceling a rally in Cleveland that evening after state officials expressed concern about holding large indoor events during the novel coronavirus outbreak .
This is the first campaign event of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in light of the outbreak . )
The coming weeks will be crucial for Sanders , who is behind in the delegate count , if he wants to stay in contention .
That means a lot more campaign events , a lot more rallies .
And photos of campaign events show the candidates aren ’ t distancing themselves from supporters .
Sanders has made the illness a political message .
On Monday , his campaign held a roundtable event on the novel coronavirus with doctors and nurses who have supported his campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare for All ” system that would move every American to a single , government-run health insurance program .
He ’ s also called for any forthcoming vaccine for the illness to be free of cost , and reiterated his push for universal paid sick leave .
The roundtable panelists made the case for making health care free at the point of service , to encourage more people to get the care they need and not spread the illness more .

Some supporters wore face masks as they attended a campaign rally for Democratic presidential contender Sen. Bernie Sanders in Los Angeles on March 1. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former Vice President Joe Biden is known for his hugs, or bringing his head close with a supporter and sharing a private moment. Or shaking hands — a lot of hands. After Biden touched a lot of hands in Los Angeles last week, Los Angeles Times reporter Matt Pearce spotted him touching his face. But that may all be changing.
As the U.S. struggles to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19, Americans have been told to be careful about touching their faces and shaking hands, and to practice social distancing. Until now, the two leading Democratic presidential candidates, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Biden ― both men in their late 70s, a population at higher risk of experiencing deadly symptoms — haven’t appeared to personally take precautions on the campaign trail.
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Asked this week what he’s doing to protect himself and stay healthy, Sanders, 78, initially laughed off the question.
“I am running for president of the United States and that requires a whole lot of work,” Sanders told NBC News. But in another interview with CNN, Sanders, again pressed on what he personally is doing to avoid the virus, acknowledged that “every American has to think about it.”
The coronavirus outbreak notwithstanding, Sanders shook hands with a supporter after a campaign rally in Dearborn, Michigan, on Saturday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Biden, 77, told MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell that he wasn’t going to do the rope lines like he is used to, but is still shaking hands.
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“It’s awfully hard,” he said. “I, you know, went down, waved to people, went through, touched arms, fist-bumped, that kind of thing. And I think you’re going to see more of that on the part of everyone, and they’re going to be guided by the issue of whether or not we should have big indoor rallies, those kinds of things. That’s all in motion right now.”
At an event Tuesday, however, Biden was in the middle of a crowd at an auto plant in Detroit, as he sought votes in Michigan’s primary.
WATCH: "You’re full of sh*t," @JoeBiden tells a man who accused him of "actively trying to end our Second Amendment right."
"I support the Second Amendment," Biden adds while vising under-construction auto plant in Detroit. @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/sueOSBaY9P — Bo Erickson CBS (@BoKnowsNews) March 10, 2020
More than 760 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the U.S., as well as more than two dozen deaths, as of Tuesday afternoon.
The two Democratic campaigns are taking precautions for their supporters. Sanders’ team said they have been in contact with local officials to ensure their rallies don’t put people at risk, and offered hand sanitizer at events during the candidate’s weekend Michigan swing. Biden’s campaign was squirting hand sanitizer upon entry for all rally attendees in Detroit.
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People attending a campaign rally for former Vice President #Joe #Biden in Detroit were offered hand sanitizer upon entry as the country grapples with the #coronavirus outbreak.https://t.co/2H58T2dhNC pic.twitter.com/QqFWOVeFK8 — 2CNY NEWS (@2cnyN) March 10, 2020
But even as companies are calling for workers to stay home to slow the spread of the virus, campaign events remain in full swing — until the Centers for Disease Control recommends they stop, the campaigns have said. (On Tuesday, Sanders’ campaign announced it was canceling a rally in Cleveland that evening after state officials expressed concern about holding large indoor events during the novel coronavirus outbreak. This is the first campaign event of the 2020 presidential cycle to be canceled in light of the outbreak.)
The coming weeks will be crucial for Sanders, who is behind in the delegate count, if he wants to stay in contention. That means a lot more campaign events, a lot more rallies. And photos of campaign events show the candidates aren’t distancing themselves from supporters.
Former Vice President Joe Biden worked the rope line at a rally Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sanders didn't hesitate to greet supporters as he left the stage after a recent speech in St. Louis. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Sanders got a hug as he worked the crowd after a campaign rally in Chicago's Grant Park on Saturday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sanders has made the illness a political message. On Monday, his campaign held a roundtable event on the novel coronavirus with doctors and nurses who have supported his campaign. It amplified his calls for a “Medicare for All” system that would move every American to a single, government-run health insurance program. He’s also called for any forthcoming vaccine for the illness to be free of cost, and reiterated his push for universal paid sick leave.
The roundtable panelists made the case for making health care free at the point of service, to encourage more people to get the care they need and not spread the illness more.
Sanders said the novel coronavirus outbreak shows “how far we are behind in some of the basic needs compared to other major countries.”
Biden and Sanders have also attacked President Donald Trump over his handling of the outbreak.
Biden told MSNBC that he wished Trump “would just be quiet” on the issue.
“Just let the experts speak and acknowledge whatever they suggest to him is what we should be doing,” Biden said.
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Already, events that draw big crowds, like the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, have been canceled because of the virus. The campaigns did not comment on what precautions Biden and Sanders’ teams were taking.
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the risks of the virus’ spread in the U.S. He also has maintained a steady schedule of his own rallies, calling them “safe” when asked about it.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-09--Donald Trump Jr. Challenges Hunter Biden To A Debate On Who Has 'Grifted' More

Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden have each been accused of making fortunes off the names of their fathers , and determining who is the biggest beneficiary may strike many as a challenge .
Trump Jr. , though , has proposed a way to pin down which politician ’ s son has benefited most from his bloodline : a debate .
The eldest son of President Donald Trump told Axios on HBO that going after the younger Biden ’ s business career in Ukraine will be a “ big part ” of the Trump campaign reelection strategy should former Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Democratic opponent .
“ I ’ m not going to say I haven ’ t benefited from my father ’ s last name , just like Hunter Biden did .
I ’ d be foolish to say that , ” he said .
It was a rare admission by him ; as Trump Jr. has repeatedly accused the younger Biden of benefiting from nepotism , so too has he repeatedly been dragged on Twitter for not acknowledging his own privilege as he did to Axios .
But in his comments to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ an international businessperson before my father got into politics ” and insisted , “ I haven ’ t benefited from my father ’ s taxpayer-funded office , OK ?
” He also claimed his family “ stopped doing any new international business deals when my father won the presidency.
” Trump Jr. ’ s comment about not benefiting from his father ’ s current job is dubious , at best , as a New York Times story detailed in October .
But the 42-year-old wants to face off with the 50-year-old Hunter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on !
Let ’ s do it .
No , no , seriously , ” he said .
“ We can go full transparency .
We show everything , and we can talk about all of the places where I ’ m supposedly grifting but Hunter Biden isn ’ t .
I would love to do it.
” Trump Jr. even said he ’ d release his tax returns ― which his father notoriously has failed to do ― if Biden agreed to debate him .
“ If we do it both , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Let ’ s talk about who profited off of whose public service .
Happy to do it .
Let ’ s make it happen.
” The chances of the debate happening are , of course , slim-to-none .
And the press secretary for Joe Biden ’ s White House campaign , TJ Ducklo , took a shot at the Trumps over the tax return issue .
“ It is hard to believe anything a Trump says on tax returns when Donald Sr. has lied for years about releasing his , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conceded his lucrative post on the company ’ s board that began when his father was vice president showed “ poor judgment ” but was not “ improper.
” Joe Biden has consistently said his son ’ s position played no role in influencing U.S. policy toward Ukraine , and no evidence has surfaced to dispute that .
With the elder Biden again becoming the clear front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination , Trump allies in the Senate have rekindled an investigation into the younger Biden ’ s connection to Burisma .
Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week the probe appears to be politically motivated .

