upi--2020-06-01--Trump threatens to deploy military in response to George Floyd protests

June 1 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump on Monday evening declared he was mobilizing all federal resources in response to protests over the police-involved killing of George Floyd and encouraged all governors to deploy the National Guard in their states .
Trump called on mayors and governors to establish an `` overwhelming law enforcement presence '' and said he will deploy the United States military if state and local governments do not `` take the action necessary to defend the life and property of their residents . ''
`` My first and highest duty as president is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , '' Trump said .
`` I swore an oath to uphold the laws of our nation and that is exactly what I will do . ''
In order to activate the military to operate in the United States , Trump would have to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 , which White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany had earlier described as `` one of the tools available '' to the president .
Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker pushed back on the legality of Trump 's declaration saying the state would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal , he ca n't do it and we wo n't request military assistance in the state of Illinois , '' said Pritzker .
The president vowed justice for Floyd and said he was an `` ally of all peaceful protesters '' while also describing himself as `` your president of law and order . ''
Trump said that a 7 p.m. curfew in Washington , D.C. would be strictly enforced and that he would deploy federal forces and law enforcement in response to protests in the capital .
`` As we speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of heavily armed soldiers , military personnel and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting , looting , vandalism , assaults and the wanton destruction of property , '' Trump said .
Loud bangs were heard during Trump 's speech and law enforcement charged protesters and fired tear gas into crowds as the president posed for a photo in front of St. John 's Church .
Trump participated in a video conference on Monday with state leaders and law enforcement authorities to address unrest nationwide stemming from Floyd 's death .
The White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the United States -- many of which were peaceful and some which were violent .
Thousands of demonstrators were arrested over the weekend after clashing with police and defying curfews in numerous major U.S. cities , including Los Angeles , New York City , Miami , Chicago , Seattle and Salt Lake City .
Trump participated in the call with state governors , law enforcement officials and national security advisers at the White House , who said the meeting focused on `` keeping American communities safe . ''
Trump told governors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticized local leaders for their response to the violent demonstrations .
`` Most of you are weak , '' he said .
`` You have to arrest people . ''
Later Monday , McEnany said Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , would be in charge of a `` central command center '' that would coordinate National Guard response .
About 17,000 National Guard troops are deployed in 24 states to help with policing protests that have turned violent in some states , McEnany said , but states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide .
National Guard troops are under the jurisdiction of state governors .
National Guard members in some states have been deployed to help with coronavirus pandemic response , including manning drive-through testing stations .
McEnany also confirmed that Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday , but did not say what was discussed .
On Sunday night , the Secret Service moved Trump to a secure bunker beneath the White House for the second time in three nights .
He was also taken to the bunker , which was built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a nuclear attack , on Friday night .
Trump was moved to the bunker as a precaution due to growing demonstrations late Sunday near the White House and the National Mall .
The activism began peaceful earlier but turned violent after dark , with some demonstrators setting multiple fires .
Washington , D.C. , police fired pepper bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters .
Video footage of Floyd 's arrest , which included a Minneapolis officer kneeling on his neck , has spurred widespread outrage across the United States .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death was a homicide and that he died of `` asphyxiation from sustained pressure . ''
The autopsy said compression to Floyd 's neck and back as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck and other officers knelt on his back led to a lack of blood flow to his brain and that he was `` dead on the scene . ''
`` The independent examiners found that weight on the back , handcuffs and positioning were contributory factors because they impaired the ability of Mr. Floyd 's diaphragm to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family 's lead attorney Ben Crump said .
An official autopsy released last week suggested that Floyd had underlying health conditions and `` potential intoxicants in his system '' that likely contributed to his death along with the police restraint .
Dr. Michael Baden , one of the pathologists who performed the independent autopsy said Floyd had no underlying medical problems that contributed to his death .
`` Police have this false impression that if you can talk , you can breathe .
That 's not true , '' Baden said .
Chauvin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a criminal complaint from the Hennepin County Attorney 's Office said that Chauvin had is knee on Floyd 's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in total and 2 minutes and 53 seconds after Floyd was unresponsive .
Floyd 's family called for Chauvin to be charged with first-degree murder and for the other officers present to be charged in his death .
`` For Chauvin to leave his knee on George 's neck despite warnings and evidence that his life was in danger -- and to continue that course for many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Crump .
Sunday was the sixth straight night of mass demonstrations nationwide following Floyd 's death , which occurred May 25 , with many joining Floyd 's family in their call for more severe punishment for the officers involved as well as opposing widespread police violence against African Americans .
A man was shot dead during gunfire in Louisville , Ky. , early Monday .
Authorities said at least one demonstrator began firing at police and National Guard members , who returned fire .
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer identified the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and announced that Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad had been relieved of duty after it was revealed officers involved in the shooting did not activate their body cameras .
The two officers involved were placed on administrative leave .
Among the damage in the nation 's capital , Washington , D.C. , headquarters of the AFL CIO labor union was targeted and set afire , officials said .
`` We categorically reject those on the fringes who are engaging in violence and destroying property , '' AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this ] are senseless , disgraceful and only play into the hands of those who have oppressed workers of color for generations . ''
Two people were shot dead in Iowa and two others , including a police officer , were injured amid dozens of instances of gunfire .
New York City police said they arrested more than 200 people between late Sunday and early Monday and some residents awoke to find several high-end stores in the SoHo district looted and vandalized , including such mainstays as Bloomingdale 's , Tori Burch and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from outside the city using encrypted communication channels were to blame for much of the destruction , estimating that about one in seven protesters were from out of town .
`` Crossing State lines to incite violence is a FEDERAL CRIME ! ''
Trump tweeted on Saturday .
`` Liberal governors and mayors must get MUCH tougher or the federal government will step in and do what has to be done , and that includes using the unlimited power of our military and many arrests . ''
Mayor Bill de Blasio , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for showing restraint but also voiced concern over some video footage of police clashing with protesters .
`` The protesters are human beings .
They need to be treated with tremendous respect , '' he said .
`` The police officers are human beings .
They need to be treated with tremendous respect . ''
CNN reported that de Blasio 's daughter Chiara was among the nearly 800 arrested in New York City .
She was briefly held for unlawful assembly and released .
In Southern California , looters vandalized a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Santa Monica and Long Beach on Sunday .
Both incidents came after mostly peaceful demonstrations .
Long Beach police said the crowd ultimately swelled to around 3,000 demonstrators , some of whom began looting businesses .
Authorities said early Monday an unspecified number of arrests were made on charges of looting , burglary and curfew violations .
Officers in some states , including New York , Oregon and Kentucky , showed solidarity with activists by taking a knee to condemn police brutality .
protesters clash with New York Police Department officers during demonstrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | protesters clash with New York Police Department officers during demonstrations in New York City on May 29 .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | Black Lives Matter protesters clash with New York Police Department officers during demonstrations in New York City on May 29 .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | Black Lives Matter protesters march past a Manhattan courthouse on May 29 .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | New York Police Department officers push back Black Lives Matter protesters with bicycles May 28 .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter protesters on May 28 .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | Black Lives Matter protesters clash with New York Police Department officers May 29 .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | A woman and child in New York City watch from a distance as protests continue over the death of George Floyd on May 29 .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | A protester acts out the death of George Floyd during protests in New York City on May 29 .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | Black Lives Matter protesters hold up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written across it May 29 in New York City .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | Demonstrators in Washington , D.C. take to the streets on May 29 to protest the police killing of George Floyd .
Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI | Demonstrators in Lafayette Square Park protesting the police killing of George Floyd face a locked-down White House in Washington , D.C. , on May 29 .
Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI | Demonstrators take to the streets May 29 to protest the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Photo by Alex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the the killing of George Floyd clash for hours with police on the streets of downtown Los Angeles .
Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | Protesters demonstrating against the the killing of George Floyd clash for hours with police on the streets of downtown Los Angeles on May 29 .
Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | At least four Los Angeles Police Department officers were hurt , some after being hit by debris , during protests May 29 .
Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | Protesters chant in front of a store set ablaze on May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Photo by Craig Lassig/EPA-EFE Protesters barricade Smithfield Street in downtown Pittsburgh following a peaceful demonstration on May 30 .
Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | A New York Police Department officer looks around as a police van burns in the background during continuing demonstrations on May 30 .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | Police hold an intersection as demonstrations and rioting continues in New York City on May 30 .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | A police car burns in New York City on May 30 .
Photo by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of police officers in New York City on May 30 .
Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | A protester faces police in New York City on May 30 .
Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | A protester yells at police in New York City on May 30 .
Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | Black Lives Matter protesters gather before clashing with New York police on May 30 .
Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | Protesters raise their hands in a standoff against police in New York City on May 30.Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | Protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day of protest in Los Angeles on May 30 .
Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | Protesters and police face off on the fourth day of protest in Los Angeles on May 30 .
Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | A protester is comforted after being hit in the head by a police officer 's rubber bullet in Los Angeles on May 30 .
Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | of the of the Enes Kanter of the Boston Celtics ( R ) joins protesters in Boston on May 31 .
Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs at a rally in Boston on May 31 .
Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | A demonstrator takes a knee in front of a police line during a protest march in Washington , D.C. , on May 31 .
Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI | Workers clean and repair damage to the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters two blocks from the White House after it was damaged during a protest in Washington , D.C. , on June 1 .
Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | A pedestrian runs past graffiti on the Decatur House near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on June 1 .
Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |

