buzzfeednews--2020-02-24--A Coronavirus Pandemic Is Looking A Lot More Likely. Here's What That Means.

The World Health Organization on Monday declined to call the series of novel coronavirus disease outbreak flaring worldwide a pandemic , despite case numbers — and deaths — jumping precipitously over the weekend in Italy , Iran , and South Korea .
As of Monday , there are more than 79,000 reported cases of COVID-19 and 2,627 deaths worldwide , with the vast majority still in China .
The growth of beachheads of cases in countries worldwide has experts worried that the outbreak could develop into a pandemic , a disease prevalent over the whole world .
Pandemic status would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the disease , but signify its community spread to multiple nations outside China .
Here ’ s what the latest numbers and predictions mean : Cases are now reported from every continent aside from South America and Antarctica .
Europe , East Asia , and the Middle East have emerged as the latest hot spots .
If COVID-19 does become a pandemic , outbreak models have suggested that anywhere from 40 % to 70 % of the world ’ s population might catch the illness , which appears extremely dangerous to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the US , the CDC is reporting 14 cases related to travel to China , and 39 cases among people flown back from either Wuhan or the Diamond Princess cruise ship .
Facing pushback , the US government backtracked on Sunday from plans to move some of the passengers returned from the cruise ship from a military base to a FEMA facility in Alabama .
Three Countries Are Now Battling Sizable Outbreaks South Korea now is the leading country outside China for case reports , with more than 800 centered around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide health alert .
More than 450 cases have been linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus , widely considered to be a cult , and experts believe that number is still an underestimate .
Italy , reporting more than 200 cases , has canceled public events in and around Milan and the last days of Carnival in Venice .
And over the weekend , Iran reported 12 deaths and 66 cases .
In a disputed report , one government official claimed there have been as many as 50 deaths , in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have closed nationwide and a seminary is reportedly under quarantine in the city of Qom .
Asked Friday by BuzzFeed News whether the US would assist Iran , which is under international sanctions due to its nuclear program , in the case of a severe outbreak , a CDC official suggested that it would work through WHO to offer help .
China Is Reporting a Decline in New Cases The outbreaks in other countries follow a WHO team in China declaring a recent downturn in new cases there in the last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemic centered on the city of Wuhan .
The epidemic there peaked on Jan. 23 and appears to have declined thereafter .
On Monday , only about 400 new cases were reported in China , and in response , Wuhan briefly declared an end to its strict ongoing travel restrictions .
The decision was reversed by the central government in Beijing an hour later .
“ We ’ re still in the balance , ” said the World Health Organization ’ s Mike Ryan , executive director of the Health Emergencies Programme , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to earlier containment of smaller outbreaks in Singapore and Thailand , and the unprecedented travel lockdown in China , as efforts that helped to slow the spread of the COVID-19 illness .

The World Health Organization on Monday declined to call the series of novel coronavirus disease outbreak flaring worldwide a pandemic, despite case numbers — and deaths — jumping precipitously over the weekend in Italy, Iran, and South Korea.
As of Monday, there are more than 79,000 reported cases of COVID-19 and 2,627 deaths worldwide, with the vast majority still in China. The growth of beachheads of cases in countries worldwide has experts worried that the outbreak could develop into a pandemic, a disease prevalent over the whole world. Pandemic status would not change our understanding of the severity of the disease, but signify its community spread to multiple nations outside China.
Here’s what the latest numbers and predictions mean:
35 Countries Are Now Reporting Cases
Cases are now reported from every continent aside from South America and Antarctica. Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East have emerged as the latest hot spots.
If COVID-19 does become a pandemic, outbreak models have suggested that anywhere from 40% to 70% of the world’s population might catch the illness, which appears extremely dangerous to the elderly or people with underlying health conditions.
In the US, the CDC is reporting 14 cases related to travel to China, and 39 cases among people flown back from either Wuhan or the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Facing pushback, the US government backtracked on Sunday from plans to move some of the passengers returned from the cruise ship from a military base to a FEMA facility in Alabama.
Three Countries Are Now Battling Sizable Outbreaks
South Korea now is the leading country outside China for case reports, with more than 800 centered around the city of Daegu, triggering a nationwide health alert. More than 450 cases have been linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, widely considered to be a cult, and experts believe that number is still an underestimate.
Italy, reporting more than 200 cases, has canceled public events in and around Milan and the last days of Carnival in Venice. And over the weekend, Iran reported 12 deaths and 66 cases. In a disputed report, one government official claimed there have been as many as 50 deaths, in an outbreak that started last month. Schools have closed nationwide and a seminary is reportedly under quarantine in the city of Qom.
Asked Friday by BuzzFeed News whether the US would assist Iran, which is under international sanctions due to its nuclear program, in the case of a severe outbreak, a CDC official suggested that it would work through WHO to offer help.
China Is Reporting a Decline in New Cases
The outbreaks in other countries follow a WHO team in China declaring a recent downturn in new cases there in the last week, indicating a possible slowdown in the Chinese epidemic centered on the city of Wuhan. The epidemic there peaked on Jan. 23 and appears to have declined thereafter. On Monday, only about 400 new cases were reported in China, and in response, Wuhan briefly declared an end to its strict ongoing travel restrictions. The decision was reversed by the central government in Beijing an hour later.
“We’re still in the balance,” said the World Health Organization’s Mike Ryan, executive director of the Health Emergencies Programme, at a news conference. Ryan pointed to earlier containment of smaller outbreaks in Singapore and Thailand, and the unprecedented travel lockdown in China, as efforts that helped to slow the spread of the COVID-19 illness.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-30--He Was A “Perfectly Healthy” 44-Year-Old Father Of Six. He Died From The Coronavirus.

