buzzfeednews--2020-04-28--Small Businesses Are Reinventing Themselves To Survive The Coronavirus Pandemic

Work-at-home desks , face shields , and home shopping — here is how these businesses are trying to survive .
The coronavirus is devastating many small businesses , keeping people off the streets , customers out of shops , and cash out of registers .
But some are completely transforming themselves to thrive amid the chaos .
Scrappy firms are now producing entirely new products , pivoting to support the medical industry , and even running themselves entirely online .
Though most small businesses say they won ’ t survive beyond three months in the current conditions , for some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Flying Elephant Productions , a builder of event stages and props in Ireland , should be all but dead by now .
In a span of 48 hours in mid-March , its customers canceled 60 jobs , and lockdowns left it with nothing to do for the foreseeable future .
But instead of closing , the company looked for new opportunities , and its woodworking skills gave it an opening .
When an employee ’ s friend sought a desk to use while working from home , Flying Elephant ’ s team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the unused lumber , it only made sense .
When they delivered the finished product , the friend liked it .
So they decided to build more , anticipating a healthy demand with so many people confined to their houses and apartments .
One month later , Flying Elephant has sold more than 2,000 desks , with a steady stream of orders still coming in .
“ A lot of people in Ireland have given up on similar businesses , ” Michael Keelan , Flying Elephant ’ s co-owner , told BuzzFeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold , its desk business is thriving , and the company is moving on to yet another : It ’ s building sanitizer stations it expects will be in demand as society opens up .
The new business lines are saving the company .
“ We 'll adapt and we 'll come back stronger than ever , '' Keelan said .
Framebridge , a Washington , DC–based custom framing company , is adapting too .
It had several store openings planned for this spring , but when COVID-19 hit , the company put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down its operations .
Then one Framebridge employee saw an article about how people were using 3D printers to make face shields for doctors who needed personal protective equipment , but not producing them fast enough .
The company ’ s leadership realized their acrylic and cutting tools could be repurposed to make face shields , and got to work on a prototype .
“ Within a week of thinking of doing this , we were producing face shields , ” Framebridge CEO Susan Tynan told BuzzFeed News .
After initially selling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an order from the state of Kentucky for 30,000 units .
Though it sells the equipment at cost — $ 4.50 per unit — Framebridge is keeping its workers employed through this transformation .
“ Number one , it ’ s the right thing to do , ” Tynan said .
“ Number two , it gets our folks back to work.
” For Framebridge , now six years old , this crisis and the rapid adjustments have helped it rebuild the entrepreneurial muscle that typically atrophies as companies get older and bigger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure you stay wired in an entrepreneurial way , ” Tynan said .
“ We just all galvanized around our purpose here.
” On UberEats , another new trend is emerging : Local restaurants are now offering “ essentials , ” like toilet paper , in addition to food .
These side businesses have attracted some buzz online , made possible by restaurants ’ connections to wholesale suppliers .
“ People were having trouble getting milk , toilet paper , and all that , and we have plenty of it , ” Casey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Denton , Texas , which is selling toilet paper through UberEats , told BuzzFeed News .
“ We can talk amongst ourselves and work out something to do quickly versus have 50 meetings before we can decide to do anything.
” Some businesses have completely transformed the way they reach customers , such as La Piccolina Baby Boutique in Lincoln , California , which has morphed from a local shop to a home shopping network for baby clothes run on Facebook Live .
After buying La Piccolina in September 2019 , Miranda Pinto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s stay-at-home order .
Upon doing so , she feared for her business ’ s life .
“ I remember for a moment that day , as we 're in the store , unplugging everything , really shutting everything down and thinking , ‘ I 'm gon na lose my business , ” she told BuzzFeed News .
“ I had dumped everything into buying it so there was no backup plan , and it was just that moment of — ‘ Oh my gosh , what did I do ?
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales on Facebook Live , but these were for full-size people and shop owners modeled the clothes .
“ I obviously ca n't put on baby clothes , right ?
” she said .
Models or no , Pinto decided to give it a shot , and began going live through her company ’ s Facebook page .
“ It was like , let 's just do it , ” she said .
“ I needed to pay rent.
” La Piccolina tripled its daily average sales goal on the first broadcast and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're noticing way more online orders following them as well , ” she said .
For the time being , acting quickly and getting into new business lines appears critical for companies across the world .
“ For the vast majority of our members , their businesses are in forced transformation , ” Beri Meric , CEO of professional networking and development company IVY , told BuzzFeed News .
“ Most if not all are going through some kind of transformation.
” IVY itself has transformed from a largely in-person service to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While there is no formula to navigate the moment , the entrepreneurs BuzzFeed News spoke were adamant that getting creative and not holding on to what kept them going in pre-COVID-19 times were enough to save their businesses .
“ We 've seen way more [ support ] than we would have ever expected , ” Pinto said .
“ It 's been tremendous .
”

For Framebridge, now six years old, this crisis and the rapid adjustments have helped it rebuild the entrepreneurial muscle that typically atrophies as companies get older and bigger. “There's something about making sure you stay wired in an entrepreneurial way,” Tynan said. “We just all galvanized around our purpose here.”
On UberEats, another new trend is emerging: Local restaurants are now offering “essentials,” like toilet paper, in addition to food. These side businesses have attracted some buzz online, made possible by restaurants’ connections to wholesale suppliers.
“People were having trouble getting milk, toilet paper, and all that, and we have plenty of it,” Casey Regent, manager of Zalat Pizza in Denton, Texas, which is selling toilet paper through UberEats, told BuzzFeed News. “We can talk amongst ourselves and work out something to do quickly versus have 50 meetings before we can decide to do anything.”
Some businesses have completely transformed the way they reach customers, such as La Piccolina Baby Boutique in Lincoln, California, which has morphed from a local shop to a home shopping network for baby clothes run on Facebook Live.
After buying La Piccolina in September 2019, Miranda Pinto shut its doors last month following California’s stay-at-home order. Upon doing so, she feared for her business’s life. “I remember for a moment that day, as we're in the store, unplugging everything, really shutting everything down and thinking, ‘I'm gonna lose my business,” she told BuzzFeed News. “I had dumped everything into buying it so there was no backup plan, and it was just that moment of — ‘Oh my gosh, what did I do?’”
Pinto had seen other boutiques run sales on Facebook Live, but these were for full-size people and shop owners modeled the clothes. “I obviously can't put on baby clothes, right?” she said. Models or no, Pinto decided to give it a shot, and began going live through her company’s Facebook page. “It was like, let's just do it,” she said. “I needed to pay rent.”
La Piccolina tripled its daily average sales goal on the first broadcast and has done even better since. “We're noticing way more online orders following them as well,” she said.
For the time being, acting quickly and getting into new business lines appears critical for companies across the world. “For the vast majority of our members, their businesses are in forced transformation,” Beri Meric, CEO of professional networking and development company IVY, told BuzzFeed News. “Most if not all are going through some kind of transformation.” IVY itself has transformed from a largely in-person service to one that operates almost exclusively online.
While there is no formula to navigate the moment, the entrepreneurs BuzzFeed News spoke were adamant that getting creative and not holding on to what kept them going in pre-COVID-19 times were enough to save their businesses. “We've seen way more [support] than we would have ever expected,” Pinto said. “It's been tremendous.”


buzzfeednews--2020-06-18--Trump's Rally Brought A Crisis To Tulsa. Now The City Is Expecting Its Biggest Juneteenth Celebratio

Trump's Rally Brought A Crisis To Tulsa. Now The City Is Expecting Its Biggest Juneteenth Celebration Ever.