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Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden have each been accused of making fortunes off the names of their fathers, and determining who is the biggest beneficiary may strike many as a challenge.
Trump Jr., though, has proposed a way to pin down which politician’s son has benefited most from his bloodline: a debate.
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The eldest son of President Donald Trump told Axios on HBO that going after the younger Biden’s business career in Ukraine will be a “big part” of the Trump campaign reelection strategy should former Vice President Joe Biden emerge as his father’s Democratic opponent.
Trump Jr. was willing to admit profiting from his own name.
“I’m not going to say I haven’t benefited from my father’s last name, just like Hunter Biden did. I’d be foolish to say that,” he said. It was a rare admission by him; as Trump Jr. has repeatedly accused the younger Biden of benefiting from nepotism, so too has he repeatedly been dragged on Twitter for not acknowledging his own privilege as he did to Axios.
But in his comments to the news outlet, he declared himself “an international businessperson before my father got into politics” and insisted, “I haven’t benefited from my father’s taxpayer-funded office, OK?” He also claimed his family “stopped doing any new international business deals when my father won the presidency.”
Trump Jr.’s comment about not benefiting from his father’s current job is dubious, at best, as a New York Times story detailed in October. But the 42-year-old wants to face off with the 50-year-old Hunter Biden over the matter.
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“Come on! Let’s do it. No, no, seriously,” he said. “We can go full transparency. We show everything, and we can talk about all of the places where I’m supposedly grifting but Hunter Biden isn’t. I would love to do it.”
Trump Jr. even said he’d release his tax returns ― which his father notoriously has failed to do ― if Biden agreed to debate him.
“If we do it both, 100%,” Don Jr. said. “Let’s talk about who profited off of whose public service. Happy to do it. Let’s make it happen.”
The chances of the debate happening are, of course, slim-to-none. And the press secretary for Joe Biden’s White House campaign, TJ Ducklo, took a shot at the Trumps over the tax return issue.
“It is hard to believe anything a Trump says on tax returns when Donald Sr. has lied for years about releasing his,” he told Axios.com.
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You can see Trump Jr.’s interview here:
The president’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani has accused Hunter Biden of illegal actions linked to the Ukrainian gas company Burisma without offering any details, substantiation or evidence.
Hunter Biden has conceded his lucrative post on the company’s board that began when his father was vice president showed “poor judgment” but was not “improper.” Joe Biden has consistently said his son’s position played no role in influencing U.S. policy toward Ukraine, and no evidence has surfaced to dispute that.
With the elder Biden again becoming the clear front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, Trump allies in the Senate have rekindled an investigation into the younger Biden’s connection to Burisma. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) admitted last week the probe appears to be politically motivated.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-10--Vatican Closes St. Peter's Basilica To Tourists Over Coronavirus Fears

Only those who would like to enter the basilica to pray will be allowed in , Reuters reported .
On Tuesday , Italian police were closely monitoring people entering the square , Catholic News Service reported , only permitting people who had documents proving they had to enter for work reasons or for other exceptions allowed under the Italian government ’ s recent decrees .
People stand behind barriers on Tuesday after the Vatican 's Saint Peter 's Square and its main basilica were closed to tourists as part of control measures against the spread of COVID-19 .
On Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tradition by live-streaming his Angelus address from the library in the Apostolic Palace .
The pope and his predecessors have given Sunday blessings from a window overlooking St. Peter ’ s Square since 1954 .
The Vatican ’ s closure of St. Peter ’ s Basilica comes days after Italy announced sweeping nationwide restrictions on travel to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , the illness that results from the coronavirus that first appeared in Wuhan , China , in late 2019 .
Italians now need special permission to move around the country for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schools and universities are closed , sports and outside events are prohibited , and bars are required to institute a 6 p.m. curfew .
The restrictions have also deeply affected religious life in the majority-Catholic country .
Church baptisms , marriages and funerals are temporarily banned .
People are still allowed to enter churches to pray , but they must be seated at least a pew away from fellow parishioners , The New York Times reports .
More than 9,000 people have been infected by the virus in Italy , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died from the disease , more than in any other country except China .
Last week , the Vatican confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus .
Arcangeli said the person was not an employee or resident of Vatican City State , but a job applicant who had passed through the Vatican ’ s health and hygiene clinic to undergo medical examinations .
St. Peter ’ s Basilica isn ’ t the only religious site to close its doors to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
Saudi Arabia has temporarily banned citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holy city of Mecca , which typically draws millions of pilgrims every year .
The bathrooms and showers that Francis built at the Vatican for the homeless will also remain available for use , but officials are only allowing one person in at a time , CNS reported .
Francis has taken the unusual step of live-streaming his daily morning Masses from Casa Santa Marta , the guest house where he lives , “ to be closer to those who are ill , in quarantine or , for whatever reason , unable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
In a letter published in Padua ’ s Il Mattino newspaper on Monday , Francis said he is praying for medical personnel , as well as for the sick , elderly , imprisoned and those who have lost a loved one , Vatican News reports .
The pope wrote that “ this dangerous situation ” is “ an opportunity to see what men and women of good will are capable of .
”

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St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City ― a major pilgrimage site for the globe’s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics ― is temporarily turning away tourists to combat the spread of the new strain of coronavirus.
The world-famous basilica and its adjacent square will be closed to tourists and guided tour groups until at least April 3, the Vatican’s official news service reported Tuesday.
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Only those who would like to enter the basilica to pray will be allowed in, Reuters reported. On Tuesday, Italian police were closely monitoring people entering the square, Catholic News Service reported, only permitting people who had documents proving they had to enter for work reasons or for other exceptions allowed under the Italian government’s recent decrees.
As of now, the restrictions are set to be lifted mere days before Holy Week, which starts this year with Palm Sunday on April 5.
The changes mean that the pope’s biweekly public appearances at the basilica, which generally draw thousands of Catholics and tourists, won’t be taking place as usual.
People stand behind barriers on Tuesday after the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square and its main basilica were closed to tourists as part of control measures against the spread of COVID-19. Elisabetta A. Villa via Getty Images
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On Sunday, Pope Francis broke with decades of tradition by live-streaming his Angelus address from the library in the Apostolic Palace. The pope and his predecessors have given Sunday blessings from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square since 1954.
And instead of his typical Wednesday general audience, Francis will broadcast a sermon online, CNS reports.
Andrea Arcangeli, a health official for the Vatican City State, said the pope’s public appearances are being canceled to avoid the crowding and close contact that occurs during police security checks.
“The Holy Father’s message will reach us using the means that technology makes available to us,” Arcangeli said.
The Vatican’s closure of St. Peter’s Basilica comes days after Italy announced sweeping nationwide restrictions on travel to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the illness that results from the coronavirus that first appeared in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Italians now need special permission to move around the country for work, health or extenuating circumstances. Schools and universities are closed, sports and outside events are prohibited, and bars are required to institute a 6 p.m. curfew.
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The restrictions have also deeply affected religious life in the majority-Catholic country. Church baptisms, marriages and funerals are temporarily banned. People are still allowed to enter churches to pray, but they must be seated at least a pew away from fellow parishioners, The New York Times reports.
More than 9,000 people have been infected by the virus in Italy, according to the Times. Over 450 people there have died from the disease, more than in any other country except China.
A banner informs tourists on Monday that the Vatican Museum is closed. Franco Origlia via Getty Images
Last week, the Vatican confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus. Arcangeli said the person was not an employee or resident of Vatican City State, but a job applicant who had passed through the Vatican’s health and hygiene clinic to undergo medical examinations.
St. Peter’s Basilica isn’t the only religious site to close its doors to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Saudi Arabia has temporarily banned citizens, residents and foreigners from visiting the holy city of Mecca, which typically draws millions of pilgrims every year.
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In Iran, a country with a high death toll from COVID-19, authorities have halted Friday prayers in provincial capitals.
The Vatican shuttered its museums, including the Sistine Chapel, and necropolis on Sunday. Church-owned catacombs were closed last month.
The Vatican’s pharmacy and supermarket will remain open, but entry will be restricted to prevent crowds from forming, Vatican News reported.
The bathrooms and showers that Francis built at the Vatican for the homeless will also remain available for use, but officials are only allowing one person in at a time, CNS reported.
Pope Francis leads Mass via a video livestream in a chapel full of empty seats as part of measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, at the St. Martha House in the Vatican, March 10, 2020. Vatican Media / Reuters
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Francis has taken the unusual step of live-streaming his daily morning Masses from Casa Santa Marta, the guest house where he lives, “to be closer to those who are ill, in quarantine or, for whatever reason, unable to leave their homes,” Vatican News reported.
In a letter published in Padua’s Il Mattino newspaper on Monday, Francis said he is praying for medical personnel, as well as for the sick, elderly, imprisoned and those who have lost a loved one, Vatican News reports. The pope wrote that “this dangerous situation” is “an opportunity to see what men and women of good will are capable of.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-12--Mike Pence Criticizes 'Irresponsible Rhetoric' On Coronavirus, While Making False Claims

Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday sought to clear up confusion and send Americans a unified message on the coronavirus pandemic by praising President Donald Trump ’ s response and vaguely criticizing “ some irresponsible rhetoric.
” In a series of morning television interviews , he made false claims and dodged key questions about the spread of COVID-19 and the federal government ’ s handling of the pandemic .
He did not acknowledge that the president , his administration and his GOP allies have themselves been responsible for some of the incorrect information about the virus .
“ Obviously , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the American people should know that President Trump has no higher priority than the health and safety and well-being of the people of this country , ” Pence told NBC ’ s “ Today ” show host Savannah Guthrie .
When Guthrie asked Pence to set the record straight on some key facts about the pandemic , the vice president repeatedly touted Trump ’ s “ unprecedented ” announcement that he was banning travel from Europe — while being unable to provide clear answers on how many Americans could contract COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s testing for the virus , which has repeatedly faced delays .
`` What do your experts tell you the number of infected Americans is likely to be ?
I 'm looking for a number if you have it . ''
- @ savannahguthrie asks about the coronavirus '' There will be thousands of more cases of coronavirus . ''
- @ Mike_Pence '' Thousands or millions ? ''
-Guthrie pic.twitter.com/G3TV2Hwnw6 — TODAY ( @ TODAYshow ) March 12 , 2020 The travel ban announcement itself sowed confusion , with administration officials having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s primetime Oval Office address on Wednesday , such as specifying the ban only applied to “ foreign nationals ” coming to the U.S. from Europe , not U.S. citizens and permanent residents .
But on CNN Thursday morning , Pence claimed there was no confusion and praised the “ historic ” action .
“ I don ’ t think there was confusion , ” VP Pence says about clarifications issued after Trump announced he was sharply restricting travel to the US .
“ …Suspending all travel for 30 days from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The other part is an aggressive mitigation strategy.
” pic.twitter.com/O9sYcxOaSf — New Day ( @ NewDay ) March 12 , 2020 Meanwhile , Trump has repeatedly contradicted guidance from medical experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , including falsely claiming a coronavirus vaccine could be developed within months and downplaying the pandemic by suggesting it would disappear by the spring .
Trump and his allies have also promoted racism and xenophobia .
In his Oval Office address , Trump referred to COVID-19 as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-Calif. ) , have called it the “ Wuhan virus ” or the “ Chinese coronavirus , ” even though it has now spread worldwide and is not tied to race or ethnicity .
They have also attacked people calling them racist , claiming it ’ s an overreaction .

