upi--2020-04-03--Sleep apnea machine converted to ventilator using 3D printer

As COVID-19 pushes American hospitals to the breaking point , intensive care units are finding creative ways to deal with a looming shortage of lifesaving mechanical ventilators .
New York-Presbyterian Hospital last week began splitting single-use ventilators into machines that can serve two patients at a time .
Now another New York-based hospital system , Northwell Health , has stepped up with another jury-rigged remedy : using 3D printing and HEPA filter add-ons to turn unused bi-level positive airway pressure ( BiPAP ) machines into the much-needed ventilators .
A BiPAP `` is a noninvasive machine often used to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe sleep apnea patients , '' said team leader Dr. Hugh Cassiere , medical director for respiratory therapy services at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset , N.Y .
Unlike a ventilator , a BiPAP does n't breathe for you .
Instead , it pushes pressure into the airway .
And in this context , Cassiere said , that 's a problem , because unlike full-support ventilators , `` BiPAP machines only give you partial support . ''
The remedy : Add a small T-shaped adapter to a Philips Respironics V60 BiPAP machine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breathing assistance , and outfit both ends of the BiPAP 's oxygen hose with high-efficiency particulate air ( HEPA ) filters to limit viral contamination .
Northwell 's newly adapted BiPAP has already been tested on a dozen patients , some with COVID-19 and some without .
Cassiere said the results demonstrate that the converted BiPAP `` can be used to supply full ventilator support . ''
And New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said in a media briefing today , `` We are converting the BiPAP machines .
This has not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of our premiere health care systems , has developed a protocol , and teaching and other hospitals now know how to do it .
We just bought 3,000 BiPAP machines and 750 came in yesterday . ''
American Heart Association spokesman Dr. John Osborne , a practicing cardiologist in Fort Worth , Texas , reacted to the strategy .
`` This could really turn out to be a great , great thing , '' he said .
`` Ventilators are enormously important , '' Osborne said .
`` It 's life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And being attached to a ventilator basically goes against all your body 's natural instincts .
But it 's for a situation in which you ca n't breathe on your own at all , because you 're knocked out or because your lungs are so full of pus , fluids and all that stuff that you need a machine to essentially breathe for you . ''
The big difference between ventilators and BiPAPs , Osborne said , is that ventilators are designed to be autonomous .
`` Once it 's attached , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does everything for you , '' he said .
While a regular BiPAP keeps airways open as you inhale and exhale , Osborne said the patient has to initiate the breath to make it work .
`` And for a lot of COVID-19 patients that 's just not possible , '' he added .
`` So this is very inspiring , '' he said .
`` Because the more tools we have available at our disposal to address this pandemic , the better . ''
Cassiere collaborated with two Northwell colleagues on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapy director , and Todd Goldstein , director of 3D design and innovation .
The team said its T-shaped adapter can be quickly reproduced using 3D printer technology .
Northwell itself can print up to 200 adapters in a single day .
Cassiere 's team added HEPA filters to the tubing to reduce contamination .
Northwell 's 23 New York metro-area hospitals are converting BiPAPs in anticipation of the looming ventilator shortage .
Right now , the system still has some on hand .
Northwell says it has 350 BiPAPs available , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the proper adapters and settings , only takes minutes . ''
Northwell plans to post details of its BiPAP conversion method online , along with the 3D printing design for the critical T-adapter .
More information Learn more about how ventilators work at the U.S. National Heart , Lung , and Blood Institute .

As COVID-19 pushes American hospitals to the breaking point, intensive care units are finding creative ways to deal with a looming shortage of lifesaving mechanical ventilators.
New York-Presbyterian Hospital last week began splitting single-use ventilators into machines that can serve two patients at a time. Now another New York-based hospital system, Northwell Health, has stepped up with another jury-rigged remedy: using 3D printing and HEPA filter add-ons to turn unused bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines into the much-needed ventilators.
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A BiPAP "is a noninvasive machine often used to help those with lung disease, COPD and severe sleep apnea patients," said team leader Dr. Hugh Cassiere, medical director for respiratory therapy services at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y.
Unlike a ventilator, a BiPAP doesn't breathe for you. Instead, it pushes pressure into the airway. And in this context, Cassiere said, that's a problem, because unlike full-support ventilators, "BiPAP machines only give you partial support."
Advertisement
The remedy: Add a small T-shaped adapter to a Philips Respironics V60 BiPAP machine; tweak its settings to provide full breathing assistance, and outfit both ends of the BiPAP's oxygen hose with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to limit viral contamination.
Northwell's newly adapted BiPAP has already been tested on a dozen patients, some with COVID-19 and some without. Cassiere said the results demonstrate that the converted BiPAP "can be used to supply full ventilator support."
And New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a media briefing today, "We are converting the BiPAP machines. This has not been done before, but Northwell, which is one of our premiere health care systems, has developed a protocol, and teaching and other hospitals now know how to do it. We just bought 3,000 BiPAP machines and 750 came in yesterday."
American Heart Association spokesman Dr. John Osborne, a practicing cardiologist in Fort Worth, Texas, reacted to the strategy. "This could really turn out to be a great, great thing," he said.
"Ventilators are enormously important," Osborne said. "It's life support. They're incredibly invasive. And being attached to a ventilator basically goes against all your body's natural instincts. But it's for a situation in which you can't breathe on your own at all, because you're knocked out or because your lungs are so full of pus, fluids and all that stuff that you need a machine to essentially breathe for you."
Advertisement
The big difference between ventilators and BiPAPs, Osborne said, is that ventilators are designed to be autonomous. "Once it's attached, you put in the numbers and the machine does everything for you," he said.
While a regular BiPAP keeps airways open as you inhale and exhale, Osborne said the patient has to initiate the breath to make it work. "And for a lot of COVID-19 patients that's just not possible," he added.
"So this is very inspiring," he said. "Because the more tools we have available at our disposal to address this pandemic, the better."
Cassiere collaborated with two Northwell colleagues on the BiPAP conversion -- Stanley John, respiratory therapy director, and Todd Goldstein, director of 3D design and innovation.
The team said its T-shaped adapter can be quickly reproduced using 3D printer technology. Northwell itself can print up to 200 adapters in a single day. Cassiere's team added HEPA filters to the tubing to reduce contamination.
Northwell's 23 New York metro-area hospitals are converting BiPAPs in anticipation of the looming ventilator shortage. Right now, the system still has some on hand. Northwell says it has 350 BiPAPs available, and Cassiere noted that "the conversion, with the proper adapters and settings, only takes minutes."
Advertisement
Northwell plans to post details of its BiPAP conversion method online, along with the 3D printing design for the critical T-adapter.
More information Learn more about how ventilators work at the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-04-03--Polio immunization drives suspended due to COVID-19

April 2 ( UPI ) -- The Global Polio Eradication Initiative has said it is pausing all immunization campaigns for the next six months to prevent further spread of COVID-19 and make available resources to fight the pandemic .
`` The COVID-19 pandemic response requires worldwide solidarity and an urgent global effort , '' the global organization working to eradicate the life-threatening poliovirus said in a statement on Thursday .
`` The Global Polio Eradication Initiative stands ready to respond . ''
The GPEI said all countries have been advised to postpone poliovirus preventative drives until the second half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to conduct campaigns to postpone them until June and then re-evaluate whether to proceed based on the status of the pandemic , which has grown since December when it began to more than 1 million infections and more than 53,000 deaths worldwide , according to a live tracker of COVID-19 by Johns Hopkins University .
`` We take this decision with deep regret , knowing more children may be paralyzed by polio as a result , '' GPEI said .
`` Nonetheless , GPEI believes it is the correct decision , given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency and not contribute to the further spread of COVID-19 . ''
The organization described its announcement as a `` call to action , '' stating its programmatic and operational assets and human resources will be made available `` to enable a strong response to COVID-19 . ''
The announcement came more than a week after the Polio Oversight Board decided for `` all polio activities , which come in contradiction to global guidance on physical distancing , such as house-to-house or other immunization activities using oral or injectable vaccines , should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers at unnecessary risk and facilitate rapid and effective COVID-19 response in countries . ''
The GPEI said the final decision on suspending polio activities will be up to the individual countries , warning those that decide to proceed risk further spread of COVID-19 .
It said countries that will continue with their drives are to have protocols in place to protect health workers and the public .
It said as soon as the situation allows , it will scale-up its response to fight polio as the postponement of vaccination campaigns `` will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resource needs . ''
The GPEI was launched in 1988 and has been apart of the global effort to eradicate polio .
Since then , the incidence of polio has decreased by 99.9 percent , the organization said on its website .