Adolph “ T.J. ” Mendez was still playing basketball with friends earlier this month .
He died from complications of COVID-19 on Thursday .
“ Every Sunday they would give out stickers to the kids in their bibles and the little kindergarteners would give him stickers to put on his name badge , ” Brenda Johnson , Mendez ’ s daughter , told the Texas newspaper New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung .
“ He was very loved by all.
” From the pews of Oakwood Church , where he taught kindergarteners on Sunday , to the local basketball court where he often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his close-knit community in Texas Hill Country .
“ He was patient , loving , kind , RIDICULOUSLY smart , and he was so silly , ” Johnson said in a statement provided to BuzzFeed News .
“ My dad was the type of person that could strike up a conversation with anyone and would make a friend everywhere he went .
He had an unbelievably big heart and loved to share it with everyone around him wherever he went.
” Mendez died Thursday due to complications stemming from COVID-19 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was 44 .
A water technician engineer who traveled often for his job , Mendez was the first member of his Texas community to die of the disease — leaving his town in shock .
By all accounts , Mendez , who played college basketball at the University of Texas at San Antonio , was in excellent health .
He was still active at his local basketball court earlier this month , playing up until the court was closed March 9 , friends told KABB , the Fox affiliate in San Antonio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could often be found jumping on the trampoline with his three young boys , the youngest of whom is just 9 .
After beginning to feel ill earlier this month , Mendez started treating what he thought was a cold with over-the-counter medication , according to Johnson .
When he didn ’ t get better , he visited his doctor , who gave him steroids in hopes of stopping what the doctor thought was a common virus .
On Thursday , March 19 , Mendez still didn ’ t feel well and returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctor sent him to the hospital for a COVID-19 test .
After he got the test , Mendez was told to go home and self-quarantine .
But on March 23 at 3 a.m. , Mendez was taken to a local hospital by ambulance after his fever spiked .
That night , he was transferred to a hospital in Austin for an emergency surgery .
The next day , his test results finally came back .
He had COVID-19 .
By then Mendez was fighting for his life , dealing with multiple organ failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a call .
He had suffered from a massive brain hemorrhage .
There was nothing more the doctors could do for him .
“ Before they unplugged him , they let us speak with him , they put the phone on speakerphone and all of his family were able to say goodbye , ” said Johnson .
“ The nurses held his hands the whole time and made sure to tell us that he was never alone throughout his entire stay.
” “ We want people to know that they need to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just something that happens across the world , ” added Johnson .
“ This can happen to anyone , just as it did us.
” The day after Mendez died , Ray Still , pastor at Oakwood Church , put out a statement on Facebook .
Like Johnson , Still used his statement not only to mourn the loss of his parishioner but also to compel other members to take this disease seriously .
“ He was healthy and strong , and in no fault of his own , was stricken with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sobering to all , that this pandemic must be taken seriously , ” wrote Still .
“ God the giver of all good things , has given us a brain and we should use it for the benefit of our family and our communities .
Follow what our officials have asked of us and we will endure with God ’ s help.
” Mendez is survived by his parents , wife Angela Mendez , and his six children — two of whom were from a previous marriage , according to his obituary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s publication , a date for his memorial still hadn ’ t been set .
Like so many who have lost loved ones to this virus , the family is mourning in quarantine .
On the day her father died , Brenda Johnson changed her Facebook profile photo to one of her and her dad walking down the aisle at her wedding just last year , both with wide smiles on their faces .
Johnson talked to the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung about how she remembers that day .
“ It was really special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , ” she told the newspaper .
“ I looked at him and told him that he wasn ’ t allowed to look at me or I would start crying.
” “ Before they opened the chapel doors , he looked down on me and I looked at him and we both started crying , ” she said .
“ It was the sweetest thing .
”

The kids at Sunday school called Adolph “T.J.” Mendez “Mr. Sticker Man.”
“Every Sunday they would give out stickers to the kids in their bibles and the little kindergarteners would give him stickers to put on his name badge,” Brenda Johnson, Mendez’s daughter, told the Texas newspaper New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. “He was very loved by all.”
From the pews of Oakwood Church, where he taught kindergarteners on Sunday, to the local basketball court where he often played, Mendez was a beloved member of his close-knit community in Texas Hill Country.
“He was patient, loving, kind, RIDICULOUSLY smart, and he was so silly,” Johnson said in a statement provided to BuzzFeed News. “My dad was the type of person that could strike up a conversation with anyone and would make a friend everywhere he went. He had an unbelievably big heart and loved to share it with everyone around him wherever he went.”
Mendez died Thursday due to complications stemming from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. He was 44.
A water technician engineer who traveled often for his job, Mendez was the first member of his Texas community to die of the disease — leaving his town in shock.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-30--24 Pictures From Inside The Hospital Ships Fighting The Coronavirus Pandemic

On Monday , the USNS Comfort docked in New York City to aid in the area 's response to the coronavirus pandemic .
The Comfort , along with the USNS Mercy , which docked last Friday in Los Angeles , are 70,000-ton hospital ships that were built from converted oil tankers during the Cold War .
Each ship has the capacity of 1,000 beds and a medical staff of up to 1,200 .
In addition to 12 fully equipped operating rooms , both the Comfort and the Mercy also offer radiology and dentistry services , medical and optometry labs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since 1986 , the Mercy and the Comfort have offered relief following both domestic and international disasters , including to New York City after 9/11 , Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria , and Haiti after the 2010 earthquake .
While docked in New York City , the Comfort will house patients not infected with COVID-19 to help alleviate the pressure on area hospitals hit hardest by the pandemic .
As of Monday morning , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced more than 36,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These pictures capture the scale and readiness of the USNS Comfort and the USNS Mercy in their humanitarian efforts around the globe .

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Sign up for the BuzzFeed News newsletter JPG for behind-the-scenes exclusives from renowned photographers and our hard-hitting photo stories.
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On Monday, the USNS Comfort docked in New York City to aid in the area's response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Comfort, along with the USNS Mercy, which docked last Friday in Los Angeles, are 70,000-ton hospital ships that were built from converted oil tankers during the Cold War. Each ship has the capacity of 1,000 beds and a medical staff of up to 1,200. In addition to 12 fully equipped operating rooms, both the Comfort and the Mercy also offer radiology and dentistry services, medical and optometry labs, a pharmacy, and two oxygen-producing plants.
Since 1986, the Mercy and the Comfort have offered relief following both domestic and international disasters, including to New York City after 9/11, Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, and Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. While docked in New York City, the Comfort will house patients not infected with COVID-19 to help alleviate the pressure on area hospitals hit hardest by the pandemic. As of Monday morning, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced more than 36,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in New York City and more than 1,200 have died.
These pictures capture the scale and readiness of the USNS Comfort and the USNS Mercy in their humanitarian efforts around the globe.
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buzzfeednews--2020-03-25--This Guy Got Arrested For Allegedly Pretending To Have The Coronavirus And Going To Walmart In A Vir

This Guy Got Arrested For Allegedly Pretending To Have The Coronavirus And Going To Walmart In A Viral Video

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 .
A 31-year-old man from North Carolina has been arrested after allegedly pretending to have the coronavirus and boasting about going to a Walmart in a Facebook video .
Justin M. Rhodes filmed himself walking around a Walmart store in Albemarle last week in a video for his followers .
In the video , he claimed he `` definitely tested positive for coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14–21 days .
However , he claimed he was asymptomatic but said , `` I got ta eat too , so y'all just got ta deal with it . ''
`` If I got it , y'all gon na get it too , '' he said in the video .
“ Fuck all y'all , that 's how I feel about it.
” The rest of the nearly three-minute video features Rhodes discussing other places he had supposedly been that day and observing others in the store .
It has since been apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YouTube where it has been viewed more than 4 million times .