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Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday sought to clear up confusion and send Americans a unified message on the coronavirus pandemic by praising President Donald Trump’s response and vaguely criticizing “some irresponsible rhetoric.”
In a series of morning television interviews, he made false claims and dodged key questions about the spread of COVID-19 and the federal government’s handling of the pandemic. He did not acknowledge that the president, his administration and his GOP allies have themselves been responsible for some of the incorrect information about the virus.
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“Obviously, there’s been some irresponsible rhetoric, but the American people should know that President Trump has no higher priority than the health and safety and well-being of the people of this country,” Pence told NBC’s “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie.
When Guthrie asked Pence to set the record straight on some key facts about the pandemic, the vice president repeatedly touted Trump’s “unprecedented” announcement that he was banning travel from Europe — while being unable to provide clear answers on how many Americans could contract COVID-19 or the status of the government’s testing for the virus, which has repeatedly faced delays.
"What do your experts tell you the number of infected Americans is likely to be? I'm looking for a number if you have it." -@savannahguthrie asks about the coronavirus
"There will be thousands of more cases of coronavirus." -@Mike_Pence
"Thousands or millions?" -Guthrie pic.twitter.com/G3TV2Hwnw6 — TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 12, 2020
The travel ban announcement itself sowed confusion, with administration officials having to clarify aspects of the ban after Trump’s primetime Oval Office address on Wednesday, such as specifying the ban only applied to “foreign nationals” coming to the U.S. from Europe, not U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
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But on CNN Thursday morning, Pence claimed there was no confusion and praised the “historic” action.
“I don’t think there was confusion,” VP Pence says about clarifications issued after Trump announced he was sharply restricting travel to the US.
“…Suspending all travel for 30 days from Europe is a part of the strategy. The other part is an aggressive mitigation strategy.” pic.twitter.com/O9sYcxOaSf — New Day (@NewDay) March 12, 2020
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly contradicted guidance from medical experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including falsely claiming a coronavirus vaccine could be developed within months and downplaying the pandemic by suggesting it would disappear by the spring.
Trump and his allies have also promoted racism and xenophobia. In his Oval Office address, Trump referred to COVID-19 as a “foreign virus.” Other GOP lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), have called it the “Wuhan virus” or the “Chinese coronavirus,” even though it has now spread worldwide and is not tied to race or ethnicity. They have also attacked people calling them racist, claiming it’s an overreaction.
Trump’s favorite news network, Fox News, and other right-wing media outlets have also spread misinformation about the pandemic.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-12--Joe Biden Is Switching Campaign Managers

MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden walks off the stage after speaking during a campaign stop at Driving Park Community Center in Columbus , Ohio , on Tuesday .
Biden announced a new campaign manager on Thursday .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , whose delegate and polling leads make him all-but-certain to be the Democratic Party ’ s nominee to battle President Donald Trump even as his campaign has come under fire for its lack of organization , is switching campaign managers .
Jennifer O ’ Malley Dillon , a veteran Democratic operative who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama ’ s 2012 reelection campaign and led former Texas Rep. Beto O ’ Rourke ’ s 2020 presidential campaign , is the campaign ’ s new top official .
She replaces Greg Schultz , a Biden loyalist who served as the vice president ’ s top political adviser during Obama ’ s second term .
The change was first reported by The New York Times .
“ Like so many other Democrats who are unifying behind Joe Biden ’ s character and leadership , I ’ m excited to join the team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Malley Dillon said in a statement announcing the change .
“ Vice President Biden is turning out voters at record levels and building the broad coalition we need to ensure Donald Trump doesn ’ t get a second term .
It ’ s an honor to help make him the 46th President and I ’ m ready to get to work.
” Schultz will now work on “ organizational planning for the general election and continuing to bolster the campaign ’ s external outreach , ” Biden ’ s campaign said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his leadership and hard work to help get our campaign where it is today , and I will value his continued input on this campaign , ” Biden said in a statement .
“ I am also thrilled that Jen is bringing her considerable talent and insight to this team .
She will be a tremendous asset to a campaign that is only growing and getting stronger as we prepare to take the fight to Donald Trump this fall .
”

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Former Vice President Joe Biden, whose delegate and polling leads make him all but certain to be the Democratic Party’s nominee to battle President Donald Trump even though his campaign has come under fire for its lack of organization, is switching campaign managers.
Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, a veteran Democratic operative who was a deputy campaign manager for President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign and led former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s 2020 presidential campaign, is the campaign’s new top official. She replaces Greg Schultz, a Biden loyalist who served as the vice president’s top political adviser during Obama’s second term.
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“Like so many other Democrats who are unifying behind Joe Biden’s character and leadership, I’m excited to join the team at this critical moment,” O’Malley Dillon said in a statement announcing the change. “Vice President Biden is turning out voters at record levels and building the broad coalition we need to ensure Donald Trump doesn’t get a second term. It’s an honor to help make him the 46th President and I’m ready to get to work.”
O’Malley Dillon began working with Biden’s team in the run-up to the Nevada caucuses.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden walks off the stage after speaking during a campaign stop at Driving Park Community Center in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday. Biden announced a new campaign manager on Thursday. MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images
The change, first reported by The New York Times, reflects how Biden’s campaign has struggled in key areas even as he finds himself on the verge of seizing the Democratic nomination. Iowa Democrats found the campaign’s field operation there lacking, and Biden long struggled to match the campaigns of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and even former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg in fundraising.
The campaign did get many big-picture questions right: It avoided tacking to the left to match Sanders and kept the focus on Biden’s ability to beat Trump, matching the Democratic electorate’s priority. And its belief that Black voters in South Carolina and other states would rescue Biden after poor performances in Iowa and New Hampshire panned out.
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But even on the day of Biden’s South Carolina victory, one of his top endorsers warned that his campaign was dangerously weak.
“I think we will have to sit down and get serious about how we retool this campaign, how we retool the fundraising, how we do the GOTV,” or “get out the vote” efforts, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) said on CNN. “I’m not going to sit back idly and watch people mishandle this campaign.” Clyburn’s endorsement of Biden provided a critical boost in South Carolina.
Schultz will now work on “organizational planning for the general election and continuing to bolster the campaign’s external outreach,” Biden’s campaign said.
“I am grateful to Greg for his leadership and hard work to help get our campaign where it is today, and I will value his continued input on this campaign,” Biden said in a statement. “I am also thrilled that Jen is bringing her considerable talent and insight to this team. She will be a tremendous asset to a campaign that is only growing and getting stronger as we prepare to take the fight to Donald Trump this fall.”
The Biden campaign, which has raised millions more in recent weeks than it did in whole quarters of 2019, is expected to rapidly add staffers in the coming months as it prepares to battle a cash-rich Trump campaign in the general election.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-12--Trump Administration Refuses To Postpone Food Benefit Cut