Military police help clear a street near the White House in Washington, D.C., during a demonstration Monday to protest the Minnesota police killing of George Floyd. Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
June 1 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Monday evening declared he was mobilizing all federal resources in response to protests over the police-involved killing of George Floyd and encouraged all governors to deploy the National Guard in their states. Trump called on mayors and governors to establish an "overwhelming law enforcement presence" and said he will deploy the United States military if state and local governments do not "take the action necessary to defend the life and property of their residents." Advertisement
"My first and highest duty as president is to defend our great country and the American people," Trump said. "I swore an oath to uphold the laws of our nation and that is exactly what I will do."
In order to activate the military to operate in the United States, Trump would have to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807, which White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany had earlier described to reporters as "one of the tools available" to the president.
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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker pushed back on the legality of Trump's declaration saying the state would not request military assistance.
"It's illegal, he can't do it and we won't request military assistance in the state of Illinois," said Pritzker.
The president vowed justice for Floyd and said he was an "ally of all peaceful protesters" while also describing himself as "your president of law and order."
Trump said that a 7 p.m. curfew in Washington, D.C., would be strictly enforced and that he would deploy federal forces and law enforcement in response to protests in the capital.
"As we speak, I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults and the wanton destruction of property," Trump said.
Loud bangs were heard during Trump's speech and law enforcement charged protesters and fired tear gas into crowds as the president posed for a photo in front of St. John's Church.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned the actions of federal law enforcement in a tweet on Monday night.
"I imposed a curfew at 7 p.m. A full 25 minutes before the curfew and without provocation, federal police used munitions on peaceful protesters in front of the White House, an act that will make the job of [Washington, D.C., police] officers more difficult. Shameful!" Bowser wrote.
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The former secretary of state and Trump's opponent in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton, also spoke out against the actions against protesters on Monday evening.
"This is a horrifying use of presidential power against our own citizens and has no place anywhere, let alone in America. Vote," Clinton wrote on Twitter.
And House Speak Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer admonished Trump in a joint statement for "tear-gassing peaceful protesting without provocation" to hold the photo opportunity outside the church "dishonors every value that fair teaches us."
Trump participated in a video conference on Monday with state leaders and law enforcement authorities to address unrest nationwide stemming from Floyd's death.
The White House conference call occurred after ongoing demonstrations across the United States -- many of which were peaceful and some which were violent.
Thousands of demonstrators were arrested over the weekend after clashing with police and defying curfews in numerous major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, Chicago, Seattle and Salt Lake City.
Trump participated in the call with state governors, law enforcement officials and national security advisers at the White House, who said the meeting focused on "keeping American communities safe."
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Trump told governors to "take back your streets" and criticized local leaders for their response to the violent demonstrations.
"Most of you are weak," he said. "You have to arrest people."
Later Monday, McEnany said Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would be in charge of a "central command center" that would coordinate National Guard response.
About 17,000 National Guard troops are deployed in 24 states to help with policing protests that have turned violent in some states, McEnany said, but states have 350,000 total National Guard troops available nationwide.
National Guard troops are under the jurisdiction of state governors. National Guard members in some states have been deployed to help with coronavirus pandemic response, including manning drive-through testing stations.
McEnany also confirmed that Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, but did not say what was discussed.
On Sunday night, the Secret Service moved Trump to a secure bunker beneath the White House for the second time in three nights. He was also taken to the bunker, which was built to house the president in the event of a nuclear attack, on Friday night.
Trump was moved to the bunker as a precaution due to growing demonstrations late Sunday near the White House and the National Mall.
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The activism began peaceful earlier but turned violent after dark, with some demonstrators setting multiple fires. Washington, D.C., police fired pepper bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters.
Video footage of Floyd's arrest, which included a Minneapolis officer kneeling on his neck, has spurred widespread outrage across the United States.
An independent autopsy on Monday found Floyd's death was a homicide and that he died of "asphyxiation from sustained pressure."
The autopsy said compression to Floyd's neck and back as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck and other officers knelt on his back led to a lack of blood flow to his brain and that he was "dead on the scene."
"The independent examiners found that weight on the back, handcuffs and positioning were contributory factors because they impaired the ability of Mr. Floyd's diaphragm to function," a statement by the family's lead attorney Ben Crump said.
An official autopsy released last week suggested that Floyd had underlying health conditions and "potential intoxicants in his system" that likely contributed to his death along with the police restraint.
Dr. Michael Baden, one of the pathologists who performed the independent autopsy said Floyd had no underlying medical problems that contributed to his death.
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"Police have this false impression that if you can talk, you can breathe. That's not true," Baden said.
Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder, and a criminal complaint from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office said that Chauvin had his knee on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in total and 2 minutes and 53 seconds after Floyd was unresponsive.
Floyd's family called for Chauvin to be charged with first-degree murder and for the other officers present to be charged in his death.
"For Chauvin to leave his knee on George's neck despite warnings and evidence that his life was in danger -- and to continue that course for many minutes -- demands a first-degree murder charge," said Crump.
Monday was the seventh straight night of mass demonstrations nationwide following Floyd's death, which occurred May 25, with many joining Floyd's family in their call for more severe punishment for the officers involved as well as opposing widespread police violence against African Americans.
The Baltimore Police Department announced that it had activated the Maryland State Police to "moderate crowds" in the downtown area.
"Officers have observed members in the crowd setting off illegal fireworks and throwing objects near peaceful protesters and officers," the department said.
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Police in Richmond, Va., Monday night tweeted that they deployed tear gas into a crowd of protesters they said were attempting to pull down statues on Monument Ave. warning they are "extremely heavy and would crush anyone standing too close."
Atlanta police and the National Guard swept through the streets and pushed protesters out of the downtown area as a curfew in the area came into effect, CNN reported.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the city's curfew would be extended an additional day beginning at 8 p.m. on Tuesday citing groups using the protests to "incite violence and destroy property" on Monday when a curfew went into effect at 11 p.m.
"Some people are out tonight not to protest but to destroy property and hurt others -- and those people are being arrested. Their actions are unacceptable and we won't allow them in our city," de Blasio wrote on Twitter.
The order was accompanied by a doubling of NYPD officers assigned to keep order, it read.
It is the first time the city had ordered a curfew in recent member, the city said.
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However, early Tuesday, de Blasio said via Twitter there were "real problems" in the Bronx where there have been reports of fires and looting.
De Blasio said he's spoken with NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea and Chief Fausto Pichardo "who are sending additional help.
At around midnight, the mayor said he was leaving the Barclays Center where the situation was "pretty calm" before heading back to Midtown.
In Cicero, a Chicago suburb, town spokesman Ray Hanania said four people were shot, two fatally, and 60 people were arrested Monday.
Hanania blamed "outside agitators" for the shooting, stating they came to Cicero after being "rebuffed" by the closure of downtown Chicago, WGN9 reported.
"The only shots fired have been by these outside agitators and looters who are not Cicero residents," he said.
The Cicero Police Department confirmed via Twitter dozens of arrests were made in response to the violence and looking "brought to our borders today."
A man was shot dead during gunfire in Louisville, Ky., early Monday. Authorities said at least one demonstrator began firing at police and National Guard members, who returned fire.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer identified the man who was killed as David McAtee and announced that Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad had been relieved of duty after it was revealed officers involved in the shooting did not activate their body cameras.
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The two officers involved were placed on administrative leave.
In St. Louis, Mo., authorities said four police officers were shot amid protests over Monday night.
The shooting occurred near police headquarters in the city where officers repeatedly clashed with protesters, firing multiple volleys of tear gas and flash bangs to disperse the crowds, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
"Officers are still taking gunfire downtown & we will share more info as it is available," the St. Louis Police Department said in a tweet.
The wounded officers were "conscious and breathing" and were transported to a local hospital with what are thought to be non-life-threatening injuries.
Among the damage in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., headquarters of the AFL CIO labor union was targeted and set afire, officials said.
"We categorically reject those on the fringes who are engaging in violence and destroying property," AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said in a statement. "Attacks like [this] are senseless, disgraceful and only play into the hands of those who have oppressed workers of color for generations."
Two people were shot dead in Iowa and two others, including a police officer, were injured amid dozens of instances of gunfire.
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New York City police said they arrested more than 200 people between late Sunday and early Monday and some residents awoke to find several high-end stores in the SoHo district looted and vandalized, including such mainstays as Bloomingdale's, Tori Burch and Gucci.
Police officials said anarchist groups from outside the city using encrypted communication channels were to blame for much of the destruction, estimating that about one in seven protesters were from out of town.
"Crossing State lines to incite violence is a FEDERAL CRIME!" Trump tweeted on Saturday. "Liberal governors and mayors must get MUCH tougher or the federal government will step in and do what has to be done, and that includes using the unlimited power of our military and many arrests."
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who declined to impose a curfew, praised police for showing restraint but also voiced concern over some video footage of police clashing with protesters.
"The protesters are human beings. They need to be treated with tremendous respect," he said. "The police officers are human beings. They need to be treated with tremendous respect."
CNN reported that de Blasio's daughter Chiara was among the nearly 800 arrested in New York City. She was briefly held for unlawful assembly and released.
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In Southern California, looters vandalized a number of stores and set fire to businesses in Santa Monica and Long Beach on Sunday. Both incidents came after mostly peaceful demonstrations.
Long Beach police said the crowd ultimately swelled to around 3,000 demonstrators, some of whom began looting businesses. Authorities said early Monday an unspecified number of arrests were made on charges of looting, burglary and curfew violations.
Officers in some states, including New York, Oregon and Kentucky, showed solidarity with activists by taking a knee to condemn police brutality.
U.S. protests death of George Floyd
License Photo Black Lives Matter protesters clash with New York Police Department officers during demonstrations in New York City on May 29. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | Black Lives Matter protesters march past a Manhattan courthouse on May 29. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo New York Police Department officers push back Black Lives Matter protesters with bicycles May 28. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo New York Police Department officers arrest Black Lives Matter protesters on May 28. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Black Lives Matter protesters clash with New York Police Department officers May 29. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo A woman and child in New York City watch from a distance as protests continue over the death of George Floyd on May 29. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo A protester acts out the death of George Floyd during protests in New York City on May 29. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Black Lives Matter protesters hold up a large sign with George Floyd's name written across it May 29 in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo License Photo Demonstrators in Washington, D.C. take to the streets on May 29 to protest the police killing of George Floyd. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI | Demonstrators in Lafayette Square Park protesting the police killing of George Floyd face a locked-down White House in Washington, D.C., on May 29. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI | License Photo Demonstrators take to the streets May 29 to protest the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI | License Photo Protesters demonstrating May 29 against the the killing of George Floyd clash for hours with police on the streets of downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo Protesters demonstrating against the the killing of George Floyd clash for hours with police on the streets of downtown Los Angeles on May 29. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo At least four Los Angeles Police Department officers were hurt, some after being hit by debris, during protests May 29. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo Protesters chant in front of a store set ablaze on May 29 in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Photo by Craig Lassig/EPA-EFE Protesters barricade Smithfield Street in downtown Pittsburgh following a peaceful demonstration on May 30. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo A New York Police Department officer looks around as a police van burns in the background during continuing demonstrations on May 30. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Police hold an intersection as demonstrations and rioting continues in New York City on May 30. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo A police car burns in New York City on May 30. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo Fireworks explode on a group of police officers in New York City on May 30. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo A protester faces police in New York City on May 30. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo A protester yells at police in New York City on May 30. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo Black Lives Matter protesters gather before clashing with New York police on May 30. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo Protesters raise their hands in a standoff against police in New York City on May 30.Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo Protesters and police face off on the fourth day of protest in Los Angeles on May 30. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo Protesters and police face off on the fourth day of protest in Los Angeles on May 30. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo A protester is comforted after being hit in the head by a police officer's rubber bullet in Los Angeles on May 30. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo License Photo Enes Kanter of the Boston Celtics (R) joins protesters in Boston on May 31. Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | Medical personnel from Massachusetts General Hospital hold signs at a rally in Boston on May 31. Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo A demonstrator takes a knee in front of a police line during a protest march in Washington, D.C.,on May 31. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI | License Photo Workers clean and repair damage to the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters two blocks from the White House after it was damaged during a protest in Washington, D.C., on June 1. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo A pedestrian runs past graffiti on the Decatur House near the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 1. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo


