buzzfeednews--2020-03-20--Here’s What Parents Dealing With Coronavirus Isolation Want You To Know

“ Hank , do you want to come look at my poop ?
” That ’ s what my friend ’ s 2-year-old yelled at his 6-year-old brother the other morning — loudly enough that it could definitely be picked up on the conference call his father was taking in the next room over .
My friend texted me that story over our big group chat , which is how so many of us are communicating these days : just keeping the threads going , whether with family members , neighbors , or coworkers , to try to weave some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another friend told me that while she was tucking in her 4-year-old son , he said , “ I hope I don ’ t get the coronavirus.
” Another struggled to explain to her daughter why she wasn ’ t going to school and couldn ’ t see her friends , not even to play tag .
Parenting has always been hard .
But parenting in the time of the coronavirus , and the self-isolation it necessitates , has made everything that was once simple feel difficult , and everything that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the growing realization that this isn ’ t something we ’ re going to be dealing with for a couple of weeks , but likely months — alongside the looming specter of a massive financial downturn , with potentially millions of people out of work and without regular income — and many parents are edging toward despair .
“ We are not making do , and it ’ s not working , ” one mother told me .
“ It ’ s brutal.
” Over the last week , I ’ ve talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges they ’ re facing now — some are unique , others feel near-universal .
Some parents feel alone , even though they know millions of others are in the same position ; some feel like people without kids just aren ’ t getting it .
“ I feel alienated from my friends without kids in a way that I really never have , ” Kelsey , who ’ s from Texas , told me .
“ They ’ re all talking about how to deal with boredom and anxiety , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15-hour days so I can split childcare shifts with my husband .
They ’ re sad about not going to the gym , and I ’ m trying to cram on child development so my kid doesn ’ t fall behind .
The level of disruption just feels so different.
” I don ’ t have kids , and — at least until we ’ ve all practiced self-isolation for 10–14 days — I can ’ t go over and help my friends who do .
Instead , I ’ ve collected testimonies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what ’ s helping , and what ’ s not , and attempted to add perspectives and advice from experts .
I hope this will be useful to parents and nonparents alike , because we ’ re all facing our own serious challenges .
What feels increasingly clear is that the only way to get through all of this is to try to be as graceful and generous with each other , in every meaning of those words , as we can .
“ It ’ s not about doing everything a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary care physician and public health researcher Asaf Bitton explained when talking about the concept of social distancing .
“ It ’ s about doing as much as you possibly can and contributing your own personal discomfort or inconvenience to protect yourself and to protect others .
[ ... ] All the infectious-disease modelling would suggest that something is better than nothing , and a lot of somethings are better than fewer nothings.
” In a situation like this , doing “ a lot of somethings ” for parents starts with knowing what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come together to figure out creative , unprecedented , and maybe even weird ways to help .
1 ) It ’ s really , really , really hard to work from home and parent at the same time .
“ It ’ s not physically possible for two working parents to both work from home full time during regular workday working hours and care for a baby , ” one mom named Melanie told me .
That ’ s essentially asking parents to do two full-time jobs at the same time — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ childcare alone is more than enough to keep full-time caregivers and stay-at-home moms working hard all day .
This situation is hard for parents of elementary-age children , who , depending on their district , are trying to sprinkle a mix of homeschooling and school-supplied activities throughout the day .
It ’ s also hard on parents of toddlers because their kids can only self-entertain , even with a screen or movie , for about 10 to 15 minutes at a time .
“ Things have not been easy , and I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said one mom from California .
“ We decided not to send our 3-year-old to preschool this week , even though it ’ s open .
My partner ’ s job is already remote , which means there ’ s not an expectation for him to be in the office , but it also means that they ’ re expecting business as usual .
I am working from home , but barely able to get even a few hours of real work done every day , and it ’ s a bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve come to the decision that morning will be learning/doing time , and the afternoon will be a movie , pretty much every day .
Not ideal , but it ’ s what we need to do to get by.
” So many parents told me that one thing they ’ re doing — and , increasingly , not even feeling the tiniest bit guilty about — is letting go of screentime rules .
That might change , but for now it ’ s the only thing that makes working from home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Get kids to do yoga in the morning .
Get on a schedule if it feels helpful ( it doesn ’ t matter if it ’ s color-coded or not ) , or , alternatively , refuse to feel bad about not being on a schedule .
Set up tons of FaceTime and Zoom dates with your friends , your kids ’ friends , and grandparents .
People without kids can help too ; I ’ m supporting my local bookstore by sending books to my friends ’ kids ; you can always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play or piano performance , or offer to teach a friend ’ s kid a new song , or how to draw a horse , or just make silly faces at each other and tell fart jokes for 10 minutes .
“ I ’ m reaching out to everyone I know for a half-hour video call about something interesting to keep my kids occupied , ” Melissa , who has three kids under the age of 8 , told me .
“ One friend is doing an Irish fiddle tune concert today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her rock collection.
” All of that ’ s helpful , but it ’ s still pretty surface-level .
One of the key things for parents and nonparents to realize is that most of the parents in your life are probably only able to get a fraction of their work done , and many are cramming it in during their kids ’ naps and after they ’ ve gone to bed .
“ Today , my husband and I have gone in shifts , ” the mom of a toddler and a 6-month-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and triage in the morning , then I took the kids out for a long walk while my husband worked , then we both worked during afternoon nap , and we ’ ll probably work after bedtime .
It ’ s exhausting and impossible , but we are far from being in the worst situation .
The hardest part is just the expectations of colleagues.
” Being “ understanding ” doesn ’ t just mean letting these parents work when they can .
It also means figuring out how not to hold their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is creating a huge divide between workers who don ’ t have children and those that do , ” Tiffany , who lives in Massachusetts , explained .
“ Will my childless coworkers be rewarded for working harder than me because I have to take care of my children ?
” If you ’ re a manager — with or without kids — the one really significant thing you can do right now for the people you manage is tell them that the answer is no .
And , as one parent suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcing at the beginning of your conference call that it ’ s OK if a few little voices chime in from time to time .
2 ) It ’ s really difficult to talk to kids about what ’ s happening — or what will happen — when you ’ re so uncertain yourself .
How do you manage your kids ’ anxiety when you ’ re struggling to manage your own ?
How do you talk about time frames — and about when a child will be going back to school or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — when it ’ s so unclear what the actual time frame will be ?
“ Honesty is the best policy , ” said Kelsey Torgerson Dunn , a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in child and adolescent anxiety .
“ Children can really benefit from a parent being upfront about not knowing what ’ s going to happen next .
Rather than giving an answer and then saying you ’ re wrong , tell them , ‘ Some scientists thought it would be a few weeks , and now they think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We don ’ t really know yet.
’ Then ask , ‘ How do you feel about that ?
Do you have questions about it ?
I might not know all the answers , but we can definitely see what information is out there together.
’ ” As a parent , you can adapt that approach for different age groups — including your own .
Just flat-out ask your partner , your friend , or your own parent , “ How do you feel about that ?
” Some parents told me they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s development and how they might be impacted in the long run by isolation and stress .
On this point , Dunn , like so many others I ’ ve spoken to , is clear : “ We don ’ t know what this is going to look like in terms of child development , ” she said .
“ But we do know that you , as parents , are doing your best .
We also know that children are really resilient .
This stress will prepare them to handle stressors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up their skills to deal with disappointment , and worry , and big changes.
” 3 ) It ’ s really hard to know the right thing to do about childcare and playdates .
The one thing that would make working from home more feasible is regular childcare .
Have you been wondering if your nanny or babysitter can keep coming ?
Is it fair to expose a babysitter who ’ s otherwise isolating themselves if someone in your family isn ’ t isolating ?
What about grandparents who often provide extra care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than younger people are ?
Some of the answers are straightforward .
If there ’ s any way to avoid bringing someone else into your home — especially someone from a vulnerable population — do it .
As Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee said last week in his advisory against any sort of large family gathering , “ You might be killing your granddad.
” Playdates should be avoided if at all possible — even , according to Harvard epidemiologist Katy Stephenson , at playgrounds .
I heard from one nanny who , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved in with the family she cares for .
She ’ ll still get paid , and they ’ ll still get care .
Is it ideal ?
Of course not .
But nothing is right now .
If your family has begun to really and truly self-isolate — meaning receiving food and other items exclusively through delivery , and no going out at all — and the kids ’ grandparents have as well , and no one has developed symptoms , some experts are suggesting that it may then be safe to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , form a new isolation pod . )
The same basic principle holds true for a playdate with another family — but , again , only if everyone involved has been in full isolation .
A friend of mine , for example , has chosen two families whom they ’ ll interact with after two weeks of social distancing — but won ’ t go beyond that , at least for the time being .
To be abundantly clear : Like ordering takeout , this strategy isn ’ t fail proof .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new normal for a while , we have to figure out how to live everyday life with it .
If you ’ re a nonparent looking for ways to help people with kids before it ’ s safe to spend time together in person , offer to take small things off their hands ( like completing online tasks or canceling appointments ) .
Have alcohol or children ’ s toys or books delivered to their home ( preferably from a local vendor instead of Amazon ) .
Offer to take their dog for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yard , do some outdoor work .
One parent told me she ’ d love help coming up with age-appropriate activities that repurpose items around the house , so she herself wouldn ’ t have to buy or make anything .
Another asked for people to send videos of themselves ( or actual mail ! )
to their kid : “ Any way to buy me a minute where he ’ s not talking to me , ” she said .
“ Because he ’ s always talking to me.
” 4 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working from home or full isolation — and childcare plans will have to change in the future .
Kat , who ’ s in New Mexico , is helping her friend who works in an ER with her kids .
There ’ s no good way to avoid toddlers sharing germs .
Plus , her husband is in food service and still going out in the world every day to work .
Another mom in central Washington is wondering if she needs to send her kids to her parents ’ house for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home with her kids , blast through her 4.5 days of paid time off , and then not get paid for the next two months ( and potentially lose her job ) .
And then there ’ s the looming question of future care : “ I ’ m very lucky to have a partner in all of this , ” one mom told me .