Since last week Democrats have called on President Donald Trump ’ s administration to delay a planned food benefit cut because of the rapidly expanding coronavirus outbreak , but administration officials have said no .
Starting next month , the U.S. Department of Agriculture will tighten rules for unemployed adults who don ’ t have minor children or disabilities , a policy that will shrink food benefit enrollment by 700,000 , or about 2 % annually .
Democrats are planning to vote Thursday on an economic stimulus bill that includes a provision suspending so-called “ work requirements ” in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not clear if the legislation can clear the Senate , however , given Republican opposition to other parts of the bill .
At a Tuesday hearing , Rep. Sanford Bishop ( D-Ga. ) called the impending food benefit cut “ particularly cruel ” in light of the coronavirus outbreak that will likely cause large numbers of Americans to lose their jobs or deliberately avoid work to limit the contagion .
In response to Bishop , Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue declined to postpone the rule , and on Thursday , USDA spokespeople referred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
Perdue said states would have flexibility to waive limits on benefits for “ good cause ” for people affected by the coronavirus outbreak .
“ Obviously if your job says you can ’ t come to work or you ’ re sick in that way , that good cause would eliminate need for work requirements under this rule , ” Perdue said .
“ That will be under the discretion of the states to determine that good cause.
” Unemployed adults who aren ’ t senior citizens and who don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 7 % of the 35 million Americans who receive SNAP benefits , which can be used for food at grocery stores .
The Trump rule targeting unemployed adults is one of several cuts to social programs the administration is pursuing through via regulation , without input from Congress .
It ’ s possible that a federal judge hearing a lawsuit over the policy might stop it with an injunction .
In response to the coronavirus pandemic , the USDA announced this week that it would allow schools to continue serving meals to @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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Since last week Democrats have called on President Donald Trump’s administration to delay a planned food benefit cut because of the rapidly expanding coronavirus outbreak, but administration officials have said no.
Starting next month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will tighten rules for unemployed adults who don’t have minor children or disabilities, a policy that will shrink food benefit enrollment by 700,000, or about 2% annually.
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Democrats are planning to vote Thursday on an economic stimulus bill that includes a provision suspending so-called “work requirements” in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It’s not clear if the legislation can clear the Senate, however, given Republican opposition to other parts of the bill.
At a Tuesday hearing, Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) called the impending food benefit cut “particularly cruel” in light of the coronavirus outbreak that will likely cause large numbers of Americans to lose their jobs or deliberately avoid work to limit the contagion.
In response to Bishop, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue declined to postpone the rule, and on Thursday, USDA spokespeople referred HuffPost back to Perdue’s Tuesday comment.
Perdue said states would have flexibility to waive limits on benefits for “good cause” for people affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
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“Obviously if your job says you can’t come to work or you’re sick in that way, that good cause would eliminate need for work requirements under this rule,” Perdue said. “That will be under the discretion of the states to determine that good cause.”
Unemployed adults who aren’t senior citizens and who don’t have dependents or disabilities represent only about 7% of the 35 million Americans who receive SNAP benefits, which can be used for food at grocery stores.
The Trump rule targeting unemployed adults is one of several cuts to social programs the administration is pursuing through via regulation, without input from Congress. It’s possible that a federal judge hearing a lawsuit over the policy might stop it with an injunction.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-12--Joe Biden Rips Trump Over Coronavirus 'Xenophobia', Unveils His Own Plan

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday took aim at President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the growing coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. , urging elected leaders to follow the recommendations of public health professions and unveiling his own plan to combat the spread of the disease .
“ We will lead by science .
... Downplaying it , being overly dismissive , or spreading misinformation is only going to hurt us and further advantage the spread of the disease , ” Biden said in an address from his hometown of Wilmington , Delaware .
“ But neither should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ xenophobia.
” The front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination sought to project calm and stability amid a global pandemic that has disrupted the lives of Americans and threatened an economic recession .
It followed Trump ’ s error-laded Oval Office address on Wednesday night , which caused confusion at home and abroad when the president misstated several of his administration ’ s policies aimed at addressing the outbreak , including a ban on some travel from European countries .
Biden said that labeling COVID-19 a “ foreign virus , ” as Trump called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not displace the accountability for the misjudgments that have taken place so far by the Trump administration.
” “ The coronavirus doesn ’ t have a political affiliation .
It will not discriminate on national origin , race , or zip code .
It will touch people in positions of power , as well as the most vulnerable in society , ” Biden said .
The coronavirus pandemic and Trump ’ s handling of it has become a major issue in the campaign ― and altered the logistics of the presidential campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , canceled rallies in recent days due to the growing outbreak .
Biden is scheduled to hold “ virtual ” events on Friday .
Meanwhile , the location of the much-anticipated one-on-one debate between Biden and Sanders was changed by the Democratic National Committee on Thursday because of coronavirus concerns .
Originally scheduled to take place in Arizona ― which holds a primary on Tuesday ― it now held in a studio in Washington “ in order to reduce cross-country travel , ” the DNC announced .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience and there will be no “ spin room ” ― the gathering place for journalists to hear from campaign officials after the face-off .
In the U.S. , the rapidly expanding global pandemic has already killed dozens and infected at least 1,200 people .
States and localities are reporting major problems with the availability of testing for the disease , a crucial step toward reducing its spread .
Infections have continued to grow , prompting dramatic measures in some states with community outbreaks , including the closure of college campuses , cancellation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on large gatherings .
Trump , targeted with a barrage of criticism following his Wednesday night speech , continued to insist on Thursday that testing for the coronavirus has been going “ very smooth.
” Biden disputed that assertion in his speech , saying the administration ’ s “ failure on testing is colossal.
” He called for more public health funding , more hospital beds to deal with the coming influx of patients , emergency paid leave for workers sidelined by the coronavirus and far more mobile testing sites across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also report the number of tests conducted in the country to the public every day .
“ No president can promise to prevent future outbreaks , ” he added .
“ But when I ’ m president we will be better prepared .
...
I ’ ll always tell you the truth .
This is the responsibility of the president .
”

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Former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday took aim at President Donald Trump’s handling of the growing coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., urging elected leaders to follow the recommendations of public health professions and unveiling his own plan to combat the spread of the disease.
“We will lead by science. ... Downplaying it, being overly dismissive, or spreading misinformation is only going to hurt us and further advantage the spread of the disease,” Biden said in an address from his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. “But neither should we panic — or fall back on xenophobia.”
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The front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination sought to project calm and stability amid a global pandemic that has disrupted the lives of Americans and threatened an economic recession. It followed Trump’s error-laded Oval Office address on Wednesday night, which caused confusion at home and abroad when the president misstated several of his administration’s policies aimed at addressing the outbreak, including a ban on some travel from European countries.
Biden said that labeling COVID-19 a “foreign virus,” as Trump called it in his address, “does not displace the accountability for the misjudgments that have taken place so far by the Trump administration.”
“The coronavirus doesn’t have a political affiliation. It will not discriminate on national origin, race, or zip code. It will touch people in positions of power, as well as the most vulnerable in society,” Biden said.
Sanders is also scheduled to deliver his own remarks on the virus on Thursday.
The coronavirus pandemic and Trump’s handling of it has become a major issue in the campaign ― and altered the logistics of the presidential campaign. Biden and his primary rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), canceled rallies in recent days due to the growing outbreak. Biden is scheduled to hold “virtual” events on Friday.
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Meanwhile, the location of the much-anticipated one-on-one debate between Biden and Sanders was changed by the Democratic National Committee on Thursday because of coronavirus concerns. Originally scheduled to take place in Arizona ― which holds a primary on Tuesday ― it now held in a studio in Washington “in order to reduce cross-country travel,” the DNC announced.
It also will no longer feature a live audience and there will be no “spin room” ― the gathering place for journalists to hear from campaign officials after the face-off.
In the U.S., the rapidly expanding global pandemic has already killed dozens and infected at least 1,200 people. States and localities are reporting major problems with the availability of testing for the disease, a crucial step toward reducing its spread. Infections have continued to grow, prompting dramatic measures in some states with community outbreaks, including the closure of college campuses, cancellation of sporting events, and some bans on large gatherings.
Nationally, it has led to the suspensions of the NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball seasons and cancellation of Broadway plays.
Trump, targeted with a barrage of criticism following his Wednesday night speech, continued to insist on Thursday that testing for the coronavirus has been going “very smooth.”
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Biden disputed that assertion in his speech, saying the administration’s “failure on testing is colossal.” He called for more public health funding, more hospital beds to deal with the coming influx of patients, emergency paid leave for workers sidelined by the coronavirus and far more mobile testing sites across the country.
He said the White House should also report the number of tests conducted in the country to the public every day.
“Anyone that needs to be tested should be tested at no charge,” Biden said.
“No president can promise to prevent future outbreaks,” he added. “But when I’m president we will be better prepared. ... I’ll always tell you the truth. This is the responsibility of the president.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-12--Trump Appears More Concerned With Closing Borders Than Testing For Coronavirus

