thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-10--Pro Wrestling Legend Kamala The 'Ugandan Giant' Dies Of Coronavirus

James Harris , a former professional wrestler best known as Kamala , the “ Ugandan Giant , ” has died .
He was 70 .
“ Unfortunately , the rumors were correct , ” Kenny Casanova , coauthor of Harris ’ autobiography , Kamala Speaks , wrote on Facebook .
“ To make matters worse , it was Corona that took him ; he was one of the good ones.
” Harris shot to fame in the 1980s heyday of pro wrestling , battling superstars such as Hulk Hogan , Andre the Giant and The Undertaker for World Wrestling Entertainment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or World Wrestling Federation Wrestling icon Bret “ The Hitman ” Hart said Harris played “ a terrifying monster ” in the ring , with his tribal mask , face paint and body paint on his 6′7 ” , 380-pound frame .
But the reality couldn ’ t have been more different .
“ Unlike his heel character , he was one of the friendliest , nicest , happy-go-lucky guys I ever knew in pro wrestling , ” Hart wrote on Instagram .
“ Always a kind and happy gentle soul .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so good to me.
” Also unlike his character , Harris was not from Uganda .
He was from Mississippi .
In 2012 , Harris told Memphis CBS station WREG that he was working as a truck driver when wrestler Jerry “ The King ” Lawler suggested the character to him .
“ Lawler saw me and said I got a good idea for you , ” Harris said .
“ He put the paint and stuff on me and they put the little skirt on me .
I like doing that kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was good , but the money wasn ’ t and after increasingly sporadic appearances for a different organization , he finally tapped out of wrestling for good in 2010 .
“ People think I earned millions of dollars because I wrestled guys like Hogan , ” Harris told The Tampa Bay Times last year .
“ That ’ s not the truth.
” Harris eventually went back to driving trucks until he suffered a series of health setbacks , losing both of his legs to diabetes in 2011 .
He was reportedly on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency .
“ Kamala was one of the most believable monsters in wrestling , ” wrote Casanova .
“ He played the role perfectly , but was also one of the nicest guys you could meet.
” I am so sorry to learn of the passing of James “ Kamala ” Harris .
I wrestled him for 90 seconds in 1986 , but the lesson he taught me that night about treating others with respect has never been forgotten .
# RIPKamala https : //t.co/fgIolg00aZ — Mick Foley ( @ RealMickFoley ) August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear of the passing away of Big Jim Harris , aka Kamala .
I met Jim in 1981 in Croydon , close to London England where he was breaking in as The Mississippi Mauler working with Big Daddy Crabtree .
I… https : //t.co/MhOpY4aJsR — Bret Hart ( @ BretHart ) August 10 , 2020 My deepest condolences to the family of James Harris .
I first saw him on TV when I was a child in the UK and at live shows as “ The Missisippi Mauler ” Big Jim Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on shows with him in the US .
A lovely man .
https : //t.co/dfYathRlyK — William Regal ( @ RealKingRegal ) August 10 , 2020 Really sad , very effective in his role .
Great with the ability to do comedy while not losing his aura .
Great drawing opponent for the right kind of babyface .
He and Brody lit up crowds during their heyday , great foe for Hogan , Lawler and others .
https : //t.co/CTLgVC3aGj — Dave Meltzer ( @ davemeltzerWON ) August 10 , 2020 I saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90 's when I was a kid and he scared the hell out of me .
Turns out he really was just a gentle giant who just played his character incredibly well .
RIP 😢 https : //t.co/hFXRkYrOT8 — Gamblestein ( @ dxfiler ) August 10 , 2020 Kamala was one of those out there and unique characters you don ’ t really see in pro wrestling today .
Ones in many ways that are missed for many reasons .
# RIPKamala # RIPUgandanGiant pic.twitter.com/4voGqcyfON — Scott Fishman ( @ smFISHMAN ) August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be in @ WWE Hall of Fame and ALIVE when that time came .
An all around great talent and good guy that got over and stood out wherever he went .
RIP to the great “ Ugandan Giant ” Kamala .
His memory will live on forever .
~PHS # RIPKamala # Kamala # WWE # WWF pic.twitter.com/LnxIM0D59F — Elijah Burke ( @ DaBlackPope ) August 10 , 2020 RIP Jim Harris , better known to the world as `` The Ugandan Giant '' Kamala .
A true gentle giant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name '' wrestlers that i had the opportunity to get close with .
Condolences to his family and friends .
pic.twitter.com/3UnEbyInlC — Pat Savino ( @ RefPatSavino ) August 10 , 2020 Kamala , The Ugandan Giant was a unforgettable character , and the man behind it , James Harris invested so much into it .
You rarely see someone tap into a character as perfectly as he did .
Condolences to his family , and friends.
# RIPKamala — Andrew Everett is more athletic than you ( @ _AndrewEverett ) August 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Add your voice !
Join HuffPost Today !

LOADING ERROR LOADING
James Harris, a former professional wrestler best known as Kamala, the “Ugandan Giant,” has died. He was 70.
“Unfortunately, the rumors were correct,” Kenny Casanova, coauthor of Harris’ autobiography, Kamala Speaks, wrote on Facebook. “To make matters worse, it was Corona that took him; he was one of the good ones.”
Advertisement
Harris shot to fame in the 1980s heyday of pro wrestling, battling superstars such as Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and The Undertaker for World Wrestling Entertainment, then known as the WWF, or World Wrestling Federation
Wrestling icon Bret “The Hitman” Hart said Harris played “a terrifying monster” in the ring, with his tribal mask, face paint and body paint on his 6′7”, 380-pound frame. But the reality couldn’t have been more different.
“Unlike his heel character, he was one of the friendliest, nicest, happy-go-lucky guys I ever knew in pro wrestling,” Hart wrote on Instagram. “Always a kind and happy gentle soul. I’ll miss him for always being so good to me.”
Also unlike his character, Harris was not from Uganda. He was from Mississippi.
“I’ve never been to Uganda,” Harris told Bleacher Report in a 2014 profile:
Advertisement
In 2012, Harris told Memphis CBS station WREG that he was working as a truck driver when wrestler Jerry “The King” Lawler suggested the character to him.
“Lawler saw me and said I got a good idea for you,” Harris said. “He put the paint and stuff on me and they put the little skirt on me. I like doing that kind of stuff.”
Harris said the sport was good, but the money wasn’t and after increasingly sporadic appearances for a different organization, he finally tapped out of wrestling for good in 2010.
“People think I earned millions of dollars because I wrestled guys like Hogan,” Harris told The Tampa Bay Times last year. “That’s not the truth.”
Harris eventually went back to driving trucks until he suffered a series of health setbacks, losing both of his legs to diabetes in 2011. He was reportedly on life support in 2017 after a medical emergency.
Advertisement
“Kamala was one of the most believable monsters in wrestling,” wrote Casanova. “He played the role perfectly, but was also one of the nicest guys you could meet.”
Others also paid tribute to the gentle giant:
GOD BLESS THE KAMALA HE ALWAYS PUT ON A SHOW FOR THE FANS GOOD BIG MAN WHO WORKED THE GIMMICK BETTER THEN MOST IT BREAK MY HEART #ripkamala pic.twitter.com/8hFybhctSq — The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) August 10, 2020
I am so sorry to learn of the passing of James “Kamala” Harris. I wrestled him for 90 seconds in 1986, but the lesson he taught me that night about treating others with respect has never been forgotten. #RIPKamala https://t.co/fgIolg00aZ — Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) August 10, 2020
It sucks that you have to wait for someone to die to see such awesome footage #Kamala slamming #andrethegiant... #ripkamala the ungandan giant #wwe #wwf https://t.co/SH3Qr1HTcN — FKA Ezekiel Jackson WWE (@RycklonS) August 10, 2020
I’m heartbroken to hear of the passing away of Big Jim Harris, aka Kamala. I met Jim in 1981 in Croydon, close to London England where he was breaking in as The Mississippi Mauler working with Big Daddy Crabtree. I… https://t.co/MhOpY4aJsR — Bret Hart (@BretHart) August 10, 2020
Advertisement
My deepest condolences to the family of James Harris. I first saw him on TV when I was a child in the UK and at live shows as “The Missisippi Mauler” Big Jim Harris and then had the pleasure of being on shows with him in the US. A lovely man. https://t.co/dfYathRlyK — William Regal (@RealKingRegal) August 10, 2020
Really sad, very effective in his role. Great with the ability to do comedy while not losing his aura. Great drawing opponent for the right kind of babyface. He and Brody lit up crowds during their heyday, great foe for Hogan, Lawler and others. https://t.co/CTLgVC3aGj — Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) August 10, 2020
Our thoughts go out to the friends, family & fans of James “Kamala” Harris.
A gentle giant with a warm heart. Thanks for the memories, big man. pic.twitter.com/A6XYXSx0lN — Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard (@PrichardShow) August 10, 2020
I saw Kamala at a house show in the 90's when I was a kid and he scared the hell out of me. Turns out he really was just a gentle giant who just played his character incredibly well. RIP 😢 https://t.co/hFXRkYrOT8 — Gamblestein (@dxfiler) August 10, 2020
Advertisement
Kamala was one of Hulk Hogan's better-drawing house show opponents. From late 1986 to early 1987, they did good business. It's kind of forgotten because it's right before WM3. #RIPKamala pic.twitter.com/QJIh78fufw — Jim Valley (@JimValley) August 9, 2020
Kamala was one of those out there and unique characters you don’t really see in pro wrestling today. Ones in many ways that are missed for many reasons. #RIPKamala #RIPUgandanGiant pic.twitter.com/4voGqcyfON — Scott Fishman (@smFISHMAN) August 9, 2020
Saddened to hear of the passing of former WWF superstar, the Ugandan giant, James "Kamala" Harris. #RIPKamala pic.twitter.com/QzrZoCsB9E — LandOfThe80s (@landofthe80s) August 10, 2020
Another legend who deserved to be in @WWE Hall of Fame and ALIVE when that time came. An all around great talent and good guy that got over and stood out wherever he went. RIP to the great “Ugandan Giant” Kamala. His memory will live on forever. ~PHS#RIPKamala #Kamala #WWE #WWF pic.twitter.com/LnxIM0D59F — Elijah Burke (@DaBlackPope) August 10, 2020
RIP Jim Harris, better known to the world as "The Ugandan Giant" Kamala. A true gentle giant, Jim was one of the first "name" wrestlers that i had the opportunity to get close with. Condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/3UnEbyInlC — Pat Savino (@RefPatSavino) August 10, 2020
Advertisement
Kamala, The Ugandan Giant was a unforgettable character, and the man behind it, James Harris invested so much into it. You rarely see someone tap into a character as perfectly as he did.
Condolences to his family, and friends.#RIPKamala — Andrew Everett is more athletic than you (@_AndrewEverett) August 10, 2020
All throughout the quarantine, and much to my family’s dismay, I ran around my house shirtless, slapping my flabby belly as a tribute to the Ugandan Giant Kamala - who remains one of the great characters/gimmicks of the WWF. #RIPKamala pic.twitter.com/OogSpccPPU — Cousin Sal (@TheCousinSal) August 10, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-10--Man Arrested For Allegedly Breaking Jaw Of 72-Year-Old Veteran In Mask Dispute

