buzzfeednews--2020-03-26--Friends Are Mourning Nashom Wooden, A Former Drag Queen Superstar, Whom They Say Died Of The Coronav

Friends Are Mourning Nashom Wooden, A Former Drag Queen Superstar, Whom They Say Died Of The Coronavirus

`` This situation in the world right now is really scary .
I did n't expect it to come so fast , and so close , '' one friend said .
`` It 's like I lost my brother . ''
Nashom Wooden , whose drag queen persona Mona Foot was renowned in New York City 's gay club scene , died at 50 from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , his friends said .
Wooden 's close friend , fashion designer Geoffrey Mac , posted an emotional video about Wooden on Instagram on Monday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus : Nashom Wooden , '' Mac said , crying .
`` And I just want to make sure that everybody out there stays healthy and takes care of each other because the virus is really real .
And I 'm just so sorry . ''
Wooden 's drag persona , Mona Foot , was wildly popular in the NYC drag scene .
She hosted `` Star Search , '' a drag show at gay bars Barracuda and Crobar in the show 's early days .
Wooden was also in the band @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that had a hit single in their song `` Flawless . ''
Wooden began feeling sick about 10 days before his death , his friends said , adding that doctors told him he likely had COVID-19 .
Wooden , following his doctor 's recommendations , isolated himself and was not tested while sick , his friend Aaron Cobbett told BuzzFeed News .
`` At the time everybody was being told it 's usually mild , it does n't affect young healthy people .
Nashom was healthy as a horse , '' Cobbett said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the virus after his death .
Cobbett , a photographer , director , and DJ who often worked with Wooden at gay bar the Cock , had known him for decades .
They were part of a small , tight-knit community of `` nightlife people that were all together in the ’ 90s , '' he said .
Cobbett recalled Wooden skipped a Project Runway finale screening at a bar in Brooklyn on March 12 , where Wooden 's friend Mac — who won this season of the reality show — was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standing in line at Trader Joe 's panic shopping , and [ Wooden ] called me and he was like , 'Girl I have a fever , I do n't feel well .
I do n't know what 's going on but I do n't think I should go , ' '' Cobbett said .
Wooden was disappointed that he would n't make it to the party , but Cobbett advised his friend to rest and not panic .
He called Wooden every day when he was sick `` to check on him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wooden was ill and `` coughing really bad , '' and his doctor told him over the phone that he likely had the coronavirus , Cobbett said .
The last time they spoke was Saturday .
`` He did n't sound too great .
He sounded really weak , but I thought that maybe he was just waking up from a nap or something because he kept saying he was feeling better , '' Cobbett said .
Wooden did n't pick up his call or ring him back on Sunday .
On Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his apartment went to check on him .
`` He found Nashom unconscious , '' Cobbett said .
The paramedics were called , and when they arrived , Wooden was pronounced dead .
Out of everyone he knew , Wooden was `` the most unlikely to have fallen '' to the coronavirus , his longtime friend Duke Todd said .
`` He really took care of himself .
He swam , he worked out , '' Todd , 56 , told BuzzFeed News .
`` He was just as strong as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partying in the same scene , and Todd , an artist , said Wooden was still a teenager when he started performing in drag at the Boy Bar .
`` He was n't even old enough to drink , '' Todd said .
`` He would 've told you that too — it 's no secret . ''
Todd said their community is `` devastated '' by Wooden 's death .
`` Nashom , '' he said , `` who would have thought ? ''
André Robert Lee , a filmmaker and educator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BuzzFeed News he was `` so blown away '' when he first moved to New York City and saw Mona Foot perform in clubs , with her sky-high heels .
Lee said he watched Mona Foot 's performances for years before he and Wooden became friends .
`` We had our own little personal friendship that was separate from everything .
And I accepted that .
I was never going to be as cool and glitzy and glamorous as all those other stuff , '' Lee said .
After a while , performing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wooden told Paper magazine in a 2017 interview , `` I was in drag so much that I was losing my mind . ''
`` Towards the end , I became miserable because it was n't my dream to be some downtown nightlife drag queen superstar , '' he said .
`` It seemed like it was out of my control .
I was making so much money and losing myself in the character .
No matter how much I introduced myself as Nashom , people called me Mona . ''
Lee recalled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than just drag .
`` He said , ' I 'm this and I love it , but I feel like I 'm so much more , ' '' Lee said .
`` He did n't hate his [ drag ] persona .
But he wanted something more . ''
Wooden , he said , was `` so big and incredible and such a major performer '' — and he was ambitious , too .
`` When you have that much talent , '' Lee said , `` how can you not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a wicked sense of humor , both on and offstage .
`` Nashom was kind of a pragmatic fatalist in the best way .
He was resigned to the horribleness of things and we would just laugh about it , '' Todd said .
`` He was a riveting performer , and hilarious . ''
`` He did not suffer fools — at all , '' he added .
Cobbett remembers him and Wooden cracking each other up .
`` Nashom was an incredible wit .
He was just so funny , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outdoors , Cobbett said .
They camped and hiked together often .
`` This situation in the world right now is really scary .
I did n't expect it to come so fast , and so close , '' he said .
`` It hurts deeply .
...
It 's like I lost my brother . ''
Though Cobbett `` saw the storm coming '' in early March , he did n't think the coronavirus would really affect those around him .
`` We were still under the illusion that — you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 9/11 , the AIDS crisis , and we thought we would survive this too , '' he said .
But Cobbett had a premonition last week , as coronavirus cases and death rates skyrocketed .
`` I knew it was going to take somebody .
I just knew it .
I did n't know who it would be , but I just got really scared , '' he said .
By the end of the pandemic , Cobbett said , `` there 's nobody it 's not going to touch . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wooden had told friends and family that he wanted to be cremated .
`` We carried out his wishes yesterday , '' Cobbett said .
`` He was cremated at Greenwood Cemetery at 3:30 . ''
If you ’ ve lost a friend or a loved one to COVID-19 and would like to remember them , please email coronavirusvictims @ buzzfeed.com .

André Robert Lee, a filmmaker and educator who was friends with Wooden, told BuzzFeed News he was "so blown away" when he first moved to New York City and saw Mona Foot perform in clubs, with her sky-high heels.
Lee said he watched Mona Foot's performances for years before he and Wooden became friends.
"We had our own little personal friendship that was separate from everything. And I accepted that. I was never going to be as cool and glitzy and glamorous as all those other stuff," Lee said.
After a while, performing as Mona Foot took a toll. Wooden told Paper magazine in a 2017 interview, "I was in drag so much that I was losing my mind."
"Towards the end, I became miserable because it wasn't my dream to be some downtown nightlife drag queen superstar," he said. "It seemed like it was out of my control. I was making so much money and losing myself in the character. No matter how much I introduced myself as Nashom, people called me Mona."
Lee recalled Wooden talking about wanting to do more than just drag.
"He said, 'I'm this and I love it, but I feel like I'm so much more,'" Lee said. "He didn't hate his [drag] persona. But he wanted something more."
Wooden, he said, was "so big and incredible and such a major performer" — and he was ambitious, too.
"When you have that much talent," Lee said, "how can you not be?"


buzzfeednews--2020-03-26--Doctors And Nurses Say More People Are Dying Of COVID-19 In The US Than We Know