upi--2020-06-01--Trump phone call with Putin covers Russia's attendance at G7

June 1 ( UPI ) -- U.S. President Donald Trump discussed Russia 's future re-admittance to the Group of Seven economic summit with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin in a phone call between the two leaders Monday , reports from the Kremlin and White House said .
The two leaders also discussed the coronavirus pandemic and the United States 's gift of 200 ventilators to Russia , as well as the May 30 SpaceX rocket launch and OPEC 's oil strategy , reports said .
`` Donald Trump informed about his idea of holding a G7 summit with a possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia , India and the Republic of Korea , '' a statement from the Kremlin said .
The White House later released a similar statement .
Neither press statement suggested the Trump and Putin discussed a response to unrest in the United States after of the police-involved killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Trump announced Saturday that he would postpone the G7 summit , originally scheduled to be held in June at Camp David .
Trump said he wanted to re-schedule in September or later with an expanded group of nations invited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she would not attend the summit in Camp David .
Russia was expelled from the G8 in 2014 , during the term of then-President Barack Obama , after Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed the Crimea .
Trump has encouraged participating leaders from Britain , Canada , France , Germany , Italy , Japan and the European Union to allow Russia to return because of the country 's world economic influence .
But Britain and Canada reiterated this week that Russia should not be admitted due to the country 's aggressive behavior .
Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ceases aggressive and destabilizing activity that threatens the safety of UK citizens and the collective security of our allies , '' a statement from Downing Street said .
Britain has said it will veto any move to re-admit Russia to the G7 , although Prime Minster Boris Johnson has said he would not object to Putin attending as a guest .
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Russia 's `` continued disrespect and flaunting of international rules and norms is why it remains outside of the G7 and why it will continue @ @ @ @ @

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin about Russia's attendance at the G7 summit planned for Camp David. File White House Photo by Shealah Craighead/UPI | License Photo
June 1 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump discussed Russia's future re-admittance to the Group of Seven economic summit with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin in a phone call between the two leaders Monday, reports from the Kremlin and White House said. The two leaders also discussed the coronavirus pandemic and the United States's gift of 200 ventilators to Russia, as well as the May 30 SpaceX rocket launch and OPEC's oil strategy, reports said. Advertisement
"Donald Trump informed about his idea of holding a G7 summit with a possible invitation from the leaders of Russia, Australia, India and the Republic of Korea," a statement from the Kremlin said. The White House later released a similar statement.
Neither press statement suggested the Trump and Putin discussed a response to unrest in the United States after of the police-involved killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Trump announced Saturday that he would postpone the G7 summit, originally scheduled to be held in June at Camp David. Trump said he wanted to re-schedule in September or later with an expanded group of nations invited.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she would not attend the summit in Camp David.
Russia was expelled from the G8 in 2014, during the term of then-President Barack Obama, after Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed the Crimea.
Trump has encouraged participating leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union to allow Russia to return because of the country's world economic influence.
But Britain and Canada reiterated this week that Russia should not be admitted due to the country's aggressive behavior.
Russia should not be a member "unless it ceases aggressive and destabilizing activity that threatens the safety of UK citizens and the collective security of our allies," a statement from Downing Street said.
Britain has said it will veto any move to re-admit Russia to the G7, although Prime Minster Boris Johnson has said he would not object to Putin attending as a guest.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Russia's "continued disrespect and flaunting of international rules and norms is why it remains outside of the G7 and why it will continue to remain out."


upi--2020-06-01--Clemson WR Justyn Ross to miss 2020 season because of neck, spinal issue

June 1 ( UPI ) -- Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross will miss the entire 2020 season due to a neck and spinal disorder .
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney told reporters Monday on a conference call that Ross will have surgery to correct a `` congenital fusion '' in his spine .
The condition , which Ross was born with , is an abnormal fusion of any two of the seven bones in the neck .
The junior wideout is scheduled to fly to Pittsburgh on Thursday to undergo the procedure , according to Swinney .
Dr. David Okonkwo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the operation Friday .
Ross suffered what the team believed was a stinger during a scrimmage in March .
The next day , team doctors said X-rays revealed the issue .
`` He caught a pass , nothing crazy , '' Swinney said about the injury .
`` He caught a slant and got hit and was slow to get up .
He had stinger symptoms [ in his neck ] , a little bit of numbness , which is not uncommon in the game of football . ''
Swinney said Ross is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the injury is a significant concern if he were to resume playing football .
`` It was a hard thing for all of us ... but Justyn is in a great place mentally , '' Swinney said .
`` He 's ready to do what he needs to do to give himself the best chance to play football again .
...
He feels perfectly fine , but doctors know he 's at risk . ''
Swinney noted that Okonkwo is `` optimistic '' that Ross will be able to return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coach said he was unaware of any player who has undergone surgery for this spinal problem and returned .
Ross , who was expected to be the focal point of Clemson 's passing attack this season , finished with 66 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019 .