A Washington man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly assaulting a 72-year-old veteran over a face mask dispute .
Police apprehended Cody Hansen , 35 , in his Spokane , Washington home after receiving an anonymous tip , local news station Q13 Fox reported .
He was charged with second-degree assault .
The July 18 incident left the unidentified victim with a broken jaw and cornea abrasion , Q13 Fox reported .
Surveillance footage from the lobby of the Red Lion Inn and Suites in Kent , Washington showed the attacker punching the victim several times , leaving him unconscious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partially disabled and could be seen with a walking aide and dog in the footage , told officers he made a comment to Hansen ’ s girlfriend , who was not wearing a protective face-covering in public .
He said Hansen later returned and assaulted him .
Hansen was also wanted on a drug charge and probation violation in Alaska .
He is being held at the Spokane County Jail and his bail was set at $ 10,000 .
A statewide mask mandate was implemented on June 26 after coronavirus cases started to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversations are happening now .
Add your voice !
Join HuffPost Today !

LOADING ERROR LOADING
A Washington man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly assaulting a 72-year-old veteran over a face mask dispute.
Police apprehended Cody Hansen, 35, in his Spokane, Washington home after receiving an anonymous tip, local news station Q13 Fox reported. He was charged with second-degree assault.
Advertisement
The July 18 incident left the unidentified victim with a broken jaw and cornea abrasion, Q13 Fox reported. Surveillance footage from the lobby of the Red Lion Inn and Suites in Kent, Washington showed the attacker punching the victim several times, leaving him unconscious.
The victim, who is reportedly partially disabled and could be seen with a walking aide and dog in the footage, told officers he made a comment to Hansen’s girlfriend, who was not wearing a protective face-covering in public. He said Hansen later returned and assaulted him.
Hansen was also wanted on a drug charge and probation violation in Alaska. He is being held at the Spokane County Jail and his bail was set at $10,000.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-10--California Public Health Director Resigns From Department

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) — The head of California ’ s public health department resigned late Sunday , just days after the state announced a fix for a glitch that caused a lag in collecting coronavirus test information that ’ s used to make decisions about reopening businesses and schools .
Dr. Sonia Angell said she was departing from her role as director and state public health officer at the California Department of Public Health in a letter to staff released by the California Health and Human Services Agency .
Angell did not give a specific reason for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of external engagement for California Health Care Foundation , will fill the role of acting health director , the health and human services department said .
Dr. Erica Pan , who was recently appointed state epidemiologist , will be the acting state public health officer .
Angell ’ s announcement comes after California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the glitch caused up to 300,000 records to be backlogged , though not all of them were coronavirus cases and some could be duplicates .
The problem affected the California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as CalREDIE .
“ I am grateful to Dr. Angell for her service to the people of California , ” Ghaly said in the statement late Sunday .
“ Her leadership was instrumental as Californians flattened the curve once and in setting us on a path to do so again .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The head of California’s public health department resigned late Sunday, just days after the state announced a fix for a glitch that caused a lag in collecting coronavirus test information that’s used to make decisions about reopening businesses and schools.
Dr. Sonia Angell said she was departing from her role as director and state public health officer at the California Department of Public Health in a letter to staff released by the California Health and Human Services Agency. Angell did not give a specific reason for her departure.
Advertisement
Sandra Shewry, vice president of external engagement for California Health Care Foundation, will fill the role of acting health director, the health and human services department said. Dr. Erica Pan, who was recently appointed state epidemiologist, will be the acting state public health officer.
Angell’s announcement comes after California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the glitch caused up to 300,000 records to be backlogged, though not all of them were coronavirus cases and some could be duplicates. The problem affected the California Reportable Disease Information Exchange, also known as CalREDIE.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-10--Attacking A Retail Worker Enforcing Face Masks Is Now Aggravated Battery In Illinois

A new Illinois law signed by Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ( D ) on Friday has made it a felony to assault retail workers who are enforcing the use of face masks and other public health guidance .
Illinois Senate Bill 471 targets anyone “ assaulting or battering a retail worker who is conveying public health guidance , such as requiring patrons to wear face-coverings or promoting social distancing , ” according to a statement from the governor ’ s office .
Offenders can be charged with aggravated battery , which is generally categorized as a Class 3 felony in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentences of two to five years as well as fines of up to $ 25,000 .
“ This legislation allows front line workers that have been impacted by COVID-19 to focus on recovering while sending a clear message to all our essential workers that we are behind them and will do all we can to protect their safety and well-being , ” state Rep. Jay Hoffman ( D ) said in the governor ’ s statement .
The law ’ s additional provisions state that businesses refusing to comply with Illinois ’ mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 2,500 .
Pritzker defended this decision on Sunday , calling it a “ modest level of enforcement ” and pointing out that businesses would receive warnings first , and fines only after multiple infractions .
Illinois currently requires “ everyone over the age of two who can medically tolerate a face covering over their nose and mouth ” to wear one in public when they ’ re unable to social distance .
There have been multiple violent acts over mask usage in multiple states since the start of the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man fired on local officers with an AK-47 after refusing to wear a mask , and on Saturday , a Washington man was arrested for allegedly breaking the jaw of a 72-year-old veteran during an argument over face masks .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
A new Illinois law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on Friday has made it a felony to assault retail workers who are enforcing the use of face masks and other public health guidance.
Illinois Senate Bill 471 targets anyone “assaulting or battering a retail worker who is conveying public health guidance, such as requiring patrons to wear face-coverings or promoting social distancing,” according to a statement from the governor’s office.
Advertisement
Offenders can be charged with aggravated battery, which is generally categorized as a Class 3 felony in the state and can result in prison sentences of two to five years as well as fines of up to $25,000.
The law, effective immediately, also increases paid disability leave for emergency workers, firefighters and law enforcement affected by COVID-19.
“This legislation allows front line workers that have been impacted by COVID-19 to focus on recovering while sending a clear message to all our essential workers that we are behind them and will do all we can to protect their safety and well-being,” state Rep. Jay Hoffman (D) said in the governor’s statement.
The law’s additional provisions state that businesses refusing to comply with Illinois’ mask mandates can face fines from $75 to $2,500. Pritzker defended this decision on Sunday, calling it a “modest level of enforcement” and pointing out that businesses would receive warnings first, and fines only after multiple infractions.
Advertisement
Illinois currently requires “everyone over the age of two who can medically tolerate a face covering over their nose and mouth” to wear one in public when they’re unable to social distance.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-10--New Coronavirus Hot Spots Emerge In U.S. As Cases Hit 20 Million Worldwide