“ The numbers are grossly underreported .
I know for a fact that we ’ ve had three deaths in one county where only one is listed on the website , ” one California ER doctor told BuzzFeed News .
Medical professionals around the US told BuzzFeed News that the official numbers of people who have died of COVID-19 are not consistent with the number of deaths they ’ re seeing on the front lines .
In some cases , it ’ s a lag in reporting , caused by delays and possible breakdowns in logging positive tests and making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troubling , cases , medical experts told BuzzFeed News they think it ’ s because people are not being tested before or after they die .
In the US , state and county authorities are responsible for collecting data on cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , and deaths .
The data is then reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
In California , one ER doctor who works at multiple hospitals in a hard-hit county told BuzzFeed News , “ those medical records are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state and local level currently and some people aren ’ t even testing those people who are dead.
” “ We just do n't know .
The numbers are grossly underreported .
I know for a fact that we ’ ve had three deaths in one county where only one is listed on the website , ” the doctor said .
A spokesperson for the California Department of Health told BuzzFeed News in an email that “ local health jurisdictions are required to report all positive COVID-19 cases to the state .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death from COVID-19 occurs , health care facilities must immediately notify their local health jurisdiction and the state . ''
They did not immediately address the question of whether they ’ re confident their death count is accurate given the shortage of testing for COVID-19 .
[ Are you a health care worker or funeral director who thinks a COVID-19 death is n't being counted ?
Reach out to BuzzFeed News reporters Nidhi Prakash at nidhi.prakash @ buzzfeed.com or Ellie Hall at ellie.hall @ buzzfeed.com or use our secure tip line channels .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the nation — New York City and Los Angeles County — released guidance earlier this week encouraging doctors not to test patients unless they think the test will significantly change their course of treatment .
That means that potentially more people in both places could be admitted to hospitals with severe respiratory symptoms and recover — or die — and not be registered as a coronavirus case .
LA County and New York City ’ s health departments did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
Doctors and nurses working in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke with BuzzFeed News on the condition of not being named out of fear of repercussions , said that the official counts of COVID-19 related deaths are not comprehensive for three main reasons : a lack of tests and protective equipment means not everyone who contracted or dies of COVID-19 is diagnosed ; overwhelmed hospitals may be running behind on reporting the numbers to state and county authorities ; and some hospitals reporting their totals on a daily basis say they ’ re not being reflected promptly in county and state reports .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities are underestimating how deadly the disease is .
States across the US have implemented stay-at-home orders in part because there are an unknown number of people who have COVID-19 , including some who may never even have symptoms or get mildly sick and recover but are still capable of spreading the virus .
What it does mean is that we don ’ t have a fully accurate picture of how widespread COVID-19 deaths are , or where they ’ re happening at the highest rates .
While staff at hospitals prioritize treating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t usually change the course of treatment for COVID-19 — the lack of reliable numbers becomes a real problem when it comes to understanding the true scope of the crisis , and where resources are most urgently needed , according to doctors and disaster response experts .
The lack of available COVID-19 tests has crippled the US response to the coronavirus .
The initial tests distributed to major state and city labs in February proved to be unreliable , and the FDA did not allow state and clinical laboratories to make and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the month .
Although the CDC issues guidance and guidelines , local authorities in each state have the power to decide who , alive or dead , can be tested and how the tests are administered .
That ’ s why there has been such variation in COVID-19 testing depending on where you live .
The lack of federally mandated rules on reporting positive cases and deaths reflects an ongoing problem with major disaster responses in the US — the CDC ’ s guidelines and recommendations don ’ t add up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can choose if and when they use those recommendations .
The way states and counties make that information public has varied significantly — in Los Angeles , COVID-19 cases are listed by neighborhood .
New York City makes that data available only by county .
The process by which medical professionals report COVID-19 cases to the CDC is standardized across the country .
The CDC does not publicize the number of cases or deaths it studies .
For months , the CDC instructed state and local health departments to send tissue samples from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC could test for the disease .
On Wednesday the agency issued new guidelines , since access to tests is increasing : Now , the agency only recommends that departments incapable of testing people , both alive and dead , send samples to the CDC .
The CDC did not immediately respond to request for comment on the volume of postmortem tests they ’ ve been processing and how quickly results are available and sent back to local health authorities .
Some medical professionals said that it isn ’ t just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a probable under-counting of people who contracted COVID-19 and the deaths caused by COVID-19 .
They said there ’ s also a lag in county and state records reflecting the positive COVID-19 test results and deaths they ’ re seeing first hand .
It ’ s not clear why that ’ s the case .
“ We have confirmed at least 5 cases in our hospital , but official state reporting only lists one case in our entire county , ” said one department head at a small hospital in Mississippi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 but were not reflected in county numbers .
The Mississippi Department of Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
A nurse in Texas told BuzzFeed News the lag is partly because test results are slow to come back — the nurse said they have seen some patients either be sent home as they start to feel better or die from the disease before their results come in .
The Texas Department of Health said in an email to BuzzFeed News on Wednesday that on Tuesday night they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collecting info for [ their ] online case count to speed up how quickly new cases show up there , ” collecting information from data that counties and local health departments make public every day , rather than waiting for those agencies to send them official case reports , “ which was creating a larger lag in numbers.
” “ We always encourage people to go to their local health department for the most updated numbers .
They get case reports first and will have the latest information , ” the Texas health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How cases are reported has frustrated health care workers .
“ From the beginning when it was easier to track , we 'd had confirmed cases in our ER and on my unit all while the news and dot gov websites continued to claim our county and affiliated hospital counties were still at zero cases , ” another nurse at a large teaching hospital in New Jersey told BuzzFeed News .
“ I have still not seen any reports on COVID patients of ours who died this week , ” the nurse said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to constantly monitor this and I am not sure why things are n't being reported as we have rigorous documentation and reporting procedures in place for the CDC , ” the nurse added , referring to the COVID-19 reporting form released by the CDC for health departments to report cases .
Robert Jensen , CEO of Kenyon International , a private company that specializes in disaster response where there ’ s a significant death count , said that it ’ s not surprising that the official numbers have not caught up to what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines .
“ Right now , everyone is just doing it ad hoc .
I do n't think the documents have even caught up because I think those things take weeks , and I don ’ t think they ’ ll catch up for some time , ” he said .
Jensen added that knowing exactly how many people are contracting and dying of the disease will be important down the track when COVID-19 vaccines become available , to get those resources to the most vulnerable communities .
“ When a vaccine comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s at risk , and that 's why the data is so key , ” he said .
The uncertainty and lack of available testing has left some families in the US wondering about the recent deaths of people close to them , even if they can ’ t definitively link those deaths to the outbreak .
One 44-year-old woman in Massachusetts , who also asked not to be named out of fear of repercussions online , told BuzzFeed News she ’ s left without answers about whether her father , who died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
She believes there ’ s a strong chance he had COVID-19 , and at the very least thinks he should have been tested .
Her father , 74 , was admitted into a hospital on Jan. 22 , and died about a week later , on Jan. 30 , his cause of death listed on his death certificate as “ respiratory failure.
” She said he had a dry cough and a high fever , but wasn ’ t tested for COVID-19 while he was alive or after he died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The first CDC reported death related to the disease caused by the new coronavirus in the US was in Washington on Feb. 29 .
The first confirmed case of COVID-19 was diagnosed on Jan. 20 in Washington .
“ The shortness of breath was why he called the ambulance , ” she said .
“ Now my dad was not the healthiest guy .
He had heart troubles and also suffered from COPD and emphysema , but he had had pneumonia numerous times and this was different for him .
And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before.
” She said she had to make the decision to take him off a CPAP ventilator when it became clear that his condition had deteriorated .
“ This was the hardest decision to make , but he just kept getting worse .
I wish he was tested , but obviously that ca n't happen now .
I would n't wish that on my worst enemy .
It was hard on him and my family , ” she said .
●

