buzzfeednews--2020-03-25--Senators Are Calling For Better Protections For Delivery Workers During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Logistics firms and delivery startups are scrambling to respond to increased demand during the coronavirus lockdown and leaving workers vulnerable to infection .
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As home delivery firms from Amazon to the US Postal Service to Instacart scramble to handle surging demand because of the coronavirus outbreak , each company is setting its own , sometimes contradictory , safety rules .
Workers across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough .
The US Postal Service has expanded paid time off , including to some part-time mail carriers .
It 's also offering paid childcare due to school closures .
But it doesn ’ t have masks , hand sanitizer , or , in some cases , gloves available for mail carriers .
Instacart , a grocery delivery startup , said employees who work inside grocery stores can use paid sick time without proof of infection .
But it ’ s still requiring its independently contracted delivery drivers to prove they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been ordered to quarantine by a medical professional in order to get sick leave .
Without it , many drivers feel they have no choice but to work .
“ We all feel unsafe and at risk of contracting coronavirus , ” said an Ohio-based driver for an Amazon delivery contractor who requested anonymity to protect his employment .
“ But no one seems to care about [ what ] we say because we are ‘ easily replaced.
’ ” Workers said worries were growing as deliverers have begun to test positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crisis , Amazon has delayed deliveries of nonessential orders and temporarily increased wages for warehouse workers .
But contracted delivery drivers — the ones bringing packages to people ’ s homes — say they ’ ve received no sick leave .
Some say they ’ re given just one sanitary wipe per day to sanitize their trucks .
In a statement , an Amazon spokesperson said the company has “ taken extreme measures that include tripling down on deep cleaning , procuring safety supplies that are available , and changing processes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe distances.
” “ We continue to make adjustments and have implemented a series of preventative health measures for employees , delivery and transportation partners at our sites around the world , ” the statement continued .
“ We appreciate everything our delivery partners are doing to help serve customers during this time.
” A spokesperson for the US Postal Service said it has expanded paid sick leave for employees and exempted them from asking customers to sign for packages .
“ We are proud of the work our employees play in processing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the American public , ” the agency said in a statement .
“ The Postal Service is [ … ] a vital part of the nation ’ s infrastructure.
” But in absence of nationwide protections , workers across the industry say they feel increasingly vulnerable as package volumes soar , the virus spreads , and management scrambles to react .
“ I could bet money that we are contributing to the spread of coronavirus , ” said the Amazon delivery driver in Ohio who asked not to be named for fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ been ] watching my coworkers sit there coughing their lungs out and then hop in a van and get to work .
The worst part is : We get one bottle of hand sanitizer , and once it runs out , that ’ s it .
At the end of the night , we have to clean our vans out , and we get one Clorox wipe to wipe down the whole van because we are unable to get more , ” he said .
A second Amazon delivery driver also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A third , who is currently training to deliver Amazon packages in New York , said the company canceled ride-alongs with experienced drivers but is still sending new drivers out without that training as delivery contractors rush to meet Amazon ’ s package load .
As the virus ’ s toll mounts , workers across the country are trying to fight for more protections .
A group of delivery drivers in Ohio have been discussing a potential work stoppage over the risk of coronavirus infection , according to one worker .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the public health department there was little the agency could do about Amazon ’ s failure to comply with Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine ’ s recommendation , issued last week , to screen workers ' temperatures .
Postal Service employees are pushing for hazard pay and greater protections .
More than 77,000 people have signed an online petition .
A similar petition for Canada Post employees has more than 8,800 signatures .
Sen. Cory Booker took their side on Wednesday , citing the petition in a letter to the postmaster general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective equipment for postal workers , as well as reports that management was requiring employees to present doctors ' notes or positive test results to take advantage of paid leave .
“ Any failure of the USPS to keep its workers safe not only puts their employees at risk , but also threatens each of the communities they serve .
It has been reported that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be transmitted through mail delivery through person-to-person , or can live for up to 24 hours on cardboard , and up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Booker ’ s letter reads .
“ This means that Americans who are taking every precaution , staying home and practicing social distancing , might risk getting infected with COVID-19 because of USPS ’ s failure to support its staff or protect our communities.
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Debbie Berkowitz , program director at the National Employment Law Project , said delivery workers are at a high risk during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Delivery workers already face many traditional safety hazards , and the exposure to the virus is on top of that , ” Berkowitz said .
“ They need to limit contact with the customers , drop things at the door or lobby .
They need to be provided with those disinfectant wipes for their hands and any doorknobs they need to touch — and to wipe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Coronavirus Relief Act passed by Congress last week doesn ’ t apply to most delivery workers , who are either contractors or work for large corporations exempted by the bill .
Berkowitz said she hopes “ the next bill that passes Congress has paid leave for these folks.
” But as new legislation is hung up in DC , delivery firms are responding to the emergency individually in the meantime .
UPS signed a deal with the Teamsters union promising to pay quarantined employees , dropped the signature requirement to help prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ in the process of replenishing our supplies including gloves and cleaning materials.
” FedEx , which has already confirmed at least one infected worker in Michigan , said it 's following public health guidelines and recommending that its contractor-based workforce “ take any signs of illness seriously and seek medical attention as needed.
” Tim Davis is the CEO of the UPS Store , a franchise-based UPS subsidiary offering package delivery and mailbox services .
Last week , he sent a rousing video message to employees and franchisees comparing the current pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nazis during the early years of World War II .
“ The slogan they adopted was 'Keep calm and carry on . '
It ’ s that spirit and attitude that we need to adapt now , ” Davis said in a video seen by BuzzFeed News .
“ Our foes are not human ; they are virus , hysteria , and inflexibility .
If we can follow the advice of the medical professionals , if we can keep our cool and proceed with good judgment , and if we can adapt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going , we can outlast and overcome this challenge.
” But a Montana-based UPS Store employee who receives no health benefits or paid time off said precautions at her branch location were insufficient .
“ [ We ] work dangerously close to the public , ” the employee said .
“ We stand shoulder to shoulder with customers , helping them make copies , notarize their documents , tape their packages , fill out fax work .
We don ’ t have the luxury of distancing ourselves from customers , and cleaning supplies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs [ UPS Store management ] want us to post on our doors say .
We are prime candidates for contracting the virus.
” A spokesperson for the UPS Store said individual franchises make independent decisions about benefits for employees but added that it ’ s encouraging franchisees to “ provide curbside service when possible , practice social distancing , and limit the number of customers in the store , and to use good hygiene.
” Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who has been pushing for an expansion of that bill that would provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees in the delivery industry need to be included in any relief package .
`` I 've called on employers like Amazon and Walmart to provide paid sick leave immediately to all of their workers , including part time workers , contractors , and subcontractors — which is critical to helping prevent further spread of the virus and keeping workers and their families safe , '' Warren said in a statement .
`` This must also include delivery workers , who are front and center helping people get the food and supplies they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay home if they are sick , taking care of a family member , or have been exposed to the virus . ''
But despite promises to provide financial support to delivery workers during the pandemic , companies including Instacart and Uber Eats are still mandating that delivery workers provide proof of either a positive test or an order from a medical professional to self-quarantine .
A Texas-based driver named Jonathan Perales who delivers food for both Uber Eats and Postmates was for days unable to secure payment from Uber despite experiencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctor who told him to self-quarantine didn ’ t provide a written note .
“ I only went to a hospital because I believed the companies when they said they would take care of us when we were sick , ” Perales wrote in a blog post .
“ But because of the very high barrier companies have around qualifications to receive aid , I can ’ t qualify for any of it .
I can ’ t get a test — and because I can ’ t get a test , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take time off.
” Uber gave Perales paid time off after being contacted by BuzzFeed News .
But it still requires proof of infection or written quarantine orders for drivers .
“ For those who are eligible for the support , we require documentation , ” a spokesperson for Uber said .
Working Washington , a labor group that works with gig economy drivers for companies including Instacart , Postmates , DoorDash , and Grubhub , is circulating a petition asking for two weeks ' paid leave for all workers , an extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and protective gear like gloves , sanitizer , and disinfectant .
“ We [ ... ] need immediate action to get us through the crisis , ” the petition states .
“ By continuing to send us to work without basic protections , gig companies could further the spread of the coronavirus — and it ’ s a danger to workers , to public health , and to our communities .
”