“ But what the hell do we do if we both get sick , need to be hospitalized , or quarantined outside the home ?
Who takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the grandparents , but they ’ d be at much greater risk if we had it.
” In an ideal world , no one would have to leave their home until the risk of spreading or contracting the coronavirus has passed .
But we ’ re not living in an ideal world .
Compromises are necessary , and they will continue to be necessary in the future .
If you can stay at home , you ’ re helping limit exposure and spread for those who can not .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help with care for those in need today , as well as plans to help those who will potentially be in need next week or next month , even with the possibility of exposure .
Who can babysit if I have to get to the hospital ?
How can I get my kids to my parents ’ house as a last-ditch option ?
Families can work to protect themselves to a certain point , but if there aren ’ t still people at work providing vital services — from picking up trash to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as a whole , will begin to break down .
Parents can decrease their overall anxiety by making plans ( and backup plans ) for care now — and those without children ( who aren ’ t sick ) can help lessen parents ’ burden by offering themselves as potential caregivers when the time arrives .
5 ) It ’ s a very weird time to be pregnant or a new parent .
If you have kids , try to remember those anticipatory weeks before birth — and the hazy weeks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life with a newborn without in-person support from your friends and family , maybe even without being able to see your doctor or your therapist .
In Chicago , Rose gave birth a week before the city started shutting down .
“ We had to cancel all the scheduled help from friends and family , ” she told me .
“ We ’ re surviving , but I ’ m having trouble with the baby blues and the fact that the world feels like it ’ s falling apart.
” Hannah and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents of their first child , and are mostly feeling confused .
“ Happy at the prospect of an upcoming birth , ” she said , “ but also terrified of the world the baby is entering.
” When Hannah emailed me , she was hours away from going to the hospital to be induced .
“ My doctors are not panicking , ” she said .
“ They keep saying that there ’ s not too much info on COVID-19 as it pertains to pregnant women , and I get it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that if I get sick , they ’ ll ask me to use a breast pump and have my husband feed the baby my breast milk using a bottle .
The health care has been wonderful , but do you know how scary it is for a doctor to say TO YOUR FACE that they ‘ don ’ t know ’ the answer to a question about giving birth to your baby during a pandemic ?
” Other expectant parents are worried that if — or more likely , when — hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have to give birth at home .
Most hospitals are only allowing one family member to attend births , and additional assistants — like doulas — are being asked to Skype in .
Like so many things related to COVID-19 , a lot of the psychological toll is connected to very quickly changing plans that have been developed or anticipated over months , even years .
We can and should be particularly mindful of how isolation and anxiety are affecting new families : Check in a lot .
Send the takeout food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyway .
Ask them to really be honest about what they need and see if you can provide it in some way .
And listen when they talk about just how weird , and hard , all of this is right now .
And if you ’ re pregnant or have a newborn , the same advice from before the spread of the coronavirus still holds : go easy on yourself , don ’ t be afraid to ask for help , and remember that this too will someday pass .
6 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parenting kids with special needs .
“ For our autistic daughter , school is so much more than childcare or academics , ” Kate , whose family lives in Louisiana , told me .
“ She is without services — behavioralist , OT , speech language pathologist , counselor — on top of her supportive teachers .
Given the strain on the health care system , and preexisting waitlists , we can ’ t suddenly switch her to new providers out of this system.
” Kate wants to be clear that the impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be more severe than on her daughter : “ She ’ ll be okay , ” Kate said .
“ But the impact on her and us is pretty significant right now.
” Cheryl , who lives in California , has been working from home full time and around the clock as a caregiver to a child with a severe disability .
“ Social distancing doesn ’ t mean ‘ we get to finally clean our houses , ’ ” she said .
“ It means we have even less support and much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a foster parent and can ’ t reveal her name or location , laid out all the challenges facing her infant foster daughter , who has cerebral palsy .
Because family visitation is canceled , she can ’ t see her birth parents or older siblings .
They ’ ve done video chats , but because babies build attachments from their caregivers meeting physical needs , it ’ s truly not the same .
All therapies for her cerebral palsy , including the fitting of orthotics or braces for feet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term damage to her feet , ankles , and hips .
The foster child ’ s birth parent has a history of substance abuse and has chronic health problems as a result .
They ’ ve been sober for several months , and are doing well , but a big part of their recovery is contingent on in-person support groups .
“ Sobriety is a major factor in a parent ’ s ability to be reunified with their children , ” the foster mother explained .
“ A relapse now could mean this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forever .
It could change the course of everyone ’ s lives.
” If you ’ re not a parent facing these particular challenges , what can you do to help ?
One father said his 8-year-old son is really struggling to understand what ’ s happening , why he ’ s not in school , and an illustrated storyboard would be so helpful to explain the situation .
Another mom suggested offering up access to your stash of food supplies , as some kids need specific brands — because of allergies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — that are all sold out .
But the best way you can help is probably by asking the parent what they really need , including money , or just the opportunity to talk .
“ My son is 13 and has very severe disabilities .
The prospect of him being out of his specialized school ( that he loves dearly ) for months is terrifying to me , ” Lori , who lives in Cleveland , told me .
“ Just checking in and acknowledging that it ’ s hard helps me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because tweens and teens are older doesn ’ t mean they ’ re easier to parent right now .
In New York City , one mom said she ’ s sequestered in her small apartment with a teen boy and wondering how much news to keep on in the background , how to deal with his constant hunger , and whether to let him play video games…pretty much all day ?
In Washington , one dad is struggling with “ getting through to their short-term-focused , undeveloped , prefrontal cortex with convincing arguments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out with friends.
” One of his kids is extroverted and in agony ; another is introverted and seems fine but is at risk for withdrawing too much from the world .
In San Francisco , where residents have been advised to “ shelter in place , ” an 11-year-old had to figure out which of his divorced parents he wanted to stay with for the next month or more .
He feels incredibly guilty that he ’ s with his mom — and scared that his dad might die .
Other teens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their proms , their graduations — things that might seem small to adults , in the grand scheme of things , but feel like sprawling disappointments to them .
Dunn told me that parents should anticipate a real grieving period : “ The first step is to really identify and empathize with what ’ s going on , ” she said .
“ Give your teen time to process with you about their frustration , sadness , and loss .
Allow them the opportunity to correct you — perhaps you see that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel more stressed than anything else.
” The next step , Dunn said , is to figure out what — besides Netflix or TikTok — actually makes them feel better : It might be spending time with you ( who knows ! )
, using a meditation app , walking the dog , writing it all out .
Then you can start to figure out a game plan : Is there a way you can honor their graduation after the fact , and celebrate it together ?
Can you come up with more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with social distancing ?
If you don ’ t have a teen at home but you know someone who ’ s parenting one , you can help by not minimizing the care they ’ re doing — no , they ’ re not chasing a toddler , but they are managing real existential angst .
If you ’ re an adult with any sort of connection with a teen , offer to Skype or FaceTime and talk about just about anything , coronavirus-related or not .
I told some teens that I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feedback ; you might have another skill you could share .
If you have younger kids , see if teens in your life might be interested in spending an hour a day with them on video chat , helping with homework or teaching them something .
Teens are so great , often filled with new ideas — and , in a lot of cases , just as eager to help as adults .
We can all acknowledge what they ’ re going through while also honoring what they ’ re capable of .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be really dangerous for some parents and children in ways that have nothing to do with contracting COVID-19 .
On Twitter , there are already hundreds of joking posts from people who are suddenly forced to spend a lot of time with their partner or roommate in an enclosed space .
But being contained with an abusive partner or parent is incredibly dangerous .
Some parents whose childcare has fallen through will place their children with unvetted or unsafe caregivers because there have no better options .
One social worker , who specializes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and elder abuse , told me that her entire field is anticipating massive increases in domestic violence and child and elder abuse due to quarantine restrictions and economic pressures .
“ The length of the recommended quarantine in many areas is more than enough time for grooming [ for sexual abuse ] to occur , ” the social worker said , “ especially if the groundwork has been laid previously.
” She works in a rural area , and her agency plans to remain open , but for many , they ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you call a crisis line when you ’ re home with your perp ?
How do you drive 20 miles to town when you ’ re rationing gas because you ’ re out of work ?
How do the one-third of people in our region without internet access request advocacy ?
” This social worker is already seeing burnout manifesting in her coworkers , who are so scared that increases in violence are coming , and there ’ s so little they can do about it .
“ Our students are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next month , ” she said .
“ And we know we ’ ll all be getting a ton of disclosures as soon as we ’ re able to restart programming.
” If you know a parent in a situation that has become abusive in the past , you know to check in on them and their kids and try to create opportunities for them to speak to you in private .
You might also consider , if at all possible , opening your home to them .
You can also donate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s shelters in your area .
You can support the social workers in your life in whatever way possible .
A social worker from Pennsylvania asked me to reconfigure the question of how to help entirely : “ I ’ m not overly interested in what people think they can do today , right now , from the comfort of their homes , ” she said .
“ To me , that ’ s well-intentioned but shortsighted .
People don ’ t have a lot to offer my clients right now .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not micro .
I want them to think about the structural inequalities that put my clients at greater risk — economics , education , mental health services , drug and alcohol services — and I want them to care about those when this is over .
If you really want to help vulnerable children , spend your time thinking about how you can organize and outreach and demand that from them right now and when this is over.
” This is a terrible time for everyone .
The only way to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try not to think of it as a competition of who has it worse and try to think of how you , as an individual , can help those who are struggling — with or without kids , with or without jobs , with or without safety nets .
And then , after you do what you can as an individual , you can start thinking about how much less stress there might be and how much more prepared we might be to weather a similar crisis in the future if we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force each of us to figure out solutions on our own .
And then , when this is over — we can act , and vote , accordingly .
●

