buzzfeednews--2020-05-29--Trump’s Tweets Have Casualties

Trump’s Tweets Have Casualties

President Donald Trump has for years used Twitter , his rallies , and the White House podium as bully pulpits to launch harassment campaigns against his chosen targets : women , people of color , immigrants , protesters , reporters , Democrats , rivals , widowers , employees of social media companies .
In the early hours of Friday , he was finally held somewhat accountable , when Twitter hid a tweet threatening state violence against people protesting the police killing of George Floyd , a black man in Minneapolis .
The move was celebrated by some of Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by those concerned about the power of social media companies , and with condemnation by the president ’ s supporters .
It came one day after Trump issued an executive order that aims to make it easier for people to sue social media companies , a fight he has framed as a free speech issue after Twitter labeled two of his tweets as potential misinformation .
In the same meeting where he signed the order , he also said he would shut down Twitter altogether if he could , in case anyone thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a personal campaign by a president who can not stomach being challenged , even in the smallest way .
Is it useful to have direct access to the president ’ s brain ?
To know that not only would he like to unleash the military on protesters , but that he carries a saying from the 1960s by a racist Miami police chief — ” when the looting starts , the shooting starts ” — in his back pocket , typed out to the world as if it was no big deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after three years of this , believe that Trump doesn ’ t always understand the references he is making — like when he praised the “ bloodlines ” of famed anti-Semite Henry Ford during a visit to a Ford factory in Michigan last week .
The content of the Minneapolis tweet shows that to be untrue .
The debate is not dissimilar to the questions raised by Trump ’ s weekslong daily briefings near the start of the coronavirus crisis — is it harmful for him to suck up all the oxygen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the undecided or embarrassed white Trump voters who will swing the election in November , to be stripped of the privileged choice to ignore what he is really like ?
These questions will rage , but what they obscure is the effect on the people on whom Trump sets his ire .
His tweets have casualties .
The effects are real .
That was spelled out powerfully this week in a letter by Timothy Klausutis , a widower caught in the crosshairs of Trump ’ s erratic and conspiracy-laden missives about his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something that Gretchen Whitmer , the governor of Michigan , thinks about .
After Trump ’ s tweets , and statements — complete with nicknames , references to “ that woman , ” “ woman governor , ” and more — calling out her handling of the COVID crisis , protesters descended on the state capitol .
They also descended on her home , where she lives with her husband and daughters .
“ We all stood in the front of the residence and looked out the window and saw armed gunmen out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the front door , ” Whitmer told me this week .
“ It 's really destructive and it 's hurtful.
” Asked if she thought Trump shared the blame for the harassment she is experiencing , she got quiet for a moment and then said “ yes.
” “ I never anticipated being in the midst of a global pandemic , having to fend off political attacks while I 'm trying to save lives — political attacks from officeholders in Washington , DC , and here at our state capitol , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of the same observations my male colleagues have — in swing states and in not swing states — and I have been treated differently.
” It ’ s not just who Trump targets — overwhelmingly men and women of color , white women , immigrants — it is how he does it .
“ It 's messaging and it 's symbolism , ” Nina Muckenthaler , the president of the National Organization for Women in Michigan , told me .
“ He refuses to refer to her as governor or use her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s language about Whitmer .
“ When you 're reducing a person to a pronoun — her or she — and totally ignoring their status as a political leader , you ’ re erasing that .
And you 're erasing them as a person , you 're erasing their identity .
Once you do that , it 's much easier to hate people or to make them a target.
” “ It 's a form of disempowering them or trying to disempower them as people and to turn them into objects and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much easier to target them and it 's much more dangerous , ” Muckenthaler said .
“ I think it is an act of violence , at least symbolic violence .
And I think it can lead to actual physical violence.
” It ’ s a direct line from there to calling the protesters in Minneapolis “ thugs.
” Eboni Taylor , the Michigan executive director of Mothering Justice , a Michigan group that focuses on mothers of color , said hearing Trump ’ s attacks on the leadership in Michigan — not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel , the first openly gay woman to hold statewide office — was “ the nail in the coffin for me .
It actually was really hurtful.
” “ I think a lot of us have wondered , wow , what if I ran for secretary of state ? ''
Taylor said .
`` What if this were me ?
How much more would be coming down on me ?
How much more would this be coming down on another woman of color with the added layer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded to folks of color ?
“ How much worse would this be , from protests to the armed folks showing up to the governor 's home ?
How much further could this be taken if it were a black woman or a Latinx woman ?
” There is a keen awareness that Trump uses his Twitter account , and his choice of targets , not just to set the agenda , but to rile up his active followers .
The call to shoot “ looters ” was an obvious provocation of Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s tweets when Trump sent it out just after midnight Friday .
That was made even more explicit by Friday morning , when the official White House Twitter account copy-and-pasted the message , practically daring Twitter to step in again , which it ultimately did .
The cycle this sets off among Trump ’ s loyalists has been repeated throughout his presidency : act as some of the worst harassers on the platform , and then cry censorship when the rules are applied .
And so they become the victims of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are going after .
Speaking about his targeting of the women in Michigan , Carolyn Cassin , president of Michigan Women Forward , said , “ I think fundamentally it is not as much gender motivated as it is politically motivated .
There 's gender bias in everything just like there 's racial bias .
“ But do I think that our president gets up every morning and thinks about how he can trash women ?
Probably not .
I do n't think he thinks we 're important enough to trash .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets up every morning and thinks about what plays well to his base.
” That is clear in his polar opposite approaches to the largely white protesters in Michigan who have been demanding Whitmer change her coronavirus strategy , and to those protesting racist police violence in Minneapolis .
To Trump , gun-toting white protesters are “ very good people ” who deserve to be spoken to ; protesters in Minneapolis are “ thugs ” who deserve to be shot .
The shadow of his “ very fine people on both sides ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large .

President Donald Trump has for years used Twitter, his rallies, and the White House podium as bully pulpits to launch harassment campaigns against his chosen targets: women, people of color, immigrants, protesters, reporters, Democrats, rivals, widowers, employees of social media companies. In the early hours of Friday, he was finally held somewhat accountable, when Twitter hid a tweet threatening state violence against people protesting the police killing of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis.
The move was celebrated by some of Trump’s critics, met with conflicted thoughts by those concerned about the power of social media companies, and with condemnation by the president’s supporters. It came one day after Trump issued an executive order that aims to make it easier for people to sue social media companies, a fight he has framed as a free speech issue after Twitter labeled two of his tweets as potential misinformation. In the same meeting where he signed the order, he also said he would shut down Twitter altogether if he could, in case anyone thought the issue was actually free speech rather than a personal campaign by a president who cannot stomach being challenged, even in the smallest way.
Is it useful to have direct access to the president’s brain? To know that not only would he like to unleash the military on protesters, but that he carries a saying from the 1960s by a racist Miami police chief — ”when the looting starts, the shooting starts” — in his back pocket, typed out to the world as if it was no big deal? There are those who, somehow, after three years of this, believe that Trump doesn’t always understand the references he is making — like when he praised the “bloodlines” of famed anti-Semite Henry Ford during a visit to a Ford factory in Michigan last week. The content of the Minneapolis tweet shows that to be untrue.
The debate is not dissimilar to the questions raised by Trump’s weekslong daily briefings near the start of the coronavirus crisis — is it harmful for him to suck up all the oxygen? Or is it useful, including for the undecided or embarrassed white Trump voters who will swing the election in November, to be stripped of the privileged choice to ignore what he is really like?
These questions will rage, but what they obscure is the effect on the people on whom Trump sets his ire. His tweets have casualties. The effects are real. That was spelled out powerfully this week in a letter by Timothy Klausutis, a widower caught in the crosshairs of Trump’s erratic and conspiracy-laden missives about his dead wife.
It’s also something that Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, thinks about. After Trump’s tweets, and statements — complete with nicknames, references to “that woman,” “woman governor,” and more — calling out her handling of the COVID crisis, protesters descended on the state capitol. They also descended on her home, where she lives with her husband and daughters.
“We all stood in the front of the residence and looked out the window and saw armed gunmen out there with automatic rifles standing yards from the front door,” Whitmer told me this week. “It's really destructive and it's hurtful.”
Asked if she thought Trump shared the blame for the harassment she is experiencing, she got quiet for a moment and then said “yes.”
“I never anticipated being in the midst of a global pandemic, having to fend off political attacks while I'm trying to save lives — political attacks from officeholders in Washington, DC, and here at our state capitol,” she said. “I have made a lot of the same observations my male colleagues have — in swing states and in not swing states — and I have been treated differently.”
It’s not just who Trump targets — overwhelmingly men and women of color, white women, immigrants — it is how he does it.
“It's messaging and it's symbolism,” Nina Muckenthaler, the president of the National Organization for Women in Michigan, told me. “He refuses to refer to her as governor or use her name,” she said of Trump’s language about Whitmer. “When you're reducing a person to a pronoun — her or she — and totally ignoring their status as a political leader, you’re erasing that. And you're erasing them as a person, you're erasing their identity. Once you do that, it's much easier to hate people or to make them a target.”
“It's a form of disempowering them or trying to disempower them as people and to turn them into objects and depersonalize them, and therefore it becomes much easier to target them and it's much more dangerous,” Muckenthaler said. “I think it is an act of violence, at least symbolic violence. And I think it can lead to actual physical violence.”
It’s a direct line from there to calling the protesters in Minneapolis “thugs.”
Eboni Taylor, the Michigan executive director of Mothering Justice, a Michigan group that focuses on mothers of color, said hearing Trump’s attacks on the leadership in Michigan — not just Whitmer, but Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel, the first openly gay woman to hold statewide office — was “the nail in the coffin for me. It actually was really hurtful.”
“I think a lot of us have wondered, wow, what if I ran for secretary of state?" Taylor said. "What if this were me? How much more would be coming down on me? How much more would this be coming down on another woman of color with the added layer because we've seen how he's responded to folks of color?
“How much worse would this be, from protests to the armed folks showing up to the governor's home? How much further could this be taken if it were a black woman or a Latinx woman?”
There is a keen awareness that Trump uses his Twitter account, and his choice of targets, not just to set the agenda, but to rile up his active followers.
The call to shoot “looters” was an obvious provocation of Twitter’s newfound concern over the president’s tweets when Trump sent it out just after midnight Friday. That was made even more explicit by Friday morning, when the official White House Twitter account copy-and-pasted the message, practically daring Twitter to step in again, which it ultimately did. The cycle this sets off among Trump’s loyalists has been repeated throughout his presidency: act as some of the worst harassers on the platform, and then cry censorship when the rules are applied. And so they become the victims of the narrative — rather than the people whom they are going after.
Speaking about his targeting of the women in Michigan, Carolyn Cassin, president of Michigan Women Forward, said, “I think fundamentally it is not as much gender motivated as it is politically motivated. There's gender bias in everything just like there's racial bias.
“But do I think that our president gets up every morning and thinks about how he can trash women? Probably not. I don't think he thinks we're important enough to trash. I would say that I think he gets up every morning and thinks about what plays well to his base.”
That is clear in his polar opposite approaches to the largely white protesters in Michigan who have been demanding Whitmer change her coronavirus strategy, and to those protesting racist police violence in Minneapolis. To Trump, gun-toting white protesters are “very good people” who deserve to be spoken to; protesters in Minneapolis are “thugs” who deserve to be shot. The shadow of his “very fine people on both sides” comments regarding the extremists in Charlottesville looms large.