UPS signed a deal with the Teamsters union promising to pay quarantined employees, dropped the signature requirement to help prevent infection, and said it’s “in the process of replenishing our supplies including gloves and cleaning materials.” FedEx, which has already confirmed at least one infected worker in Michigan, said it's following public health guidelines and recommending that its contractor-based workforce “take any signs of illness seriously and seek medical attention as needed.”
Tim Davis is the CEO of the UPS Store, a franchise-based UPS subsidiary offering package delivery and mailbox services. Last week, he sent a rousing video message to employees and franchisees comparing the current pandemic to the Blitz of London by the Nazis during the early years of World War II.
“The slogan they adopted was 'Keep calm and carry on.' It’s that spirit and attitude that we need to adapt now,” Davis said in a video seen by BuzzFeed News. “Our foes are not human; they are virus, hysteria, and inflexibility. If we can follow the advice of the medical professionals, if we can keep our cool and proceed with good judgment, and if we can adapt to the conditions necessary to keep our businesses going, we can outlast and overcome this challenge.”
But a Montana-based UPS Store employee who receives no health benefits or paid time off said precautions at her branch location were insufficient. “[We] work dangerously close to the public,” the employee said. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with customers, helping them make copies, notarize their documents, tape their packages, fill out fax work. We don’t have the luxury of distancing ourselves from customers, and cleaning supplies are nearly unavailable despite what the little signs [UPS Store management] want us to post on our doors say. We are prime candidates for contracting the virus.”
A spokesperson for the UPS Store said individual franchises make independent decisions about benefits for employees but added that it’s encouraging franchisees to “provide curbside service when possible, practice social distancing, and limit the number of customers in the store, and to use good hygiene.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has been pushing for an expansion of that bill that would provide permanent paid leave for workers, said employees in the delivery industry need to be included in any relief package.
"I've called on employers like Amazon and Walmart to provide paid sick leave immediately to all of their workers, including part time workers, contractors, and subcontractors — which is critical to helping prevent further spread of the virus and keeping workers and their families safe," Warren said in a statement. "This must also include delivery workers, who are front and center helping people get the food and supplies they need, and who must be able to stay home if they are sick, taking care of a family member, or have been exposed to the virus."
But despite promises to provide financial support to delivery workers during the pandemic, companies including Instacart and Uber Eats are still mandating that delivery workers provide proof of either a positive test or an order from a medical professional to self-quarantine.
A Texas-based driver named Jonathan Perales who delivers food for both Uber Eats and Postmates was for days unable to secure payment from Uber despite experiencing fever and shortness of breath because the doctor who told him to self-quarantine didn’t provide a written note.
“I only went to a hospital because I believed the companies when they said they would take care of us when we were sick,” Perales wrote in a blog post. “But because of the very high barrier companies have around qualifications to receive aid, I can’t qualify for any of it. I can’t get a test — and because I can’t get a test, I can’t get any aid to take time off.”
Uber gave Perales paid time off after being contacted by BuzzFeed News. But it still requires proof of infection or written quarantine orders for drivers.
“For those who are eligible for the support, we require documentation,” a spokesperson for Uber said.
Working Washington, a labor group that works with gig economy drivers for companies including Instacart, Postmates, DoorDash, and Grubhub, is circulating a petition asking for two weeks' paid leave for all workers, an extra $5 per gig hazard pay, and protective gear like gloves, sanitizer, and disinfectant.
“We [...] need immediate action to get us through the crisis,” the petition states. “By continuing to send us to work without basic protections, gig companies could further the spread of the coronavirus — and it’s a danger to workers, to public health, and to our communities.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-07--Here’s How Your State Is Handling Coronavirus Testing

