buzzfeednews--2020-04-26--Republicans May Undermine Mail-In Voting Just By Running Down The Clock

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President Donald Trump urged Republicans to “ fight very hard ” against mail-in elections during the coronavirus pandemic — but the party ’ s most effective tactic to impede absentee voting may be just quietly running down the clock .
The handful of American vendors that sell mail-in election equipment told BuzzFeed News they have been flooded with phone calls this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge of requests for absentee ballots .
More Americans than ever are expected to try voting from home in the general election , particularly after seeing crowds at polling sites during Wisconsin ’ s primary , which health officials have now linked to 19 new infections of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
Yet the companies can ’ t sell the thing election officials need most : time .
“ I would call it an emergency situation , ” said Carl Amacker , whose company , BlueCrest , makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail ballots and processes them once they ’ re returned .
BlueCrest currently supplies vote-by-mail systems to counties around the United States , yet like other leaders in the industry , it can ’ t expand those systems overnight .
“ Counties need to act very , very quickly , ” Amacker told BuzzFeed News , explaining that it can take months to build and install mail-in election systems .
“ The problem is we are going to run out of time.
” Despite many inquiries in recent weeks , there are “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” added Jeff Ellington , president of Runbeck Election Services , which makes envelope sorters , prints mail-in ballots , and develops software to manage mail-in elections .
“ Every day they waffle on the decision , the harder it ’ s going to be to pull it off in time , ” he told BuzzFeed News .
“ The capacity is there right now , but the longer the decisions are delayed , the fewer and fewer options that will exist for states.
” The emerging consensus among industry leaders and election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for November — particularly in large jurisdictions that haven ’ t processed a huge number of absentee ballots in the past — could require making commitments in the next few weeks .
Smaller counties , with just a few thousand voters , could accommodate more mail-in ballots without many changes .
Getting ready for a big spike in mail-in ballots can involve months of preparation : In addition to building new machinery , the mere act of printing ballots is complex , as neighbors can be in different legislative districts , so ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entail constructing multilayer security envelopes , assigning each envelope a barcode for tracking , and installing computer systems to help verify voter signatures upon return .
Delaware Election Commissioner Anthony Albence , a Democrat , said in a phone call with reporters this month that he ’ s “ preparing for what we anticipate will be an increase of absentee voting , ” adding , “ We are going to have to shift our model to acquire additional scanners and printers.
” But decisions from many state and county election boards are frozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money trickles down slowly , and additional federal election relief is stuck in political limbo .
“ We can pound our fist on the table and say they need to order today , ” said Steven Sockwell , the vice president of Hart InterCivic , which provides scanners , software , and other voting services for mail-in elections .
“ The reality is there are a lot of customers who can ’ t move yet because their bosses are saying , ‘ Let ’ s see what happens with the federal funding , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call .
“ There ’ s not a ton of orders yet , but there are a ton of quotes we ’ ve issued .
Right now everyone is in a wait-and-see mode.
” The Nov. 3 election may feel distant , but there are unanswerable questions about when , and where , it will be safe again for Americans to cluster in groups to vote .
If local election offices get inundated with absentee ballot requests , and they ’ re incapable of mailing out and counting ballots within in timeframes set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could result in disenfranchised voters , uncertainty , and lawsuits in a fraught presidential race and other elections across the country .
“ The counties were already preparing for record numbers of people to vote in person , ” Amacker said .
“ Now they ’ re preparing for record numbers voting by mail.
” “ If the counties aren ’ t installed with the automated equipment and don ’ t have people trained , and testing completed , by the middle of September , you ’ ve missed the window for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It can take about eight weeks or more to produce big equipment , such as the envelope sorters the size of a bedroom , and some production has already ramped up .
“ These are relatively complicated pieces of machinery , ” Amacker continued .
“ If by mid-May your equipment isn ’ t ordered and processed , it will be a challenge.
” It ’ s impossible to predict how many more people will vote by mail in November , however , partly because the rules are changing by the week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ request a mail-in ballot , known as no-fault absentee voting , though court challenges could change that .
In Texas , a judge ruled on April 17 that any voter can cite the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason to vote absentee — though Texas Republicans may appeal the case and court orders could come down to the wire .
A lawsuit in South Carolina also seeks to expand no-fault absentee voting .
In contrast , in New York , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced plans this week to mail absentee ballots to every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary — a move that the state Republican Party claimed was unconstitutional .
More lawsuits , court rulings , legislative changes , and executive orders on who can vote absentee are all but guaranteed to become the norm between now and the fall — the question is if absentee voting is substantially expanded and voters request it , can local officials keep up ?

President Donald Trump urged Republicans to “fight very hard” against mail-in elections during the coronavirus pandemic — but the party’s most effective tactic to impede absentee voting may be just quietly running down the clock.
The handful of American vendors that sell mail-in election equipment told BuzzFeed News they have been flooded with phone calls this month from local election officials who anticipate a surge of requests for absentee ballots. More Americans than ever are expected to try voting from home in the general election, particularly after seeing crowds at polling sites during Wisconsin’s primary, which health officials have now linked to 19 new infections of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Yet the companies can’t sell the thing election officials need most: time.
“I would call it an emergency situation,” said Carl Amacker, whose company, BlueCrest, makes Relia-Vote, a system that handles outbound mail ballots and processes them once they’re returned.
BlueCrest currently supplies vote-by-mail systems to counties around the United States, yet like other leaders in the industry, it can’t expand those systems overnight. “Counties need to act very, very quickly,” Amacker told BuzzFeed News, explaining that it can take months to build and install mail-in election systems. “The problem is we are going to run out of time.”
Despite many inquiries in recent weeks, there are “not a lot of orders yet,” added Jeff Ellington, president of Runbeck Election Services, which makes envelope sorters, prints mail-in ballots, and develops software to manage mail-in elections.
“Every day they waffle on the decision, the harder it’s going to be to pull it off in time,” he told BuzzFeed News. “The capacity is there right now, but the longer the decisions are delayed, the fewer and fewer options that will exist for states.”
The emerging consensus among industry leaders and election experts is that expanding voting by mail for November — particularly in large jurisdictions that haven’t processed a huge number of absentee ballots in the past — could require making commitments in the next few weeks. Smaller counties, with just a few thousand voters, could accommodate more mail-in ballots without many changes.
Getting ready for a big spike in mail-in ballots can involve months of preparation: In addition to building new machinery, the mere act of printing ballots is complex, as neighbors can be in different legislative districts, so ballots have numerous variations. Mail-in elections also entail constructing multilayer security envelopes, assigning each envelope a barcode for tracking, and installing computer systems to help verify voter signatures upon return.
Delaware Election Commissioner Anthony Albence, a Democrat, said in a phone call with reporters this month that he’s “preparing for what we anticipate will be an increase of absentee voting,” adding, “We are going to have to shift our model to acquire additional scanners and printers.”
But decisions from many state and county election boards are frozen as Congress's first batch of emergency money trickles down slowly, and additional federal election relief is stuck in political limbo.
“We can pound our fist on the table and say they need to order today,” said Steven Sockwell, the vice president of Hart InterCivic, which provides scanners, software, and other voting services for mail-in elections.
“The reality is there are a lot of customers who can’t move yet because their bosses are saying, ‘Let’s see what happens with the federal funding,’” he said in a phone call. “There’s not a ton of orders yet, but there are a ton of quotes we’ve issued. Right now everyone is in a wait-and-see mode.”
The Nov. 3 election may feel distant, but there are unanswerable questions about when, and where, it will be safe again for Americans to cluster in groups to vote.
If local election offices get inundated with absentee ballot requests, and they’re incapable of mailing out and counting ballots within in timeframes set by state laws, the missed deadlines could result in disenfranchised voters, uncertainty, and lawsuits in a fraught presidential race and other elections across the country.
“The counties were already preparing for record numbers of people to vote in person,” Amacker said. “Now they’re preparing for record numbers voting by mail.”
“If the counties aren’t installed with the automated equipment and don’t have people trained, and testing completed, by the middle of September, you’ve missed the window for the November election,” he added.
It can take about eight weeks or more to produce big equipment, such as the envelope sorters the size of a bedroom, and some production has already ramped up. “These are relatively complicated pieces of machinery,” Amacker continued. “If by mid-May your equipment isn’t ordered and processed, it will be a challenge.”
It’s impossible to predict how many more people will vote by mail in November, however, partly because the rules are changing by the week. Seventeen states allow any registered voter to request a mail-in ballot, known as no-fault absentee voting, though court challenges could change that.
In Texas, a judge ruled on April 17 that any voter can cite the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason to vote absentee — though Texas Republicans may appeal the case and court orders could come down to the wire. A lawsuit in South Carolina also seeks to expand no-fault absentee voting. In contrast, in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced plans this week to mail absentee ballots to every voter who requests one for the June primary — a move that the state Republican Party claimed was unconstitutional.
More lawsuits, court rulings, legislative changes, and executive orders on who can vote absentee are all but guaranteed to become the norm between now and the fall — the question is if absentee voting is substantially expanded and voters request it, can local officials keep up?


buzzfeednews--2020-04-03--This Man Thought He Bought His Country A Vast Supply Of Coronavirus Masks. It Was A Scam.