During his first address to the nation on the global coronavirus pandemic , President Donald Trump characterized COVID-19 as a “ foreign virus ” while touting his decision to institute travel restrictions with China and announcing plans to close the U.S. to visitors from most of Europe .
Meanwhile , he has been raked by critics — and the markets — for failing to thoroughly explain how the government plans to address the lack of tests and spiking number of cases across the U.S. His administration has for weeks downplayed the threat of the virus , even as experts warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump clearly sees the novel coronavirus as just another foreign invader to keep out — a viewpoint reflected both in his policy proposals and the way he and his administration talk about the virus .
This approach is in line with his overarching political strategy of exploiting Americans ’ fears to justify racist , nativist policies .
“ This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history , ” Trump said Wednesday about his administration ’ s response while blaming the European Union for failing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Several European countries have fewer cases of coronavirus per capita than the U.S.
It ’ s not just Trump .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar repeatedly referred to the disease as the “ China coronavirus ” during a briefing last month .
Anti-immigration zealot Rep. Paul Gosar ( R-Ariz. ) — who is in self-quarantine after being exposed to coronavirus at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland — has gone out of his way to describe the virus as the “ Wuhan virus , ” a reference to the location @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s critics argued that the congressman shouldn ’ t spread racist stereotypes , Rich Lowry , the editor of the right-wing National Review , wrote an entire column insisting the illness be called the “ Wuhan virus.
” “ China deserves to be connected to the virus that it loosed on the world , ” he argued .
“ Large , uncontrolled migrant flows to the U.S. that overwhelm our system and crowd our facilities presently pose a clear and present health risk to Americans , ” DHS claimed in an update @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wall Street Journal .
“ We are safer , and better prepared , now for the virus because of all the things the administration has done to secure the border , uphold our laws , and reduce the crisis-level migrant flows of last year , ” DHS said , according to BuzzFeed .
The false notion that Mexicans spread diseases to the U.S. was part of the basis for Trump ’ s racist immigration policy when he first ran for president .
In 2015 , Trump claimed without evidence that “ tremendous infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Mexico .
There have been only eight confirmed cases of coronavirus in Mexico , compared to more than 1,300 in the U.S. And the Trump administration ’ s policy of forcing asylum-seekers to wait for their court dates in overcrowded and unsanitary camps and shelters near the border in Mexico is putting thousands at risk .
Xenophobic language to describe the outbreak also has consequences for some Asians in the U.S. , who have reported abuse including being punched in the face and sprayed with Febreze on the train , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phrase , “ Fuck Asions [ sic ] … and coronavirus !
” The president may be hoping that fear-mongering will obscure glaring failures in the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak .
On Wednesday , the president continued to insist “ the risk is very , very low ” for most Americans .
But he failed to address the lack of available test kits , and he offered confusing information about the type of relief people could expect .
Trump claimed in his remarks that health insurance companies had agreed to waive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — but a spokesperson for the insurance lobby AHIP told Politico the plan was only to waive copayments for testing .
Trump also promised to take “ emergency action ” to provide financial relief to Americans who stay home from work sick — just hours after his own party blocked an effort in the Senate to guarantee workers 14 days of paid sick leave .

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During his first address to the nation on the global coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump characterized COVID-19 as a “foreign virus” while touting his decision to institute travel restrictions with China and announcing plans to close the U.S. to visitors from most of Europe.
Meanwhile, he has been raked by critics — and the markets — for failing to thoroughly explain how the government plans to address the lack of tests and spiking number of cases across the U.S. His administration has for weeks downplayed the threat of the virus, even as experts warned it is on track to spread exponentially.
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Trump clearly sees the novel coronavirus as just another foreign invader to keep out — a viewpoint reflected both in his policy proposals and the way he and his administration talk about the virus. This approach is in line with his overarching political strategy of exploiting Americans’ fears to justify racist, nativist policies.
“This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history,” Trump said Wednesday about his administration’s response while blaming the European Union for failing to take steps to prevent contagion. Several European countries have fewer cases of coronavirus per capita than the U.S.
It’s not just Trump. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar repeatedly referred to the disease as the “China coronavirus” during a briefing last month. Anti-immigration zealot Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) — who is in self-quarantine after being exposed to coronavirus at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland — has gone out of his way to describe the virus as the “Wuhan virus,” a reference to the location of the first outbreak.
When Gosar’s critics argued that the congressman shouldn’t spread racist stereotypes, Rich Lowry, the editor of the right-wing National Review, wrote an entire column insisting the illness be called the “Wuhan virus.” “China deserves to be connected to the virus that it loosed on the world,” he argued.
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President Donald Trump addressing the nation about the coronavirus outbreak on Wednesday night. Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has sought to use coronavirus as justification for restricting migration at the southern border.
“Large, uncontrolled migrant flows to the U.S. that overwhelm our system and crowd our facilities presently pose a clear and present health risk to Americans,” DHS claimed in an update sent to lawmakers, according to The Wall Street Journal. “We are safer, and better prepared, now for the virus because of all the things the administration has done to secure the border, uphold our laws, and reduce the crisis-level migrant flows of last year,” DHS said, according to BuzzFeed.
The false notion that Mexicans spread diseases to the U.S. was part of the basis for Trump’s racist immigration policy when he first ran for president. In 2015, Trump claimed without evidence that “tremendous infectious disease is pouring across the border” from Mexico. There have been only eight confirmed cases of coronavirus in Mexico, compared to more than 1,300 in the U.S.
And the Trump administration’s policy of forcing asylum-seekers to wait for their court dates in overcrowded and unsanitary camps and shelters near the border in Mexico is putting thousands at risk.
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Xenophobic language to describe the outbreak also has consequences for some Asians in the U.S., who have reported abuse including being punched in the face and sprayed with Febreze on the train, as well as having their car vandalized with the phrase, “Fuck Asions [sic] … and coronavirus!”
The president may be hoping that fear-mongering will obscure glaring failures in the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak. On Wednesday, the president continued to insist “the risk is very, very low” for most Americans. But he failed to address the lack of available test kits, and he offered confusing information about the type of relief people could expect.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-12--'Disturbing In So Many Ways': Conservatives Pan Trump's Coronavirus Speech

President Donald Trump ’ s speech about the steps he ’ s taking to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus received low marks on social media ― and not just from the left .
Many conservatives also denounced the speech as a disaster .
On Wednesday , Trump announced a ban on noncitizens arriving from Europe , called the disease a “ foreign virus ” and praised himself for “ early , intense action ” against the infection , despite a series of missteps by his administration , including a lack of testing .
Trump also misspoke several times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just people from Europe , but goods , which was incorrect .
He also said insurance companies would pay for coronavirus treatment , but an industry spokesperson told Politico the waived fees only apply to tests , not treatment .
That was disturbing in so many ways .
— Justin Amash ( @ justinamash ) March 12 , 2020 That speech was a disaster .
Hard to count the ways .
— Noah Rothman ( @ NoahCRothman ) March 12 , 2020 I ’ ve got to say , that Oval Office address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies , took no responsibility for US testing screw ups , added BS abt cases & economy .
A European travel ban after it ’ s already here ?
?
How was anything he said reassuring to Americans ?
🤦🏽♀ # coronavirus https : //t.co/OXHXqGzW0s — Tara Setmayer ( @ TaraSetmayer ) March 12 , 2020 Things have gotten so bad Trump is prohibiting white people from coming to America .
— Mike Madrid ( @ madrid_mike ) March 12 , 2020 It 's simply stunning that the president announced the wrong policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said his ban applied to trade then said it did n't .
This is completely unacceptable .
It should n't be `` baked in '' to anything other than the continued case that this man is unfit .
https : //t.co/0RQUQvtFhx — David French ( @ DavidAFrench ) March 12 , 2020 Only two simple words @ realDonaldTrump could have spoken tonight would have reassured America : I resign .
— John Weaver ( @ jwgop ) March 12 , 2020 What ’ s wrong with him ?
I mean beyond the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salter ( @ MarkSalter55 ) March 12 , 2020 Hire a businessman , they said .
Drain the swamp , they said .
Take him literally , not seriously , they said .
Think of the lulz , they said .
“ How bad can it be ?
” they said .
pic.twitter.com/VrfnOTZpwp — Rick Wilson ( @ TheRickWilson ) March 12 , 2020 His address to the nation was perfect , just like phone call and the corona tests .
— Jonah Goldberg ( @ JonahDispatch ) March 12 , 2020 So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what insurance companies will actually pay for ; misstated that cargo would be blocked from Europe ( it wo n't be ) ; and left out a huge detail about the European travel ban that was decided before his speech and added relevant context .
Uh-oh .
— Erick Erickson ( @ EWErickson ) March 12 , 2020