buzzfeednews--2020-05-09--Can I Visit My Mom On Mother’s Day? And More COVID-19 Advice

I ’ m Scaachi Koul , a culture writer for BuzzFeed News , taking over from your trusted How To Plague columnist Katie Notopoulos ( who is on maternity leave ! )
.
I 'm not an expert on anything but I am very bossy , so naturally I ’ m here to tell you how to live during a pandemic .
I ’ ll be doling out advice on coronavirus-related etiquette , moral quandaries , and little squabbles , sometimes with actual expert input .
My boyfriend of like seven years and I are broke-ass grad students living with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His mom was diagnosed with leukemia six months ago , received a bone marrow transplant , and is now on the mend .
( Hallelujah ! )
That being said , after a bone marrow transplant your immune system is shot and pretty worthless , so , global pandemic or not , it requires that everyone in her house be extremely careful .
His parents are working from home and being super cautious with this whole thing .
Mine , on the other hand , are healthcare providers and are not able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say , there is no safe way for me to see my boyfriend without putting his mother 's health at risk and , also , I am going crazy stressing out about how long this pandemic and uncertainty will last and worrying that I wo n't see him again until like 2022 .
I saw one article this morning that said it could last another 18 months and then I promptly broke down in tears .
I know that putting his mother at risk is completely and totally out of the question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you to tell me to do something insane to justify something reckless .
I guess I am looking for any suggestions on how to cope with this insanity and uncertainty both in and outside of my relationship or even just an `` I see you and that sucks . ''
—Jasmine I see you , and that sucks .
But you ’ re right : You can ’ t go tug dicks with your boyfriend right now , no matter how sad you are .
At best , you ’ ll hang out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether you ’ re a carrier inadvertently transferring the virus to his family .
At worst , his mother could get sick at a time when she truly can not afford to be .
I checked with an expert on the risks your sort-of-mother-in-law is facing .
Dr. Miguel-Angel Perales is the chief of Memorial Sloan Kettering ’ s Adult Bone Marrow Transplantation Service .
( God , imagine being competent enough to have that title ?
Mine is just Rude Word Lady , and that ’ s still longer than it should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already know to be true : Bone marrow transplant patients often take drugs that suppress their immune systems .
After the transplant , Perales said , “ During the first year , patients are at a much higher risk of infection than other people , and therefore have to be very careful about what they do.
” So you already know that you can ’ t go hang out with your boyfriend while he ’ s tending to his mom , and like I said : It sucks big time .
But one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s helping his mom out and keeping her company during a time when she ’ s even less capable of going outside and enjoying her life .
“ Any patient who has had a bone marrow transplant will tell you that they are the world experts at social distancing , ” Perales said .
During the first few months — never mind during a pandemic — patients are to avoid crowds , avoid going out in public without a mask or gloves , avoid movies or restaurants , avoid anyone sick , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It might be a comfort to you to reorder your thinking , and instead of feeling like you ’ re being kept away from your boyfriend , view it as such a blessing that he ’ s able to be with his mom during this unique hell .
As for you , I know how tough it is to try to muscle through this without any clear end date , but you do have to remember that it will end .
The more we stay away from each other and protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mom — the closer we get to a point where we can start having some limited contact with each other .
And just because you can ’ t spend time with your boyfriend the way you used to doesn ’ t mean you can ’ t interact at all .
If you haven ’ t set up consistent remote dates with him yet , start doing it .
Watch movies together and play games .
Start a protected Zoom call ( make sure it has a password ! )
and show each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Have a glass of wine on someone ’ s porch , yours or his , and stay ( at least ) 6 feet apart .
Mask up and meet at the park for a socially distant picnic , which most experts agree is probably safe .
Foster intimacy where you can .
When we get through this , you — and your boyfriend ’ s mom — will be glad you toughed it out .
We ’ re all going to die anyway , but let ’ s at least pick a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After a trip to India in late February , my mom was unable to return to my brother 's home in Manila and had to come back to the US .
She has been living with me since March 13 .
My son has been out of school since the beginning of March .
My boyfriend was laid off from his job last week .
Even though my job could be done from home ( I worked from home on a two-week quarantine when my mom got back to the states ) I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solidarity .
Basically my question is : All I do is go to work and then I go home to a place where I 'm the only one paying bills and I have no time to myself .
I tried to go walk in a park and there are tons of people there .
I have no solitude and I feel like it is negatively impacting my mental health .
How do I cope with the uncertainty of my mom not getting to go back to Asia ?
How do I handle homeschool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to complain to ?
I have a job and money and so many have it worse .
Why ca n't I stop feeling sorry for my situation ?
—Karly A few weeks ago , my husband and I were discussing the time my parents visited us in New York last fall and how hard it would ’ ve been if they had gotten stuck with us in Brooklyn during the pandemic .
Currently , they ’ re stuck in India .
Neither are places they actually live , so it ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them stuck with family abroad or having them stuck here , with me .
Both are terrible options , since one makes me worry endlessly for them and the other would mean they ’ d be in my goddamn shit every single day for months and I would have surely murdered them by now .
You , regrettably , like a growing number of other Americans , are now in that tough spot .
Moms !
Can ’ t live without them , can ’ t get them to shut up , shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SHUT UP .
I chatted about this with Neil Leibowitz , the chief medical officer at Talkspace , an online therapy service .
( Pretty essential right now , but more on that later . )
“ Cut yourself a break !
” he said .
“ If you anchor yourself to at least I ’ m not dying , it ’ s just going to burn you out.
” There ’ s also no reason that you alone should be shouldering all the burdens of your household .
Can your boyfriend help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Can your mom ?
Who is handling the bulk of the housework and the cooking ?
Who gets the groceries ?
If you ’ re feeling overwhelmed , it ’ s time to get your family to help you out in the places they can .
But it also sounds like you really need some time alone .
If going for walks feels fraught , then maybe you can find one corner of your neighborhood that isn ’ t crawling with unmasked hooligans , where you can be outside .
Take a book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day and relish the time alone .
If you have access to a car , send your family out for a long drive , or tell them to go for a ( safely socially distant ) walk , so you can have an hour in the house without someone bothering you .
Ritualize it so it ’ s always the same time — maybe in the morning before the fresh hell of each day starts anew , or in the evening , as a way to unwind before bed ( or as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ritual : staring into the dark void , wondering when I will get to see my family again ) .
“ It ’ s about finding things that feel normal to you , ” Leibowitz said .
“ I ’ m not looking for extraordinary .
I ’ m not looking for something that you look forward to , like your dream vacation .
Just find some stuff that you can do , that you enjoy.
” You have earned some time to be selfish for a sliver of the day , every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that time for yourself .
This personal time could , of course , be actual therapy .
You ’ re handling a massive emotional and financial burden along with the anxiety about a deadly virus — it might be time to find some specialized help for coping with all this .
Plus : Therapists are basically paid to listen to you complain , except they also have this annoying tendency to help you find solutions .
This Mother ’ s Day , get your mom something nice and try to remind yourself how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s alive and well .
But also make sure to set aside part of the day to celebrate yourself and get the space you need .
And if your son and boyfriend don ’ t go balls-out for you , please write back to me so I can murder them myself .
My husband and I haven ’ t seen anyone in 6 weeks .
I ’ ve gone to the store twice , practicing safe distancing , but otherwise have things delivered .
My parents have a very similar quarantine routine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit one another ’ s house on Mother ’ s Day ?
If we do , should we stay outside and remain masked ?
Is this a bad idea ?
—Erin You are in the incredibly fortunate position of living near your parents and being in a position where you could go visit them .
I am wildly jealous .
I would kill seven to nine people ( depends on the people ) for the chance to drive by my parents ’ house and wave at my mom through a window , instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 7 a.m. to FaceTime her and her dwindling emotional well-being , a continent away .
So for me , and people like me , do this small favor : Don ’ t go inside your parents ’ house for Mother ’ s Day .
You still need to keep your ( literal ) distance .
Visiting them indoors flouts a pretty basic rule we all need to follow right now , and I also think you ’ ll find it hard to resist giving your mom a big hug , especially considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I know it ’ s not ideal and I know it seems ridiculous since you ’ ve been careful and they ’ ve been careful , but I hope you can find other ways to celebrate your mom in the middle of a quarantine .
The coronavirus does not give a shit that it ’ s Mother ’ s Day this weekend , the same way it has not cared about anyone ’ s birthday , due date , funeral , graduation , travel plan , preexisting condition , wedding , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cousins , organize a Mother ’ s Day parade in front of her house .
Bake her a cake , deliver it , and then promptly run away when she answers the door .
Hand-stitch her some face masks if you ’ re crafty .
Get her a book delivery from a beloved local indie bookseller .
For my mother ’ s birthday last month , I got our family and a bunch of my friends to wish her a happy birthday , and stitched the clips together into a video she can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her to get a flight home .
It really cheered her up , because right now , literally any form of connectivity is an absolute joy .
These , of course , are solutions for if you like your mother .
If you hate her , I have even more suggestions , which I will not write here because my mother is a succubus who will be able to hear it from the other side of the world .
Happy Mother ’ s Day , Amma .
Please don ’ t hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know how you ’ d do it , but you always find a way .
● Send me your questions at scaachi.koul @ buzzfeed.com , or through this form , or sign up for our text messaging service .