In California, one ER doctor who works at multiple hospitals in a hard-hit county told BuzzFeed News, “those medical records aren't being audited by anyone at the state and local level currently and some people aren’t even testing those people who are dead.”
“We just don't know. The numbers are grossly underreported. I know for a fact that we’ve had three deaths in one county where only one is listed on the website,” the doctor said.
A spokesperson for the California Department of Health told BuzzFeed News in an email that “local health jurisdictions are required to report all positive COVID-19 cases to the state. In addition, when a death or impending death from COVID-19 occurs, health care facilities must immediately notify their local health jurisdiction and the state."
They did not immediately address the question of whether they’re confident their death count is accurate given the shortage of testing for COVID-19.
[Are you a health care worker or funeral director who thinks a COVID-19 death isn't being counted? Reach out to BuzzFeed News reporters Nidhi Prakash at nidhi.prakash@buzzfeed.com or Ellie Hall at ellie.hall@buzzfeed.com or use our secure tip line channels.]
And two of the hardest-hit areas in the nation — New York City and Los Angeles County — released guidance earlier this week encouraging doctors not to test patients unless they think the test will significantly change their course of treatment. That means that potentially more people in both places could be admitted to hospitals with severe respiratory symptoms and recover — or die — and not be registered as a coronavirus case.
LA County and New York City’s health departments did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Doctors and nurses working in several hospitals around the country, who spoke with BuzzFeed News on the condition of not being named out of fear of repercussions, said that the official counts of COVID-19 related deaths are not comprehensive for three main reasons: a lack of tests and protective equipment means not everyone who contracted or dies of COVID-19 is diagnosed; overwhelmed hospitals may be running behind on reporting the numbers to state and county authorities; and some hospitals reporting their totals on a daily basis say they’re not being reflected promptly in county and state reports.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that authorities are underestimating how deadly the disease is. States across the US have implemented stay-at-home orders in part because there are an unknown number of people who have COVID-19, including some who may never even have symptoms or get mildly sick and recover but are still capable of spreading the virus.
What it does mean is that we don’t have a fully accurate picture of how widespread COVID-19 deaths are, or where they’re happening at the highest rates. While staff at hospitals prioritize treating patients and saving lives — testing doesn’t usually change the course of treatment for COVID-19 — the lack of reliable numbers becomes a real problem when it comes to understanding the true scope of the crisis, and where resources are most urgently needed, according to doctors and disaster response experts.
The lack of available COVID-19 tests has crippled the US response to the coronavirus. The initial tests distributed to major state and city labs in February proved to be unreliable, and the FDA did not allow state and clinical laboratories to make and administer their own tests until the end of the month.
Although the CDC issues guidance and guidelines, local authorities in each state have the power to decide who, alive or dead, can be tested and how the tests are administered. That’s why there has been such variation in COVID-19 testing depending on where you live. The lack of federally mandated rules on reporting positive cases and deaths reflects an ongoing problem with major disaster responses in the US — the CDC’s guidelines and recommendations don’t add up to a cohesive national system, because states can choose if and when they use those recommendations.
The way states and counties make that information public has varied significantly — in Los Angeles, COVID-19 cases are listed by neighborhood. New York City makes that data available only by county.
The process by which medical professionals report COVID-19 cases to the CDC is standardized across the country. The CDC does not publicize the number of cases or deaths it studies.
For months, the CDC instructed state and local health departments to send tissue samples from all suspected COVID-19 deaths to them so the CDC could test for the disease. On Wednesday the agency issued new guidelines, since access to tests is increasing: Now, the agency only recommends that departments incapable of testing people, both alive and dead, send samples to the CDC.
The CDC did not immediately respond to request for comment on the volume of postmortem tests they’ve been processing and how quickly results are available and sent back to local health authorities.
Some medical professionals said that it isn’t just a lack of testing that’s leading to a probable under-counting of people who contracted COVID-19 and the deaths caused by COVID-19. They said there’s also a lag in county and state records reflecting the positive COVID-19 test results and deaths they’re seeing first hand. It’s not clear why that’s the case.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-26--Authorities Are Charging A Woman Who Coughed On $35,000 Worth Of Food At A Grocery Store That Had To

Authorities Are Charging A Woman Who Coughed On $35,000 Worth Of Food At A Grocery Store That Had To Be Thrown Away

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 .
Authorities in Pennsylvania are planning on filing criminal charges against a woman who coughed on more than $ 35,000 worth of food that all then had to be thrown away in what the grocery store owners are calling a coronavirus prank .
“ The Hanover Township Police Department is investigating an incident at 2280 Sans Souci Parkway , Gerrity 's Supermarket , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produce/meat/merchandise for sale , ” the police department wrote in a statement on Facebook .
“ The suspect has been identified and is being evaluated at a local hospital for a mental health evaluation .
Criminal charges will be filed.
” Joe Fasula , the co-owner of Gerrity ’ s , wrote about the incident in a Facebook post , saying , “ while there is little doubt this woman was doing it as a very twisted prank , we will not take any chances with the health and well-being of our customers.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on items in the bakery , meat case , and grocery sections of the market .
He said 15 staff members had to clean up the mess and dispose of the food .
“ I ’ m absolutely sick to my stomach about the loss of food , ” Fasula wrote .
“ While it is always a shame when food is wasted , in these times when so many people are worried about the security of our food supply , it is even more disturbing.
” The Pennsylvania incident appears to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoaxes where people are pretending to have the coronavirus to cause panic .
Justin M. Rhodes , a 31-year-old man from North Carolina , was arrested for allegedly pretending to have COVID-19 and going to Walmart , which he proudly talked about in a Facebook video .
`` If I got it , y'all gon na get it too , '' he said in the three-minute video .
“ Fuck all y'all , that 's how I feel about it .
”

Authorities in Pennsylvania are planning on filing criminal charges against a woman who coughed on more than $35,000 worth of food that all then had to be thrown away in what the grocery store owners are calling a coronavirus prank.
“The Hanover Township Police Department is investigating an incident at 2280 Sans Souci Parkway, Gerrity's Supermarket, for a female customer who intentionally contaminated produce/meat/merchandise for sale,” the police department wrote in a statement on Facebook.
“The suspect has been identified and is being evaluated at a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. Criminal charges will be filed.”
Joe Fasula, the co-owner of Gerrity’s, wrote about the incident in a Facebook post, saying, “while there is little doubt this woman was doing it as a very twisted prank, we will not take any chances with the health and well-being of our customers.”
Fasula said the woman had coughed on items in the bakery, meat case, and grocery sections of the market.
He said 15 staff members had to clean up the mess and dispose of the food.
“I’m absolutely sick to my stomach about the loss of food,” Fasula wrote. “While it is always a shame when food is wasted, in these times when so many people are worried about the security of our food supply, it is even more disturbing.”
The Pennsylvania incident appears to be the latest in a series of recent hoaxes where people are pretending to have the coronavirus to cause panic.
Justin M. Rhodes, a 31-year-old man from North Carolina, was arrested for allegedly pretending to have COVID-19 and going to Walmart, which he proudly talked about in a Facebook video.
"If I got it, y'all gonna get it too," he said in the three-minute video. “Fuck all y'all, that's how I feel about it.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-20--Andy Cohen Has Tested Positive For The Coronavirus

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 .
Watch What Happens Live host and television producer Andy Cohen said Friday he has tested positive for the coronavirus .
Cohen shared the news in an Instagram post , writing , “ After a few days of self-quarantine , and not feeling great , I have tested positive for Coronavirus.
” Like more than 70 other television shows , WWHL shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the New York City studio March 12 .
Earlier today , Cohen told Variety he planned on filming his late-night talk show out of his own apartment in New York , following in the footsteps of Full Frontal With Samantha Bee , The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert .
“ Our show is arguably the most lo-tech show in late night in its current form .
So the idea of taking it down even further a few notches is just ironic and hilarious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the show that I still can ’ t believe gets a live signal out of a very small clubhouse in Soho .
So we will now be from my own clubhouse in the West Village , ” he said .
“ My show has always been something of a little coffee klatch , party-line type show .
And this seemed like a very natural extension of not only the show , but obviously the times that we ’ re in right now.
” But now Cohen said those plans are put on hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As much as I felt like I could push through whatever I was feeling to do # WWHL from home , we ’ re putting a pin in that for now so I can focus on getting better , ” he wrote .
“ I want to thank all the medical professionals who are working tirelessly for all of us and urge everybody to stay home and take care of themselves .
”