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President Donald Trump’s speech about the steps he’s taking to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus received low marks on social media ― and not just from the left. Many conservatives also denounced the speech as a disaster.
On Wednesday, Trump announced a ban on noncitizens arriving from Europe, called the disease a “foreign virus” and praised himself for “early, intense action” against the infection, despite a series of missteps by his administration, including a lack of testing.
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Trump also misspoke several times. He announced a ban on not just people from Europe, but goods, which was incorrect. He also said insurance companies would pay for coronavirus treatment, but an industry spokesperson told Politico the waived fees only apply to tests, not treatment.
Trump’s conservative critics slammed the speech on social media:
That was disturbing in so many ways. — Justin Amash (@justinamash) March 12, 2020
I wonder if #TyphoidTrump should trend? — Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) March 12, 2020
That speech was a disaster. Hard to count the ways. — Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) March 12, 2020
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I’ve got to say, that Oval Office address was a disaster. Trump scapegoated our allies,took no responsibility for US testing screw ups, added BS abt cases & economy. A European travel ban after it’s already here??
How was anything he said reassuring to Americans?🤦🏽♀#coronavirus https://t.co/OXHXqGzW0s — Tara Setmayer (@TaraSetmayer) March 12, 2020
Things have gotten so bad Trump is prohibiting white people from coming to America. — Mike Madrid (@madrid_mike) March 12, 2020
It's simply stunning that the president announced the wrong policy in a critical, prepared address. He said his ban applied to trade then said it didn't. This is completely unacceptable. It shouldn't be "baked in" to anything other than the continued case that this man is unfit. https://t.co/0RQUQvtFhx — David French (@DavidAFrench) March 12, 2020
Only two simple words @realDonaldTrump could have spoken tonight would have reassured America: I resign. — John Weaver (@jwgop) March 12, 2020
What’s wrong with him? I mean beyond the usual megalomania and weirdness. — Mark Salter (@MarkSalter55) March 12, 2020
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Hire a businessman, they said.
Drain the swamp, they said.
Take him literally, not seriously, they said.
Think of the lulz, they said.
“How bad can it be?” they said. pic.twitter.com/VrfnOTZpwp — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 12, 2020
His address to the nation was perfect, just like phone call and the corona tests. — Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) March 12, 2020
Trump's oval address: When a meeting should've been an email — Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) March 12, 2020
So, to recap, the President misstated what insurance companies will actually pay for; misstated that cargo would be blocked from Europe (it won't be); and left out a huge detail about the European travel ban that was decided before his speech and added relevant context. Uh-oh. — Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) March 12, 2020
this is the most coherent thing he’s ever said https://t.co/QVjzIidT3n — George Conway (@gtconway3d) March 12, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-12--Trump Drops F-Bomb And A Long, Weird 'OKAYYY' In Coronavirus Hot Mic Moment

President Donald Trump delivered his plan to combat the coronavirus outbreak in a televised speech from the Oval Office on @ @ @ @ @ inadvertently left on before and after the address caught a couple of moments that weren @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump announced a ban on noncitizens arriving from Europe and promised some economic measures @ @ @ @ @ networks picked up his speech , the audio from the White House feed caught him @ @ @ @ @ his shirt : C-span camera still on .
Catching Trump saying “ uh , oh @ @ @ @ @ any white stuff ?
” pic.twitter.com/ggT3styqxw — Michael Ⓜ ( @ michaelschweitz ) March 12 @ @ @ @ @ , the president let out a lengthy “ OK ” and exhaled before his mic @ @ @ @ @ moment C-SPAN didn ’ t realize they were broadcasting still ... .
pic.twitter.com/eoO2pgzCQt — Burt @ @ @ @ @ March 12 , 2020

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President Donald Trump delivered his plan to combat the coronavirus outbreak in a televised speech from the Oval Office on Wednesday night. But mics inadvertently left on before and after the address caught a couple of moments that weren’t in the script.
Trump announced a ban on noncitizens arriving from Europe and promised some economic measures. However, before the networks picked up his speech, the audio from the White House feed caught him noticing ink, perhaps on his shirt:
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C-span camera still on. Catching Trump saying “uh, oh Fk...does anybody have any white stuff?” pic.twitter.com/ggT3styqxw — Michael Ⓜ (@michaelschweitz) March 12, 2020
After the speech, the president let out a lengthy “OK” and exhaled before his mic was taken off:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-12--Rep. Katie Porter Gets CDC Head To Commit To Making COVID-19 Testing Free

The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agreed to make testing for the new coronavirus free to any American , regardless of whether they have health insurance , following pressure by Rep. Katie Porter ( D-Calif. ) .
At a congressional hearing on Thursday , CDC Director Robert Redfield agreed to invoke his legal authority to authorize the use of federal funds to pay coronavirus testing fees .
Prior to the agreement , Porter tallied up before Redfield the high costs that someone might face for coronavirus testing , which involves tests for Flu A , Flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room .
“ This all totals up to $ 1,331 , ” Porter said , noting that the total didn ’ t include the cost of someone being kept in isolation , which she said could nearly quadruple that estimated cost .
I did the math : a full battery of coronavirus testing costs at minimum $ 1,331 .
I also did the legal research : the Administration has the authority to make testing free for every American TODAY .
I secured a commitment from a high-level Trump official that they ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Katie Porter ( @ RepKatiePorter ) March 12 , 2020 “ Will you commit to invoking your existing authority under 42 CFR 71.30 to provide for coronavirus testing for every American regardless of insurance coverage ?
” Porter asked Redfield .
Under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations , 42 CFR 71.30 states that “ The Director may authorize payment for the care and treatment of individuals subject to medical examination , quarantine , isolation , and conditional release.
” The rule adds that the payment for care and treatment is “ subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it will be paid only after all third-party payers , such as private insurance carriers , “ have made payment in satisfaction of their obligations.
” U.S. health insurance companies have agreed to waive copays for testing for the virus as well as cover the cost of its treatment , Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday .
Medicare and Medicaid will also cover costs without copays .
But those without insurance could be stuck paying whatever rate the doctor or hospital chooses .
“ Fear of these costs are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting the care they need , and from keeping their community safe , ” Porter told Redfield , who after repeatedly dodging a direct answer , eventually agreed to invoke his authority .
“ Excellent !
” Porter exclaimed .
“ Everybody in America , hear that : You are eligible to get tested for coronavirus and have that covered , regardless of insurance .
”

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The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agreed to make testing for the new coronavirus free to any American, regardless of whether they have health insurance, following pressure by Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.).
At a congressional hearing on Thursday, CDC Director Robert Redfield agreed to invoke his legal authority to authorize the use of federal funds to pay coronavirus testing fees.
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Prior to the agreement, Porter tallied up before Redfield the high costs that someone might face for coronavirus testing, which involves tests for Flu A, Flu B and a trip to the emergency room.
“This all totals up to $1,331,” Porter said, noting that the total didn’t include the cost of someone being kept in isolation, which she said could nearly quadruple that estimated cost.
I did the math: a full battery of coronavirus testing costs at minimum $1,331.
I also did the legal research: the Administration has the authority to make testing free for every American TODAY.
I secured a commitment from a high-level Trump official that they’d actually do it. pic.twitter.com/RmolCtmNbG — Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) March 12, 2020
“Will you commit to invoking your existing authority under 42 CFR 71.30 to provide for coronavirus testing for every American regardless of insurance coverage?” Porter asked Redfield.
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Under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 42 CFR 71.30 states that “The Director may authorize payment for the care and treatment of individuals subject to medical examination, quarantine, isolation, and conditional release.”
The rule adds that the payment for care and treatment is “subject to the availability of appropriations” and that it will be paid only after all third-party payers, such as private insurance carriers, “have made payment in satisfaction of their obligations.”
U.S. health insurance companies have agreed to waive copays for testing for the virus as well as cover the cost of its treatment, Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday.
Medicare and Medicaid will also cover costs without copays. But those without insurance could be stuck paying whatever rate the doctor or hospital chooses.
“Fear of these costs are going to keep people from being tested, from getting the care they need, and from keeping their community safe,” Porter told Redfield, who after repeatedly dodging a direct answer, eventually agreed to invoke his authority.
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“I think you’re an excellent questioner,” Redfield told her, “so my answer is yes.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-12--House Democrats Set Up Coronavirus Paid Leave Standoff With Senate