So you already know that you can’t go hang out with your boyfriend while he’s tending to his mom, and like I said: It sucks big time. But one silver lining here is that he’s helping his mom out and keeping her company during a time when she’s even less capable of going outside and enjoying her life. “Any patient who has had a bone marrow transplant will tell you that they are the world experts at social distancing,” Perales said. During the first few months — never mind during a pandemic — patients are to avoid crowds, avoid going out in public without a mask or gloves, avoid movies or restaurants, avoid anyone sick, and can’t go back to work. It might be a comfort to you to reorder your thinking, and instead of feeling like you’re being kept away from your boyfriend, view it as such a blessing that he’s able to be with his mom during this unique hell.
As for you, I know how tough it is to try to muscle through this without any clear end date, but you do have to remember that it will end. The more we stay away from each other and protect the vulnerable — like your dude’s mom — the closer we get to a point where we can start having some limited contact with each other. And just because you can’t spend time with your boyfriend the way you used to doesn’t mean you can’t interact at all.
If you haven’t set up consistent remote dates with him yet, start doing it. Watch movies together and play games. Start a protected Zoom call (make sure it has a password!) and show each other your butts for a few hours. Have a glass of wine on someone’s porch, yours or his, and stay (at least) 6 feet apart. Mask up and meet at the park for a socially distant picnic, which most experts agree is probably safe. Foster intimacy where you can. When we get through this, you — and your boyfriend’s mom — will be glad you toughed it out. We’re all going to die anyway, but let’s at least pick a way that isn’t so painful.
After a trip to India in late February, my mom was unable to return to my brother's home in Manila and had to come back to the US. She has been living with me since March 13. My son has been out of school since the beginning of March. My boyfriend was laid off from his job last week. Even though my job could be done from home (I worked from home on a two-week quarantine when my mom got back to the states) I am told to be at work for solidarity. Basically my question is: All I do is go to work and then I go home to a place where I'm the only one paying bills and I have no time to myself. I tried to go walk in a park and there are tons of people there. I have no solitude and I feel like it is negatively impacting my mental health. How do I cope with the uncertainty of my mom not getting to go back to Asia? How do I handle homeschool and work? Who do I get to complain to? I have a job and money and so many have it worse. Why can't I stop feeling sorry for my situation?
—Karly
A few weeks ago, my husband and I were discussing the time my parents visited us in New York last fall and how hard it would’ve been if they had gotten stuck with us in Brooklyn during the pandemic. Currently, they’re stuck in India. Neither are places they actually live, so it’s not clear which would be better: having them stuck with family abroad or having them stuck here, with me. Both are terrible options, since one makes me worry endlessly for them and the other would mean they’d be in my goddamn shit every single day for months and I would have surely murdered them by now.
You, regrettably, like a growing number of other Americans, are now in that tough spot. Moms! Can’t live without them, can’t get them to shut up, shut UP, WHY WON’T YOU SHUT UP.
I chatted about this with Neil Leibowitz, the chief medical officer at Talkspace, an online therapy service. (Pretty essential right now, but more on that later.) “Cut yourself a break!” he said. “If you anchor yourself to at least I’m not dying, it’s just going to burn you out.” There’s also no reason that you alone should be shouldering all the burdens of your household. Can your boyfriend help out with homeschool for your son? Can your mom? Who is handling the bulk of the housework and the cooking? Who gets the groceries? If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to get your family to help you out in the places they can.


buzzfeednews--2020-05-08--She Died Of The Coronavirus Aged 97. She’s Being Laid To Rest Alongside Her Wartime Sweetheart Who W

She Died Of The Coronavirus Aged 97. She’s Being Laid To Rest Alongside Her Wartime Sweetheart Who Was Killed 80 Years Ago.

Wendy Bishop survived World War II and went on to open a famous hospital for teddy bears .
But she never got to see her great-great-granddaughters .
Wendy Bishop was the first person to die from the coronavirus in the small town where she lived in the Scottish Highlands .
She was 97 years old , and had lived an extraordinary life : serving as a medic during the second world war , raising six children , and later opening a hospital for injured dolls and teddy bears where she repaired toys sent to her from around the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rest alongside her wartime sweetheart , who was killed in battle at the age of 20 , almost 80 years ago .
Wendy Beatrice Austin Bishop , one of three siblings , was born in Northfleet in Kent , in the southeast of England in 1923 .
She left school at 15 and went to work at a local kennel .
Soon after , World War II broke out , and she was evacuated to Hampshire , but at the age of 17 , she enlisted in the Women 's Auxiliary Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1941 to 1945 .
She was stationed at RAF Oban in Scotland and met her first boyfriend , Roy Stephens .
He died at the age of just 20 on his first mission with the Royal Air Force , so they never got to live out their future together .
Almost 80 years later , his relatives are still in touch with Bishop ’ s family , and her ashes will be buried alongside her first love in Golders Green crematorium , north London .
“ She totally loved him , ” her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course , when he was killed , my nan met my granddad and they had six children.
” After the war , Bishop moved back to England , to Hampshire , where she married and had her children , and later relocated to Bournemouth , where she first opened a shop .
Bishop was an adventurous woman , and after her marriage broke down in the 1970s , she just decided to start again , hundreds of miles further north .
She lived out the rest of her life in Scotland .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scottish Highlands , and then on to Grantown-on-Spey , where she opened her “ hospital ” — Toys and Treasures — in the high street .
Bishop also loved to write — she wrote letters and poetry , and she kept diaries .
After she died , Johanna found her grandmother 's memoirs , `` pages and pages and pages '' of her life story , that her family had n't even known she was writing .
They are now considering getting trying to get them published .
“ She always liked fairies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Highlands to her was probably magical , with the heather on the hills and things like that , she was so creative and made a lot of things , she just loved it up here , ” Johanna said .
Bishop started her toy repair business from home , but she had so much work from all over the world that she decided to open a shop .
She would fix up beloved dolls and teddy bears and send them back to their owners dressed in little hats and coats .
Her hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Princess Diana ’ s mother , Frances Shand Kydd .
“ She thought because she had so much going on at home that she should open a shop , ” Johanna said , “ because she had dolls and teddies sent from everywhere.
” “ I 'd pop in the shop just to see what other exciting things that she 'd received , ” she added .
“ It was just extraordinary.
” Johanna , who spent her early years in Bournemouth before moving up to Scotland , where she now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her gran in the Highlands .
Bishop would travel down to the south coast of England to collect Johanna and her sister Lisa , and then they would take the long coach journey back up to Scotland together , where they would spend their whole summers .
“ I could go on all day about the things she did , ” Johanna said .
“ She took me up the Cairngorms , up the lift .
I mean years ago , it was bloody dangerous .
I was terrified .
I remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being absolutely terrified.
” “ My nan always had a dolls ’ house , ” she recalled , “ and this is something I 'll always hold onto — she always had a dollhouse , so we always had things to play with , the miniature cakes and all the miniature things that always fascinated me , all this miniature stuff .
And so when we were coming up here , we were so happy we did n't want to go home.
” “ We had the best holidays , ” Johanna said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not many of my friends went on holiday , or went anywhere , but we ’ d say , ‘ Oh , we 're going to Scotland , ’ and I just remember feeling lucky and…different , because my nan came and took us away to this wonderful place.
” Bishop also loved to party .
She loved Christmas , and she loved having all of the family round to her house for a big knees-up .
In her later years , she also liked going to the shops on a Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — where she ’ d often catch up with friends .
“ She ’ d always stop and speak to somebody , ” Johanna said , “ and when she got talking to somebody you knew you were there for about two hours , because people were so interested to talk to her.
” She was also very generous and supported people living in poverty in Nepal right up until she died — charity work that her descendants have vowed to continue in her memory .
“ You had to watch what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ If you said you liked something , she would give it to you .
She was so , so kind , very generous , very generous.
” Bishop was also famous among her family for her Easter bonnets , which she would make for all of her descendants right up until the year before she died — and she wasn ’ t just a grandmother but a great-grandmother and a great-great-grandmother .
And she managed to keep up with them all by being active on Facebook .
But she did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s newest arrivals before she died , her great-great-granddaughters , Lorena and Freya .
“ There was somebody from the army , somebody from the RAF , somebody from the fire station , and the police , ” Johanna said .
“ They all gave her a salute as she went past in the coffin…and people came and lined the route which my nan went.
” In her final hours in hospital , Johanna and her aunt were allowed onto the ward to see Bishop for one last time .
They stayed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandmother drank a cup of tea , Johanna told her not to worry about the family , and even told her a little white lie to put her mind at ease — that baby Freya had arrived safely already and that she and her parents were doing well .
“ She really enjoyed that cup of tea and I thought that I 'm going to hold onto that memory , ” Johanna said .
“ These are memories that we 're going to cherish now because it was just nice to be able @ @ @ @ @