We contacted health officials in all 50 states and Washington , DC , to find out how many Americans have actually been tested for the coronavirus .
As the coronavirus spreads in the US , with more than 270 known cases , the biggest question that ’ s emerged is how many infections remain undetected in a testing crisis that ’ s swept the nation .
The CDC has come under fire for failing to catch the virus during its first , crucial weeks in the US .
The agency distributed a diagnostic test to state labs that was faulty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for who could be tested .
With the tests since fixed and the criteria expanded as of last week , the White House is now arguing that the crisis is effectively under control .
“ I ’ m pleased to report that all state labs have the test , ” Vice President Mike Pence , who oversees the White House Coronavirus Task Force , said Friday , adding that this week , enough tests for 75,000 patients had been distributed .
But as coronavirus cases are confirmed by the hour across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is becoming clear to public health experts that there are many more that just aren ’ t getting detected .
To find out how many coronavirus tests are being conducted , BuzzFeed News contacted the public health departments of all 50 states and Washington , DC , between Tuesday and Friday .
The answers revealed stark discrepancies in each state ’ s capacity for testing , and how they are sharing that information .
The hard-hit Washington state , for example , says it can now test nearly 900 people a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get state testing off the ground .
Even so , some common answers did come up : Few states have access to commercially produced tests , despite promises to the contrary from the FDA earlier this week .
As of Friday evening , BuzzFeed News confirmed that at least 2,187 people have been tested across the US , either at the state level or by the CDC .
( Alabama and Pennsylvania did not provide information on how many tests they had done to date , and their information could not be found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Atlantic on Friday found similar numbers .
Below are each state ’ s responses to our questions about testing , as well as information from the state agency websites and local news reports .
These numbers are a snapshot in time , and will no doubt change rapidly over the next week .
But they show just how far behind some state health departments are in getting their testing capabilities off the ground .
And even after more tests are distributed , experts worry whether public health services will be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can not be in a situation where people who are well just walk into the ER and demand a test , ” Ryan Stanton , an emergency physician in Lexington , Kentucky , and a spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians , told BuzzFeed News .
“ We are already handling everything else going on and flu season is still in full swing.
” In the responses below , “ test kits ” refers to the large batches of materials sent to state public health labs by the CDC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to test 350 patients , unless otherwise specified by a state health department .
Karen Landers , of Alabama ’ s public health department , did not disclose how many test kits the state has received .
The state lab went live with testing Thursday night .
“ My lab has advised me that we have adequate supplies to do testing in our state lab , ” Landers said .
Alaska At least 14 people have been tested , as of Friday .
Arizona Arizona has received about 300 tests from the CDC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 51 people , with at least one confirmed diagnosis , as of Friday .
At full capacity , the state lab can do 450 tests a day , a spokesperson said .
Arkansas Arkansas received one test kit from the CDC on Feb. 10 .
Between samples submitted to the CDC and tests done in Arkansas ’ public health lab , at least six people have been tested , all negative , as of Friday .
Arkansas can run tests for four to five people per day , according to a spokesperson .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capacity to run tests for about 6,000 people , and was expecting to increase that number to about 7,400 people Friday with the arrival of four new test kits from the CDC .
About 15 labs throughout the state can now conduct those tests .
As of Friday , at least 516 people have been tested .
Colorado Until this week , Colorado was sending samples to be tested by the CDC .
As of Monday , the state said it is now running its own tests and can now test up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Friday , there have been at least 124 total tests , with one positive diagnosis and 92 negative .
( These results are from both the CDC — which conducted 14 of the tests — and the state . )
Connecticut As of Thursday , Connecticut had tested 18 people , 13 of whom were negative and five still pending , according to the Hartford Courant .
The state currently is capable of testing more than 500 patients .
Gov .
Ned Lamont has asked the CDC for more tests .
District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , DC , had tested at least nine people .
According to NBC Washington , it was capable of testing about 25 cases a day this week , and was expecting to increase its capacity to 80 tests a day by next week .
Previously , Washington , DC , had sent samples from six possible patients to the CDC for testing ( five of whom tested negative , one awaiting results ) , according to the local news station .
Delaware Delaware received one test kit from the CDC .
The state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kit were used for quality control , leaving about 300 tests .
It ’ s capable of testing about 50 patients a day , due to a need to run two tests per person , according to a Division of Public Health spokesperson .
Delaware has ordered more test kits from the CDC and expects that some commercial labs will be able to begin testing next week .
As of Friday , the state has tested at least 10 people , all negative .
Florida As of Friday , 115 people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a limit to how many tests can be run per day at these labs , we have not yet reached it , ” a spokesperson for the state Health Department said .
“ We will work with CDC if we need additional kits or reach an overwhelming volume of tests.
” Georgia Georgia ’ s state lab , which began testing people Thursday , has tested about 50 people and has the capacity to test about 40 people daily , according to a spokesperson .
Local news reports Friday said that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one patient .
The CDC ( which is in Atlanta ) has sent the state one test kit , which the Health Department has estimated will provide it with around 150 tests , according to the spokesperson .
Hawaii Hawaii began testing late last week and is capable of doing 250 tests a week .
As of this week , there have been at least six negative results .
There are 72 people who are self-monitoring with public health supervision , 65 of them on the island of Oahu .
Idaho Idaho has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with an influx of testing supplies from the CDC just this week , and it can test 15 to 20 patients per day .
As of Friday , 27 people had been tested and 36 were being monitored , with no positive results .
“ Idaho was one of the few states that was able to use the tests CDC sent in the original shipment , ” said a spokesperson .
“ We currently have no confirmed cases , but testing is being done every day at the state lab .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter of time before we have a positive result.
” Illinois As of Friday , Illinois has done 185 tests , with five confirmed cases and two recovered .
The state has materials for 2,000 tests and has asked the CDC for more .
Indiana Public health officials said Indiana has tested at least 12 people , and reported its first positive case Friday , according to local news reports .
A spokesperson said that its state lab is using CDC-issued kits .
Iowa As of Friday , Iowa had conducted 17 tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting on two pending results .
The CDC performed two of the five tests , and the remaining three have been performed at the State Hygienic Lab at the University of Iowa , which has supplies provided by the CDC .
A university spokesperson said that the lab is capable of testing about 500 patients .
Kansas Kansas has received the CDC ’ s test and used it for 11 people under investigation , all of whom have tested negative .
Kentucky As of Wednesday , Steven Stack , Kentucky ’ s public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been conducted : one positive and nine negative .
Three of those tests were done by the CDC and seven were conducted by state officials .
All future tests in Kentucky will be done in state labs .
The state can test close to 1,000 people .
The state has been able to conduct tests using modified CDC tests since Monday , according to the commissioner .
“ The kits that were sent out and reported to be defective had one of the components that did n't operate as they anticipated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the remaining components they were able to come up with an alternative way to use the test kit that works and is validated .
We had hoped to be up and running last week , but it took a few days for the laboratories to create the technical solution they found .
We now have an operational test that we believe to be valid that we can use here in Frankfort.
” He added : “ State labs reacted quickly to innovate to address the problem … Whatever it was it has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the road.
” Louisiana As of Friday , Louisiana had completed five tests within its state lab .
There have been no confirmed cases in the state .
State health officials said they currently have the capacity to run between 150 and 650 tests , depending on how many patients are being tested at one time .
If necessary , the lab could run all of those tests within one to two days .
“ Along with many other states , the Department of Health was not able to validate the initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” a spokesperson said .
It took the state about a week from requesting new ones to receiving them .
The state has a “ limited ” number of test kits , but “ we have not had a need to send lab specimens to the CDC , before we were able to complete our own testing , or since we have been able to complete our own testing , ” the spokesperson said .
Maine As of Friday , Maine has recently received new testing equipment .
Its Health and Environmental Testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positioned to do testing ” within the next several days .
In the meantime , it has sent approximately a dozen samples from people to the CDC for testing .
It did not have problems with the initial tests it was sent by the CDC .
Maryland At least 41 people have been tested , with three positive cases , as of Friday .
Maryland wasn ’ t able to start testing until Tuesday .
A spokesperson said the state has “ an ample supply of tests at this time ” but was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massachusetts In the first three days of this week , epidemiologists in Massachusetts responded to more than 1,000 calls from people who thought they had coronavirus symptoms , a spokesperson said .
The number of people who have been tested to date isn ’ t clear , but at least eight people are presumed or confirmed to have the virus , as of Friday .
The Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory said it had an “ adequate ” number of tests and is able to meet the current demands for testing .
Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC on Feb. 8 , then two others on March 5 , which are still being validated .
Until then , the state has testing capacity for about 300 people .
It can test about 86 people every eight hours .
It initially encountered issues with the CDC test , but the revised test is now working .
As of Friday , at least eight people have been tested ( five by the CDC , three by the state ’ s Bureau of Laboratories ) .
All were negative .
The state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kit from an undisclosed commercial vendor , but has not received it yet .
“ We have ordered a test kit from a private vendor and will be working through the validation process once we receive it , ” a spokesperson said .
“ If the validation process is successful , we will provide our results to CDC/FDA for approval to use the kit for COVID-19 testing.
” Each commercial kit costs $ 234 per 500 reactions , they said .
Minnesota As of Friday , at least 49 tests had been done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive .
Minnesota has three test kits , and said it can test about 400 people per kit .
Sara Vetter , who manages the infections disease laboratory for the Minnesota Department of Public Health , estimated that the lab was capable of running about 400 to 500 tests per day .
It received the first test kit in February , which was faulty , though Vetter said it was now working .
A second kit arrived last week , and the third in early March .
Mississippi Mississippi did not answer questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but said it had tested 14 “ samples.
” There are zero confirmed cases to date .
The state has received one test kit from the CDC , capable of running 225 tests , according to state epidemiologist Paul Byers .
It initially had issues with the CDC test , but the current test is functioning .
The state has ordered more kits from the CDC .
Missouri Missouri has the capacity to test about 800 patients , according to a spokesperson .
The state has tested 12 people and another nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are zero confirmed cases to date .
Montana At least 11 people have been tested , all negative , as of Friday .
Montana has received two test kits from the CDC to date : the first a few weeks ago , the second on Thursday .
Nebraska At least 23 people had been tested as of Friday , with zero positive results .
Nevada As of Friday , Nevada has tested at least 14 people .
It has the capacity to do more than 600 tests using the CDC ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests from a commercial provider earlier this week .
It can run about 100 tests per day , according to Mark Pandori , director of Nevada ’ s State Public Health Laboratory .
New Hampshire As of Friday , 25 people had been tested in New Hampshire , with zero positive results .
New Jersey At least 22 people in New Jersey have been tested , with 18 negative tests and four presumed positive , according to a spokesperson , as of Friday .
( Of the 22 , five were tested by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state lab was conducting testing . )
The state has received two test kits from the CDC — one in February , one this week — and said that it ’ s able to test about 216 people with each kit .
New Mexico New Mexico received a test kit Feb. 8 and another this week , and said that it was able to run a total of 1,400 to 2,000 tests .
Like other state labs , it initially encountered issues with the CDC ’ s first test .
As of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested 16 patients , all negative cases .
“ We have yet to reach capacity , ” a spokesperson said .
“ The number of tests we would be able to do would be dependent on the number of shifts required in a work day.
” New York New York state has tested at least 278 people , with 29 positive cases , 68 negative , and the rest pending , as of Friday .
BuzzFeed News reported last week that the state of New York was developing its own test after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , the state said that it was using a test developed by scientists at the Wadsworth Center , which “ will soon be able to perform testing for thousands of patients , ” a spokesperson said .
“ In addition , a number of commercial labs and large hospitals will also be able to test very soon , ” the spokesperson said .
“ We are working closely with the large hospital labs in New York state to enable them to perform testing as soon as possible.
” North Carolina As of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive cases , though those test results had not yet been confirmed by another lab .
North Dakota As of Friday , North Dakota has received supplies for 100 tests from the CDC .
It is capable of running 50 to 100 tests in a given day , with the capability of doing more as needed .
North Dakota hasn ’ t tested anyone yet , however .
Ohio As of earlier this week , Ohio hadn ’ t received test kits from the CDC — but was hoping to receive them by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a spokesperson .
“ When the test kits were sent last month , Ohio did get a malfunctioning test kit , ” a spokesperson said .
“ We continue to work [ with ] CDC to get the current test kit.
” Until that happens , Ohio has been shipping the samples to the CDC to be tested .
As of Friday , 10 people have been tested — eight of them cleared , two of them pending .
Oklahoma Since the last week of January , Oklahoma has sent six samples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative and one pending .
Oklahoma received test kits from the CDC last week and is validating them now .
Once they ’ re up and running — no timeline was given — the state expects to be able to run 100 tests a day , according to a spokesperson .
Oregon Oregon has received two test kits from the CDC , on Feb. 8 and Feb. 29 .
It has not had issues with the tests .
It has the capacity to run about 80 tests a day .
As of Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested , with three positive and 64 negative .
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania is currently using a test kit sent by the CDC in mid-February .
“ As many state and local health departments did , we did have issues validating the test kit originally , ” a spokesperson said , but the tests are now up and running .
The state has the ability to test 20 to 25 samples per day , and expects to see that number increase in the near future with added equipment .
It isn ’ t releasing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rhode Island As of Friday , Rhode Island has tested at least 21 people .
It has not had issues with testing capacity , a spokesperson said .
There are at least three confirmed cases .
South Carolina South Carolina has received two kits from the CDC — one during the initial release in February , the other this week — and is successfully testing after encountering issues with the first kit .
It ’ s capable of running 80 to 100 tests per day , and has so far run five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted five tests and all were negative , according to the state ’ s Department of Health website .
State officials did not respond to repeated requests for more information .
Tennessee Tennessee has tested at least eight people , with one positive diagnosis .
As of Thursday , its state lab has the capacity to test 85 additional people , and is prioritizing testing for those who have come into contact with an infected person .
A spokesperson said the CDC is providing overflow testing , if needed .
Texas After initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson said that Texas ’ s state public health labs had the ability to test as of this week .
A lab in Austin , for example , has run two tests and is capable of running 52 tests a day .
“ If someone has COVID-19 symptoms and travel [ s ] to an area where it ’ s spreading or other possible exposures , they should see a doctor , ” and the doctor will consult with officials about whether a test is warranted , according to Chris Van Deusen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Health Services .
“ It ’ s not always black and white , but with limited capacity , we need to prioritize testing for people who really need it and that helps us learn more about the situation in Texas.
” Utah Utah has received two test kits from the CDC , most recently on Feb. 29 , and initially had issues with the CDC tests .
It has also paid an undisclosed amount for a test from a commercial provider .
The state has tested at least five people as of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests a day .
Vermont As of Wednesday , Vermont had enough supplies from the CDC to conduct about 250 tests .
As of March 6 , the state has tested eight people , all negative .
“ We can currently run 26 tests/per day , but we have plans in place to ramp up to 52 tests/per day and later 78 tests/day , if needed , ” said Ben Truman , a Vermont Department of Health spokesperson , in an email to BuzzFeed News .
Virginia Virginia has received two kits from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 3 , and has requested a third .
Due to extensive validation required for each test , the state estimates having the capacity to test 50 to 60 people per kit .
It ’ s tested at least 31 people , with 21 negative and 10 pending .
Although it ’ s been able to meet the demand so far , “ we will need additional test kits from the CDC in order to be able to meet the increased demand for testing , ” Dena Potter , a Department of General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington In the state hardest hit by the outbreak so far , “ when testing first began , there was a problem with the supplies we received , ” a spokesperson said .
“ But we have been running tests in our lab since Feb. 28 with the corrected tests.
” As of March 4 , 209 tests were run in the state , representing 91 people .
The spokesperson said that Washington ’ s state public health lab can run up to 200 tests ( 100 people ) per day .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came online this week , is expecting to run 1,500 tests ( 750 people ) per day .
West Virginia In West Virginia , testing is currently done by the CDC and must be approved by the state ’ s Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology .
West Virginia ’ s public health lab has received one test kit , which it said can run 400 to 500 patient specimens , and expects to receive another kit next week .
“ The state public health lab is in the verification process and is expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next few weeks , ” said Allison Adler , a West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources spokesperson .
As of Friday , the state has tested three people ; one was negative and two are pending .
Wisconsin Asked how many tests Wisconsin has received from the CDC , Allen Bateman , assistant director in the Communicable Disease Division at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene , said it isn ’ t easy to quantify , but that the state can currently run “ about 100 tests ” a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of patients.
” This test “ isn ’ t like a pregnancy test where one stick is one result for one patient , ” Bateman said .
Instead , it “ uses a lot of different parts , or inputs that go into each test .
At any given time , one particular input may be the limiting factor.
” Wisconsin received the first batch of test kits from the CDC on Feb. 7 , found that the tests were faulty , and has since received new kits that have passed Wisconsin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now working .
As of Friday , the state has tested at least 44 people , with one positive case .
Wyoming As of Friday , Wyoming had submitted one request for testing to the CDC .
No specific numbers were given for testing capability , but a spokesperson said , “ Based on the low demand we ’ ve seen so far , we feel confident we will be in good shape for some time .
Keep in mind our population is quite low as well .
”