The U.S. leads with over 5 million confirmed cases and more than 163,000 deaths , making up about a quarter of all COVID-19 cases and deaths in the world .
Brazil comes in second , with more than 3 million cases and over 101,000 deaths .
According to a New York Times coronavirus database , the U.S. saw nearly 48,000 new cases on Aug. 3 , with many of them concentrated in the South .
Several states have continued to reopen their schools and economies despite a surge in cases that began in June .
As the U.S. struggles to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans increasingly believe that other countries are handling the pandemic better .
According to a recent HuffPost/YouGov survey , a 46 % plurality of Americans said the U.S. is dealing with the coronavirus worse than other nations .
A March poll found that just 28 % of Americans held that view , while a May survey put that number at 36 % .
World leaders appear to share Americans ’ concerns about the U.S. response to the virus .
The European Union has temporarily banned most travelers coming from the U.S. , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other international visitors .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the leading infectious diseases expert in the U.S. , recently said that he ’ s “ cautiously optimistic ” that there will be a vaccine by the end of the year .
But he and the World Health Organization have stressed that the virus may never be fully eradicated .
Stopping COVID-19 outbreaks “ comes down to the basics of public health and disease control , ” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said earlier this month , adding that there will likely be no “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He urged “ testing , isolating and treating patients , and tracing and quarantining their contacts .
Inform , empower and listen to communities .
Do it all.
” President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that the coronavirus will “ disappear ” and has called Fauci an “ alarmist.
” The president continues to spin his administration ’ s response as a success despite the rising numbers of infections , hospitalizations and deaths , as well as the economic shutdown that has led to record unemployment .
During an Axios @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed back against statistics that showed an increase in COVID-19 death rates in the U.S. Once again the president claimed , contrary to public health experts , that the U.S. only has more cases because of greater testing .
Countries in Asia , Latin America and Europe ― including India , Iran , Brazil , Mexico , Colombia , Spain and the United Kingdom ― have also seen increases in daily new cases per capita , according to the Times database .
The database reported in early August that almost twice as many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases over the previous two weeks as had reported a significant decline .
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently postponed plans to further ease lockdown restrictions in England from Aug. 1 to at least Aug. 15 “ in order to keep the virus under control.
” The decision came as the country ’ s Office for National Statistics said England was experiencing an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 tests .
“ I ’ m afraid that in parts of Asia and in Latin America , the virus is gathering pace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also struggling to keep it under control , ” Johnson said on July 31 .
“ As we see these rises around the world , we can ’ t fool ourselves that we are exempt .
We must be willing to react to the first signs of trouble .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
At least 20 million people around the globe have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The latest milestone comes just over a month after the world passed 10 million cases. More than 733,000 people have died from COVID-19 globally.
Advertisement
The U.S. leads with over 5 million confirmed cases and more than 163,000 deaths, making up about a quarter of all COVID-19 cases and deaths in the world. Brazil comes in second, with more than 3 million cases and over 101,000 deaths.
According to a New York Times coronavirus database, the U.S. saw nearly 48,000 new cases on Aug. 3, with many of them concentrated in the South. Several states have continued to reopen their schools and economies despite a surge in cases that began in June.
As the U.S. struggles to contain the virus, data show that Americans increasingly believe that other countries are handling the pandemic better. According to a recent HuffPost/YouGov survey, a 46% plurality of Americans said the U.S. is dealing with the coronavirus worse than other nations. A March poll found that just 28% of Americans held that view, while a May survey put that number at 36%.
World leaders appear to share Americans’ concerns about the U.S. response to the virus. The European Union has temporarily banned most travelers coming from the U.S., even as it begins to open up to other international visitors.
Advertisement
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading infectious diseases expert in the U.S., recently said that he’s “cautiously optimistic” that there will be a vaccine by the end of the year. But he and the World Health Organization have stressed that the virus may never be fully eradicated.
Stopping COVID-19 outbreaks “comes down to the basics of public health and disease control,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said earlier this month, adding that there will likely be no “silver bullet” for destroying the virus. He urged “testing, isolating and treating patients, and tracing and quarantining their contacts. Inform, empower and listen to communities. Do it all.”
President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that the coronavirus will “disappear” and has called Fauci an “alarmist.” The president continues to spin his administration’s response as a success despite the rising numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths, as well as the economic shutdown that has led to record unemployment.
During an Axios interview that aired Aug. 3, Trump pushed back against statistics that showed an increase in COVID-19 death rates in the U.S. Once again the president claimed, contrary to public health experts, that the U.S. only has more cases because of greater testing.
Countries in Asia, Latin America and Europe ― including India, Iran, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Spain and the United Kingdom ― have also seen increases in daily new cases per capita, according to the Times database. The database reported in early August that almost twice as many countries had seen a significant rise in new cases over the previous two weeks as had reported a significant decline.
Advertisement
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently postponed plans to further ease lockdown restrictions in England from Aug. 1 to at least Aug. 15 “in order to keep the virus under control.” The decision came as the country’s Office for National Statistics said England was experiencing an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 tests.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-10--Even White Evangelicals Don't Think Churches Should Be Exempt From Virus Restrictions

Conservative Christian activists have pushed state and local authorities for months to allow houses of worship to reopen on their own terms during the coronavirus pandemic .
But a new survey from the Pew Research Center suggests that most Americans ― including evangelicals ― believe houses of worship shouldn ’ t get special treatment .
About eight in 10 Americans surveyed by Pew ( 79 % ) said that houses of worship should be required to follow the same rules about social distancing and large gatherings as other organizations or businesses in their local area , according to a report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to say the opposite ― that houses of worship should be given more flexibility .
But even among this religious group , the majority ( 62 % ) believed that houses of worship should be held to the same standard as businesses .
Narrowing the data down even further , the majority of white evangelical Protestant respondents ( 59 % ) said that churches should be required to follow the same rules as other establishments in their local area , according to an analysis Pew conducted for HuffPost .
The statistics suggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim coronavirus restrictions are violating congregants ’ religious liberty , many Americans of faith believe authorities do have the right to tell congregations how to worship during a global health crisis .
Most states already have rules in place exempting houses of worship from social distancing orders .
Still , defending the ability of houses of worship to meet in person during the pandemic has become a key concern for the conservative Christian legal movement , which seeks to advance and protect conservative religious values primarily through legal advocacy .
The law firms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on numerous occasions over the past few months to rally and defend churches that want to flout local or state coronavirus restrictions .
With the help of these legal groups , religious leaders ― mostly evangelicals ― have filed lawsuits pushing authorities to loosen restrictions on houses of worship .
So far , their efforts haven ’ t fared well in front of the Supreme Court .
A narrowly divided Court has already rejected two requests from churches ― one in Nevada and another in California ― who claimed state coronavirus restrictions were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s administration has also stepped in to defend churches ’ ability to meet in person during the pandemic .
In May , Trump decried the fact that “ liquor stores and abortion clinics ” were deemed essential in some places while churches were not , and threatened to “ override ” governors who didn ’ t allow churches to reopen .
One of the key sore spots in the debate about reopening churches is what businesses houses of worship should be compared to when assessing safety risks ― if they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live theater , for example .
Health experts agree that given the high-risk activities that typically take place during services ― such as singing and loud talking ― houses of worship are more similar to gatherings like concerts .
The survey of 10,211 adults , conducted between July 13 and July 19 , suggested that even though Americans have the option to attend services in some places , most people of faith are not ready to go back to life as usual .
Among Americans who attend services at least monthly ― whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― only 33 % said they have attended in person within the last month .
White evangelicals who were regular attendees were more likely than other religious groups to say they have attended services in person ( 46 % ) .
Overall , most regular attendees ( 72 % ) decided to tune in online or on television .
Only 6 % of regular attendees said their congregation was open and operating as it was before the pandemic .
Most said their congregations had opened with modifications ( 55 % ) .
White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholics ( 79 % ) were most likely to say that their congregation was open with modifications .
Black Protestants were most likely to say that their congregations were not open for in-person religious services ( 45 % ) .
Regular attendees ’ responses suggested that some commonly recommended measures to stop the virus from spreading aren ’ t particularly popular at reopened houses of worship .
Only 45 % of regular attendees who said their house of worship had opened with modifications said that their congregation was requiring people to practice social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group said that they were required to wear masks .
Only 20 % said there were limits on communal singing ― which experts say is a particularly effective way for the virus to spread .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Conservative Christian activists have pushed state and local authorities for months to allow houses of worship to reopen on their own terms during the coronavirus pandemic. But a new survey from the Pew Research Center suggests that most Americans ― including evangelicals ― believe houses of worship shouldn’t get special treatment.
About eight in 10 Americans surveyed by Pew (79%) said that houses of worship should be required to follow the same rules about social distancing and large gatherings as other organizations or businesses in their local area, according to a report published Friday. Evangelical Protestants were most likely to say the opposite ― that houses of worship should be given more flexibility. But even among this religious group, the majority (62%) believed that houses of worship should be held to the same standard as businesses.
Advertisement
Narrowing the data down even further, the majority of white evangelical Protestant respondents (59%) said that churches should be required to follow the same rules as other establishments in their local area, according to an analysis Pew conducted for HuffPost.
The statistics suggest that, even as some evangelical pastors claim coronavirus restrictions are violating congregants’ religious liberty, many Americans of faith believe authorities do have the right to tell congregations how to worship during a global health crisis.
Pastor Danny Carroll, of California's Water of Life Community Church, prays during a service on Sunday, May 31. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Most states already have rules in place exempting houses of worship from social distancing orders. Still, defending the ability of houses of worship to meet in person during the pandemic has become a key concern for the conservative Christian legal movement, which seeks to advance and protect conservative religious values primarily through legal advocacy. The law firms that spearhead this movement have stepped in on numerous occasions over the past few months to rally and defend churches that want to flout local or state coronavirus restrictions. With the help of these legal groups, religious leaders ― mostly evangelicals ― have filed lawsuits pushing authorities to loosen restrictions on houses of worship.
Advertisement
So far, their efforts haven’t fared well in front of the Supreme Court. A narrowly divided Court has already rejected two requests from churches ― one in Nevada and another in California ― who claimed state coronavirus restrictions were violating their religious liberty.
President Donald Trump’s administration has also stepped in to defend churches’ ability to meet in person during the pandemic. In May, Trump decried the fact that “liquor stores and abortion clinics” were deemed essential in some places while churches were not, and threatened to “override” governors who didn’t allow churches to reopen.
One of the key sore spots in the debate about reopening churches is what businesses houses of worship should be compared to when assessing safety risks ― if they are more similar to grocery stores or to live theater, for example. Health experts agree that given the high-risk activities that typically take place during services ― such as singing and loud talking ― houses of worship are more similar to gatherings like concerts.
Pew’s survey question about whether houses of worship should follow the same rules as businesses did not address what kinds of gatherings respondents should be thinking about.
An "Open for Worship" banner is posted outside the Crossroads Community Church in Yuba City, California, on July 9. (AP Photo/Adam Beam)
Advertisement
The survey of 10,211 adults, conducted between July 13 and July 19, suggested that even though Americans have the option to attend services in some places, most people of faith are not ready to go back to life as usual.
Among Americans who attend services at least monthly ― whom Pew categorized as “regular” worshippers ― only 33% said they have attended in person within the last month. White evangelicals who were regular attendees were more likely than other religious groups to say they have attended services in person (46%). Overall, most regular attendees (72%) decided to tune in online or on television.
Only 6% of regular attendees said their congregation was open and operating as it was before the pandemic. Most said their congregations had opened with modifications (55%). White evangelicals (71%) and white Catholics (79%) were most likely to say that their congregation was open with modifications. Black Protestants were most likely to say that their congregations were not open for in-person religious services (45%).
Parishioners receive the sacrament from the Rev. Luis Gabriel Medina during Communion at Saint Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church in the Queens borough of New York, July 6. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
Regular attendees’ responses suggested that some commonly recommended measures to stop the virus from spreading aren’t particularly popular at reopened houses of worship. Only 45% of regular attendees who said their house of worship had opened with modifications said that their congregation was requiring people to practice social distancing. About 35% of that group said that they were required to wear masks. Only 20% said there were limits on communal singing ― which experts say is a particularly effective way for the virus to spread.
Advertisement
Pew found that many regular attendees want their houses of worship to implement stronger requirements for attendance. Members of this group think their congregations should require people to socially distance (51%), wear masks (44%), and limit or prohibit communal singing (29%).