Wendy Bishop was the first person to die from the coronavirus in the small town where she lived in the Scottish Highlands. She was 97 years old, and had lived an extraordinary life: serving as a medic during the second world war, raising six children, and later opening a hospital for injured dolls and teddy bears where she repaired toys sent to her from around the world.
Now, Bishop will finally be laid to rest alongside her wartime sweetheart, who was killed in battle at the age of 20, almost 80 years ago.
Wendy Beatrice Austin Bishop, one of three siblings, was born in Northfleet in Kent, in the southeast of England in 1923. She left school at 15 and went to work at a local kennel.
Soon after, World War II broke out, and she was evacuated to Hampshire, but at the age of 17, she enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force as a medic and served from 1941 to 1945.


buzzfeednews--2020-05-02--The Auschwitz Memorial Condemned An Anti-Lockdown Sign That Bore A Slogan From The Concentration Cam

The Auschwitz Memorial Condemned An Anti-Lockdown Sign That Bore A Slogan From The Concentration Camp

The Auschwitz Memorial in Poland has condemned a viral photo of a sign from an anti-lockdown protest in Chicago on Friday that bore a phrase from the Nazi concentration camp .
The sign reading `` Arbeit macht frei , JB '' was held by an unidentified woman at a `` Re-Open Illinois '' protest in the city 's Loop district and addressed to Gov .
J.B. Pritzker , who is Jewish .
`` Arbeit macht frei '' translates from German to `` work will set you free '' and was used on the gates of Auschwitz , where at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The photo was taken at around 12:30 p.m. by nurse Dennis Kosuth , who attended the event as a counterprotester .
Kosuth said several anti-lockdown demonstrators were trying to provoke him and other nurses by claiming they were actors or that the death toll from the coronavirus was not accurate .
`` My approach was to ignore people , '' he told BuzzFeed News in a phone interview on Saturday , `` but then I saw her sign and said , 'That 's pretty messed up .
Why would you bring that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the woman defended her sign and said she had Jewish friends .
Kosuth , who had a friend and colleague die from COVID-19 this week , said he was disgusted by the sign .
`` How dare you compare the Holocaust to a stay-at-home order ? ''
he said .
Kosuth shared the image on Twitter on Thursday where it was shared more than 14,000 times .

The Auschwitz Memorial in Poland has condemned a viral photo of a sign from an anti-lockdown protest in Chicago on Friday that bore a phrase from the Nazi concentration camp.
The sign reading "Arbeit macht frei, JB" was held by an unidentified woman at a "Re-Open Illinois" protest in the city's Loop district and addressed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is Jewish. "Arbeit macht frei" translates from German to "work will set you free" and was used on the gates of Auschwitz, where at least 1.1 million people died during the Holocaust.
The photo was taken at around 12:30 p.m. by nurse Dennis Kosuth, who attended the event as a counterprotester.
Kosuth said several anti-lockdown demonstrators were trying to provoke him and other nurses by claiming they were actors or that the death toll from the coronavirus was not accurate. "My approach was to ignore people," he told BuzzFeed News in a phone interview on Saturday, "but then I saw her sign and said, 'That's pretty messed up. Why would you bring that here?'"
According to Kosuth, the woman defended her sign and said she had Jewish friends.
Kosuth, who had a friend and colleague die from COVID-19 this week, said he was disgusted by the sign.
"How dare you compare the Holocaust to a stay-at-home order?" he said.
Kosuth shared the image on Twitter on Thursday where it was shared more than 14,000 times.


buzzfeednews--2020-05-02--A Paramedic Who Traveled To New York To Help In The Pandemic Has Died Of The Coronavirus

People around the world are remembering family and friends who have died during the coronavirus pandemic .
BuzzFeed News is proud to bring you some of their stories .
To support our coverage , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
A veteran Colorado paramedic who traveled to New York City to help fight the coronavirus has died of COVID-19 , his family said Thursday .
`` We were devastated to learn that our father and grandfather , Paul Cary , became the latest victim to die of COVID-19 , '' Cary 's family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News .
`` Our family grieves his loss , and knows that all his friends and family will miss him greatly.
`` Cary died Thursday at age 66 , less than two weeks after he was admitted to a hospital with symptoms of COVID-19 .
Cary worked as a paramedic for Ambulnz , an ambulance service provider , in its Colorado division , the company told BuzzFeed News .
Before that , he served as a firefighter and paramedic with the Aurora , Colorado Fire Department for more than 30 years .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others in need , we respected his choice to volunteer to be part of Ambulnz ’ s response team to the COVID-19 crisis in New York City , '' his family said .
`` He risked his own health and safety to protect others and left this world a better place .
We are at peace knowing that Paul did what he loved and what he believed in , right up until the very end . ''
Cary traveled to New York City in late March and began his deployment under FEMA in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company said .
He was `` adamant '' about volunteering with Ambulnz on the front lines of the pandemic in New York , a company spokesperson told BuzzFeed News .
`` He actually already had signed up for a second deployment before his death , '' the spokesperson said .
`` This is where he wanted ( and demanded ) to be . ''
Cary began showing symptoms of COVID-19 around April 20 and was admitted to Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx on April 21 , where he was eventually put on @ @ @ @ @ @

A veteran Colorado paramedic who traveled to New York City to help fight the coronavirus has died of COVID-19, his family said Thursday.
"We were devastated to learn that our father and grandfather, Paul Cary, became the latest victim to die of COVID-19," Cary's family said in a statement provided to BuzzFeed News. "Our family grieves his loss, and knows that all his friends and family will miss him greatly. "
Cary died Thursday at age 66, less than two weeks after he was admitted to a hospital with symptoms of COVID-19.
Cary worked as a paramedic for Ambulnz, an ambulance service provider, in its Colorado division, the company told BuzzFeed News.
Before that, he served as a firefighter and paramedic with the Aurora, Colorado Fire Department for more than 30 years.
"Accepting Paul’s commitment to serving others in need, we respected his choice to volunteer to be part of Ambulnz’s response team to the COVID-19 crisis in New York City," his family said. "He risked his own health and safety to protect others and left this world a better place. We are at peace knowing that Paul did what he loved and what he believed in, right up until the very end."
Cary traveled to New York City in late March and began his deployment under FEMA in the Bronx on April 1, the company said.
He was "adamant" about volunteering with Ambulnz on the front lines of the pandemic in New York, a company spokesperson told BuzzFeed News.
"He actually already had signed up for a second deployment before his death," the spokesperson said. "This is where he wanted (and demanded) to be."
Cary began showing symptoms of COVID-19 around April 20 and was admitted to Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx on April 21, where he was eventually put on a ventilator before he died.


buzzfeednews--2020-05-02--This Couple's Wedding Was Canceled Because Of The Coronavirus. So They Got Married At A Drive-In The

This Couple's Wedding Was Canceled Because Of The Coronavirus. So They Got Married At A Drive-In Theater.