Thousands of people protest the police killings of George Floyd and other unarmed black people , in Tulsa , Oklahoma , on May 31 .
WASHINGTON — Members of a black nonprofit in Tulsa , Oklahoma , who had canceled its Juneteenth festival because of the coronavirus , are doubling down with a larger event after President Donald Trump announced he ’ d hold a MAGA rally there on the same day .
After Trump announced plans to hold a rally in Tulsa , the site of the 1921 Black Wall Street massacre , on Juneteenth , which commemorates the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US , organizers are now expecting a crowd of 30,000 at the city ’ s Juneteenth festival , which will again be held outdoors .
Sherry Gamble Smith and Vanessa Hall Harper of Tulsa Juneteenth Inc. expanded the outdoor event in 2015 after a lull in the 2010s .
Each year more and more people have flooded the event to celebrate .
This year , the coronavirus upended plans for large gatherings , and the unpredictable global pandemic left Lindsey Corbitt , an event coordinator for Tulsa Juneteenth Inc. , doubtful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So the Tulsa Juneteenth Board of Directors postponed the festival until 2021 , breaking a tradition they had started four years earlier .
A month later , the president announced his rally for the same day and asked attendees to sign a waiver agreeing not to sue if they contract the coronavirus .
“ We felt very disrespected and a little hurt in that moment , ” Corbitt , 28 , told BuzzFeed News during a phone interview .
“ We thought so heavily about the process and knowing what circumstances COVID brings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump tweeted he would change the date to the 20th “ out of respect of this Holiday.
” ( “ I did something good : I made Juneteenth very famous , ” Trump told the Wall Street Journal Wednesday . )
“ For someone who does not respect our ideas , our concepts , our history , our culture — to bring other individuals that support him in not respecting us to our city was 100 % a slap in the face , ” Corbitt said .
“ So in order to combat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can , we decided that it 's a good idea to go ahead and celebrate who we are and what we do and rally for justice.
” More than a dozen Black Tulsa organizations collaborated to peacefully celebrate Juneteenth in the Greenwood District — the site of the 1921 massacre where white residents killed as many as 300 Black people and burned a thriving commercial Black-owned district .
As usual , Cajun and soul food vendors will share space with artists and entertainers outdoors on Greenwood Avenue for the Juneteenth celebration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious tone ; this year ’ s theme is “ I , Too , Am America ” and Rev .
Al Sharpton will be a keynote speaker .
Tiffany Crutcher , the twin sister of Terence Crutcher , who was fatally shot by Tulsa police in 2016 , will also speak at the event .
A day later , just over a mile away , Trump will host a MAGA rally at the 19,100-seat BOK Center .
A spokesperson for the president tweeted that there ’ ve been 1 million tickets requests and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arena have started lining up as early as Wednesday for the Saturday event .
In Tulsa , where only 10 % of the population is Black , Trump continues to draw criticism for holding a rally in the city .
During a moment when protesters are rallying nationwide against police brutality and systemic racism , some residents of Oklahoma think it ’ s just not the best time .
“ We ’ re no strangers to that kind of stuff , ” Democratic State Rep. Monroe Nichols told BuzzFeed News .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and energy around the issue of law enforcement in Tulsa .
Not just because of what happened in Minneapolis , but because of what ’ s happening in our own community .
We ’ ve dealt with that in my community for a very , very long time , not to mention the race massacre 99 years ago.
” Republican Gov .
Kevin Stitt told reporters on Wednesday that he has advised the president not to visit the Greenwood area during his trip to Tulsa because the needed security would disrupt Juneteenth events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state legislature , the warning to stay away was more of a rebuke of Trump ’ s presidency .
“ We ’ ve pushed back a lot on Trump visiting the Greenwood District because of his rhetoric and those types of things , ” Nichols said .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s appropriate for him to be there .
… I did have some concern about security .
Because Donald Trump brings with him , you know , some folks who are kind of looking to mix it up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials advised against Trump ’ s indoor rally .
“ I ’ m concerned about our ability to protect anyone who attends a large , indoor event , and I ’ m also concerned about our ability to ensure the president stays safe as well , ” said Bruce Dart , Tulsa ’ s health department director , adding , “ I wish we could postpone this to a time when the virus isn ’ t as large a concern as it is today.
” The warning came amid Oklahoma ’ s recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine states that has seen an uptick of 75 % or more COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days .
Whirlpool temporarily closed its Tulsa plant because of confirmed coronavirus cases among its employees a week ahead of the president ’ s visit .
Both the Trump campaign and Black event organizers say they ’ ll be distributing masks and hand sanitizer .
The Trump campaign said they ’ ll be taking attendees ’ temperatures and have added an outdoor stage to the event and Trump will speak at both the indoor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Anthony Fauci , a member of the White House coronavirus task force , told the Daily Beast Tuesday “ outside is better than inside , no crowd is better than crowd , ” and “ crowd is better than big crowd ” when asked about Trump ’ s Tulsa rally and other large events and social distancing .
( Fauci said he personally would not attend . )

WASHINGTON — Members of a black nonprofit in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who had canceled its Juneteenth festival because of the coronavirus, are doubling down with a larger event after President Donald Trump announced he’d hold a MAGA rally there on the same day.
After Trump announced plans to hold a rally in Tulsa, the site of the 1921 Black Wall Street massacre, on Juneteenth, which commemorates the day the last enslaved person was freed in the US, organizers are now expecting a crowd of 30,000 at the city’s Juneteenth festival, which will again be held outdoors.
Sherry Gamble Smith and Vanessa Hall Harper of Tulsa Juneteenth Inc. expanded the outdoor event in 2015 after a lull in the 2010s. Each year more and more people have flooded the event to celebrate.
This year, the coronavirus upended plans for large gatherings, and the unpredictable global pandemic left Lindsey Corbitt, an event coordinator for Tulsa Juneteenth Inc., doubtful the state would reopen in time. So the Tulsa Juneteenth Board of Directors postponed the festival until 2021, breaking a tradition they had started four years earlier.
A month later, the president announced his rally for the same day and asked attendees to sign a waiver agreeing not to sue if they contract the coronavirus.
“We felt very disrespected and a little hurt in that moment,” Corbitt, 28, told BuzzFeed News during a phone interview. “We thought so heavily about the process and knowing what circumstances COVID brings to our citizens.”
Following backlash, Trump tweeted he would change the date to the 20th “out of respect of this Holiday.” (“I did something good: I made Juneteenth very famous,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal Wednesday.)
“For someone who does not respect our ideas, our concepts, our history, our culture — to bring other individuals that support him in not respecting us to our city was 100% a slap in the face,” Corbitt said. “So in order to combat that in the most positive way that we can, we decided that it's a good idea to go ahead and celebrate who we are and what we do and rally for justice.”
More than a dozen Black Tulsa organizations collaborated to peacefully celebrate Juneteenth in the Greenwood District — the site of the 1921 massacre where white residents killed as many as 300 Black people and burned a thriving commercial Black-owned district. As usual, Cajun and soul food vendors will share space with artists and entertainers outdoors on Greenwood Avenue for the Juneteenth celebration. But the current environment commands a more serious tone; this year’s theme is “I, Too, Am America” and Rev. Al Sharpton will be a keynote speaker. Tiffany Crutcher, the twin sister of Terence Crutcher, who was fatally shot by Tulsa police in 2016, will also speak at the event.
A day later, just over a mile away, Trump will host a MAGA rally at the 19,100-seat BOK Center. A spokesperson for the president tweeted that there’ve been 1 million tickets requests and attendees looking to get a seat inside the arena have started lining up as early as Wednesday for the Saturday event.
In Tulsa, where only 10% of the population is Black, Trump continues to draw criticism for holding a rally in the city. During a moment when protesters are rallying nationwide against police brutality and systemic racism, some residents of Oklahoma think it’s just not the best time.
“We’re no strangers to that kind of stuff,” Democratic State Rep. Monroe Nichols told BuzzFeed News. “There’s a lot of activism and energy around the issue of law enforcement in Tulsa. Not just because of what happened in Minneapolis, but because of what’s happening in our own community. We’ve dealt with that in my community for a very, very long time, not to mention the race massacre 99 years ago.”
Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt told reporters on Wednesday that he has advised the president not to visit the Greenwood area during his trip to Tulsa because the needed security would disrupt Juneteenth events. But for Democrats in the Oklahoma state legislature, the warning to stay away was more of a rebuke of Trump’s presidency.
“We’ve pushed back a lot on Trump visiting the Greenwood District because of his rhetoric and those types of things,” Nichols said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for him to be there. … I did have some concern about security. Because Donald Trump brings with him, you know, some folks who are kind of looking to mix it up a bit.”
Last week local health officials advised against Trump’s indoor rally. “I’m concerned about our ability to protect anyone who attends a large, indoor event, and I’m also concerned about our ability to ensure the president stays safe as well,” said Bruce Dart, Tulsa’s health department director, adding, “I wish we could postpone this to a time when the virus isn’t as large a concern as it is today.”
The warning came amid Oklahoma’s recent spike in coronavirus cases — one of nine states that has seen an uptick of 75% or more COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days. Whirlpool temporarily closed its Tulsa plant because of confirmed coronavirus cases among its employees a week ahead of the president’s visit.
Both the Trump campaign and Black event organizers say they’ll be distributing masks and hand sanitizer. The Trump campaign said they’ll be taking attendees’ temperatures and have added an outdoor stage to the event and Trump will speak at both the indoor and outdoor events, according to Axios. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, told the Daily Beast Tuesday “outside is better than inside, no crowd is better than crowd,” and “crowd is better than big crowd” when asked about Trump’s Tulsa rally and other large events and social distancing. (Fauci said he personally would not attend.)


buzzfeednews--2020-05-08--This Man Was Tortured By The Police For Distributing Coronavirus Aid