An Afghan child looks on as a health worker administers polio vaccine on the second day of a vaccination campaign in Kabul on March 15, 2010. Photo by Hossein Fatemi/UPI | License Photo
April 2 (UPI) -- The Global Polio Eradication Initiative has said it is pausing all immunization campaigns for the next six months to prevent further spread of COVID-19 and make available resources to fight the pandemic. "The COVID-19 pandemic response requires worldwide solidarity and an urgent global effort," the global organization working to eradicate the life-threatening poliovirus said in a statement on Thursday. "The Global Polio Eradication Initiative stands ready to respond." Advertisement
The GPEI said all countries have been advised to postpone poliovirus preventative drives until the second half of 2020 with those that had already planned to conduct campaigns to postpone them until June and then re-evaluate whether to proceed based on the status of the pandemic, which has grown since December when it began to more than 1 million infections and more than 53,000 deaths worldwide, according to a live tracker of COVID-19 by Johns Hopkins University.
"We take this decision with deep regret, knowing more children may be paralyzed by polio as a result," GPEI said. "Nonetheless, GPEI believes it is the correct decision, given the imperative to save lives in the current emergency and not contribute to the further spread of COVID-19."
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The organization described its announcement as a "call to action," stating its programmatic and operational assets and human resources will be made available "to enable a strong response to COVID-19."
The announcement came more than a week after the Polio Oversight Board decided for "all polio activities, which come in contradiction to global guidance on physical distancing, such as house-to-house or other immunization activities using oral or injectable vaccines, should be suspended to avoid placing communities and frontline workers at unnecessary risk and facilitate rapid and effective COVID-19 response in countries."
The GPEI said the final decision on suspending polio activities will be up to the individual countries, warning those that decide to proceed risk further spread of COVID-19. It said countries that will continue with their drives are to have protocols in place to protect health workers and the public.
It said as soon as the situation allows, it will scale-up its response to fight polio as the postponement of vaccination campaigns "will lead to lengthened eradication timelines and increased resource needs."
The GPEI was launched in 1988 and has been apart of the global effort to eradicate polio. Since then, the incidence of polio has decreased by 99.9 percent, the organization said on its website.


upi--2020-04-03--Dayton's Obi Toppin, Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu win 2020 Naismith trophies

April 3 ( UPI ) -- Dayton Flyers sophomore forward Obi Toppin and Oregon Ducks senior guard Sabrina Ionescu were awarded the 2019-20 Naismith trophies .
The recipients of the awards , given annually to the most outstanding players in men 's and women 's college basketball , were announced Friday .
Toppin , who announced last week that he will sign with an agent and enter the upcoming NBA Draft , became Dayton 's first consensus All-American and guided the Flyers to a school-record 29 wins this past season .
The school was projected to make a deep run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event was canceled due the coronavirus pandemic .
Toppin is also one of five finalists for the John R. Wooden Award .
He averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting 63 percent this year .
Ionescu , who is the first Ducks player to win the award , earned the honor with another record-breaking season at Oregon .
She became the first player in NCAA Division I history to record at least 2,000 points , 1,000 assists and 1,000 rebounds in a career .
Ionescu averaged 17.5 points , 9.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight triple-doubles this season .
She helped the Ducks win the Pac-12 regular-season and tournament titles .
`` This one is definitely special , '' Ionescu said on CBS Sports HQ .
`` I could n't have been able to do this without my coaches and teammates .
We grew together all year long and being able to play alongside them was certainly a blessing . ''
The Ducks posted a 31-2 record this season before the cancellation of the NCAA tournament because of the virus .

Dayton men's college basketball star Obi Toppin averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this past season. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
April 3 (UPI) -- Dayton Flyers sophomore forward Obi Toppin and Oregon Ducks senior guard Sabrina Ionescu were awarded the 2019-20 Naismith trophies. The recipients of the awards, given annually to the most outstanding players in men's and women's college basketball, were announced Friday. Advertisement
Toppin, who announced last week that he will sign with an agent and enter the upcoming NBA Draft, became Dayton's first consensus All-American and guided the Flyers to a school-record 29 wins this past season. The school was projected to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament, but the event was canceled due the coronavirus pandemic.
Toppin is also one of five finalists for the John R. Wooden Award. He averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting 63 percent this year.
Congratulations to @obitoppin1 for taking home the 2020 @CitizenWatchUS Naismith Men's Player of the Year on @CBSSportsHQ! The 1st @DaytonMBB player named @A10MBB Conference POY + only to avg 20.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg & 63.3% FTF #Naismith2020 I #JoinTheFight pic.twitter.com/gXPFM7vbwb— The Naismith Trophy (@NaismithTrophy) April 3, 2020
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Ionescu, who is the first Ducks player to win the award, earned the honor with another record-breaking season at Oregon. She became the first player in NCAA Division I history to record at least 2,000 points, 1,000 assists and 1,000 rebounds in a career.
Ionescu averaged 17.5 points, 9.1 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game with eight triple-doubles this season. She helped the Ducks win the Pac-12 regular-season and tournament titles.
"This one is definitely special," Ionescu said on CBS Sports HQ. "I couldn't have been able to do this without my coaches and teammates. We grew together all year long and being able to play alongside them was certainly a blessing."
The Ducks posted a 31-2 record this season before the cancellation of the NCAA tournament because of the virus.


upi--2020-04-03--New York reports largest 1-day coronavirus death toll; California tops 10,000 cases

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Pedestrians walk by the Be Well message on the Apollo Theater marquee in New York City on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
April 3 (UPI) -- New York reported its largest one-day death toll from the coronavirus disease Friday, while California's caseload surpassed 10,000. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at his daily update that 2,935 New Yorkers have so far died from the coronavirus disease, an increase of 562 -- the state's greatest single-day total so far. The number of cases rose by 10 percent to nearly 103,000, more than half of which are in New York City. Advertisement
Cuomo said he received quick approval from President Donald Trump to change the mission of the 2,500-bed field hospital constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.
Originally intended to act as a overflow center for non-coronavirus patients displaced from hospitals, the White House agreed to let New York use the Javits facility for COVID-19 patients.
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The Pentagon said similar field hospitals in New Orleans and Dallas will also now treat coronavirus patients.
"We don't have any non-COVID patients in the hospitals anymore," Cuomo said. "I thank the president. Twenty-five-hundred beds is a big deal for us."
However, he again asked for more federal help in procuring much-needed ventilators.
"New York is in crisis. Help New York. No state can get the supplies they need ... The market has literally collapsed."
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday called for federal help to institute a nationwide draft of private medical personnel to help fight the spread of the disease.
"The federal government must step up and provide the reinforcements we need," he said at a morning press briefing. "The battle will be long, and we cannot fight it alone."
De Blasio warned that Sunday will be "D-Day" for the city -- the day medical workers are projected to run out of ventilators, and thousands of intubated patients will start dying.
"We predict by something like Monday or Tuesday, 5,000 people in our ICUs intubated fighting for their lives with COVID cases," he told CNN. "Five-thousand. Then that number will grow. That's a staggering number. Every one of those people will need a ventilator."
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The Pentagon said Friday the USNS Comfort hospital ship, stationed in New York City, has loosened its admitting requirements after city hospitals complained that military bureaucracy is hampering the mission.
"This assistance will further unburden the local hospital and ambulance systems in these areas, allowing them to focus on the more serious COVID-19 cases," the Pentagon said in a statement. "We will immediately implement this action and work with local officials in each area on the details of patient arrival."
In California, the number of cases surpassed 10,000 and the death toll in the Los Angeles County epicenter climbed to 78, according Johns Hopkins University. The statewide death toll is approaching 250.
In suburban Riverside County, a second sheriff's deputy died of complications from COVID-19, authorities said. He was identified as David Werksman, a 22-year veteran of the department. Deputy Terrell Young died Thursday. Sheriff Chad Bianco said 25 departmental employees have tested positive, mostly deputies.
Two more states -- Georgia and Missouri -- fell in line with most of the rest of the country by implementing stay-at-home orders. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp ordered that as of 6 p.m. Friday, all residents must stay at home except to purchase groceries, medical needs, go to a doctor's appointment, travel for necessary business or to exercise. All non-essential businesses are also closed.
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Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's "Stay Home Missouri" order has similar restrictions.
"There comes a time when we have to make major sacrifices in our lives. Many of us make sacrifices each and every day, but now more than ever, we must all make sacrifices," Parson said. "This is not about any one individual person. This is about our families, friends, neighbors, and the entire state of Missouri. For the sake of all Missourians, be smart, be responsible, and stay home, Missourians."
U.S. copes with COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-04-03--SLSCO receives $61.4M for border wall construction

April 3 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Army awarded SLSCO Ltd. with a $ 61.4 million contract modification Friday @ @ @ @ @ southern U.S. border .
This deal amends an earlier contract , awarded in April 2019 @ @ @ @ @ wall near Santa Teresa , N.M. , or what the new contract announcement describes as @ @ @ @ @ '' of the wall .
Earlier this week the Galveston , Texas-based company was awarded @ @ @ @ @ to build emergency hospitals in the National Tennis Center in Queens and at a cruise @ @ @ @ @ The original contract had an estimated completion date of Oct. 1 , 2020 , but @ @ @ @ @ is expected to wrap by Dec. 31 , 2020 .
In December 2018 SLSCO received @ @ @ @ @ six miles of a border wall near McAllen , Texas .
This week a federal @ @ @ @ @ challenging President Donald Trump 's border wall strategy to proceed , though the judge also @ @ @ @ @ overstep his authority when he declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border .