`` It was almost surreal how engaged and connected it made everyone feel at one of the most disconnected times of our lives.
” Bri and Lindsey Leaverton have always been a spontaneous couple : They went on their first date within 12 hours of matching on a dating site in 2018 , and three days later they became girlfriends .
After they got engaged , they planned to marry on April 10 of this year — Good Friday — in a historic hotel where they live in Austin , Texas .
`` We had everything planned down to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We were supposed to get married on 4.10.20 , Good Friday , because nothing says 'Happy Easter ' like a good old lesbian wedding.
” But when Austin instituted shelter-in-place advisories just weeks before their wedding , and they watched as their guest list shrunk down to 50 and then just 10 people , the couple realized their day wouldn ’ t be going on as planned .
Still , when the coronavirus pandemic hit close to home , Bri and Lindsey decided they didn ’ t want to wait indefinitely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or rather , their wedding planner — decided to think outside of the box .
“ Our wedding planner had this crazy idea : What if we did this at a drive-in movie theater ?
She said , ' I feel like that suits you guys , ' ” Lindsey said .
Their local drive-in theater in Austin was closed , so they widened their search and found Doc ’ s Drive In Theatre in nearby Buda , Texas , just south of Austin .
The theater has been allowed to remain open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is therefore considered an essential business .
“ We asked them , ‘ How crazy would it be if we got married there ?
’ and they said ‘ Absolutely , ” said Bri , 31 .
Despite the unconventional venue and strange circumstances , the couple ’ s friends and family were immediately on board with the new wedding , they said .
“ They said , resoundingly , ‘ This is so you , this is so Bri and Lindsey , ’ ” said Lindsey .
Despite all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on April 28 .
There was a 90-car limit at the drive-in theater , and the couple estimates about 85 cars were in attendance , with guests staying in their cars for the entire event .
“ We asked everybody to come in their PJs , and to decorate their cars , so our straight friends were putting rainbows on their cars , ” said Lindsey .
There were some elements of their original wedding still in place : the couple called on their original videographer to help them livestream the wedding on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Facebook , Instagram , and YouTube , so friends and family not in attendance could still witness the wedding .
Their original officiant , Lindsey ’ s friend and author Jen Hatmaker , was also able to marry the couple , though her book tour complicated the schedule a bit ( “ Which is why we got married on a Tuesday , ” Lindsey said ) .
Lindsey was walked down the aisle by her twin daughters , Annabelle and Olivia , and Bri walked down the aisle with her sister — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet apart , ” Lindsey said .
Each speaker even was their own microphone — including Annabelle , who sang and read a poem — and everything was sanitized .
Of course , not everything was exactly the same : The brides did their own hair , makeup , and nails , and rather than getting ready for their big day in a “ bougie mansion , ” they prepped in the Star Wars and Harry Potter–themed tiny homes on the theater ’ s lot .
They did put on their wedding dresses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see me getting into my Spanx , ” said Lindsey ) , though the white dresses dragged in the dirt because they were originally hemmed to be worn with heels , rather than the cowboy boots required for the drive-in theater gravel .
There were also a whole lot of bugs , one in particular that was in Lindsey ’ s dress throughout the ceremony .
“ The June bug was getting fresh with me , ” she laughed .
The happy couple were congratulated with a chorus of car honks , flashing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the new applause , ” Lindsey said .
Afterward , Lindsey — a musician who was part of the Christian music industry until coming out in 2009 — surprised Bri with an original song .
While the couple had to do away with dinner , a cake , and a bouquet toss , they were still able to provide popcorn and champagne , served by theater staff wearing masks and gloves .
Guests were treated to a showing of the movie Airplane and , with a strict curfew at the drive-in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 p.m .
There were some bittersweet moments during the happy day , too .
“ It was crushing to not be able to hug my parents , ” Lindsey said .
“ My dad ’ s my best friend .
I ’ ve always dreamed of him walking me down the aisle , having the daddy-daughter dance .
Having to air-hug him and my mom from the car was really , really hard , but at least they were there.
” Bri ’ s 3-and-a-half-year-old son , Atlas , was also unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ custody with her coparent , who decided because of the coronavirus that it would be best for their son not to attend .
Still , the couple said the impromptu wedding was better than they ever could have imagined .
“ It was above and beyond anything we could ’ ve dreamed of , ” Lindsey said .
” I ’ m so glad it happened the way it did .
Our whole theme has been : we ’ re making some really tasty lemonade out of some really rotten lemons.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d be able to say goodbye to each of their guests because of social distancing , but were thrilled when each car stopped on its way out to say their congratulations and farewells — from a distance , of course .
The couple says they ’ re also still receiving well-wishes from people they ’ ve never even met on YouTube and Instagram .
“ It was one of the most connected moments I ’ ve ever felt , ” Lindsey said .
“ I thought it would be disconnected , but we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left the venue .
It was almost surreal how engaged and connected it made everyone feel at one of the most disconnected times of our lives.
” While Lindsey and Bri originally planned a 10-day honeymoon in Tulum , they were able to celebrate with a “ mini-moon ” for two nights in an Airstream trailer after the wedding .
And whenever the pandemic is over and they can safely gather with family and friends again , they ’ ve already got plans for “ the biggest party ever .
”

Bri and Lindsey Leaverton have always been a spontaneous couple: They went on their first date within 12 hours of matching on a dating site in 2018, and three days later they became girlfriends.
After they got engaged, they planned to marry on April 10 of this year — Good Friday — in a historic hotel where they live in Austin, Texas.
"We had everything planned down to a tee,” said Lindsey, 37. “We were supposed to get married on 4.10.20, Good Friday, because nothing says 'Happy Easter' like a good old lesbian wedding.”
But when Austin instituted shelter-in-place advisories just weeks before their wedding, and they watched as their guest list shrunk down to 50 and then just 10 people, the couple realized their day wouldn’t be going on as planned.
Still, when the coronavirus pandemic hit close to home, Bri and Lindsey decided they didn’t want to wait indefinitely to get married.
So they — or rather, their wedding planner — decided to think outside of the box.
“Our wedding planner had this crazy idea: What if we did this at a drive-in movie theater? She said, 'I feel like that suits you guys,'” Lindsey said.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-13--Opinion: Why Can't America Make Its Own Medicine Anymore?

In 2018 , a commonly used drug to treat irregular heartbeats was suddenly in short supply .
“ All of a sudden it gets taken away and I ’ m like , what is happening ?
” one New Hampshire cardiologist recalled to me recently .
“ I ’ m in the United States and I don ’ t have Cardizem right now ?
” As the coronavirus sweeps across the globe , that experience is a preview of what ’ s to come : another round of what one trade publication called the “ pharmaceutical version of The Hunger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the epicenter of the global coronavirus outbreak .
It ’ s also home to at least 12 drug plants supplying the US with everything from painkillers to antibiotics .
And beyond Hubei , an estimated 80 % of pharmaceutical ingredients are sourced from China and India ( which , in turn , sources nearly 80 % of its drug ingredients from China ) .
Our ability to make and distribute medicine here in the United States is falling apart , and it ’ s a direct result of the consolidation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Cardizem shortage of 2018 began when Hurricane Maria knocked out power to a handful of factories in Puerto Rico that produce saline bags used around the world for administering intravenous medications .
Those few days of lost production in Puerto Rico caused Cardizem supplies to be backlogged for months .
Pharmaceutical producers put most of their eggs in one basket , and the hurricane upset the basket .
The coronavirus could disturb a much bigger basket — the majority of pharmaceutical drugs globally .
Since at least 2005 , hospital administrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drug supply chain .
Policymakers have failed to address the root cause .
Why did we consolidate and thin out supply chains so aggressively ?
The answer is found in the behavior of “ power buyers , ” corporations in the drug supply chain that buy a lot of product and subsequently have the power to set prices .
Power buyers like CVS or the group purchasing organizations ( GPOs ) , which hospitals use to buy everything from surgical gowns to generic drugs , have consolidated the drug supply chain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their redundant sources of supply — or , even riskier , ship off their production to China .
Indeed , it ’ s consolidation all the way down : Many of these GPOs outsource even further , purchasing their generic drugs through separate power buyer entities .
For example , Cardinal Health , the fifth-largest GPO in the country , runs a joint venture called Red Oak Sourcing with CVS Health , the largest pharmacy chain , to handle purchasing for Cardinal , CVS , Target , Omnicare ( which sources for approximately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and OptumRx ( the drug division of UnitedHealth Group ) .
Other power buyers cover purchasing for Walmart , Walgreens , and Express Scripts .
The market is so consolidated that just four of these power buyers control over 90 % of generic drug purchasing for the entire country .
This consolidation might not seem like a bad thing .
After all , generic drugs are cheap ; a course of generic antibiotics may cost no more than $ 5 to the consumer .
But power buyers have driven prices below a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consolidated buying power — also called monopsony power — has lowered margins on generic drugs such that many manufacturers have consolidated to match their bargaining power or offshored their production lines to eke out whatever margin they can .
Drug shortages are n't the only consequence of this .
Power buyers act similarly to the way Walmart handles purchasing for its more than 5,000 stores , demanding extremely low prices from suppliers and forcing them to either fold or move production to cheaper labor markets overseas .
US factories close , production moves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss of diversity and resiliency for the entire supply chain in return for slightly lower prices .
Common goods , including garden hoses , TVs , air conditioner parts , and car parts are now all in shortage .
In the coming weeks and months , the coronavirus pandemic is likely to reveal the hidden risk embedded in the low consumer prices for medical supplies , just like the financial crisis forced hidden risks back on the balance sheet of major banks .
Reports indicate the FDA is now carefully monitoring 150 drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As lawmakers and experts consider solutions to fix the fragile medical supply chain , many are focused on having the FDA gain visibility into our supply chain and relocating supply chains away from China .
These approaches are a good start , but they also fail to address the root of the problem .
Rather than solely focusing on the country of origin of the supply chains , lawmakers and regulators should be focused on the market power issues that caused the problem .
Regulatory solutions like breaking apart the power buyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contracts that guarantee massive purchasers the lowest possible price would allow the supply chain to rediversify .
And diverse supply chains are better able to respond to a catastrophe .
We ’ re far beyond just manageable shortages .
The coronavirus is forcing lawmakers to confront the weakness of US supply chains ; the solutions should go beyond the short-term crisis and address the concentrated corporate power that ’ s at fault .