More suggestions: Get kids to do yoga in the morning. Get on a schedule if it feels helpful (it doesn’t matter if it’s color-coded or not), or, alternatively, refuse to feel bad about not being on a schedule. Set up tons of FaceTime and Zoom dates with your friends, your kids’ friends, and grandparents. People without kids can help too; I’m supporting my local bookstore by sending books to my friends’ kids; you can always offer to be an audience for a play or piano performance, or offer to teach a friend’s kid a new song, or how to draw a horse, or just make silly faces at each other and tell fart jokes for 10 minutes.
“I’m reaching out to everyone I know for a half-hour video call about something interesting to keep my kids occupied,” Melissa, who has three kids under the age of 8, told me. “One friend is doing an Irish fiddle tune concert today, and tomorrow another is going to show her rock collection.”
All of that’s helpful, but it’s still pretty surface-level. One of the key things for parents and nonparents to realize is that most of the parents in your life are probably only able to get a fraction of their work done, and many are cramming it in during their kids’ naps and after they’ve gone to bed. “Today, my husband and I have gone in shifts,” the mom of a toddler and a 6-month-old explained. “We both did email and triage in the morning, then I took the kids out for a long walk while my husband worked, then we both worked during afternoon nap, and we’ll probably work after bedtime. It’s exhausting and impossible, but we are far from being in the worst situation. The hardest part is just the expectations of colleagues.”
Being “understanding” doesn’t just mean letting these parents work when they can. It also means figuring out how not to hold their diminished productivity against them. “This is creating a huge divide between workers who don’t have children and those that do,” Tiffany, who lives in Massachusetts, explained. “Will my childless coworkers be rewarded for working harder than me because I have to take care of my children?”
If you’re a manager — with or without kids — the one really significant thing you can do right now for the people you manage is tell them that the answer is no. And, as one parent suggested, there’s no harm in announcing at the beginning of your conference call that it’s OK if a few little voices chime in from time to time.
2) It’s really difficult to talk to kids about what’s happening — or what will happen — when you’re so uncertain yourself.
How do you manage your kids’ anxiety when you’re struggling to manage your own? How do you talk about time frames — and about when a child will be going back to school or when they can reschedule their birthday party — when it’s so unclear what the actual time frame will be?
“Honesty is the best policy,” said Kelsey Torgerson Dunn, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in child and adolescent anxiety. “Children can really benefit from a parent being upfront about not knowing what’s going to happen next. Rather than giving an answer and then saying you’re wrong, tell them, ‘Some scientists thought it would be a few weeks, and now they think it might be a few months. We don’t really know yet.’ Then ask, ‘How do you feel about that? Do you have questions about it? I might not know all the answers, but we can definitely see what information is out there together.’”
As a parent, you can adapt that approach for different age groups — including your own. Just flat-out ask your partner, your friend, or your own parent, “How do you feel about that?”
Some parents told me they’re most anxious about their child’s development and how they might be impacted in the long run by isolation and stress. On this point, Dunn, like so many others I’ve spoken to, is clear: “We don’t know what this is going to look like in terms of child development,” she said. “But we do know that you, as parents, are doing your best. We also know that children are really resilient. This stress will prepare them to handle stressors in their future. You are building up their skills to deal with disappointment, and worry, and big changes.”
3) It’s really hard to know the right thing to do about childcare and playdates.
The one thing that would make working from home more feasible is regular childcare. Have you been wondering if your nanny or babysitter can keep coming? Is it fair to expose a babysitter who’s otherwise isolating themselves if someone in your family isn’t isolating? What about grandparents who often provide extra care but are more vulnerable to the coronavirus than younger people are?
Some of the answers are straightforward. If there’s any way to avoid bringing someone else into your home — especially someone from a vulnerable population — do it. As Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said last week in his advisory against any sort of large family gathering, “You might be killing your granddad.” Playdates should be avoided if at all possible — even, according to Harvard epidemiologist Katy Stephenson, at playgrounds.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-20--Here's How People Are Trying To Help Bar And Restaurant Staff Out Of Work In The Coronavirus Era