Watch What Happens Live host and television producer Andy Cohen said Friday he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Cohen shared the news in an Instagram post, writing, “After a few days of self-quarantine, and not feeling great, I have tested positive for Coronavirus.”
Like more than 70 other television shows, WWHL shut down production, with its last show airing out of the New York City studio March 12. Earlier today, Cohen told Variety he planned on filming his late-night talk show out of his own apartment in New York, following in the footsteps of Full Frontal With Samantha Bee, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.
“Our show is arguably the most lo-tech show in late night in its current form. So the idea of taking it down even further a few notches is just ironic and hilarious. I mean, we’re the show that I still can’t believe gets a live signal out of a very small clubhouse in Soho. So we will now be from my own clubhouse in the West Village,” he said. “My show has always been something of a little coffee klatch, party-line type show. And this seemed like a very natural extension of not only the show, but obviously the times that we’re in right now.”
But now Cohen said those plans are put on hold because of his test results.
“As much as I felt like I could push through whatever I was feeling to do #WWHL from home, we’re putting a pin in that for now so I can focus on getting better,” he wrote. “I want to thank all the medical professionals who are working tirelessly for all of us and urge everybody to stay home and take care of themselves.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-20--More Costco Employees Have Tested Positive For The Coronavirus Days After A Coworker Died From The D

More Costco Employees Have Tested Positive For The Coronavirus Days After A Coworker Died From The Disease

Until this week , most of the company 's massive workforce had been working on campus .
An employee in the travel department died Sunday after contracting the virus .
At least two more Costco corporate employees have tested positive for the novel strain of the coronavirus since one of their colleagues died Sunday after contracting it , according to internal corporate communications obtained by BuzzFeed News .
Another worker at a warehouse in Michigan also has COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
The employee who died Sunday worked in Costco 's travel department in a building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the newly confirmed infected staff members also works in that building , according to an email sent to employees .
The other person works in the company 's IT department .
Costco has been supplying food and resources for communities across the US during the coronavirus pandemic , as panicked residents stock up amid ramped-up quarantine and lockdown measures .
However , employees at its corporate office in King County , Washington , which had been the epicenter of the outbreak , as well as across its warehouses , have expressed concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Until Wednesday , Costco had kept its sprawling campus open and its several thousand workers in the office .
Those who wanted to work remotely needed to get approval from managers .
After the company confirmed that the travel employee died of the virus , management then encouraged employees who felt uncomfortable coming into the buildings to work from home .
In two separate emails sent to the workforce on Thursday , management announced that two more employees who worked on the sprawling campus in Issaquah , Washington , had the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the different buildings and its warehouse .
`` We know this causes concern and anxiety , '' a supervisor wrote in one email to the IT department .
`` Please know that current health guidelines state that people who have not been in contact with a sick person are at low risk of infection . ''
People who had worked in close proximity to the infected workers have been contacted and asked to self-quarantine , the email , which was reviewed by BuzzFeed News , stated .
The remaining employees who are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraged to work remotely .
A professional cleaning company is also coming to sanitize the building .
Representatives for Costco did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the new revelations , instead directing inquires to a Google form .
Until recently , Costco employees who were sick , high risk , or were concerned about coming into the office had to use their sick time or paid leave .
As a result , employees told BuzzFeed News that many came into work because they did n't have those hours to spare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home early this would and could have been prevented , '' an employee in the IT department who asked to remain anonymous told BuzzFeed News .
CEO Craig Jelinek also addressed the conflict over not working remotely and the death of one of his staff members on Thursday , expressing his `` deep sympathy and condolences to the employee 's family members and Costco-coworkers , '' according to an email obtained by BuzzFeed News .
`` As you know our perspective and ability to support remote work at the offices have changed over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crisis itself has evolved , '' he wrote .
`` The COVID-19 crisis is new to all of us .
We do n't pretend to have all the answers , and we 're not perfect .
But please know that we 're all working together in the face of rapidly changing circumstances . ''
Costco stores have been scrambling to keep up with the demand and endless customer lines for weeks .
At a warehouse in Madison Heights , Michigan , an employee who works in receiving tested positive for COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sent to BuzzFeed News .
However , management said that it called the Oakland County Health Department , and since the employee had only been `` at work from 4 am-5am on Monday 3/16/20 all our employees are considered 'low risk . '
'' Again citing the Health Department , Costco said that because `` no employees being within a distance of 6 feet for a CONSTANT period of time of 1 hour , all employees at our location are considered low-risk . ''
`` In addition , the Health Department has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form of employee quarantine at this time , '' the memo concluded , noting that the entire receiving area had been deep-cleaned and that managers would continue to sanitize the building `` and do everything available to us to Stop the Spread of Germs . ''
The Oakland County Health Department did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment from BuzzFeed News .
On Thursday , Oakland County officials reported104 confirmed cases of COVID-19 , the second highest in the state , according to ClickOnDetroit .
`` That response is unacceptable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a warehouse in nearby Auburn Hills told BuzzFeed News .
`` I know the need for warehouses like Costco to stay open , but for a warehouse to have at least one confirmed case is a serious deal .
At grocery stores , we 're the most at-risk people . ''

At least two more Costco corporate employees have tested positive for the novel strain of the coronavirus since one of their colleagues died Sunday after contracting it, according to internal corporate communications obtained by BuzzFeed News. Another worker at a warehouse in Michigan also has COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
The employee who died Sunday worked in Costco's travel department in a building on campus known as LP2. One of the newly confirmed infected staff members also works in that building, according to an email sent to employees. The other person works in the company's IT department.
Costco has been supplying food and resources for communities across the US during the coronavirus pandemic, as panicked residents stock up amid ramped-up quarantine and lockdown measures.
However, employees at its corporate office in King County, Washington, which had been the epicenter of the outbreak, as well as across its warehouses, have expressed concerns about their own health and safety. Until Wednesday, Costco had kept its sprawling campus open and its several thousand workers in the office. Those who wanted to work remotely needed to get approval from managers.
After the company confirmed that the travel employee died of the virus, management then encouraged employees who felt uncomfortable coming into the buildings to work from home.
In two separate emails sent to the workforce on Thursday, management announced that two more employees who worked on the sprawling campus in Issaquah, Washington, had the virus. Employees often use shuttles to travel from the different buildings and its warehouse.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-14--Trump Is Extending The Europe Travel Ban To The UK And Ireland As The Coronavirus Pandemic Escalates

Trump had already announced travel restrictions from 26 European countries to the US for at least 30 days during an Oval Office address Wednesday night .
Those rules went into effect just before midnight Friday .
The new rules will go into effect at midnight ET on Monday .
American citizens and legal permanent residents in the UK and Ireland will be allowed to return to the US , Pence added .
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence announced Saturday a ban on travel from the United Kingdom and Ireland to the US as the global coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the European travel ban to the UK and Ireland , effective midnight EST Monday .
US citizens can return , legal residents will be `` funneled through specific airports '' upon reentry to the US .
Trump 's Wednesday announcement created confusion and chaos for Americans abroad in Europe over the lack of clarity as to whether the travel ban applied to them .
Officials later had to clarify that the travel restrictions would only apply to foreign nationals who had been present in 26 European countries during the two weeks prior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The restrictions would not apply to US citizens , legal permanent residents , and their family members .
And in spite of what Trump said during his address , trade and cargo will also not be affected .
The Department of Homeland Security also posted notice on Friday saying American travelers coming from Europe will be required to land in one of 13 airports in the US for screening .
Trump announced during the press conference Saturday that he was tested for COVID-19 Friday night – contrary to a statement from his White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be tested – and said had his temperature taken before entering the briefing room .
Anthony Fauci , a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , said Saturday that there were approximately 2,226 cases and 50 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States so far , indicating that `` we have not reached our peak . ''
`` We will see more cases and we will see more suffering and death , '' predominantly among vulnerable populations , Fauci said .
`` But built in that is a challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the opportunity is to influence the course of that curve . ''
This is a developing story .
Check back for updates and follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.