In 2018, a commonly used drug to treat irregular heartbeats was suddenly in short supply. “All of a sudden it gets taken away and I’m like, what is happening?” one New Hampshire cardiologist recalled to me recently. “I’m in the United States and I don’t have Cardizem right now?”
As the coronavirus sweeps across the globe, that experience is a preview of what’s to come: another round of what one trade publication called the “pharmaceutical version of The Hunger Games.”
China’s Hubei province is the epicenter of the global coronavirus outbreak. It’s also home to at least 12 drug plants supplying the US with everything from painkillers to antibiotics. And beyond Hubei, an estimated 80% of pharmaceutical ingredients are sourced from China and India (which, in turn, sources nearly 80% of its drug ingredients from China).
Our ability to make and distribute medicine here in the United States is falling apart, and it’s a direct result of the consolidation of the supply chains and factories that make it.
The Cardizem shortage of 2018 began when Hurricane Maria knocked out power to a handful of factories in Puerto Rico that produce saline bags used around the world for administering intravenous medications. Those few days of lost production in Puerto Rico caused Cardizem supplies to be backlogged for months. Pharmaceutical producers put most of their eggs in one basket, and the hurricane upset the basket.
The coronavirus could disturb a much bigger basket — the majority of pharmaceutical drugs globally.
Since at least 2005, hospital administrators and patients have experienced the fragility of the drug supply chain. Policymakers have failed to address the root cause. Why did we consolidate and thin out supply chains so aggressively?
The answer is found in the behavior of “power buyers,” corporations in the drug supply chain that buy a lot of product and subsequently have the power to set prices. Power buyers like CVS or the group purchasing organizations (GPOs), which hospitals use to buy everything from surgical gowns to generic drugs, have consolidated the drug supply chain, squeezing manufacturers to get rid of all their redundant sources of supply — or, even riskier, ship off their production to China.
Indeed, it’s consolidation all the way down: Many of these GPOs outsource even further, purchasing their generic drugs through separate power buyer entities. For example, Cardinal Health, the fifth-largest GPO in the country, runs a joint venture called Red Oak Sourcing with CVS Health, the largest pharmacy chain, to handle purchasing for Cardinal, CVS, Target, Omnicare (which sources for approximately 50% of all nursing homes), and OptumRx (the drug division of UnitedHealth Group). Other power buyers cover purchasing for Walmart, Walgreens, and Express Scripts. The market is so consolidated that just four of these power buyers control over 90% of generic drug purchasing for the entire country.
This consolidation might not seem like a bad thing. After all, generic drugs are cheap; a course of generic antibiotics may cost no more than $5 to the consumer. But power buyers have driven prices below a sustainable level for the producer. Their consolidated buying power — also called monopsony power — has lowered margins on generic drugs such that many manufacturers have consolidated to match their bargaining power or offshored their production lines to eke out whatever margin they can.
Drug shortages aren't the only consequence of this. Power buyers act similarly to the way Walmart handles purchasing for its more than 5,000 stores, demanding extremely low prices from suppliers and forcing them to either fold or move production to cheaper labor markets overseas. US factories close, production moves offshore, and the result is a loss of diversity and resiliency for the entire supply chain in return for slightly lower prices. Common goods, including garden hoses, TVs, air conditioner parts, and car parts are now all in shortage.
In the coming weeks and months, the coronavirus pandemic is likely to reveal the hidden risk embedded in the low consumer prices for medical supplies, just like the financial crisis forced hidden risks back on the balance sheet of major banks. Reports indicate the FDA is now carefully monitoring 150 drugs for anticipated shortages due to the outbreak.
As lawmakers and experts consider solutions to fix the fragile medical supply chain, many are focused on having the FDA gain visibility into our supply chain and relocating supply chains away from China. These approaches are a good start, but they also fail to address the root of the problem.
Rather than solely focusing on the country of origin of the supply chains, lawmakers and regulators should be focused on the market power issues that caused the problem. Regulatory solutions like breaking apart the power buyers of drugs and legislative solutions like banning contracts that guarantee massive purchasers the lowest possible price would allow the supply chain to rediversify. And diverse supply chains are better able to respond to a catastrophe.
We’re far beyond just manageable shortages. The coronavirus is forcing lawmakers to confront the weakness of US supply chains; the solutions should go beyond the short-term crisis and address the concentrated corporate power that’s at fault.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-13--These Charts Break Down Who Is Most At Risk Of Dying From The Coronavirus

As the coronavirus spreads in countries around the world , more and more people are looking for answers about its @ @ @ @ @ elderly .
Below is a compilation of charts detailing who is impacted the most .
@ @ @ @ @ a study conducted by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention that looked at @ @ @ @ @ in China .
There are definitely caveats to the data : High smoking rates in @ @ @ @ @ impact on death rates .
Death rates should also be taken with a grain of @ @ @ @ @ t quite say how many people had the virus and weren ’ t tested .
@ @ @ @ @ of the earliest and largest studies that can help us understand the virus and its @ @ @ @ @ contract it .

As the coronavirus spreads in countries around the world, more and more people are looking for answers about its effects — especially on the elderly.
Below is a compilation of charts detailing who is impacted the most. It’s based on a study conducted by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention that looked at the records of 72,314 patients in China.
There are definitely caveats to the data: High smoking rates in the region may have an impact on death rates. Death rates should also be taken with a grain of salt because we can’t quite say how many people had the virus and weren’t tested. But it’s one of the earliest and largest studies that can help us understand the virus and its potential effects on those who contract it.
How severe the coronavirus cases were


buzzfeednews--2020-03-13--Some Employees Say Amazon Isn’t Doing Enough To Protect Them From The Coronavirus

Infected Amazon employees will receive up to two weeks ’ full pay , but employee groups in Chicago and New York are dissatisfied with the company ’ s response so far .
Employees of Amazon , whose workforce includes more than 650,000 people around the world , say the company ’ s response to the rapidly spreading outbreak of the novel coronavirus is insufficient .
This week , Amazon sent a notice to logistics employees offering “ up to two weeks of pay ” for those who test positive for COVID-19 or are quarantined .
The company also announced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund of at least $ 25 million to “ support employees and contractors around the world who face financial hardships from qualifying events.
” But warehouse employees said those measures stood in stark contrast to the treatment of salaried employees , who have been offered the opportunity to work from home indefinitely if they felt ill. “ They ’ re offering no preventative solutions , only payment for workers after we ’ ve been infected , which doesn ’ t help to slow the spread of the pandemic or alleviate the suffering [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , ” said Chicago Amazon warehouse worker Ted Miin , who works the night shift sorting packages for delivery to homes and businesses throughout the city .
Miin is a member of a group of employees that has been pushing Amazon to improve working conditions at its Chicago facility .
The group , called DCH1 Amazonians United , is asking Amazon for paid sick leave for all employees , including hourly workers , as well as paid parental leave so they can practice social distancing as recommended by the CDC .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Galetti , Amazon ’ s senior vice president of human resources , wrote that the $ 25 million fund was designed to provide relief to delivery contractors , nonemployees , and Flex drivers , as well as seasonal employees who might be financially impacted by “ qualifying events , ” including a “ natural disaster , federally declared emergency , or unforeseen personal hardship.
” The grants , which individuals must apply for , range from $ 400 to $ 5,000 per person .
Additionally , “ independent delivery service partners and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasonal employees ” who are diagnosed with or quarantined due to COVID-19 can apply “ up to two-weeks of pay ” from the fund .
“ The health and safety of our employees and contractors around the world continues to be our top priority as we face the challenges associated with COVID-19 , ” Galetti wrote in the post .
On Monday , the online retailer said warehouse workers who felt ill could take unlimited unpaid time off without fear of penalty for missing shifts .
Last week , the company asked corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after two unnamed staff members tested positive for the virus .
Meanwhile , John Mackey , the CEO of Whole Foods , which is owned by Amazon , wrote an email to staff on Wednesday suggesting that employees “ donate ” their paid time off to colleagues impacted by the virus , Vice reported .
Since Monday , Amazon warehouse employees have also been gathering signatures on a petition started by workers in New York demanding that the e-commerce giant provide all employees with paid sick leave .
The petition also calls for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to accommodate handwashing , increased communication about the safety measures it is taking across the company , and a promise of full pay for all employees and contractors should facilities be forced to shut down .
“ We have seen an increase in the volume of such goods , [ which is ] placing a greater strain on workers .
Yet despite larger workloads , Amazon continues to enforce and raise productivity quotas , ” the petition reads .
“ While Amazon has made some limited coronavirus accommodations , it needs a comprehensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its workers and the larger public , including giving workers paid leave and not simply extending our unpaid leave , as was announced recently.
” The number of signatures on the petition , which was authored by Amazonians United NYC , has not yet been released .
Employees have also expressed concerns about whether the virus could spread between employees in different facilities or to customers via packages handled by an infected individual .
The CDC said the virus can survive for hours — and in some cases , days — on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A virus expert told the Washington Post that while it ’ s unlikely the virus would spread that way , “ there ’ s never zero risk.
” Amazon said it ’ s conducting “ enhanced cleaning ” of its facilities but didn ’ t respond to queries about what that process entailed .