Maryland
At least 41 people have been tested, with three positive cases, as of Friday. Maryland wasn’t able to start testing until Tuesday. A spokesperson said the state has “an ample supply of tests at this time” but was unable to provide a specific number.
Massachusetts
In the first three days of this week, epidemiologists in Massachusetts responded to more than 1,000 calls from people who thought they had coronavirus symptoms, a spokesperson said.
The number of people who have been tested to date isn’t clear, but at least eight people are presumed or confirmed to have the virus, as of Friday.
The Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory said it had an “adequate” number of tests and is able to meet the current demands for testing.
Michigan
Michigan received its first test kit from the CDC on Feb. 8, then two others on March 5, which are still being validated. Until then, the state has testing capacity for about 300 people. It can test about 86 people every eight hours. It initially encountered issues with the CDC test, but the revised test is now working.
As of Friday, at least eight people have been tested (five by the CDC, three by the state’s Bureau of Laboratories). All were negative.
The state added that it has ordered a test kit from an undisclosed commercial vendor, but has not received it yet. “We have ordered a test kit from a private vendor and will be working through the validation process once we receive it,” a spokesperson said. “If the validation process is successful, we will provide our results to CDC/FDA for approval to use the kit for COVID-19 testing.” Each commercial kit costs $234 per 500 reactions, they said.
Minnesota
As of Friday, at least 49 tests had been done, with 48 negative cases and one positive. Minnesota has three test kits, and said it can test about 400 people per kit. Sara Vetter, who manages the infections disease laboratory for the Minnesota Department of Public Health, estimated that the lab was capable of running about 400 to 500 tests per day.
It received the first test kit in February, which was faulty, though Vetter said it was now working. A second kit arrived last week, and the third in early March.
Mississippi
Mississippi did not answer questions about how many patients it has tested, but said it had tested 14 “samples.” There are zero confirmed cases to date.
The state has received one test kit from the CDC, capable of running 225 tests, according to state epidemiologist Paul Byers. It initially had issues with the CDC test, but the current test is functioning. The state has ordered more kits from the CDC.
Missouri
Missouri has the capacity to test about 800 patients, according to a spokesperson. The state has tested 12 people and another nine cases were sent to the CDC. There are zero confirmed cases to date.
Montana
At least 11 people have been tested, all negative, as of Friday. Montana has received two test kits from the CDC to date: the first a few weeks ago, the second on Thursday.
Nebraska
At least 23 people had been tested as of Friday, with zero positive results.
Nevada
As of Friday, Nevada has tested at least 14 people. It has the capacity to do more than 600 tests using the CDC’s materials, and received an additional 800 tests from a commercial provider earlier this week. It can run about 100 tests per day, according to Mark Pandori, director of Nevada’s State Public Health Laboratory.
New Hampshire
As of Friday, 25 people had been tested in New Hampshire, with zero positive results.
New Jersey
At least 22 people in New Jersey have been tested, with 18 negative tests and four presumed positive, according to a spokesperson, as of Friday. (Of the 22, five were tested by the CDC before New Jersey’s state lab was conducting testing.)
The state has received two test kits from the CDC — one in February, one this week — and said that it’s able to test about 216 people with each kit.
New Mexico
New Mexico received a test kit Feb. 8 and another this week, and said that it was able to run a total of 1,400 to 2,000 tests. Like other state labs, it initially encountered issues with the CDC’s first test. As of the end of the week, it had tested 16 patients, all negative cases.
“We have yet to reach capacity,” a spokesperson said. “The number of tests we would be able to do would be dependent on the number of shifts required in a work day.”
New York
New York state has tested at least 278 people, with 29 positive cases, 68 negative, and the rest pending, as of Friday.
BuzzFeed News reported last week that the state of New York was developing its own test after the CDC’s proved faulty. This week, the state said that it was using a test developed by scientists at the Wadsworth Center, which “will soon be able to perform testing for thousands of patients,” a spokesperson said.
“In addition, a number of commercial labs and large hospitals will also be able to test very soon,” the spokesperson said. “We are working closely with the large hospital labs in New York state to enable them to perform testing as soon as possible.”
North Carolina
As of Friday, North Carolina has reported two positive cases, though those test results had not yet been confirmed by another lab.
North Dakota
As of Friday, North Dakota has received supplies for 100 tests from the CDC. It is capable of running 50 to 100 tests in a given day, with the capability of doing more as needed. North Dakota hasn’t tested anyone yet, however.
Ohio
As of earlier this week, Ohio hadn’t received test kits from the CDC — but was hoping to receive them by the end of the week, according to a spokesperson.
“When the test kits were sent last month, Ohio did get a malfunctioning test kit,” a spokesperson said. “We continue to work [with] CDC to get the current test kit.” Until that happens, Ohio has been shipping the samples to the CDC to be tested.
As of Friday, 10 people have been tested — eight of them cleared, two of them pending.
Oklahoma
Since the last week of January, Oklahoma has sent six samples to the CDC for testing: five negative and one pending. Oklahoma received test kits from the CDC last week and is validating them now. Once they’re up and running — no timeline was given — the state expects to be able to run 100 tests a day, according to a spokesperson.
Oregon
Oregon has received two test kits from the CDC, on Feb. 8 and Feb. 29. It has not had issues with the tests. It has the capacity to run about 80 tests a day.
As of Friday, at least 95 people have been tested, with three positive and 64 negative.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is currently using a test kit sent by the CDC in mid-February. “As many state and local health departments did, we did have issues validating the test kit originally,” a spokesperson said, but the tests are now up and running.
The state has the ability to test 20 to 25 samples per day, and expects to see that number increase in the near future with added equipment. It isn’t releasing the numbers of people who have been tested.
Rhode Island
As of Friday, Rhode Island has tested at least 21 people. It has not had issues with testing capacity, a spokesperson said. There are at least three confirmed cases.
South Carolina
South Carolina has received two kits from the CDC — one during the initial release in February, the other this week — and is successfully testing after encountering issues with the first kit. It’s capable of running 80 to 100 tests per day, and has so far run five tests.
South Dakota
South Dakota has conducted five tests and all were negative, according to the state’s Department of Health website. State officials did not respond to repeated requests for more information.
Tennessee
Tennessee has tested at least eight people, with one positive diagnosis. As of Thursday, its state lab has the capacity to test 85 additional people, and is prioritizing testing for those who have come into contact with an infected person. A spokesperson said the CDC is providing overflow testing, if needed.
Texas
After initial issues with the CDC test, a spokesperson said that Texas’s state public health labs had the ability to test as of this week. A lab in Austin, for example, has run two tests and is capable of running 52 tests a day.
“If someone has COVID-19 symptoms and travel[s] to an area where it’s spreading or other possible exposures, they should see a doctor,” and the doctor will consult with officials about whether a test is warranted, according to Chris Van Deusen, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services. “It’s not always black and white, but with limited capacity, we need to prioritize testing for people who really need it and that helps us learn more about the situation in Texas.”
Utah
Utah has received two test kits from the CDC, most recently on Feb. 29, and initially had issues with the CDC tests. It has also paid an undisclosed amount for a test from a commercial provider.
The state has tested at least five people as of Friday and is capable of running 60 tests a day.
Vermont
As of Wednesday, Vermont had enough supplies from the CDC to conduct about 250 tests. As of March 6, the state has tested eight people, all negative.
“We can currently run 26 tests/per day, but we have plans in place to ramp up to 52 tests/per day and later 78 tests/day, if needed,” said Ben Truman, a Vermont Department of Health spokesperson, in an email to BuzzFeed News.
Virginia
Virginia has received two kits from the CDC, on Feb. 10 and March 3, and has requested a third. Due to extensive validation required for each test, the state estimates having the capacity to test 50 to 60 people per kit.
It’s tested at least 31 people, with 21 negative and 10 pending.
Although it’s been able to meet the demand so far, “we will need additional test kits from the CDC in order to be able to meet the increased demand for testing,” Dena Potter, a Department of General Services spokesperson, said by email.
Washington
In the state hardest hit by the outbreak so far, “when testing first began, there was a problem with the supplies we received,” a spokesperson said. “But we have been running tests in our lab since Feb. 28 with the corrected tests.”
As of March 4, 209 tests were run in the state, representing 91 people. The spokesperson said that Washington’s state public health lab can run up to 200 tests (100 people) per day. The University of Washington Virology Lab, which came online this week, is expecting to run 1,500 tests (750 people) per day.
West Virginia
In West Virginia, testing is currently done by the CDC and must be approved by the state’s Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology.
West Virginia’s public health lab has received one test kit, which it said can run 400 to 500 patient specimens, and expects to receive another kit next week. “The state public health lab is in the verification process and is expected to be able to run tests in the next few weeks,” said Allison Adler, a West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources spokesperson.
As of Friday, the state has tested three people; one was negative and two are pending.
Wisconsin
Asked how many tests Wisconsin has received from the CDC, Allen Bateman, assistant director in the Communicable Disease Division at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, said it isn’t easy to quantify, but that the state can currently run “about 100 tests” a day and is capable of testing “hundreds of patients.”
This test “isn’t like a pregnancy test where one stick is one result for one patient,” Bateman said. Instead, it “uses a lot of different parts, or inputs that go into each test. At any given time, one particular input may be the limiting factor.”
Wisconsin received the first batch of test kits from the CDC on Feb. 7, found that the tests were faulty, and has since received new kits that have passed Wisconsin’s own verification testing. These tests are now working. As of Friday, the state has tested at least 44 people, with one positive case.
Wyoming
As of Friday, Wyoming had submitted one request for testing to the CDC.
No specific numbers were given for testing capability, but a spokesperson said, “Based on the low demand we’ve seen so far, we feel confident we will be in good shape for some time. Keep in mind our population is quite low as well.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-07--At Least 10 People Were Killed When A Hotel In China Where Coronavirus Patients Were Quarantined Col