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-10--Israeli Jeweler Selling Gold Coronavirus Mask For A Mere $1.5 Million

MOTZA , Israel ( AP ) — An Israeli jewelry company is working on what it says will be the world ’ s most expensive coronavirus mask , a gold , diamond-encrusted face covering with a price tag of $ 1.5 million .
The 18-karat white gold mask will be decorated with 3,600 white and black diamonds and fitted with top-rated N99 filters at the request of the buyer , said designer Isaac Levy .
Levy , owner of the Yvel company , said the buyer had two other demands : that it be completed by the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the priciest in the world .
That last condition , he said , “ was the easiest to fulfill.
” He declined to identify the buyer , but said he was a Chinese businessman living in the United States .
The glitzed-up face mask may lend some pizzazz to the protective gear now mandatory in public spaces in many countries .
But at 270 grams ( over half a pound ) — nearly 100 times that of a typical surgical mask — it is not likely to be a practical accessory to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near Jerusalem , Levy showed off several pieces of the mask , covered in diamonds .
One gold plate had a hole for the filter .
“ Money maybe doesn ’ t buy everything , but if it can buy a very expensive COVID-19 mask and the guy wants to wear it and walk around and get the attention , he should be happy with that , ” Levy said .
Such an ostentatious mask might also rub some the wrong way at a time when millions of people around the world are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Levy said that while he would not wear it himself , he was thankful for the opportunity .
“ I am happy that this mask gave us enough work for our employees to be able to provide their jobs in very challenging times like these times right now , ” he said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
MOTZA, Israel (AP) — An Israeli jewelry company is working on what it says will be the world’s most expensive coronavirus mask, a gold, diamond-encrusted face covering with a price tag of $1.5 million.
The 18-karat white gold mask will be decorated with 3,600 white and black diamonds and fitted with top-rated N99 filters at the request of the buyer, said designer Isaac Levy.
Advertisement
Levy, owner of the Yvel company, said the buyer had two other demands: that it be completed by the end of the year, and that it would be the priciest in the world. That last condition, he said, “was the easiest to fulfill.”
He declined to identify the buyer, but said he was a Chinese businessman living in the United States.
The glitzed-up face mask may lend some pizzazz to the protective gear now mandatory in public spaces in many countries. But at 270 grams (over half a pound) — nearly 100 times that of a typical surgical mask — it is not likely to be a practical accessory to wear.
In an interview at his factory near Jerusalem, Levy showed off several pieces of the mask, covered in diamonds. One gold plate had a hole for the filter.
Advertisement
“Money maybe doesn’t buy everything, but if it can buy a very expensive COVID-19 mask and the guy wants to wear it and walk around and get the attention, he should be happy with that,” Levy said.
Such an ostentatious mask might also rub some the wrong way at a time when millions of people around the world are out of work or suffering economically. Levy said that while he would not wear it himself, he was thankful for the opportunity.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-10--Antonio Banderas Says He's Tested Positive For COVID-19 But Feels 'Relatively Well'

The Spanish actor , who has starred in “ The Mask of Zorro ” and “ Evita , ” opened up about his diagnosis on both Twitter and Instagram Monday alongside a throwback photo of himself as a child .
“ Hello everyone , I want to make public that today , August 10 , I ’ m forced to celebrate my 60th birthday following quarantine , having tested positive for COVID-19 , ” Banderas wrote in Spanish .
“ I would like to add that I feel relatively well , just a little more tired than usual and confident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible following the medical indications that I hope will allow me to overcome the infection I ’ m suffering that is affecting so many people around the planet.
” He added , “ I will take advantage of this isolation to read , write , rest and continue making plans to begin to give meaning to my recently debuted 60 years , to which I arrive full of desire and enthusiasm .
A big hug to everyone.
” Banderas , who scored an Oscar nomination for “ Pain and Glory ” earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A-list stars ― including Tom Hanks and Idris Elba ― to test positive for COVID-19 since it was declared a global pandemic .
He later said the experience had influenced his performance as a film director grappling with physical and mental ailments in “ Pain and Glory , ” which also starred actor Penélope Cruz .
“ I had a heart attack two and a half years ago and it changed me in certain ways , yeah , and [ director Pedro Almodóvar ] detected that , and he saw it , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t hide this thing , ’ ” he told The Associated Press last year .
“ I knew exactly what he was talking about , because after you have a heart attack you receive a lot of information on what life is all about that is very difficult to describe in words , but it just set up a new way of understanding life itself , ” he added .
“ You become more raw .
You eliminate things you thought were important in your life , you erase them out @ @ @ @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Antonio Banderas is marking his 60th birthday in quarantine, telling fans he’s tested positive for COVID-19.
The Spanish actor, who has starred in “The Mask of Zorro” and “Evita,” opened up about his diagnosis on both Twitter and Instagram Monday alongside a throwback photo of himself as a child.
Advertisement
“Hello everyone, I want to make public that today, August 10, I’m forced to celebrate my 60th birthday following quarantine, having tested positive for COVID-19,” Banderas wrote in Spanish. “I would like to add that I feel relatively well, just a little more tired than usual and confident that I will recover as soon as possible following the medical indications that I hope will allow me to overcome the infection I’m suffering that is affecting so many people around the planet.”
He added, “I will take advantage of this isolation to read, write, rest and continue making plans to begin to give meaning to my recently debuted 60 years, to which I arrive full of desire and enthusiasm. A big hug to everyone.”
Banderas, who scored an Oscar nomination for “Pain and Glory” earlier this year, joins a growing list of A-list stars ― including Tom Hanks and Idris Elba ― to test positive for COVID-19 since it was declared a global pandemic.
Advertisement
In 2017, the actor revealed he’d suffered a heart attack.
He later said the experience had influenced his performance as a film director grappling with physical and mental ailments in “Pain and Glory,” which also starred actor Penélope Cruz.
“I had a heart attack two and a half years ago and it changed me in certain ways, yeah, and [director Pedro Almodóvar] detected that, and he saw it, and he says, ‘You know, don’t hide this thing,’” he told The Associated Press last year.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-10--Antibody Testing Results Are Rolling In Across Canada. Here’s What We’ve Learned.