“They’re offering no preventative solutions, only payment for workers after we’ve been infected, which doesn’t help to slow the spread of the pandemic or alleviate the suffering [and] risk of death from contracting it,” said Chicago Amazon warehouse worker Ted Miin, who works the night shift sorting packages for delivery to homes and businesses throughout the city.
Miin is a member of a group of employees that has been pushing Amazon to improve working conditions at its Chicago facility. The group, called DCH1 Amazonians United, is asking Amazon for paid sick leave for all employees, including hourly workers, as well as paid parental leave so they can practice social distancing as recommended by the CDC.
In a blog post on Wednesday, Beth Galetti, Amazon’s senior vice president of human resources, wrote that the $25 million fund was designed to provide relief to delivery contractors, nonemployees, and Flex drivers, as well as seasonal employees who might be financially impacted by “qualifying events,” including a “natural disaster, federally declared emergency, or unforeseen personal hardship.”
The grants, which individuals must apply for, range from $400 to $5,000 per person. Additionally, “independent delivery service partners and their drivers, Amazon Flex participants, and seasonal employees” who are diagnosed with or quarantined due to COVID-19 can apply “up to two-weeks of pay” from the fund.
“The health and safety of our employees and contractors around the world continues to be our top priority as we face the challenges associated with COVID-19,” Galetti wrote in the post.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-13--Elon Musk Told Workers They're More Likely To Die In A Car Crash Than From Coronavirus

“ The risk of death from C19 is *vastly* less than the risk of death from driving your car home.
” Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk told SpaceX employees that they have a higher risk of being killed in a car crash than dying from the coronavirus in a company-wide email on Friday .
The email , which was sent in the early hours of Friday morning and seen by BuzzFeed News , followed the same line of thinking that Musk has publicly expressed on Twitter , where he said last week that “ the coronavirus panic is dumb.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufacturer , the SpaceX chief noted that all the evidence he had seen about COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , “ suggests that this is *not* within the top 100 health risks in the United States.
” “ As a basis for comparison , the risk of death from C19 is *vastly* less than the risk of death from driving your car home , ” Musk , who also runs electric car manufacturer Tesla , wrote to SpaceX employees .
“ There are about 36 thousand automotive deaths per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 36 so far this year for C19.
” Spokespeople for SpaceX and Tesla did not immediately return requests for comment .
Since tweeting his feelings about the coronavirus , Musk has been roundly criticized by those who feel he is not taking the current public health crisis seriously enough .
Employees at SpaceX continue to work at the company ’ s Hawthorne , California headquarters , while Tesla ’ s offices and factories have remained open for automobile production .
Meanwhile , the coronavirus has spread to more than 100 nations with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
Earlier this week , the World Health Organization declared the worldwide outbreak a pandemic .
Health experts who spoke to BuzzFeed News condemned what they saw as Musk ’ s “ false analogy.
” “ It doesn ’ t make logical sense comparing those types of things , ” said Amesh Adalja , a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security .
“ This virus is not a containable virus , and while most people do well with it , there is a proportion that don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from this , and we should be focused on trying to limit people ’ s exposure.
” Brandon Brown , an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of California , Riverside , called Musk ’ s logic “ crazy ” at a time when government organizations have encouraged social distancing to limit societal risk .
He poked fun at Tesla ’ s Cybertruck , whose botched November unveiling led one of its designers to smash two of the car ’ s windows .
“ Once we saw what happened with the windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be worried about those crashes , ” he said .
In the Friday morning email , which began by noting that employees should stay home if they ’ re feeling ill , Musk seemed to address employees ’ concerns about the coronavirus outbreak , which President Donald Trump declared a national emergency on Friday .
“ Isn ’ t C19 growing so fast that it will soon become a top 100 health risk for people who are otherwise healthy and young to middle-aged ?
” Musk wrote , posing a potential question .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclusion .
Among other things , the media is using the ‘ presumed ’ positive number of C19 cases , not the *confirmed* number.
” In the US , more than 1,700 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed , with at least one in nearly every state .
There have been at least 41 deaths , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ The 36 deaths were almost all in high risk groups , particularly older people who already had prior lung damage , diabetes or heart disease , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count for deaths from the virus .
“ This was exacerbated in some cases by being stuck on a cruise ship with limited access to medical facilities.
” Musk ’ s argument in his email follows a line of thinking that he ’ s used on his Twitter account .
There , in conversation with another user last week , he wrote that the fatality rate for the virus was “ greatly overstated ” because of the lack of testing resources to check those “ with minor symptoms.
” “ Virality of C19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with contraction date & over-extrapolating exponential growth , which is never what happens in reality , ” Musk tweeted last Saturday .
“ Keep extrapolating & virus will exceed mass of known universe.
” While there is still a lot of uncertainty about transmission rates and the impact of new mitigation efforts , epidemiologists and disease modelers fear a potentially vast toll .
With total US case numbers growing at a rough average rate of 30 % a day since the last week of February , the country could have more than 8,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in two weeks , and nearly 150,000 cases by month ’ s end .
Musk , however , has continued to criticize public reaction to the coronavirus .
On Monday , as rumors swirled that organizers of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival would be suspending the event because of the outbreak , the Tesla and SpaceX chief wrote , “ Coachella should postpone itself until it stops sucking.
” In his email on Monday , Musk said that he cares “ very much ” about his employees ’ well-being and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day.
” He encouraged his employees to check the CDC website , and to not only view the “ presumed positive ” number but also a chart showing “ actual positive cases ” of COVID-19 .
“ As said above , if you ’ re feeling ill , especially with something contagious , it ’ s always better to stay home and take care of yourself , ” he wrote .
Brown pushed back against Musk , calling the coronavirus the number one public health threat to the nation .
“ To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus is just kind of disrespectful to employees , ” he said .

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk told SpaceX employees that they have a higher risk of being killed in a car crash than dying from the coronavirus in a company-wide email on Friday.
The email, which was sent in the early hours of Friday morning and seen by BuzzFeed News, followed the same line of thinking that Musk has publicly expressed on Twitter, where he said last week that “the coronavirus panic is dumb.” In the note to employees of the rocket manufacturer, the SpaceX chief noted that all the evidence he had seen about COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, “suggests that this is *not* within the top 100 health risks in the United States.”
“As a basis for comparison, the risk of death from C19 is *vastly* less than the risk of death from driving your car home,” Musk, who also runs electric car manufacturer Tesla, wrote to SpaceX employees. “There are about 36 thousand automotive deaths per deaths [sic], as compared to 36 so far this year for C19.”
Spokespeople for SpaceX and Tesla did not immediately return requests for comment.
Since tweeting his feelings about the coronavirus, Musk has been roundly criticized by those who feel he is not taking the current public health crisis seriously enough. Employees at SpaceX continue to work at the company’s Hawthorne, California headquarters, while Tesla’s offices and factories have remained open for automobile production. Meanwhile, the coronavirus has spread to more than 100 nations with more than 137,000 cases worldwide as of Friday. Earlier this week, the World Health Organization declared the worldwide outbreak a pandemic.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-14--A Senator From The State Hit Hardest By Coronavirus Is “So Angry And Frustrated” With Trump For Not

A Senator From The State Hit Hardest By Coronavirus Is “So Angry And Frustrated” With Trump For Not Responding Sooner

“ Look , from day one , when we started seeing this grow and develop in China and continue to grow rapidly and expansively , all of us should have been aware that issues like a virus don ’ t stay in one place .
That we are a global community , people travel .
...
Instead , the reaction from the federal government or from the person in the White House , in particular , was ‘ no worries , be happy , ’ ” Murray told BuzzFeed News in a phone interview on Friday .
“ And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Murray , the lead Democrat on the Senate ’ s Health Committee , first called on Trump ’ s administration to intervene as early as January and told BuzzFeed News Friday that the administration was largely unresponsive leading up to the death of a Washington resident , the first person to die in the US , two weeks ago .
WASHINGTON — When Washington state emerged as the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak , Sen. Patty Murray was already pushing President Donald Trump and the administration to act .
Now that her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached 37 with more than 1,900 confirmed cases nationwide , Murray is furious that the president didn ’ t act sooner .
There ’ s a lot we still don ’ t know about the coronavirus outbreak .
Our newsletter , Outbreak Today , will do its best to put everything we do know in one place — you can sign up here .
Do you have questions you want answered ?
You can always get in touch .
And if you 're someone who is seeing the impact of this firsthand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from you ( you can reach out to us via one of our tip line channels ) .
On Feb. 15 , Murray and 25 other senators sent a letter to Trump pushing him to request emergency funding to combat the novel coronavirus .
By Feb. 24 , Trump asked Congress for $ 2.5 billion , a figure Democrats said wasn ’ t enough .
Four days later , Trump called coronavirus Democrats ’ “ new hoax.
” A few days later , he told people at a town hall in Scranton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit with the virus really three weeks ago ” — this after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had declared the first confirmed coronavirus case in the country more than six weeks earlier .
“ It seems to me , from day one , the message from the top [ of ] this administration has been to downplay it , ” Murray said .
“ I don ’ t believe in panicking people , but I believe that our response as a country has to be ... a sense of urgency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Trump ’ s administration were equally unresponsive .
Earlier this month , Murray and nine other senators sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos asking how her department is coordinating with public health officials as it relates to coronavirus preparedness .
“ My own granddaughter ’ s school at that point had been closed for a week , ” Murray told BuzzFeed News .
“ I saw specifically what they were dealing with in terms of making sure that kids get access to material , that nutritious lunches were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , every day , was in the school — kids who were sick themselves.
” The letter went unanswered as schools across the nation have begun to close in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee , a former presidential candidate whom Trump called “ a snake ” during a news conference , announced statewide school closures on Friday and he has banned public gatherings of more than 250 people .
Globally , more than 140,000 have contracted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of Friday evening , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
There have been 43 deaths in the US with 37 of them coming from Washington state .
Twenty-five of those deaths were linked to the Life Care Center , a nursing home in Kirkland , Washington .
Murray is one of several lawmakers who has expressed concerns about access to coronavirus testing , particularly after a briefing from administration officials on Capitol Hill left members furious with the lack of information on the issue .
Murray said that after she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held a hearing asking when testing would be available , health officials told senators during the closed-door briefing : “ ‘ No , we can ’ t tell you when.
” “ I am still talking to families every day who are being told ‘ we don ’ t have the test , ’ ” Murray said .
“ The message , consistently to everybody is , if you are sick , stay home .
”