“ This industry has always looked out for each other and a crisis doesn ’ t change that .
But the government has never looked out for us , and a crisis doesn ’ t change that . ''
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations are pouring in to hospitality nonprofits and grassroots fundraisers to help laid-off service workers across the country due to the coronavirus outbreak , but organizations say they 're overwhelmed with requests and can not come close to meeting the need .
“ We ’ re seeing thousands upon thousands of applicants , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States Bartenders Guild ( USBG ) , whose foundation offers small financial grants to bartenders in need .
`` It 's unprecedented . ''
Bryan Schroeder , executive director of Giving Kitchen , an organization that provides financial assistance to food workers in Georgia , said over 1,000 people have filled out requests for assistance in the last week .
Giving Kitchen had previously anticipated 3,000 to 4,000 requests for all of 2020 .
`` I am just running with both feet on the ground and in the air and all around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive director of Children of Restaurant Employees ( CORE ) , which pays rent and utilities to restaurant workers in times of crisis .
`` I am so busy I do n't have time to be depressed .
I 'm so busy I do n't have time to be overwhelmed . ''
There are only a few nonprofits aimed at hospitality workers , a workforce that often does not receive benefits such as health insurance or sick leave .
The few that exist are often locally based or very specifically aimed at only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USBG foundation , which only supports bartenders or servers of alcohol , launched its financial assistance program in 2015 .
It offers small financial grants — the maximum is $ 2,500 — for bartenders who find themselves in financial need , such as long-term unemployment due to a natural disaster or illness .
This week they launched a page on their site for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
When Washington announced bar closures on March 15 , applications began to “ trickle in , ” said Haasarud .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Donations have also poured in .
Whiskey brand Jameson donated $ 500,000 to the foundation on St. Patrick 's Day — traditionally a huge money-earner for bars and bartenders — and promised to match personal donations for another $ 100,000 .
Liquor brand Screwball Whiskey donated $ 100,000 , and Singani 63 , owned by filmmaker Steven Soderbergh ( ironically , the director of the 2011 film Contagion ) has donated $ 25,000 .
Other personal donations have poured in , including $ 100,000 from billionaire Mark Cuban .
“ I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to help , ” he told BuzzFeed News .
Haasarud said she expects payments for bartenders who lost their jobs from the coronavirus shutdowns — it will take several weeks for applications to be gone through — to be in the $ 150 to $ 500 range .
“ For COVID-19 , there are lots of requests for people [ saying ] , ‘ I lost work for last week , I need to get groceries , ’ ” Haasarud said .
“ What is particularly scary for me is that bartenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mouth , ” Haasarud added .
`` A lot of them do not have a huge safety net .
A lot of them do not have insurance . ''
CORE has also received an influx of donations , including being one of three organizations that split a $ 1 million donation from Patrón Tequila .
`` To date , it 's the largest donation we ’ ve ever received — by a significant amount , '' said Bennett , the group 's executive director .
But the organization is limited on who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realized early on that COVI-19 was going to be bigger than CORE , '' she said .
Any food or beverage employee who is confirmed to have COVID-19 , or who lives in the home of someone who has been diagnosed with the illness , and is therefore in isolation , can apply for a CORE grant .
Schroeder from Georgia 's Giving Kitchen also said the organization quickly realized the huge job losses across the state were way beyond their capability of helping food service workers with grants .
`` This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose organization was awarded a prestigious James Beard award last year for their work in the industry .
`` If we try and address this , we would fail so spectacularly , we would fail to continue the other stuff we ’ re supposed to do . ''
People are launching GoFundMe fundraisers for local bars or calling on customers to send money to a Venmo to be distributed among staff , but the money is nowhere near an actual living wage .
`` Love it or hate it , at this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States who can help food services workers unemployed at the level we ’ re seeing is the state and federal government , '' he added .
Three New York City hospitality workers — Anna Dunn , 39 , Kelly Sullivan , 28 , and Seamus Branch , 23 — met for lunch last Thursday and decided to put together a fundraiser called Service Workers Coalition to help their networks struggling with lost work because of the pandemic .
But they did n't expect that within just a few days , they 'd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The idea was that they would raise $ 500 to $ 2,000 .
Instead , they 've received more than $ 35,000 , approved 65 donations , and have 100 volunteers offering to help .
Dunn also said the emails they are getting from people in need of money are “ overwhelming ” — undocumented families who suddenly can not afford food and do n't have a bank account , workers who ca n't afford groceries , people unable to leave an abusive partner .
Others fearful they will lose their apartments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 weekly grocery stipend for applicants .
But suddenly running a fundraiser with thousands of people in need is daunting .
Venmo does not let them to withdraw more than $ 3,000 per day .
They 've had to set up a bank account and figure out other ways to transfer money .
They tried buying Visa gift cards to send people , but Amazon canceled the order , and CVS limits how many gift cards can be purchased at once .
`` Everything has six problems attached to it , '' Dunn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be our responsibility , ” Branch added .
“ It is a little insane that the ones trying to get people food are three restaurant kids , it is not a good look for the country.
” They want the government to step in more , immediately .
“ All three of us have to file for unemployment this week , ” Branch said , pointing out that the New York State unemployment site keeps crashing .
`` It would be nice just to be worrying about that.
” He noted that most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 20 range and often seem to be coming from people who work in the industry .
“ This industry has always looked out for each other and a crisis doesn ’ t change that , ” Branch said .
“ But the government has never looked out for us , and a crisis doesn ’ t change that . ''

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations are pouring in to hospitality nonprofits and grassroots fundraisers to help laid-off service workers across the country due to the coronavirus outbreak, but organizations say they're overwhelmed with requests and cannot come close to meeting the need.
“We’re seeing thousands upon thousands of applicants,” said Kim Haasarud, vice president of the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG), whose foundation offers small financial grants to bartenders in need. "It's unprecedented."
Bryan Schroeder, executive director of Giving Kitchen, an organization that provides financial assistance to food workers in Georgia, said over 1,000 people have filled out requests for assistance in the last week.
Giving Kitchen had previously anticipated 3,000 to 4,000 requests for all of 2020.
"I am just running with both feet on the ground and in the air and all around," said Sheila Bennett, the executive director of Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE), which pays rent and utilities to restaurant workers in times of crisis. "I am so busy I don't have time to be depressed. I'm so busy I don't have time to be overwhelmed."
There are only a few nonprofits aimed at hospitality workers, a workforce that often does not receive benefits such as health insurance or sick leave. The few that exist are often locally based or very specifically aimed at only certain workers in the industry.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-20--Trump Ordered All Immigrants Caught Entering The US Illegally To Be Turned Back To Ward Off Coronavi

Trump Ordered All Immigrants Caught Entering The US Illegally To Be Turned Back To Ward Off Coronavirus Spread

Amid growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic , the White House said Friday it will shut down the nation 's southern and northern borders to immigrants caught trying to enter the US illegally .
The new policy instructs border agents to immediately send immigrants and asylum-seekers caught trying to enter the US between official border crossings back to Mexico or Canada without detaining or processing them .
The policy will take effect Friday at midnight , acting Homeland Security Director Chad Wolf said in a press conference .
The move is a major departure from the way the US would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without authorization .
In the past , border agents would temporarily detain and process immigrants before sending them to ICE detention , back to Mexico to await a US court hearing , to another country to first seek asylum there , or to their home countries .
Now the US will refuse to process them at a US facility before sending them back .
Instead , the immigrants will be driven to the nearest port of entry and returned to Mexico or Canada without any due process .
Wolf cited recommendations from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcing the decision , adding that the US is `` working collaboratively '' with Mexico and Canada .
`` The CDC 's director has determined the introduction and spread of the coronavirus and the department 's border patrol stations and detention facilities presents a serious danger to migrants , our frontline agents and officers , and the American people , '' Wolf said Friday .
In further guidance issued Friday night , the CBP said that in the event an immigrant can not be returned to Mexico or Canada , the agency will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the immigrant 's country of origin to be held `` for the shortest time possible . ''
`` For those who remain in CBP custody , CBP will , to the extent possible , keep them separated , '' the agency added .
`` Symptomatic aliens will be referred to CDC and placed in isolation . ''
It 's not the first time the Trump administration has sent immigrants to other countries after they step foot in the US .
Since January 2019 , the Trump administration has been sending immigrants and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their US immigration cases to be adjudicated .
Some 60,000 have been sent back through the Migrant Protection Protocols , but even they were processed by US immigration authorities .
The program has been criticized by immigrant advocates for making immigrants wait in dangerous border cities that do n't have the resources to provide shelter and food to people who arrive at the border with little money .
`` It 's important to note that the department currently apprehends foreign nationals from over 120 different countries around the world , the vast majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wolf said Friday .
`` Many of these individuals arrived with little or no identity , travel , or medical documentation , making public health risk determinations all but impossible .
It 's also important to note the outbreak on our southern border would likely increase the strain on health systems in our border communities , taking away important and life-saving resources from American citizens . ''
The US has 14,321 confirmed COVID-19 cases compared to Mexico 's 164 , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
On Tuesday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to enter the US , shutting down one of the Trump administration 's key methods of deporting would-be immigrants , in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
The policy sends people from Honduras and El Salvador who tried to seek asylum in the US to Guatemala to seek protection there instead .
As of Monday , 939 people were sent to Guatemala under the so-called safe third country agreement .
In addition to concerns about sending immigrants to a country that has seen thousands of its people fleeing violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't have a robust asylum system to process the people the US sends there on flights .