At Least 10 People Were Killed When A Hotel In China Where Coronavirus Patients Were Quarantined Collapsed

Search and rescue efforts are continuing for 23 others .
A hotel in southeastern China that was used to quarantine people feared to be infected with the coronavirus collapsed on Saturday night , trapping 70 people in the wreckage , the Chinese government said .
By Sunday , 38 people had been rescued and 10 people were found dead in the rubble of the Xinjia Express Hotel in Quanzhou , in Fujian province , the Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management said .
Search efforts were ongoing for 23 people .
Security video of the moment of collapse shows a huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the building falls .
It 's unclear what caused the collapse .
The government recently converted the 80-room hotel into a quarantine residence , reported AP , using it for people suspected of having COVID-19 or having had contact with people who are infected .
Photos show emergency workers helping injured and bloody patients escape .
They were then taken to hospitals for treatment , officials said .
The hotel , which takes up multiple floors of the building , opened in 2018 .
AP also reported that a hotel employee said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction '' before the disaster .
The Xinhua News Agency , a state-run news agency , reported that the collapse happened at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night .
As a way of reducing the coronavirus from spreading further , China has required some exposed or infected people to stay in quarantine hotels .
Patients have also been required to stay in these hotels for two weeks after being discharged from hospitals .
More than 105,000 people worldwide have been confirmed to have COVID-19 , after the disease first broke out in Wuhan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80,000 of those confirmed cases have been in China ( and 43,500 of them have recovered already ) .

A hotel in southeastern China that was used to quarantine people feared to be infected with the coronavirus collapsed on Saturday night, trapping 70 people in the wreckage, the Chinese government said.
By Sunday, 38 people had been rescued and 10 people were found dead in the rubble of the Xinjia Express Hotel in Quanzhou, in Fujian province, the Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management said. Search efforts were ongoing for 23 people.


buzzfeednews--2020-05-22--Is It Safe To Use Public Restrooms During The Coronavirus Pandemic? This Is What Experts Say.

`` You ’ re basically kind of going in , to use a cute term , ' a bioweapons factory ' — so there is no safe .
There 's only things you can do to mitigate risk . ''
Do you remember the last time you used a public bathroom ?
As governments reopen additional sectors of the economy , more people will be outside their homes for extended periods of time — and they may have no choice but to use the toilet at a park , office , or restaurant .
After all , when you got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But , with the novel coronavirus still spreading throughout the country , is it safe to use public restrooms ?
BuzzFeed News asked several infectious disease doctors , scientists , and public health experts whether they 'd be comfortable using toilets outside their homes and other questions about the dos and don'ts of going potty in public during the pandemic .
In short , wherever you decide to pee or poo , please clean up after yourself and WASH👏 YOUR👏 HANDS.👏 Is it safe to use public restrooms during the pandemic ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be gross , but the chance of getting COVID-19 there is probably low .
The virus can be transmitted by touching contaminated surfaces , but the more common mode of transmission is through respiratory droplets , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
`` The coronavirus is n't spreading around the world in public bathrooms , '' said Dr. Amesh Adalja , an infectious disease physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security .
`` That 's not how this virus is infecting people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he personally would n't hesitate to use a public bathroom right now , but , as with any activity during a pandemic , there is always a risk .
Ideally , people should use the bathroom before they leave their homes — but when you are out and about and need to go , there are several things you can do to reduce the risk of transmitting an infectious disease , whether it 's COVID-19 or something else .
`` You ’ re basically kind of going in , to use a cute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — so there is no safe .
There 's only things you can do to mitigate risk , '' said Dr. Greg Poland , a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at the Mayo Clinic .
As with other common spaces , people should touch as little as possible and wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds .
Poland said it 's best to use a paper towel to turn the faucet off and open the door because studies have shown those surfaces harbor fecal bacteria .
Robin Patel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said it 's also a good idea to carry hand sanitizer with you in case the restroom is out of handwashing supplies .
Patel also suggested waiting for others to leave the bathroom before going inside .
`` Before going into public restrooms , you may want to wait until no one else is inside ; if others are there , you should try to stay at least 6 feet from them , '' she said .
Should I use a disposable seat cover or clean the seat with a disinfectant wipe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bathrooms have disposable paper seat covers , and , at least in this reporter 's experience , when they are available , they often run out .
But are they a necessity in these times ?
Most experts who talked to BuzzFeed News said no , because the coronavirus , which causes respiratory disease , is not transmitted through the skin .
It 's transmitted via the mouth , nose , and eyes .
The odds of catching the coronavirus from a toilet seat are incredibly low , according to Rosie Redfield , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of British Columbia ’ s Department of Zoology .
`` First , an infected person has to somehow get virus particles on their butt , and then the particles to be transferred from the skin to the toilet seat .
And then some of them have to be transferred from the seat to your butt , and then some of them from your butt to your hands , and then from your hands to your face , '' Redfield told BuzzFeed News .
`` There are many more important things to worry about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well enough to do its job . ''
Still , there 's no harm in using the seat covers or in wiping down the toilet seat with a disinfectant wipe — just do n't throw that into the toilet , please .
If the toilet seat is visibly unclean , you may want to find another one or just wipe it off with toilet paper .
Is it OK to flush the toilet with your bare hand ?
As already mentioned , one way to minimize the risk of coming into contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touching things as much as possible , but experts were split on whether you should avoid touching the toilet flusher .
Poland said some people flush the toilet with their foot , but they could just be making the lever dirtier for the next person because of the bacteria , viral particles , and urine their shoe may have picked up from the bathroom floor .
`` Let 's say a kid that does n't know better when they go to flush the toilet — what do you think they touch ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ still use his hand to flush , but others said they would touch the flusher with toilet paper in their hand .
`` The less contact with touch surfaces the better , '' Dr. Richard Jackson , a professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health , said in an email .
`` No proof that this would work on COVID , but why not ? ''
Gerardo Chowell , a professor of epidemiology with Georgia State University ’ s School of Public Health , also recommended putting the seat lid down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air .
What 's the best way to dry your hands ?
While environmentally friendly , hand dryers have been shown to blast fecal bacteria in the air .
Experts agreed that it 's better to use a paper towel .
`` The forced air dryers ... very effectively blow whatever is on your hands around the bathroom and back into your face , '' Poland said .
Recent research has found that the virus that causes COVID-19 does appear in the urine and fecal matter of people infected with the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus in human waste has the potential to be infectious , it 's not yet clear whether someone could actually get infected from the virus in feces .
What should businesses and local governments do to keep bathrooms safe ?