Health officials across Canada are rolling out results from the first wave of serology ( also known as antibody ) testing to try and figure out how many people actually were infected with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic .
After someone is infected with a virus such as COVID-19 , their body develops antibodies that could potentially help fight it the next time they are infected .
Therefore , serology testing can give health officials a better idea of the number of people who ’ ve developed antibodies , which indicates they had contracted the virus at some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive .
Antibody testing has its flaws .
Someone might test negative for the antibodies when their body just hasn ’ t developed them yet , while people currently infected with COVID-19 may also test negative .
Current serology testing also relies on blood donor banks and doesn ’ t necessarily reflect the entire population .
For example , Canada ’ s long-term care system has been hardest hit by the virus , and includes a segment of the population unlikely to be donating blood , especially right now .
So antibody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact on that population .
There ’ s also the issue of timing , many of these test results indicate the spread of the virus two months ago .
And scientists are still uncertain on how long antibodies last in the body after someone has COVID-19 .
Still , serology testing is a useful resource for health officials when it comes to better understanding how far the virus has spread .
Federal officials and Canadian Blood Services announced in June that they had found COVID-19 antibodies at a rate of less than one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country , indicating that it was less widespread than some may have thought and preventative measures must remain in place .
A new study released this week showed higher rates of COVID-19 antibodies than general testing would suggest .
The study , conducted by Héma-Québec in collaboration with the Institut national de santé publique , found that 2.23 per cent of 7,691 people who donated blood between May 25 and July 9 had contracted COVID-19 in Quebec .
It ’ s a very small proportion of the population who have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave .
And that means there are many people in the population who are susceptible to being infected .
The majority of those came from people living in Montreal and Laval , areas notably hard-hit by the pandemic .
The study results suggest that in total , at least 124,880 people between the ages of 18 and 69 had been infected between the start of the pandemic and early July .
That ’ s compared to the around 37,00 people who ’ ve actually tested positive .
“ The conclusion is obvious , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s a very small proportion of the population who have been exposed to the virus during the first wave .
And that means there are many people in the population who are susceptible to being infected.
” Serology testing by Public Health Ontario suggested that slightly more than one per cent of the province ’ s population had been infected and had recovered from the novel coronavirus by the end of June , equalling about 160,000 people .
After analyzing more than 9,400 anonymous blood samples in early June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than one per cent of samples contained COVID-19 antibodies .
As a result , they estimated that the province had had around 36,000 cases of COVID-19 by late May .
The province ’ s chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw said that indicated officials had successfully identified around 17.6 per cent of the total cases using COVID-19 testing .
Serology testing conducted by B.C .
Health in late May estimates that around one per cent of the province ’ s residents had been infected at that time .
The joint study was conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the B.C .
Centre for Disease Control , LifeLabs and public health scientists .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Health officials across Canada are rolling out results from the first wave of serology (also known as antibody) testing to try and figure out how many people actually were infected with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
After someone is infected with a virus such as COVID-19, their body develops antibodies that could potentially help fight it the next time they are infected. Therefore, serology testing can give health officials a better idea of the number of people who’ve developed antibodies, which indicates they had contracted the virus at some point, rather than just those who tested positive.
Advertisement
Antibody testing has its flaws. Someone might test negative for the antibodies when their body just hasn’t developed them yet, while people currently infected with COVID-19 may also test negative. Current serology testing also relies on blood donor banks and doesn’t necessarily reflect the entire population.
The presence of COVID-19 antibodies in blood indicates that someone has already had COVID-19. howtogoto via Getty Images
For example, Canada’s long-term care system has been hardest hit by the virus, and includes a segment of the population unlikely to be donating blood, especially right now. So antibody testing results may not reflect the total impact on that population.
There’s also the issue of timing, many of these test results indicate the spread of the virus two months ago. And scientists are still uncertain on how long antibodies last in the body after someone has COVID-19.
Advertisement
Still, serology testing is a useful resource for health officials when it comes to better understanding how far the virus has spread. Federal officials and Canadian Blood Services announced in June that they had found COVID-19 antibodies at a rate of less than one per cent, using 10,000 samples from across the country, indicating that it was less widespread than some may have thought and preventative measures must remain in place.
Here are what some provinces have found from antibody testing so far:
Quebec:
A new study released this week showed higher rates of COVID-19 antibodies than general testing would suggest. The study, conducted by Héma-Québec in collaboration with the Institut national de santé publique, found that 2.23 per cent of 7,691 people who donated blood between May 25 and July 9 had contracted COVID-19 in Quebec.
“It’s a very small proportion of the population who have been exposed to the virus during the first wave. And that means there are many people in the population who are susceptible to being infected.” - Hema-Quebec vice-president Dr. Marc Germain
The majority of those came from people living in Montreal and Laval, areas notably hard-hit by the pandemic. The study results suggest that in total, at least 124,880 people between the ages of 18 and 69 had been infected between the start of the pandemic and early July. That’s compared to the around 37,00 people who’ve actually tested positive.
Hema-Quebec vice-president Dr. Marc Germain said the study results show we must remain vigilant.
“The conclusion is obvious,” Germain said in an interview Wednesday. “It’s a very small proportion of the population who have been exposed to the virus during the first wave. And that means there are many people in the population who are susceptible to being infected.”
Advertisement
Ontario:
Serology testing by Public Health Ontario suggested that slightly more than one per cent of the province’s population had been infected and had recovered from the novel coronavirus by the end of June, equalling about 160,000 people.
The study’s sample size was small — only 7,000 blood samples were tested. Of those, 79 showed the antibodies for COVID-19.
Alberta:
After analyzing more than 9,400 anonymous blood samples in early June, officials in Alberta found that less than one per cent of samples contained COVID-19 antibodies. As a result, they estimated that the province had had around 36,000 cases of COVID-19 by late May. The province’s chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw said that indicated officials had successfully identified around 17.6 per cent of the total cases using COVID-19 testing.
“This data is an indication that our current PCR testing program is highly effective and is identifying a higher percentage of positive cases than programs in other jurisdictions,” Hinshaw said.
British Columbia:
Serology testing conducted by B.C. Health in late May estimates that around one per cent of the province’s residents had been infected at that time. The joint study was conducted by the University of British Columbia, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, LifeLabs and public health scientists.
Advertisement
They estimate that around eight times more B.C. residents had contracted that virus by late May than viral testing suggested.
B.C. chief medical officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the results indicated that the province’s strategies to fight the virus were working.
“We have just minimized the impact of this first wave very effectively,” she said in mid-July.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-10--Big Ten To Cancel College Football Season Over Coronavirus Concerns: Reports

The Big Ten presidents voted 12-2 to not play this fall , according to longtime sports personality Dan Patrick , who first reported the news on Monday .
Patrick said that the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences will cancel their seasons on Tuesday .
The two schools in the league that voted to play this fall were the University of Nebraska and the University of Iowa .
“ The ACC and the Big 12 are on the fence , ” Patrick said on his show .
“ The SEC is trying to get a delay to have teams join them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV contracts.
” The decision comes about a week after the Big Ten released an updated 10-game conference-only schedule for this year , and just a few days after the conference opened fall camp .
The conference released a statement on Saturday saying that “ all institutions will remain in the first two days of the acclimatization period in football ” throughout preseason practice .
“ Each new phase of activity provides new intelligence and experience and allows us to evaluate the implementation of our Conference and institutional medical protocols in real-time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to make the right health and safety decisions for our student-athletes , we believe it is best to continue in the appropriate phase of activity referenced above while we digest and share information from each campus to ensure we are moving forward cautiously.
” On Sunday evening , college football players started the viral hashtag # WeWantToPlay that pushes back against not having a fall football season .
A coalition of players from all five conferences shared a flyer on social media listing demands they require in order to play ― including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ athletes from COVID-19 , and the goal to “ ultimately create a college football players ’ association.
” Student athletes across the country are already opting out of playing because of worries about how coronavirus can impact their health .
The Free Press reported that four Michigan State University players said they refused to participate in the 2020 season , and Indiana University offensive lineman Brady Feeney urged schools and players “ to listen to our medical experts.
” “ When we were trying to think about ways to make it safe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was kind of more control of the virus , and you ’ ve got less control of the virus now than we had several months earlier during when the stay-at-home orders were just starting to be lifted , ” Adalja told the newspaper .
“ And then the other thing that ’ s made it much more difficult is football is a contact sport , which is going to require some amount of testing of players .
The turnaround times for outpatient testing are really unacceptable for being able to safely clear somebody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-Neb . )
, a former university president , drafted a letter he plans to send to Big Ten presidents regarding the decision .
A copy of the letter obtained by Sports Illustrated states that the conference should not cancel the college football season because the “ structure and discipline ” of athletic programs are likely safer than the lived experience of those students without a season .
“ Canceling the fall season would mean closing down socially-distanced , structured programs for these athletes , ” Sasse wrote , according to the copy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from universities that are uniquely positioned to provide them with testing and health care.
” “ Not only should they make the best decision for themselves and not let the Big Ten lead them into canceling sports , what they should do is they sould reach out to all the Big Ten athletes and say , ‘ Hey , we ’ re playing , ’ ” DeSantis told Outkick ’ s Clay Travis on Fox Sports Radio .
“ I mean , at the end of the day , I think you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s parts of the country that won ’ t allow the opportunity in other parts .
You ’ re already seeing you have some high school athletes that are moving from California to Georgia and stuff .
I think you ’ ll see that happen .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The Big Ten conference voted Tuesday to cancel its 2020-2021 fall sports season over COVID-19 concerns.
The Big Ten presidents voted 12-2 to not play this fall, according to longtime sports personality Dan Patrick, who first reported the news on Monday. Patrick said that the two schools in the league that voted to play football this fall were the University of Nebraska and the University of Iowa. The Detroit Free Press separately confirmed reports of the canceled season before the conference released its own statement.
Advertisement
“The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been at the center of every decision we have made regarding the ability to proceed forward,” Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said in the statement. “As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee, it became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this fall.”
In addition to football, the fall sports included in the cancelation are men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, soccer and volleyball.
The conferences included in the National Collegiate Athletic Association are the Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Pac-12 Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC). The leagues are often collectively referred to as the “Power Five.”
“The ACC and the Big 12 are on the fence,” Patrick said on his show. “The SEC is trying to get a delay to have teams join them. The SEC is looking for exclusive TV contracts.”
Advertisement
DP was told an hour ago that the Big 10 and Pac 12 will cancel their football seasons tomorrow... The ACC and the Big 12 are on the fence.. And the SEC is trying to get teams to join them for a season.
Watch live: https://t.co/sMaeXQkLfl pic.twitter.com/oSUNGMTEqw — Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) August 10, 2020
The decision comes about a week after the Big Ten released an updated 10-game conference-only schedule for this year, and just a few days after the conference opened fall camp. The conference released a statement on Saturday saying that “all institutions will remain in the first two days of the acclimatization period in football” throughout preseason practice.
“Each new phase of activity provides new intelligence and experience and allows us to evaluate the implementation of our Conference and institutional medical protocols in real-time,” the statement read. “In order to make the right health and safety decisions for our student-athletes, we believe it is best to continue in the appropriate phase of activity referenced above while we digest and share information from each campus to ensure we are moving forward cautiously.”
On Sunday evening, college football players started the viral hashtag #WeWantToPlay, pushing back against not having a fall football season. A coalition of players from all five conferences shared a flyer on social media listing demands they require in order to play ― including universal health and safety protocols to protect athletes from COVID-19, and the goal to “ultimately create a college football players’ association.”
Advertisement
“Give players the opportunity to opt out and respect their decision,” the flyer read, according to a tweet by Clemson University football player Trevor Lawrence. “Guarantee eligibility whether a player chooses to lay the season or not.”
President Donald Trump joined in on the hashtag, tweeting in response to Lawrence that the “student-athletes have been working too hard for their season to be cancelled.”
Student-athletes across the country are already opting out of playing because of worries about how coronavirus can impact their health. The Free Press reported that four Michigan State University players said they refused to participate in the 2020 season, and Indiana University offensive lineman Brady Feeney urged schools and players “to listen to our medical experts.”
“Covid-19 is serious,” tweeted Feeney, who is experiencing COVID-19-related heart issues. “I never thought that I would have serious health complications from this virus, but look at what happened.”
Covid-19 is serious. I never thought that I would have serious health complications from this virus, but look at what happened.🤦♂ We need to listen to our medical experts. https://t.co/iP0XalEp2D — Brady Feeney (@brady_feeney) August 10, 2020
Advertisement
“We know how significant the student-athlete experience can be in shaping the future of the talented young women and men who compete in the Big Ten Conference. Although that knowledge made this a painstaking decision, it did not make it difficult,” Warren said in the statement. “While I know our decision today will be disappointing in many ways for our thousands of student-athletes and their families, I am heartened and inspired by their resilience, their insightful and discerning thoughts, and their participation through our conversations to this point.”
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), a former university president, drafted a letter he plans to send to Big Ten presidents regarding the decision. A copy of the letter obtained by Sports Illustrated states that the conference should not cancel the college football season because the “structure and discipline” of athletic programs are likely safer than the lived experience of those students without a season.
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) has drafted a letter that he plans to send to Big Ten presidents, identifying reasons why he believes college football should be played.@SINow obtained a copy.
Sasse is a former university president. pic.twitter.com/xrpRjiWREf — Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 10, 2020
“Canceling the fall season would mean closing down socially-distanced, structured programs for these athletes,” Sasse wrote, according to the copy. “Young men will be pushed away from universities that are uniquely positioned to provide them with testing and health care.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Monday that the ACC and SEC should not join the Big Ten in canceling the season, but rather recruit those leagues’ student-athletes. Those conferences include the University of Florida and Florida State University.
Advertisement
Florida governor @RonDeSantisFL joined @ClayTravis on Outkick radio this morning. Governor DeSantis said ACC and SEC should not only not follow Big Ten in canceling the season, but also recruit their student athletes. Listen/read here: https://t.co/IbfEor605B — OutKick (@Outkick) August 10, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-10--Video Captures Lebanese Priest's Horror As Blast Rocked Church