People in El Paso wave through the border wall to their families in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, in October 2019. This week SLSCO was awarded $61.4 million to construct a section of border wall near El Paso. Photo by Justin Hamel/UPI | License Photo
April 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army awarded SLSCO Ltd. with a $61.4 million contract modification Friday for wall construction along the southern U.S. border. This deal amends an earlier contract, awarded in April 2019, for work on the wall near Santa Teresa, N.M., or what the new contract announcement describes as the "El Paso sector" of the wall. Advertisement
Earlier this week the Galveston, Texas-based company was awarded a $250 million contract to build emergency hospitals in the National Tennis Center in Queens and at a cruise ship terminal in Brooklyn.
The original contract had an estimated completion date of Oct. 1, 2020, but work covered under the modification is expected to wrap by Dec. 31, 2020.
In December 2018 SLSCO received $166.8 million to construct six miles of a border wall near McAllen, Texas.
This week a federal judge allowed two environmental suits challenging President Donald Trump's border wall strategy to proceed, though the judge also ruled that Trump did not overstep his authority when he declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border.


upi--2020-04-03--Scenes from a pandemic: World copes with COVID-19

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus , COVID-19 , a pandemic , reaching around @ @ @ @ @ , which surfaced in December in Wuhan , China , has killed thousands .
Streets @ @ @ @ @ , as large gatherings are canceled and people are quarantined .
Here 's a look @ @ @ @ @ world .

The French authorities started lifting the coronavirus lockdown on May 11, but people living in regions that are most at risk, notably in Paris, still face tight restrictions. Photo by Eco Clement/UPI


upi--2020-04-03--U.S. copes with COVID-19 pandemic

U.S. copes with COVID-19 pandemic

The novel coronavirus , COVID-19 , pandemic is spreading across the United States .
People are discouraged ( even banned @ @ @ @ @ large gatherings , public spaces are closing , store shelves are empty , with long @ @ @ @ @ and travel is limited .
Here are some scenes from across America .

Bass Pro Shops marketing manager David Smith (R) carries a box of donated face masks into Mercy Health in Chesterfield, Mo., on May 13. The company is donating 1 million FDA-approved ASTM Level 1 Procedure Face Masks to healthcare workers and first responders working on the front lines of the pandemic. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI


upi--2020-04-03--Huntington Ingalls receives $1.5B modification for LPD-31

April 3 ( UPI ) -- Huntington Ingalls received a $ 1.5 billion contract modification this week for construction of the LPD-31 amphibious transport dock , the Pentagon announced Friday .
The contract announcement confirms a statement from the Navy 's Assistant Secretary for Research , Development and Acquisition , who said earlier this week that some large Navy contracts would be accelerated to mitigate disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
In a conference call with reporters Wednesday James `` Hondo '' Geurts specifically said the Navy would award a contract for the LPD-31 amphibious transport dock in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous contract originally awarded in August 2018 for work on the USS Harrisburg .
The modification funds detail design and construction of LPD-31 , the 15th ship in the USS San Antonio ( LPD 17 ) class of amphibious transport dock ships , which embark , transport and land elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions .
The bulk of work on this contract will be performed in Pascagoula , Miss.
, with some other parts of the contract to be carried out in various sites throughout the @ @ @

The amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) is underway with the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group participating in composite training unit exercise. Photo by Will Tonacchio/U.S. Navy
April 3 (UPI) -- Huntington Ingalls received a $1.5 billion contract modification this week for construction of the LPD-31 amphibious transport dock, the Pentagon announced Friday. The contract announcement confirms a statement from the Navy's Assistant Secretary for Research, Development and Acquisition, who said earlier this week that some large Navy contracts would be accelerated to mitigate disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement
In a conference call with reporters Wednesday James "Hondo" Geurts specifically said the Navy would award a contract for the LPD-31 amphibious transport dock in the coming days.
The deal modifies a previous contract originally awarded in August 2018 for work on the USS Harrisburg.
The modification funds detail design and construction of LPD-31, the 15th ship in the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) class of amphibious transport dock ships, which embark, transport and land elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions.
The bulk of work on this contract will be performed in Pascagoula, Miss., with some other parts of the contract to be carried out in various sites throughout the United States.


upi--2020-04-03--COVID-19: CDC recommends healthy Americans wear masks, too

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Shoppers wearing protective face masks wait in line to enter a grocery store in the Harlem section of New York City on Friday. The CDC on Friday recommended even healthy Americans wear face masks since some people with COVID-19 show no symptoms and could still spread the disease. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
April 3 (UPI) -- U.S. health officials now recommend that all Americans wear cloth face masks in public to protect themselves and others during the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump announced Friday. He said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Americans -- regardless of whether they're sick -- should wear fabric masks, not medical-grade respirators, which are desperately needed by doctors and nurses running short on supplies. Advertisement
"It's going to be really a voluntary thing," Trump said during the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing.
"You can do it. You don't have to do it. I'm choosing not to do it, but some people may want to do it, and that's okay."
The CDC initially recommended that only people exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 should wear masks and that wearing one doesn't protect healthy people from contracting the virus. Public health officials were also concerned that if non-healthcare workers wore the n95 respirator masks, it could further put pressure on a dwindling supply.
U.S. copes with COVID-19 pandemic
Bass Pro Shops marketing manager David Smith (R) carries a box of donated face masks into Mercy Health in Chesterfield, Mo., on May 13. The company is donating 1 million FDA-approved ASTM Level 1 Procedure Face Masks to healthcare workers and first responders working on the front lines of the pandemic. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
But scientists say even people without symptoms could carry and spread the disease to others. Wearing a mask means even asymptomatic COVID-19-positive people could limit how much they spread the virus when grocery shopping or carrying out essential errands in public.
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The CDC said medical-grade masks aren't necessary to limit the spread of the disease. Officials say Americans can even make their own masks at home.
This week, the mayors of Los Angeles and New York City urged residents there to wear face coverings while in public -- even going so far as to recommend scarves and bandanas.
"To be clear, you should still stay at home. This isn't an excuse to suddenly all go out," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garrett said Thursday.
The CDC recommendation came as the United States' number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reached at least 273,000 on Friday and the death toll crossed the 7,000 threshold, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.


upi--2020-04-03--Boeing shutters Philadelphia-area facilities after employees test positive for COVID-19

April 3 ( UPI ) -- Boeing announced this week that it is suspending operations in the Philadelphia area for two weeks due to the spread of the novel coronavirus .
A press release from the company issued late Thursday said the company would suspend production of the H-46 Chinook cargo helicopter , the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and the MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter , as well as other defense and commercial services work performed at the site .
A Boeing spokesman told Defense News Friday that `` we have had positive test results for Boeing Philadelphia employees , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the release the company will `` conduct additional deep cleaning activities at buildings across the site and establish rigorous criteria for return to work '' before reopening April 20 .
The company also said employees who can work from home will continue to do so , and those who ca n't `` will receive paid leave for the 10 working days - double the normal company policy . ''
`` Suspending operations at our vital military rotorcraft facilities is a serious step , but a necessary one for the health and safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Steve Parker , a Philadelphia site senior executive for Boeing , said in the statement .
`` We 're working closely with government and public health officials in the tri-state region .
We 're also in contact with our customers , suppliers and other stakeholders affected by this temporary suspension as we assist in the national effort to combat the spread of COVID-19 . ''
On March 23 Boeing announced it was shutting down factories in Washington state amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The Seattle area , where much of Boeing 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first significant outbreaks of COVID-19 in the United States , and several Boeing employees tested positive for the virus before operations were shuttered .
On March 20 the Pentagon 's undersecretary for acquisitions sent a memo to defense contractors describing defense contractors and their suppliers as `` critical infrastructure '' and urged them to keep working amid the virus ' spread .
This week the Navy 's Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research , Development and Acquisition told reporters the branch is awarding some large contracts earlier than planned in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the industry .
Citing , among other examples , a $ 1.6 billion deal awarded to Boeing Tuesday for P-8A Poseidon aircraft , James Geurts said the Navy is moving quickly on big deals in an effort to encourage contractors to pay their suppliers sooner than later -- and in hopes they 'll be ready to get right back to work following periods of disruption .