Zorig Tumensaan spent thousands trying to help Mongolia build up a national coronavirus mask stockpile — and got nothing in return .
In February , the Mongolian government issued a plea to the country ’ s private sector : Help us find masks .
Neighboring China had provided an early front-row seat to how the spread of the coronavirus could leave health care workers desperately in need of personal protective equipment .
Zorig Tumensaan , who owns several clinics in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar , stirred into action .
He and a friend based in Europe found a website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality 3 ply surgical face mask for instant shipment.
” They ordered 100,000 ; on March 4 , they sent a bank transfer for 12,000 euros ( $ 13,109 ) .
“ We have masks coming , ” Tumensaan recalled telling the Mongolian Ministry of Health .
“ When they arrive , we will order 1 million more.
” They never arrived .
The site is one of a proliferating number of scams preying on people around the world who are trying to meet the skyrocketing demand for masks and other gear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ donate to hospitals and people trying to protect their workforce .
Tumensaan appears to be the first known victim who was trying to help build a national stockpile .
The people running Agro-SzabKft.com used forged certificates as well as an obviously fake “ logistics company ” that claimed to track the customer ’ s nonexistent deliveries .
Agro-SzabKft.com did not respond to repeated requests for comment sent through voicemail and email nor answer repeated calls to several phone numbers provided on company “ invoices.
” After the outbreak began the Mongolian government was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , shutting off a would-be source of masks .
Mongolia imports almost 80 % of its vital resources from China .
There are few face mask producers in Mongolia , so the government called on private donors to help the country ’ s hospitals stock up on protective equipment , including masks , gowns , and N95 respirators .
“ I felt a social duty to help , ” Tumensaan told BuzzFeed News .
“ I phoned and said I will fight to donate the masks.
” Tumensaan began emailing a sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Alex Lajos.
” Lajos wrote that he had up to 7 million face masks in stock and promised a “ very prompt ” delivery .
“ We hope to do long term business with your esteemed company , ” he wrote .
Lajos sent copies of certificates claiming to be from the Hungarian `` Department of Health '' and the International Organization for Standardization .
The certificates claimed that the company had “ complied with the rules and regulations ” and was a certified wholesaler of medical goods .
Lajos also sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boxes of 3M face masks and of men unloading boxes of respirators from the back of trucks .
He even sent a video of the warehouse , telling Tumensaan that it showed workers there saying his name and the date .
This was enough to persuade Tumensaan .
He sent the 12,000 euros on March 4 , he said , and was promised delivery within just five days .
He received an invoice with what appeared to be the company ’ s watermark .
To track the shipment , he was directed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deliver “ millions of parcels , documents and freight consignments with care and attention — because we understand how important each and every parcel is to you.
” The company claims to be based out of Texas and have offices all over the world .
By March 10 , Tumensaan was worried .
“ What is the update ?
” he wrote in a WhatsApp message to the person calling himself Alex Lajos .
“ We need to know the shipping details please this is urgent.
” Three days later , Tumensaan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay an extra 4,995 euros , “ which has to be paid before we can proceed with the delivery of your goods.
” GoldWingLogistics.com is also a scam , part of an apparent network of websites for fake logistics companies .
Photographs on the site claiming to show company “ team members ” are in fact stock images , pictures that appear on a dozen other websites offering similar services .
The site claims to be based in Austin but does not appear on a search of Texas ’ s registry of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers to contact the company .
BuzzFeed News called both — none of the numbers worked apart from the so-called Hungarian office .
“ Who is this ?
” the man at that number said before quickly hanging up and blocking further phone calls .
After the GoldWingLogistics.com email , Tumensaan was sure he had been scammed .
He started poring over the information he had received from Agro-SzabKft.com .
The “ certificates ” claimed to be from the Hungarian government but included an old FDA logo .
And the video he received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no sound .
On March 13 , Tumensaan contacted the seller one final time .
“ Congratulations on the scam , ” he said .
The site claimed to be based in Hungary , so Tumensaan reported the website to the Hungarian authorities .
A spokesperson for the police in Hungary ’ s Baranya County , where the company claimed to have an address , told BuzzFeed News “ the fraud case is being investigated ” but “ the perpetrator is yet unknown.
” Tumensaan is currently in hospital quarantine since returning from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

In February, the Mongolian government issued a plea to the country’s private sector: Help us find masks. Neighboring China had provided an early front-row seat to how the spread of the coronavirus could leave health care workers desperately in need of personal protective equipment.
Zorig Tumensaan, who owns several clinics in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, stirred into action. He and a friend based in Europe found a website, Agro-SzabKft.com, promising the “best quality 3 ply surgical face mask for instant shipment.” They ordered 100,000; on March 4, they sent a bank transfer for 12,000 euros ($13,109).
“We have masks coming,” Tumensaan recalled telling the Mongolian Ministry of Health. “When they arrive, we will order 1 million more.”
They never arrived. The site is one of a proliferating number of scams preying on people around the world who are trying to meet the skyrocketing demand for masks and other gear. The scams have snookered people trying to donate to hospitals and people trying to protect their workforce. Tumensaan appears to be the first known victim who was trying to help build a national stockpile.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-27--Georgia, Tennessee, And Alaska Want Restaurants To Reopen — But McDonald’s, Chick-Fil-A, And Dunkin’

Georgia, Tennessee, And Alaska Want Restaurants To Reopen — But McDonald’s, Chick-Fil-A, And Dunkin’ Are Saying Not So Fast

The socially distanced future of eating out is coming , but it is n't here quite yet .
With the coronavirus crisis still raging across the United States , states have already begun easing restrictions on restaurants .
Georgia and Tennessee began to reopen them for in-person dining on Monday , and Alaska allowed them to reopen on April 24 at 25 % capacity .
More states will follow .
The hope is to reemploy some of the 8 million people who have been laid off or furloughed from the restaurant industry since the beginning of the pandemic .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't prevent the bleak new reality ahead : fewer restaurants , shorter menus , emptier spaces , costlier meals , different customers , more delivery and takeout .
Some of America ’ s biggest and most popular restaurants say the dice are not yet worth rolling .
Representatives from McDonald ’ s , Chick-fil-A , and Dunkin ’ confirmed to BuzzFeed News that they have no plans to reopen their dining rooms in Georgia on Monday and will continue to offer to-go service only .
A growing list of local Atlanta restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either , Eater reported .
McDonald ’ s , which counts 50 new restaurant safety processes in the middle of COVID-19 and holds three senior leadership meetings a day about safety precautions and regulations , said in a statement , “ We ’ re moving thoughtfully , judiciously and in close partnership with franchisees to determine what additional procedures will be needed when we open dining rooms again.
” That 's not true of Waffle House , which told BuzzFeed News it was preparing its dining rooms in Georgia and Tennessee locations for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be roped off and some countertop seating will be closed to comply with social distancing requirements .
Waffle House is so well known for its resiliency that FEMA uses it as an unofficial test for disaster damage .
“ It will be a slow recovery , but it ’ s trying a solution rather than being stuck in time , ” spokesperson Njeri Boss told BuzzFeed News .
“ We ’ re taking steps to see what an appropriate solution can be.
” Around the rest of the country , restaurants are transforming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and delivery , often with a limited menu — and they will likely stay that way for some time .
Stumptown Coffee Roasters recently reopened a Portland café with reduced hours — 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. — and to-go service only .
“ We ’ re managing the flow of traffic with signage to help demonstrate a healthy distance in line to order .
We will continue to follow heightened cleaning and sanitizing procedures , including regular wipe-downs of all surfaces and point-of-sale systems , ” a spokesperson told BuzzFeed News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ parent company , Darden , which has furloughed 150,000 hourly workers , said when restaurants reopen “ things will be different .
Our dining rooms will look different .
Some processes will be different .
Our menus may even be different.
” Different may be an understatement .
At least in the near term , and probably at least until we have a vaccine , it won ’ t serve anyone to hold on to nostalgia for dining as we knew it .
On Thursday , Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp issued an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants enforced by the Department of Public Safety , the Department of Public Health , the Department of Natural Resources , and local law enforcement It 's unclear how enforcement will work , but restaurant workers in Georgia will have to be screened for illness , wear masks “ at all times , ” avoid “ unnecessary person-to-person contact , ” and minimize customer interactions .
Parties can ’ t be larger than six people , and tables will need at least 6 feet of space between them .
There shall be “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and plexiglass at the registers .
Restaurant playgrounds will remain closed .
And under no circumstances should restaurants “ allow patrons to congregate in waiting areas or bar areas.
” Guests waiting to be seated must stand at premeasured floor markings , outdoors , or in their cars .
Not everyone thinks the new approach will be enough to protect restaurant workers — or that they 've had enough time to put the right protection together .
Atlanta chef Hugh Acheson told BuzzFeed News , “ There ’ s no way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their crew in that short a time .
We ’ ve been thinking about it but we ’ re only halfway through to getting a protocol or handbook on our new system .
Once we get it done we have to run it by scientists and health professionals and food service workers and food science people just to make sure that we haven ’ t missed anything.
” In Tennessee , where businesses can reopen in accordance with new safety recommendations ( issued on Friday “ without the burden of heavy mandates ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open 50 % of their seating capacity , with no parties larger than six people and at least 6 feet of space between tables .
Bar areas should remain closed .
“ Extensive signage ” should be posted reminding people about “ COVID-19 best practices.
” There shall be no live music .
And there should be temperature checks for every customer .
As states issue guidelines , the National Restaurant Association said it is considering how it can update its safety training programs for a post-COVID-19 world .
Global chains like McDonald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China are evaluating what new practices they can bring to the US .
In the end , the outcome of social distancing is smaller , more expensive menus to compensate for the decline in traffic — which could provoke a downward spiral in attendance and price out some customers .
Servers trying to minimize contact may not stop at your table often if at all to check on you ; but with fewer tables , more than ever , they ’ ll rely on the generosity of your tips .
A lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
States may allow restaurants and cafés to reopen , but that doesn ’ t mean they will make it .
Many can ’ t survive long if only 50 % or so of their seats are allowed to be filled , even with some money coming in from pickup and delivery .
None of the restaurant owners with whom BuzzFeed News spoke knew what to expect , except perhaps to brace for a painful struggle ahead .
“ I ’ m gon na tell you , it ’ s going to look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to look like , ” said Frank Olivieri , owner of Pat ’ s King of Steaks in Philadelphia .
“ Do I want to see everything reopen ?
Yeah .
Do I think it ’ s a bad idea ?
Absolutely.
” He added that he had seen people walking around without masks and gloves .
“ You ’ re like , don ’ t you have cable ?
You see people talking to each other — with their masks under their chin .
Okay , maybe your chin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a COVID-19 death toll that ’ s still rising , most restaurant owners BuzzFeed News spoke to did n't expect lines whenever they reopen their dining rooms .
One said he ’ d be lucky if he had to deal with that problem .
“ I think we ’ re being very optimistic that social distancing will even be an issue , ” said Kevin Jackson , general manager of the New York City pizzeria John ’ s of Bleecker Street .
The last financial crisis caused the proliferation of fast-casual restaurants like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People had less money , and not-too-fancy dining was a small but affordable luxury .
What will this downturn do to restaurants ?
One clue : The one chain that has been crushing it during the pandemic is delivery king Domino ’ s .
Almost everyone else will be staring at emptier dining rooms .