As we all know, public bathrooms can be gross, but the chance of getting COVID-19 there is probably low. The virus can be transmitted by touching contaminated surfaces, but the more common mode of transmission is through respiratory droplets, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"The coronavirus isn't spreading around the world in public bathrooms," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. "That's not how this virus is infecting people and causing worldwide calamity."
Adalja said he personally wouldn't hesitate to use a public bathroom right now, but, as with any activity during a pandemic, there is always a risk.
Ideally, people should use the bathroom before they leave their homes — but when you are out and about and need to go, there are several things you can do to reduce the risk of transmitting an infectious disease, whether it's COVID-19 or something else.
"You’re basically kind of going in, to use a cute term, 'a bioweapons factory' — so there is no safe. There's only things you can do to mitigate risk," said Dr. Greg Poland, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at the Mayo Clinic.
As with other common spaces, people should touch as little as possible and wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Poland said it's best to use a paper towel to turn the faucet off and open the door because studies have shown those surfaces harbor fecal bacteria.
Robin Patel, president of the American Society for Microbiology, said it's also a good idea to carry hand sanitizer with you in case the restroom is out of handwashing supplies.
Patel also suggested waiting for others to leave the bathroom before going inside.
"Before going into public restrooms, you may want to wait until no one else is inside; if others are there, you should try to stay at least 6 feet from them," she said.
Should I use a disposable seat cover or clean the seat with a disinfectant wipe before I sit?


buzzfeednews--2020-04-23--Australia Wants Facebook And Google To Pay News Outlets For Their Content. Could Governments Around

Australia Wants Facebook And Google To Pay News Outlets For Their Content. Could Governments Around The World Follow?

On Monday , the Australian government said it planned to succeed where its European counterparts had failed : forcing Facebook and Google to pay for news .
“ Australia seeks to become the first country in the world to successfully require payment for content , ” Australia Treasurer Josh Frydenberg wrote in the Australian .
“ There is too much at stake — nothing less than the future of our media landscape.
” On April 19 , Frydenberg announced that despite negotiations between the Australian government and Google and Facebook that had been ongoing since December , the government would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies would be required to pay news organizations for use of their material .
The plan is set to be unveiled in July and put into law soon after , accelerated by the economic collapse caused by the coronavirus pandemic , which one analyst called a `` media extinction event . ''
Australia 's declaration — which left one Facebook executive telling BuzzFeed News they were “ disappointed ” — might preview what ’ s to come around the globe as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on the news industry while leaving the tech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is putting tremendous pressure on publishers , ” David Chavern , president and CEO of the News Media Alliance , a global trade group , told BuzzFeed News .
“ That ultimately puts pressures on the platforms to come up with a sustainable deal for the publishing industry.
” And that pressure could come from national governments , including that of the United States .
“ The pressure has been ratcheting up in Europe , is now ratcheting up in Australia , and it 's also ratcheting up but more quietly in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ken Doctor told BuzzFeed News .
“ We 'll see more pressure in the US in 2021 , but very much patterned on the same ideas that we 're seeing in Australia today.
” An estimated 33,000 news industry workers in the US have been furloughed , been laid off , or taken pay cuts amid the coronavirus pandemic , another blow to an industry that has been in decline ever since Craigslist put classified ads online for free .
( BuzzFeed employees have taken pay cuts . )
“ News publishing was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and COVID-19 is crushing it , ” he said .
“ But it 's doing it just in this moment when people want and need content more than ever.
” Though Facebook and Google have successfully beaten back similar efforts by the French , Spanish , and German governments over the past decade , they now face a potentially more sustained campaign to force them to pay news outlets for the third-party content that 's a key engine of their ad businesses .
In the United States , the News Media Alliance is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow publishers to negotiate collectively with the tech giants , which is currently prohibited by antitrust laws .
“ We 've been pushing for this safe harbor bill in Congress , which has pretty good support , by the way , to allow publishers to collectively negotiate with the platforms , ” Chavern said , of a bill written by Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline .
“ All of these things are going to a similar end , which is the platforms are going to have to start returning value back to publishing.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journalism Division at American University , expressed reservations about government involvement in news funding , telling BuzzFeed News it could lead to government control of coverage .
Still , she said some of her colleagues were now supporting national governments helping news publishers receive more money , via taxes on tech companies or other methods .
“ I do think that there is a bit more light on that idea than there has been in the past , '' she said .
`` Wherever we go with this , we have to figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid for news right now , ” Eisman said .
“ This is the most important time for that.
” Although Facebook and Google have announced they ’ ll be voluntarily paying hundreds of millions of dollars to news publishers via programs like the Google News Initiative and Facebook Journalism Project , the tech giants may look askance at being forced to pay for news .
While Facebook and Google tend to make grants to news organizations when they ’ re under political pressure , that support typically falls short of the amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That sounds like a nice amount of money , ” Doctor said .
“ But in terms of making a difference to the future of what local news people get across the country , it 's a drop in the bucket.
” Google — which features news in 8 % to 14 % of its search results , according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission — did not respond to a request for comment .
Facebook , meanwhile , shared dismay at Australia ’ s plan .
“ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's announcement , ” Will Easton , Facebook managing director for Australia and New Zealand , told BuzzFeed News .
“ COVID-19 has impacted every business and industry across the country , including publishers , which is why we announced a new , global investment to support news organizations at a time when advertising revenue is declining .
”

On Monday, the Australian government said it planned to succeed where its European counterparts had failed: forcing Facebook and Google to pay for news.
“Australia seeks to become the first country in the world to successfully require payment for content,” Australia Treasurer Josh Frydenberg wrote in the Australian. “There is too much at stake — nothing less than the future of our media landscape.”
On April 19, Frydenberg announced that despite negotiations between the Australian government and Google and Facebook that had been ongoing since December, the government would put forward a plan in which those companies would be required to pay news organizations for use of their material. The plan is set to be unveiled in July and put into law soon after, accelerated by the economic collapse caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which one analyst called a "media extinction event."
Australia's declaration — which left one Facebook executive telling BuzzFeed News they were “disappointed” — might preview what’s to come around the globe as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on the news industry while leaving the tech giants relatively less damaged.
“COVID-19 is putting tremendous pressure on publishers,” David Chavern, president and CEO of the News Media Alliance, a global trade group, told BuzzFeed News. “That ultimately puts pressures on the platforms to come up with a sustainable deal for the publishing industry.”
And that pressure could come from national governments, including that of the United States.
“The pressure has been ratcheting up in Europe, is now ratcheting up in Australia, and it's also ratcheting up but more quietly in the United States,” news industry analyst Ken Doctor told BuzzFeed News. “We'll see more pressure in the US in 2021, but very much patterned on the same ideas that we're seeing in Australia today.”
An estimated 33,000 news industry workers in the US have been furloughed, been laid off, or taken pay cuts amid the coronavirus pandemic, another blow to an industry that has been in decline ever since Craigslist put classified ads online for free. (BuzzFeed employees have taken pay cuts.)
“News publishing was a financially weak business before COVID-19, and COVID-19 is crushing it,” he said. “But it's doing it just in this moment when people want and need content more than ever.”
Though Facebook and Google have successfully beaten back similar efforts by the French, Spanish, and German governments over the past decade, they now face a potentially more sustained campaign to force them to pay news outlets for the third-party content that's a key engine of their ad businesses.
In the United States, the News Media Alliance is pushing for changes to federal law to allow publishers to negotiate collectively with the tech giants, which is currently prohibited by antitrust laws. “We've been pushing for this safe harbor bill in Congress, which has pretty good support, by the way, to allow publishers to collectively negotiate with the platforms,” Chavern said, of a bill written by Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline. “All of these things are going to a similar end, which is the platforms are going to have to start returning value back to publishing.”
Amy Eisman, director of the Journalism Division at American University, expressed reservations about government involvement in news funding, telling BuzzFeed News it could lead to government control of coverage. Still, she said some of her colleagues were now supporting national governments helping news publishers receive more money, via taxes on tech companies or other methods. “I do think that there is a bit more light on that idea than there has been in the past," she said.
"Wherever we go with this, we have to figure out a way for journalists to get paid for news right now,” Eisman said. “This is the most important time for that.”
Although Facebook and Google have announced they’ll be voluntarily paying hundreds of millions of dollars to news publishers via programs like the Google News Initiative and Facebook Journalism Project, the tech giants may look askance at being forced to pay for news.
While Facebook and Google tend to make grants to news organizations when they’re under political pressure, that support typically falls short of the amount needed to sustain the publishing industry. “That sounds like a nice amount of money,” Doctor said. “But in terms of making a difference to the future of what local news people get across the country, it's a drop in the bucket.”
Google — which features news in 8% to 14% of its search results, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission — did not respond to a request for comment. Facebook, meanwhile, shared dismay at Australia’s plan.
“We’re disappointed by the [Australian] government's announcement,” Will Easton, Facebook managing director for Australia and New Zealand, told BuzzFeed News. “COVID-19 has impacted every business and industry across the country, including publishers, which is why we announced a new, global investment to support news organizations at a time when advertising revenue is declining.”


buzzfeednews--2020-04-24--He Was A Founder Of Modern Somali Music. He Died From The Coronavirus A Week Before His 92nd Birthda

He Was A Founder Of Modern Somali Music. He Died From The Coronavirus A Week Before His 92nd Birthday.