BuzzFeed News has reporters across five continents bringing you trustworthy stories about the impact of the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
“ If I ’ m a member of Parliament and this is done to me , other Ugandans are killed .
They ’ re shot , ” Zaake said .
“ They use this COVID-19 crackdown to really violate our human rights .
I ’ m not only the only one.
” Zaake said he was still in the hospital struggling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was his first interview with a foreign news outlet since his release , and his voice was so weak he could barely be heard over the phone .
Zaake is a 29-year-old member of Parliament affiliated with the opposition People Power movement , which is rallying the support of the country ’ s large population of young people living in poverty .
He was released on April 29 , after 10 days during which he says he was beaten all over his body and slashed with something that felt like barbed wire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zaake just before his release said that “ bits of flesh hang off his chest as though someone had attempted to randomly pluck them out with a fork but stopped midway.
” This is how coronavirus measures are being used in Uganda , where the government of President Yoweri Museveni and government-aligned paramilitary groups have persecuted political opponents , beaten journalists , closed the courts , and even raided an LGBTQ shelter all in the name of halting the virus .
Zaake said the other prisoners he met in detention told him they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for breaking the coronavirus curfew .
Several are living with HIV but were being denied medication .
None of them could access lawyers ; the jails were keeping out all visitors , even though the cells were so crowded that the coronavirus could spread like wildfire inside .
This was just the first of 10 days of torture .
Zaake ’ s alleged crime : delivering food to neighbors left hungry by the coronavirus lockdown .
Francis Zaake was in the shower one evening last week when the police broke down his bedroom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handcuffs and later suspended from his arms and legs inside a truck so that every bump on the two-hour drive stretched his limbs to the breaking point .
The officers blinded him with a substance he thought was pepper spray .
Almost three weeks later , he still can ’ t open his eyes , he told BuzzFeed News in a phone interview from Uganda .
Government spokesperson Ofwondo Opono did not respond to a request for comment .
But on Thursday , the minister of internal affairs , Obiga Kania , submitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged Zaake deliberately hurt himself : “ It is probable that Hon .
Zaake could have inflicted himself ” with the injuries .
The brutality of Museveni ’ s coronavirus lockdown reflects his determination to win a sixth term in elections next February .
The country has just 97 confirmed cases and no deaths , but the government has imposed some of the most sweeping restrictions in the region .
They were enacted on March 31 with no notice , stranding many Ugandans without food , transportation , or sufficient medication .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including hardware stores and restaurants , could begin to reopen , but most of the restrictions will remain in place for at least another two weeks .
From the beginning , he declared that only the government would be allowed to distribute aid ; any politician caught doing it on their own would be severely punished .
“ That is looking for cheap popularity because you 're going to make people gather , which is risky .
You will be charged with attempted murder , ” the president said .
Museveni is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Nicholas Opiyo , one of Uganda ’ s leading human rights lawyers .
Members of the president 's National Resistance Movement political party have been freely distributing food aid outside formal government channels at the same time Zaake was organizing his effort .
“ It is part of how Museveni has used COVID to gain political mileage and locked out political opponents , ” Opiyo said .
Museveni ’ s recent easing of restrictions did not restore many basic rights , Opiyo said .
He will allow only 30 lawyers to operate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a population of more than 40 million .
Courts have only been opened to send people arrested to jail , without access to lawyers or an opportunity to challenge their detention .
Museveni ’ s government has long been a key US ally in east Africa , receiving more than $ 400 million in aid in 2019 .
Museveni has a long track record of human rights abuses , including arresting his leading opponent in the 2016 election and killing at least 100 civilians — including 15 children — in the aftermath of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becoming even more authoritarian as Museveni prepares to seek a sixth term in 2021 .
Zaake was already quite familiar with the brutality of Museveni ’ s regime .
He jumped into politics after being elected head of his university ’ s student organization .
He was first elected to Parliament in 2016 and is a prominent ally of one of Museveni ’ s most serious rivals , Bobi Wine .
Wine is a former pop star who is so popular among Uganda ’ s large young and low-income population that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 'd entered politics .
Wine and Zaake have repeatedly been abused after entering political life .
In 2017 , a government minister knocked Zaake unconscious on the floor of Parliament as he tried to help defeat a constitutional change to allow Museveni to run for another term .
Zaake and Wine were brutally beaten by government officers during a 2018 campaign swing .
Wine ’ s driver was shot dead , and both politicians faced charges of treason .
But Zaake said he was still surprised at the violence he suffered this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to observe social distancing regulations when he organized food deliveries on April 19 , and he thought nothing of posting pictures that people sent him of neighbors receiving aid .
He never personally left his compound , nor did he invite people to gather to receive food .
Instead , he packed essentials like rice and sugar into care packages and arranged for the food to be delivered by motorbike drivers .
He was formally charged with “ negligent acts likely to spread infection of disease.
” But this was clearly just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zaake said .
His captors never mentioned the food aid during his 10 days in detention .
“ This was a deliberate move to torture me , ” Zaake said .
They taunted him , saying “ no one would demonstrate for me because everyone is under lockdown.
” He thought he might die “ because they were telling me that they are going to kill me.
” Wine helped raise an international outcry about Zaake ’ s treatment , repeatedly sounding the alarm about the situation to his more than 1 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prominent opposition leaders also wrote about Zaake ’ s torture to the UN secretary-general , António Guterres , noting that Museveni is behaving with impunity even though the country receives more than $ 1 billion in international aid from the US , the UK , the European Union , and multilateral development funds .
Wine also posted a video of people around the world voicing support for Zaake .

Government spokesperson Ofwondo Opono did not respond to a request for comment. But on Thursday, the minister of internal affairs, Obiga Kania, submitted a report to Parliament in which he alleged Zaake deliberately hurt himself: “It is probable that Hon. Zaake could have inflicted himself” with the injuries.
The brutality of Museveni’s coronavirus lockdown reflects his determination to win a sixth term in elections next February. The country has just 97 confirmed cases and no deaths, but the government has imposed some of the most sweeping restrictions in the region. They were enacted on March 31 with no notice, stranding many Ugandans without food, transportation, or sufficient medication. The president announced on Tuesday that some businesses, including hardware stores and restaurants, could begin to reopen, but most of the restrictions will remain in place for at least another two weeks.
From the beginning, he declared that only the government would be allowed to distribute aid; any politician caught doing it on their own would be severely punished.
“That is looking for cheap popularity because you're going to make people gather, which is risky. You will be charged with attempted murder,” the president said.
Museveni is the one trying to politicize aid, said Nicholas Opiyo, one of Uganda’s leading human rights lawyers. Members of the president's National Resistance Movement political party have been freely distributing food aid outside formal government channels at the same time Zaake was organizing his effort.
“It is part of how Museveni has used COVID to gain political mileage and locked out political opponents,” Opiyo said.
Museveni’s recent easing of restrictions did not restore many basic rights, Opiyo said. He will allow only 30 lawyers to operate in the whole country, which has a population of more than 40 million. Courts have only been opened to send people arrested to jail, without access to lawyers or an opportunity to challenge their detention.
Museveni’s government has long been a key US ally in east Africa, receiving more than $400 million in aid in 2019. Museveni has a long track record of human rights abuses, including arresting his leading opponent in the 2016 election and killing at least 100 civilians — including 15 children — in the aftermath of the vote. But the government is becoming even more authoritarian as Museveni prepares to seek a sixth term in 2021.
Zaake was already quite familiar with the brutality of Museveni’s regime. He jumped into politics after being elected head of his university’s student organization. He was first elected to Parliament in 2016 and is a prominent ally of one of Museveni’s most serious rivals, Bobi Wine. Wine is a former pop star who is so popular among Uganda’s large young and low-income population that he was nicknamed the “ghetto president” before he'd entered politics.
Wine and Zaake have repeatedly been abused after entering political life. In 2017, a government minister knocked Zaake unconscious on the floor of Parliament as he tried to help defeat a constitutional change to allow Museveni to run for another term. Zaake and Wine were brutally beaten by government officers during a 2018 campaign swing. Wine’s driver was shot dead, and both politicians faced charges of treason.
But Zaake said he was still surprised at the violence he suffered this time. He said he was careful to observe social distancing regulations when he organized food deliveries on April 19, and he thought nothing of posting pictures that people sent him of neighbors receiving aid. He never personally left his compound, nor did he invite people to gather to receive food. Instead, he packed essentials like rice and sugar into care packages and arranged for the food to be delivered by motorbike drivers.
He was formally charged with “negligent acts likely to spread infection of disease.” But this was clearly just a pretext to abuse a Museveni critic, Zaake said. His captors never mentioned the food aid during his 10 days in detention.
“This was a deliberate move to torture me,” Zaake said. They taunted him, saying “no one would demonstrate for me because everyone is under lockdown.” He thought he might die “because they were telling me that they are going to kill me.”
Wine helped raise an international outcry about Zaake’s treatment, repeatedly sounding the alarm about the situation to his more than 1 million Facebook followers. Wine and several other prominent opposition leaders also wrote about Zaake’s torture to the UN secretary-general, António Guterres, noting that Museveni is behaving with impunity even though the country receives more than $1 billion in international aid from the US, the UK, the European Union, and multilateral development funds. Wine also posted a video of people around the world voicing support for Zaake.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-02--The FDA Is Easing Its Ban On Blood Donations From Gay And Bisexual Men Because Of The Coronavirus Pa

The FDA Is Easing Its Ban On Blood Donations From Gay And Bisexual Men Because Of The Coronavirus Pandemic