The video shows Father Rabih Thoumy swinging a chain censer sending smoke into the air when abruptly there is a rumble and then a loud bang as the shockwave from Beirut ’ s devastating explosion slams into the church .
Thoumy darts for cover as stained glass and other debris fall from above .
The camera tips over , coming to rest focused on a carpeting of glass shards covering the floor .
The world witnessed fleeting glimpses of the horror wrought on the Lebanese people on Tuesday through videos that circulated widely online , among them that dramatic footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saint Maron-Baouchrieh church .
“ If we hadn ’ t run quickly ... we would have been more badly hurt , ” Thoumy , who suffered minor injuries on his head from the glass , told The Associated Press .
“ God has saved us.
” The Tuesday evening mass — only about 10 people were present with the church closed to worshippers amid the coronavirus pandemic — had begun just minutes earlier when the church started shaking .
Then it felt like it was swaying .
Church priest , Father Marwan Mouawad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and the glass rattled and then came crashing down .
A gust of dusty wind — “ like a storm , ” he said — buffeted him as shards fell on his back .
A nun was also injured in the head .
It was neither .
The massive blast was apparently the ignition of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate , a chemical used for explosives and fertilizer , that had been stored at the Beirut port .
At least 160 people were killed and thousands injured with many more left homeless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and country already reeling from severe economic turmoil and the coronavirus pandemic and related woes .
When he finally left the church , he found what he likened to a “ ghost city ” of blown-out buildings and damaged cars .
Later he learned that many members of the church ’ s congregation had been injured elsewhere .
Like other faith communities around the world , the church was already struggling due to the pandemic .
It closed to worshippers before reopening with limited capacity , and then closing again as cases increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plate money have dried up as parishioners increasingly struggled to stay afloat themselves .
Now , it faces increased needs from congregation members , many asking for help with food , medicine or repairing homes damaged by the explosion .
While the church has yet to begin its own repairs due to financial constraints , it reopened Friday to worshippers with limits on numbers .
Only a smattering of the faithful attended service that day .
Some didn ’ t know early enough that the church had reopened ; others may have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tears and shock .
“ We see our people dying .
We see our people going hungry , ” Mouawad said .
“ We try to do the work but we have very limited capabilities .
... We can not replace the role of the state , ” which is not meeting the people ’ s needs , he said .
But amid hardship he still sees God ’ s work , such as in the man who recently called offering to donate food for the needy just when the church had run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kitchen .
“ If there was no faith , we wouldn ’ t have been able to remain steadfast despite all these crises , ” he said .
“ The people say ‘ we rely on God and God will , for sure , not abandon us .
’ ”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The video shows Father Rabih Thoumy swinging a chain censer sending smoke into the air when abruptly there is a rumble and then a loud bang as the shockwave from Beirut’s devastating explosion slams into the church.
Thoumy darts for cover as stained glass and other debris fall from above. The camera tips over, coming to rest focused on a carpeting of glass shards covering the floor.
Advertisement
The world witnessed fleeting glimpses of the horror wrought on the Lebanese people on Tuesday through videos that circulated widely online, among them that dramatic footage as Thoumy celebrated Mass via livestream from Saint Maron-Baouchrieh church.
“If we hadn’t run quickly ... we would have been more badly hurt,” Thoumy, who suffered minor injuries on his head from the glass, told The Associated Press. “God has saved us.”
The Tuesday evening mass — only about 10 people were present with the church closed to worshippers amid the coronavirus pandemic — had begun just minutes earlier when the church started shaking. Then it felt like it was swaying.
Advertisement
Church priest, Father Marwan Mouawad was chanting off-camera when the lights went out and the glass rattled and then came crashing down. A gust of dusty wind — “like a storm,” he said — buffeted him as shards fell on his back. A nun was also injured in the head.
“For a second we thought it was an earthquake,” Mouawad said. “Then we thought it could be an explosion targeting a politician.”
It was neither. The massive blast was apparently the ignition of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used for explosives and fertilizer, that had been stored at the Beirut port.
At least 160 people were killed and thousands injured with many more left homeless in a devastating blow to a city and country already reeling from severe economic turmoil and the coronavirus pandemic and related woes.
Inside the church, wooden pews that in normal times would have been full of worshippers were left littered and deeply scratched by the jagged glass.
Advertisement
“If there were (more) people,” Mouawad said, “we would have definitely seen deaths.”
Lebanese priest Marwan Mouawad speaks during Sunday Mass at Saint Maron-Baouchrieh Church, which was damaged by last Tuesday's explosion that hit the Beirut seaport. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
When he finally left the church, he found what he likened to a “ghost city” of blown-out buildings and damaged cars. Later he learned that many members of the church’s congregation had been injured elsewhere.
Like other faith communities around the world, the church was already struggling due to the pandemic. It closed to worshippers before reopening with limited capacity, and then closing again as cases increased in the country. Donations and collection plate money have dried up as parishioners increasingly struggled to stay afloat themselves.
Now, it faces increased needs from congregation members, many asking for help with food, medicine or repairing homes damaged by the explosion.
While the church has yet to begin its own repairs due to financial constraints, it reopened Friday to worshippers with limits on numbers. Only a smattering of the faithful attended service that day. Some didn’t know early enough that the church had reopened; others may have been scared, said Mouawad. There were tears and shock.
Advertisement
“They all said the same thing: ‘Thank God that He has saved you.’”
People pray as they attend a Sunday Mass at Saint Maron-Baouchrieh Church in Beirut's Baouchrieh neighborhood on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Even before the blast, Lebanon has struggled.
“We see our people dying. We see our people going hungry,” Mouawad said. “We try to do the work but we have very limited capabilities. ... We cannot replace the role of the state,” which is not meeting the people’s needs, he said.
But amid hardship he still sees God’s work, such as in the man who recently called offering to donate food for the needy just when the church had run out of supplies for its twice-a-week soup kitchen.
“If there was no faith, we wouldn’t have been able to remain steadfast despite all these crises,” he said. “The people say ‘we rely on God and God will, for sure, not abandon us.’”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-10--Coronavirus Live Updates: Nearly 100,000 U.S. Children Tested Positive For COVID-19 In 2 Weeks