Boeing announced this week that it is shuttering its Philadelphia-area operations for two weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Smallbones via Wikipedia
April 3 (UPI) -- Boeing announced this week that it is suspending operations in the Philadelphia area for two weeks due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. A press release from the company issued late Thursday said the company would suspend production of the H-46 Chinook cargo helicopter, the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and the MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter, as well as other defense and commercial services work performed at the site. Advertisement
A Boeing spokesman told Defense News Friday that "we have had positive test results for Boeing Philadelphia employees," but declined to comment further.
According to the release the company will "conduct additional deep cleaning activities at buildings across the site and establish rigorous criteria for return to work" before reopening April 20.
The company also said employees who can work from home will continue to do so, and those who can't "will receive paid leave for the 10 working days - double the normal company policy."
"Suspending operations at our vital military rotorcraft facilities is a serious step, but a necessary one for the health and safety of our employees and their communities," Steve Parker, a Philadelphia site senior executive for Boeing, said in the statement. "We're working closely with government and public health officials in the tri-state region. We're also in contact with our customers, suppliers and other stakeholders affected by this temporary suspension as we assist in the national effort to combat the spread of COVID-19."
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On March 23 Boeing announced it was shutting down factories in Washington state amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Seattle area, where much of Boeing's production is centered, saw one of the first significant outbreaks of COVID-19 in the United States, and several Boeing employees tested positive for the virus before operations were shuttered.
On March 20 the Pentagon's undersecretary for acquisitions sent a memo to defense contractors describing defense contractors and their suppliers as "critical infrastructure" and urged them to keep working amid the virus' spread.
This week the Navy's Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition told reporters the branch is awarding some large contracts earlier than planned in order to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus on the industry.
Citing, among other examples, a $1.6 billion deal awarded to Boeing Tuesday for P-8A Poseidon aircraft, James Geurts said the Navy is moving quickly on big deals in an effort to encourage contractors to pay their suppliers sooner than later -- and in hopes they'll be ready to get right back to work following periods of disruption.


upi--2020-04-03--Researchers spot weakness in coronavirus that could provide clues to cure

April 3 ( UPI ) -- Researchers may have found a weakness in SARS-CoV2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 , that provides clues as to how to treat the infection -- and possibly develop a vaccine to prevent its spread .
An antibody recovered from a survivor of the early 2000s SARS epidemic revealed a potential vulnerability in the new coronavirus , according to a study published Friday in the journal Science .
SARS , or severe acute respiratory syndrome , like SARS-CoV2 , is a type of coronavirus .
The new knowledge `` can aid in structure-based design @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and these would also protect against other coronaviruses -- including those that may emerge in the future , '' study co-author Ian Wilson , chair of the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research , said in a press release .
The first SARS virus , known as SARS-CoV , or SARS-CoV1 , first emerged in China in 2002 and infected nearly 9,000 people worldwide , and killed 774 , before it was relatively quickly contained .
While COVID-19 has spread farther -- through Friday afternoon it had sickened nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have died -- the 2002 SARS outbreak provides a platform for researchers to tackle the new coronavirus , according to Dr. Kevin Harrod , Benjamin Monroe Carraway Endowed Chair and professor of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama-Birmingham .
`` We learned a lot from the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s , '' Harrod , who worked on the U.S. response , told UPI .
He was not part of the Scripps research .
`` However , we 've never seen a coronavirus that was both this contagious and this deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which causes SARS , originated in horseshoe bats and first jumped to humans in China in 2002 .
That outbreak was largely contained through lockdowns , quarantines and other measures .
SARS-CoV-2 , meanwhile , is a closely related coronavirus that first emerged in Wuhan , China .
`` It 's not surprising that we 're seeing a 100-year pandemic roughly 100 years after the last major pandemic -- the 1918-19 flu pandemic , '' Harrod said .
`` What 's surprising is that it 's been caused by a coronavirus .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , because it 's new , there is no immunity against it , so it 's going to cause more disease . ''
The new study is focused on the anti-SARS-CoV antibody CR3022 , which was first isolated in 2006 by the pharmaceutical company Crucell Holland B.V. A study published in February in the journal Emerging Microbes and Infections suggested CR3022 cross-reacts against SARS-CoV-2 .
Using blood donations from people who have recovered from COVID-19 , Wilson 's team used a near-atomic-scale resolution structural mapping method to determine how the antibody binds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly identical site on both coronaviruses to which the antibody binds that appears to be functionally important and vulnerable .
The Scripps Research analysis also found that the antibody binding site is relatively remote -- not normally accessible to antibodies -- from the part of the virus that grabs hold of cell-surface protein receptors to penetrate cells in the lungs .
This suggests that , at least for SARS-CoV , CR3002 neutralizes the virus 's ability to infect cells in some indirect way .
`` We found that this region is usually hidden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when that part of the virus changes its structure , as it would in natural infection , '' said co-author Dr. Meng Yuan , a research associate at Scripps .
Another key finding is that the antibody binds to similar sites in both coronaviruses -- the sites differ by just four amino acids .
That high degree of similarity indicates that the site has an important function that would be lost if it mutated significantly , Scripps researchers said .
They note , however , that the antibody binds much less tightly to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and can not neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in lab dish tests as it does SARS-CoV .
But the findings suggest the binding site is a vulnerability , and that antibodies binding to it more tightly could neutralize the virus .
The findings also indicate there may be other antibodies that effectively neutralize both SARS and COVID-19 -- and perhaps do the same with future coronaviruses -- the Scripps team said .
`` Our ultimate goal here is to obtain structural information on antibodies and their binding sites , and use that to guide SARS-CoV-2 vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done with influenza and HIV , '' said co-author Nicholas Wu , a postdoctoral research associate at Scripps .

Health care professionals wait for patients at the Children's National Hospital COVID-19 specimen collection facility on the campus of Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. Children's National is running coronavirus testing for pediatric patients who have a physician's referral. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/UPI | License Photo
April 3 (UPI) -- Researchers may have found a weakness in SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19, that provides clues as to how to treat the infection -- and possibly develop a vaccine to prevent its spread. An antibody recovered from a survivor of the early 2000s SARS epidemic revealed a potential vulnerability in the new coronavirus, according to a study published Friday in the journal Science. Advertisement
SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, like SARS-CoV2, is a type of coronavirus.
The new knowledge "can aid in structure-based design of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2, and these would also protect against other coronaviruses -- including those that may emerge in the future," study co-author Ian Wilson, chair of the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research, said in a press release.
The first SARS virus, known as SARS-CoV, or SARS-CoV1, first emerged in China in 2002 and infected nearly 9,000 people worldwide, and killed 774, before it was relatively quickly contained.
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While COVID-19 has spread farther -- through Friday afternoon it had sickened nearly 1.1 million people globally and nearly 59,000 have died -- the 2002 SARS outbreak provides a platform for researchers to tackle the new coronavirus, according to Dr. Kevin Harrod, Benjamin Monroe Carraway Endowed Chair and professor of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
"We learned a lot from the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s," Harrod, who worked on the U.S. response, told UPI. He was not part of the Scripps research.
"However, we've never seen a coronavirus that was both this contagious and this deadly," he added.
SARS-CoV, which causes SARS, originated in horseshoe bats and first jumped to humans in China in 2002. That outbreak was largely contained through lockdowns, quarantines and other measures.
SARS-CoV-2, meanwhile, is a closely related coronavirus that first emerged in Wuhan, China.
"It's not surprising that we're seeing a 100-year pandemic roughly 100 years after the last major pandemic -- the 1918-19 flu pandemic," Harrod said. "What's surprising is that it's been caused by a coronavirus. With this virus, we have no vaccine and, because it's new, there is no immunity against it, so it's going to cause more disease."
Advertisement
The new study is focused on the anti-SARS-CoV antibody CR3022, which was first isolated in 2006 by the pharmaceutical company Crucell Holland B.V. A study published in February in the journal Emerging Microbes and Infections suggested CR3022 cross-reacts against SARS-CoV-2.
Using blood donations from people who have recovered from COVID-19, Wilson's team used a near-atomic-scale resolution structural mapping method to determine how the antibody binds to SARS-CoV-2. The analysis revealed a nearly identical site on both coronaviruses to which the antibody binds that appears to be functionally important and vulnerable.
The Scripps Research analysis also found that the antibody binding site is relatively remote -- not normally accessible to antibodies -- from the part of the virus that grabs hold of cell-surface protein receptors to penetrate cells in the lungs. This suggests that, at least for SARS-CoV, CR3002 neutralizes the virus's ability to infect cells in some indirect way.
"We found that this region is usually hidden inside the virus, and only exposed when that part of the virus changes its structure, as it would in natural infection," said co-author Dr. Meng Yuan, a research associate at Scripps.
Another key finding is that the antibody binds to similar sites in both coronaviruses -- the sites differ by just four amino acids. That high degree of similarity indicates that the site has an important function that would be lost if it mutated significantly, Scripps researchers said.
Advertisement
They note, however, that the antibody binds much less tightly to COVID-19 than it does to SARS, and cannot neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in lab dish tests as it does SARS-CoV. But the findings suggest the binding site is a vulnerability, and that antibodies binding to it more tightly could neutralize the virus.
The findings also indicate there may be other antibodies that effectively neutralize both SARS and COVID-19 -- and perhaps do the same with future coronaviruses -- the Scripps team said.
"Our ultimate goal here is to obtain structural information on antibodies and their binding sites, and use that to guide SARS-CoV-2 vaccine design, just as our lab has done with influenza and HIV," said co-author Nicholas Wu, a postdoctoral research associate at Scripps.