With the coronavirus crisis still raging across the United States, states have already begun easing restrictions on restaurants. Georgia and Tennessee began to reopen them for in-person dining on Monday, and Alaska allowed them to reopen on April 24 at 25% capacity. More states will follow. The hope is to reemploy some of the 8 million people who have been laid off or furloughed from the restaurant industry since the beginning of the pandemic. Yet the pent-up hunger for a meal out can't prevent the bleak new reality ahead: fewer restaurants, shorter menus, emptier spaces, costlier meals, different customers, more delivery and takeout.
Some of America’s biggest and most popular restaurants say the dice are not yet worth rolling. Representatives from McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, and Dunkin’ confirmed to BuzzFeed News that they have no plans to reopen their dining rooms in Georgia on Monday and will continue to offer to-go service only. A growing list of local Atlanta restaurants have said they wouldn't reopen Monday either, Eater reported.
McDonald’s, which counts 50 new restaurant safety processes in the middle of COVID-19 and holds three senior leadership meetings a day about safety precautions and regulations, said in a statement, “We’re moving thoughtfully, judiciously and in close partnership with franchisees to determine what additional procedures will be needed when we open dining rooms again.”
That's not true of Waffle House, which told BuzzFeed News it was preparing its dining rooms in Georgia and Tennessee locations for limited dine-in service — some booths will be roped off and some countertop seating will be closed to comply with social distancing requirements. Waffle House is so well known for its resiliency that FEMA uses it as an unofficial test for disaster damage. “It will be a slow recovery, but it’s trying a solution rather than being stuck in time,” spokesperson Njeri Boss told BuzzFeed News. “We’re taking steps to see what an appropriate solution can be.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-15--Cruises Are Being Plunged Into Chaos As Ports Deny Docking Over Coronavirus Fears

One ship was turned away by a port in Chile , and will instead sail for 10 days to San Diego .
A cruise ship was turned away from docking in Chile over coronavirus concerns and will instead sail for 10 days to San Diego , passengers on board told BuzzFeed News .
Since the early morning hours of Sunday , the Celebrity Eclipse — a Celebrity Cruises ship with a capacity of almost 3,000 — had been locked in a standoff after Chile banned cruise ships from docking in its ports .
It was just one of cruise ships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as companies have suspended trips and ports have restricted access because of the coronavirus .
The Celebrity Eclipse attempted to dock in San Antonio , Chile , on Sunday after Celebrity Cruises announced Saturday night that they had suspended operations due to coronavirus travel restrictions .
Though no one on board has reported being sick , passengers were left stuck and unsure when or how they would be let off , and wound up spending two extra nights on the ship waiting for answers .
The cruise company confirmed the port closure in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working with the Chilean government `` to provide a controlled debarkation plan for that would ensure all guests have travel arrangements to leave the country . ''
But late Monday night , passengers told BuzzFeed News a solution had not been reached to debark in Chile , and the captain had said they would instead sail on to San Diego .
A spokesperson for Celebrity Cruises confirmed the new plan to BuzzFeed News .
About 20 Chilean citizens on board were permitted to debark in Valparaiso , Chile , with the help of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to facilitate their transfer to land .
All other passengers , which include people from several different countries , will sail on to San Diego — raising questions about how many of them will make it home amidst heightened travel restrictions and possible quarantining .
Celebrity Cruises ' decision to suspend trips coincided with the same decision by many other major cruise companies .
On Friday , President Donald Trump announced that Carnival Cruise Line , Norwegian Cruise Line , MSC Cruises , and Royal Caribbean — Celebrity Cruises ' parent company — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruises for thirty days . ''
The widespread cruise suspensions came just after Chile 's minister of Health , Jaime Mañalich , announced a ban on cruises docking at the country 's ports , after an elderly British man on one ship tested positive for the coronavirus .
There are no reports of anyone testing positive for or showing symptoms of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , aboard the Celebrity Eclipse , which departed March 1 for a two-week voyage from Buenos Aires to San Antonio .
The ship arrived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2:30 a.m. on Sunday , sailing in circles as it tried to negotiate permission to dock with local authorities .
Passengers — many of whom had originally planned to continue on with the ship to San Diego — spent hours in long lines to give their passport and flight information to crew members in preparation to debark .
Simultaneously , many of them scrambled to book new flights and hotels .
On Monday , a spokesperson for the US State Department said it was working with the cruise ship .
`` Our team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agencies , such as the CDC , and relevant local authorities , '' the statement said .
`` We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular services to the U.S. citizens on board , in accordance with guidance from local health authorities and in coordination with the CDC . ''
Despite the chaos , the vibe has stayed sunny , and dining and recreational activities have continued , Rev .
Ian Johnston , a British passenger , told BuzzFeed News .
`` Mood on board is very good , '' Johnston said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ friendly and lots of humorous banter . ''
Johnston said it had been an `` amazing trip , '' and he said the cruise line was assisting his fellow passengers in making new travel arrangements .
Denise Tulk , whose parents are on board from Cambridge , Ontario , told BuzzFeed News `` they 're doing fine , just anxiously waiting news . ''
`` Apparently things are pretty calm and since no one is sick , people are just waiting to hear any news but they know it ’ s out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another passenger on board , who wanted to remain anonymous , said he had heard some passengers arguing and blaming US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the media for panic over the pandemic .
`` My family is riding this out in our room for now , '' he said .
While inconvenient , the passenger said he understood `` Chile 's unease with accepting so many American passengers . ''
`` I have n't seen symptoms on board , and the captain reports no cases , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposing my country to a large group of Americans right now , too . ''
Around 4 p.m. local time on Sunday — more than 12 hours after arriving near San Antonio — an announcement was made that previously collected luggage would be returned to owners and dinner would be served .
The anonymous passenger said the captain announced there would be free drinks every night they are there , which he took as a pretty clear hint it might be a while before they can leave .
`` So this may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Shortly after that , the captain announced that passengers would need to spend the night on the ship .
Chile 's minister of Tourism had approved them to debark , the captain said , but the minister of Health still had not .
They had , however , been given permission to refuel and get more food and supplies .
Jennifer Hirschorn , a Washington , DC resident , told BuzzFeed News she was sipping a daiquiri at the bar around the time news came that they 'd be staying at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are currently dancing to 'Hey Ya ! '
on the pool deck , so spirits remain high for now , '' Hirschorn said .
The Celebrity Eclipse wasn ’ t the only cruise ship stuck sailing open waters , desperately looking for somewhere to dock .
The MS Braemar , a Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ship carrying more than 600 people , has been refused entry at several ports in the Caribbean , CNN reported on Sunday .
Twenty passengers and another twenty crew members are reportedly exhibiting flulike symptoms and are quarantining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still does not know where or when passengers will be allowed to debark , and are reportedly even considering sailing back to the UK .
Another ship , the Grand Princess , was held at sea for several days after 21 passengers tested positive for COVID-19 .
The passengers were eventually allowed to disembark in Oakland , California , and all were quarantined .
Rick and Wendy , a married couple from New Jersey on the Holland America Line ship Zaandam , told BuzzFeed News they woke up to a note under their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not being permitted to dock in Punta Arenas , Chile .
No one on their ship is currently known to have COVID-19 , but they ’ re now concerned about getting quarantined a long way from home .
“ A lot has changed since we left New Jersey on Friday the 6th , ” he said , mentioning the CDC warning about cruises that came out two days later on March 8 .
On another Holland America Line ship , the Nieuw Statendam , passengers were temporarily not permitted to disembark in Fort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causes during the cruise .
About 65 % of passengers got off the boat after the CDC initially cleared it , but the ship then halted the disembarking process .
Hours later , the cruise line announced the deceased passenger had tested negative for COVID-19 , and passengers would be allowed to continue disembarking .
Still , one anonymous passenger expressed her concern with how the Nieuw Statendam dealt with medical issues aboard .
She said she ’ d had a headache , cough , sore throat , and fatigue for a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship ’ s medical staff not to worry about it if she didn ’ t have a fever .
She was also told seeing a doctor on board would cost an additional fee , since they were closed .
“ Free drinks for all but no free medical advice for those not feeling well , ” the passenger said .
“ Pretty sad .
”