A 31-year-old man from North Carolina has been arrested after allegedly pretending to have the coronavirus and boasting about going to a Walmart in a Facebook video.
Justin M. Rhodes filmed himself walking around a Walmart store in Albemarle last week in a video for his followers.
In the video, he claimed he "definitely tested positive for coronavirus" and was asked to self-quarantine for 14–21 days.
However, he claimed he was asymptomatic but said, "I gotta eat too, so y'all just gotta deal with it."
"If I got it, y'all gonna get it too," he said in the video. “Fuck all y'all, that's how I feel about it.”
The rest of the nearly three-minute video features Rhodes discussing other places he had supposedly been that day and observing others in the store.
It has since been apparently deleted from Facebook, but lives on YouTube where it has been viewed more than 4 million times.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-24--Somebody Was Infected With The Coronavirus After Attending A "Coronavirus Party" In Kentucky

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 .
Someone in Kentucky tested positive for the novel coronavirus after they attended a `` coronavirus party '' for people in their twenties , Gov .
Andy Beshear said at a press conference Tuesday .
`` Anyone who goes to something like this may think they 're indestructible , but it 's somebody else 's loved one that they 're going to hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not say when , where , or how many people attended what he called a `` coronavirus party , '' but the governor criticized it as a `` callous '' act that could put people in grave danger .
`` This is the part where I , the person that tells everyone to be calm , have to remain calm myself , '' he said .
`` This one makes me mad , and it should make you mad . ''
As he gave residents an update on the outbreak , Beshear took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the community , such as a local university that donated protective equipment to medical personnel as well as local food service and bourbon companies that teamed up to make sanitizer for hospitals .
But the governor stopped during the middle of the press conference , warning people not to hold any more `` coronavirus parties . ''
`` We 're battling for the health and even the lives of our parents and our grandparents , and do n't be so callous as to intentionally go to something and expose yourself to something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` We ought to be much better than that . ''

Someone in Kentucky tested positive for the novel coronavirus after they attended a "coronavirus party" for people in their twenties, Gov. Andy Beshear said at a press conference Tuesday.
"Anyone who goes to something like this may think they're indestructible, but it's somebody else's loved one that they're going to hurt," Beshear said.
Beshear did not say when, where, or how many people attended what he called a "coronavirus party," but the governor criticized it as a "callous" act that could put people in grave danger.
"This is the part where I, the person that tells everyone to be calm, have to remain calm myself," he said. "This one makes me mad, and it should make you mad."
As he gave residents an update on the outbreak, Beshear took time to praise the actions of some in the community, such as a local university that donated protective equipment to medical personnel as well as local food service and bourbon companies that teamed up to make sanitizer for hospitals.
But the governor stopped during the middle of the press conference, warning people not to hold any more "coronavirus parties."
"We're battling for the health and even the lives of our parents and our grandparents, and don't be so callous as to intentionally go to something and expose yourself to something that can kill other people," he said. "We ought to be much better than that."


buzzfeednews--2020-03-25--Her Family Was Careful, And They Got The Coronavirus Anyway