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
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The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday eased its ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men , citing the “ unprecedented challenges to the US blood supply ” during the coronavirus pandemic .
The new rules allow blood donations from men who have abstained from sex with another man for more than three months ; for the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t donate if they ’ d had sex with a man in the previous year .
Various forms of the ban — which was first implemented in the 1980s as a total prohibition to keep HIV out of the blood supply — were slowly dialed back under the Obama administration , which said screening and tests increasingly ensured a safe blood supply .
Even the one-year policy was widely decried as de facto ban for gay and bisexual male blood donors .
But on Thursday , Peter Marks , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research , explained the new rules were prudent given that blood “ donor centers have experienced a dramatic reduction in donations due to the implementation of social distancing and the cancellation of blood drives.
” “ Based on recently completed studies and epidemiologic data , ” he added , “ the FDA has concluded that current policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria can be modified without compromising the safety of the blood supply.
” In the scramble to curb the coronavirus pandemic , some medical facilities have announced plans to collect blood plasma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contains antibodies — from those who had overcome COVID-19 and transfuse it to patients who are still sick with the disease .
Gay men , however , had complained they were unable to help in the potentially lifesaving program .
The FDA also scaled back other restrictions on blood donations , according to a statement : • None For female donors who would have been deferred for having sex with a man who had sex with another man : the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tattoos and piercings : the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months .
• None For those who have traveled to malaria-endemic areas ( and are residents of malaria non-endemic countries ) : the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months .
Alphonso David , head of the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign , applauded the new rules but said , “ more needs to be done.
” Democrat Scott Wiener , a member of the California Senate , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still awful . ''
`` The celibacy requirement still irrationally discriminates against gay and bisexual men by placing a celibacy requirement on them without placing that same requirement on sexually active straight people , '' he continued , adding that `` modern HIV testing technology is so accurate and powerful that it will detect any HIV infection that occurred 10-14 days or longer before the donation . ''
Even the one-year rule had been blasted by lawmakers as being unscientific and needlessly biased .
In 2016 , several senators urged the Obama administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies that are grounded in science , based on individual risk factors , don ’ t unfairly single out one group of individuals , and allow all healthy Americans to donate.
” It was not immediately clear if new rules would affect transgender people — for years , the FDA has enforced incoherent rules on transgender blood donors that effectively banned all transgender people from donating .

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday eased its ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men, citing the “unprecedented challenges to the US blood supply” during the coronavirus pandemic.
The new rules allow blood donations from men who have abstained from sex with another man for more than three months; for the past several years, gay and bisexual men couldn’t donate if they’d had sex with a man in the previous year.
Various forms of the ban — which was first implemented in the 1980s as a total prohibition to keep HIV out of the blood supply — were slowly dialed back under the Obama administration, which said screening and tests increasingly ensured a safe blood supply. Even the one-year policy was widely decried as de facto ban for gay and bisexual male blood donors.
But on Thursday, Peter Marks, director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, explained the new rules were prudent given that blood “donor centers have experienced a dramatic reduction in donations due to the implementation of social distancing and the cancellation of blood drives.”
“Based on recently completed studies and epidemiologic data,” he added, “the FDA has concluded that current policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria can be modified without compromising the safety of the blood supply.”
In the scramble to curb the coronavirus pandemic, some medical facilities have announced plans to collect blood plasma — a subset of whole blood that contains antibodies — from those who had overcome COVID-19 and transfuse it to patients who are still sick with the disease. Gay men, however, had complained they were unable to help in the potentially lifesaving program.
The FDA also scaled back other restrictions on blood donations, according to a statement:
For female donors who would have been deferred for having sex with a man who had sex with another man: the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months.
For those with recent tattoos and piercings: the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months.
For those who have traveled to malaria-endemic areas (and are residents of malaria non-endemic countries): the agency is changing the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months.
Alphonso David, head of the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, applauded the new rules but said, “more needs to be done.”
Democrat Scott Wiener, a member of the California Senate, said in a statement the policy was "still awful."
"The celibacy requirement still irrationally discriminates against gay and bisexual men by placing a celibacy requirement on them without placing that same requirement on sexually active straight people," he continued, adding that "modern HIV testing technology is so accurate and powerful that it will detect any HIV infection that occurred 10-14 days or longer before the donation."
Even the one-year rule had been blasted by lawmakers as being unscientific and needlessly biased. In 2016, several senators urged the Obama administration “to develop better blood donor deferral policies that are grounded in science, based on individual risk factors, don’t unfairly single out one group of individuals, and allow all healthy Americans to donate.”
It was not immediately clear if new rules would affect transgender people — for years, the FDA has enforced incoherent rules on transgender blood donors that effectively banned all transgender people from donating.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-02--What You Need To Know About The Great Face Mask Debate