upi--2020-04-03--Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's daughter, grandson missing

April 3 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Coast Guard was searching for the daughter and grandson of former Maryland Lt. Gov .
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend on Friday , one day after the two went missing in the Chesapeake Bay .
Gov .
Larry Hogan told reporters about the apparent capsize in the waters near Shady Side , Md .
`` Former Maryland Lt. Gov .
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend 's daughter , Maeve , and her 8-year-old grandson Gideon went missing after canoeing yesterday afternoon on the south river here in Anne Arundel .
An intensive search has been underway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
David McKean said his wife , Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean , 40 , and his son , Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean , 8 , got into a canoe Thursday afternoon after a ball they were kicking back and forth went into the water .
They were gathered at Kennedy Townsend 's house at the time .
`` They just got farther out than they could handle and could n't get back in , '' David McKean said .
The Coast Guard said there was a 30 mph wind in the area at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 feet to 3 feet high .
Anne Arundel County Fire Department Capt .
Erik Kornmeyer said someone reported spotting the canoe from a nearby pier and that the boaters appeared to be `` struggling . ''
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources said an overturned canoe matching the one the McKeans were using was found .
Maeve McKean is also the granddaughter of former Attorney General and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy , and the great-niece of former President John F. Kennedy .

April 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard was searching for the daughter and grandson of former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend on Friday, one day after the two went missing in the Chesapeake Bay.
Gov. Larry Hogan told reporters about the apparent capsize in the waters near Shady Side, Md.
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"Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's daughter, Maeve, and her 8-year-old grandson Gideon went missing after canoeing yesterday afternoon on the south river here in Anne Arundel. An intensive search has been underway since late yesterday," he said.
David McKean said his wife, Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, 40, and his son, Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean, 8, got into a canoe Thursday afternoon after a ball they were kicking back and forth went into the water. They were gathered at Kennedy Townsend's house at the time.
"They just got farther out than they could handle and couldn't get back in," David McKean said.
The Coast Guard said there was a 30 mph wind in the area at the time and there were waves about 2 feet to 3 feet high.
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Anne Arundel County Fire Department Capt. Erik Kornmeyer said someone reported spotting the canoe from a nearby pier and that the boaters appeared to be "struggling."
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources said an overturned canoe matching the one the McKeans were using was found.
Maeve McKean is also the granddaughter of former Attorney General and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and the great-niece of former President John F. Kennedy.


upi--2020-04-03--Stress in emergency rooms may affect patient care, study suggests

The COVID-19 pandemic has added to already high stress levels in emergency rooms , a social psychologist says .
`` ER providers are on the front line of this pandemic , and stress , anxiety and anger are increasing , '' said Linda Isbell , a professor of psychology at University of Massachusetts Amherst .
`` As we all face anxiety about the fallout of this pandemic , anger about a healthcare system that was already stretched thin and under-resourced is likely to grow , '' she explained in a university news release .
Isbell 's team interviewed 45 doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about life in the ER .
Persistent issues such as understaffing , overcrowding and limited resources for homeless and mentally ill patients elicited overwhelmingly negative feelings .
`` These physicians care deeply about their patients .
They 're working in a healthcare system that makes it really hard for them to practice the way they envisioned , '' Isbell said .
`` They are asked to handle and solve problems that are incredibly trivial or incredibly serious , and some are n't even medical problems .
There is awareness that emotions could influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' One ER specialist said : `` Emotions subconsciously play a role in every single patient and how you work them up , and how you diagnose them , and what you do for them . ''
Doctors and nurses said that they may spend less time with angry , difficult or unreasonable patients .
One doctor said : `` I do think it is likely that when you have significantly contentious relationships with patients that ... you do n't gain as much data [ and to an ] extent that could lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurses said they use various coping strategies .
These include suppressing or ignoring their emotions when on duty in the emergency department .
`` But we know from the emotion literature that 's not a good strategy , '' Isbell said .
`` It tends to rebound .
You may take it out later on your kids or your spouse or dog .
It 's bad for your body physically and for your mental health . ''
It may also be bad for patients .
The study suggests that more research is needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to regulate their emotions help reduce the risk to patient safety .
The report was recently published online in the journal BMJ Quality and Safety .
For more on job stress , head to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

1/2
St. Louis Fire Department ambulance crews wear masks to protect themselves from COVID-19 as they deliver a patient to the Emergency Department at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis on March 16. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
The COVID-19 pandemic has added to already high stress levels in emergency rooms, a social psychologist says. "ER providers are on the front line of this pandemic, and stress, anxiety and anger are increasing," said Linda Isbell, a professor of psychology at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Advertisement
"As we all face anxiety about the fallout of this pandemic, anger about a healthcare system that was already stretched thin and under-resourced is likely to grow," she explained in a university news release.
Isbell's team interviewed 45 doctors and 41 nurses who offered mixed feelings about life in the ER. Persistent issues such as understaffing, overcrowding and limited resources for homeless and mentally ill patients elicited overwhelmingly negative feelings.
"These physicians care deeply about their patients. They're working in a healthcare system that makes it really hard for them to practice the way they envisioned," Isbell said. "They are asked to handle and solve problems that are incredibly trivial or incredibly serious, and some aren't even medical problems. There is awareness that emotions could influence what they do with the patients."
One ER specialist said: "Emotions subconsciously play a role in every single patient and how you work them up, and how you diagnose them, and what you do for them."
Advertisement
Doctors and nurses said that they may spend less time with angry, difficult or unreasonable patients.
One doctor said: "I do think it is likely that when you have significantly contentious relationships with patients that ... you don't gain as much data [and to an] extent that could lead to diagnostic error."
Doctors and nurses said they use various coping strategies. These include suppressing or ignoring their emotions when on duty in the emergency department.
"But we know from the emotion literature that's not a good strategy," Isbell said. "It tends to rebound. You may take it out later on your kids or your spouse or dog. It's bad for your body physically and for your mental health."
It may also be bad for patients. The study suggests that more research is needed to learn whether ER providers' efforts to regulate their emotions help reduce the risk to patient safety.
The report was recently published online in the journal BMJ Quality and Safety.
More information
For more on job stress, head to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-04-03--Pets can be true lifesavers for seniors

Pets can be true lifesavers for seniors

Having a furry , fluffy or feathered friend can have a profound effect on seniors ' mental health , possibly even helping prevent some suicides , new research suggests .
In a group of 35 older people who were pet owners , more than one-third said they were `` actively suicidal '' or `` significantly traumatized , '' but their pets gave them a reason to live .
One of these men had dogs and exotic birds with very specialized care needs .
`` I actually realized the only thing that is really keeping me alive , was these [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me a chance to get out of bed in the morning , '' he said .
`` [ My wife ] would not feed them ; she refused to feed them , so I had to get out of bed , and do something , all right ?
Otherwise , I would be asleep for 20 to 22 hours a day , no problems whatsoever . ''
The study 's lead author , Janette Young , said it 's important to consider each individual and not assume that presenting an animal to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solve their problems .
`` While pets are a powerful preventative relationship for some older people , just thinking that a pet will help every older suicidal person can put both animals and people at risk , '' she said .
Young is a lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at the University of South Australia , in Adelaide .
On the flip side , she added : `` We definitely need to not overlook [ the importance of the relationship ] when older people have pets and not just treat them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are lifesavers . ''
Internationally , suicide rates are decreasing , according to the study authors .
But the risk in older people is higher than for other age groups , particularly among people over age 60 .
Pets have been linked to a number of benefits , such as decreased risk of heart disease and as an antidote to the loneliness that can accompany older age .
The researchers wanted to learn more about the potential impact a pet could have on seniors ' well-being .
For the study , the investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 83 , who lived in single-person or couple households .
Most had dogs , and some had cats , birds and reptiles .
The researchers asked questions about pets and the owners ' lives , but they did n't specifically ask about suicide or mental health .
Having pets helped in a number of ways , the study found .
The responsibility of pet ownership and having to feed and care for their animals gave people a sense of purpose .
It made them feel `` known . ''
And having pets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their companionship and by ensuring their owner had to get outside ) .
One woman described it this way : `` I do suffer pretty badly from depression , and you know , and I honestly think if it was n't for Elvis [ dog ] wanting to get up and walk every morning , I would probably just sit home here in the four walls , ... and even now , there 's times when I do n't want to leave the house and I just do n't want to mix with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go out , because Elvis wants to go . ''
In this small study , the positive effect of having a pet seemed to be stronger for men .
Dr. Gary Kennedy , director of geriatric psychiatry for the Montefiore Health System in New York City , said his experience `` really resonated with the study 's findings . ''
He said he 's had people tell him things like they might have jumped out a window , except they did n't know who would care for their dogs .
`` Animals provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to your vocalizations .
You feed them , groom them and with a dog , walk them .
There 's reciprocity and companionship in the relationship , '' he said .
Kennedy , a self-described dog lover , said he thinks apartment buildings and assisted-living facilities should allow pets as long as it 's safe to do so .
And , he noted , with people practicing social distancing and staying in their homes so much due to the coronavirus , taking the dog for a walk is providing much-needed breaks .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many people need to have the distraction and diversion that pets provide , '' he said .
Results of the study were recently published online in the journal Anthrozoös .
Read more about the health benefits of pets from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
If you are in crisis , call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK ( 8255 ) .