“ I do not feel like I could safely disclose my positive status , given what I 've heard , ” a mother in Seattle said .
“ However , there is a silver lining : This is a bit liberating.
” Earlier this week , I received an email from a reader in Seattle who ’ d tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
She lives with her husband and children ; the rest of her family has not been able to get tested , but everyone who ’ s sick in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Everyone has a fairly mild case except the couple ’ s infant , who required a brief but harrowing trip to the hospital .
But this person has found herself surprised by the mix of shame and liberation that ’ s accompanied the diagnosis .
She spoke with me at length , with the hope of destigmatizing a positive diagnosis : “ We have no idea how we acquired COVID-19 , ” she said .
“ We were careful , and pointing fingers would do nothing.
” Answers have been edited for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
I know you want to stay anonymous , but maybe you can tell us a little about where you live and your family situation , just to start — and how you experienced the growing spread of the virus in Seattle .
How were you attempting to isolate , and what was hard about isolating in your situation ?
Our family lives in the Seattle area and we ’ re a white hetero married couple with a number of young children .
I am on staff at the University of Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being tested .
Seattle has been a strange place for the last month or so .
As Seattle became a “ hot spot , ” everyone we knew was gradually becoming more concerned , especially in the last week of February .
Scrolling back through my texts and photos , I see that I did a massive Costco run at the end of February and started ordering cleaning supplies that weekend .
At the beginning of March , we started curtailing playdates and activities , having kids ramp up their handwashing , lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanitizer .
We were more attentive to wiping down shopping carts with sanitizing wipes , not touching elevators buttons , etc .
I am on maternity leave , so I was not going to work , but my husband started working from home at the beginning of March .
The kids ’ schools closed in the middle of March .
It wasn ’ t until mid-March that I was more conscious about wearing gloves to get gas , leaving packages outside for a few days before bringing them in , not getting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All-in-all , I wouldn ’ t say that we were gold star isolators , but that we did a very good job .
We were certainly more serious about it than many people we know .
I also should note that like a lot of people , I was reading COVID-19 news constantly .
It was absolutely consuming my life .
I was anxious and angry and worried nearly all of the time for the past few months .
I have older family members that , up until recently , believed this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was actively trying to educate them .
2 ) When did you first start feeling sick — and what led you to try to get tested ?
What was your family ’ s experience with getting tested ?
Around Monday , March 16 , my husband felt a little feverish , and it got increasingly worse .
By Wednesday , March 18 , one of the kids and I were also feverish .
We sent the nonsymptomatic kids to a relative ’ s home .
Our illness was primarily a fever and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Like many other people , we vacillated between “ Could this be it ?
?
?
” and “ Oh , we ’ re just being paranoid.
” My husband tried to call into the university ’ s telemedicine hotline app to get approved for a test .
My main motivation for having him do this was so that our kids that were not in our house could come home .
I also really wanted to end the uncertainty .
The app experience was pretty terrible — he waited in the queue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to go to bed ; this happened multiple times .
Eventually , he got through , described his symptoms and was told he wasn ’ t eligible for a test .
Around this time , I learned that university staff that have a primary care physician in the university medical system could be tested at a drive-through site .
( This is in part due to the brave choices that university researchers made to defy the federal government with regard to COVID-19 testing . )
I sent an electronic message to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called me back and gave me a questionnaire about my symptoms .
I could tell from the nurse ’ s tone that I was borderline eligible to be tested , but she said she ’ d try to get it approved and she did .
She called back and gave me a phone number for university testing .
I got an appointment to be tested the next day .
That night before I was supposed to be tested , however , the baby changed from being lethargic to having labored breathing .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So we called the pediatrician 's night emergency number .
It is important for everyone to know that ALL medical systems are overwhelmed right now .
We did not hear back from them for nearly an hour , and they told us to go to the emergency room at the Children ’ s Hospital .
Looking back , we should have just gone straight to the hospital .
The baby started breathing better in the car , thankfully , but we still went , with masks on .
Upon arrival at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the night , we were told that only one of us could go in and we had to have a mask .
Everyone at Children ’ s had masks or full-face coverage .
We were placed in an isolated room , and nurses and doctors spoke to me via a telephone if coming inside to examine the baby was not essential .
I told everyone that I was being tested the next day .
They said that because of that , there was no need to test the baby because if I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice versa .
They diagnosed the baby with croup and gave them a steroid treatment typical for croup .
We went home and continue to monitor the baby , who seems to be improving , but not as quickly as the adults have .
There is a lot of online chatter and some media reports that COVID-19 does not impact children as severely as adults , and some say not at all .
This has not been our family ’ s experience .
The baby has seen the worst of this .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested .
I drove to the drive-through clinic and spoke with the administrator and nurse on the phone .
They instructed me on where to park , two medical professionals in PPE ( personal protective equipment ) came out , one approached my car , and I rolled down the window .
She gave me some paperwork , including my code to get my results .
She asked me to pull down my mask so that it only covered my face .
She then swabbed my nose .
And yes , it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for fun .
I drove away and then , of course , logged in to the results system every few hours just in case .
4 ) What did it feel like when you received the results ?
What did you do ?
A little over 24 hours later , I got a phone call from the clinic .
I was walking with the baby to get some fresh air .
I was immediately nervous because the worker had said that they would notify me electronically if the test was negative .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing distance .
Regardless , I answered the phone .
The person on the phone told me that the test was positive .
They then started rattling off phone numbers and resources and giving me instructions , but I was too in shock to hear it — plus , I was outside without a pen and paper .
I had some questions about how long we would need to be in isolation , when we could see our other kids , and how we should be behaving differently .
The person on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care provider .
I asked if this meant that my sick husband and breastfeeding baby were probably also positive , and they said most likely .
I turned the stroller around and went home and told my husband that we were positive .
He was also in shock .
I immediately started googling things like “ what to do to when you have COVID-19 , ” looking for official guidelines — and surprisingly there is very little information available , compared to the information available about preventing transmission .
There is even less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire household has it .
This is especially the case regarding when you can be in contact with other people .
I spoke with the state public health hotline today , and they told me we should be symptom-free for 72 hours before going back to work or school .
Then I spoke with my primary care provider and she said that a week after symptoms first appeared , we should be fine .
The kids ’ pediatrician ’ s office , as well as the Children ’ s Hospital , told me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we will call all of these people again when we are symptom-free and see what the latest recommendations are .
We absolutely do not want to infect anyone else , and we have taken our already strict protocols to a stricter level .
Thankfully we were well stocked , so we should be okay with eating what we have .
5 ) Who have you told , and how did they react ?
We told the relatives that have our other kids .
They have been monitoring the kids ' temperatures and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We are not telling the other kids .
They know we are sick , but we do n't want to scare them .
We also told our immediate families , but asked them to not tell anyone .
Some of those that thought it was a hoax seemed to have been moved to change their minds .
And now I have the moral upper hand .
They ’ ll say , “ Trump is doing everything he can so that everyone can be tested !
” to which I reply , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get tested and they live with me , how is that possible ?
” Because we have been isolated for quite a while , we did not have others that we would have felt obligated to inform .
We had already stopped having our house cleaners and babysitter come ( although we continue to pay them ) .
We did not expose as many people because of these choices .
Some people have texted to check in more broadly , and I 'm just lying to them .
6 ) How are you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my husband and I are a little fatigued .
He is about a week into this , and the baby and I are a little behind him .
I 'd say this is like a bad cold without any of the congestion .
There is a weird buzz in my head that sort of feels like a hangover .
Both my husband and I continue to work ( my maternity leave just ended ) .
The baby is lethargic and has some congestion and a little labored breathing .
Emotionally , while of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the worst part is not seeing our other kids and seeing that the baby continues to be dealing poorly with this .
I can not sleep because I 'm listening to the baby breathe .
I 'm not normally that kind of parent .
However , there is a silver lining : This is a bit liberating .
For the last few weeks , I 've had incredible anxiety about COVID-19 .
Before the positive test , I screamed at my husband for forgetting to wear gloves to pump gas ( he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his hands ) .
A few hours after I got my positive test , I realized that I could bring in the packages on the porch with no fear !
That made me feel better than I 've felt in a long time .
After we ’ re done isolating , I can go to the store or other places without the fear that I 've experienced over the past few weeks .
And assuming that things are going to be much worse soon , I think that will make things easier .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ my neighbors and friends .
7 ) When you first told me what happened , you said that you also feel ashamed — like there ’ s a stigma around testing positive .
Why do you think that is ?
I know that I believe that it is stigmatized .
I do n't want people wondering what we did or did n't do to acquire it .
I do not want to be scrutinized like that .
Would someone see a photo of my kid at T-ball in late February and attack me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know the truth is that I am just lucky to have been tested when most others in my situation would not .
Many people are positive too , and just don ’ t know about it .
I don ’ t want people in the neighborhood treating our family like lepers or Typhoid Mary , especially not the kids .
The way that people talk about COVID-19 , especially on social media , and how afraid they are to get it and the measures they are taking — while I am glad that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very serious virus , it is incredibly hurtful to me .
I do not feel like I could safely disclose my positive status , given what I 've heard .
I have no sources of support for this outside of those I 've told .
I wish there was an online group for people like me , but I also know how those can get unwieldy .
For now I 'm trying to stay off social media as much as I can .
8 ) How do you think we can destigmatize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing becomes more accessible , it might change .
Celebrities and politicians coming out as positive might help normalize things a bit , but I know that there is also a sentiment that it is unfair that the rich and powerful have access to testing .
Interestingly , though , one of our parents said that they were more comfortable with our status because of Tom Hanks coming out about his .
But looking ahead just a few weeks , so many more people are going to have COVID-19 .
I truly hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more compassionate — no pointing fingers or playing the blame game .
Sure , careless people will get it , but so will careful people !
We were careful , and we did .
I also speculate that those who are immune to the virus after recovery could play a special role in helping those fighting it .
We have already inquired about taking part in the Seattle COVID-19 vaccine research project as well as some efforts to study COVID-19-positive mothers ' breast milk .
I need to see if this happened in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best anti-stigma mechanism .
9 ) What is your plan for the weeks and months ahead ?
Can you be certain that you ’ re immune ?
That is the million-dollar question , but it is really two questions : First , when are we not contagious ?
The CDC says two negative tests in 24 hours is `` proof '' of not being contagious .
I 'm waiting to see when we are done having symptoms and then will ask my doctor , the kids ' doctor , and the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say .
I really want to see my other kids again .
The current wisdom is that we will be immune .
But I imagine we will still be taking greater precautions than we did in the past .
Overall , since my husband and I will likely be working from home for the near future , I would love if I could find a nanny or babysitter to help .
It seems that childcare , schools , and summer camps will not open and continuing to try to work with kids at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lucky to have jobs that allow us to work from home and both have job security .
And since we continue to be paid , we 'd like to help employ someone .
I wonder if us being COVID-19 immune will make us more attractive employers ?
Before I tested positive , I was consumed with questions of when this all would end .
I have n't thought about that in a while .
I guess that the majority of my anxiety was tied up in worrying about getting COVID-19 .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead .
10 ) What would you say to anyone who ’ s tested positive and is feeling embarrassed or ashamed about it ?
I understand .
I am too , but thankfully my family was n't severely impacted and I 'm trying to focus on the reduction of anxiety about acquiring it .
Try to find some people you trust to talk about it .
Write a diary .
11 ) Anything you ’ d like to add ?
We have no idea how we acquired COVID-19 .
Was it the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the porch ?
Did one of the kids have it and passed it to us ?
Was it at one of the kid activities where I might not have used hand sanitizer enough ?
Was it a time I sped through the second round of “ Happy Birthday ” while washing my hands ?
We will never know .
We were careful , and pointing fingers would do nothing .
●