Whether more people should wear masks has become one of the fiercest debates of the coronavirus pandemic .
New data about how the virus spreads may be tipping the scales .
A growing number of public health experts are arguing that people should wear masks while in public to help prevent spreading the coronavirus , as new data shows people without visible symptoms are likely spreading COVID-19 more than previously believed .
Just this week , the Trump administration announced the CDC was considering the idea .
`` The idea of getting a much more broad communitywide use of masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under very active discussion , ” Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the president ’ s coronavirus task force , told ABC News .
As Americans wait for more guidance from the federal government , we ’ ll tackle three questions currently at the heart of the fast-changing mask debate : Who can spread the virus ?
Can the virus be airborne ?
What ’ s the difference between the types of masks ?
But first , some overall context : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration , academia , and hospitals whose workers are caring for COVID-19 patients — is getting increasingly heated .
Public health experts have been pushing back against the narrow federal guidelines stating that face masks should only be worn by health care workers , people caring for the ill , or those who are actively displaying symptoms .
What it means for the general public is still confusing and ethically murky .
There is a lethal shortage of medical masks — both the rigid , snug-fitting N95 respirators and the looser-fitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and there will be even fewer if the general public buys them en masse .
And as people turn to making homemade masks from craft kits or old T-shirts , it ’ s still unclear how much these even help prevent the spread of the disease or prevent the wearer from contracting it .
Part of the confusion stems from misleading messaging in the early days of the US outbreak .
In late February , US Surgeon General Jerome Adams forcefully said that the public should not wear masks .
His widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks would not protect the public against the virus — but that , at the same time , health care workers needed them for protection .
He also didn ’ t specify what counted as a mask .
An N95 ?
A surgical mask ?
A fabric mask ?
Similarly , the CDC ’ s guidance has been unchanged from the beginning : Healthy people do not need masks .
“ You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick ( and they are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers , ” the agency ’ s website says .
Even the World Health Organization still does not endorse widespread mask use .
Meanwhile , countries where widespread mask use predated the pandemic — including China , Japan , and South Korea — are embracing masks more than ever .
George Gao , director-general of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention , told Science the biggest mistake countries like the US were making in response to the outbreak “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks.
” In recent weeks , some US hospitals have changed their guidelines , requiring all of their staff to wear masks , instead of just those interacting with COVID-19 patients .
And US public health experts are pushing back , including Scott Gottlieb , the former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration , who cowrote a report recommending “ everyone , including people without symptoms , should be encouraged to wear nonmedical fabric face masks while in public.
” The subsequent mask debate inside the federal government , first reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stark departure from previous federal recommendations .
When asked on Wednesday about whether the public should wear masks , President Donald Trump said : “ We don ’ t want to take them away from our medical professionals , but I don ’ t see it hurting.
” And Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti this week recommended everyone in the city wear a nonmedical mask , such as a homemade mask or bandana .
Public health officials consulted by BuzzFeed News declined to criticize the CDC ’ s decision-making on masks , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew about the coronavirus at the time .
But now that our understanding of the spread has shifted , they said , so too should our guidance on masks .
“ The first reason to wear a mask is so we all protect each other , ” said Roger Shapiro , a Boston doctor and an associate professor of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard , the best rationale for wearing a mask “ is so you don ’ t infect someone else.
” There may also “ be a small benefit ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added , “ since we don ’ t know everything about how this disease transmits.
” All sides of the debate still agree that masks will only be effective in helping to slow the spread of the coronavirus if used in addition to regular handwashing and social distancing .
Here ’ s what we know so far : People with no symptoms can spread the virus — so more masks could help stop the spread .
According to the early information coming out of China , where the outbreak began , the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who were coughing and sneezing into the air close to others and on surfaces .
If those sick people self-isolate , or at least stay 6 feet away from others , and wear a mask to cut down on the germs they are spewing , they would cut down on their chances of infecting others .
Since then , a growing body of data suggests that some percentage of people who test positive for the virus never display any symptoms , but are likely to still be capable of spreading the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been confirmed ) .
In the cases of people who do develop symptoms , they can be contagious for a few days before that happens , other research shows .
This means people who the CDC currently says should not wear masks could be spreading the disease without knowing it .
It ’ s for this same reason that some hospitals have started mandating widespread mask use among health care workers .
The new policy was put in place at Boston ’ s Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners HealthCare hospitals in recent weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is widespread community transmission of COVID-19 , as well as our recognition that there is significant asymptomatic spread — in other words , COVID-19 can be spread by people who don ’ t feel ill at all , ” Paul Biddinger , chief of emergency preparedness for both MGH and Partners , told the Globe .
Shapiro , whose hospital also changed its guidelines , said that new policy shifted his thinking on masks more generally .
“ If I ’ m going to do it in the hospital , it raises that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other settings , ” Shapiro said .
“ But I can tell you I haven ’ t changed my personal practice.
” There are also questions about whether the virus can be airborne .
When an infected person is coughing , sneezing , or likely even talking , they are spewing both small particles and large droplets into the air .
This is how the virus is most likely transmitted , public health officials say , which is why they recommend staying 6 feet away from others to be outside the possible splash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands and avoiding touching your face in case you touched an infected surface .
But new research suggests the virus can sometimes spread through the air , where small particles have stayed aloft for up to 3 hours in a lab setting .
That ’ s much longer than originally thought .
But it ’ s important to stress that experts don ’ t actually know whether the virus is really spreading this way in the real world , unlike well-known airborne diseases such as measles .
There ’ s at least one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility of airborne spread , at a choir recital in Washington state .
No one was visibly ill at the event , but afterward at least 45 choir members likely got COVID-19 , and at least one died .
But most masks wouldn ’ t protect against airborne exposure .
For the purposes of the coronavirus outbreak , there are three main types of masks : respirators , surgical masks , and fabric , or homemade , masks .
N95 respirators are considered the gold standard for those on the frontlines .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearer ’ s face — they offer protection from about 95 % of small particles ( 0.3 microns in size ) and large droplets .
Individual coronavirus particles are smaller than this .
But when they are coughed or sneezed up , they likely travel in small clumps of spit and mucus .
The WHO and the CDC only recommend N95s for health care workers at the greatest risk of virus exposure , such as those who test patients for COVID-19 by swabbing their noses or mouths or those who connect patients to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N95s are only worn once and then tossed out .
But due to supply shortages , health care workers are having to repeatedly wear the respirators , raising questions about whether the masks are getting contaminated from repeated exposures and removals .
No one is recommending the public wear N95 respirators .
Surgical masks are the next step down , offering protection against large droplets .
This is the type of mask CDC currently recommends for most health care workers , caregivers , and people who are sick .
In recent weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco , and Providence , and other US cities , have started requiring all of their health care workers wear these masks , six doctors and nurses told BuzzFeed News .
The current shortage of surgical masks for health care workers is shaping the government ’ s thinking on whether to start recommending them to the public .
Consequently , the discussions over changing the CDC ’ s mask guidance are about whether most people should start wearing homemade fabric masks , which may offer some protection against large droplets but don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air .
Not considered official “ personal protective equipment ” by the CDC , the agency only recommends them for health care workers “ as a last resort.
” Their effectiveness against droplets is unknown due to minimal study and the wide range in fabric materials that can be used .
According to a 2013 study in the journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , fabric masks that fit snugly on the face provided three times less protection than surgical masks .
“ We found they are not as good as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lead study author , told BuzzFeed News .
Davies and her colleagues found a surgical mask had about a 90 % filtration efficiency for very small particles ( around 2 microns ) .
The next best materials found at home at blocking particles were vacuum cleaner bags ( about 86 % filtration efficiency ) and tea towels ( about 72 % filtration efficiency ) , but they would be so difficult to breathe out of that they wouldn ’ t be suitable for a mask .
Meanwhile , a cotton mix material @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to roughly 57 % for a pillowcase , about 62 % for linen , about 54 % for silk , nearly 51 % for a 100 % cotton T-shirt , and nearly 49 % for a scarf .
“ An improvised face mask should be viewed as the last possible alternative if a supply of commercial face masks is not available , ” the study authors wrote , and should be paired with other protective measures .
Davies noted this was a very small study , not a clinical trial , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effectiveness of homemade masks in a pandemic environment .
Some of the health experts most resistant to universal mask-wearing largely cite concerns that people would not wear masks properly or adhere to other safety precautions less as a result .
If someone is constantly fidgeting with their mask , or is emboldened to get closer to people than 6 feet or leave the house more than they might otherwise , the potential benefits of a mask would likely be negated .
“ I suspect probably if everyone wore masks , and alongside all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a reduction in transmission , ” Davies said .
“ The masks don ’ t give you a normal life back , unfortunately.
” Many questions remain about how to best use fabric masks : How do you decontaminate them ?
Can they be reused ?
How long should you wear a homemade mask for ?
But public health officials are increasingly coming on board to the idea of more people covering their faces , or at least supporting people who want to .
“ No one should be yelled at because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Georges Benjamin , executive director of the American Public Health Association .
“ They are not crazy .
They are trying to protect themselves .
And may it reduce their risk a little bit ?
Maybe.
” ●

People with no symptoms can spread the virus — so more masks could help stop the spread.
According to the early information coming out of China, where the outbreak began, the virus was predominantly being spread by visibly sick people who were coughing and sneezing into the air close to others and on surfaces.
If those sick people self-isolate, or at least stay 6 feet away from others, and wear a mask to cut down on the germs they are spewing, they would cut down on their chances of infecting others.
Since then, a growing body of data suggests that some percentage of people who test positive for the virus never display any symptoms, but are likely to still be capable of spreading the disease (though such transmission hasn’t been confirmed). In the cases of people who do develop symptoms, they can be contagious for a few days before that happens, other research shows. This means people who the CDC currently says should not wear masks could be spreading the disease without knowing it.
It’s for this same reason that some hospitals have started mandating widespread mask use among health care workers.
The new policy was put in place at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners HealthCare hospitals in recent weeks “based on our recognition that there is widespread community transmission of COVID-19, as well as our recognition that there is significant asymptomatic spread — in other words, COVID-19 can be spread by people who don’t feel ill at all,” Paul Biddinger, chief of emergency preparedness for both MGH and Partners, told the Globe.
Shapiro, whose hospital also changed its guidelines, said that new policy shifted his thinking on masks more generally. “If I’m going to do it in the hospital, it raises that question of why not do it in other settings,” Shapiro said. “But I can tell you I haven’t changed my personal practice.”
There are also questions about whether the virus can be airborne.
When an infected person is coughing, sneezing, or likely even talking, they are spewing both small particles and large droplets into the air. This is how the virus is most likely transmitted, public health officials say, which is why they recommend staying 6 feet away from others to be outside the possible splash zone, as well as washing your hands and avoiding touching your face in case you touched an infected surface.
But new research suggests the virus can sometimes spread through the air, where small particles have stayed aloft for up to 3 hours in a lab setting. That’s much longer than originally thought. But it’s important to stress that experts don’t actually know whether the virus is really spreading this way in the real world, unlike well-known airborne diseases such as measles.
There’s at least one case where local officials are considering the possibility of airborne spread, at a choir recital in Washington state. No one was visibly ill at the event, but afterward at least 45 choir members likely got COVID-19, and at least one died.
But most masks wouldn’t protect against airborne exposure.
Not all masks offer equal protection.
For the purposes of the coronavirus outbreak, there are three main types of masks: respirators, surgical masks, and fabric, or homemade, masks.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-30--Twitter Deleted Two Tweets From Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro For Spreading Coronavirus Misinfor

Twitter Deleted Two Tweets From Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro For Spreading Coronavirus Misinformation

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 .
On Sunday , Twitter deleted two tweets by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro because they contained false or misleading information about COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
“ Twitter recently announced the expansion of its rules to cover content that could be against public health information provided by official sources and could put people at greater risk of transmitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform told BuzzFeed News .
The deleted tweets now redirect to Twitter ’ s rules and policies page .
According to Brazilian newspaper Folha , the deletions were the first time the site has taken action against content posted by Bolsonaro , first elected in October 2018 .
It 's not the first time that the site has used its coronavirus policy to delete a post by a sitting head of state , which Twitter provides a wider latitude than for most users .
Last week , the site deleted a post by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ natural brew '' to cure COVID-19 .
In the tweets , Bosolonaro posted videos of himself taken during a walking tour in Brasília on Sunday , in which the president praised the use of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for treating the virus and encouraged an end to social distancing and isolation measures in the country .
Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine attracted attention earlier this month after a small French study indicated positive results in treating COVID-19 .
“ What I have been hearing from people is that they want to work , ” Bolsonaro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Brazil can not stop or we ’ ll turn into Venezuela , ” he added .
The videos were still available on Facebook until Monday evening , when both the platform and Instagram removed the video for violating community standards .
`` We remove content on Facebook and Instagram that violates our Community Standards , which do not allow misinformation that could lead to physical harm , '' a Facebook spokesperson told BuzzFeed News .
Earlier this month , Twitter announced that it was changing its terms of service to prohibit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority recommendations , promoted treatments or protective measures not immediately harmful but known to be ineffective , denied established scientific facts about transmission , and other content relating to the virus that posed a health risk .
In October 2019 , Twitter clarified that unless a world leader explicitly violated the site 's rules , leaving no room for interpretation , the company would leave their posts up .
`` We focus on the language of reported Tweets , '' Twitter said in a blog post .