Clemson Tigers wide receiver Justyn Ross (8) was expected to be the focal point of the Tigers' passing attack this season. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
June 1 (UPI) -- Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross will miss the entire 2020 season due to a neck and spinal disorder. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney told reporters Monday on a conference call that Ross will have surgery to correct a "congenital fusion" in his spine. The condition, which Ross was born with, is an abnormal fusion of any two of the seven bones in the neck. Advertisement
The junior wideout is scheduled to fly to Pittsburgh on Thursday to undergo the procedure, according to Swinney. Dr. David Okonkwo, a leading neuroscientist, will perform the operation Friday.
Ross suffered what the team believed was a stinger during a scrimmage in March. The next day, team doctors said X-rays revealed the issue.
"He caught a pass, nothing crazy," Swinney said about the injury. "He caught a slant and got hit and was slow to get up. He had stinger symptoms [in his neck], a little bit of numbness, which is not uncommon in the game of football."
Swinney said Ross is in good spirits and is otherwise healthy, but the injury is a significant concern if he were to resume playing football.
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"It was a hard thing for all of us ... but Justyn is in a great place mentally," Swinney said. "He's ready to do what he needs to do to give himself the best chance to play football again. ... He feels perfectly fine, but doctors know he's at risk."
Swinney noted that Okonkwo is "optimistic" that Ross will be able to return to the field at some point, but the coach said he was unaware of any player who has undergone surgery for this spinal problem and returned.
Ross, who was expected to be the focal point of Clemson's passing attack this season, finished with 66 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019.


upi--2020-06-01--Same-sex weddings generate billions to state, local economies, UCLA study says

June 1 ( UPI ) -- Wedding spending by same-sex couples and out-of-state guests has boosted state and local economies by billions of dollars , a new study from University of California-Los Angeles shows .
An estimated 293,000 same-sex couples have married in the five years since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex unions in the Obergefell v. Hodges decision in June , 2015 .
Those weddings have pumped up local economies over the past five years by $ 3.8 billion , the study from UCLA 's Williams Institute School of Law shows .
An estimated 513,000 same-sex couples are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to U.S. census records .
While gay weddings were legal in states like New York as early as 2011 , at the time of the Supreme Court decision , 13 states did not allow same-sex couples to marry and 18 states had just granted same-sex couples the right to marry in the previous year .
Gay weddings also generated $ 244.1 million in state and local sales tax revenue over the past five years , the study said .
The study said that the growth of 45,000 jobs the wedding industry can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as same-sex wedding expos and photographers who specialize in gay weddings .
Even though same-sex couples typically spend $ 11,000 on average on their weddings , less than the $ 15,000 average spend by heterosexual couples , researchers found that the average gay wedding also included 16 out-of-state guests , who spent an average of $ 116 per guest on lodging and travel .
`` Using these figures , we estimate that 4,688,000 out-of-state guests have attended weddings of same-sex couples since the Obergefell decision , generating a total economic boost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the researchers said .
American attitudes about same-sex marriages have changed in the five years since the Supreme Court decision , polls show .
A Gallup annual Value and Belief poll , released Monday , said 67 percent of Americans said same sex marriages should be recognized by law .
In 1996 , the percentages were reversed from what they are today .
At that time , only 27 percent said they believed same-sex marriages should be recognized as valid by law while 68 percent disagreed .

Since 2015, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples could marry legally in the United States, almost 300,000 same-sex weddings have pumped billions of dollars into local and state economies, a new study shows. File photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
June 1 (UPI) -- Wedding spending by same-sex couples and out-of-state guests has boosted state and local economies by billions of dollars, a new study from University of California-Los Angeles shows. An estimated 293,000 same-sex couples have married in the five years since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex unions in the Obergefell v. Hodges decision in June, 2015. Advertisement
Those weddings have pumped up local economies over the past five years by $3.8 billion, the study from UCLA's Williams Institute School of Law shows.
An estimated 513,000 same-sex couples are married as of March 2020, according to U.S. census records.
While gay weddings were legal in states like New York as early as 2011, at the time of the Supreme Court decision, 13 states did not allow same-sex couples to marry and 18 states had just granted same-sex couples the right to marry in the previous year.
Gay weddings also generated $244.1 million in state and local sales tax revenue over the past five years, the study said.
The study said that the growth of 45,000 jobs the wedding industry can be attributed to the upsurge in same-sex marriages, such as same-sex wedding expos and photographers who specialize in gay weddings.
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Even though same-sex couples typically spend $11,000 on average on their weddings, less than the $15,000 average spend by heterosexual couples, researchers found that the average gay wedding also included 16 out-of-state guests, who spent an average of $116 per guest on lodging and travel.
"Using these figures, we estimate that 4,688,000 out-of-state guests have attended weddings of same-sex couples since the Obergefell decision, generating a total economic boost of $543.8 million over that period," the researchers said.
American attitudes about same-sex marriages have changed in the five years since the Supreme Court decision, polls show.
A Gallup annual Value and Belief poll, released Monday, said 67 percent of Americans said same sex marriages should be recognized by law.
In 1996, the percentages were reversed from what they are today. At that time, only 27 percent said they believed same-sex marriages should be recognized as valid by law while 68 percent disagreed.


upi--2020-06-01--Legendary Auburn football coach Pat Dye dies at 80

June 1 ( UPI ) -- Former Auburn football coach and athletic director Pat Dye has died at the age of 80 , the school announced Monday .
Lee County ( Ala. ) coroner Bill Harris said the legendary coach died at a local hospice care facility from complications of kidney and liver failure .
Dye 's son , Pat Dye Jr. , told ESPN last month that his father recently tested positive for the coronavirus but was asymptomatic .
`` On behalf of our family , I want to thank all of the people from around the country who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dad these past several days , '' Dye Jr. said in a statement Monday .
`` Dad would be honored and humbled to know about this overwhelming outreach .
The world has lost a pretty good football coach and a great man .
`` He was beloved , he touched so many lives and he will be missed by many , especially our family . ''
Dye led the Auburn football program to a 99-39-4 record across 12 seasons from 1981-92 , winning at least a share of SEC championships in 1983 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 games in a season on four occasions and six bowl games .
Dye , a three-time SEC Coach of the Year and 1983 National Coach of the Year , was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005 .
Nick Saban , head coach of the rival Alabama Crimson Tide , paid his respects to Dye , calling him an `` outstanding teacher and coach . ''
`` I 've known and respected Pat Dye for many years , and he always represented college football with tremendous class and integrity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` He was an outstanding teacher and coach who affected our game in many significant ways .
`` We are saddened to hear of his passing and our thoughts and prayers are with his family , friends , co-workers and all of the players he had such a positive impact on throughout his distinguished career . ''
Auburn beat the Crimson Tide 23-22 in Dye 's second season in 1982 .
Under Dye , the Tigers posted a 6-6 record against Alabama , winning four straight matchups from 1986-89 .
Dye was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also coached at East Carolina from 1974-79 and Wyoming in 1980 , compiling a 153-62-5 overall record in 19 seasons in his coaching career .
A native of Blythe , Ga. , Dye was born Nov. 6 , 1939 , in Augusta , Ga .
He played high school football at Richmond Academy in Augusta and was an all-state and All-American offensive lineman before becoming a two-time All-American as a two-way starter at Georgia .
Dye is survived by his four children , Missy , Brett , Wanda and Pat Jr. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , Nancy McDonald .

June 1 (UPI) -- Former Auburn football coach and athletic director Pat Dye has died at the age of 80, the school announced Monday.
Lee County (Ala.) coroner Bill Harris said the legendary coach died at a local hospice care facility from complications of kidney and liver failure.
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Dye's son, Pat Dye Jr., told ESPN last month that his father recently tested positive for the coronavirus but was asymptomatic.
"On behalf of our family, I want to thank all of the people from around the country who have offered their support and admiration for Dad these past several days," Dye Jr. said in a statement Monday. "Dad would be honored and humbled to know about this overwhelming outreach. The world has lost a pretty good football coach and a great man.
"He was beloved, he touched so many lives and he will be missed by many, especially our family."
Dye led the Auburn football program to a 99-39-4 record across 12 seasons from 1981-92, winning at least a share of SEC championships in 1983 and 1987-89. His teams won at least 10 games in a season on four occasions and six bowl games.
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Dye, a three-time SEC Coach of the Year and 1983 National Coach of the Year, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Nick Saban, head coach of the rival Alabama Crimson Tide, paid his respects to Dye, calling him an "outstanding teacher and coach."
"I've known and respected Pat Dye for many years, and he always represented college football with tremendous class and integrity," Saban said in a statement. "He was an outstanding teacher and coach who affected our game in many significant ways.
"We are saddened to hear of his passing and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, co-workers and all of the players he had such a positive impact on throughout his distinguished career."
Auburn beat the Crimson Tide 23-22 in Dye's second season in 1982. Under Dye, the Tigers posted a 6-6 record against Alabama, winning four straight matchups from 1986-89.
Pat Dye, legendary Auburn head coach and athletic director, died today at the age of 80. We remember the person he was and the indelible impact he left on the @AuburnFootball program. pic.twitter.com/CpkHgU57xZ— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) June 1, 2020 Advertisement
Dye was Auburn's athletic director from 1981-91. He also coached at East Carolina from 1974-79 and Wyoming in 1980, compiling a 153-62-5 overall record in 19 seasons in his coaching career.
A native of Blythe, Ga., Dye was born Nov. 6, 1939, in Augusta, Ga. He played high school football at Richmond Academy in Augusta and was an all-state and All-American offensive lineman before becoming a two-time All-American as a two-way starter at Georgia.
Dye is survived by his four children, Missy, Brett, Wanda and Pat Jr., nine grandchildren and his partner of 18 years, Nancy McDonald.