More than one-third of seniors in a recent survey said they were "actively suicidal" or "significantly traumatized," but their pets gave them a reason to live. Photo by Kaz /Pixabay
Having a furry, fluffy or feathered friend can have a profound effect on seniors' mental health, possibly even helping prevent some suicides, new research suggests. In a group of 35 older people who were pet owners, more than one-third said they were "actively suicidal" or "significantly traumatized," but their pets gave them a reason to live. Advertisement
One of these men had dogs and exotic birds with very specialized care needs.
"I actually realized the only thing that is really keeping me alive, was these [dogs] and the birds, giving me a chance to get out of bed in the morning," he said. "[My wife] would not feed them; she refused to feed them, so I had to get out of bed, and do something, all right? Otherwise, I would be asleep for 20 to 22 hours a day, no problems whatsoever."
The study's lead author, Janette Young, said it's important to consider each individual and not assume that presenting an animal to a person with depression or suicidal thoughts will solve their problems.
Advertisement
"While pets are a powerful preventative relationship for some older people, just thinking that a pet will help every older suicidal person can put both animals and people at risk," she said.
Young is a lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at the University of South Australia, in Adelaide.
On the flip side, she added: "We definitely need to not overlook [the importance of the relationship] when older people have pets and not just treat them as frivolous -- for some, pets are lifesavers."
Internationally, suicide rates are decreasing, according to the study authors. But the risk in older people is higher than for other age groups, particularly among people over age 60.
Pets have been linked to a number of benefits, such as decreased risk of heart disease and as an antidote to the loneliness that can accompany older age. The researchers wanted to learn more about the potential impact a pet could have on seniors' well-being.
For the study, the investigators recruited 35 pet owners, aged 59 to 83, who lived in single-person or couple households. Most had dogs, and some had cats, birds and reptiles.
The researchers asked questions about pets and the owners' lives, but they didn't specifically ask about suicide or mental health.
Advertisement
Having pets helped in a number of ways, the study found. The responsibility of pet ownership and having to feed and care for their animals gave people a sense of purpose. It made them feel "known." And having pets made them feel less lonely (through their companionship and by ensuring their owner had to get outside).
One woman described it this way: "I do suffer pretty badly from depression, and you know, and I honestly think if it wasn't for Elvis [dog] wanting to get up and walk every morning, I would probably just sit home here in the four walls, ... and even now, there's times when I don't want to leave the house and I just don't want to mix with people, but I'm forced to go out, because Elvis wants to go."
In this small study, the positive effect of having a pet seemed to be stronger for men.
Dr. Gary Kennedy, director of geriatric psychiatry for the Montefiore Health System in New York City, said his experience "really resonated with the study's findings."
He said he's had people tell him things like they might have jumped out a window, except they didn't know who would care for their dogs.
Advertisement
"Animals provide a presence and companionship. They respond to your vocalizations. You feed them, groom them and with a dog, walk them. There's reciprocity and companionship in the relationship," he said.
Kennedy, a self-described dog lover, said he thinks apartment buildings and assisted-living facilities should allow pets as long as it's safe to do so.
And, he noted, with people practicing social distancing and staying in their homes so much due to the coronavirus, taking the dog for a walk is providing much-needed breaks. "There's so much anxiety right now, many people need to have the distraction and diversion that pets provide," he said.
Results of the study were recently published online in the journal Anthrozoös.
More information
Read more about the health benefits of pets from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-04-03--Watch: Bear goes dumpster diving at Tennessee gas station

April 3 ( UPI ) -- A bear went diving into a dumpster at a Tennessee gas station , and @ @ @ @ @ for snacks was caught on camera by a witness .
The video , filmed from @ @ @ @ @ ' car , shows the bear rooting around Friday morning inside the dumpster at the @ @ @ @ @ .
The bear eventually pokes its head out from inside the dumpster with some food @ @ @ @ @ The animal then climbs out of the dumpster to wander away .
Wildlife officials in @ @ @ @ @ be dangerous even when they do n't appear aggressive and residents are urged to keep @ @ @ @ @ animals ca n't reach it .

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April 3 (UPI) -- A bear went diving into a dumpster at a Tennessee gas station, and the hungry animal's search for snacks was caught on camera by a witness.
The video, filmed from the safety of the witness' car, shows the bear rooting around Friday morning inside the dumpster at the Fast Stop station in Gatlinburg.
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The bear eventually pokes its head out from inside the dumpster with some food secured between its jaws.
The animal then climbs out of the dumpster to wander away.
Wildlife officials in Tennessee warn that bears can be dangerous even when they don't appear aggressive and residents are urged to keep food and trash where the animals can't reach it.


upi--2020-04-03--Watch: New Orleans father and son invent 'Social Distancing Circle'

April 3 ( UPI ) -- A New Orleans father and son duo created a viral video showing off their @ @ @ @ @ Social Distancing Circle '' to keep others at bay .
TikTok user IMPATMAN said he @ @ @ @ @ goes by UNCLEBUBBLEGUM on the video-sharing site , decided to create the circle as a @ @ @ @ @ of social distancing to avoid contracting COVID-19 .
`` It 's a 6-foot social distance @ @ @ @ @ told WGNO-TV , with his father clarifying that has a 12-foot diameter .
`` [ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of pipes and a tarp .
We stood in the middle and around @ @ @ @ @ outside , basically . ''
The pair said they took their invention to Lafreniere Park @ @ @ @ @ if they were attempting to fly a giant kite or erect an unusual trampoline .

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April 3 (UPI) -- A New Orleans father and son duo created a viral video showing off their coronavirus-inspired invention: a "Social Distancing Circle" to keep others at bay.
TikTok user IMPATMAN said he and his dad, who goes by UNCLEBUBBLEGUM on the video-sharing site, decided to create the circle as a means of highlighting the importance of social distancing to avoid contracting COVID-19.
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"It's a 6-foot social distance circle," the son told WGNO-TV, with his father clarifying that has a 12-foot diameter. "[It's] comprised of a lot of pipes and a tarp. We stood in the middle and around it was everybody on the outside, basically."
The pair said they took their invention to Lafreniere Park, where confused onlookers asked if they were attempting to fly a giant kite or erect an unusual trampoline.


upi--2020-04-03--Watch: Deer invade London neighborhood during COVID-19 lockdown

April 3 ( UPI ) -- A large herd of deer have moved into a London neighborhood , taking advantage @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .
Residents on lockdown in the Harold Hill subdivision said a herd @ @ @ @ @ area and have been grazing and taking naps on their lawns .
Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg @ @ @ @ @ wandering the empty streets and eating grass from lawns while residents remained inside their homes @ @ @ @ @ the fallow deer wandered into the area from Dagnam Park .

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe
April 3 (UPI) -- A large herd of deer have moved into a London neighborhood, taking advantage of streets being emptied by the coronavirus pandemic.
Residents on lockdown in the Harold Hill subdivision said a herd of deer moved into the area and have been grazing and taking naps on their lawns.
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Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg tweeted photos of the deer wandering the empty streets and eating grass from lawns while residents remained inside their homes on lockdown.
Locals said the fallow deer wandered into the area from Dagnam Park.


upi--2020-04-03--Queen Elizabeth to record rare televised address on coronavirus

April 3 ( UPI ) -- Britain 's Queen Elizabeth II will address the nation on the coronavirus pandemic Sunday , marking the fourth time she 's ever recorded a special message .
The address was recorded at Windsor Castle , where the 93-year-old monarch is staying with her husband , Prince Philip , the duke of Edinburgh .
It will air at 8 p.m. BST on Sunday on television , radio and social media channels .
On March 19 , she called for solidarity among Britons to `` focus on the common goal . ''
Queen Elizabeth gives televised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Sunday 's message will be the fourth time she 's directly spoken to the public on TV outside of the holiday .
She appeared on TV ahead of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth , the queen mother , in 2002 ; after the death of Princess Diana in 1997 ; and during the Gulf War in 1991 .
The queen 's eldest son and heir , Prince Charles , was diagnosed with COVID-19 last week and was quarantined at his London residence , Clarence House , with mild symptoms .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after recovering .
`` As we are all learning , this is a strange , frustrating and often distressing experience when the presence of family and friends is no longer possible and the normal structures of life are suddenly removed , '' he said during a video message .
`` My wife and I are thinking particularly of all those who have lost their loved ones in such very difficult and abnormal circumstances , and of those having to endure sickness , isolation and loneliness . ''
Britain had more than 38,000 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University as of Friday afternoon .