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and its effects .
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below .
( To see the latest updates , you may need to refresh the page .
All times are Eastern .
For earlier updates on the pandemic , go here . )
There are now more than 20 million COVID-19 cases worldwide , a tally by Johns Hopkins University reported Monday .
More than one-quarter of those cases are in the United States .
Brazil and India trail the U.S. , with 3 million and 2.2 million cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tested Positive For COVID-19 In Last 2 Weeks Of July — 8/10/20 , 7:42 a.m .
ET More than 97,000 children in the U.S. tested positive for the coronavirus in the last two weeks of July , according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children ’ s Hospital Association , as schools around the country grapple with if or how they can safely reopen this fall .
The report included data from 49 states , Washington D.C. , Puerto Rico and Guam .
But it didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently a virus hotspot , so the number of confirmed cases involving children could be much higher .
Dr. Sonia Angell , the head of California ’ s public health department , resigned late Sunday , the Associated Press reports .
While she didn ’ t give a reason , her departure comes days after the state announced a fix to a technical glitch that was causing coronavirus test data to become backlogged .
Some 300,000 records had become backlogged in the system , which is used to make decisions about reopening businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records were coronavirus cases , though .
Trump Adviser Calls Testing In U.S. ‘ A Miracle ’ Despite Long Waits ― 8/9/20 , 12 p.m .
ET White House national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien praised the Trump administration ’ s coronavirus testing apparatus , calling it “ a miracle , ” despite widespread reports of test results taking days or even weeks to process .
In his first TV interview since recovering from COVID-19 , O ’ Brien was asked how long before the average American is able to access speedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or professional athletes can .
“ Well , we ’ re working on testing , ” O ’ Brien told CBS News ’ “ Face the Nation.
” “ I think what ’ s happening with testing in America is really a miracle .
I mean we haven ’ t ― there ’ s no country in the world that comes close to what America is doing on testing .
But we ’ re working on getting more testing out there.
” The country ’ s coronavirus testing systems have been overwhelmed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , creating multiday backlogs .
For some workers , the delays are causing them to miss paychecks as they await results so they can return to work .