Earlier this week, I received an email from a reader in Seattle who’d tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. She lives with her husband and children; the rest of her family has not been able to get tested, but everyone who’s sick in their home is presumed to have the disease. Everyone has a fairly mild case except the couple’s infant, who required a brief but harrowing trip to the hospital. But this person has found herself surprised by the mix of shame and liberation that’s accompanied the diagnosis. She spoke with me at length, with the hope of destigmatizing a positive diagnosis: “We have no idea how we acquired COVID-19,” she said. “We were careful, and pointing fingers would do nothing.”
Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
1) Hi! I know you want to stay anonymous, but maybe you can tell us a little about where you live and your family situation, just to start — and how you experienced the growing spread of the virus in Seattle. How were you attempting to isolate, and what was hard about isolating in your situation?
Our family lives in the Seattle area and we’re a white hetero married couple with a number of young children. I am on staff at the University of Washington, which is an important factor in my being tested.
Seattle has been a strange place for the last month or so. As Seattle became a “hot spot,” everyone we knew was gradually becoming more concerned, especially in the last week of February. Scrolling back through my texts and photos, I see that I did a massive Costco run at the end of February and started ordering cleaning supplies that weekend. At the beginning of March, we started curtailing playdates and activities, having kids ramp up their handwashing, lack of face touching, and carrying hand sanitizer. We were more attentive to wiping down shopping carts with sanitizing wipes, not touching elevators buttons, etc.
I am on maternity leave, so I was not going to work, but my husband started working from home at the beginning of March. The kids’ schools closed in the middle of March. It wasn’t until mid-March that I was more conscious about wearing gloves to get gas, leaving packages outside for a few days before bringing them in, not getting the mail, and that sort of thing. All-in-all, I wouldn’t say that we were gold star isolators, but that we did a very good job. We were certainly more serious about it than many people we know.
I also should note that like a lot of people, I was reading COVID-19 news constantly. It was absolutely consuming my life. I was anxious and angry and worried nearly all of the time for the past few months. I have older family members that, up until recently, believed this all to be a hoax, and I was actively trying to educate them.
2) When did you first start feeling sick — and what led you to try to get tested? What was your family’s experience with getting tested?
Around Monday, March 16, my husband felt a little feverish, and it got increasingly worse. By Wednesday, March 18, one of the kids and I were also feverish. We sent the nonsymptomatic kids to a relative’s home. Our illness was primarily a fever and just feeling a little crappy and tired. Like many other people, we vacillated between “Could this be it???” and “Oh, we’re just being paranoid.”
My husband tried to call into the university’s telemedicine hotline app to get approved for a test. My main motivation for having him do this was so that our kids that were not in our house could come home. I also really wanted to end the uncertainty. The app experience was pretty terrible — he waited in the queue for four-plus hours and then the doctor had to go to bed; this happened multiple times. Eventually, he got through, described his symptoms and was told he wasn’t eligible for a test.
Around this time, I learned that university staff that have a primary care physician in the university medical system could be tested at a drive-through site. (This is in part due to the brave choices that university researchers made to defy the federal government with regard to COVID-19 testing.) I sent an electronic message to my PCP, and a very kind nurse called me back and gave me a questionnaire about my symptoms. I could tell from the nurse’s tone that I was borderline eligible to be tested, but she said she’d try to get it approved and she did. She called back and gave me a phone number for university testing. I got an appointment to be tested the next day.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-25--The Culinary World Is Mourning An Iconic Chef And "Top Chef Masters" Winner Who Died Of The Coronavi

The Culinary World Is Mourning An Iconic Chef And "Top Chef Masters" Winner Who Died Of The Coronavirus

`` Few people have done more than Floyd to impact an entire industry , the career trajectories of more cooks , or the palates of more restaurant goers . ''
Floyd Cardoz , a celebrated Indian American chef in New York City who had a huge impact on the international culinary world , died Wednesday after testing positive for the coronavirus a week ago .
Cardoz , 59 , was being treated at the Mountainside Medical Center in New Jersey after he tested positive for the virus on March 18 , a spokesperson for Hunger Inc. Hospitality , where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was in Mumbai recently and flew back to New York on March 8 via Frankfurt .
Cardoz is survived by his mother , Beryl , his wife , Barkha , and their sons , Justin and Peter .
Cardoz , a four-time James Beard Award nominee and a winner of Top Chef Masters , helmed the iconic Tabla restaurant in New York City before it shut in 2010 .
He was the partner at two popular restaurants in Mumbai — the Bombay Canteen and O Pedro — and had recently launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cardoz 's death was met with shock and grief by chefs , food critics and writers , restaurateurs , and others across the culinary world where he was long considered a pioneer of bringing Indian flavors to America .
Jason Perlow , a former food blogger in Florida , often met Cardoz at food events in New York City and at Tabla , where he dined frequently with his wife and friends in the mid-2000s .
`` He was always the most accommodating person , '' Perlow told BuzzFeed News .
Perlow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the first people to import Indian mangoes to New York City and introduced the fruit to the American culinary world at Tabla .
Perlow recalled how Cardoz took him and his wife to the back of his kitchen at Tabla where there were `` boxes and boxes of Indian mangoes . ''
Cardoz would peel `` a special one '' for Perlow and his wife and make a dessert with it for them , usually a rice pudding .
`` He was the happiest guy and the most welcoming host at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Perlow said .
`` It 's a tremendous loss to the culinary world now that he 's gone . ''
`` For those who have been watching this thing sequestered in our homes , you hear of people dying on the internet .
But it does n't really hit you until it 's somebody that you know , '' Perlow said .
Cardoz had a huge impact on many younger chefs in India .
Saransh Goila , a popular Mumbai chef , said that he first heard about Cardoz at his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like many other students .
`` He was often cited as a chef who made Indian cuisine proud in the US and was making people internationally aware of our food , '' Goila told BuzzFeed News .
He said that it was a dream for him to first meet Cardoz in 2012 .
`` The last time I met him in Mumbai , I shared with him the difficulties I was facing as an entrepreneur and he asked me to keep on walking the path , no matter where it takes me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be missed thoroughly but his legacy will live on . ''
Joshua D'Costa , a 28-year-old chef in Mumbai , said Cardoz was his mentor , a culinary figure `` you would only strive to be . ''
D'Costa told BuzzFeed News that he met Cardoz when Bombay Canteen first opened in 2015 .
`` He was kind and polite , unlike chefs you meet on the regular , '' D'Costa said .
`` Even though I left to start my own business two years later , he was always so kind and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we met . ''
D'Costa last met Cardoz at the opening of Bombay Sweet Shop .
`` He was so happy to see me , '' D'Costa said , adding that Cardoz was kind enough to ask him about his back injury that was keeping him away from the kitchen .
He offered D'Costa to join his restaurant when he had recovered .
`` We talked for a good 20 minutes and took some pictures which will keep his memory live in my mind , '' D'Costa said .
Khushbu Shah , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Cardoz `` paved the way for many South Asians in the food space . ''
`` Floyd was one of those chefs who could cook circles around everyone and had such a deep understanding of flavor , '' Shah told BuzzFeed News .
`` He was early to things , and maybe too early , that people did n't often credit him enough for his innovations . ''
Shah recalled the time Cardoz sat with her for an hourlong interview even as he was in the middle of prepping for service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had just opened .
`` He sat down with me for over an hour answering whatever questions I had and insisted on feeding me too , '' Shah said .
`` Peak Indian uncle in the best way !
He was always so kind , so generous , and had this laugh that just was so genuine and always attached to a big smile .
I will miss his spirit and determination . ''
Many others in the food industry paid tribute to Cardoz on social media .
Padma Lakshmi , the host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made us all so proud . ''
Danny Meyers — the CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group , who worked with Cardoz for 17 years and was his partner at Tabla and North End Grill — posted an emotional tribute to his close friend , saying he made `` monumental contributions '' to the industry .
`` Few people have done more than Floyd to impact an entire industry , the career trajectories of more cooks , or the palates of more restaurant goers , '' Meyers said .
`` He was beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a super-taster , big-hearted , stubborn as the day is long , and the most loyal friend , husband , and dad you could imagine .
My heart is just broken . ''