There are no reports of anyone testing positive for or showing symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, aboard the Celebrity Eclipse, which departed March 1 for a two-week voyage from Buenos Aires to San Antonio.
The ship arrived off the coast of San Antonio around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, sailing in circles as it tried to negotiate permission to dock with local authorities.
Passengers — many of whom had originally planned to continue on with the ship to San Diego — spent hours in long lines to give their passport and flight information to crew members in preparation to debark. Simultaneously, many of them scrambled to book new flights and hotels.
On Monday, a spokesperson for the US State Department said it was working with the cruise ship.
"Our team is in communication with U.S. government partner agencies, such as the CDC, and relevant local authorities," the statement said. "We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular services to the U.S. citizens on board, in accordance with guidance from local health authorities and in coordination with the CDC."
Despite the chaos, the vibe has stayed sunny, and dining and recreational activities have continued, Rev. Ian Johnston, a British passenger, told BuzzFeed News.
"Mood on board is very good," Johnston said. "People [are] being very friendly and lots of humorous banter."
Johnston said it had been an "amazing trip," and he said the cruise line was assisting his fellow passengers in making new travel arrangements.
Denise Tulk, whose parents are on board from Cambridge, Ontario, told BuzzFeed News "they're doing fine, just anxiously waiting news."
"Apparently things are pretty calm and since no one is sick, people are just waiting to hear any news but they know it’s out of their hands," Tulk said.
Another passenger on board, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he had heard some passengers arguing and blaming US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the media for panic over the pandemic.
"My family is riding this out in our room for now," he said.
While inconvenient, the passenger said he understood "Chile's unease with accepting so many American passengers."
"I haven't seen symptoms on board, and the captain reports no cases," he said. "But I'd be wary of exposing my country to a large group of Americans right now, too."
Around 4 p.m. local time on Sunday — more than 12 hours after arriving near San Antonio — an announcement was made that previously collected luggage would be returned to owners and dinner would be served.
The anonymous passenger said the captain announced there would be free drinks every night they are there, which he took as a pretty clear hint it might be a while before they can leave.
"So this may be a long haul," he said.
Shortly after that, the captain announced that passengers would need to spend the night on the ship. Chile's minister of Tourism had approved them to debark, the captain said, but the minister of Health still had not. They had, however, been given permission to refuel and get more food and supplies.
Jennifer Hirschorn, a Washington, DC resident, told BuzzFeed News she was sipping a daiquiri at the bar around the time news came that they'd be staying at least one more night aboard.
"People are currently dancing to 'Hey Ya!' on the pool deck, so spirits remain high for now," Hirschorn said.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-13--The Report Claiming That A Dead Body Spread The Coronavirus Was Just Corrected

Update : This story has been updated to reflect the fact that the two authors of the original letter have since issued a “ corrigendum ” in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine stating that the forensic unit worker they had previously written about did not die , and that they had no scientific confirmation that the virus had spread to them via a dead body .
Read our new story on the updated situation here .
The story below has been changed to reflect the correction .
Ten days after publishing a letter in the Journal of Forensic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case of the novel coronavirus had spread from a corpse to a medical examiner in Thailand , the journal has published a correction from the authors stating that the original report was poorly written and had been misinterpreted .
“ The authors regret that the article might not have good writing for clarification in the primary text and it might result in misinterpretation , ” wrote the authors , Won Sriwijitalai of the RVT Medical Center in Bangkok and Viroj Wiwanitkit of China ’ s Hainan Medical University .
“ The authors did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had died , and that the authors do not know for sure and can not scientifically confirm that the virus moved from the dead body.
” Their previous letter , published on April 12 , had stated , “ This is the first report on COVID-19 infection and death among medical personnel in a Forensic Medicine unit.
” Elsevier , the publisher of the journal , did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Very little is known about how long the new coronavirus can survive in dead bodies or whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handle them .
“ Not just the medical examiners , but morgue technicians and the people in funeral homes need to take extra care , ” said Angelique Corthals , a professor of pathology at CUNY 's John Jay College of Criminal Justice .
“ It is a real concern.
” Ebola is the best-known virus that poses an infection risk from dead bodies , but guidelines from the World Health Organization also recognize a risk to workers who handle dead bodies from hepatitis , tuberculosis , and cholera .
On March 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Medical Services had announced the bodies of coronavirus victims were not contagious amid reports of temples refusing to perform funeral services .
However , some morgue workers worldwide have raised concerns as hastily built facilities have been erected to handle excessive deaths .
“ Anyone coming into contact with a COVID19 positive body , alive or dead , should be using personal protective equipment to prevent exposure , ” health policy expert Summer Johnson McGee of the University of New Haven told BuzzFeed News by email .
Coroners are increasingly being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death for patients who had died and were not tested , she noted , in efforts to trace contacts with exposed family members , neighbors , and coworkers .
“ Autopsies and subsequent investigations present real risks for coroners to acquire COVID-19 , ” she said .
As efforts increase for temporary mass burials of victims and temporary morgues , medical personnel handling human remains need to be included in priorities for protective equipment , said Corthals .
“ We need to take care of the people who take care of the dead @ @

Ten days after publishing a letter in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine suggesting the first fatal case of the novel coronavirus had spread from a corpse to a medical examiner in Thailand, the journal has published a correction from the authors stating that the original report was poorly written and had been misinterpreted.
“The authors regret that the article might not have good writing for clarification in the primary text and it might result in misinterpretation,” wrote the authors, Won Sriwijitalai of the RVT Medical Center in Bangkok and Viroj Wiwanitkit of China’s Hainan Medical University. “The authors did not mean to suggest that the victim had died, and that the authors do not know for sure and cannot scientifically confirm that the virus moved from the dead body.”
Their previous letter, published on April 12, had stated, “This is the first report on COVID-19 infection and death among medical personnel in a Forensic Medicine unit.”
Elsevier, the publisher of the journal, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Very little is known about how long the new coronavirus can survive in dead bodies or whether corpses can be contagious to people who handle them.
“Not just the medical examiners, but morgue technicians and the people in funeral homes need to take extra care,” said Angelique Corthals, a professor of pathology at CUNY's John Jay College of Criminal Justice. “It is a real concern.”
Ebola is the best-known virus that poses an infection risk from dead bodies, but guidelines from the World Health Organization also recognize a risk to workers who handle dead bodies from hepatitis, tuberculosis, and cholera.
On March 25, the head of Thailand’s Department of Medical Services had announced the bodies of coronavirus victims were not contagious amid reports of temples refusing to perform funeral services. However, some morgue workers worldwide have raised concerns as hastily built facilities have been erected to handle excessive deaths.
“Anyone coming into contact with a COVID19 positive body, alive or dead, should be using personal protective equipment to prevent exposure,” health policy expert Summer Johnson McGee of the University of New Haven told BuzzFeed News by email. Coroners are increasingly being asked to conduct investigations into causes of death for patients who had died and were not tested, she noted, in efforts to trace contacts with exposed family members, neighbors, and coworkers.
“Autopsies and subsequent investigations present real risks for coroners to acquire COVID-19,” she said.
As efforts increase for temporary mass burials of victims and temporary morgues, medical personnel handling human remains need to be included in priorities for protective equipment, said Corthals.
“We need to take care of the people who take care of the dead.”