Win McNamee via Getty Images House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) and House Democrats proposed a paid leave program to deal with the fallout from coronavirus .
Late Wednesday , House Democrats unveiled a big legislative package to address the public health and economic threats posed by COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
The bill includes a government-funded program that would reimburse eligible workers who lost wages because they were unable to work during the crisis .
Democrats and Republicans have been unable to agree on a federal paid leave program for years , but some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of passing due to the damage the virus is doing to the economy .
Many Republicans who ’ ve opposed such programs in the past agree something must be done to keep money flowing into workers ’ pockets as business slows .
The bill includes provisions for 14 days of emergency leave for workers who are either diagnosed with COVID-19 or quarantined because of the virus .
Crucially , workers would also qualify if they must care for others who are sick or stuck at home , including because of school closures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly to workers by the Social Security Administration , and capped at two-thirds of a person ’ s monthly earnings , not to exceed $ 4,000 .
If a worker already receives sick leave benefits from their job or state government , they would still be eligible for the new federal benefit minus what they ’ re already receiving .
Workers can apply for the reimbursement retroactively , meaning people who are already quarantined or missing work to take care of someone would be able to receive a later payment for their time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have to let workers gradually accrue up to seven paid sick days per year .
Those days could also be used to care for family members who are sick , or deal with domestic violence-related issues .
Employers would also be required to provide 14 days of sick leave immediately in the event of a public health emergency like the current one .
Large employers would have to pay for those 14 emergency days , while smaller employers ( defined as 50 or fewer workers ) would be reimbursed by the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already drawing real pushback from Republicans , who generally hate employer mandates .
Democrats proposed an emergency sick leave plan last week that included those provisions , and Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-Tenn. ) spoke out against it on the Senate floor Wednesday and prevented it from being fast-tracked .
Alexander said he was open to a paid sick leave program to deal with coronavirus and thought it was a “ good idea.
” But he said the government should have to foot the bill , not employers .
“ Employees are struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s not a cure for the coronavirus to put a big new expensive federal mandate on employers , ” he said .
It ’ s possible Republicans like Alexander would support an emergency fund but demand that the permanent mandate be dropped from the House package .
A spokesperson for the senator said Thursday that he had nothing to add beyond his comments on the Senate floor .
“ This is an extremely substantial step toward addressing the very real and immediate needs of this emergency and setting up a system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so people won ’ t face this risk again , ” said Vicki Shabo , a senior fellow at The New America Foundation and paid leave expert .
Some economists worried that the funding provisions for the plan would prove too complicated to enact quickly .
“ It might take a while to get set up , ” said Jay Shambaugh , director of the Hamilton Project .
He suggested giving companies a tax break to offset the cost .
It ’ s not clear if the bill can get through the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) said Thursday morning that the Democratic bill is “ an ideological wish list that was not tailored closely to the circumstances.
” “ To ensure that working Americans impacted by the virus can stay home without fear of financial hardship , I will soon be taking emergency action , which is unprecedented , to provide financial relief , ” he said .
“ This will be targeted for workers who are ill , quarantined , or caring for others due to coronavirus .
”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Democrats proposed a paid leave program to deal with the fallout from coronavirus. Win McNamee via Getty Images
Workers affected by the coronavirus outbreak may soon be able to take advantage of the first nationwide paid leave program in the U.S. if Congress can agree on the plan.
Late Wednesday, House Democrats unveiled a big legislative package to address the public health and economic threats posed by COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The bill includes a government-funded program that would reimburse eligible workers who lost wages because they were unable to work during the crisis.
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The bill also includes a provision that would establish a future nationwide paid sick leave program ― prompting howls of protest from Republicans.
Democrats and Republicans have been unable to agree on a federal paid leave program for years, but some form of the bill stands a chance of passing due to the damage the virus is doing to the economy. Many Republicans who’ve opposed such programs in the past agree something must be done to keep money flowing into workers’ pockets as business slows.
How the plan would work:
The bill includes provisions for 14 days of emergency leave for workers who are either diagnosed with COVID-19 or quarantined because of the virus. Crucially, workers would also qualify if they must care for others who are sick or stuck at home, including because of school closures.
The benefits would be administered and paid directly to workers by the Social Security Administration, and capped at two-thirds of a person’s monthly earnings, not to exceed $4,000. If a worker already receives sick leave benefits from their job or state government, they would still be eligible for the new federal benefit minus what they’re already receiving.
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Workers can apply for the reimbursement retroactively, meaning people who are already quarantined or missing work to take care of someone would be able to receive a later payment for their time off.
The plan differs from earlier proposals in that it creates temporary, emergency funding specifically to deal with the coronavirus. It also includes a permanent mandate that employers provide sick leave in the future.
Under the bill, employers would have to let workers gradually accrue up to seven paid sick days per year. Those days could also be used to care for family members who are sick, or deal with domestic violence-related issues.
Employers would also be required to provide 14 days of sick leave immediately in the event of a public health emergency like the current one. Large employers would have to pay for those 14 emergency days, while smaller employers (defined as 50 or fewer workers) would be reimbursed by the government.
“The fact that the U.S. has no national paid sick leave policy has become a huge issue during the coronavirus crisis.”
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The potential problem with including permanent paid sick leave in the package is that it could hinder the bill’s passage and “gum up the works,” said Claudia Sahm, director of macroeconomic policy at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. “I have concerns it’ll slow down the process and more people will get hurt than need to get hurt,” Sahm said.
Those parts of the plan are already drawing real pushback from Republicans, who generally hate employer mandates. Democrats proposed an emergency sick leave plan last week that included those provisions, and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) spoke out against it on the Senate floor Wednesday and prevented it from being fast-tracked.
Alexander said he was open to a paid sick leave program to deal with coronavirus and thought it was a “good idea.” But he said the government should have to foot the bill, not employers. “Employees are struggling, our employers are struggling, and it’s not a cure for the coronavirus to put a big new expensive federal mandate on employers,” he said.
It’s possible Republicans like Alexander would support an emergency fund but demand that the permanent mandate be dropped from the House package. A spokesperson for the senator said Thursday that he had nothing to add beyond his comments on the Senate floor.
Proponents of paid leave programs were happy to see a potential deal coming together, even if the final details weren’t clear.
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“This is an extremely substantial step toward addressing the very real and immediate needs of this emergency and setting up a system for paid sick days for the future so people won’t face this risk again,” said Vicki Shabo, a senior fellow at The New America Foundation and paid leave expert.
Some economists worried that the funding provisions for the plan would prove too complicated to enact quickly. “It might take a while to get set up,” said Jay Shambaugh, director of the Hamilton Project. He suggested giving companies a tax break to offset the cost.
The bill does say that small businesses would be compensated for the costs of providing 14 days of emergency leave.
President Donald Trump hinted Wednesday that the White House would support some kind of paid leave program. Samuel Corum via Getty Images
The House is scheduled to vote on the bill on Thursday, which will likely pass with mostly Democratic support. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called the legislation “completely partisan” and “unworkable.”
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It’s not clear if the bill can get through the Senate. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday morning that the Democratic bill is “an ideological wish list that was not tailored closely to the circumstances.”
Regarding the paid leave provision, McConnell said “the proposal appears to impose permanent unfunded mandates on businesses that could cause massive job losses and put thousands of small businesses at risk.”
Thursday could be the last day to pass legislation before lawmakers leave Washington for a planned recess next week.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, seemed to hint that the White House would support emergency paid sick and family leave in his Oval Office address Wednesday night.
“To ensure that working Americans impacted by the virus can stay home without fear of financial hardship, I will soon be taking emergency action, which is unprecedented, to provide financial relief,” he said. “This will be targeted for workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to coronavirus.”
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The administration, however, hasn’t offered any detail. A White House spokesman could not provide any as of Thursday morning.
The fact that the U.S. has no national paid sick leave policy has become a huge issue during the coronavirus crisis, shining a light on a safety net gap long highlighted by Democrats and progressives.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-12--'Morning Joe' Slaps Donald Trump With Scathing Supercut Of His Coronavirus Rhetoric

MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe ” kicked off the show Thursday by highlighting Donald Trump ’ s contradictory rhetoric @ @ @ @ @ A montage contrasted the president ’ s peddling of falsehoods and downplaying of COVID-19 to @ @ @ @ @ announced a 30-day ban on some travel from Europe in a televised address from the @ @ @ @ @ .
Co-host Mika Brzezinski described Trump ’ s shift in tone as “ whiplash , @ @ @ @ @ continued when Trump said “ cargo would be restricted from Europe , causing the markets @ @ @ @ @ “ the White House said , ‘ Actually , no , no , no , @ @ @ @ @ restricted.
’ ” Check out the supercut and “ Morning Joe ” commentary here :

LOADING ERROR LOADING
MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” kicked off the show Thursday by highlighting Donald Trump’s contradictory rhetoric on the coronavirus pandemic.
A montage contrasted the president’s peddling of falsehoods and downplaying of COVID-19 to the more somber way he announced a 30-day ban on some travel from Europe in a televised address from the Oval Office on Wednesday night.
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Co-host Mika Brzezinski described Trump’s shift in tone as “whiplash,” which she pointed out continued when Trump said “cargo would be restricted from Europe, causing the markets to quiver” and then “the White House said, ‘Actually, no, no, no, cargo will not actually be restricted.’”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-12--Coronavirus Fears Are Decimating The Sex Industry

“ I ’ m already seeing women in danger of moving into homeless encampments or losing custody of their kids , ” said Suzanne Myers , a Seattle-based escort who also does outreach and community organizing .
( All of the sex workers quoted in this article are using pseudonyms due to fear of law enforcement attention . )
“ For single moms or people working to keep their heads above water , having a dry week is difficult .
Having two or three will be devastating.
” The Virus Is Already Putting Sex Workers in Danger Since 2015 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in homelessness and drug addiction — two factors that have increased the number of people selling sex .
Then , in 2018 , Congress passed two laws ( known as SESTA and FOSTA ) that banned escort advertisements from the internet , a move that pushed more sex workers into outdoor prostitution .
Now , the collapse in demand for sex work due to the coronavirus is driving even greater numbers of people onto the street to make up for the lost income HuffPost spoke with two sex workers on North Aurora Avenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who said the recent wave of new street workers has already forced them to reduce their prices ( other sex workers estimated that the going rate for oral sex had fallen from around $ 60 to around $ 30 even before the virus struck ) .
They have also mostly stopped screening clients and no longer have the luxury of declining men who give them a bad feeling .
High-priced escorts , who tend to see fewer clients and work with a roster of regular customers , are more likely to have savings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke with sex workers who have side jobs designing jewelry , making costumes for theater productions and translating legal documents .
Some also have accounts on websites where they sell access to nude pictures , live chats or homemade pornography for monthly subscribers .
Others have started “ touring ” to cities where the virus , and its attendant fears , aren ’ t as prominent .
Sex Workers Try To Protect Their Lives And Their Livelihoods For now , many sex workers are taking steps to keep themselves and their clients safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a high-end escort who charges $ 500 per hour with a two-hour minimum , has waived her cancellation fees , added hand sanitizer to the nightstand in her workspace and requests that clients wash their hands as they enter her room .
While she ’ d always cleaned her space regularly , she is now sterilizing everything that ’ s been touched — including bottles of lube , sheets and sex toys —after every session .