Trump's Wednesday announcement created confusion and chaos for Americans abroad in Europe over the lack of clarity as to whether the travel ban applied to them.
Officials later had to clarify that the travel restrictions would only apply to foreign nationals who had been present in 26 European countries during the two weeks prior to their arrival to the US. The restrictions would not apply to US citizens, legal permanent residents, and their family members. And in spite of what Trump said during his address, trade and cargo will also not be affected.
The Department of Homeland Security also posted notice on Friday saying American travelers coming from Europe will be required to land in one of 13 airports in the US for screening.
Trump announced during the press conference Saturday that he was tested for COVID-19 Friday night – contrary to a statement from his White House physician which said he did not need to be tested – and said had his temperature taken before entering the briefing room.
Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said Saturday that there were approximately 2,226 cases and 50 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States so far, indicating that "we have not reached our peak."
"We will see more cases and we will see more suffering and death," predominantly among vulnerable populations, Fauci said. "But built in that is a challenge, and the challenge is we still have the opportunity is to influence the course of that curve."
This is a developing story. Check back for updates and follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-20--Abortion Clinics Are Staying Open During The Coronavirus Outbreak. Here’s Why.

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 .
Planned Parenthood wants people to know that its doors are still open , even as the coronavirus epidemic sweeps the nation .
“ Our doors will stay open because sexual and reproductive health care is extremely important , and we have to ensure access to it , ” Meera Shah , chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood in the New York City suburbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rockland , one of the hardest-hit regions in the country , told BuzzFeed News Thursday over the phone .
“ Pregnancy-related care , especially abortion care , is essential and life-affirming , especially now when there is so much insecurity around jobs and food and paychecks and childcare.
” One of Shah ’ s clinics is located in New Rochelle in Westchester County , the first jurisdiction in the country to be designated a containment zone due to a COVID-19 outbreak , where the National Guard was sent in to help with feeding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , in her region ’ s clinics and have consequently not come in for their appointment , Shah said .
The clinics have done everything they can to ensure all of their staffers and patients are safe , including going above and beyond suggestions from government agencies .
Despite the lockdown and social distancing occurring in her region , Shah said , she ’ s noticed more people making and keeping appointments than usual .
Of the 19 patients who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 showed up , she said .
In her experience , many end up canceling or not showing up to their appointments .
“ It seems like patients are doing everything they can to get to their appointments at this time , ” Shah said .
“ Some patients have expressed to me … that they were scared that they may not have health insurance in the future , that they may not be able to get their appointments , that childcare is becoming more of an issue now with all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 has escalated dramatically in the US ( topping 16,017 cases ) , and particularly in New York state ( 7,245 ) , according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University — as has the government response .
Bars and restaurants all over the country are being forced to close , people are being told by the CDC not to gather in groups of more than 10 , many organizations are asking employees to work from home , and some jurisdictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders , requiring people to only leave their homes for essential reasons like food and health care .
As the situation changes daily , and people find themselves more and more unsure of what services are available to them , several people online have expressed concern or consternation at abortion clinics staying open , worrying about the health risks of patients occupying a waiting room together .
Officials have called on health care providers to suspend elective procedures , and some critics have argued that abortion should be included .
“ Why cant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ABORTION CLINIC in Kettering is OPEN for business ?
” one man in Ohio tweeted Thursday .
“ Elective surgeries are cancelled but you can get an abortion ?
” But Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health clinics insist that the care they provide is essential , now more than ever .
Accessing birth control , PrEP and PEP ( drugs that mitigate the chances of contracting HIV ) , and STI tests and treatment can be lifesaving care , the organization pointed out .
The clinics are making an effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can to keep patients and clinic workers from spreading the virus .
The methods that clinics are using to mitigate the spread of the virus vary from state to state , or even clinic to clinic , depending on the orders coming from the state government , how much traffic that clinic has , and the state laws regulating the abortion clinic more generally .
But in Shah ’ s 10 clinics , they are sticking to specific protocols .
“ We ’ re complying with all the CDC and Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News .
“ But everyone is still showing up , you know , because somebody wanting an abortion is still going to want an abortion despite there being a viral outbreak.
” The clinics in the New York area are screening all of their patients before treating them — asking them for any symptoms , travel history , or contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 — first over the phone and then , if they pass the first screening , again at their first appointment .
If there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the clinic refers them to a coronavirus testing center .
The clinics are also limiting the number of people allowed in the waiting room , making sure they can stay 6 feet apart ( the distance suggested by the CDC ) , by spacing schedules out and only allowing patients to come into the clinic .
Any family members , friends , or clinic escorts have to wait outside until the appointment is over .
Currently , all the clinic workers are wearing masks , Shah said , but like many other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running low .
One of the central longer-term fixes that abortion rights advocates across the country have been pushing for , even before the coronavirus pandemic , is treating patients and providing medication abortion via telemedicine , meaning over a video call either in a clinic set up for that purpose or to the patients ’ home , depending on the procedure and the state .
Doctors can conduct virtually the same examination for medication abortions — which are generally available in the first trimester of pregnancy , as approved by the FDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shah said .
The health workers ask patients about their medical history , their history with pregnancy , how far along they are in their pregnancy , and whether they have any conditions that could affect prescribing the drug .
They give instructions and advice about safely taking abortion pills and undergoing a medication abortion at home ( a process that Planned Parenthood describes as similar to an early miscarriage ) and ask if the patient would like to start a method of contraception .
In states where an ultrasound is required , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and speak to a doctor working in a clinic further away .
Abortion rights organizations have been pushing for increased access to telemedicine in particular over the last decade , as more than 100 abortion clinics have closed down .
Often patients have to travel for hours and stay overnight to get an abortion or other treatment , when , in the case of medical abortion , it could be as easy as speaking with a doctor via your laptop , and getting a prescription delivered to your home .
There are already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control as well .
One birth control delivery service , Pill Club , said that in the past week it ’ s already seen a 30 % increase in prescriptions being transferred to it from other pharmacies .
However , over the past few years , telemedicine for abortion has been regulated and even banned in 18 states across the country , according to Guttmacher Institute , a reproductive rights research organization .
Legislators and anti-abortion advocates argue that not being in a clinic for the procedure puts people at a greater risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further barrier is the FDA ’ s classification of Mifepristone , one of the pills used in medical abortion , as a medication regulated by the Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy .
REMS drugs are prohibited from being mailed to patients or prescribed via pharmacy , requiring patients to physically come into a clinic to receive the prescription .
The abortion rights organization Physicians for Reproductive Health and research group Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health , among other groups , have long pressured the federal government to lift the restrictions on mifepristone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus outbreak when stay-at-home orders are made across the country .
So far , the FDA has not budged .
“ They ’ re forcing patients to come out of quarantine just to pick up meds , when they could easily have loved one or somebody pick up the medications for them from a pharmacy that 's near their house , ” Shah , who is a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health , said .
“ Maybe it will take this crisis to make them see just how unnecessary this regulation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parenthood continue serving patients , they could see layoffs and shutdowns in the near future , just like any other organization affected by the downward turn of the economy as a result of the virus .
“ Unfortunately , a lot of my patients are low-income people [ and ] people of color who are ready facing barriers to accessing care , ” Shah said .
“ And now , with people having to stay home , not able to go to work , not getting paychecks , job insecurity , childcare insecurity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing their pregnancy right now .
It feels scary for a lot of people , ” she said .