buzzfeednews--2020-04-13--The Justice Department Isn’t Giving Employees Enough Guidance On Working During The Coronavirus Pand

The Justice Department Isn’t Giving Employees Enough Guidance On Working During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Workers Say

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
WASHINGTON — A group representing hundreds of Justice Department employees sent a letter to department leadership on Monday identifying inconsistencies in DOJ ’ s response to employees juggling work and family during the coronavirus pandemic .
Each office within the Justice Department has been responsible for developing policies that address how employees can work during the pandemic , including how much flexibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how much additional coronavirus-related paid leave they can get while caring for elderly relatives and children home from school .
Those policies vary , and some offices haven ’ t issued one at all , according to a letter from the DOJ Gender Equality Network ( DOJ GEN ) to management obtained by BuzzFeed News .
“ [ M ] any workers are now in their fourth week of teleworking with no caretaking assistance and have been forced to use considerable amounts of annual leave , ” DOJ GEN wrote .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by name , and DOJ GEN President Stacey Young declined to comment , but BuzzFeed News reviewed copies of four policies that show one of the differences .
Lawyers and staff in the Environment and Natural Resources Division received a memo making clear they could ask for special paid leave — excused absences from work under what ’ s known as “ evacuation pay ” authority — to apply retroactively .
Memos issued to staff in the Civil Division , Antitrust Division , and Executive Office for Immigration Review don ’ t include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department leadership to address the disparity , noting that the State Department had allowed for retroactive administrative leave going back to mid-February .
DOJ employees facing coronavirus-specific job pressures have raised concerns about the department ’ s response to the pandemic so far .
Immigration judges and prosecutors have protested the department ’ s decision to keep some immigration courts open during the pandemic .
The union representing the Federal Bureau of Prisons employees has accused the government of failing to provide enough protective equipment and take other steps to keep staff and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed in federal court last month accuses the government of failing to pay special “ hazard pay ” to BOP employees and other federal workers exposed to the coronavirus .
“ Uniformly the communication has been absolutely horrible , ” said Heidi Burakiewicz , the lead attorney for the BOP and other federal workers who filed the hazard pay lawsuit .
“ It 's been contradictory , it 's not been uniform.
” DOJ GEN in March had sent letters to department leadership asking for teleworking flexibility , paid administrative leave , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
The Office of Personnel Management has been issuing guidance to federal agencies about how to handle teleworking and other working conditions during the pandemic , but it ’ s up to each agency to develop and carry out its own policy .
On April 1 , the head of DOJ ’ s administrative office Lee Lofthus sent a memo to all office heads saying they could grant teleworking employees excused absences to care for kids and elderly relatives , and delegated specific policymaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DOJ GEN ’ s letter , the department sent this statement to BuzzFeed News : “ The Department of Justice is enacting all work flexibility guidance issued by [ the Office of Management and Budget ] and OPM .
Based on evacuation orders , the Department of Justice Management Division issued additional flexibility guidance to executive officers for implementation on April 1 .
The Department of Justice will continue to take measures to protect employees while ensuring critical DOJ functions such as national security continue.
” Since April 1 , some DOJ components @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take up to 20 hours of excused absences per two-week pay period , but some haven ’ t yet , according to the letter that DOJ GEN sent to Lofthus and Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen on Monday .
The letter says that “ many ” of the dozens of components that fall under the Justice Department haven ’ t issued new policies in response to the April 1 memo , and that , of those that have , some are more employee-friendly than others .
In addition to the issue of retroactive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that some offices have eliminated “ core job hours ” requirements — giving employees flexibility to do work outside of a normal schedule — and have allowed employees to temporarily switch to part-time status .
Other offices haven ’ t issued specific policies allowing for those changes , according to the group .
“ DOJ GEN members have written to express how appreciative they are of these policies , and how meaningful it is that their components support them and their families during this unprecedented time , ” the group wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of the National Association of Immigration Judges , told BuzzFeed News that the immigration judges ’ union was still waiting for clarity on issues like flexible hours and part-time status .
She said that the Executive Office for Immigration Review , which manages US immigration courts , had an “ abysmal ” response to the pandemic so far .
DOJ GEN , which says it represents more than 550 employees across the department , did thank Lofthus for issuing the April 1 memo with guidance on paid leave and said that DOJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleviated some of the safety concerns and distress that many DOJ workers experienced in the last few weeks.
” The head of the Civil Division , Joseph “ Jody ” Hunt , sent all staff a message of support shortly after 1:30 a.m. on April 11 , a Saturday .
“ In addition to the issues associated with social distancing and our concern for family , friends , and neighbors , many of you are now having to juggle difficult personal responsibilities along with your professional obligations , ” Hunt wrote , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to BuzzFeed News .
“ These are complicated times and as a division we are endeavoring to do everything we can to ensure that you are provided the flexibilities necessary to attend to your personal situation while doing your job .
”

WASHINGTON — A group representing hundreds of Justice Department employees sent a letter to department leadership on Monday identifying inconsistencies in DOJ’s response to employees juggling work and family during the coronavirus pandemic.
Each office within the Justice Department has been responsible for developing policies that address how employees can work during the pandemic, including how much flexibility they have while working from home, and how much additional coronavirus-related paid leave they can get while caring for elderly relatives and children home from school. Those policies vary, and some offices haven’t issued one at all, according to a letter from the DOJ Gender Equality Network (DOJ GEN) to management obtained by BuzzFeed News.
“[M]any workers are now in their fourth week of teleworking with no caretaking assistance and have been forced to use considerable amounts of annual leave,” DOJ GEN wrote.
The letter doesn’t call out offices by name, and DOJ GEN President Stacey Young declined to comment, but BuzzFeed News reviewed copies of four policies that show one of the differences. Lawyers and staff in the Environment and Natural Resources Division received a memo making clear they could ask for special paid leave — excused absences from work under what’s known as “evacuation pay” authority — to apply retroactively. Memos issued to staff in the Civil Division, Antitrust Division, and Executive Office for Immigration Review don’t include language about that.
DOJ GEN asked department leadership to address the disparity, noting that the State Department had allowed for retroactive administrative leave going back to mid-February.
DOJ employees facing coronavirus-specific job pressures have raised concerns about the department’s response to the pandemic so far. Immigration judges and prosecutors have protested the department’s decision to keep some immigration courts open during the pandemic. The union representing the Federal Bureau of Prisons employees has accused the government of failing to provide enough protective equipment and take other steps to keep staff and inmates safe. A class action lawsuit filed in federal court last month accuses the government of failing to pay special “hazard pay” to BOP employees and other federal workers exposed to the coronavirus.
“Uniformly the communication has been absolutely horrible,” said Heidi Burakiewicz, the lead attorney for the BOP and other federal workers who filed the hazard pay lawsuit. “It's been contradictory, it's not been uniform.”
DOJ GEN in March had sent letters to department leadership asking for teleworking flexibility, paid administrative leave, and better communication about employees testing positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The Office of Personnel Management has been issuing guidance to federal agencies about how to handle teleworking and other working conditions during the pandemic, but it’s up to each agency to develop and carry out its own policy. On April 1, the head of DOJ’s administrative office Lee Lofthus sent a memo to all office heads saying they could grant teleworking employees excused absences to care for kids and elderly relatives, and delegated specific policymaking to each office.
In response to DOJ GEN’s letter, the department sent this statement to BuzzFeed News: “The Department of Justice is enacting all work flexibility guidance issued by [the Office of Management and Budget] and OPM. Based on evacuation orders, the Department of Justice Management Division issued additional flexibility guidance to executive officers for implementation on April 1. The Department of Justice will continue to take measures to protect employees while ensuring critical DOJ functions such as national security continue.”
Since April 1, some DOJ components have issued policies specifying that employees can take up to 20 hours of excused absences per two-week pay period, but some haven’t yet, according to the letter that DOJ GEN sent to Lofthus and Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen on Monday.
The letter says that “many” of the dozens of components that fall under the Justice Department haven’t issued new policies in response to the April 1 memo, and that, of those that have, some are more employee-friendly than others.
In addition to the issue of retroactive excused absences, the DOJ GEN letter said that some offices have eliminated “core job hours” requirements — giving employees flexibility to do work outside of a normal schedule — and have allowed employees to temporarily switch to part-time status. Other offices haven’t issued specific policies allowing for those changes, according to the group.
“DOJ GEN members have written to express how appreciative they are of these policies, and how meaningful it is that their components support them and their families during this unprecedented time,” the group wrote.
Judge A. Ashley Tabaddor, speaking as president of the National Association of Immigration Judges, told BuzzFeed News that the immigration judges’ union was still waiting for clarity on issues like flexible hours and part-time status. She said that the Executive Office for Immigration Review, which manages US immigration courts, had an “abysmal” response to the pandemic so far.
DOJ GEN, which says it represents more than 550 employees across the department, did thank Lofthus for issuing the April 1 memo with guidance on paid leave and said that DOJ leadership had taken some steps that “alleviated some of the safety concerns and distress that many DOJ workers experienced in the last few weeks.”
The head of the Civil Division, Joseph “Jody” Hunt, sent all staff a message of support shortly after 1:30 a.m. on April 11, a Saturday.
“In addition to the issues associated with social distancing and our concern for family, friends, and neighbors, many of you are now having to juggle difficult personal responsibilities along with your professional obligations,” Hunt wrote, according to a copy of the email read to BuzzFeed News. “These are complicated times and as a division we are endeavoring to do everything we can to ensure that you are provided the flexibilities necessary to attend to your personal situation while doing your job.”