SEATTLE — In the epicenter of America’s coronavirus outbreak, sex workers are one of the first groups making adjustments.
Some have started taking their temperature every morning and asking their clients to do the same. Others have instituted no-kissing policies. Those who can afford to are setting up webcam sites or leaving the city entirely.
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Still, the sex industry in Seattle has seen an unprecedented collapse in demand, making workers worry that they’ll be unable to pay rent and, potentially, more likely to end up in unsafe situations out of desperation. Indoor sex workers said regulars have started sending cancellations and new inquiries have dried up entirely. Street-based sex workers say customers have all but evaporated.
“I’m already seeing women in danger of moving into homeless encampments or losing custody of their kids,” said Suzanne Myers, a Seattle-based escort who also does outreach and community organizing. (All of the sex workers quoted in this article are using pseudonyms due to fear of law enforcement attention.) “For single moms or people working to keep their heads above water, having a dry week is difficult. Having two or three will be devastating.”
Myers said two of her clients have canceled appointments in the last three days and inquiries from new clients have dried up entirely. She has just one date scheduled this week, a man who usually pays for sex but downgraded his appointment to a social lunch due to his concerns about the virus.
“I’m down a week’s pay and we’re just at the beginning of this,” Myers said.
With 190 cases and 22 deaths, Seattle has been hit harder by coronavirus than any other U.S. city. The virus, which has infected more than 1,000 people nationwide and leads to the illness COVID-19, represents a perfect storm for the sex work industry.
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“We’re telling people to wash as much as they can, but some sex workers don’t have access to hot water and soap between sessions.” - Sherae Lascelles, Seattle-based community organizer and sex worker
Intimate contact is one of the most effective ways to contract the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Sex workers have no social safety net to help them weather an unexpected loss of income. Many cannot afford to stop working for weeks to self-quarantine. (“How do you do social distancing when your salary is dependent on socializing?” asked Sherae Lascelles, a community organizer and sex worker.)
Plus, the sex industry relies on customers from the groups most at risk of contracting the virus and dying from it.
“Four out of five of my clients are men above 60 with at least one pre-existing health condition,” Myers said. “I’ve already had guys tell me, ‘I’m 63 and I’ve got lung problems, so I’m out of the game for a few weeks.’ If I were in that situation I’d be doing the same thing.”
The Virus Is Already Putting Sex Workers in Danger
For sex workers, the coronavirus could not have arrived in Seattle at a worse time.
Since 2015, the city has experienced an unprecedented spike in homelessness and drug addiction — two factors that have increased the number of people selling sex. Then, in 2018, Congress passed two laws (known as SESTA and FOSTA) that banned escort advertisements from the internet, a move that pushed more sex workers into outdoor prostitution. Now, the collapse in demand for sex work due to the coronavirus is driving even greater numbers of people onto the street to make up for the lost income
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All of these factors combined are making sex work significantly more dangerous. “When there’s more girls outside and less demand, people start doing things they wouldn’t normally do and end up in situations that are very unsafe,” Myers said.
HuffPost spoke with two sex workers on North Aurora Avenue, Seattle’s red-light district, who said the recent wave of new street workers has already forced them to reduce their prices (other sex workers estimated that the going rate for oral sex had fallen from around $60 to around $30 even before the virus struck). They have also mostly stopped screening clients and no longer have the luxury of declining men who give them a bad feeling.
After the coronavirus outbreak surfaced in China -- but before the illness arrived in the U.S. -- massage parlors saw a significant drop in business due to anti-Asian xenophobia. Getty Images
Lascelles, the co-founder of the Green Light Project, a community organization that supports street-based sex workers and drug users, said she’s already hearing reports of more violent and coercive behavior from sex buyers.
“This is going to get people killed,” Lascelles said. “Men are using the virus as leverage: ‘I’m already taking a risk seeing you. So why should I use a condom?’”
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Other sex workers told HuffPost that they are receiving more demands to perform anal sex and that pimps are trying to make up revenue by upping their recruitment efforts. With so many new sex workers flooding onto the streets, Lascalle said, it’s becoming harder to notify them of the risks.
“It’s the same guys abusing sex workers over and over,” she said. “They’re waiting for new girls to show up and be terrible to them. If someone comes (onto the street) after spending the winter inside or they’re desperate to make up their lost income, we don’t have ways of warning them,” Lascelles said.
None of this bodes well for sex workers or for public health in the long term. Myers pointed out that the lack of income and housing support for marginalized groups like sex workers and homeless people will make them more likely to get the disease — and also to spread it.
“If someone starts feeling sick and they only have one appointment that week, they might take it anyway,” she said. “That’s a terrifying thought, but that could mean daycare for their kids or paying their rent.”
Hitting Poor Sex Workers Hardest
While its long-term impacts remain unclear, the virus’ most immediate effect is the exacerbation of existing inequalities within the sex industry.
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High-priced escorts, who tend to see fewer clients and work with a roster of regular customers, are more likely to have savings and secondary sources of income. HuffPost spoke with sex workers who have side jobs designing jewelry, making costumes for theater productions and translating legal documents. Some also have accounts on websites where they sell access to nude pictures, live chats or homemade pornography for monthly subscribers. Others have started “touring” to cities where the virus, and its attendant fears, aren’t as prominent.
Sex workers at the lower end of the market don’t have the same options. Many street workers lack the professional photographs, webcams and desktop computers necessary to move into online sex work. Due to a history of domestic violence or their own day jobs, many can’t risk uploading pictures of their faces. On North Aurora, a significant percentage of sex workers sleep in the hotel rooms paid for by their clients every night.
“We’re telling people to wash as much as they can but some sex workers don’t have access to hot water and soap between sessions,” Lascelles said. “We’re down to 15 packs of hand sanitizer when we’re used to giving out thousands per week.”
With Washington state one of the first locales hit hardest in the U.S. by the pandemic, sex workers plying their trade along North Aurora Avenue -- Seattle's red-light district -- have seen a dramatic collapse in demand. kmacs83 / Flickr
Some parts of the industry have been hit harder than others. Massage parlors, for example, have been losing business for years due to the increasing number of high-profile “anti-trafficking” raids (in reality, few massage parlor workers are trafficked; most are undocumented women in their 40s and 50s unable to find other forms of employment).
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After coronavirus appeared in China, customers slowed to a trickle due to anti-Asian xenophobia. Now that the virus has arrived in the U.S., revenues have plummeted even further.
“Business is down to the point where workers are saying they simply don’t have any right now,” said Kate Zen, the co-founder of Red Canary Song, which works with migrant sex workers. “They’re scraping by with what they have saved up and trying their best to hold out for as long as they can.”
Strip club workers have also been affected by the outbreak’s unique economic impacts.
“Customers are using the six-foot rule and social distancing as an excuse not to buy lap dances, but they’re still going to the clubs and exposing dancers to the virus,” Lascelles said. Strippers have to pay a “house fee” of $140 to $160 per night to work in the clubs. They make most of their money from individual dances and tips.
“I spoke to someone last night who used to earn $4,000 per week,” Lascelles said. “She hasn’t made any money in two weeks and made $20 on Sunday — and she’s $1,000 in debt from the house fees.”
Sex Workers Try To Protect Their Lives And Their Livelihoods
For now, many sex workers are taking steps to keep themselves and their clients safe from the virus. Jessica Brown, a high-end escort who charges $500 per hour with a two-hour minimum, has waived her cancellation fees, added hand sanitizer to the nightstand in her workspace and requests that clients wash their hands as they enter her room. While she’d always cleaned her space regularly, she is now sterilizing everything that’s been touched — including bottles of lube, sheets and sex toys —after every session.
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Brown has also started coaching her older clients about what to say if they have to be quarantined and health workers ask them about their recent contacts in front of their wives. She’s instructed them to say they had a business meeting with her and use the alias she uses when she speaks at sexual health conferences.
“I’m going out of my way to let clients and my colleagues know about my cleanliness practices,” Brown said.
How I, A Sex Worker, Am Handling COVID19 - a thread!
I wanted to address this because clients are *blowing me up* about it - so here we go!
As SWs, we are *already* vigilant about our intimate work and keeping transmission risks to a minimum. Here are some steps many of us take — fera lorde (@feralorde) March 10, 2020
As for the industry as a whole, Brown is looking for reasons to be optimistic. “It’s like when we had that huge snowstorm last year,” Brown said. “Some clients were home with their families and others were single and bored” — i.e. some forms of sex work declined, but others took their place. Now it’s possible the industry may move online or indoors in ways no one has envisioned yet.
Alex Andrews, the co-founder of SWOP Behind Bars, a community outreach organization that supports incarcerated sex workers, echoed this view, pointing out that the sex industry is remarkably resilient to external events like recessions, political shifts and even, yes, disease outbreaks.
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“I think that we will have a brief drop,” she said, “but ultimately nothing stands in the way of people wanting sex.”