upi--2020-06-01--Lottery player's lucky numbers pay off after nearly 40 years

June 1 ( UPI ) -- An Australian man who won a lottery jackpot of more than $ 300,000 said @ @ @ @ @ with the same set of numbers for nearly 40 years .
The Rockhampton , Queensland @ @ @ @ @ officials that the ticket he purchased for the May 30 Saturday Gold Lotto drawing bore @ @ @ @ @ been using to play lottery games for decades .
`` I 've been waiting for @ @ @ @ @ , '' the man said .
`` I think I 've been marking my entries @ @ @ @ @ 40 years now .
This is just amazing .
I am over the moon .
@ @ @ @ @ to be worth a total $ 341,507.65 .
The man said he and his wife @ @ @ @ @ We will probably look at buying the home we 've always dreamt of living in @ @ @ @ @ `` That would be incredible .
And when things start to go back to normal @ @ @ @ @ definitely be a holiday or two . ''

An Australian man said the numbers that earned him a lottery jackpot of more than $300,000 are the same numbers he has been playing for nearly 40 years. Photo courtesy of The Lott
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe June 1 (UPI) -- An Australian man who won a lottery jackpot of more than $300,000 said he had been entering drawings with the same set of numbers for nearly 40 years. The Rockhampton, Queensland, man told The Lott officials that the ticket he purchased for the May 30 Saturday Gold Lotto drawing bore the same numbers he has been using to play lottery games for decades. Advertisement
"I've been waiting for this moment for many years," the man said. "I think I've been marking my entries with those numbers for almost 40 years now. This is just amazing. I am over the moon."
The ticket turned out to be worth a total $341,507.65.
The man said he and his wife both recently retired.
"We will probably look at buying the home we've always dreamt of living in," he said. "That would be incredible. And when things start to go back to normal, I think there will definitely be a holiday or two."


upi--2020-06-01--At least 3 feet of social distancing likely reduces COVID-19 spread, study confirms

June 1 ( UPI ) -- Staying at least 1 meter -- just over 3 feet -- from other people , as well as wearing face coverings and eye protection , is the best way to prevent spread of COVID-19 , an analysis published Monday by The Lancet has found .
Two meters -- about 6 1/2 feet -- is preferred , said researchers who conducted the study to assist the World Health Organization prepare pandemic guidance .
They said , however , that none of the approaches studied -- including social distancing and face coverings -- provides complete protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2 .
`` Our findings are the first to synthesize all direct information on COVID-19 , SARS , and MERS , and provide the currently best available evidence on the optimum use of these common and simple interventions to help 'flatten the curve ' and inform pandemic response efforts in the community , '' co-author Dr. Holger Schünemann said in a press release .
`` Governments and the public health community can use our results to give clear advice for community settings and healthcare workers on these protective measures to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a physician and professor of epidemiology at McMaster University in Canada , The best available evidence suggests that COVID-19 most commonly is spread by respiratory droplets , especially when people cough and sneeze .
The virus can then enter through the eyes , nose and mouth , either directly or by touching a contaminated surface , Schünemann and his colleagues said .
For the analysis , the researchers reviewed data from 44 studies that assess distancing measures , face masks and eye protection to prevent virus transmission between those with confirmed or probable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals close to them .
Like COVID-19 , SARS and MERS are diseases caused by coronaviruses .
Analysis of data from nine studies with 7,782 participants looking at social distancing and virus transmission revealed the tactic reduces the risk for spread .
Keeping a distance of more than 1 meter from other people was associated with 3 percent risk for infection , compared with 13 percent for less than 1 meter , the researchers observed .
In addition , modeling conducted by the researchers suggests that for every extra meter of distance up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet -- the risk for infection or transmission is reduced by half .
Meanwhile , 13 studies of all three viruses , with 3,713 participants , that focused on eye protection found that face shields , goggles and glasses reduced risk for infection by more than half , the researchers found .
Evidence from 10 studies of all three viruses with 2,647 participants found similar benefits for face masks in general .
However , Schünemann and his colleagues emphasized that more research focused specifically on the spread of COVID-19 is needed to confirm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear that wearing a mask is not an alternative to physical distancing , eye protection or basic measures such as hand hygiene , but might add an extra layer of protection , '' said Dr. Derek Chu , an assistant professor of allergy and immunology at McMaster University .
Data from 24 studies of all three viruses with 50,566 participants indicated that most participants found personal protection strategies like social distancing and face coverings `` acceptable , feasible and reassuring , '' said co-author Sally Yaacoub , of the American University of Beruit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to draw significant attention as many states and cities across the United States begin to reopen after two or three months of COVID-19-related lockdowns , Harvard assistant professor of epidemiology Michael Mina said Monday in a conference call with reporters .
Mina said it was particularly concerning because many businesses and institutions lack the facilities to enable employees , customers and visitors to maintain 6 feet of distancing .
`` We do n't know if the 6-foot distance piece has to be set in stone if people are wearing masks , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lancet study .
`` If facilities have the space , great , but if people are diligent about wearing masks , we may not need to keep to 6 feet . ''
As of Monday afternoon , nearly 1.8 million Americans had been diagnosed with COVID-19 , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Although several states -- including New York , which has the most cases of any in the country -- are seeing downward trends , while others such as Alabama , California , South Dakota and Virginia are seeing spikes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these same states have recently relaxed lockdown restrictions intended to limit spread of the virus , including , in some cases , social distancing measures .

Groups congregate in predrawn circles in Delores Park in San Francisco last month. A new study has essentially confirmed that more social distancing can halt further spread of COVID-19. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
June 1 (UPI) -- Staying at least 1 meter -- just over 3 feet -- from other people, as well as wearing face coverings and eye protection, is the best way to prevent spread of COVID-19, an analysis published Monday by The Lancet has found. Two meters -- about 6 1/2 feet -- is preferred, said researchers who conducted the study to assist the World Health Organization prepare pandemic guidance. Advertisement
They said, however, that none of the approaches studied -- including social distancing and face coverings -- provides complete protection from the disease caused by the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.
"Our findings are the first to synthesize all direct information on COVID-19, SARS, and MERS, and provide the currently best available evidence on the optimum use of these common and simple interventions to help 'flatten the curve' and inform pandemic response efforts in the community," co-author Dr. Holger Schünemann said in a press release.
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"Governments and the public health community can use our results to give clear advice for community settings and healthcare workers on these protective measures to reduce infection risk," said Schünemann, a physician and professor of epidemiology at McMaster University in Canada,
The best available evidence suggests that COVID-19 most commonly is spread by respiratory droplets, especially when people cough and sneeze.
The virus can then enter through the eyes, nose and mouth, either directly or by touching a contaminated surface, Schünemann and his colleagues said.
For the analysis, the researchers reviewed data from 44 studies that assess distancing measures, face masks and eye protection to prevent virus transmission between those with confirmed or probable COVID-19, SARS or MERS infection and individuals close to them.
Like COVID-19, SARS and MERS are diseases caused by coronaviruses.
Analysis of data from nine studies with 7,782 participants looking at social distancing and virus transmission revealed the tactic reduces the risk for spread.
Keeping a distance of more than 1 meter from other people was associated with 3 percent risk for infection, compared with 13 percent for less than 1 meter, the researchers observed.
In addition, modeling conducted by the researchers suggests that for every extra meter of distance up to 3 meters -- or nearly 10 feet -- the risk for infection or transmission is reduced by half.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, 13 studies of all three viruses, with 3,713 participants, that focused on eye protection found that face shields, goggles and glasses reduced risk for infection by more than half, the researchers found.
Evidence from 10 studies of all three viruses with 2,647 participants found similar benefits for face masks in general.
However, Schünemann and his colleagues emphasized that more research focused specifically on the spread of COVID-19 is needed to confirm their findings.
"People must be clear that wearing a mask is not an alternative to physical distancing, eye protection or basic measures such as hand hygiene, but might add an extra layer of protection," said Dr. Derek Chu, an assistant professor of allergy and immunology at McMaster University.
Data from 24 studies of all three viruses with 50,566 participants indicated that most participants found personal protection strategies like social distancing and face coverings "acceptable, feasible and reassuring," said co-author Sally Yaacoub, of the American University of Beruit in Lebanon.
The findings are likely to draw significant attention as many states and cities across the United States begin to reopen after two or three months of COVID-19-related lockdowns, Harvard assistant professor of epidemiology Michael Mina said Monday in a conference call with reporters.
Advertisement
Mina said it was particularly concerning because many businesses and institutions lack the facilities to enable employees, customers and visitors to maintain 6 feet of distancing.
"We don't know if the 6-foot distance piece has to be set in stone if people are wearing masks," said Mina, who has not part of the Lancet study. "If facilities have the space, great, but if people are diligent about wearing masks, we may not need to keep to 6 feet."
As of Monday afternoon, nearly 1.8 million Americans had been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Although several states -- including New York, which has the most cases of any in the country -- are seeing downward trends, while others such as Alabama, California, South Dakota and Virginia are seeing spikes, Johns Hopkins researchers reported.
Many of these same states have recently relaxed lockdown restrictions intended to limit spread of the virus, including, in some cases, social distancing measures.