Floyd Cardoz, a celebrated Indian American chef in New York City who had a huge impact on the international culinary world, died Wednesday after testing positive for the coronavirus a week ago.
Cardoz, 59, was being treated at the Mountainside Medical Center in New Jersey after he tested positive for the virus on March 18, a spokesperson for Hunger Inc. Hospitality, where he was a partner, told BuzzFeed News. He was in Mumbai recently and flew back to New York on March 8 via Frankfurt. Cardoz is survived by his mother, Beryl, his wife, Barkha, and their sons, Justin and Peter.
Cardoz, a four-time James Beard Award nominee and a winner of Top Chef Masters, helmed the iconic Tabla restaurant in New York City before it shut in 2010.
He was the partner at two popular restaurants in Mumbai — the Bombay Canteen and O Pedro — and had recently launched a third establishment, Bombay Sweet Shop.
Cardoz's death was met with shock and grief by chefs, food critics and writers, restaurateurs, and others across the culinary world where he was long considered a pioneer of bringing Indian flavors to America.
Jason Perlow, a former food blogger in Florida, often met Cardoz at food events in New York City and at Tabla, where he dined frequently with his wife and friends in the mid-2000s.
"He was always the most accommodating person," Perlow told BuzzFeed News.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-25--This Website Has Been Scamming People Desperate For Coronavirus Masks

Protectivemaskdirect.com took thousands from people desperate to stock up on masks in at least four countries — then sent them nothing .
Joanna Katsigianni runs a small pharmacy on the outskirts of Athens .
With the coronavirus spreading at home and overwhelming hospitals abroad , Katsigianni wanted to get ahead of the pandemic and stock her shelves with face masks .
“ We need to be prepared for the worst , ” she said .
Katsigianni found a website , protectivemaskdirect.com , which boasted of “ decades of experience supplying infectious disease-related products to healthcare facilities.
” Through it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face masks and sent a bank transfer for £3,560 ( $ 4,210 ) .
The masks did not arrive — the website is a scam .
The people running it are masquerading as a legitimate medical mask supplier to take thousands of dollars from people frantically trying to help health care workers fight the coronavirus around the world , documents and emails obtained by BuzzFeed News reveal .
Do you have a story to share ?
Reach out to richard.holmes @ buzzfeed.com or via one of our tip line channels .
The website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by sanitary experts ” offering “ fast shipping so you get what you want , when you need it , because your health is important to us.
” Invoices seen by BuzzFeed News show that it has been using the tax number and company address of a legitimate company , Protective Masks Direct , which supplies Britain ’ s National Health Service .
Matt Lambert , director of the legitimate Protective Masks Direct , told BuzzFeed News that he has received dozens from confused customers thinking they had ordered from his company .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day from people wanting to know where their orders were , ” Lambert said .
“ I bet there ’ s so many more who don ’ t even know they ’ ve been conned yet.
” Lambert put up a warning on his company ’ s website — protectivemasksdirect.co.uk — saying that protectivemaskdirect.com “ is trying to scam people.
” Protectivemaskdirect.com did not respond to repeated requests for comment sent through voicemail , email , and WhatsApp , nor did it answer repeated calls to a phone number provided by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the company is based out of an industrial park in Rochester , in the south east of England .
Invoices seen by BuzzFeed News suggest that it has a bank account with HSBC .
“ We take all reports of fraud very seriously and are looking into this case as a matter of urgency , ” an HSBC UK spokesperson said .
A shortage of personal protective equipment — including masks , N95 respirators , and gowns — has become an urgent problem for health workers in a number of outbreak hotspots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — or expect to be — deluged with sick patients .
In Italy alone , nearly 10 % of people infected with the coronavirus are health workers .
Doctors in many countries have been pleading for donations — and good samaritans have been pitching in .
But some looking to help are getting duped .
Action Fraud , the UK ’ s leading fraud watchdog , said it has received 105 reports of coronavirus-related fraud , the majority of which relate to online shopping scams where people have ordered protective face masks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which have never arrived .
The watchdog estimates the total losses reach nearly £1 million ( $ 1.2 million ) .
“ Unfortunately all major events and incidents bring out the scammers — a global pandemic is no exception , ” said Lord Toby Harris , chair of National Trading Standards , which tracks and fights scams in the UK .
“ In the last few weeks , I ’ ve heard of unscrupulous rogues going door to door pretending to be charity workers , bogus ‘ Samaritans ’ offering to do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front , as well as people selling dodgy COVID-19 tests or even cures , ” Harris told BuzzFeed News .
“ This sounds like a more sophisticated version of the same thing.
” Action Fraud confirmed to BuzzFeed News that it has received a complaint about protectivemaskdirect.com .
The watchdog said it did not pass along the complaint to the police because the `` person reporting had not suffered a financial loss , '' but that it was seeking `` a suspension of the site . ''
A wide range of people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared with BuzzFeed News several of the emails he received from frustrated consumers .
Ifran Malik , a representative of a large Pakistani oil company , wrote to Lambert after spending £30,000 ( $ 35,490 ) on 200,000 face masks in order to help protect his workforce against the coronavirus .
The company received an invoice for their order from a sales representative identifying himself as “ ‘ Mark Andrew , ” complete with a professional-looking watermark .
But again , the masks never arrived .
A German wholesaler named Martin Kiesel also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order after being scammed .
Kiesel wrote he paid £3,500 ( $ 4140 ) for 50,000 respiratory face masks “ 10 days ago and now i have no response anymore.
” Kiesel could not be reached for comment .
Roberto Carloni owns a souvenir shop in central Rome .
When the pandemic forced him to shut down , he started trying to source masks for hospitals near Lake Como , near the epicenter of northern Italy 's epidemic , he told BuzzFeed News .
The sales representative calling himself Mark Andrew emailed Carloni @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-quality N95 masks .
“ These are branded masks from the best manufacturer in the world , ” Andrew wrote , “ the best in combating the Covid 19 virus.
” Carloni placed his order on March 16 .
Andrew , the sales representative , told him they would arrive within several days .
Carloni said he told the hospitals that the masks were on their way .
“ They will be with you , ” he recalled telling them .
“ I give you all my faith.
” But soon afterward , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did some more research online , which led him to the legitimate Protective Masks Direct , and he emailed Lambert .
“ I am buying mask from you or a Company that has same name , ” he said .
“ Can you help me to understand if is you or a fake ?
” Lambert told Carloni that he had been scammed and that he should report the company to Action Fraud .
“ Now I am trouble with masks I promised to private hospitals , ” Carloni replied .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is without.
” Carloni told BuzzFeed News he was able to stop the payment going through , and he later managed to source the protective equipment through a legitimate vendor .
But the delay did not come without a cost to health workers , he told BuzzFeed News .
“ While they wait for my shipment they still have to work , ” he said .
“ They will get infected , and of these people , some will die .
”