On Sunday, Twitter deleted two tweets by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro because they contained false or misleading information about COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
“Twitter recently announced the expansion of its rules to cover content that could be against public health information provided by official sources and could put people at greater risk of transmitting COVID-19,” a spokesperson for the platform told BuzzFeed News.
The deleted tweets now redirect to Twitter’s rules and policies page.
According to Brazilian newspaper Folha, the deletions were the first time the site has taken action against content posted by Bolsonaro, first elected in October 2018.
It's not the first time that the site has used its coronavirus policy to delete a post by a sitting head of state, which Twitter provides a wider latitude than for most users. Last week, the site deleted a post by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for promoting a “natural brew" to cure COVID-19.
In the tweets, Bosolonaro posted videos of himself taken during a walking tour in Brasília on Sunday, in which the president praised the use of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for treating the virus and encouraged an end to social distancing and isolation measures in the country. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine attracted attention earlier this month after a small French study indicated positive results in treating COVID-19.
“What I have been hearing from people is that they want to work,” Bolsonaro said in one of the deleted videos. “Brazil cannot stop or we’ll turn into Venezuela,” he added.
The videos were still available on Facebook until Monday evening, when both the platform and Instagram removed the video for violating community standards.
"We remove content on Facebook and Instagram that violates our Community Standards, which do not allow misinformation that could lead to physical harm," a Facebook spokesperson told BuzzFeed News.
Earlier this month, Twitter announced that it was changing its terms of service to prohibit tweets that denied global or local health authority recommendations, promoted treatments or protective measures not immediately harmful but known to be ineffective, denied established scientific facts about transmission, and other content relating to the virus that posed a health risk.
In October 2019, Twitter clarified that unless a world leader explicitly violated the site's rules, leaving no room for interpretation, the company would leave their posts up. "We focus on the language of reported Tweets," Twitter said in a blog post.


buzzfeednews--2020-02-25--The Coronavirus Outbreak And The 2020 Presidential Primaries Could Be On A Collision Course

When asked about what discussions or preparations were underway to address potential interruptions to primary voting or caucuses , the Democratic National Committee said that decisions about state elections were made by state parties , and decisions about primary voting were made by state officials .
When asked about whether it had any contingency plans for this year ’ s Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee in July , which is run by the DNC and typically features thousands of delegates and party members , it declined to comment .
( The Republican National Committee did not respond to similar questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlotte . )
So far , only three states — Iowa , New Hampshire , and Nevada — have weighed in on who should be the Democratic presidential nominee .
But a flood of Americans will soon follow , first with voting in South Carolina on Saturday , then a massive blitz of voting and caucusing next week on Super Tuesday involving 14 states and Americans living abroad .
All primary voting ends by June 7 .
The news raises questions about whether the coronavirus outbreak could interrupt the lead-up to the biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 election .
And as the coronavirus outbreak has spread to 38 countries , triggering concerns about a global pandemic , CDC officials warned on Tuesday that they expect the virus to spread to the US — and told US businesses and schools to prepare .
US citizens living in China and South Korea have been told they won ’ t be able to cast their vote in person for the Democratic primary next month and will instead need to vote online , according to Democrats Abroad , the group in charge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two voting centers in China , one in Shanghai and another in Beijing , was announced on February 18 in response to local ordinances restricting travel and public events , as well as a State Department recommendation to US citizens in the country to stay indoors , according to Maya Hixson , a Democratic National Committee spokesperson .
Democrats Abroad announced on February 26 in-person voting was cancelled in South Korea , too .
`` Our number one concern is to ensure all eligible voters are able to make their voices heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Hixson told BuzzFeed News .
“ Democrats Abroad has robust systems in place so that members can still exercise their right to vote , and we are working with them as the situation develops . ''
As of Tuesday , the coronavirus outbreak had spread to more than 80,000 cases and 2,700 deaths worldwide , with the vast majority occurring in China .
South Korea , the biggest pocket of cases outside of China , has reported 977 cases , but in contrast to the Chinese response in Hubei province , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epicenter of the outbreak on lockdown .
In Italy , which at 270 cases has the biggest outbreak outside of Asia , public events like the Venice Carnival have been canceled .
In the US , there have been a total of 14 reported cases of COVID-19 , the illness caused by the new coronavirus , as well as 43 cases of US citizens with the illness brought back to the US from China ’ s Hubei province and the Diamond Princess cruise ship .
Although the disease is currently contained in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ community spread ” is likely inevitable .
In-person primary voting is still planned for early March in Italy , but things could change at the last minute , according to Democrats Abroad .
“ People can absolutely vote from home !
With this recent outbreak , we are encouraging people to do this more than ever , ” Angela Sittaro , a Democrats Abroad Italy organizer , told BuzzFeed News in a Facebook message .
Public gatherings , such as voting , caucusing , and rallies , provide opportunities to spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packed closely together , possibly touching the same surfaces .
It ’ s unknown exactly how many hours the coronavirus can survive on surfaces or how exactly it 's spread , although there ’ s some indication people can spread the virus even if they aren ’ t displaying severe symptoms .
There are ways of handling the risk , according to Irwin Redlener , director of Columbia University ’ s National Center for Disaster Preparedness .
You can separate people more , such as extending voting over several days to thin out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surfaces , or using disposal covers .
“ I don ’ t see us having to cancel the normal political process , but we may have to make changes , ” Redlener told BuzzFeed News .
President Donald Trump tweeted on Monday that “ The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA , ” and later that day the White House sent Congress a $ 2.5 billion request for emergency funds to help respond to the threat .
Some Democratic presidential candidates , including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration ’ s handling of the outbreak .
BuzzFeed News asked all the leading Democratic campaigns about their candidates ’ plans in the event of a nationwide coronavirus spread .
The Warren and Biden campaigns declined to comment ; the Pete Buttigieg , Amy Klobuchar , and Bernie Sanders campaigns did not respond .
Galia Slayen , a campaign spokesperson for former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg , said , `` Mike is developing a plan for how to best tackle this emerging pandemic and consulted with former CDC officials in developing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the strategy .

The closing of the two voting centers in China, one in Shanghai and another in Beijing, was announced on February 18 in response to local ordinances restricting travel and public events, as well as a State Department recommendation to US citizens in the country to stay indoors, according to Maya Hixson, a Democratic National Committee spokesperson. Democrats Abroad announced on February 26 in-person voting was cancelled in South Korea, too.
"Our number one concern is to ensure all eligible voters are able to make their voices heard without jeopardizing anyone's health and safety,” Hixson told BuzzFeed News. “Democrats Abroad has robust systems in place so that members can still exercise their right to vote, and we are working with them as the situation develops."
As of Tuesday, the coronavirus outbreak had spread to more than 80,000 cases and 2,700 deaths worldwide, with the vast majority occurring in China. South Korea, the biggest pocket of cases outside of China, has reported 977 cases, but in contrast to the Chinese response in Hubei province, it has chosen not to put the epicenter of the outbreak on lockdown. In Italy, which at 270 cases has the biggest outbreak outside of Asia, public events like the Venice Carnival have been canceled.
In the US, there have been a total of 14 reported cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, as well as 43 cases of US citizens with the illness brought back to the US from China’s Hubei province and the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Although the disease is currently contained in the US, the CDC warned on Tuesday that “community spread” is likely inevitable.
In-person primary voting is still planned for early March in Italy, but things could change at the last minute, according to Democrats Abroad.
“People can absolutely vote from home! With this recent outbreak, we are encouraging people to do this more than ever,” Angela Sittaro, a Democrats Abroad Italy organizer, told BuzzFeed News in a Facebook message.
Public gatherings, such as voting, caucusing, and rallies, provide opportunities to spread diseases because large numbers of people are packed closely together, possibly touching the same surfaces. It’s unknown exactly how many hours the coronavirus can survive on surfaces or how exactly it's spread, although there’s some indication people can spread the virus even if they aren’t displaying severe symptoms.
There are ways of handling the risk, according to Irwin Redlener, director of Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness. You can separate people more, such as extending voting over several days to thin out the crowds, regularly wiping down voting surfaces, or using disposal covers. “I don’t see us having to cancel the normal political process, but we may have to make changes,” Redlener told BuzzFeed News.
President Donald Trump tweeted on Monday that “The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA,” and later that day the White House sent Congress a $2.5 billion request for emergency funds to help respond to the threat. Some Democratic presidential candidates, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former vice president Joe Biden, have since criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the outbreak.
BuzzFeed News asked all the leading Democratic campaigns about their candidates’ plans in the event of a nationwide coronavirus spread. The Warren and Biden campaigns declined to comment; the Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Bernie Sanders campaigns did not respond.
Galia Slayen, a campaign spokesperson for former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, said, "Mike is developing a plan for how to best tackle this emerging pandemic and consulted with former CDC officials in developing that strategy.” Slayden did not elaborate on the strategy.


buzzfeednews--2020-06-18--Nobody Knows Exactly How Hard The Coronavirus Is Hitting America’s Assisted Living Facilities