Planned Parenthood wants people to know that its doors are still open, even as the coronavirus epidemic sweeps the nation.
“Our doors will stay open because sexual and reproductive health care is extremely important, and we have to ensure access to it,” Meera Shah, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood in the New York City suburbs of Long Island, Westchester, and Rockland, one of the hardest-hit regions in the country, told BuzzFeed News Thursday over the phone. “Pregnancy-related care, especially abortion care, is essential and life-affirming, especially now when there is so much insecurity around jobs and food and paychecks and childcare.”
One of Shah’s clinics is located in New Rochelle in Westchester County, the first jurisdiction in the country to be designated a containment zone due to a COVID-19 outbreak, where the National Guard was sent in to help with feeding and cleaning efforts.
A few patients have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in her region’s clinics and have consequently not come in for their appointment, Shah said. The clinics have done everything they can to ensure all of their staffers and patients are safe, including going above and beyond suggestions from government agencies.
Despite the lockdown and social distancing occurring in her region, Shah said, she’s noticed more people making and keeping appointments than usual. Of the 19 patients who were scheduled for an abortion yesterday, 18 showed up, she said. In her experience, many end up canceling or not showing up to their appointments.
“It seems like patients are doing everything they can to get to their appointments at this time,” Shah said. “Some patients have expressed to me … that they were scared that they may not have health insurance in the future, that they may not be able to get their appointments, that childcare is becoming more of an issue now with all of the schools closed.”
Over the past week, the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 has escalated dramatically in the US (topping 16,017 cases), and particularly in New York state (7,245), according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University — as has the government response. Bars and restaurants all over the country are being forced to close, people are being told by the CDC not to gather in groups of more than 10, many organizations are asking employees to work from home, and some jurisdictions, like California, have issued shelter-in-place orders, requiring people to only leave their homes for essential reasons like food and health care.
As the situation changes daily, and people find themselves more and more unsure of what services are available to them, several people online have expressed concern or consternation at abortion clinics staying open, worrying about the health risks of patients occupying a waiting room together. Officials have called on health care providers to suspend elective procedures, and some critics have argued that abortion should be included.
“Why cant I go to the Dentist office but the ABORTION CLINIC in Kettering is OPEN for business?” one man in Ohio tweeted Thursday. “Elective surgeries are cancelled but you can get an abortion?”
But Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health clinics insist that the care they provide is essential, now more than ever.
Accessing birth control, PrEP and PEP (drugs that mitigate the chances of contracting HIV), and STI tests and treatment can be lifesaving care, the organization pointed out. The clinics are making an effort to continue providing that care while doing what they can to keep patients and clinic workers from spreading the virus.
The methods that clinics are using to mitigate the spread of the virus vary from state to state, or even clinic to clinic, depending on the orders coming from the state government, how much traffic that clinic has, and the state laws regulating the abortion clinic more generally. But in Shah’s 10 clinics, they are sticking to specific protocols.
“We’re complying with all the CDC and Department of Health Guidelines,” Shah told BuzzFeed News. “But everyone is still showing up, you know, because somebody wanting an abortion is still going to want an abortion despite there being a viral outbreak.”
The clinics in the New York area are screening all of their patients before treating them — asking them for any symptoms, travel history, or contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 — first over the phone and then, if they pass the first screening, again at their first appointment. If there’s any sign they might have the virus, the clinic refers them to a coronavirus testing center.
The clinics are also limiting the number of people allowed in the waiting room, making sure they can stay 6 feet apart (the distance suggested by the CDC), by spacing schedules out and only allowing patients to come into the clinic. Any family members, friends, or clinic escorts have to wait outside until the appointment is over. Currently, all the clinic workers are wearing masks, Shah said, but like many other places in the country, they are running low.
One of the central longer-term fixes that abortion rights advocates across the country have been pushing for, even before the coronavirus pandemic, is treating patients and providing medication abortion via telemedicine, meaning over a video call either in a clinic set up for that purpose or to the patients’ home, depending on the procedure and the state. Doctors can conduct virtually the same examination for medication abortions — which are generally available in the first trimester of pregnancy, as approved by the FDA — as they do in office, Shah said.
The health workers ask patients about their medical history, their history with pregnancy, how far along they are in their pregnancy, and whether they have any conditions that could affect prescribing the drug. They give instructions and advice about safely taking abortion pills and undergoing a medication abortion at home (a process that Planned Parenthood describes as similar to an early miscarriage) and ask if the patient would like to start a method of contraception. In states where an ultrasound is required, patients can go into a satellite office and speak to a doctor working in a clinic further away.
Abortion rights organizations have been pushing for increased access to telemedicine in particular over the last decade, as more than 100 abortion clinics have closed down.
Often patients have to travel for hours and stay overnight to get an abortion or other treatment, when, in the case of medical abortion, it could be as easy as speaking with a doctor via your laptop, and getting a prescription delivered to your home. There are already apps that help prescribe and deliver birth control as well. One birth control delivery service, Pill Club, said that in the past week it’s already seen a 30% increase in prescriptions being transferred to it from other pharmacies.
However, over the past few years, telemedicine for abortion has been regulated and even banned in 18 states across the country, according to Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research organization. Legislators and anti-abortion advocates argue that not being in a clinic for the procedure puts people at a greater risk of complications during the procedure.
A further barrier is the FDA’s classification of Mifepristone, one of the pills used in medical abortion, as a medication regulated by the Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy. REMS drugs are prohibited from being mailed to patients or prescribed via pharmacy, requiring patients to physically come into a clinic to receive the prescription.
The abortion rights organization Physicians for Reproductive Health and research group Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, among other groups, have long pressured the federal government to lift the restrictions on mifepristone, and they have renewed this effort during the virus outbreak when stay-at-home orders are made across the country. So far, the FDA has not budged.
“They’re forcing patients to come out of quarantine just to pick up meds, when they could easily have loved one or somebody pick up the medications for them from a pharmacy that's near their house,” Shah, who is a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, said. “Maybe it will take this crisis to make them see just how unnecessary this regulation is.”
Even while clinics like Planned Parenthood continue serving patients, they could see layoffs and shutdowns in the near future, just like any other organization affected by the downward turn of the economy as a result of the virus.
“Unfortunately, a lot of my patients are low-income people [and] people of color who are ready facing barriers to accessing care,” Shah said.
“And now, with people having to stay home, not able to go to work, not getting paychecks, job insecurity, childcare insecurity — people are really thinking hard about continuing their pregnancy right now. It feels scary for a lot of people,” she said.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-20--“Why Are We Here?”: Some Congressional Staffers Are Worried For Their Safety As They’re Forced To Wo

“Why Are We Here?”: Some Congressional Staffers Are Worried For Their Safety As They’re Forced To Work