Joanna Katsigianni runs a small pharmacy on the outskirts of Athens. With the coronavirus spreading at home and overwhelming hospitals abroad, Katsigianni wanted to get ahead of the pandemic and stock her shelves with face masks. “We need to be prepared for the worst,” she said.
Katsigianni found a website, protectivemaskdirect.com, which boasted of “decades of experience supplying infectious disease-related products to healthcare facilities.” Through it, she ordered a thousand boxes of ear-loop face masks and sent a bank transfer for £3,560 ($4,210).
The masks did not arrive — the website is a scam. The people running it are masquerading as a legitimate medical mask supplier to take thousands of dollars from people frantically trying to help health care workers fight the coronavirus around the world, documents and emails obtained by BuzzFeed News reveal.
Do you have a story to share? Reach out to richard.holmes@buzzfeed.com or via one of our tip line channels.
The website claims to be “owned and operated by sanitary experts” offering “fast shipping so you get what you want, when you need it, because your health is important to us.” Invoices seen by BuzzFeed News show that it has been using the tax number and company address of a legitimate company, Protective Masks Direct, which supplies Britain’s National Health Service.
Matt Lambert, director of the legitimate Protective Masks Direct, told BuzzFeed News that he has received dozens from confused customers thinking they had ordered from his company. "We were getting emails and calls every day from people wanting to know where their orders were,” Lambert said. “I bet there’s so many more who don’t even know they’ve been conned yet.” Lambert put up a warning on his company’s website — protectivemasksdirect.co.uk — saying that protectivemaskdirect.com “is trying to scam people.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-25--Senators Are Planning To Leave Washington Soon Amid The Coronavirus Outbreak and Not Return Until La

Senators Are Planning To Leave Washington Soon Amid The Coronavirus Outbreak and Not Return Until Late April

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 — Senators are planning to leave Washington until April 20 to avoid further spread of the novel coronavirus after they pass a roughly $ 2 trillion stimulus bill this week , according to four Senate aides .
The chamber could vote as early as Wednesday on legislation to help deal with the economic fallout of the global pandemic , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the works to then have senators go home for several weeks after spending nine days in close contact with one another in the Capitol , contrary to recommendations from public health officials to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people .
The Senate had already planned to recess from April 6 to 17 for a district work period , so the new plan would extend senators ’ time away from the Capitol .
Already , one senator — Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul — has tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t showing symptoms .
Paul , who had worked alongside senators for several days before receiving his test results , has now quarantined himself , and others who had contact with him have done the same .
One of those senators , Utah Sen. Mitt Romney , announced Tuesday that he had tested negative for the disease .
Earlier this month , several senators insisted they could keep working as usual , despite the fact that frequent travel and their advanced ages put them at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 ( the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years old ) .
More recently , a pair of senators sought to change the chamber ’ s rules so that they could vote remotely .
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did not return a request for comment .
It ’ s unclear if the House will follow suit .
A spokesperson for Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not return a request for comment .
Two members of the House have tested positive for the disease so far .
Several other countries have suspended their legislative sessions , including Canada , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close until April 20 .
However , party leaders have recently returned to Ottawa to negotiate a large coronavirus response bill .
The plans to recess in the Senate come after the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommended gatherings of more than 10 people be canceled and after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over the virus .

WASHINGTON — Senators are planning to leave Washington until April 20 to avoid further spread of the novel coronavirus after they pass a roughly $2 trillion stimulus bill this week, according to four Senate aides.
The chamber could vote as early as Wednesday on legislation to help deal with the economic fallout of the global pandemic, which has rattled US markets. A plan is in the works to then have senators go home for several weeks after spending nine days in close contact with one another in the Capitol, contrary to recommendations from public health officials to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people.
The Senate had already planned to recess from April 6 to 17 for a district work period, so the new plan would extend senators’ time away from the Capitol.
Already, one senator — Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul — has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, but isn’t showing symptoms. Paul, who had worked alongside senators for several days before receiving his test results, has now quarantined himself, and others who had contact with him have done the same. One of those senators, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, announced Tuesday that he had tested negative for the disease.
Earlier this month, several senators insisted they could keep working as usual, despite the fact that frequent travel and their advanced ages put them at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 (the average age for US senators is 62.9 years old). More recently, a pair of senators sought to change the chamber’s rules so that they could vote remotely.
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did not return a request for comment.
It’s unclear if the House will follow suit. A spokesperson for Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not return a request for comment. Two members of the House have tested positive for the disease so far.
Several other countries have suspended their legislative sessions, including Canada, which announced that its parliament would also close until April 20. However, party leaders have recently returned to Ottawa to negotiate a large coronavirus response bill.
The plans to recess in the Senate come after the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommended gatherings of more than 10 people be canceled and after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over the virus.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-25--A Woman With Lupus Said Her Health Care Provider Is Stopping Her Chloroquine Prescription And Thanke

A Woman With Lupus Said Her Health Care Provider Is Stopping Her Chloroquine Prescription And Thanked Her For The “Sacrifice”

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 .
Dale , who lives in the Los Angeles area and asked to only be identified by her first name , told BuzzFeed News she `` started crying '' upon receiving the message from her doctor 's office on Tuesday .
She had previously called Kaiser Permanente , a major health care network based in Oakland , about why her prescription was being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lupus erythematosus ( SLE ) said she received an online message from her health care provider stating it will no longer refill her vital hydroxychloroquine prescriptions because that drug is being used to treat the `` critically ill with COVID-19 , '' the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
The letter thanked her for her `` sacrifice . ''
Dale said she 's been taking the medication for a decade , and she 's scared about possible consequences to her own health during the coronavirus pandemic if she 's forced to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunocompromised , and not taking this medication with likely put me into a lupus flare , making serious complications from COVID more likely , '' she said .
`` The fact that they thanked me for my 'sacrifice ' is disturbing , '' she then added .
`` I never agreed to sacrifice my health and possibly my life and can not believe that I am being forced to do so . ''
In the message Kaiser sent to her about its decision to withhold the medication , it wrote , `` Please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exception process to get a refill , as prescriptions will not be filled even if written by your physician .
Hydroxychloroquine does build up a level in the system that stays in the body for an average of 40 days even after the last dose is taken .
If you do run out of medication and feel your condition is significantly worsening , please contact your doctor to discuss alternative treatments . ''
`` Thank you for the sacrifice you will be making for the sake of those that are critically ill ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the message said .
In a statement provided to BuzzFeed News , Kaiser Permanente confirmed that it was no longer filling routine prescriptions for chloroquine .
`` As we face the real possibility of running out of the drug for everybody if we don ’ t take steps to mitigate the shortage , Kaiser Permanente , like other health care organizations across the country , has had to take steps to control the outflow of the medication to ensure access to severely sick patients , including both COVID-19 and those with acute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regional medical director of Quality and Clinical Analysis at Kaiser Permanente , Southern California , which has 4.6 million members .
`` Extensive experience and research show that hydroxychloroquine builds up in the body and continues to work for an average of 40 days even after the last dose is taken .
By then , we expect the drug manufacturers to have ramped up production to meet the increased demand .
Until then , we are no longer refilling routine prescriptions to ensure we have adequate supply to care for our sickest patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Permanente physicians and pharmacists are also working together on an evidence-based approach to identify alternative therapies for patients with lupus , '' Gin added in a follow-up statement .
Dale said she immediately called her doctor and has been scheduled for a phone call next week .