upi--2020-06-01--Report: Pandemic's U.S. economic hit could last 11 years, cost $8 trillion

June 1 ( UPI ) -- The coronavirus pandemic will affect the economic health of the United States for the next decade , with a $ 7.9 trillion hit on the country 's gross domestic product over the next 11 years , a federal agency said Monday .
The Congressional Budget Office revised its economic forecast from January to calculate that the U.S. economy would contract by 3 percent by 2030 due to the economic downturn from the pandemic .
`` Business closures and social distancing measures are expected to curtail consumer spending , while the recent drop in energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investment in the energy sector , '' Phillip Swagel , budget office director , wrote in a report to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. Swagel said pandemic relief legislation , like the $ 2.2 trillion CARES Act , has blunted the economic effects of the pandemic .
Congress has put forward another relief bill that could run up to $ 3 trillion .
`` Recent legislation will , in CBO 's assessment , partially mitigate the deterioration in economic conditions , '' Swagel wrote .
The future economic picture is filled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CBO will release future economic forecasts , but has to contend with `` extreme changes [ that have ] disrupted standard estimation methods and data sources , '' he wrote .
Meanwhile , economists agreed that the economic impact of the pandemic could stretch well into the future .
More than 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment since March .
A Gallup poll released Friday said seven out of 10 Americans believe the United States ' economy is in a recession or depression .
`` Slower growth means higher unemployment , lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Adam Ozimek , chief economist at Upwork , told the Washington Post .
`` What we are looking at is another decade of that . ''
Schumer urged the Senate to move forward on passing more economic relief , including an extension of coronavirus-related unemployment benefits , which end in July .
`` In order to avoid the risk of another Great Depression , the Senate must act with a fierce sense of urgency to make sure that everyone in America has the income they need to feed their families and put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schumer said in a statement .
`` The American people can not afford to wait another month for the Senate to pass legislation .
They need our help now . ''

June 1 (UPI) -- The coronavirus pandemic will affect the economic health of the United States for the next decade, with a $7.9 trillion hit on the country's gross domestic product over the next 11 years, a federal agency said Monday.
The Congressional Budget Office revised its economic forecast from January to calculate that the U.S. economy would contract by 3 percent by 2030 due to the economic downturn from the pandemic.
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"Business closures and social distancing measures are expected to curtail consumer spending, while the recent drop in energy prices is projected to severely reduce U.S. investment in the energy sector," Phillip Swagel, budget office director, wrote in a report to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Swagel said pandemic relief legislation, like the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, has blunted the economic effects of the pandemic. Congress has put forward another relief bill that could run up to $3 trillion.
"Recent legislation will, in CBO's assessment, partially mitigate the deterioration in economic conditions," Swagel wrote.
The future economic picture is filled with uncertainty, Swagel said. The CBO will release future economic forecasts, but has to contend with "extreme changes [that have] disrupted standard estimation methods and data sources," he wrote.
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Meanwhile, economists agreed that the economic impact of the pandemic could stretch well into the future. More than 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment since March. A Gallup poll released Friday said seven out of 10 Americans believe the United States' economy is in a recession or depression.
"Slower growth means higher unemployment, lower wages and less income for people," Adam Ozimek, chief economist at Upwork, told the Washington Post. "What we are looking at is another decade of that."
Schumer urged the Senate to move forward on passing more economic relief, including an extension of coronavirus-related unemployment benefits, which end in July.
"In order to avoid the risk of another Great Depression, the Senate must act with a fierce sense of urgency to make sure that everyone in America has the income they need to feed their families and put a roof over their heads," Schumer said in a statement.
"The American people cannot afford to wait another month for the Senate to pass legislation. They need our help now."


upi--2020-06-01--Brewery offers $20,000 to hike the Appalachian Trail, drink beer

June 1 ( UPI ) -- A Virginia brewery announced it is seeking a `` Chief Hiking Officer '' who @ @ @ @ @ to spend five to seven months hiking the Appalachian Trail and drinking beer .
The @ @ @ @ @ , based in Lexington , said it is accepting applications from people to `` love @ @ @ @ @ take on the unique job .
The winning applicant will be granted the `` Chief @ @ @ @ @ be flown out to trail head in 2021 for a 2,200 mile hike .
The @ @ @ @ @ the trail between May and September 2021 , would be outfitted with equipment by the @ @ @ @ @ being treated to `` some big ol ' beer parties along the way . ''
@ @ @ @ @ 's website consists of some personal information , proof of social media or blogging savvy @ @ @ @ @ why the applicant should receive the position .
The company said the best applications will @ @ @ @ @ an assignment to complete for the next round of eliminations .

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June 1 (UPI) -- A Virginia brewery announced it is seeking a "Chief Hiking Officer" who would be paid $20,000 to spend five to seven months hiking the Appalachian Trail and drinking beer.
The Devil's Backbone Brewing Co., based in Lexington, said it is accepting applications from people who "love hiking and beer" to take on the unique job.
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The winning applicant will be granted the "Chief Hiking Officer" title and be flown out to the trail head in 2021 for a 2,200-mile hike.
The hiker, who would tackle the trail between May and September 2021, would be outfitted with equipment by the brewery, as well as being treated to "some big ol' beer parties along the way."
The application on the company's website consists of some personal information, proof of social media or blogging savvy, and a video explaining why the applicant should receive the position.
The company said the best applications will be selected for interviews and an assignment to complete for the next round of eliminations.


upi--2020-06-01--Watch: Knocking on Florida couple's door was two alligators fighting

June 1 ( UPI ) -- A Florida couple who heard knocking at their front door and looked outside to @ @ @ @ @ visitors -- two alligators fighting on their stoop .
Sue Geshel said she was at @ @ @ @ @ Joe , in Fort Myers when they heard the banging at their front door .
@ @ @ @ @ and told her there were some wild visitors at the door .
`` I thought @ @ @ @ @ had so much to do and so much on his mind , I thought he @ @ @ @ @ Geshel told WINK-TV .
`` All of a sudden , there was a loud pounding @ @ @ @ @ got involved because it sounded like someone was pounding on my front door and needed @ @ @ @ @ said she was shocked to see her husband was correct : two alligators were fighting @ @ @ @ @ stoop .
Geshel recorded footage of the gators as they did battle right outside her @ @ @ @ @ reptiles left on their own after about 20 minutes .

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June 1 (UPI) -- A Florida couple who heard knocking at their front door and looked outside to find a pair of unwelcome visitors -- two alligators fighting on their stoop.
Sue Geshel said she was at home with her husband, Joe, in Fort Myers when they heard the banging at their front door.
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Geshel said Joe looked outside and told her there were some wild visitors at the door.
"I thought he was joking because we had so much to do and so much on his mind, I thought he was going crazy," Geshel told WINK-TV.
"All of a sudden, there was a loud pounding and that's when I got involved because it sounded like someone was pounding on my front door and needed some help."
Geshel said she was shocked to see her husband was correct: two alligators were fighting for territory on their front stoop.
Geshel recorded footage of the gators as they did battle right outside her door. She said the reptiles left on their own after about 20 minutes.


upi--2020-06-01--Stay-at-home orders could mean more obese children, study says

As if the childhood obesity epidemic is n't bad enough , new research warns that over one million more American boys and girls stand to become obese if coronavirus-related school closures continue through the end of the year .
The culprit : a steep rise in sedentary behavior following the spring shutdown of school and afterschool sports and activities across all 50 states .
`` If school closures continue to the end of 2020 -- due to unsubdued community transmission of COVID-19 -- the childhood obesity rate in the U.S. might further increase by 2.4 percent , '' said study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistant professor with the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis .
That translates into 1.27 million new childhood obesity cases by March 2021 .
In the May 23 online edition of the Journal of Sport and Health Science , An stressed that childhood obesity is already a huge public health problem , affecting 13.7 million -- nearly 19 percent -- American kids aged 2 to 19 , according to 2017-2018 statistics .
In addition , even pre-COVID-19 , less than one-quarter of kids were meeting exercise guidelines issued by the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The agency advises that children get at least one hour of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day .
Will school closures make things even worse ?
To see , An ran a few possible scenarios through a complex computer simulation model .
The model relied on body mass index and obesity data collected in a 2011 study that tracked weight patterns among more than 15,500 children , from kindergarten through 5th grade .
Obesity trajectories were projected through March 2021 based on four possible scenarios .
The first scenario assumed that school closures only lasted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifted in May .
A second option projected that beyond the two-month lockdowns , physical activity levels would plunge 10 percent throughout the summer .
A third possibility envisioned additional school closures through October .
And a final scenario explored what would happen if schools stayed shut through December .
All four scenarios were then compared to typical pre-pandemic obesity trends , after factoring in the kids ' preexisting activity and dietary habits .
An determined that just closing schools for two months -- already a done deal in most parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obesity by 0.64 percent by next March .
That 's over and above what would happen under normal circumstances .
Scenario two would trigger a nearly 1 percent increase in pediatric obesity , while scenario three would result in a 1.7 percent jump .
And if school shutdowns last through December , the result would be a 2.4 percent rise across both genders and all races .
The simulation predicted only a slightly higher risk for obesity among boys and among black and Hispanic children .
But Lona Sandon -- program director in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas -- is not convinced .
`` I have to say , I am skeptical .
Not that this should not be a concern , but we have seen a lot of models lately that simply have not panned out , '' she noted .
`` What evidence do we have to say that kids are not getting the same amount of physical activity that they did during a normal school day ?
They could actually be getting more activity while at home . ''
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is value in parents making a concerted effort to help their kids eat well and stay active for however long the pandemic lasts .
An , for one , advocated limiting screen time .
And he suggested that parents promote -- and join in on -- as much activity and exercise as possible .
Sandon , meanwhile , advised establishing both a family eating plan and a daily exercise routine .
`` Home recess if you will .
Take a walk/bike ride every day after lunch or dinner .
Strap on the roller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head to the park .
Do a push-up , sit-up , mountain climber , or jumping jack challenge .
Aim to do more jumping jacks each day until you reach 100 or more .
Walk the dog a few times a day , '' Sandon suggested .
But she cautioned parents against excessive food restriction or weight shaming .
The goal , she said , is to `` keep it fun . ''
There 's more about children and weight management at the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases @

As if the childhood obesity epidemic isn't bad enough, new research warns that over one million more American boys and girls stand to become obese if coronavirus-related school closures continue through the end of the year.
The culprit: a steep rise in sedentary behavior following the spring shutdown of school and afterschool sports and activities across all 50 states.
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"If school closures continue to the end of 2020 -- due to unsubdued community transmission of COVID-19 -- the childhood obesity rate in the U.S. might further increase by 2.4 percent," said study author Ruopeng An. He's an assistant professor with the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
That translates into 1.27 million new childhood obesity cases by March 2021.
In the May 23 online edition of the Journal of Sport and Health Science, An stressed that childhood obesity is already a huge public health problem, affecting 13.7 million -- nearly 19 percent -- American kids aged 2 to 19, according to 2017-2018 statistics.
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In addition, even pre-COVID-19, less than one-quarter of kids were meeting exercise guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency advises that children get at least one hour of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day.
Will school closures make things even worse? To see, An ran a few possible scenarios through a complex computer simulation model.
The model relied on body mass index and obesity data collected in a 2011 study that tracked weight patterns among more than 15,500 children, from kindergarten through 5th grade.
Obesity trajectories were projected through March 2021 based on four possible scenarios. The first scenario assumed that school closures only lasted a couple of months, before being lifted in May.
A second option projected that beyond the two-month lockdowns, physical activity levels would plunge 10 percent throughout the summer. A third possibility envisioned additional school closures through October. And a final scenario explored what would happen if schools stayed shut through December.
All four scenarios were then compared to typical pre-pandemic obesity trends, after factoring in the kids' preexisting activity and dietary habits.
An determined that just closing schools for two months -- already a done deal in most parts of the country -- will likely drive up childhood obesity by 0.64 percent by next March. That's over and above what would happen under normal circumstances.
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Scenario two would trigger a nearly 1 percent increase in pediatric obesity, while scenario three would result in a 1.7 percent jump.
And if school shutdowns last through December, the result would be a 2.4 percent rise across both genders and all races. The simulation predicted only a slightly higher risk for obesity among boys and among black and Hispanic children.
But Lona Sandon -- program director in the department of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas -- is not convinced.
"I have to say, I am skeptical. Not that this should not be a concern, but we have seen a lot of models lately that simply have not panned out," she noted. "What evidence do we have to say that kids are not getting the same amount of physical activity that they did during a normal school day? They could actually be getting more activity while at home."
Still, she and An agreed that there is value in parents making a concerted effort to help their kids eat well and stay active for however long the pandemic lasts.
An, for one, advocated limiting screen time. And he suggested that parents promote -- and join in on -- as much activity and exercise as possible.
Advertisement
Sandon, meanwhile, advised establishing both a family eating plan and a daily exercise routine.
"Home recess if you will. Take a walk/bike ride every day after lunch or dinner. Strap on the roller blades or jump on the skateboard and head to the park. Do a push-up, sit-up, mountain climber, or jumping jack challenge. Aim to do more jumping jacks each day until you reach 100 or more. Walk the dog a few times a day," Sandon suggested.
But she cautioned parents against excessive food restriction or weight shaming. The goal, she said, is to "keep it fun."
More information
There's more about children and weight management at the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-06-01--Pangolin, bat role in coronavirus path to humans remains unclear

Armadillo-like animals called pangolins may have played a role in the emergence in humans of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus , but they were n't the only links in animal-to-human transmission , scientists say .
Pangolins are sold for food in live-animal `` wet markets '' in China -- facilities that have long been suspected of being ground zero for the spread of viruses originating in animals to people .
Since the pandemic , experts worldwide have called for the closure of such markets in China and elsewhere .
Researchers at Duke University School of Medicine , Los Alamos National Laboratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas at El Paso and New York University are studying the virus that causes COVID-19 , and their research sheds new light on how it was able to make the leap from animals to people .
By exchanging an essential fragment of a gene in the virus in pangolins , SARS-CoV-2 became able to make its move , the researchers concluded .
This species-to-species jump was made possible because the virus ' mutation allowed it to attach itself to human cells , like a key fitting into a lock , explain study co-author @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicine at Duke .
`` Very much like the original SARS that jumped from bats to civets , or MERS that went from bats to dromedary camels , and then to humans , the progenitor of this pandemic coronavirus underwent evolutionary changes in its genetic material that enabled it to eventually infect humans , '' Gao said in a Duke news release .
However , the pangolin coronaviruses sampled in their new study are just too dissimilar from SARS-CoV-2 to infect humans , so it 's possible that some intermediary species -- not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process whereby SARS-CoV-2 acquired the ability to latch onto and infect human cells .
The new coronavirus uses a special structure on its outer coat to attach itself to human respiratory and intestinal cells , the researchers explained .
This site is different from the one in infected bats , so bats were n't the cause of the pandemic , they noted .
And `` people had already looked at the coronavirus sequences sampled from pangolins that we discuss in our paper , '' added co-researcher Elena Giorgi , a staff scientist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , the scientific community was still divided on whether they played a role in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 , '' she said in the release .
SARS-CoV-2 appears to be a sort of hybrid strain , somewhere between the strains isolated from either pangolins or bats , the researchers said .
`` In our study , we demonstrated that indeed SARS-CoV-2 has a rich evolutionary history that included a reshuffling of genetic material between bat and pangolin coronavirus before it acquired its ability to jump to humans , '' Giorgi said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemics they might cause -- can be curbed in the future , however , the researchers stressed .
`` While the direct reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 is still being sought , one thing is clear : reducing or eliminating direct human contact with wild animals is critical to preventing new coronavirus zoonosis in the future , '' they concluded , including wet markets .
The report was published May 29 in the journal Science Advances .
For more on COVID-19 , see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

Pangolins are sold for food in live-animal "wet markets" in China. Photo courtesy of HealthDay News
Armadillo-like animals called pangolins may have played a role in the emergence in humans of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, but they weren't the only links in animal-to-human transmission, scientists say. Pangolins are sold for food in live-animal "wet markets" in China -- facilities that have long been suspected of being ground zero for the spread of viruses originating in animals to people. Advertisement
Since the pandemic, experts worldwide have called for the closure of such markets in China and elsewhere.
Researchers at Duke University School of Medicine, Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, the University of Texas at El Paso and New York University are studying the virus that causes COVID-19, and their research sheds new light on how it was able to make the leap from animals to people.
By exchanging an essential fragment of a gene in the virus in pangolins, SARS-CoV-2 became able to make its move, the researchers concluded.
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This species-to-species jump was made possible because the virus' mutation allowed it to attach itself to human cells, like a key fitting into a lock, explain study co-author Dr. Feng Gao, a professor of medicine at Duke.
"Very much like the original SARS that jumped from bats to civets, or MERS that went from bats to dromedary camels, and then to humans, the progenitor of this pandemic coronavirus underwent evolutionary changes in its genetic material that enabled it to eventually infect humans," Gao said in a Duke news release.
However, the pangolin coronaviruses sampled in their new study are just too dissimilar from SARS-CoV-2 to infect humans, so it's possible that some intermediary species -- not pangolins or bats -- was involved in the process whereby SARS-CoV-2 acquired the ability to latch onto and infect human cells.
The new coronavirus uses a special structure on its outer coat to attach itself to human respiratory and intestinal cells, the researchers explained. This site is different from the one in infected bats, so bats weren't the cause of the pandemic, they noted.
And "people had already looked at the coronavirus sequences sampled from pangolins that we discuss in our paper," added co-researcher Elena Giorgi, a staff scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
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"However, the scientific community was still divided on whether they played a role in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2," she said in the release.
SARS-CoV-2 appears to be a sort of hybrid strain, somewhere between the strains isolated from either pangolins or bats, the researchers said.
"In our study, we demonstrated that indeed SARS-CoV-2 has a rich evolutionary history that included a reshuffling of genetic material between bat and pangolin coronavirus before it acquired its ability to jump to humans," Giorgi said.
Such "jumps" -- and the pandemics they might cause -- can be curbed in the future, however, the researchers stressed.
"While the direct reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 is still being sought, one thing is clear: reducing or eliminating direct human contact with wild animals is critical to preventing new coronavirus zoonosis in the future," they concluded, including wet markets.
The report was published May 29 in the journal Science Advances.
More information
For more on COVID-19, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-06-01--U.S. manufacturing reports show slight hope in long recovery ahead