When Sandy Schnaithman lost her mom to COVID-19 , she wanted to know how many other residents at her mother 's assisted living facility in New York had died —there was n't an easy answer .
When Darien Schnaithman ’ s breathing grew labored and she started having trouble walking in late March , doctors at a hospital in Yonkers suspected she had coronavirus .
They administered a test and then discharged the 70-year-old back to her assisted living facility , the Bronxwood Home for the Aged .
Darien , who had lived there for three years , was given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results ; according to her daughter , Sandy Schnaithman , that never happened .
Darien ’ s roommate at Bronxwood , who she affectionately called “ D , ” wasn ’ t initially moved to a different room .
Aides came in and out without wearing masks or other protective equipment and took Darien downstairs to meet a doctor , where other residents could ’ ve been exposed .
Her health continued to decline .
On March 26 , she was transferred to intensive care at the nearby Montefiore Medical Center , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
She died five days later , alone , just hours after FaceTiming with her daughter one final time .
“ They weren ’ t taking the proper precautions with my mom for the coronavirus , ” said Sandy .
“ I feel like the residents ’ safety is in jeopardy.
” The devastating experience left Sandy , who lives in New York but has been self-isolating in Massachusetts , worried about how well Bronxwood was protecting its vulnerable residents .
How many at the 320-bed facility had been sickened , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother , how many had been killed by the coronavirus ?
It should have been a simple question , but it wasn ’ t .
Although New York ’ s Department of Health requires the state ’ s 543 assisted living facilities to submit a variety of data about its residents every day , it withholds most of it from the public— including , crucially , the number of coronavirus infections recorded at each institution .
The Department of Health also does not report whether any employees of a given facility have contracted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths , the state only attributes them to a particular assisted living facility if the resident died on the premises .
That means that if a resident becomes ill but is transferred to a hospital or hospice , their death is not on the public record for that facility .
As a result , it ’ s extremely difficult , if not impossible , to track how many of the 384,000 coronavirus infections and 24,579 deaths to date in New York state may have originated in assisted living facilities , or if any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or deadly outbreaks .
If some have poor isolation or hygiene standards , insufficient testing , or a shortage of personal protective equipment , they may be able to continue operating without outside scrutiny .
When Sandy began asking around about Bronxwood , a staff member told her that 30 residents had died by the end of March , she said .
A resident later put the figure at 42 , she said .
An administrator agreed they had been hit hard by the virus but declined to give her any specific number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures , a medication supervisor dismissed the high tally as rumors and said it was actually in the 20s .
Finally , she called an administrator again at the end of May , but this time , she was told nothing .
She soon realized there was simply no way to know if any of those numbers were accurate .
Geoff Lieberman , who runs the nonprofit Coalition of Institutionalized , Aged , and Disabled , has been trying to track the number of deaths at assisted living facilities in New York in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has affected such a vulnerable population .
He said residents reported to his coalition that 42 people at Bronxwood had died , but then walked back the number to 24 deaths .
Even those numbers , he said , are about a month old and may not be accurate ; with no way to get numbers from the facility , his organization depends on residents to provide counts .
“ We have deep concerns about the numbers of fatalities that Bronxwood and every other adult facility in New York City have been reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't reflect what we believe are the actual fatalities , ” Lieberman said .
“ It ’ s absolutely frustrating.
” In response to questions about the death rate at Bronxwood , Jill Montag , a spokesperson for the state ’ s Department of Health , said , “ all of the available information is on the COVID-19 tracker ” on its website , adding that the data provided the “ clearest possible understanding of the impact of COVID-19.
“ Montag added that the state has avoided attaching out-of-facility deaths to individual facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the department ’ s website , the total number of coronavirus deaths from COVID-19 at Bronxwood still stands at zero .
Ever since the Life Care Center in Kirkland , Washington , became the nation ’ s first known coronavirus cluster in late February , nursing homes have been recognized as breeding grounds for the dangerous pathogen .
But the threat presented by the virus has been far less rigorously documented at the nation ’ s assisted living facilities , of which there are more than 28,000 , housing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older , sicker , and at far higher risk than the public as a whole .
While nursing homes are required to have a registered nurse on hand every day , in many states , including New York , assisted living facilities are not licensed to provide medical care .
Yet more than 4 in 10 people in assisted living have Alzheimer ’ s , more than half have high blood pressure , and almost two-thirds need help bathing , according to the National Center for Assisted Living , a trade group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more mobile than those at nursing homes , often able to take walks or even go grocery shopping , they can be at greater risk when it comes to spreading infection .
On Monday , the CDC said people with underlying health conditions were 12 times as likely to die from the coronavirus as otherwise healthy people , according to data from 1.7 million cases and 103,700 deaths .
The CDC put out guidance for assisted living facilities in March .
But because such institutions are not subject to federal regulation , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care provided ” by assisted living facilities “ can be distinctly different from that of nursing homes .
As such , implementing that guidance might present some unique challenges.
” “ As bad as nursing homes have been , they ’ re probably the most equipped senior care facilities to deal with this crisis , ” said Brian Lee , executive director of Families for Better Care , a nonprofit that advocates for better conditions in senior long-term care settings .
“ The numbers in assisted living facilities are going to be even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis.
” A number of states , among them California and Florida , publish infection and death data for residents of assisted living facilities , regardless of where they may have died .
Other states , including Pennsylvania and New Jersey , do the same but appear not to include fatalities that occur outside a facility ’ s four walls .
New York ’ s Department of Health data shows that at the end of last year , there were 38,320 people living in 543 assisted living facilities ( which it calls “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , compared to around 100,000 residents of nursing homes in the state .
As of June 12 , New York has recorded 173 deaths from COVID-19 at a total of 58 assisted living facilities .
That compares to 6,208 deaths in the state ’ s nursing homes , which are generally more equipped for end-of-life care and thus less likely to transfer sick patients elsewhere .
California , meanwhile , has suffered slightly more than a fifth as many total coronavirus deaths as New York , yet it has tallied more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a total of 377 that “ includes residents and staff … that passed away at the facility or at another location , such as a local hospital.
” The assisted living facility with the most reported deaths in New York state , the Ambassador of Scarsdale , located in Westchester County , has 138 beds .
As of June 15 , it had reported 10 deaths , but internal emails obtained by the Journal News from early April showed that a number of its residents had been moved to hospitals for acute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medically stable ” were permitted to return .
The number of residents of the Ambassador of Scarsdale who died off-site is unknown .
In a statement , Jean Dunphy , president of the Ambassador , attributed the death rate to the fact that the facility has hospice care on-site , which “ allowed residents to return or remain at the Ambassador during their final days.
” She said the Ambassador “ currently has no COVID-19 cases.
” A spokesperson did not respond to multiple queries about how many of its residents died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities .
Last month , Argentum , an industry group that represents 13,000 senior care communities , issued a statement calling for more complete reporting of COVID-19 statistics at the state level .
“ We want the states to be more transparent ” about reporting such data , said James Balda , the group ’ s president and CEO .
Balda said that assisted living facilities haven ’ t gotten the same level of government support that nursing homes have during the pandemic .
The CARES Act — which set aside billions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — omitted assisted living facilities , which also were not allocated personal protective equipment and other supplies from federal stockpiles .
In April , a coalition of advocates , including Geoff Lieberman , wrote letters to New York ’ s Department of Health addressing the manner in which the state ’ s adult care facilities were handling the coronavirus pandemic .
The letters raised a long list of concerns , saying that a lack of social distancing , a shortage of personal protective equipment , and a failure to isolate residents suspected of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are “ inadequate to protect the lives of vulnerable residents.
” New York City has recorded 22,145 probable or recorded deaths to date .
But the city ’ s 12 largest assisted living facilities , with a total of 3,230 beds among them , have been tagged with only three coronavirus-related deaths , according to state data .
None of those facilities agreed to provide data on their total number of infections or deaths , including residents who had been transferred elsewhere after testing positive for the virus .
A spokesperson for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adult Care Center , which have a total of 562 beds and an official death count of zero , said , “ We comply fully with all New York State Department of Health regulations and report fully and accurately to them . ''
It costs as little as $ 1,200 a month to live in a shared room at the Bronxwood Home for the Aged , where Darien lived .
That places it on the lower end of the spectrum : Median monthly fees for assisted living homes in New York City , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run almost $ 7,000 a month .
Unlike nursing homes , the facilities do not receive funding through Medicare , the federal insurance program for people 65 and older .
Instead , they often get by on a combination of Medicaid , long-term care and disability insurance , and direct payments from residents or their families .
Bronxwood , which is a nonprofit , opened in 1977 .
The five-floor facility promises “ an enjoyable and affordable independent lifestyle in a supervised , supportive and well appointed environment.
” Long before the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems with its quality of care and lax rules , according to inspection records , complaints , and interviews with residents and current and former employees .
“ The patients were people who were low income or on Medicaid and really did n't have a place to go , ” said Candy Garcia , a former admissions director for the facility .
Last fall , the state cited Bronxwood for 17 different violations related to inadequate food services , improperly managed medications , poor sanitation , and failing to provide residents with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to under the Social Security program , among other things .
Building complaints show issues with malfunctioning elevators and a lack of heat and hot water .
Marguerite Wilkins , 72 , moved in back in 2010 after a cardiac emergency left her unable to fully care for herself .
She had been a first responder after 9/11 , helping shuttle city officials to ground zero , she said .
Wilkins recalled watching residents fall down drunk , assault other people , and use drugs openly in the courtyard .
There were fights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her things were stolen from her room .
At meal times , she stuck to hard-boiled eggs , she said , because the meat was often gray or green .
“ It was horrible .
I had to get out of there , ” said Wilkins , who eventually moved to a facility in Washington state but keeps in touch with friends still living at Bronxwood .
“ They said they ’ re dropping like flies over there .
They ’ re not being counted.
” Although it has a full-time administrative staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual management fee to a Brooklyn company owned by a property developer named Willy Beer .
In recent years , that fee has topped $ 800,000 .
Employees say Beer ’ s family runs Bronxwood .
Sandra Beer is listed on the tax returns for the not-for-profit as the person who keeps the organization ’ s books and records ; Willy has been listed as a managing member of the facility .
Beer ’ s management company collected nearly $ 14 million in fees between 2000 and 2017 .
Between 2015 and 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its tax records are available , the facility reported a total of nearly $ 8 million in losses .
To keep beds filled and revenue up , Bronxwood has aggressively recruited from area hospitals along with homeless shelters , former staffers said .
A report by the Forward in early 2016 found that Bronxwood had given away nearly $ 20 million in grants to ultraorthodox Jewish charities over the previous two decades , a highly unusual practice for an assisted living facility .
Later that year , New York state regulators proposed excluding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an audit found it had been overpaid by as much as $ 7 million thanks to incorrect or misstated claims .
Bronxwood responded by suing the state , denying responsibility .
That suit is still pending .
In interviews , current residents of Bronxwood said that in the last couple of weeks , the facility has made changes to protect them from infection .
They were mostly staying in their rooms now , and meals were delivered to them three times a day .
They had access to personal protective equipment like face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sandy keeps in touch with some of the residents of Bronxwood , including one who moved into her mother ’ s empty room after she died .
Sandy said she plans to return to Bronxwood later this month to retrieve her mother ’ s possessions .
When she called to arrange a pickup , a staffer told her they would bring the items to the curb for her since no visitors are allowed in the building .
Despite repeated calls to administrators , Sandy still doesn ’ t know how many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many , like her mother , later died .
●