Dale said she's been taking the medication for a decade, and she's scared about possible consequences to her own health during the coronavirus pandemic if she's forced to stop taking hydroxychloroquine.
"I am already immunocompromised, and not taking this medication with likely put me into a lupus flare, making serious complications from COVID more likely," she said.
"The fact that they thanked me for my 'sacrifice' is disturbing," she then added. "I never agreed to sacrifice my health and possibly my life and cannot believe that I am being forced to do so."
In the message Kaiser sent to her about its decision to withhold the medication, it wrote, "Please do not contact your physician about an exception process to get a refill, as prescriptions will not be filled even if written by your physician. Hydroxychloroquine does build up a level in the system that stays in the body for an average of 40 days even after the last dose is taken. If you do run out of medication and feel your condition is significantly worsening, please contact your doctor to discuss alternative treatments."
"Thank you for the sacrifice you will be making for the sake of those that are critically ill; your sacrifice may actually save lives," the message said.
In a statement provided to BuzzFeed News, Kaiser Permanente confirmed that it was no longer filling routine prescriptions for chloroquine.
"As we face the real possibility of running out of the drug for everybody if we don’t take steps to mitigate the shortage, Kaiser Permanente, like other health care organizations across the country, has had to take steps to control the outflow of the medication to ensure access to severely sick patients, including both COVID-19 and those with acute lupus," said Nancy Gin, regional medical director of Quality and Clinical Analysis at Kaiser Permanente, Southern California, which has 4.6 million members.
"Extensive experience and research show that hydroxychloroquine builds up in the body and continues to work for an average of 40 days even after the last dose is taken. By then, we expect the drug manufacturers to have ramped up production to meet the increased demand. Until then, we are no longer refilling routine prescriptions to ensure we have adequate supply to care for our sickest patients," Gin said.
"Kaiser Permanente physicians and pharmacists are also working together on an evidence-based approach to identify alternative therapies for patients with lupus," Gin added in a follow-up statement.
Dale said she immediately called her doctor and has been scheduled for a phone call next week.


buzzfeednews--2020-06-04--Twitter And Snapchat Are Reining Trump In. Critics Want Them To Do It To Politicians Around The Worl

Twitter And Snapchat Are Reining Trump In. Critics Want Them To Do It To Politicians Around The World.

People take part in a protest against the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody , at Trump International Hotel in New York , June 2 .
Bowing to criticism that predates his presidency , Twitter and Snap have begun to limit how President Donald Trump uses their platforms — fact-checking him , adding warning labels to his posts , or reducing his reach .
But as the platforms enact new rules for Trump , politicians around the world continue to elude moderation , leaving misinformation and violence in their wake .
Members of India ’ s ruling Bharatiya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread misinformation and anti-Muslim prejudice for years ; and in 2018 , Iran ’ s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei incited violence against Israel , calling it a “ malignant cancerous tumor ” that must be “ removed and eradicated.
” Around the world , digital activists are using the actions taken against Trump to argue for more strict moderation of political speech , saying that Twitter ’ s and Snap 's actions against the world ’ s most powerful politicians were landmarks .
“ What Twitter did with Trump was encouraging , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ International Fact-Checking Network , a global fact-checking collective , “ but it ’ s important to make these policies globally applicable.
” In a blog post published in October 2019 , Twitter said that “ if a Tweet from a world leader does violate the Twitter Rules but there is a clear public interest value to keeping the Tweet on the service , we may place it behind a notice that provides context about the violation and allows people to click through should they wish to see the content.
” Twitter has put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US before , including an example from April where it appended a label to a tweet by Osmar Terra , a Brazilian politician who falsely claimed quarantine increased the spread of the coronavirus .
In March , it deleted two tweets from Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro for spreading coronavirus misinformation .
A Snap spokesperson did not specify whether the platform would do the same thing it did with Trump 's account with other leaders on the app , but said that the company would act when it came to racism , violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital rights advocates say that despite Twitter 's recent actions , the platforms have a history of doing too little about posts from politicians calling for violence outside the US and Europe , especially those that aren ’ t written in English .
The result , they say , has been attacks targeting racial , religious , and ethnic minority groups — including ethnic massacres in South Sudan ’ s civil war in 2017 , the burning of Muslim-run businesses in Sri Lanka in 2018 , and genocide in Myanmar the same year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how deadly allowing this type of language from people in positions of authority can be in Myanmar and are finally dismayed by how Facebook can continue to justify letting such speech up , ” said Victoire Rio , an activist whose work focuses on Myanmar .
Dia Kayyali , a program manager at Witness , a human rights NGO , told BuzzFeed News that advocates outside the US and Europe have to work together because platforms “ will not devote the same amount of resources and attention to us .
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Bowing to criticism that predates his presidency, Twitter and Snap have begun to limit how President Donald Trump uses their platforms — fact-checking him, adding warning labels to his posts, or reducing his reach. But as the platforms enact new rules for Trump, politicians around the world continue to elude moderation, leaving misinformation and violence in their wake.
Members of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, for instance, have spread misinformation and anti-Muslim prejudice for years; and in 2018, Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei incited violence against Israel, calling it a “malignant cancerous tumor” that must be “removed and eradicated.”
Around the world, digital activists are using the actions taken against Trump to argue for more strict moderation of political speech, saying that Twitter’s and Snap's actions against the world’s most powerful politicians were landmarks.
“What Twitter did with Trump was encouraging,” said Baybars Örsek, director of the International Fact-Checking Network, a global fact-checking collective, “but it’s important to make these policies globally applicable.”
In a blog post published in October 2019, Twitter said that “if a Tweet from a world leader does violate the Twitter Rules but there is a clear public interest value to keeping the Tweet on the service, we may place it behind a notice that provides context about the violation and allows people to click through should they wish to see the content.”
Twitter has put that rule into action for tweets outside the US before, including an example from April where it appended a label to a tweet by Osmar Terra, a Brazilian politician who falsely claimed quarantine increased the spread of the coronavirus. In March, it deleted two tweets from Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro for spreading coronavirus misinformation.
A Snap spokesperson did not specify whether the platform would do the same thing it did with Trump's account with other leaders on the app, but said that the company would act when it came to racism, violence, and injustice on Snapchat.
But digital rights advocates say that despite Twitter's recent actions, the platforms have a history of doing too little about posts from politicians calling for violence outside the US and Europe, especially those that aren’t written in English. The result, they say, has been attacks targeting racial, religious, and ethnic minority groups — including ethnic massacres in South Sudan’s civil war in 2017, the burning of Muslim-run businesses in Sri Lanka in 2018, and genocide in Myanmar the same year.
“We’ve seen firsthand how deadly allowing this type of language from people in positions of authority can be in Myanmar and are finally dismayed by how Facebook can continue to justify letting such speech up,” said Victoire Rio, an activist whose work focuses on Myanmar.
Dia Kayyali, a program manager at Witness, a human rights NGO, told BuzzFeed News that advocates outside the US and Europe have to work together because platforms “will not devote the same amount of resources and attention to us.”