Queen Elizabeth has given only three non-Christmas televised addresses in her 68-year reign. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
April 3 (UPI) -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will address the nation on the coronavirus pandemic Sunday, marking the fourth time she's ever recorded a special message. The address was recorded at Windsor Castle, where the 93-year-old monarch is staying with her husband, Prince Philip, the duke of Edinburgh. It will air at 8 p.m. BST on Sunday on television, radio and social media channels. Advertisement
On March 19, she called for solidarity among Britons to "focus on the common goal."
Queen Elizabeth gives televised addresses each year on Christmas Day, but Sunday's message will be the fourth time she's directly spoken to the public on TV outside of the holiday.
She appeared on TV ahead of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, the queen mother, in 2002; after the death of Princess Diana in 1997; and during the Gulf War in 1991.
The queen's eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, was diagnosed with COVID-19 last week and was quarantined at his London residence, Clarence House, with mild symptoms. He was OK'd to leave isolation this week after recovering.
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"As we are all learning, this is a strange, frustrating and often distressing experience when the presence of family and friends is no longer possible and the normal structures of life are suddenly removed," he said during a video message. "My wife and I are thinking particularly of all those who have lost their loved ones in such very difficult and abnormal circumstances, and of those having to endure sickness, isolation and loneliness."
Britain had more than 38,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and at least 3,600 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University as of Friday afternoon.


upi--2020-04-03--Fossil suggests Homo erectus was walking 200,000 years earlier than thought

April 3 ( UPI ) -- Paleontologists have unearthed the oldest fossil belonging to the hominin species Homo erectus .
The 2 million-year-old fossil skull , excavated over a five-year period in South Africa , suggests the early human relative emerged between 100,000 and 200,000 years earlier than previously thought .
Scientists described the discovery in a new paper published this week in the journal Science .
`` The Homo erectus skull we found , likely aged between 2 and 3 years old when it died , shows its brain was only slightly smaller than other examples of adult Homo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Herries , research professor and head o the the archaeology and history department at the La Trobe University in Australia , said in a news release .
Using high-resolution dating methods , scientists confirmed the fossil cranium is at least 2 million years old , which means Homo erectus shared the African continent with at least two other hominin species , Paranthropus robustus and Australopithecus sediba .
`` Unlike the situation today , where we are the only human species , 2 million years ago our direct ancestor was not alone , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fossils from other Homo erectus both inside and outside of Africa , scientists suggest the discovery proves Homo erectus emerged and evolved in Africa -- not Asia , as has been previously been suggested .
`` Our discovery suggests , though , that Homo erectus likely did not evolve in eastern Africa as so often thought but perhaps somewhere else in Africa , or potentially in South Africa itself , '' researchers wrote in The Conversation .
`` More evidence is needed before firm conclusions can be reached , of course . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ skull , the Drimolen Fossil Hominin site located northeast of Johannesburg , has yielded a variety of significant hominin fossils .
Analysis of additional fossils by an international team of scientists is ongoing .
The ongoing research suggests southern Africa presented hominins a variety of challenges , which may explain why each of the three hominin species living in the region evolved very different adaptations .
The remains recovered from the Drimolen Fossil Hominin site offer a snapshot of the complex experimentation that defined early human evolution .
Some of those early experiments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of the questions that interests us is what role changing habitats , resources , and the unique biological adaptations of early Homo erectus may have played in the eventual extinction of Australopithecus sediba in South Africa , '' said study co-author Justin Adams , researcher at Monash University 's Biomedicine Discovery Institute .
`` Similar trends are also seen in other mammal species at this time .
For example , there are more than one species of false sabre tooth cat , Dinofelis , at the site -- one of which became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adams said .
`` Our data reinforces the fact that South Africa represented a truly unique mixture of evolutionary lineages -- a blended community of ancient and modern mammal species that was transitioning as climates and ecosystems changed . ''

Scientists unearthed the world's oldest Homo erectus cranium in South Africa. Photo by Angeline Leece
April 3 (UPI) -- Paleontologists have unearthed the oldest fossil belonging to the hominin species Homo erectus. The 2 million-year-old fossil skull, excavated over a five-year period in South Africa, suggests the early human relative emerged between 100,000 and 200,000 years earlier than previously thought. Advertisement
Scientists described the discovery in a new paper published this week in the journal Science.
"The Homo erectus skull we found, likely aged between 2 and 3 years old when it died, shows its brain was only slightly smaller than other examples of adult Homo erectus," lead study author Andy Herries, research professor and head o the the archaeology and history department at the La Trobe University in Australia, said in a news release.
Using high-resolution dating methods, scientists confirmed the fossil cranium is at least 2 million years old, which means Homo erectus shared the African continent with at least two other hominin species, Paranthropus robustus and Australopithecus sediba.
"Unlike the situation today, where we are the only human species, 2 million years ago our direct ancestor was not alone," Herries said.
Because the skull predates fossils from other Homo erectus both inside and outside of Africa, scientists suggest the discovery proves Homo erectus emerged and evolved in Africa -- not Asia, as has been previously been suggested.
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"Our discovery suggests, though, that Homo erectus likely did not evolve in eastern Africa as so often thought but perhaps somewhere else in Africa, or potentially in South Africa itself," researchers wrote in The Conversation. "More evidence is needed before firm conclusions can be reached, of course."
The dig site that produced the ancient skull, the Drimolen Fossil Hominin site located northeast of Johannesburg, has yielded a variety of significant hominin fossils. Analysis of additional fossils by an international team of scientists is ongoing.
The ongoing research suggests southern Africa presented hominins a variety of challenges, which may explain why each of the three hominin species living in the region evolved very different adaptations.
The remains recovered from the Drimolen Fossil Hominin site offer a snapshot of the complex experimentation that defined early human evolution. Some of those early experiments were more successful than others.
"One of the questions that interests us is what role changing habitats, resources, and the unique biological adaptations of early Homo erectus may have played in the eventual extinction of Australopithecus sediba in South Africa," said study co-author Justin Adams, researcher at Monash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute.
"Similar trends are also seen in other mammal species at this time. For example, there are more than one species of false sabre tooth cat, Dinofelis, at the site -- one of which became extinct after two million years," Adams said. "Our data reinforces the fact that South Africa represented a truly unique mixture of evolutionary lineages -- a blended community of ancient and modern mammal species that was transitioning as climates and ecosystems changed."


upi--2020-04-03--Focus on beating COVID-19 to help economy, WHO says

April 3 ( UPI ) -- The best way to limit the coronavirus pandemic 's impact on the global economy is to focus on mitigating the spread of the disease , world health and financial leaders said Friday , warning that the current crisis is `` way worse '' than the 2008 financial crisis .
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said countries should continue to focus on testing , isolating and treating every case of COVID-19 , and trace every contact those patients have had .
They should not relax pressure on battling the virus .
`` If countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus could resurge and the economic impact could be even more serious and prolonged , '' he said during a news conference in Geneva .
`` Financing the health responses , therefore , is an essential investment not just in saving lives but in the longer-term social and economic recovery . ''
Countries across the globe have instituted varying levels of stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders for non-essential businesses in an effort to keep people home and halt the spread of the coronavirus .
With some businesses shuttering or losing sales , millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world economy into chaos .
In the United States , an additional 6.6 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week , the largest single-week increase in the country 's history .
Meanwhile , the virus has sickened more than 1 million people worldwide and killed at least 58,000 , according to figures at Johns Hopkins University .
Ghebreyesus was joined at Friday 's news conference by International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva .
She described the current economic climate as `` a crisis like no other . ''
`` We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standstill .
We are now in a recession .
It is way worse than the global financial crisis .
`` This is , in my lifetime , humanity 's darkest hour ; a big threat to the whole world .
And it requires from us to stand tall , be united and protect the most vulnerable of our fellow citizens on this planet . ''
Georgieva said the IMF has $ 1 trillion at its disposal to assist the most vulnerable countries .
She said at least 90 countries have applied for assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds to focus on paying doctors and nurses , and purchasing medical supplies needed to fight the pandemic .
`` Our main preoccupation in this crisis is to rapidly step up financing for countries , especially emerging markets , developing countries that are faced with very significant and growing needs , '' she said .
The Asian Development Bank said Friday that the pandemic could cost the world between $ 2 trillion and $ 4.1 trillion , equaling between 2.3 percent and 4.8 percent of global GDP .
The figure is a stark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top end , or equivalent to 0.4 percent of global GDP , the Manila-based regional development bank predicted on March 6 .
The bank also revised down its growth forecast for Asia to 2.2 percent from the 5.5 percent it had predicted in September .
Assuming the pandemic ends , it expects growth to rebound to 6.2 percent next year .
However , ADB Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada admitted that these numbers could be off depending on how the world reacts to the pandemic , calling on world leaders to implement measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the markets .
`` The evolution of the global pandemic -- and thus the outlook for the global and regional economy -- is highly uncertain , '' Yasuyuki said in a statement .
`` Growth could turn out lower , and the recovery slower , than we are currently forecasting .
For this reason , strong and coordinated efforts are needed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and minimize its economic impact , especially on the most vulnerable . ''
For China specifically , the bank sees its recent contraction in industry , services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth down to 2.3 percent this year though with expectations it will rebound to 7.3 percent in 2021 .
Excluding the industrialized economies of Hong Kong , South Korea , Singapore and Taipei , growth in developing Asia was revised down to 2.4 percent from 5.7 percent last year .
The report blames the slow growth not on Asia but on the `` deteriorating external environment with growth stagnating or contracting in the major industrial economies of the United States , Euro area and Japan . ''
The report follows the World Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and China on Monday that projected growth to slow this year to 2.1 percent in the base-line scenario or -0.5 percent at the lower-case scenario depending on how long the pandemic lasts .
The region sustained a 5.8 percent growth in 2019 .