“ All of my friends who have met him still love him .
He has made a huge impact on them just from that one day they saw him.
” Ahmed Ismail Hussein was known as the “ King of Oud ” because he was the master of the 11- or 13-stringed instrument .
Born in the late 1920s in Somalia , Hussein began playing the oud professionally in the ’ 40s after falling in love with it in his teens .
He was instrumental in making qaraami — singing or speaking while playing the oud or drums — one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Somalia .
In February this year , after a career spanning more than seven decades , Hussein retired .
He was considered a founder of modern Somali music .
A concert was held in his honor in London — Hussein moved to the UK in 1974 — with artists whom he handpicked .
Despite his retirement , Hussein , who also went by the name “ Hudeydi , ” had no intention of slowing down entirely ; he had plans to travel to Turkey and Djibouti .
But then he fell ill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken to Charing Cross Hospital in London .
His condition deteriorated , and on April 8 he died from the coronavirus , a week before what would have been his 92nd birthday .
Nadifa Mohamed , a British author , said she spoke to Hussein a few days before his death , when he didn ’ t even seem to have symptoms .
“ I think the decline was quite quick from him developing symptoms to him being quite ill in hospital .
It was quite shocking , ” she told BuzzFeed News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise a fit and healthy person , Mohamed said .
“ Everyone was like , ‘ He was 92 he had a good life ’ — but nothing .
There was no warning , ” she said .
“ It wasn ’ t as if he was sick.
” Mohamed said she had been friends with Hussein since 2012 , when they met at the annual Hargeisa International Book Fair in Somaliland , a disputed territory that neighbors Somalia .
More so than his musical genius , his sense of humor is what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was funny , ” she said .
“ I think that ’ s the first thing I noticed.
” ( His nickname was Hudeydi , but he told the BBC in 2003 that he was also known as `` 'the King ' because of my hot rhythms .
I was always into rock ' n ' roll and Elvis Presley.
” ) “ Having a friend who is 50 years older than you is unusual , but I think his sense of humor was so young and easy to engage with , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was very warm .
You could turn up to his door .
You could bring whoever you wanted .
He would feed you .
He would make tea or coffee for you , tell you stories .
He was very accepting of people , which was very unusual.
” Hussein , she said , had a charm that would make everyone love him from the moment they met him .
“ It ’ s the way that I could turn up with a friend to play an instrument or something else , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hug as he opened the door and he would go to my friend — whoever it may be — and do the same .
Usually when grieving , Somalis tend to visit the home of the deceased ’ s next of kin for days to offer their condolences and pray .
But this is currently impossible during the lockdowns in place across the world .
After Hussein ’ s death , tributes poured in from Somalis around the world .
On the day of his burial , people held absentee funeral prayers .

Despite his retirement, Hussein, who also went by the name “Hudeydi,” had no intention of slowing down entirely; he had plans to travel to Turkey and Djibouti.
But then he fell ill. Earlier this month, he was taken to Charing Cross Hospital in London. His condition deteriorated, and on April 8 he died from the coronavirus, a week before what would have been his 92nd birthday.
Nadifa Mohamed, a British author, said she spoke to Hussein a few days before his death, when he didn’t even seem to have symptoms. “I think the decline was quite quick from him developing symptoms to him being quite ill in hospital. It was quite shocking,” she told BuzzFeed News.
Despite his age, Hussein was otherwise a fit and healthy person, Mohamed said. “Everyone was like, ‘He was 92 he had a good life’ — but nothing. There was no warning,” she said. “It wasn’t as if he was sick.”
Mohamed said she had been friends with Hussein since 2012, when they met at the annual Hargeisa International Book Fair in Somaliland, a disputed territory that neighbors Somalia. More so than his musical genius, his sense of humor is what really stood out for Mohamed. “He was funny,” she said. “I think that’s the first thing I noticed.” (His nickname was Hudeydi, but he told the BBC in 2003 that he was also known as "'the King' because of my hot rhythms. I was always into rock 'n' roll and Elvis Presley.”)


buzzfeednews--2020-04-25--Two More Giant Companies Are Returning Their Coronavirus Loans Meant To Help Small Businesses Stay A

Two More Giant Companies Are Returning Their Coronavirus Loans Meant To Help Small Businesses Stay Afloat

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 .
Potbelly and Ruth 's Chris Steak House , two publicly-traded chain restaurants with locations across the country , have decided to return millions of dollars in loans that were meant for helping small businesses survive during the pandemic .
The companies ' decisions to return the money came amid public outcry after funds for the Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several small businesses struggling to find help .
Potbelly had secured a $ 10 million loan meant for small businesses under the program , which was established as part of the $ 2 trillion Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act , or CARES Act .
Meant to aid small businesses , the law , however , allowed restaurants and hotels to apply for loans under the PPP so long as they had no more than 500 employees working at a single location .
On Thursday , the Small Business Administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could prove they were eligible for the loan , the money should be returned .
`` We are returning the PPP loan after further clarification from the Treasury Department , '' Potbelly said in a tweet Saturday .
`` We will continue to seek alternatives to help support our employees and enable them to return to work so they can serve our loyal customers . ''

Potbelly and Ruth's Chris Steak House, two publicly-traded chain restaurants with locations across the country, have decided to return millions of dollars in loans that were meant for helping small businesses survive during the pandemic.
The companies' decisions to return the money came amid public outcry after funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ran out in about two weeks, leaving several small businesses struggling to find help.
Potbelly had secured a $10 million loan meant for small businesses under the program, which was established as part of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.
Meant to aid small businesses, the law, however, allowed restaurants and hotels to apply for loans under the PPP so long as they had no more than 500 employees working at a single location.
On Thursday, the Small Business Administration issued an advisory warning that unless companies could prove they were eligible for the loan, the money should be returned.
"We are returning the PPP loan after further clarification from the Treasury Department," Potbelly said in a tweet Saturday. "We will continue to seek alternatives to help support our employees and enable them to return to work so they can serve our loyal customers."


buzzfeednews--2020-03-05--Chinese Trolls Are Spreading Coronavirus Disinformation In Taiwan

The messages appeared on Facebook at the end of February , each making the same explosive claim : Taiwan ’ s government had lied about the number of coronavirus infections and deaths .
The posts , written in Mandarin , claimed an unnamed Taiwanese legislator was secretly revealing the cover-up .
“ I ’ m really angry right now , don ’ t the Taiwanese deserve to know these things ?
” the posts said .
The content from the Facebook posts were also shared on Weibo , a major Chinese social media platform , and similar claims spread on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false , and rapidly shown to be so by the Taiwan FactCheck Center , a nonprofit reporting organization .
Taiwan ’ s government has not been lying about the number of cases , which currently stands at 44 , including one death .
This claim , and other false ones targeting Taiwan , was part of a coordinated disinformation campaign launched by people in mainland China across multiple social platforms , according to researchers at the Digital Intelligence Lab at the Institute for the Future , a social science research group based in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese internet users spreading fear and distrust in Taiwan over the deadly virus .
“ Often the term [ foreign interference ] implicitly assumes a state actor , but this campaign appears to be a notable instance of a citizen-led , grassroots foreign disinformation attack , ” said Nick Monaco , the head of the of Digital Intelligence Lab and a researcher of Chinese-language disinformation .
“ Even in five years of looking at troubling disinfo every day , I 'm not sure I 've ever seen anything quite this malicious.
” As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Chinese state involvement .
Instead , it appears mainland Chinese internet users chose to target Taiwan with disinformation for patriotic reasons and online bragging rights .
On its website , Taiwan ’ s Ministry of Justice said the campaign may have been inspired by a recent decision to curtail exports of face masks , which angered some in China .
Monaco said the campaign bore hallmarks of a Chinese troll group known as Diba .
“ They organize ‘ expeditions ’ on forums and message boards , ” Monaco said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jumping the Great Firewall to promote coordinated messaging , frequently targeting Taiwan and Hong Kong with patriotic — and often derogatory — Chinese messages , which often align with the official CCP party line.
” Diba ’ s Weibo account shared some of the false Facebook messages , but Monaco said he could not fully confirm whether the group created them .

The messages appeared on Facebook at the end of February, each making the same explosive claim: Taiwan’s government had lied about the number of coronavirus infections and deaths.
The posts, written in Mandarin, claimed an unnamed Taiwanese legislator was secretly revealing the cover-up. “I’m really angry right now, don’t the Taiwanese deserve to know these things?” the posts said.
The content from the Facebook posts were also shared on Weibo, a major Chinese social media platform, and similar claims spread on Twitter and YouTube.
The claim was false, and rapidly shown to be so by the Taiwan FactCheck Center, a nonprofit reporting organization. Taiwan’s government has not been lying about the number of cases, which currently stands at 44, including one death.
This claim, and other false ones targeting Taiwan, was part of a coordinated disinformation campaign launched by people in mainland China across multiple social platforms, according to researchers at the Digital Intelligence Lab at the Institute for the Future, a social science research group based in California. It offers new examples of Chinese internet users spreading fear and distrust in Taiwan over the deadly virus.
“Often the term [foreign interference] implicitly assumes a state actor, but this campaign appears to be a notable instance of a citizen-led, grassroots foreign disinformation attack,” said Nick Monaco, the head of the of Digital Intelligence Lab and a researcher of Chinese-language disinformation.
“Even in five years of looking at troubling disinfo every day, I'm not sure I've ever seen anything quite this malicious.”
As of now, there is no evidence of Chinese state involvement. Instead, it appears mainland Chinese internet users chose to target Taiwan with disinformation for patriotic reasons and online bragging rights. On its website, Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice said the campaign may have been inspired by a recent decision to curtail exports of face masks, which angered some in China.
Monaco said the campaign bore hallmarks of a Chinese troll group known as Diba.
“They organize ‘expeditions’ on forums and message boards,” Monaco said. “These expeditions involve large numbers of users jumping the Great Firewall to promote coordinated messaging, frequently targeting Taiwan and Hong Kong with patriotic — and often derogatory — Chinese messages, which often align with the official CCP party line.”
Diba’s Weibo account shared some of the false Facebook messages, but Monaco said he could not fully confirm whether the group created them.