Do you have questions you want answered ?
You can always get in touch .
And if you 're someone who is seeing the impact of this firsthand , we ’ d also love to hear from you ( you can reach out to us via one of our tip line channels ) .
WASHINGTON — Two members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus and more than two dozen are self-quarantining because they ’ ve been in contact with someone who ’ s contracted it .
But Congress remains in session , as do the congressional staff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are forced to continue to work in the Capitol .
“ Why are we here ?
Why are we risking our health ?
To protect the stock market ?
” said one staffer who , at the time , was walking the halls of the Capitol , stopping mid-sentence to add , “ it ’ s a ghost town.
” Nearly a dozen congressional staffers who spoke to BuzzFeed News asked not to be identified for fear of losing their jobs .
But all of them were eager to jump on the phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bewilderment about the global pandemic and the fact that Congress has remained in Washington , gathering in groups far larger than the 10 recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
While staffers appreciate the gravity of the situation , most of them wished they had more direction .
“ I think what the real frustration is is that we have not gotten any guidance from leadership in regards to when members are supposed to be coming back and voting , ” another staffer told BuzzFeed News .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AIPAC and CPAC [ conferences focused on Israel and conservative politics , respectively , which both took place in recent weeks ] , they should have immediately shut the buildings down and they should have allowed all of us to start teleworking at that point.
” The sergeant-at-arms , in consultation with the House ’ s attending physician and leadership , limited visitor tours in the Capitol on Thursday until April 1 .
Since then , Speaker Nancy Pelosi has sent “ dear colleague ” letters out to staff with suggestions on having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far not agreed to calls to have members vote remotely ( the House is currently in recess , but plans to return to DC in the coming days ) .
On Thursday , Pelosi called on House Rules Committee chair Rep. Jim McGovern to conduct a study to determine whether or not having members of Congress vote remotely is feasible .
“ Our whole office is teleworking , ” said one staffer .
“ However , I do believe it ’ s unbelievable that any office would make their staff come into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exact opposite.
” Most House staffers are working from home , but in some offices , the congressional team rotates between full and half days , single-handedly manning their DC offices on what some have called a “ skeleton crew.
” “ I am frustrated !
But not panicked , ” another staffer texted BuzzFeed News while on the Hill on Thursday .
“ Our bosses are expecting us to go into work , increase our chance of exposure , and in doing so are keeping us from our families and parents.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for how the House will proceed with a third coronavirus stimulus vote , which will likely happen next week : a simplified vote where everyone unanimously agrees to pass the legislation without physically appearing in the Capitol , or have all members fly in to debate and vote as usual .
Another option was to not recess at all .
All of them seem problematic , staffers said .
“ You can ’ t unanimous consent trillions of dollars , ” one staffer said .
“ Even if the House announced new procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 members in the room at a time — first of all — to expect that no members are going to congregate in the back is just lying to themselves .
But even so , all of them touching the same button [ to vote ] , you can spread it that way.
” And , staffers noted , members would have to get on planes to return to DC and then to go back to their districts , with some coming as far as from Washington state and Hawaii .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very very important work .
It is critical .
It is part of the federal government doing its job to help the country through a crisis .
In that same breath , there ’ s certain ways where there ’ s not a practice in what we preach , ” the staffer said .
House Republican leadership had a call two days ago with the lead members on each committee to get a sense of where they were on remote voting .
Republicans came away very against the idea , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Voting remotely ] shows that Congress is scared , ” another staffer said when asked why they thought members would object to casting votes from their districts .
“ It instills fear in the American people .
In this moment they are looking to their government officials for comfort .
And if we don ’ t even show up for them , then what are we ?
” Some say they are putting their civic duty first , it ’ s not about morale .
“ I think it ’ s more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” one Democratic staffer told BuzzFeed News while sitting in her office inside the Capitol .
“ Even when we had 9/11 , members were still required to come here and vote and they were all targeted at that time too.
” Staffers on the Senate side were a bit more diplomatic , as their bosses are still in Washington , floating on and off of the Senate floor , negotiating and voting on coronavirus-related legislation .
“ The magnitude of the situation has put a strain on everyone but some staff are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government , ” said one Senate staffer .
“ Honestly I ’ m not that frustrated right now , ” another Senate staffer told BuzzFeed News .
“ We signed up for the job , understanding there are certain risks here , and only a couple of us need to be here while we ’ re in session .
If I really felt at risk , I am confident my office would accommodate me being at home.
” The same staffer did say she ’ d be relieved when they do move to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complain about the food situation on the Senate side .
Capitol dwellers are no longer allowed to use the self-service options , including pouring your own coffee or fountain soda , and the self-service salad bar is closed .
One staffer was also disappointed when BuzzFeed News told her that one local eatery in the Capitol building , Cups & Company , had closed amid COVID-19 concerns .
“ I saw the lady in there this am but their door was still locked , ” she texted .
“ I figured they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON — Two members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus and more than two dozen are self-quarantining because they’ve been in contact with someone who’s contracted it. But Congress remains in session, as do the congressional staff, many of whom are frightened as they are forced to continue to work in the Capitol.
“Why are we here? Why are we risking our health? To protect the stock market?” said one staffer who, at the time, was walking the halls of the Capitol, stopping mid-sentence to add, “it’s a ghost town.”
Nearly a dozen congressional staffers who spoke to BuzzFeed News asked not to be identified for fear of losing their jobs. But all of them were eager to jump on the phone or text to unleash their frustrations and bewilderment about the global pandemic and the fact that Congress has remained in Washington, gathering in groups far larger than the 10 recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While staffers appreciate the gravity of the situation, most of them wished they had more direction.
“I think what the real frustration is is that we have not gotten any guidance from leadership in regards to when members are supposed to be coming back and voting,” another staffer told BuzzFeed News. “I think that after those people tested positive at AIPAC and CPAC [conferences focused on Israel and conservative politics, respectively, which both took place in recent weeks], they should have immediately shut the buildings down and they should have allowed all of us to start teleworking at that point.”
The sergeant-at-arms, in consultation with the House’s attending physician and leadership, limited visitor tours in the Capitol on Thursday until April 1. Since then, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has sent “dear colleague” letters out to staff with suggestions on having staff work from home, but has so far not agreed to calls to have members vote remotely (the House is currently in recess, but plans to return to DC in the coming days). On Thursday, Pelosi called on House Rules Committee chair Rep. Jim McGovern to conduct a study to determine whether or not having members of Congress vote remotely is feasible.
“Our whole office is teleworking,” said one staffer. “However, I do believe it’s unbelievable that any office would make their staff come into work when the CDC has recommended the exact opposite.”
Most House staffers are working from home, but in some offices, the congressional team rotates between full and half days, single-handedly manning their DC offices on what some have called a “skeleton crew.”
“I am frustrated! But not panicked,” another staffer texted BuzzFeed News while on the Hill on Thursday. “Our bosses are expecting us to go into work, increase our chance of exposure, and in doing so are keeping us from our families and parents.”
Some staffers said members are discussing proposals for how the House will proceed with a third coronavirus stimulus vote, which will likely happen next week: a simplified vote where everyone unanimously agrees to pass the legislation without physically appearing in the Capitol, or have all members fly in to debate and vote as usual. Another option was to not recess at all. All of them seem problematic, staffers said.
“You can’t unanimous consent trillions of dollars,” one staffer said. “Even if the House announced new procedures for voting so that they only allowed 10 members in the room at a time — first of all — to expect that no members are going to congregate in the back is just lying to themselves. But even so, all of them touching the same button [to vote], you can spread it that way.”
And, staffers noted, members would have to get on planes to return to DC and then to go back to their districts, with some coming as far as from Washington state and Hawaii.
“The work to come back to do is very very important work. It is critical. It is part of the federal government doing its job to help the country through a crisis. In that same breath, there’s certain ways where there’s not a practice in what we preach,” the staffer said.
House Republican leadership had a call two days ago with the lead members on each committee to get a sense of where they were on remote voting. Republicans came away very against the idea, according to a source familiar with the call.
“[Voting remotely] shows that Congress is scared,” another staffer said when asked why they thought members would object to casting votes from their districts. “It instills fear in the American people. In this moment they are looking to their government officials for comfort. And if we don’t even show up for them, then what are we?”
Some say they are putting their civic duty first, it’s not about morale. “I think it’s more like setting a very historic precedent,” one Democratic staffer told BuzzFeed News while sitting in her office inside the Capitol. “Even when we had 9/11, members were still required to come here and vote and they were all targeted at that time too.”
Staffers on the Senate side were a bit more diplomatic, as their bosses are still in Washington, floating on and off of the Senate floor, negotiating and voting on coronavirus-related legislation.
“The magnitude of the situation has put a strain on everyone but some staff are essential to continue the operation of the government,” said one Senate staffer.
“Honestly I’m not that frustrated right now,” another Senate staffer told BuzzFeed News. “We signed up for the job, understanding there are certain risks here, and only a couple of us need to be here while we’re in session. If I really felt at risk, I am confident my office would accommodate me being at home.”
The same staffer did say she’d be relieved when they do move to full telework, however.
Staffers did complain about the food situation on the Senate side. Capitol dwellers are no longer allowed to use the self-service options, including pouring your own coffee or fountain soda, and the self-service salad bar is closed.
One staffer was also disappointed when BuzzFeed News told her that one local eatery in the Capitol building, Cups & Company, had closed amid COVID-19 concerns.
“I saw the lady in there this am but their door was still locked,” she texted. “I figured they were just opening late or something.”
“I’m devastated,” she added.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-20--There Won't Be Any Standardized Tests This Year Due To Coronavirus, Trump Said