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International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said she and leaders at the World Health Organization agree that the best way to fix the economy is to focus on stopping the spread of COVID-19. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
April 3 (UPI) -- The best way to limit the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the global economy is to focus on mitigating the spread of the disease, world health and financial leaders said Friday, warning that the current crisis is "way worse" than the 2008 financial crisis. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said countries should continue to focus on testing, isolating and treating every case of COVID-19, and trace every contact those patients have had. They should not relax pressure on battling the virus. Advertisement
"If countries rush to lift restrictions too quickly, the virus could resurge and the economic impact could be even more serious and prolonged," he said during a news conference in Geneva. "Financing the health responses, therefore, is an essential investment not just in saving lives but in the longer-term social and economic recovery."
Countries across the globe have instituted varying levels of stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders for non-essential businesses in an effort to keep people home and halt the spread of the coronavirus. With some businesses shuttering or losing sales, millions are losing their jobs, throwing the world economy into chaos.
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In the United States, an additional 6.6 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week, the largest single-week increase in the country's history.
Meanwhile, the virus has sickened more than 1 million people worldwide and killed at least 58,000, according to figures at Johns Hopkins University.
Ghebreyesus was joined at Friday's news conference by International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. She described the current economic climate as "a crisis like no other."
"We have witnessed he world economy coming to a standstill. We are now in a recession. It is way worse than the global financial crisis.
"This is, in my lifetime, humanity's darkest hour; a big threat to the whole world. And it requires from us to stand tall, be united and protect the most vulnerable of our fellow citizens on this planet."
Georgieva said the IMF has $1 trillion at its disposal to assist the most vulnerable countries. She said at least 90 countries have applied for assistance. She said countries should use the funds to focus on paying doctors and nurses, and purchasing medical supplies needed to fight the pandemic.
"Our main preoccupation in this crisis is to rapidly step up financing for countries, especially emerging markets, developing countries that are faced with very significant and growing needs," she said.
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The Asian Development Bank said Friday that the pandemic could cost the world between $2 trillion and $4.1 trillion, equaling between 2.3 percent and 4.8 percent of global GDP.
The figure is a stark increase from the $347 billion at the top end, or equivalent to 0.4 percent of global GDP, the Manila-based regional development bank predicted on March 6.
The bank also revised down its growth forecast for Asia to 2.2 percent from the 5.5 percent it had predicted in September. Assuming the pandemic ends, it expects growth to rebound to 6.2 percent next year.
However, ADB Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada admitted that these numbers could be off depending on how the world reacts to the pandemic, calling on world leaders to implement measures to lessen the virus' impact on the markets.
"The evolution of the global pandemic -- and thus the outlook for the global and regional economy -- is highly uncertain," Yasuyuki said in a statement. "Growth could turn out lower, and the recovery slower, than we are currently forecasting. For this reason, strong and coordinated efforts are needed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and minimize its economic impact, especially on the most vulnerable."
Advertisement
For China specifically, the bank sees its recent contraction in industry, services, retail sales and investment to drag growth down to 2.3 percent this year though with expectations it will rebound to 7.3 percent in 2021.
Excluding the industrialized economies of Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and Taipei, growth in developing Asia was revised down to 2.4 percent from 5.7 percent last year.
The report blames the slow growth not on Asia but on the "deteriorating external environment with growth stagnating or contracting in the major industrial economies of the United States, Euro area and Japan."
The report follows the World Bank forecast for East Asia, the Pacific and China on Monday that projected growth to slow this year to 2.1 percent in the base-line scenario or -0.5 percent at the lower-case scenario depending on how long the pandemic lasts. The region sustained a 5.8 percent growth in 2019.


upi--2020-04-03--Watch: Michigan couple's wedding to be attended by cardboard guests

April 3 ( UPI ) -- A Michigan couple whose wedding plans were thrown into chaos by the coronavirus pandemic said the pews will still be full during their ceremony -- but the guests will all be made of cardboard .
Dan Stuglik and Amy Simonson said about 160 people had been due to attend their wedding this Saturday in Dowagiac , but the COVID-19 lockdown left them with a suddenly empty guest list .
Stuglik enlisted the help of local company Menasha Packing to provide human-shaped cardboard cut-outs to represent their friends and family during the ceremony .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy having to walk down the isle with no one in the pews , that seemed like a very lonely walk , so I wanted something to represent the guests , '' Stuglik told WSBT-TV .
`` I went to just buy a few sheets of cardboard and they went in and brought a designer and made some , '' Stuglik said .
The couple said they will take their honeymoon at an Airbnb with a more extravagant trip to Rhode Island planned for when coronavirus lockdown measures are no longer active .

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April 3 (UPI) -- A Michigan couple whose wedding plans were thrown into chaos by the coronavirus pandemic said the pews will still be full during their ceremony -- but the guests will all be made of cardboard.
Dan Stuglik and Amy Simonson said about 160 people had been due to attend their wedding this Saturday in Dowagiac, but the COVID-19 lockdown left them with a suddenly empty guest list.
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Stuglik enlisted the help of local company Menasha Packing to provide human-shaped cardboard cut-outs to represent their friends and family during the ceremony.
"I didn't like the idea of Amy having to walk down the isle with no one in the pews, that seemed like a very lonely walk, so I wanted something to represent the guests," Stuglik told WSBT-TV.
"I went to just buy a few sheets of cardboard and they went in and brought a designer and made some," Stuglik said.
The couple said they will take their honeymoon at an Airbnb with a more extravagant trip to Rhode Island planned for when coronavirus lockdown measures are no longer active.


upi--2020-04-03--CNN's Brooke Baldwin tests positive for coronavirus

April 3 ( UPI ) -- CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin has tested positive for coronavirus , she announced Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ anchor in CNN 's New York City offices , she said in an Instagram message @ @ @ @ @ , `` doing ALL the things we 're being told to do , '' but @ @ @ @ @ , yesterday afternoon .
Chills , aches , fever . ''
She is the news @ @ @ @ @ to announce a positive coronavirus test .
Earlier this week , CNN evening anchor Chris @ @ @ @ @ too , is infected .
`` I 'm healthy ... no underlying conditions , '' @ @ @ @ @ , I feel like one of the lucky ones .
I look forward to being @ @ @ @ @ and seeing you real soon . ''

CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin announced Friday that she tested positive for the coronavirus. Photo courtesy of CNN
April 3 (UPI) -- CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin has tested positive for coronavirus, she announced Friday. Working as the afternoon news anchor in CNN's New York City offices, she said in an Instagram message that she followed all precautions, "doing ALL the things we're being told to do," but symptoms "came on suddenly, yesterday afternoon. Chills, aches, fever." Advertisement
She is the news channel's second on-air person to announce a positive coronavirus test. Earlier this week, CNN evening anchor Chris Cuomo reported that he, too, is infected.
"I'm healthy...no underlying conditions," Baldwin wrote. "Honestly, I feel like one of the lucky ones. I look forward to being back on [television] and seeing you real soon."


upi--2020-04-03--Woman discovers she is sole passenger on Washington-Boston flight

April 3 ( UPI ) -- A woman who flew from Washington , D.C. , to Boston amid the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ the plane when she discovered she was the flight 's sole passenger .
Sheryl Pardo @ @ @ @ @ to visit her ailing mother , who has since died , and she found out @ @ @ @ @ , which could have handled nearly 100 passengers .
Pardo recorded video as a flight @ @ @ @ @ out to Sheryl '' during the introductory announcements .
Pardo said she was upgraded to @ @ @ @ @ flight attendants provided excellent service during the flight .

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April 3 (UPI) -- A woman who flew from Washington, D.C., to Boston amid the COVID-19 pandemic captured video on board the plane when she discovered she was the flight's sole passenger.
Sheryl Pardo said she flew last week to visit her ailing mother, who has since died, and she found out on the American Eagle flight, which could have handled nearly 100 passengers.
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Pardo recorded video as a flight attendant gave a "shout out to Sheryl" during the introductory announcements.
Pardo said she was upgraded to first class and the two flight attendants provided excellent service during the flight.