buzzfeednews--2020-01-30--A Woman Gave Her Husband Coronavirus In The First US Transmission Of The Disease

Public health officials announced the first case of the newly identified Chinese coronavirus transmitted from person to person on US soil .
The patient is the husband of a Chicago woman in her sixties who had acquired the virus while traveling in Wuhan , China .
That case had been announced by Illinois public health officials last week .
The husband is in medical isolation and is now the sixth US patient with the 2019-nCoV virus , one of more than 7,800 cases worldwide and 98 cases outside of China .
The virus has killed 170 people , all in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more US cases , '' CDC 's Nancy Messonnier said at a briefing for reporters .
She and other health experts noted that the man was only infected through close contact with his wife after she showed symptoms of the illness , which is characterized by coughing , difficulty breathing , and pneumonia .
`` We still believe the immediate risk to the American public is low , '' said CDC Director Robert Redfield on the telebriefing .
Among the 80 international cases , fewer than a dozen similar cases of person-to-person infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been identified so far , Redfield noted .
Those cases all involve close contact with a person with symptoms , like the Chicago-area man experienced .
CDC investigators , who are tracing all close contacts with US patients , still do not see signs of infection from casual contact with patients without symptoms , Redfield said .
Announcement of the Chicago man 's diagnosis comes a day after President Trump named the members of a `` President ’ s Coronavirus Task Force , '' headed by HHS secretary Alex Azar and run through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of infection for Americans remains low , and all agencies are working aggressively to monitor this continuously evolving situation , '' said a White House statement on the task force .

Public health officials announced the first case of the newly identified Chinese coronavirus transmitted from person to person on US soil.
The patient is the husband of a Chicago woman in her sixties who had acquired the virus while traveling in Wuhan, China. That case had been announced by Illinois public health officials last week.
The husband is in medical isolation and is now the sixth US patient with the 2019-nCoV virus, one of more than 7,800 cases worldwide and 98 cases outside of China. The virus has killed 170 people, all in China.
"We expect to see more US cases," CDC's Nancy Messonnier said at a briefing for reporters. She and other health experts noted that the man was only infected through close contact with his wife after she showed symptoms of the illness, which is characterized by coughing, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia.
"We still believe the immediate risk to the American public is low," said CDC Director Robert Redfield on the telebriefing.
Among the 80 international cases, fewer than a dozen similar cases of person-to-person infection from a traveler to another person have been identified so far, Redfield noted. Those cases all involve close contact with a person with symptoms, like the Chicago-area man experienced.
CDC investigators, who are tracing all close contacts with US patients, still do not see signs of infection from casual contact with patients without symptoms, Redfield said.
Announcement of the Chicago man's diagnosis comes a day after President Trump named the members of a "President’s Coronavirus Task Force," headed by HHS secretary Alex Azar and run through the National Security Council. "The risk of infection for Americans remains low, and all agencies are working aggressively to monitor this continuously evolving situation," said a White House statement on the task force.


buzzfeednews--2020-01-31--The Trump Administration Just Declared Coronavirus A Public Health Emergency In The US

A White House task force announced a nationwide public health emergency over the coronavirus outbreak Friday , triggering mandatory quarantines for US citizens traveling from the epicenter of the disease in China 's Hubei province .
In a presidential proclamation , the task force also announced that President Trump would be barring foreign nationals traveling from China from entering the US .
Relatives of US citizens would be allowed entry .
The orders will take effect on Sunday at 5 p.m .
ET .
`` It really is intended to stop the spread of this virus , '' CDC Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing on the announcement .
He added that the current risk of the virus for people in the US is `` low . ''
Under the order , US travelers from Hubei province in China would face mandatory quarantines of up to 14 days in screening centers , while travelers from elsewhere in China would be asked to self-quarantine at home .
`` We still have a low risk to the American public , '' said National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Director Anthony Fauci .
`` But we want to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As justification for the steps , Fauci and Redfield cited the still-unknown incubation period for the virus , and its newly confirmed ability to infect new people while patients do n't display symptoms .
`` We do n't know the natural history of how this virus is secreted , '' said Redfield .
As of Saturday morning , the total 2019-nCoV coronavirus case count stood at more than 12,000 patients , the vast majority in China , and 259 deaths , the vast majority in Hubei province .
There are now seven US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday in California 's Santa Clara County , an adult man who had recently returned from Wuhan , China , the apparent origin of the outbreak .
Asked about the daily changes to travel warnings and restrictions over the course of the outbreak , microbiologist Matthew Frieman of the University of Maryland School of Medicine referenced boxer Mike Tyson 's adage that 'everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth . '
`` We have n't been punched in the face , '' Frieman said .
`` But China has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to transmission of the virus early in an infection and the case of an infection occurring on US soil widens the potential for an outbreak , he said .
`` I would think they are taking these steps out of an overabundance of caution . ''
US airlines have halted flights to and from China , and discussions are underway with Chinese carriers on how to implement screening of passengers .
And on Thursday , the World Health Organization had declared the outbreak a global health emergency but said that move was intended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations , not to trigger travel restrictions .
The Trump administration 's new travel restrictions and quarantine efforts have led some experts to criticize the measures as an overreach .
`` This is exactly what WHO warned against , '' said global health law expert Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown University .
Gostin said the move to quarantine travelers coming from Hubei Province was reasonable , given case numbers there , but that the requirement should have been for voluntary home isolation instead of mandatory detention .
And barring foreign travelers from China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , he said , likely violated civil rights laws , without leading to any real lowered risk of a US outbreak .
`` We are slipping from overconfidence into panic and overreaction , '' said Gostin .
Amesh Adalja of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , speaking for the Infectious Disease Society of America , said that `` decades '' of research show that travel bans are actually counterproductive in derailing outbreaks .
They lead to difficulties getting resources to outbreak centers , bankruptcy , and economic hardship there , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected areas .
`` It 's kind of frustrating that we always have these kind of discussions during every outbreak , no matter how many experts explain why it causes negative consequences , '' Adalja said .
`` I think it is a bad turn of events . ''

A White House task force announced a nationwide public health emergency over the coronavirus outbreak Friday, triggering mandatory quarantines for US citizens traveling from the epicenter of the disease in China's Hubei province.
In a presidential proclamation, the task force also announced that President Trump would be barring foreign nationals traveling from China from entering the US. Relatives of US citizens would be allowed entry.
The orders will take effect on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.
"It really is intended to stop the spread of this virus," CDC Director Robert Redfield said at a White House briefing on the announcement. He added that the current risk of the virus for people in the US is "low."
Under the order, US travelers from Hubei province in China would face mandatory quarantines of up to 14 days in screening centers, while travelers from elsewhere in China would be asked to self-quarantine at home.
"We still have a low risk to the American public," said National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Director Anthony Fauci. "But we want to keep it at a low risk."
As justification for the steps, Fauci and Redfield cited the still-unknown incubation period for the virus, and its newly confirmed ability to infect new people while patients don't display symptoms. "We don't know the natural history of how this virus is secreted," said Redfield.
As of Saturday morning, the total 2019-nCoV coronavirus case count stood at more than 12,000 patients, the vast majority in China, and 259 deaths, the vast majority in Hubei province. There are now seven US cases, the most recent announced on Friday in California's Santa Clara County, an adult man who had recently returned from Wuhan, China, the apparent origin of the outbreak.
Asked about the daily changes to travel warnings and restrictions over the course of the outbreak, microbiologist Matthew Frieman of the University of Maryland School of Medicine referenced boxer Mike Tyson's adage that 'everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.'
"We haven't been punched in the face," Frieman said. "But China has taken one." Recent studies pointing to transmission of the virus early in an infection and the case of an infection occurring on US soil widens the potential for an outbreak, he said. "I would think they are taking these steps out of an overabundance of caution."
US airlines have halted flights to and from China, and discussions are underway with Chinese carriers on how to implement screening of passengers.
And on Thursday, the World Health Organization had declared the outbreak a global health emergency but said that move was intended to steer medical screening assistance to smaller nations, not to trigger travel restrictions.
The Trump administration's new travel restrictions and quarantine efforts have led some experts to criticize the measures as an overreach.
"This is exactly what WHO warned against," said global health law expert Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown University.
Gostin said the move to quarantine travelers coming from Hubei Province was reasonable, given case numbers there, but that the requirement should have been for voluntary home isolation instead of mandatory detention. And barring foreign travelers from China, along with making US citizens self-quarantine at home, he said, likely violated civil rights laws, without leading to any real lowered risk of a US outbreak.
"We are slipping from overconfidence into panic and overreaction," said Gostin.
Amesh Adalja of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, speaking for the Infectious Disease Society of America, said that "decades" of research show that travel bans are actually counterproductive in derailing outbreaks. They lead to difficulties getting resources to outbreak centers, bankruptcy, and economic hardship there, and cause stigma for residents from the affected areas.
"It's kind of frustrating that we always have these kind of discussions during every outbreak, no matter how many experts explain why it causes negative consequences," Adalja said. "I think it is a bad turn of events."