June 1 ( UPI ) -- Manufacturing reports released Monday in the Midwest and the nation as a while showed a slight improvement that may signal the worst of the pandemic 's economic downturn has passed in that sector .
While manufacturing contracted in May , the overall economy returned to a slight expansion after one month of contraction , the Tempe-Ariz. , -based Institute for Supply Management 's May 2020 report said .
Production , new orders , employment and supplier deliveries were slowing at a slower rate , the manufacturing survey company said , after dropping in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The May combined index of manufacturing metrics registered 43.1 percent , up 1.6 percentage points from the April reading of 41.5 percent , the organization said .
An index reading of below 50 indicates a contraction in the economic sector .
Manufacturing represents about 11 percent of the total U.S. economy .
The pandemic in April ended a period of 131 consecutive months of growth , the ISM 's report said .
`` The coronavirus pandemic impacted all manufacturing sectors for the third straight month , '' said Timothy Fiore , the organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` May appears to be a transition month , as many panelists and their suppliers returned to work late in the month .
However , demand remains uncertain , likely impacting inventories , customer inventories , employment , imports and backlog of orders , '' Fiore said .
However , Fiore said winners and losers would exist in the post-pandemic manufacturing rebound .
Among the six biggest industry sectors , the only expanding industry category was food , beverage and tobacco products , he said .
Sectors that continued to contract at `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ petroleum and coal products and fabricated metal , Fiore said .
Omaha-based Creighton University 's May survey of mid-America manufacturers also showed slow improvement with an index of nine states improving to 43.5 in May from a low of 35.1 in April .
A level of 50 is considered neutral .
More than one-third of firms surveyed had cancelled or amended contracts and another 34 percent had extended their period to pay outstanding invoices , the report said .
`` This is a consumer-led recession with manufacturing lagging , '' Creighton economist Ernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Minneapolis StarTribune .
`` Nonetheless , Creighton 's survey indicates that the regional manufacturing sector is trapped in a recession . ''
Manufacturing supervisors were optimistic about the future , though , the Creighton survey showed.The survey 's confidence index improved to 56.6 in May from April 's 45.5 reported index .
The number of workers receiving unemployment benefits swelled to more than 1.3 million from 160,170 in mid-March , in Minnesota , North and South Dakota , Arkansas , Iowa , Kansas , Missouri , Nebraska and Oklahoma , Goss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs have been lost due to the pandemic .

U.S. manufacturing index levels are slowly growing again, after the national coronavirus pandemic reduced economic activity to the lowest levels since 2009, new reports show. Photo by jotoler/Pixabay
June 1 (UPI) -- Manufacturing reports released Monday in the Midwest and the nation as a while showed a slight improvement that may signal the worst of the pandemic's economic downturn has passed in that sector. While manufacturing contracted in May, the overall economy returned to a slight expansion after one month of contraction, the Tempe-Ariz.,-based Institute for Supply Management's May 2020 report said. Advertisement
Production, new orders, employment and supplier deliveries were slowing at a slower rate, the manufacturing survey company said, after dropping in April to the lowest rate since 2009.
The May combined index of manufacturing metrics registered 43.1 percent, up 1.6 percentage points from the April reading of 41.5 percent, the organization said. An index reading of below 50 indicates a contraction in the economic sector.
Manufacturing represents about 11 percent of the total U.S. economy.
The pandemic in April ended a period of 131 consecutive months of growth, the ISM's report said.
"The coronavirus pandemic impacted all manufacturing sectors for the third straight month," said Timothy Fiore, the organization's chair, in a statement.
"May appears to be a transition month, as many panelists and their suppliers returned to work late in the month. However, demand remains uncertain, likely impacting inventories, customer inventories, employment, imports and backlog of orders," Fiore said.
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However, Fiore said winners and losers would exist in the post-pandemic manufacturing rebound.
Among the six biggest industry sectors, the only expanding industry category was food, beverage and tobacco products, he said. Sectors that continued to contract at "strong levels" included transportation equipment, petroleum and coal products and fabricated metal, Fiore said.
Omaha-based Creighton University's May survey of mid-America manufacturers also showed slow improvement with an index of nine states improving to 43.5 in May from a low of 35.1 in April. A level of 50 is considered neutral.
More than one-third of firms surveyed had cancelled or amended contracts and another 34 percent had extended their period to pay outstanding invoices, the report said.
"This is a consumer-led recession with manufacturing lagging," Creighton economist Ernie Goss, who oversaw the survey, told the Minneapolis StarTribune. "Nonetheless, Creighton's survey indicates that the regional manufacturing sector is trapped in a recession."
Manufacturing supervisors were optimistic about the future, though, the Creighton survey showed.The survey's confidence index improved to 56.6 in May from April's 45.5 reported index.
The number of workers receiving unemployment benefits swelled to more than 1.3 million from 160,170 in mid-March, in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma, Goss said.
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Nationwide, about 21 million jobs have been lost due to the pandemic.


upi--2020-06-01--Fewer pregnant women have COVID-19 than previously thought

A new study suggests the rate of COVID-19 among pregnant women without symptoms is much lower than previously reported .
Fewer than 3 percent of asymptomatic women admitted to three Yale New Haven Health hospitals for labor and delivery during April tested positive for COVID-19 infection .
That contrasts with a 13.5 percent rate reported in a study of asymptomatic pregnant women admitted to hospitals in New York City , an epicenter of the U.S. outbreak .
The new study included 770 hospital patients who had n't previously been diagnosed with coronavirus infection .
Of those , 30 tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive , 22 had no symptoms -- meaning the rate of positive tests among asymptomatic women was 2.9 percent .
No patients who tested negative for COVID-19 developed symptoms or required further testing , and no health care workers on the obstetric units had to stop work due to COVID-19 illness or exposure from a known or possible contact with a patient , the findings showed .
While the number of asymptomatic women who tested positive rose 10-fold during the study , the number with symptoms declined by half , the researchers said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter in the May 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association .
`` Our report provides reassuring information on infection rates and appropriate hospital responses outside of highly endemic areas , '' said corresponding author Dr. Katherine Campbell .
She 's medical director of Yale New Haven Hospital 's Labor and Birth and Maternal Special Care Units .
`` Not only have we provided insight into the nature of a positive test , we 've highlighted how a comprehensive testing program can reduce the use of personal protective equipment among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of exposure , '' Campbell said in a news release .
Among people who have recovered from COVID-19 , tests can yield positive results for up to six weeks , noted study co-author Dr. Christian Pettker , chief of obstetrics at Yale New Haven Hospital .
`` Given our data , we think that a large number of the asymptomatic patients who test positive might not actually be actively infected or infectious , '' he said in the news release .
`` This requires more research but has very important implications for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be isolated and separated from their babies . ''
For patients , this might be even more noteworthy than the fact that labor units are much safer than has been reported , he added .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has COVID-19 advice for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding .

A new study suggests the rate of COVID-19 among pregnant women without symptoms is much lower than previously reported.
Fewer than 3 percent of asymptomatic women admitted to three Yale New Haven Health hospitals for labor and delivery during April tested positive for COVID-19 infection.
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That contrasts with a 13.5 percent rate reported in a study of asymptomatic pregnant women admitted to hospitals in New York City, an epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.
The new study included 770 hospital patients who hadn't previously been diagnosed with coronavirus infection. Of those, 30 tested positive for COVID-19. Of those who tested positive, 22 had no symptoms -- meaning the rate of positive tests among asymptomatic women was 2.9 percent.
No patients who tested negative for COVID-19 developed symptoms or required further testing, and no health care workers on the obstetric units had to stop work due to COVID-19 illness or exposure from a known or possible contact with a patient, the findings showed.
While the number of asymptomatic women who tested positive rose 10-fold during the study, the number with symptoms declined by half, the researchers said.
The study was published as a letter in the May 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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"Our report provides reassuring information on infection rates and appropriate hospital responses outside of highly endemic areas," said corresponding author Dr. Katherine Campbell. She's medical director of Yale New Haven Hospital's Labor and Birth and Maternal Special Care Units.
"Not only have we provided insight into the nature of a positive test, we've highlighted how a comprehensive testing program can reduce the use of personal protective equipment among labor and delivery staff without increasing their risk of exposure," Campbell said in a news release.
Among people who have recovered from COVID-19, tests can yield positive results for up to six weeks, noted study co-author Dr. Christian Pettker, chief of obstetrics at Yale New Haven Hospital.
"Given our data, we think that a large number of the asymptomatic patients who test positive might not actually be actively infected or infectious," he said in the news release. "This requires more research but has very important implications for patients who test positive who then might have to be isolated and separated from their babies."
For patients, this might be even more noteworthy than the fact that labor units are much safer than has been reported, he added.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has COVID-19 advice for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
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Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.