On Feb. 15, Murray and 25 other senators sent a letter to Trump pushing him to request emergency funding to combat the novel coronavirus. By Feb. 24, Trump asked Congress for $2.5 billion, a figure Democrats said wasn’t enough. Four days later, Trump called coronavirus Democrats’ “new hoax.” A few days later, he told people at a town hall in Scranton, Pennsylvania, that the US “got hit with the virus really three weeks ago” — this after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had declared the first confirmed coronavirus case in the country more than six weeks earlier.
“It seems to me, from day one, the message from the top [of] this administration has been to downplay it,” Murray said. “I don’t believe in panicking people, but I believe that our response as a country has to be ... a sense of urgency,” she added.
Murray said other members of Trump’s administration were equally unresponsive. Earlier this month, Murray and nine other senators sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos asking how her department is coordinating with public health officials as it relates to coronavirus preparedness.
“My own granddaughter’s school at that point had been closed for a week,” Murray told BuzzFeed News. “I saw specifically what they were dealing with in terms of making sure that kids get access to material, that nutritious lunches were being provided for kids whose only meal, every day, was in the school — kids who were sick themselves.”
The letter went unanswered as schools across the nation have begun to close in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a former presidential candidate whom Trump called “a snake” during a news conference, announced statewide school closures on Friday and he has banned public gatherings of more than 250 people.
Globally, more than 140,000 have contracted the disease with 1,998 in the US, as of Friday evening, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. There have been 43 deaths in the US with 37 of them coming from Washington state. Twenty-five of those deaths were linked to the Life Care Center, a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington.
Murray is one of several lawmakers who has expressed concerns about access to coronavirus testing, particularly after a briefing from administration officials on Capitol Hill left members furious with the lack of information on the issue.
Murray said that after she made numerous calls to administration officials and held a hearing asking when testing would be available, health officials told senators during the closed-door briefing: “‘No, we can’t tell you when.”
“I am still talking to families every day who are being told ‘we don’t have the test,’” Murray said. “The message, consistently to everybody is, if you are sick, stay home.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-13--"Ring Fit Adventure," A Fitness Video Game, Is Selling Out Worldwide Because Of The Coronavirus

Ring Fit Adventure , a Nintendo exercise game , is selling out of stores worldwide as people look for ways to stay active indoors amid the coronavirus pandemic .
In February , Nintendo CEO Shuntaro Furukawa told reporters that the production of the Switch console , as well as that of the specialized accessories needed to play the fitness game — and the shipping of the games to Japan — would be delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak in China .
Now , as Americans are being urged to `` socially isolate '' themselves to mitigate the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the game in the United States .
In a statement to BuzzFeed News , Nintendo confirmed the game is sold out at most retail locations `` in the Americas '' and that they `` are working to provide more units as soon as possible . ''
The game is unavailable for online purchase from major US retailers Best Buy , GameStop , Target , and Walmart .
It 's sold out at most brick-and-mortar stores within a 250-mile radius of major metropolitan areas .
The average cost of Ring Fit Adventure from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 200 more than the game 's list price of $ 79.99 .
As supplies dwindle , this sort of scalping is happening across the globe .
Resale prices have nearly doubled in Japan , China , and Hong Kong .

Ring Fit Adventure, a Nintendo exercise game, is selling out of stores worldwide as people look for ways to stay active indoors amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In February, Nintendo CEO Shuntaro Furukawa told reporters that the production of the Switch console, as well as that of the specialized accessories needed to play the fitness game — and the shipping of the games to Japan — would be delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak in China.
Now, as Americans are being urged to "socially isolate" themselves to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, there's a shortage of the game in the United States.
In a statement to BuzzFeed News, Nintendo confirmed the game is sold out at most retail locations "in the Americas" and that they "are working to provide more units as soon as possible."
The game is unavailable for online purchase from major US retailers Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart. It's sold out at most brick-and-mortar stores within a 250-mile radius of major metropolitan areas. The average cost of Ring Fit Adventure from a third-party seller on Amazon is $120–$200 more than the game's list price of $79.99.
As supplies dwindle, this sort of scalping is happening across the globe. Resale prices have nearly doubled in Japan, China, and Hong Kong.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-14--Apple Just Closed All Its Stores Outside Of Its "Greater China" Region

Apple said it is closing all its retail stores outside of `` Greater China , '' which includes Taiwan and Hong Kong , for two weeks to stop the global spread of the coronavirus , CEO Tim Cook announced late Friday night .
In a statement on Apple 's website , Cook wrote that in order to minimize the risk of the coronavirus transmission , his company would close stores everywhere `` outside of Greater China '' until March 27 to maximize social distancing .
Apple previously closed stores in that region at the beginning of February .
Those stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company .
“ There is no mistaking the challenge of this moment , ” Cook wrote .
“ The entire Apple family is indebted to the heroic first responders , doctors , nurses , researchers , public health experts and public servants globally who have given every ounce of their spirit to help the world meet this moment .
We do not yet know with certainty when the greatest risk will be behind us.
” This week , Apple had begun to close stores in other countries including Italy and Spain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
Cook noted that his decision on Friday night was made to protect its retail employees and customers .
Earlier Friday , TechCrunch reported that an Apple Store employee in Santa Monica , California had tested positive for COVID-19 .
That employee had reportedly been on leave since March 2 .
In his letter , Cook also indicated that hourly workers would continue to be paid at their regular rate , and indicated the company had updated its health policies for the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously told employees who could work from home that they should do so .
`` All of our hourly workers will continue to receive pay in alignment with business as usual operations .
We have expanded our leave policies to accommodate personal or family health circumstances created by COVID-19 — including recovering from an illness , caring for a sick loved one , mandatory quarantining , or childcare challenges due to school closures , '' Cook wrote .
Earlier this week , Apple announced that it was taking WWDC , its annual developers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and gave $ 1 million to organizations in San Jose , where the conference is held , to offset local revenue losses .
Cook also said in his Friday note that the company had committed donations of $ 15 million to the global COVID-19 response .
The company said its online store will remain open , while customers can receive service and support through its website .

Apple said it is closing all its retail stores outside of "Greater China," which includes Taiwan and Hong Kong, for two weeks to stop the global spread of the coronavirus, CEO Tim Cook announced late Friday night.
In a statement on Apple's website, Cook wrote that in order to minimize the risk of the coronavirus transmission, his company would close stores everywhere "outside of Greater China" until March 27 to maximize social distancing. Apple previously closed stores in that region at the beginning of February. Those stores have now all reopened, according to the company.
“There is no mistaking the challenge of this moment,” Cook wrote. “The entire Apple family is indebted to the heroic first responders, doctors, nurses, researchers, public health experts and public servants globally who have given every ounce of their spirit to help the world meet this moment. We do not yet know with certainty when the greatest risk will be behind us.”
This week, Apple had begun to close stores in other countries including Italy and Spain, two of the European nations hardest hit by COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Cook noted that his decision on Friday night was made to protect its retail employees and customers.
Earlier Friday, TechCrunch reported that an Apple Store employee in Santa Monica, California had tested positive for COVID-19. That employee had reportedly been on leave since March 2.
In his letter, Cook also indicated that hourly workers would continue to be paid at their regular rate, and indicated the company had updated its health policies for the outbreak. The move comes after the company previously told employees who could work from home that they should do so.
"All of our hourly workers will continue to receive pay in alignment with business as usual operations. We have expanded our leave policies to accommodate personal or family health circumstances created by COVID-19 — including recovering from an illness, caring for a sick loved one, mandatory quarantining, or childcare challenges due to school closures," Cook wrote.
Earlier this week, Apple announced that it was taking WWDC, its annual developers conference, online-only due to coronavirus concerns, and gave $1 million to organizations in San Jose, where the conference is held, to offset local revenue losses. Cook also said in his Friday note that the company had committed donations of $15 million to the global COVID-19 response.
The company said its online store will remain open, while customers can receive service and support through its website.