While nursing homes are required to have a registered nurse on hand every day, in many states, including New York, assisted living facilities are not licensed to provide medical care. Yet more than 4 in 10 people in assisted living have Alzheimer’s, more than half have high blood pressure, and almost two-thirds need help bathing, according to the National Center for Assisted Living, a trade group. And because assisted living facility residents are more mobile than those at nursing homes, often able to take walks or even go grocery shopping, they can be at greater risk when it comes to spreading infection.
On Monday, the CDC said people with underlying health conditions were 12 times as likely to die from the coronavirus as otherwise healthy people, according to data from 1.7 million cases and 103,700 deaths.
The CDC put out guidance for assisted living facilities in March. But because such institutions are not subject to federal regulation, the guidelines noted that “the structure and care provided” by assisted living facilities “can be distinctly different from that of nursing homes. As such, implementing that guidance might present some unique challenges.”
“As bad as nursing homes have been, they’re probably the most equipped senior care facilities to deal with this crisis,” said Brian Lee, executive director of Families for Better Care, a nonprofit that advocates for better conditions in senior long-term care settings. “The numbers in assisted living facilities are going to be even more apocalyptic as we continue through this crisis.”
A number of states, among them California and Florida, publish infection and death data for residents of assisted living facilities, regardless of where they may have died. Other states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, do the same but appear not to include fatalities that occur outside a facility’s four walls.
New York’s Department of Health data shows that at the end of last year, there were 38,320 people living in 543 assisted living facilities (which it calls “Adult Care Facilities”) in the state, compared to around 100,000 residents of nursing homes in the state. As of June 12, New York has recorded 173 deaths from COVID-19 at a total of 58 assisted living facilities. That compares to 6,208 deaths in the state’s nursing homes, which are generally more equipped for end-of-life care and thus less likely to transfer sick patients elsewhere.
California, meanwhile, has suffered slightly more than a fifth as many total coronavirus deaths as New York, yet it has tallied more than twice as many deaths in assisted living, a total of 377 that “includes residents and staff … that passed away at the facility or at another location, such as a local hospital.”
The assisted living facility with the most reported deaths in New York state, the Ambassador of Scarsdale, located in Westchester County, has 138 beds. As of June 15, it had reported 10 deaths, but internal emails obtained by the Journal News from early April showed that a number of its residents had been moved to hospitals for acute care and that only those deemed “medically stable” were permitted to return. The number of residents of the Ambassador of Scarsdale who died off-site is unknown.
In a statement, Jean Dunphy, president of the Ambassador, attributed the death rate to the fact that the facility has hospice care on-site, which “allowed residents to return or remain at the Ambassador during their final days.” She said the Ambassador “currently has no COVID-19 cases.” A spokesperson did not respond to multiple queries about how many of its residents died from the virus after being transferred to other facilities.
Last month, Argentum, an industry group that represents 13,000 senior care communities, issued a statement calling for more complete reporting of COVID-19 statistics at the state level. “We want the states to be more transparent” about reporting such data, said James Balda, the group’s president and CEO.
Balda said that assisted living facilities haven’t gotten the same level of government support that nursing homes have during the pandemic. The CARES Act — which set aside billions of dollars to fund nursing homes and hospitals — omitted assisted living facilities, which also were not allocated personal protective equipment and other supplies from federal stockpiles.
In April, a coalition of advocates, including Geoff Lieberman, wrote letters to New York’s Department of Health addressing the manner in which the state’s adult care facilities were handling the coronavirus pandemic. The letters raised a long list of concerns, saying that a lack of social distancing, a shortage of personal protective equipment, and a failure to isolate residents suspected of having COVID-19 shows that the current regulations are “inadequate to protect the lives of vulnerable residents.”
New York City has recorded 22,145 probable or recorded deaths to date. But the city’s 12 largest assisted living facilities, with a total of 3,230 beds among them, have been tagged with only three coronavirus-related deaths, according to state data. None of those facilities agreed to provide data on their total number of infections or deaths, including residents who had been transferred elsewhere after testing positive for the virus.
A spokesperson for the Queens Adult Care Center and the Brooklyn Adult Care Center, which have a total of 562 beds and an official death count of zero, said, “We comply fully with all New York State Department of Health regulations and report fully and accurately to them."
It costs as little as $1,200 a month to live in a shared room at the Bronxwood Home for the Aged, where Darien lived. That places it on the lower end of the spectrum: Median monthly fees for assisted living homes in New York City, many of which are for-profit businesses, run almost $7,000 a month. Unlike nursing homes, the facilities do not receive funding through Medicare, the federal insurance program for people 65 and older. Instead, they often get by on a combination of Medicaid, long-term care and disability insurance, and direct payments from residents or their families.
Bronxwood, which is a nonprofit, opened in 1977. The five-floor facility promises “an enjoyable and affordable independent lifestyle in a supervised, supportive and well appointed environment.” Long before the pandemic hit, however, Bronxwood suffered from problems with its quality of care and lax rules, according to inspection records, complaints, and interviews with residents and current and former employees.
“The patients were people who were low income or on Medicaid and really didn't have a place to go,” said Candy Garcia, a former admissions director for the facility.
Last fall, the state cited Bronxwood for 17 different violations related to inadequate food services, improperly managed medications, poor sanitation, and failing to provide residents with a regular allowance that they’re entitled to under the Social Security program, among other things. Building complaints show issues with malfunctioning elevators and a lack of heat and hot water.
Marguerite Wilkins, 72, moved in back in 2010 after a cardiac emergency left her unable to fully care for herself. She had been a first responder after 9/11, helping shuttle city officials to ground zero, she said.
Wilkins recalled watching residents fall down drunk, assault other people, and use drugs openly in the courtyard. There were fights when medication was distributed. Some of her things were stolen from her room. At meal times, she stuck to hard-boiled eggs, she said, because the meat was often gray or green.
“It was horrible. I had to get out of there,” said Wilkins, who eventually moved to a facility in Washington state but keeps in touch with friends still living at Bronxwood. “They said they’re dropping like flies over there. They’re not being counted.”
Although it has a full-time administrative staff, Bronxwood has since 2000 paid an annual management fee to a Brooklyn company owned by a property developer named Willy Beer. In recent years, that fee has topped $800,000. Employees say Beer’s family runs Bronxwood. Sandra Beer is listed on the tax returns for the not-for-profit as the person who keeps the organization’s books and records; Willy has been listed as a managing member of the facility. Beer’s management company collected nearly $14 million in fees between 2000 and 2017.
Between 2015 and 2017, the most recent years for which its tax records are available, the facility reported a total of nearly $8 million in losses. To keep beds filled and revenue up, Bronxwood has aggressively recruited from area hospitals along with homeless shelters, former staffers said.