buzzfeednews--2020-04-25--"Pray 4 Me": A Nursing Assistant Devoted To Elderly People Died Trying To Deliver Care During The Co

"Pray 4 Me": A Nursing Assistant Devoted To Elderly People Died Trying To Deliver Care During The Coronavirus Outbreak

Across the country , health care professionals in nursing homes are dying and facilities are being blamed for not doing enough to protect them .
Maurice Dotson , who loved his work and his patients , was one casualty .
`` He clung to people who could not help themselves . ''
With the novel coronavirus sweeping through the West Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Austin , Maurice Dotson posted a stark message on his Facebook .
`` Off to work again .
Healthcare never closes .
.
.
pray 4 me , '' he wrote .
That same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the sprawling facility to check on a complaint that managers failed to order the staff to wear masks and gloves , despite strict federal guidelines .
During the visit on March 26 , the inspector found the facility had violated critical infection control practices , including failing to isolate a sick patient , not sanitizing their hands , and not properly disposing of protective gear .
It was the second time in two years the state had found such problems .
Two weeks later , Dotson , a certified nursing assistant who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years and was now caring for patients with COVID-19 , feared he was coming down with something .
`` I ’ m hurting so bad , ” he said in a Facebook post .
“ I do n't know what 's going on with me.
” Ten days later , on the morning of April 17 , at the age of 51 , he died from the virus .
Inspection records reveal that , like many nursing homes , West Oaks has a history of safety and infection control problems and now must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said one Austin facility has at least 35 patients who have tested positive , and employees at West Oaks say it 's their facility .
West Oaks will not say how many have died among its residents and workers .
With thousands of nursing home residents and employees dying across the country , unions are demanding N95 respirators and even more basic equipment — masks and gloves — from government agencies , hospitals , and long-term care facilities where the virus has flourished .
Dr. Karl Steinberg , a geriatrician and chief medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the facilities ’ failure to move quickly at the onset of the virus put their residents and workers at risk .
`` A two-week delay in instituting basic and mandated precautions is highly likely to have contributed to the number and severity of cases , '' said Steinberg , who also is president-elect of the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine .
It 's not clear what precautions were taken by the West Oaks staff after the state inspection in March , but two days after Dotson died , inspectors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple violations for immediate jeopardy , a charge that can cost a home its license unless corrected .
That kind of citation can include anything from a failure to keep critical medical records to hazards that cause injuries and deaths .
State officials did not provide records of the findings , and the nursing home said it could not comment until it sees a final report .
Brooke Ladner , an official for Regency Integrated Health Services , which runs the center , said the nursing home implemented federal and state guidelines after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protocols on March 13 and the company has `` worked diligently to continually improve the standard of care at the facility . ''
Any alleged violation is immediately investigated , she said .
Ladner said all inspection violations prior to last year took place under a different manager , and that the deficiencies from late March have since been corrected .
As far as the most recent inspection by the state , Ladner said she could not comment pending the final report .
“ The loss of Maurice Dotson was deeply felt by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nursing and Rehabilitation Center , ” she said , “ and we grieve with his family . ''
Dotson 's sister , Felicia , said her brother faced enormous hazards when he went to work each day .
“ You see people dying around the world , the main place they 're dying is in nursing homes , ” she said .
“ Why would they not use more precautions ? ''
Her brother would never have considered quitting his job or not showing up for work , she said .
With relatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , ‘ I am their family .
They do n't have their family.
’ '' The facility ’ s documented problems date back well before the pandemic .
In 2018 , inspectors found that caretakers were not showering patients for a week at a time and discovered some residents with gaping , infected wounds .
In other cases , caretakers were not properly cleaning catheter tubing or washing their hands , risking the spread of infection , records show .
At the end of 2018 , the facility ’ s operator , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bankruptcy , citing cuts in government reimbursements , and the home was taken over by Regency Integrated Health Services , a parent company that runs 57 facilities in Texas .
As recently as last month , a source familiar with the state ’ s inquiry said , nursing home managers were not ordering all employees and patients to engage in social distancing .
On March 24 , staff members learned that a nursing assistant , a woman , had been infected .
In the following weeks , at least five other staff members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees .
For days , Dotson , described as a hard-working nursing assistant with a passion for movies and cooking , shared what it was like caring for people while the virus spread rapidly through the 125-bed facility .
On March 26 , with a host of patients infected at the time , he noted on Facebook : `` Back to work again in this crazy world , Protect me lord . ''
Florence Dodson , his 71-year-old mother , said her son would work long hours even when he knew it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his residents and celebrate holidays .
`` He loved his patients , '' said Dodson .
`` It was all about them . ''
In early April , health officials showed up and delivered a trove of personal protection equipment to the home .
State records show that by April 3 , the facility was in compliance with its infection control program .
But another problem emerged as the cases mounted inside .
Because some health care workers were calling in sick , employees who worked with COVID-19 patients now had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected , risking the spread of the virus , according to a current employee and another who recently worked at the center .
Dotson , whose hallway initially did not have COVID-19 patients , was now getting them .
As the days progressed , he told family members , he was increasingly tired from the pace .
For years , he took a bus to work or he walked , his sister said .
( Both she and their mother spell their last name differently than Maurice Dotson did . )
When a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 7 , he became upset .
`` I ca n't !
” he wrote .
“ Who the hell is gon na pay my bills ?
I ca n't depend on a mf !
( Excuse my French ) .
The only way that 's gon na happen if I 'm in a wheelchair and then that 's not to happen if I can still work period . ''
Then , he added : `` I love what I do is taking care peoples who ca n't take of themselves .
Apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 8 , he posted a message that was frequently on his Facebook page : `` Thank God for letting me see another day can I get an amen . ''
But that same day , he called for an ambulance from his home , his sister said .
Admitted into St. David 's South Austin Medical Center , Dotson was diagnosed with the virus .
He posted several messages in the ensuing days , including one on April 13 : `` The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his condition deteriorated , he put up another post : `` Some people think that to be strong is to never feel pain .
In reality the strongest people are the ones who feels it , understand it , and accept it . ''
His mother said she spoke to him by phone two days later , April 15 , before he was placed on a ventilator .
`` He said , 'Mama , I 'm going to be all right .
I got the virus at my job . '
'' In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , scores of messages of condolences poured into her email inbox and Facebook account , many from the relatives of patients .
`` I did n't know how many people ’ s lives he touched , '' she said .
Dotson 's remains were flown back to Arkansas , his birthplace , where his funeral will take place on Saturday in a graveside service .
Dina Mata , a former receptionist at the facility , said she created a special plaque with photos of her coworker to be hung in the same hallway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was remembered at the facility on Friday with a release of purple balloons , his favorite color .
`` Many times I would get calls from family members who could n't be at the facility to feed the resident , and they would ask for him , '' she said .
`` He was known for working 10 days straight .
He spent many , many days holding their hands .
I still remember when a CNA called in sick , and Maurice had just finished his shift .
At the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and said , ‘ I got this . '
''

With the novel coronavirus sweeping through the West Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Austin, Maurice Dotson posted a stark message on his Facebook. "Off to work again. Healthcare never closes . . . pray 4 me," he wrote.
That same day, a state inspector showed up at the sprawling facility to check on a complaint that managers failed to order the staff to wear masks and gloves, despite strict federal guidelines.
During the visit on March 26, the inspector found the facility had violated critical infection control practices, including failing to isolate a sick patient, not sanitizing their hands, and not properly disposing of protective gear. It was the second time in two years the state had found such problems.
Two weeks later, Dotson, a certified nursing assistant who had worked at the facility for 25 years and was now caring for patients with COVID-19, feared he was coming down with something. "I’m hurting so bad,” he said in a Facebook post. “I don't know what's going on with me.”
Ten days later, on the morning of April 17, at the age of 51, he died from the virus.
Inspection records reveal that, like many nursing homes, West Oaks has a history of safety and infection control problems and now must confront an unprecedented crisis.
The state said one Austin facility has at least 35 patients who have tested positive, and employees at West Oaks say it's their facility. West Oaks will not say how many have died among its residents and workers.
With thousands of nursing home residents and employees dying across the country, unions are demanding N95 respirators and even more basic equipment — masks and gloves — from government agencies, hospitals, and long-term care facilities where the virus has flourished.
Dr. Karl Steinberg, a geriatrician and chief medical officer for a California nursing home chain, said the facilities’ failure to move quickly at the onset of the virus put their residents and workers at risk.
"A two-week delay in instituting basic and mandated precautions is highly likely to have contributed to the number and severity of cases," said Steinberg, who also is president-elect of the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-25--Coronavirus Advice On 4 Questions About Masks And A Wedding