Amid growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, the White House said Friday it will shut down the nation's southern and northern borders to immigrants caught trying to enter the US illegally.
The new policy instructs border agents to immediately send immigrants and asylum-seekers caught trying to enter the US between official border crossings back to Mexico or Canada without detaining or processing them. The policy will take effect Friday at midnight, acting Homeland Security Director Chad Wolf said in a press conference.
The move is a major departure from the way the US would previously treat immigrants caught entering the country without authorization. In the past, border agents would temporarily detain and process immigrants before sending them to ICE detention, back to Mexico to await a US court hearing, to another country to first seek asylum there, or to their home countries. Now the US will refuse to process them at a US facility before sending them back. Instead, the immigrants will be driven to the nearest port of entry and returned to Mexico or Canada without any due process.
Wolf cited recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in announcing the decision, adding that the US is "working collaboratively" with Mexico and Canada.
"The CDC's director has determined the introduction and spread of the coronavirus and the department's border patrol stations and detention facilities presents a serious danger to migrants, our frontline agents and officers, and the American people," Wolf said Friday.
In further guidance issued Friday night, the CBP said that in the event an immigrant cannot be returned to Mexico or Canada, the agency will work with interagency partners to secure return to the immigrant's country of origin to be held "for the shortest time possible."
"For those who remain in CBP custody, CBP will, to the extent possible, keep them separated," the agency added. "Symptomatic aliens will be referred to CDC and placed in isolation."
It's not the first time the Trump administration has sent immigrants to other countries after they step foot in the US. Since January 2019, the Trump administration has been sending immigrants and asylum-seekers back to Mexico to wait for their US immigration cases to be adjudicated. Some 60,000 have been sent back through the Migrant Protection Protocols, but even they were processed by US immigration authorities.
The program has been criticized by immigrant advocates for making immigrants wait in dangerous border cities that don't have the resources to provide shelter and food to people who arrive at the border with little money.
"It's important to note that the department currently apprehends foreign nationals from over 120 different countries around the world, the vast majority of those having coronavirus cases," Wolf said Friday. "Many of these individuals arrived with little or no identity, travel, or medical documentation, making public health risk determinations all but impossible. It's also important to note the outbreak on our southern border would likely increase the strain on health systems in our border communities, taking away important and life-saving resources from American citizens."
The US has 14,321 confirmed COVID-19 cases compared to Mexico's 164, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
On Tuesday, the Guatemalan government suspended accepting flights carrying asylum-seekers trying to enter the US, shutting down one of the Trump administration's key methods of deporting would-be immigrants, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The policy sends people from Honduras and El Salvador who tried to seek asylum in the US to Guatemala to seek protection there instead. As of Monday, 939 people were sent to Guatemala under the so-called safe third country agreement.
In addition to concerns about sending immigrants to a country that has seen thousands of its people fleeing violence and poverty, advocates have said Guatemala doesn't have a robust asylum system to process the people the US sends there on flights.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-13--Bernie Sanders Endorsed Joe Biden And Previewed A Big Role In His Campaign

If their joint livestream endorsement special was any indication Monday , Bernie Sanders will have a substantial and substantive role in Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign .
Sanders , who suspended his own White House bid less than a week ago , formally backed Biden in a surprise afternoon webcast .
Biden , like Sanders before he dropped out , has been using online video to speak to voters over the last month of the coronavirus quarantines .
“ Today , ” Sanders said via split screen with Biden , stationed in his Delaware basement , “ I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every Democrat , I 'm asking every independent , I 'm asking a lot of Republicans , to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy , which I endorse , to make certain that we defeat somebody who I believe — and I ’ m speaking just for myself now — is the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country.
” As Sanders delivered the endorsement , Biden expressed what sounded and looked like a mix of surprise and relief , though the rest of their conversation suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former rivals said their teams would work together in specific policy areas .
“ I have been very pleased that your staff and my staff have been working together over the last several weeks [ to come ] up with a number of task forces , ” Sanders said .
“ These are task forces that will look at some of the most important issues facing this country , ” among them the economy , education , immigration , criminal justice , climate change , and health care .
The Democratic primary between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a while , many other candidates — often centered on a clash between the ideas put forth by Sanders and others on the progressive left and the more moderate incrementalism favored by Biden .
But Biden signaled Monday that Sanders could have an influential role akin to policy adviser in the general election campaign .
“ I think that your endorsement means a great deal , it means a great deal to me , ” Biden said before turning deferential .
“ I think people are going to be surprised that we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re awfully close on a whole bunch of others .
If I am the nominee , which it looks like now you just made me , I ’ m going to need you , not just to campaign , but to govern.
” Then , in what struck as a more rehearsed moment , Biden asked if Sanders had any questions for him , ostensibly an opportunity for Sanders to extract some significant promise .
Instead , Sanders asked if he could count on Biden ’ s support for a $ 15-an-hour minimum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsing such a policy since launching his candidacy last year , quickly acquiesced .
“ Bernie , ” the former vice president replied , “ I am extremely supportive of that.
” Their livestream continued on for a bit longer , with Sanders expressing confidence that Biden ’ s campaign would be “ inclusive.
” ( Since his strong performance in last month ’ s Super Tuesday primaries , Biden has made several public overtures for Sanders ’ supporters . )
And Biden , who took some hits from Sanders even though they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was eager to hear more from him .
“ Anything you want to do , anything at all , ” Biden said , offering Sanders a closing statement .
Their other competition finally behind them , Sanders joked that they could play some chess .

If their joint livestream endorsement special was any indication Monday, Bernie Sanders will have a substantial and substantive role in Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.
Sanders, who suspended his own White House bid less than a week ago, formally backed Biden in a surprise afternoon webcast. Biden, like Sanders before he dropped out, has been using online video to speak to voters over the last month of the coronavirus quarantines.
“Today,” Sanders said via split screen with Biden, stationed in his Delaware basement, “I am asking all Americans, I'm asking every Democrat, I'm asking every independent, I'm asking a lot of Republicans, to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy, which I endorse, to make certain that we defeat somebody who I believe — and I’m speaking just for myself now — is the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country.”
As Sanders delivered the endorsement, Biden expressed what sounded and looked like a mix of surprise and relief, though the rest of their conversation suggested this was a coordinated moment. The former rivals said their teams would work together in specific policy areas.
“I have been very pleased that your staff and my staff have been working together over the last several weeks [to come] up with a number of task forces,” Sanders said. “These are task forces that will look at some of the most important issues facing this country,” among them the economy, education, immigration, criminal justice, climate change, and health care.
The Democratic primary between Biden and Sanders — and, for a while, many other candidates — often centered on a clash between the ideas put forth by Sanders and others on the progressive left and the more moderate incrementalism favored by Biden. But Biden signaled Monday that Sanders could have an influential role akin to policy adviser in the general election campaign.
“I think that your endorsement means a great deal, it means a great deal to me,” Biden said before turning deferential. “I think people are going to be surprised that we are apart on some issues but we’re awfully close on a whole bunch of others. If I am the nominee, which it looks like now you just made me, I’m going to need you, not just to campaign, but to govern.”
Then, in what struck as a more rehearsed moment, Biden asked if Sanders had any questions for him, ostensibly an opportunity for Sanders to extract some significant promise. Instead, Sanders asked if he could count on Biden’s support for a $15-an-hour minimum wage. Biden, who has been endorsing such a policy since launching his candidacy last year, quickly acquiesced. “Bernie,” the former vice president replied, “I am extremely supportive of that.”
Their livestream continued on for a bit longer, with Sanders expressing confidence that Biden’s campaign would be “inclusive.” (Since his strong performance in last month’s Super Tuesday primaries, Biden has made several public overtures for Sanders’ supporters.)
And Biden, who took some hits from Sanders even though they always maintained their friendship as rivals, was eager to hear more from him.
“Anything you want to do, anything at all,” Biden said, offering Sanders a closing statement.
Their other competition finally behind them, Sanders joked that they could play some chess.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-11--Ohio's Coronavirus Outbreak Is Hitting Youngstown Hardest. They're Used To That.