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and its effects.
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below. (To see the latest updates, you may need to refresh the page. All times are Eastern. For earlier updates on the pandemic, go here.)
Italy Imposes First New Restrictions Since Reopening — 8/17/20, 6 a.m. ET
Italy will shut discos and clubs and make it compulsory to wear a mask outdoors in some areas during the night in the first reimposition of restrictions as cases of coronavirus pick up across the country, especially among younger people.
New cases in the past week in Italy, the first European country to be hit hard by the coronavirus, were more than double those registered three weeks ago and the median age of people contracting the virus has dropped below 40, data showed.
The new rules will start on Monday — two days after an Italian holiday when many young Italians go out dancing — and will run until early September.
Masks will be required between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. in areas close to bars and pubs and where gatherings are more likely.
HuffPost Italy reports (in Italian) that the twin factors of the continuous increase in new positives (3,351 in the last week, with daily peaks not recorded since May) and increases in neighboring European countries forced the government to act.
“We cannot nullify the sacrifices made in past months. Our priority must be that of opening schools in September, in full safety,” Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Facebook.
Since its outbreak came to light on Feb. 21, Italy has recorded more than 35,000 deaths.
— James Martin
New Zealand Postpones General Election — 8/17/20, 5:30 a.m. ET
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced a four-week delay to the general election in New Zealand as the country tackles a new coronavirus outbreak.
“Ultimately, the 17th of October ... provides sufficient time for parties to plan around the range of circumstances we will be campaigning under,” Ardern said in a news conference. The election had been scheduled to be held Sept. 19.
Pressure had been mounting on Ardern to postpone the vote amid the resurgence of COVID-19 infections in New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland, after the country had been free of coronavirus cases for 102 days.
The main opposition National Party had called for a delay after it was forced to cancel campaign events due to restrictions on movement and crowds. It has accused Ardern of using the crisis to shore up support.
New Zealand law requires the election to be held before Nov. 21, however Ardern added she did not intend to change the election date again.
Read more
— Carly Williams
FDA Approves Yale’s Saliva Test For Emergency Use — 8/16/20, 8:55 a.m. ET
The Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization to Yale School of Public Health’s saliva test to detect COVID-19, after a trial on NBA players and staff.
SalivaDirect, the fifth saliva test approved by the FDA for the disease, requires no swab or collection device and uses spit from people suspected of having the coronavirus, the agency said in a statement Saturday.
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn called the test “groundbreaking” in its efficiency and in being unaffected by crucial component shortages.
Read more from Reuters.
― Hayley Miller
CDC Clarifies Guidance On The Protections Recovered COVID-19 Patients Have — 8/15/20, 6:25 p.m. ET
People who have recovered from COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested for the virus for up to three months after recovery so long as they do not develop symptoms again, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said earlier this month.
The guidance suggested that recovered patients are likely protected to some degree from the virus in that time span.
But the agency was forced to issue a clarification Friday to point out explicitly that does not mean recovered COVID-19 patients are immune from the virus in the months after their illness. “This science does not imply a person is immune to reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the three months following infection,” the CDC said in a statement.
“The latest data simply suggests that retesting someone in the three months following initial infection is not necessary unless that person is exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19 and the symptoms cannot be associated with another illness.”
Recovered patients who are not infectious to others can nevertheless continue to test positive for months, the CDC said.
— Sara Boboltz
Museums, Other Cultural Centers To Reopen In New York City — 8/15/20, 11:50 a.m. ET
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday that museums, aquariums and other cultural centers in New York City will reopen in the coming weeks.
“Low-risk cultural activities, museums, aquariums, other low risk cultural arts can reopen in New York City Aug. 24 so they can get their protocols in place,” Cuomo said on a conference call with reporters.
The newly reopened centers will operate at 25% capacity and will issue timed ticketing with staggered entry. Face masks will be required inside.
Bowling alleys will open on Monday, operating at 50% capacity. Cuomo said he will also lay out plans to reopen gyms on Monday.
Once the epicenter of the virus in the U.S., New York has seen a dramatic decrease in coronavirus cases and deaths in the last few months thanks to practices including social distancing and wearing masks in public.
— Sebastian Murdock
PPE, Testing Supplies, Ventilators And More On FDA’s Shortages List ― 8/14/20, 6:35 p.m. ET
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a list Friday of all the medical devices the country is running low on.
On that list are various types of personal protective equipment needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, including masks, surgical gowns and gloves. Other items in short supply include ventilators, respirators, sterile swabs and other testing supplies.
The FDA is not saying who manufactures each item because doing so “will adversely affect the public health by increasing the potential for hoarding or other disruptions in device availability to patients.”
This is the first time the FDA has published such a list. Releasing it became mandatory under the CARES Act signed into law in March.
― Lydia O’Connor
New Jersey Election To Be Done Primarily Through Mail-In Votes — 8/14/20, 12:00 p.m. ET
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said everyone in the state will get a mail-in ballot for the November presidential election in an effort to keep people safe from the coronavirus.
“It doesn’t matter what party you’re in, everybody gets a ballot,” Murphy told CNN on Friday.
Murphy suggested that in-person voting will only be done with provisional ballots, meaning voters will have to go to one of a reduced number of polling places to cast a vote, according to The Associated Press.
This year, a record 76% of all Americans will be eligible to vote by mail in the upcoming election due to the virus, The New York Times reported. That hasn’t stopped President Donald Trump from attempting to stop mail-in voting, falsely claiming the practice leads to voter fraud even as the president himself has taken advantage of voting by mail.
Earlier this week, Trump seemingly admitted to sabotaging the United States Postal Service in an attempt to stop mail-in voting by cutting its funding and removing mail sorting machines.
“Now they need that money in order to make the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said Thursday in an interview on Fox Business. “But if they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting.”
— Sebastian Murdock
Fresh Blow For Europe’s Struggling Tourism Industry — 8/14/20, 6:45 a.m. ET
Attempts to revive tourism in Europe have been dealt a fresh blow after the British government added France, the Netherlands and Malta to a growing list of countries requiring returning holidaymakers to quarantine for 14 days.
The decision comes a month after ministers announced that travelers arriving in the U.K. from Spain would have to quarantine, essentially blocking holidays to the two most popular destinations for British tourists.
The decision to add France will cause dismay for thousands of British holidaymakers currently in the country. It was made in response to the spread of the virus, with the latest 14-day cumulative figures showing 32.1 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people in France, compared with 18.5 in the U.K.
The move will come as a bitter blow to the hard-pressed French tourism industry which relies heavily on visitors from the U.K., and could lead to “reciprocal measures” from France against British tourists.
An estimated 160,000 holidaymakers are expected to look to return to the U.K. from France before the quarantine deadline on 4 a.m. Saturday.
Read more
— Jasmin Gray
Joe Biden Calls For Nationwide Mask Mandate ‘Immediately’ — 8/13/20, 6:25 P.M. ET
Joe Biden called for a nationwide mask mandate on Thursday and urged all Americans to wear protective face masks for at least the next three months as the coronavirus pandemic continues to take lives.
“Every single American should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months, at a minimum,” the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware.
“This is not about Democrats, Republicans or independents. It’s about saving Americans’ lives,” he said. “Let’s institute a mask mandate, nationwide, starting immediately, and we will save lives.”
Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) were in Wilmington to hold their second public appearance together since he announced the senator as his running mate.
The federal government’s response to the pandemic is sure to be a hot topic as Biden moves closer to accepting the Democratic presidential nomination next week and becoming President Donald Trump’s official opponent.
Back in June, Biden said that, as president, he “would do everything possible” to require people to wear masks in public.
— Carla Russo
U.K. To Test New Contact-Tracing App — 8/13/20, 12 p.m. ET
The U.K. is set to begin trials of a new contact-tracing app after ditching efforts to develop its own technology in June amid accuracy issues and concerns about privacy.
The app will include alerts based on postcode, QR check-in at venues, a symptom checker and a way to book tests, using Google- and Apple-developed technology.
Trials will begin Thursday on the Isle of Wight and with volunteer health workers across England, followed shortly by people in the London borough of Newham ― one of the most diverse and densely populated communities in Europe. The second version adopts an Apple and Google-developed system ― already used in several countries around the world ― that handles data in a more privacy-friendly manner, using Bluetooth to keep an anonymous log of people a user has been close to that they may not know, such as a stranger on a bus.
It will log the time and distance a user has spent near anyone, even if they don’t know them, so it can alert them if necessary if that person later tests positive for COVID-19.
Read more on HuffPost U.K.
— Ned Simons and Rachel Wearmouth
AMC Theaters To Reopen Some Locations Next Week — 8/13/20, 8:42 a.m. ET
AMC, the nation’s largest movie theater chain, is set to reopen about one-sixth of its U.S. locations next Thursday, offering 15-cent tickets to entice moviegoers, the company said Thursday.
Regal, the second-largest movie theater chain, is also reopening some of its locations next Friday. Both companies have said they will enact COVID-19 safety measures, such as requiring face masks and reducing capacity.
But it’s unclear to what degree movie theaters can reopen nationwide. Large indoor spaces are among those at highest risk for spreading the virus.
Read more from the Associated Press.
— Marina Fang
U.S. Reports Highest Single-Day Death Toll Since May — 8/13/20, 2:30 a.m. ET
The U.S. saw its highest one-day death toll from the novel coronavirus since May on Wednesday. According to figures released by Johns Hopkins University, more than 1,500 people died in the past 24 hours from COVID-19.
The death toll in a 24-hour period hasn’t been that high since May 27 when such rates began to decline due to a spate of lockdown measures across the country. Fatalities have risen in recent weeks, however, as the country reopened and cases surged, forcing some regions to scale back such measures.
Despite the bleak milestone on Wednesday, President Donald Trump once again spent the day urging schools and businesses across the country to reopen, noting he wanted to watch college football this fall.
“We’ve got to open up our schools and open up our businesses,” Trump said at the White House. “All schools should be making plans to resume in-person classes as soon as possible.”
— Nick Visser
3 In 10 Laid-Off Americans Worried About Food And Housing: Poll — 8/12/20, 4:15 p.m. ET
Three in 10 Americans who lost their jobs during the coronavirus crisis this year said they will have “a very difficult time meeting basic needs,” including paying for groceries or rent, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Half of those surveyed said they were financially stressed but will be able to make ends meet.
Results of the poll, conducted Monday and Tuesday, come nearly two weeks after a $600 weekly enhanced unemployment benefit was allowed to expire with no replacement plan in sight. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said earlier Wednesday that Democrats and Republicans are “miles apart” on reaching a deal on a fresh round of pandemic relief.
Respondents pinned blame fairly evenly on all parties involved in the negotiations.
— Sara Boboltz
Fauci Expresses Doubt About Safety Of Russian Vaccine — 8/12/20, 7 a.m. ET
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that having a vaccine and proving that it’s safe and effective are two different things, casting doubts on Russia’s claim on Tuesday that it has a vaccine ready for use.
In a preview of an interview for National Geographic released Tuesday, Fauci said the U.S. had more than half a dozen vaccines in development, and could start administering them as soon as “next week” if “we wanted to take the chance of hurting a lot of people, or giving them something that doesn’t work. But, that’s not the way it works.”
“So, I hope, but I haven’t heard any evidence to make me feel that’s the case, I hope that the Russians have actually, definitively proven that the vaccine is safe and effective,” Fauci continued. “I seriously doubt that they’ve done that.”
Read more here.
— Lee Moran
Florida, Georgia Both Surpass Daily Coronavirus Death Toll Records — 8/11/20, 7 p.m. ET
Florida and Georgia both set new records for their daily death tolls due to the coronavirus pandemic, health officials said Tuesday.
Florida, one of the nation’s ongoing epicenters of the COVID-19 crisis, said 276 people had died in a 24-hour period ending Tuesday, higher than the previous death toll record set on July 31. The state has seen more than 542,000 cases and 8,500 deaths.
Georgia, which was one of the first states to reopen under orders from Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, said 137 people had died, surpassing the state’s record that was set just last week. More than 4,200 people have died in Georgia due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Cases of COVID-19 are still rising in some states and territories, and health officials have long warned that while other states may have seen surges decrease, the number of deaths attributed to infections lags just behind such peaks.
— Nick Visser
Local Transmission Of Virus Breaks Out Again In New Zealand After 102 Days — 8/11/20, 7:30 a.m. ET
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Tuesday that four coronavirus cases have been found in an Auckland household with no history of overseas travel, the first cases in 102 days, the Associated Press reports.
Auckland, the country’s largest city, will go into lockdown until Friday, with people asked to stay at home and bars and many other businesses closed. The rest of the country will be banned from gatherings of more than 100 and people will need to social distance from each other.
“We had all hoped not to find ourselves in this position again. But we had also prepared for it. And as a team, we have also been here before,” Ardern said.
— Liza Hearon
Russia Claims Vaccine Is Ready For Use Despite Lack Of Phase 3 Testing — 8/11/20, 6 a.m. ET
Russia has registered a coronavirus vaccine and declared it safe for use, despite international skepticism about the testing of it, the Associated Press reported.
President Vladimir Putin said one of his two daughters had participated in the experiment and received the vaccine.“I would like to repeat that it has passed all the necessary tests,” he said. “The most important thing is to ensure full safety of using the vaccine and its efficiency.”
Scientists have voiced concern about Russia potentially rushing a vaccine before the end of Phase 3 trials, which typically take months and involve thousands of people.
Russia has recorded over 890,000 cases of coronavirus and reported nearly 15,000 deaths.
— Liza Hearon
Coronavirus Cases Top 20 Million Worldwide — 8/10/2020, 8:35 p.m. ET
There are now more than 20 million COVID-19 cases worldwide, a tally by Johns Hopkins University reported Monday. More than one-quarter of those cases are in the United States. Brazil and India trail the U.S., with 3 million and 2.2 million cases, respectively.
— Lydia O’Connor
California Governor Won’t Say Why State’s Public Health Director Resigned ― 8/10/2020, 4:35 p.m. ET California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) remained tightlipped when asked Monday to explain the sudden resignation of the state’s public health director, Dr. Sonia Angell. “I try not to have personnel discussions in public,” he said when a reporter asked him if he requested she step down. Angell resigned Sunday night after news broke that a series of data failures had led to a backlog of around 300,000 coronavirus test results in California. “Forgive me for being human here,” Newsom said when another reporter pressed him to elaborate. “I’m governor; the buck stops with me,” he added, noting he wanted to maintain respect for Angell, whom he said he considers to be a friend. He offered slightly more clarity when a third reporter challenged him, saying Californians deserved to know the circumstances of Angell’s departure. Newsom hinted Angell had to take the fall for the data glitch. “We’re all accountable for our respective roles, for what happened underneath us,” he said. Newsom also noted that the state had seen a 19% decrease in hospitalizations related to COVID-19 in the last two weeks. — Lydia O’Connor
Almost 100,000 U.S. Children Tested Positive For COVID-19 In Last 2 Weeks Of July — 8/10/20, 7:42 a.m. ET
More than 97,000 children in the U.S. tested positive for the coronavirus in the last two weeks of July, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association, as schools around the country grapple with if or how they can safely reopen this fall.
The report included data from 49 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam. But it didn’t include complete data from Texas, currently a virus hotspot, so the number of confirmed cases involving children could be much higher.
Read more here.
— Marina Fang
California Public Health Director Resigns — 8/10/20, 5:50 a.m. ET
Dr. Sonia Angell, the head of California’s public health department, resigned late Sunday, the Associated Press reports. While she didn’t give a reason, her departure comes days after the state announced a fix to a technical glitch that was causing coronavirus test data to become backlogged.
Some 300,000 records had become backlogged in the system, which is used to make decisions about reopening businesses and schools. Not all of the records were coronavirus cases, though.
— Liza Hearon
Trump Adviser Calls Testing In U.S. ‘A Miracle’ Despite Long Waits ― 8/9/20, 12 p.m. ET
White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien praised the Trump administration’s coronavirus testing apparatus, calling it “a miracle,” despite widespread reports of test results taking days or even weeks to process.
In his first TV interview since recovering from COVID-19, O’Brien was asked how long before the average American is able to access speedy, asymptomatic testing like White House officials or professional athletes can.
“Well, we’re working on testing,” O’Brien told CBS News’ “Face the Nation.” “I think what’s happening with testing in America is really a miracle. I mean we haven’t ― there’s no country in the world that comes close to what America is doing on testing. But we’re working on getting more testing out there.”
The country’s coronavirus testing systems have been overwhelmed in recent weeks by a surge in demand, creating multiday backlogs. For some workers, the delays are causing them to miss paychecks as they await results so they can return to work.