How to Plague : Do I need to reinvite my wedding guests ?
And other advice for life under the coronavirus .
How to Plague is BuzzFeed News ' advice column for these incredibly confusing times .
We ’ ll try to help with your queries about social distancing etiquette and ethical dilemmas large and small , and call up some actual experts to weigh in when needed .
Send your questions to scaachi.koul @ buzzfeed.com .
This week I asked the BuzzFeed News coronavirus updates text group for their questions about mask etiquette .
( Join the text group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and with daily news summaries and occasional updates . )
Here ’ s what people wanted to know : If I go on a walk outdoors and I ’ m never closer than 6ft from anyone , do I have to wear a mask ?
Rules say no , but is that bad etiquette ?
—Julia , California Is it bad etiquette to not actively wear a mask while walking the dog ?
?
When I walk my dog , I keep my mask around my neck , and if I see people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cross the street/stay 6ft away .
But keeping it on as I stroll down the block alone feels insane and also extremely claustrophobic or makes it hard to communicate with my dog .
—Alana , Brooklyn , New York The most common question was some version of “ Do I need to wear a mask outside if I ’ m not near people ?
” There are two parts to this answer .
The first is common sense : If there are zero humans around , no , obviously , you don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although please bring it with you just in case ) .
Where you live , what time it is , and where you are going will all dictate how reasonable it is that you ’ re not coming near any other humans .
If you live in Manhattan and you don ’ t see too many people out on your block at 6 a.m. while you walk the dog…c ’ mon .
It ’ s fine .
A good way to gauge the amount of distance where it ’ s OK to dangle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one ear is to imagine your mouth is your asshole .
If you were completely alone , it would be fine to let your nude tushy hang out , but you ’ d want to pull on your pants as soon as you saw anyone coming , even from 100 feet away .
Basically , if someone can see you , mask up .
The second part is that wearing a mask even when you ’ re not close to other people sends a message about mask acceptance .
People across the street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ window will see you in your mask and think , Ah , OK , I guess we should wear masks now on walks , huh — which is ultimately a good thing .
Wearing masks feels awkward , both physically and socially .
It ’ s uncomfortable .
It fogs your glasses .
Maybe you feel suspicious-looking .
There ’ s a strong temptation to avoid wearing it , even though you know by now that it ’ s for the greater good to just buck up and put it on your face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing everyone else wearing it all the time ( instead of just occasionally IF you ’ re really close to another person ) will help make it easier for everyone .
All of this — social distancing , masks , staying at home — sucks ass and feels like shit .
But it ’ s the ethical thing to do because although it ’ s a personal discomfort , it serves a greater good .
The mask isn ’ t for you ; it ’ s for everyone else .
Set a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask on walks unless you are really and truly alone .
I was in line to get into Home Depot yesterday and the guy in front of me was coughing .
He had no mask or gloves .
He was covering his mouth with his hands .
Would it have been appropriate to wap him upside the head with a frying pan ?
—Meg , California Ethically , I can not endorse such violence , although I feel certain no jury would ever convict you .
( BuzzFeed ’ s lawyers , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not read and approved this statement . )
There ’ s a very high chance this guy was behaving unethically — skipping the mask and gloves for his own comfort and risking the lives of others .
But it ’ s possible he had some legitimate excuse ; maybe his mask had broken just a few minutes before , maybe he had a medical condition that makes mask-wearing extremely difficult .
Maybe a wizard cursed him and stole his gloves .
Who knows .
We can silently judge people who aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but let ’ s not yell at strangers .
Be kind .
I feel like everyone should be wearing masks all the time .
Is that not the expectation ?
I work at Starbucks , and we 're only operating with a drive-thru right now and are required to wear masks to work ; genuinely about 85 % of people are n't wearing masks or gloves or protective attire of any sort .
A lot of people will use hand sanitizer after we hand them drinks .
It 's deeply frustrating to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basic protective measures , so I can understand why people are upset that not everyone is being safe .
—Allie , Houston I appreciate that this isn ’ t so much a question as a comment , because it ’ s a good thing for everyone who is tempted to not wear a mask while dealing with other people to see and remember .
Hopefully , people will start feeling the peer pressure to wear a mask when interacting with strangers , and you ’ ll start to see more people being safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — specifically , craniofacial .
When I go to the store for my immunocompromised mom , I start sweating within minutes .
It thus makes a wet spot all around my nose and philtrum under my paper mask that I feel strangers are looking at , thinking is caused by a runny nose , indicating I 'm infected .
I 'm awaiting some thicker fabric masks from Etsy — but for now all I have is a thin paper mask from Dollar Tree .
How can I make it clear it 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in these times would be good .
I really do n't need people assuming I have a fever .
—Gloria , Philadelphia You are under no obligation to notify people of your medical condition , but I can see why it feels awkward — kind of like that feeling if you go into a store and then walk out without buying anything and you want to yell “ I DIDN ’ T STEAL ANYTHING , I SWEAR !
” at the clerk because you recognize it seems suspicious .
You could do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t worry , I ’ m not sick , I ’ m just very sweaty ” to the pharmacist or cashier at the store as a form of small talk .
Another option would be to print up a T-shirt that says “ I ’ m not sick , I ’ m just sweaty , ” but you may find that that approach will backfire .
I had to postpone my wedding that was originally set to be this May 2020 to next year , and I have already received many of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a no ( for reasons not disclaimed ) , and I am wondering if it would be rude to just count them out for the next date next year .
Most of the `` no '' RSVPs were from out-of-town guests , so I assumed their response was travel-related , which would n't change for our new date .
Just wondering if they should receive the announcement about the new date ?
—Hannah , Virginia Here ’ s what Emily Forrest , a wedding expert from wedding site Zola says : “ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're keeping the guest list the same , definitely communicate your new date to all your guests regardless of their original RSVP .
Plans change , and guests who could n't attend your original date might be able to now .
If you 're worried about spending money on new invitations , consider ordering ‘ change the date ’ cards … or just send a message via your wedding website .
If you need to scale down your guest list because of your new situation — we know that many couples are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were in a few weeks ago — then it 's totally fine to skip sending an invite to somebody who is not on your new list.
” Reinvite the decliners .
Who knows , they may have just had a scheduling conflict for your original date .
I am somewhat suspicious of Forrest ’ s idea that you can just not send an invite to certain people who had already responded “ yes ” for the original date if you want to have a smaller guest list for round 2 .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person directly and explain the situation politely .
No one is going to hold it against you if you say you need to scale down the wedding size due to financial circumstances — especially since you may have had to eat a deposit or another nonrefundable expense .
However , it ’ s kind of wack to just never mention the whole thing to someone and never send them a new invite .
Imagine them seeing your wedding on Instagram that they somehow didn ’ t get invited to , and how weird @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The first is common sense: If there are zero humans around, no, obviously, you don’t need to wear a mask (although please bring it with you just in case). Where you live, what time it is, and where you are going will all dictate how reasonable it is that you’re not coming near any other humans. If you live in Manhattan and you don’t see too many people out on your block at 6 a.m. while you walk the dog…c’mon. It’s fine.
A good way to gauge the amount of distance where it’s OK to dangle your mask around your neck or off one ear is to imagine your mouth is your asshole. If you were completely alone, it would be fine to let your nude tushy hang out, but you’d want to pull on your pants as soon as you saw anyone coming, even from 100 feet away. Basically, if someone can see you, mask up.
The second part is that wearing a mask even when you’re not close to other people sends a message about mask acceptance. People across the street or in their houses looking out the window will see you in your mask and think, Ah, OK, I guess we should wear masks now on walks, huh — which is ultimately a good thing. Wearing masks feels awkward, both physically and socially. It’s uncomfortable. It fogs your glasses. Maybe you feel suspicious-looking. There’s a strong temptation to avoid wearing it, even though you know by now that it’s for the greater good to just buck up and put it on your face. Peer pressure in the form of seeing everyone else wearing it all the time (instead of just occasionally IF you’re really close to another person) will help make it easier for everyone.
All of this — social distancing, masks, staying at home — sucks ass and feels like shit. But it’s the ethical thing to do because although it’s a personal discomfort, it serves a greater good. The mask isn’t for you; it’s for everyone else. Set a good example around your neighborhood by wearing your mask on walks unless you are really and truly alone.
I was in line to get into Home Depot yesterday and the guy in front of me was coughing. He had no mask or gloves. He was covering his mouth with his hands. Would it have been appropriate to wap him upside the head with a frying pan?
—Meg, California
Ethically, I cannot endorse such violence, although I feel certain no jury would ever convict you. (BuzzFeed’s lawyers, who are very nice people, have definitely not read and approved this statement.) There’s a very high chance this guy was behaving unethically — skipping the mask and gloves for his own comfort and risking the lives of others. But it’s possible he had some legitimate excuse; maybe his mask had broken just a few minutes before, maybe he had a medical condition that makes mask-wearing extremely difficult. Maybe a wizard cursed him and stole his gloves. Who knows.
We can silently judge people who aren’t following the rules in our heads, but let’s not yell at strangers. Be kind.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-29--Her Family Said She Was A “Superwoman.” They Never Expected Her To Die From The Coronavirus.