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
Nowhere in Ohio has more coronavirus cases per capita than Mahoning County , home to Youngstown , the proud but shrinking steel town that has become synonymous with America ’ s working-class .
And nowhere in Ohio has mourned more deaths from the disease .
Mayor Jamael Tito Brown , known to everybody as Tito , knew things were getting worse nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an employee at the Youngstown City Schools ’ central kitchen came down with it .
The schools , like just about everything else , are closed .
The central kitchen is not .
The workers there are responsible for making sure children who depend on free and reduced-cost meals — the median household income in the city is less than $ 27,000 — still get breakfast and lunch five days a week .
Suddenly they were all quarantined .
Substitute workers who hadn ’ t been exposed came in to help continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ superintendent and the president of the local United Way on the phone .
They agreed to assemble a volunteer team needed to make sure students got the meals .
Every Monday since , staff from the mayor ’ s office and other city departments have helped distribute the food .
“ Mondays , ” Brown told BuzzFeed News by telephone from his makeshift home office , “ are probably the only day I ’ m out in a public setting.
” As of Saturday , 375 of Ohio ’ s 6,250 COVID-19 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Mahoning County , the state ’ s 12th most-populous count .
The numbers are disproportionately high , too , in surrounding Trumbull and Columbiana counties .
The latter is home to the Elkton federal prison , where a coronavirus outbreak ( at least 20 cases and three inmate deaths ) prompted Gov .
Mike DeWine to call in the Ohio National Guard for assistance .
It ’ s another crisis for a region that always seems to be in one .
There was the collapse decades ago of the steel industry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force many talked themselves into believing was possible .
There was the long reach of organized crime , which extended to the highest levels of government .
More recently , the hits have come in bunches .
General Motors , the Mahoning Valley ’ s dominant employer , closed an assembly plant there .
The Vindicator , Youngstown ’ s daily newspaper , stopped publishing last August .
Now comes a pandemic .
No one is quite sure why the Valley — how locals refer to the tri-county area — became a coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a spread among guests at a bridal shower held before DeWine issued a stay-at-home order .
There are rumors of outbreaks at nursing homes and of younger Valley expats fleeing New York and returning to their parents ’ homes .
But there are no clear answers , and there won ’ t be for a while .
“ There ’ s nothing that I know of that we could pinpoint , ” said Dr. James Kravec , the chief clinical officer for the Mercy Health hospitals in the area and the medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency .
“ It ’ s not like we can say it ’ s one event or one school or one church.
” It will take time , Kravec added , for research and data to present an accurate accounting of why it spread so fast in the area .
Some patients have been too sick to be interviewed by local health officials .
Kravec offered some “ educated guesses , ” though , starting with the county ’ s aging population .
Elderly people are more vulnerable to the virus .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents are 65 and older , compared to 17 % statewide .
As of Friday , 55 % of the county ’ s coronavirus cases and 94 % of the deaths were among residents 60 and older .
Kravec also suggested the virus may have come to Mahoning County early and begun spreading before the state-mandated lockdowns .
“ There ’ s always going to be a county that ’ s earlier.
” Everyone seems to have a theory or two .
“ I ’ m speculating like everyone else , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We look at our aging population , the 60-plus population in the city .
We look at the long-term care facilities that we have here .
People go away , but they come back to retire here .
Then you know individuals had their theory about how close we are to I-80 connected to New York .
So there are so many theories out there .
I ’ m going to let the doctors and the scientists figure that out for us.
” The I-80 theory is a popular one — essentially that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Valley .
Mahoning County borders Pennsylvania and is at the intersection of a major highway interchange that connects New York to Chicago and Pittsburgh to Cleveland .
“ It ’ s funny , because we do economic development and all that stuff , ” Rep. Tim Ryan , the Democrat who represents much of the region in Congress , said Thursday by telephone .
“ Forever it ’ s been like , yeah , we ’ re halfway between New York and Chicago , we ’ re halfway between Cleveland and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s a virus.
” Overall the Valley is dealing with challenges not unlike those popping up elsewhere .
Youngstown police have had to bust large gatherings that run afoul of the stay-at-home order .
On the day last week when it became clear Mahoning County had become a relative hotspot , the sheriff , Jerry Greene , posted a Facebook video urging people to “ take a good look at ourselves ” and only leave home if necessary .
“ I don ’ t believe enough people have been taking this @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Nowhere in Ohio has more coronavirus cases per capita than Mahoning County, home to Youngstown, the proud but shrinking steel town that has become synonymous with America’s working-class. And nowhere in Ohio has mourned more deaths from the disease.
Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, known to everybody as Tito, knew things were getting worse nearly three weeks ago, when the spouse of an employee at the Youngstown City Schools’ central kitchen came down with it. The schools, like just about everything else, are closed. The central kitchen is not. The workers there are responsible for making sure children who depend on free and reduced-cost meals — the median household income in the city is less than $27,000 — still get breakfast and lunch five days a week. Suddenly they were all quarantined.
Substitute workers who hadn’t been exposed came in to help continue the program. And Brown got the superintendent and the president of the local United Way on the phone. They agreed to assemble a volunteer team needed to make sure students got the meals. Every Monday since, staff from the mayor’s office and other city departments have helped distribute the food.
“Mondays,” Brown told BuzzFeed News by telephone from his makeshift home office, “are probably the only day I’m out in a public setting.”
As of Saturday, 375 of Ohio’s 6,250 COVID-19 cases and 31 of the 247 deaths were in Mahoning County, the state’s 12th most-populous count. The numbers are disproportionately high, too, in surrounding Trumbull and Columbiana counties. The latter is home to the Elkton federal prison, where a coronavirus outbreak (at least 20 cases and three inmate deaths) prompted Gov. Mike DeWine to call in the Ohio National Guard for assistance.
It’s another crisis for a region that always seems to be in one.
There was the collapse decades ago of the steel industry, which never came back at the full force many talked themselves into believing was possible. There was the long reach of organized crime, which extended to the highest levels of government. More recently, the hits have come in bunches. General Motors, the Mahoning Valley’s dominant employer, closed an assembly plant there. The Vindicator, Youngstown’s daily newspaper, stopped publishing last August. Now comes a pandemic.
No one is quite sure why the Valley — how locals refer to the tri-county area — became a coronavirus cluster. There are anecdotal reports, like a spread among guests at a bridal shower held before DeWine issued a stay-at-home order. There are rumors of outbreaks at nursing homes and of younger Valley expats fleeing New York and returning to their parents’ homes. But there are no clear answers, and there won’t be for a while.
“There’s nothing that I know of that we could pinpoint,” said Dr. James Kravec, the chief clinical officer for the Mercy Health hospitals in the area and the medical director for the Mahoning County Public Health agency. “It’s not like we can say it’s one event or one school or one church.”
It will take time, Kravec added, for research and data to present an accurate accounting of why it spread so fast in the area. Some patients have been too sick to be interviewed by local health officials. Kravec offered some “educated guesses,” though, starting with the county’s aging population. Elderly people are more vulnerable to the virus. In Mahoning County, 21% of the residents are 65 and older, compared to 17% statewide. As of Friday, 55% of the county’s coronavirus cases and 94% of the deaths were among residents 60 and older.
Kravec also suggested the virus may have come to Mahoning County early and begun spreading before the state-mandated lockdowns. “There’s always going to be a county that’s earlier.”
Everyone seems to have a theory or two.
“I’m speculating like everyone else,” said Brown, the Youngstown mayor. “We look at our aging population, the 60-plus population in the city. We look at the long-term care facilities that we have here. People go away, but they come back to retire here. Then you know individuals had their theory about how close we are to I-80 connected to New York. So there are so many theories out there. I’m going to let the doctors and the scientists figure that out for us.”
The I-80 theory is a popular one — essentially that the coronavirus found a convenient resting spot in the Valley. Mahoning County borders Pennsylvania and is at the intersection of a major highway interchange that connects New York to Chicago and Pittsburgh to Cleveland.
“It’s funny, because we do economic development and all that stuff,” Rep. Tim Ryan, the Democrat who represents much of the region in Congress, said Thursday by telephone. “Forever it’s been like, yeah, we’re halfway between New York and Chicago, we’re halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Which is really great unless there’s a virus.”
Overall the Valley is dealing with challenges not unlike those popping up elsewhere. Youngstown police have had to bust large gatherings that run afoul of the stay-at-home order. On the day last week when it became clear Mahoning County had become a relative hotspot, the sheriff, Jerry Greene, posted a Facebook video urging people to “take a good look at ourselves” and only leave home if necessary.
“I don’t believe enough people have been taking this seriously,” Greene told viewers.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-01--Their Trader Joe's Colleagues Got Sick. Their Stores Are Still Open.