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
WASHINGTON — Students will not have to take standardized tests this year , and interest rates on federally held student loans will be 0 % for the next 60 days due to the coronavirus outbreak , President Donald Trump said Friday .
“ With many schools closed due to the virus , the Department of Education will not enforce standardized testing requirements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elementary through high school for the current year , ” Trump said at his daily press briefing on the coronavirus pandemic .
“ They ’ ve been through a lot .
They ’ ve been going back and forth , schools open , schools not open…We ’ re not going to be enforcing that.
” Additionally , the government is waiving all interest on federally held student loans for the next two months , Trump said .
“ I ’ ve instructed them to take that action immediately , and today Secretary [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal lenders to allow borrowers to suspend their student loans and loan payments without penalty for at least the next 60 days.
” That period could be extended if necessary , Trump said , and added that borrowers should contact their lenders about suspending payments if they are interested .
The president said there will be additional steps to help students during the pandemic in the coming days .
The White House also announced Friday that it will shut down both the country ’ s northern and southern borders to people entering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asylum-seekers will be sent back to Canada or Mexico without being detained or processed .
The Department of Education confirmed that it has instructed federal student loan lenders to set interest rates rates at zero and allow people to suspend payments “ for at least two months ” in a release Friday morning .
“ Borrowers will have the option to suspend their payments for at least two months to allow them greater flexibility during the national emergency , ” the release said .
“ This will allow borrowers to temporarily stop their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition to news about how the government is addressing the pandemic , the daily White House coronavirus briefings have also been an opportunity for an often testy Trump to spar with reporters .
When an NBC reporter asked the president Friday , “ What do you say to Americans who are scared right now ?
” while citing the current number of cases in the US , Trump snapped back , “ I say that you ’ re a terrible reporter , that ’ s what I say .
”

WASHINGTON — Students will not have to take standardized tests this year, and interest rates on federally held student loans will be 0% for the next 60 days due to the coronavirus outbreak, President Donald Trump said Friday.
“With many schools closed due to the virus, the Department of Education will not enforce standardized testing requirements, very importantly, for students in elementary through high school for the current year,” Trump said at his daily press briefing on the coronavirus pandemic. “They’ve been through a lot. They’ve been going back and forth, schools open, schools not open…We’re not going to be enforcing that.”
Additionally, the government is waiving all interest on federally held student loans for the next two months, Trump said.
“I’ve instructed them to take that action immediately, and today Secretary [of Education Betsy] DeVos has directed federal lenders to allow borrowers to suspend their student loans and loan payments without penalty for at least the next 60 days.”
That period could be extended if necessary, Trump said, and added that borrowers should contact their lenders about suspending payments if they are interested. The president said there will be additional steps to help students during the pandemic in the coming days.
The White House also announced Friday that it will shut down both the country’s northern and southern borders to people entering the country illegally and that those immigrants and asylum-seekers will be sent back to Canada or Mexico without being detained or processed.
The Department of Education confirmed that it has instructed federal student loan lenders to set interest rates rates at zero and allow people to suspend payments “for at least two months” in a release Friday morning.
“Borrowers will have the option to suspend their payments for at least two months to allow them greater flexibility during the national emergency,” the release said. “This will allow borrowers to temporarily stop their payments without worrying about accruing interest.”
In addition to news about how the government is addressing the pandemic, the daily White House coronavirus briefings have also been an opportunity for an often testy Trump to spar with reporters. When an NBC reporter asked the president Friday, “What do you say to Americans who are scared right now?” while citing the current number of cases in the US, Trump snapped back, “I say that you’re a terrible reporter, that’s what I say.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-20--All Californians, Nearly 40 Million People, Have Been Ordered To Stay Home To Stop The Spread Of The

All Californians, Nearly 40 Million People, Have Been Ordered To Stay Home To Stop The Spread Of The Coronavirus

`` This is a moment where we need some straight talk and we need to tell people the truth : We need to bend the curve in the state of California , '' Gov .
Gavin Newsom said .
All Californians , nearly 40 million people , have been ordered to stay at home except for when it is absolutely necessary for them to leave `` until further notice '' to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced the order late Thursday , just an hour after officials in Los Angeles County , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , issued a similar mandate .
Earlier this week , their Bay Area counterparts handed down similar `` shelter-in-place '' orders , the strictest measures taken in the country so far .
`` This is a moment we need to make tough decisions , '' Newsom said .
`` This is a moment where we need some straight talk and we need to tell people the truth : We need to bend the curve in the state of California . ''
Across the state of California , health officials have confirmed 675 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease as of Wednesday evening , behind Washington state and New York , where more than 5,000 cases have been confirmed .
The state 's order takes effect immediately and will be in place indefinitely with Newsom telling reporters that officials `` could not give a deadline that we really could believe in . ''
`` This is a dynamic situation , '' he said .
The Los Angeles order , which will stay in effect until at least April 19 , requires all businesses , including museums , malls , retail stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and only allows people to leave their home for `` essential activities , '' like to pick up food , go to the doctor , or take a walk in the neighborhood .
It will take effect midnight Thursday , though businesses will have an additional day to prepare to close .
`` We ’ ve already radically changed how we live in Los Angeles , '' Mayor Eric Garcetti said during a press briefing .
`` We need to be painfully honest tonight that we 're about to enter into a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state 's order , which does not have a set end date , includes exemptions for public safety and health care operations as well as other essential services , including laundromats , grocery stores , and restaurants that offer takeout or delivery .
But even those essential businesses will need to incorporate social distancing practices — keeping 6 feet of space between individual employees and customers , officials said .
Like the orders announced by health officers in Alameda , Contra Costa , Marin , San Francisco , San Mateo , and Santa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday , violations of the state and Los Angeles orders would be punishable as a misdemeanor .
`` This is not shelter in place like a school shooting , this is stay at home because you ’ re safer at home , '' Garcetti said .
`` This is not a request .
This is an order . ''
Under state law , violations of the order are punishable by a fine of up to $ 1,000 or by imprisonment for no more than six months — however , Newsom and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have police handling enforcement .
`` There 's a social contract here people I think recognize the need to do more , '' Newsom said , talking about the social pressure he expects will be placed on people to abide by the order .
`` Of course we have the capacity to move beyond that . ''
Earlier on Thursday , Pennsylvania Gov .
Tom Wolf ordered all businesses except those that are `` life-sustaining '' to shut down until further notice .
Under that order , only businesses deemed critical , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and transit operations , may continue to operate .
Establishments that are found out of compliance of the new rules could face enforcement actions , Wolf said .
The Los Angeles order came hours after the county announced its second death from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , and 40 newly confirmed cases , bringing the county 's total number of infections to 231 .
The deceased was a person in their thirties with underlying health conditions from an unincorporated area outside of Pasadena .
`` This is a disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here in LA County , and there is no security in thinking that you 're either not going to be affected or do n't have the responsibility to protect others , '' LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said .
`` Each one us on any given day can be carrying this infection . ''
Ferrer said recent studies have shown that the measures the county is taking could potentially result in tens of thousands of fewer people getting infected over a shorter period of time .
However , she noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would take to see enough of a reduction in the rate of transmission to a point where officials could relax some of the restrictions .
The point , she explained , is to slow the rate of transmission so as not to overwhelm the health care system with a large peak in the number of people who are sick .
`` We think we have a wonderful health care system here , but the best way to keep it highly functional is to actually make sure that we do n't see that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that all need care at the same time , '' Ferrer said .

All Californians, nearly 40 million people, have been ordered to stay at home except for when it is absolutely necessary for them to leave "until further notice" to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the order late Thursday, just an hour after officials in Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the US, issued a similar mandate. Earlier this week, their Bay Area counterparts handed down similar "shelter-in-place" orders, the strictest measures taken in the country so far.
"This is a moment we need to make tough decisions," Newsom said. "This is a moment where we need some straight talk and we need to tell people the truth: We need to bend the curve in the state of California."
Across the state of California, health officials have confirmed 675 cases of COVID-19 and 16 deaths from the disease as of Wednesday evening, behind Washington state and New York, where more than 5,000 cases have been confirmed.
The state's order takes effect immediately and will be in place indefinitely with Newsom telling reporters that officials "could not give a deadline that we really could believe in."
"This is a dynamic situation," he said.
The Los Angeles order, which will stay in effect until at least April 19, requires all businesses, including museums, malls, retail stores, and workplaces, to stop operations and only allows people to leave their home for "essential activities," like to pick up food, go to the doctor, or take a walk in the neighborhood. It will take effect midnight Thursday, though businesses will have an additional day to prepare to close.
"We’ve already radically changed how we live in Los Angeles," Mayor Eric Garcetti said during a press briefing. "We need to be painfully honest tonight that we're about to enter into a new way of living here."