Shabnum Sadiq was a remarkable woman : a mother of five , including quadruplets , who somehow found time to become a local elected representative .
Shabnum Sadiq was on holiday in Pakistan when she started feeling ill .
Thought of by family and friends as a “ superwoman ” — a 39-year-old mom of five , including quadruplets , who also worked , volunteered for charity , and was an elected local representative — she didn ’ t think too much of it at first .
She had flown to Pakistan from her home in Slough in the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wedding there .
But then her condition got worse .
She was taken to hospital in Islamabad on March 12 , where she tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , and was diagnosed with pneumonia .
A day later , she was placed on a ventilator , and on April 6 she died from a cardiac arrest .
Her husband Khezran Sadiq only made it back to the UK this week , with flights disrupted because of the virus .
He has now been reunited with their children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the best mother you could ever find , ” he told BuzzFeed News .
But that wasn ’ t all that kept her busy — she worked , she was involved in local politics , and she did charity work .
“ She was just in a hurry , ” Khezran said .
“ She was doing anything and everything.
” Khezran said somehow his wife managed to juggle it all , and nobody ever felt like they were being neglected .
“ She was giving equal time to the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and for the community — she was always there for everybody , ” he said .
“ It 's a big loss for the family and I think is a huge loss for the community as well in Slough.
” While it hurts to talk about his sister , Kamran Sheeraz remembers fondly her big smile and her two dimples .
“ She was the youngest of four , ” he said , “ so she was a spoilt child — in a nice way .
She used to always get her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Shabnum had five children of her own , including naturally conceived quadruplets : Shireen , 18 , identical twin girls , Maheen and Zareen , and nonidentical twin boys , Haider and Zyan , who are 13 .
Khezran remembers going for the scan , and the sonographer telling them they were expecting quads .
It was a difficult pregnancy , but she and the babies got through it — which is why Khezran found it so hard when she did not survive COVID-19 .
“ When she was in hospital for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in my mind , If she can get through that one , she was worse than this one , having four children at once , ” he said .
“ In the last three months when she was going to have these quadruplets , she was on crutches and she was in a really nasty state .
And I thought , if she can get through that , this is nothing for her .
She was really strong , mentally strong and [ physically ] .
” Kamran and his wife were there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He remembers their arrival as “ brilliant ” and said Shabnum took it all in stride .
“ It was quite lively , trying to change four nappies at one time .
It was quite funny , ” he said .
Like everything she did , he said , she gave her all to being a mum .
“ She was a very , very hard worker — whatever she did , she gave it 100 % , ” he said .
Most recently Shabnum had worked airside for British Airways , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial administrator for a GP practice and at a school .
“ Wherever she went , ” Kamran said , “ she made a lot of friends… She made friends and she left her mark.
” Sabia Akram and Shabnum were friends since childhood .
They also used to attend the mosque together for Arabic classes .
“ We saw each other five days a week easily , if not the weekends too , ” Akram told BuzzFeed News .
“ On sports day , you 'd always want to hang out with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a massive feast , and you 'd always have a great time.
” “ Her kind of her signature look was her dimples , ” she added .
`` She was a very smiley , happy person generally , quite warm.
” The pair later lost touch , both got married and had children , but reconnected on Facebook , and Akram , who became a Labour councillor in 2012 , encouraged Shabnam to also get involved in politics , where she excelled — and had aspirations of one day running for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Borough Council on her third try , and in less than four years in office , held a number of official committee positions .
“ As [ a ] politician , she was feisty , she was inquisitive , was n't afraid to stand her ground , ” Sabia said .
“ And sometimes , most times , asked challenging and difficult questions .
And I guess that sounds pretty obvious if you 're a politician in local government , but actually , once you 're in the reality is somewhat different .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know , you 're talking about only being in for just over three years .
It 's a difficult world if you 're not used to it.
” “ Shabnum was a dedicated councillor and despite only being in her first term , she had made a contribution far beyond the years she ’ d spent in the council chamber , ” councillor James Swindlehurst , leader of the council , said .
“ We worked together closely and personally I will miss her very deeply .
This is a significant loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but is nothing compared to the loss her family , close friends , and community are feeling right now.
” One of the most important things Shabnum achieved , Akram said , was serving as an inspiration to other young women from minority communities , and proving to them that there was a place for them in politics .
“ Most people , and if you look across the country , most people are retired , white , middle class , so you do n't tend to find women , particularly that come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ By taking up the space , just in being , I think it spoke volumes , ” Akram added .
“ She was supporting a lot of young councillors , other women , particularly from BAME communities , because there are so few of us that sometimes you become inspiring in yourself — people look to see actually , we can do that , we could achieve cabinet , we could achieve senior leadership.
” Her ability to do it all is something that friends and family said most defined her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ... as well as running the daily house , ” Sheeraz , Shabnum 's brother , said .
“ She was a superwoman , I ’ d call her a little superwoman .
She was very well organized.
” He said he was proud of all the things his baby sister had achieved by the age of 39 .
“ She was in the prime of her life , really , ” he said , “ she ’ d done all the hard work , and it was just being able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but unfortunately it wasn ’ t to be.
” The family did not even find out about a lot of the volunteer work she did until after she died , her nephew Hamzah Sheeraz said : “ In all honesty , the charity work all came to light after her passing , and as the saying goes she gave with her right hand and the left hand didn ’ t know.
” But despite throwing herself into helping her community , she always kept time for her family .
Her nephew , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as his “ biggest supporter ” .
“ She was a very hardworking woman who had the community at heart , ” he said .
“ She brought her children up with true values and morals which is a reflection of herself , ” he said .
“ Family was the most important factor in her life… She was a very well-valued member of our family who will always be dearly missed.
” Kherzan said his wife described him as “ her sixth child ” , and they will all miss her terribly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after me like a kid , ” he said .
“ She always said to me ... ' I ’ ve got five of those ones and I ’ ve got a big boy here as well . '
“ I got back here yesterday , to be honest with you , I ’ m in shock .
I don ’ t know what to do .
It just feels like she ’ s going to walk in any time.
” “ I still can ’ t believe she ’ s gone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to travel again , he plans to fly to Pakistan to visit his sister ’ s grave .
“ Once this is over , it would be nice to go there with the kids and pay my final respects to her . ''
“ You ’ d never think twice , that I would never see her again .
It ’ s just surreal , to be honest… You just can ’ t go round when she comes back , say I love her .
”

Shabnum Sadiq was on holiday in Pakistan when she started feeling ill. Thought of by family and friends as a “superwoman” — a 39-year-old mom of five, including quadruplets, who also worked, volunteered for charity, and was an elected local representative — she didn’t think too much of it at first.
She had flown to Pakistan from her home in Slough in the UK and was looking forward to attending a wedding there. But then her condition got worse. She was taken to hospital in Islamabad on March 12, where she tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and was diagnosed with pneumonia. A day later, she was placed on a ventilator, and on April 6 she died from a cardiac arrest.
Her husband Khezran Sadiq only made it back to the UK this week, with flights disrupted because of the virus. He has now been reunited with their children.
“She was an amazing wife, and the best mother you could ever find,” he told BuzzFeed News. But that wasn’t all that kept her busy — she worked, she was involved in local politics, and she did charity work. “She was just in a hurry,” Khezran said. “She was doing anything and everything.”
Khezran said somehow his wife managed to juggle it all, and nobody ever felt like they were being neglected. “She was giving equal time to the house, to the kids, to me, and for the community — she was always there for everybody,” he said. “It's a big loss for the family and I think is a huge loss for the community as well in Slough.”
While it hurts to talk about his sister, Kamran Sheeraz remembers fondly her big smile and her two dimples. “She was the youngest of four,” he said, “so she was a spoilt child — in a nice way. She used to always get her way. She was our little sister.”
Shabnum had five children of her own, including naturally conceived quadruplets: Shireen, 18, identical twin girls, Maheen and Zareen, and nonidentical twin boys, Haider and Zyan, who are 13.