Workers fear that even if a store itself is not contaminated , they may have been infected with the virus by a sick colleague .
With their Hawaiian shirts , free samples , and friendly vibes , Trader Joe ’ s stores can seem more laid-back than other supermarkets .
But employees working during the coronavirus pandemic fear for their health and the safety of customers .
“ People are generally scared .
There ’ s a lot of people feeling that the company is not responding in a responsible fashion , ” said one employee of the Trader Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill neighborhood , who like several people in this article asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing his job .
More than half a dozen employees told BuzzFeed News that employees of at least four store locations in New York and Washington , DC , have tested positive for the coronavirus — but the locations have remained open with workers expected to come in as normal .
Like other supermarkets across the country , Trader Joe ’ s stores are staying open as essential businesses to ensure people can still get food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees say guidelines around store safety have varied ; some stores have brought in professionals for a deep clean after COVID-19 cases were discovered , but other stores have not done so because of the amount of time that had passed since the sick staffer had worked .
Workers also fear that even if the store itself is not contaminated , they may have been infected by a sick colleague and might be unwittingly passing it on to each other and customers .
All this is worsened by communication from their managers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor and haphazard , leaving them feeling unsafe and undervalued .
Two employees of the Cobble Hill store said one of their coworkers tested positive for COVID-19 , and two more have been diagnosed as suspected cases by a doctor .
The store remains open and has not closed for professional cleaning , they said .
For over a week , store managers did not inform staff of the case at any of their morning “ huddles , ” the employees said .
Staffers only found out their coworker had tested positive “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the manager told staff in an email , seen by BuzzFeed News , about the two colleagues who had been diagnosed by doctors .
The email does not mention the third aforementioned case , which was an employee who said in a Facebook post she had tested positive .
“ Because the crew member [ diagnosed by a doctor ] was in the store 9 days ago , the CDC does not recommend cleaning beyond what we have already been doing , ” the email states .
The email does not advise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible exposure .
The staffers work in close quarters and are unable to follow CDC guidelines that recommend workers stay 6 feet away from each other .
The incubation period for COVID-19 can last up to 14 days , meaning store employees are still at risk for developing symptoms they could pass on to each other and customers .
Employees have been permitted to take unpaid time off if they are concerned about contracting the virus — but doing so is n't feasible for most of them , with bills to pay and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Company spokesperson Kenya Friend-Daniel told BuzzFeed News all Trader Joe ’ s staffers have been granted seven extra days of paid sick leave and that the company is “ providing up to two weeks of paid sick leave to all Crew Members quarantined for or diagnosed with the coronavirus.
” Additionally , corporate policy now allows for workers to wear gloves and masks — something many store managers were previously prohibiting .
Friend-Daniel said plexiglass is being installed at store registers as well .
Sammy Almlah , 26 , who works at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New York , told BuzzFeed News two of his coworkers have tested positive for the coronavirus , and at least two more people have been experiencing symptoms .
On Monday night , the Westbury store manager sent out a nearly identical email to the one sent to Cobble Hill staffers , which stated that the employee had last worked seven days ago , so they would not need to take additional cleaning measures .
“ I feel nervous going in because of my asthma and the fact that my girlfriend is immunocompromised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t afford to not work unless I ’ d be getting paid time off , but that only will happen if I get COVID-19.
” Almlah said he was confused why his store didn ’ t close for cleaning , while a nearby store in Plainview closed for cleaning two days after a worker tested positive .
Friend-Daniel , the company spokesperson , said Trader Joe ’ s works “ closely with local , state and federal health officials and base all of our decisions on their guidance.
” “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers remains our top priority through this crisis , ” Friend-Daniel said .
As the pandemic has grown , Trader Joe ’ s has implemented “ enhanced safety and sanitation measures , ” Friend-Daniel said .
In some cases , stores have temporarily closed in order to undergo a deep clean after employees have tested positive for the coronavirus .
“ We take a hyper careful approach by closing stores in these instances , and we do not reopen a store until we are satisfied that further intense cleaning and sanitation has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trader Joe ’ s in Manhattan ’ s Chelsea neighborhood briefly closed over the weekend after four workers tested positive over the course of two weeks , one worker there told BuzzFeed News .
The Chelsea staffers were not told who exactly had tested positive , due to privacy regulations , but were told what shifts those people had worked .
“ I was afraid because I work these shifts , these morning shifts , with some of the crew that tested positive , ” the Chelsea worker said .
“ The store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was like , was I in close contact with this person ?
Should I take a leave and quarantine myself to see what happens ?
” The worker at the Chelsea location said she lives with her grandmother and is afraid of getting her sick .
“ It ’ s anxiety-inducing , ” she said .
“ I try to be as careful as I can be , but honestly it ’ s so hard.
” One employee who works at the Trader Joe ’ s in the Glover Park neighborhood of Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffers are “ not encouraged to tell the customers ” about positive or suspected cases in the store .
“ They said to keep an awareness of what we say in front of the customers ... and if a customer asks , to tell a manager to talk to them , ” she said .
But Friend-Daniel said news about store closures and positive or suspected COVID-19 cases is being shared on the Trader Joe ’ s website .
No locations are currently closed , she said , and no mentions of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company website .
There are also no announcements listed for positive or suspected COVID-19 cases in stores .
In Hartsdale , New York , one Trader Joe ’ s employee has tested positive for the coronavirus , and another has been diagnosed as a suspected case by their doctor , according to one current and former employee .
Erica Mildner worked at the Hartsdale store until she quit March 20 after being sent home for asking to wear gloves , which previously were not explicitly permitted by the corporate office .
The Occupational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her case .
Mildner said she does not trust Trader Joe ’ s guidelines regarding whether a store is closed for a deep cleaning .
“ We all know it takes a few days to feel symptoms , get access to a test , and then get the results of that test , ” Mildner said .
“ The CDC regulations that [ managers ] list [ in their emails ] basically say [ they ] understand the virus lasts on surfaces for two to three days at most .
So based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] employee worked , that ’ s how we ’ ll decide whether or not to close the store.
” Essentially , by the time a sick employee can get a positive test back or a diagnosis from a doctor , that period of time in which the disease can be passed from touching surfaces has already ended .
But this does not take into account the coworkers who may have already touched those surfaces and contracted the virus and who may get sick and pass the virus along even further .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced all its workers would be granted a bonus due to sales skyrocketing amid the pandemic , which comes out to about an additional $ 2 per hour before taxes .
The bonus was announced after workers started a petition — which to date has been signed by over 20,000 people — calling for Trader Joe ’ s to pay its employees hazard pay at the rate of time and a half .
“ The bonus , I think , was a way of attempting to shut us up about hazard pay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I don ’ t think the check was worth the risk of being there .
If anything it makes me more upset that they believe this is sufficient.
” The DC employee said her bonus for a month ’ s work came out to about $ 160 , which she said feels inadequate considering the risk she ’ s putting herself and her partner in .
“ A lot of us don ’ t feel safe , ” the DC employee said .
“ Everyone ’ s really anxious.
” On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an email that one employee had tested positive for the coronavirus — and that because the employee had last worked 11 days ago , business would continue as usual .
Despite her fears , the DC employee said she has no choice but to keep working until she gets sick so she can take paid sick leave .
“ I need to eat and I have rent , ” she said .
“ I ’ m terrified of not working .
I wake up anxious because I know it ’ s something that @ @ @ @ @ @

With their Hawaiian shirts, free samples, and friendly vibes, Trader Joe’s stores can seem more laid-back than other supermarkets.
But employees working during the coronavirus pandemic fear for their health and the safety of customers.
“People are generally scared. There’s a lot of people feeling that the company is not responding in a responsible fashion,” said one employee of the Trader Joe’s in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill neighborhood, who like several people in this article asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing his job.
More than half a dozen employees told BuzzFeed News that employees of at least four store locations in New York and Washington, DC, have tested positive for the coronavirus — but the locations have remained open with workers expected to come in as normal.
Like other supermarkets across the country, Trader Joe’s stores are staying open as essential businesses to ensure people can still get food and supplies during the pandemic. But employees say guidelines around store safety have varied; some stores have brought in professionals for a deep clean after COVID-19 cases were discovered, but other stores have not done so because of the amount of time that had passed since the sick staffer had worked.
Workers also fear that even if the store itself is not contaminated, they may have been infected by a sick colleague and might be unwittingly passing it on to each other and customers. All this is worsened by communication from their managers and corporate that the workers say has been poor and haphazard, leaving them feeling unsafe and undervalued.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-31--A Colorado Bridge Tournament Has Become A Coronavirus Nightmare With Four Dead And Dozens Hospitaliz

A Colorado Bridge Tournament Has Become A Coronavirus Nightmare With Four Dead And Dozens Hospitalized

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
The weekend of Feb. 29 found Jeffrey Rapp in his element at the Colorado Springs Bridge Center in Colorado Springs , Colorado .
It was a tournament for what they call 299ers — relative newcomers — and Rapp was the computer technician and de facto caterer , uploading scores into the American Contract Bridge League database and handing out slices of cake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 13 , Rapp returned to the center to find the doors locked and signs indicating the club was closed .
Inside , he found a cleaning crew disinfecting the hallways .
Shortly thereafter he found out : An 82-year-old woman , with whom he had been bridge partners , had just died from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
“ I saw her over the course of the tournament , ” Rapp told BuzzFeed News .
“ She was happy and competitive and in good spirits .
Not symptomatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s dead.
” It was the first of four deaths and more than 20 hospitalizations linked to the two-day tournament , during which around 150 players gathered at tables of four inside a club where the average member is 72 years old .
The El Paso County coroner estimated Wednesday that 300 people in the Colorado Springs area had been infected from the event , making Colorado ’ s second city the center of COVID-19 ’ s spread in the Mountain West .
And in ravaging the membership of a vibrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tragic pattern of turning festive gatherings into deadly ones .
Like most COVID-19 outbreaks , this one hit elderly people and people with preexisting conditions the hardest .
According to John Dukellis , a bridge teacher and director at the club , two of the deceased were over 80 and the other two had chronic health concerns .
“ It ’ s frightening , ” Rapp said .
“ So many people I ’ ve been playing bridge with for so many years , in some cases people I ’ ve known for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in the hospital .
As you might suspect , some of our players are in their eighties and nineties .
They are in the most susceptible demographic .
These are older people who are looking to have a good time with what they have left of their lives.
” The weekend was a good time — initially .
According to Rapp , a few members raised concerns about the gathering , and those members stayed home .
Prior to the tournament , Rapp found bottles of hand sanitizer in the club ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20-odd tables where groups of four sat quietly bidding .
Rapp , who has not been tested for COVID-19 but has experienced no symptoms , attributes his good fortune partially to his job distributing food .
“ Because I had to wash my hands several times an hour , I probably had the cleanest hands in the state that day , ” Rapp said .
In the following days , as the disease incubated in dozens of players , there were no signs anything was wrong .
Dukellis saw the first woman to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following Tuesday , where she showed no indication of ill health .
“ No one knew what was going on , ” Dukellis said .
“ We hadn ’ t had any cases in Colorado.
” On Friday , March 12 , the club closed , per guidance from the state .
And still the club ’ s leadership had no idea what was about to happen .
That same day , Dukellis had a conversation with another game director at the club and remembered finding the man 's appearance to be strange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a blank stare , looking right through me , ” Dukellis said .
The next day , the man was found delirious in his house and taken to the hospital .
According to Dukellis , the other man is still on a ventilator .
“ We had an outbreak at a place where large numbers of one of our most vulnerable categories congregate , ” Dr. Leon Kelly , the El Paso County coroner , told KRDO Wednesday .
`` Right out of the gate , in many ways , we had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we all need to take this virus seriously.
” Word that club members were getting sick spread via phone chains and emails .
Then it was the family of club members who sickened .
The weekend tournament drew players from all over the state and as far away as Massachusetts , leading to fears that participants might be spreading the disease around the region and further .
Dukellis received an angry call from a member of a bridge club in Tucson , Arizona , where several members of the Colorado Springs Bridge Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 2–8 .
( Two players in that tournament have tested positive for COVID-19 . )
But the mood among the membership , according to Dukellis and Rapp , has mostly been one of shock , fear , and sadness .
Dukellis , who would later come down with a mild fever , took a list of names from the tournament to the El Paso County Health Department .
“ They said it was overwhelming , ” Dukellis recalled .

The weekend of Feb. 29 found Jeffrey Rapp in his element at the Colorado Springs Bridge Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was a tournament for what they call 299ers — relative newcomers — and Rapp was the computer technician and de facto caterer, uploading scores into the American Contract Bridge League database and handing out slices of cake to the mostly elderly players.
On March 13, Rapp returned to the center to find the doors locked and signs indicating the club was closed. Inside, he found a cleaning crew disinfecting the hallways. Shortly thereafter he found out: An 82-year-old woman, with whom he had been bridge partners, had just died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“I saw her over the course of the tournament,” Rapp told BuzzFeed News. “She was happy and competitive and in good spirits. Not symptomatic. And a few days later, she’s dead.”
It was the first of four deaths and more than 20 hospitalizations linked to the two-day tournament, during which around 150 players gathered at tables of four inside a club where the average member is 72 years old. The El Paso County coroner estimated Wednesday that 300 people in the Colorado Springs area had been infected from the event, making Colorado’s second city the center of COVID-19’s spread in the Mountain West. And in ravaging the membership of a vibrant local community, the virus continued its tragic pattern of turning festive gatherings into deadly ones.
Like most COVID-19 outbreaks, this one hit elderly people and people with preexisting conditions the hardest. According to John Dukellis, a bridge teacher and director at the club, two of the deceased were over 80 and the other two had chronic health concerns.
“People are scared,” Dukellis told BuzzFeed News.
“It’s frightening,” Rapp said. “So many people I’ve been playing bridge with for so many years, in some cases people I’ve known for 40 or 50 years, have wound up in the hospital. As you might suspect, some of our players are in their eighties and nineties. They are in the most susceptible demographic. These are older people who are looking to have a good time with what they have left of their lives.”
The weekend was a good time — initially. According to Rapp, a few members raised concerns about the gathering, and those members stayed home. Prior to the tournament, Rapp found bottles of hand sanitizer in the club’s storeroom and placed them around the 20-odd tables where groups of four sat quietly bidding. Rapp, who has not been tested for COVID-19 but has experienced no symptoms, attributes his good fortune partially to his job distributing food.
“Because I had to wash my hands several times an hour, I probably had the cleanest hands in the state that day,” Rapp said.
In the following days, as the disease incubated in dozens of players, there were no signs anything was wrong. Dukellis saw the first woman to die at the game he ran the following Tuesday, where she showed no indication of ill health.
“No one knew what was going on,” Dukellis said. “We hadn’t had any cases in Colorado.”
On Friday, March 12, the club closed, per guidance from the state. And still the club’s leadership had no idea what was about to happen. That same day, Dukellis had a conversation with another game director at the club and remembered finding the man's appearance to be strange.
“He was looking at me with a blank stare, looking right through me,” Dukellis said.
The next day, the man was found delirious in his house and taken to the hospital. According to Dukellis, the other man is still on a ventilator.
“We had an outbreak at a place where large numbers of one of our most vulnerable categories congregate,” Dr. Leon Kelly, the El Paso County coroner, told KRDO Wednesday. "Right out of the gate, in many ways, we had a worse-case scenario. That's why we all need to take this virus seriously.”
Word that club members were getting sick spread via phone chains and emails. Then it was the family of club members who sickened. The weekend tournament drew players from all over the state and as far away as Massachusetts, leading to fears that participants might be spreading the disease around the region and further. Dukellis received an angry call from a member of a bridge club in Tucson, Arizona, where several members of the Colorado Springs Bridge Center had traveled to play in a tournament March 2–8. (Two players in that tournament have tested positive for COVID-19.)
But the mood among the membership, according to Dukellis and Rapp, has mostly been one of shock, fear, and sadness. Dukellis, who would later come down with a mild fever, took a list of names from the tournament to the El Paso County Health Department.
“They said it was overwhelming,” Dukellis recalled.