buzzfeednews--2020-05-07--Zara Won Praise For Its Coronavirus Response. But Factory Workers Asked For Masks And Got Fired.

NEW DELHI — A woman immaculately dressed for quarantine reads on a plush sofa in her black crop top and anti-fit denim pants .
Another , dressed in a flouncy floor-length peach dress , dances in her kitchen with joyous abandon .
A third socially distances on a boat , her white poplin shirt dress a contrast to the lush green surroundings .
Meanwhile , in crowded factories located in chaotic , crime-filled industrial hubs , the workers making these clothes find themselves abandoned by Zara , the global retail brand that ’ s making quarantine look so glamorous .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ went under coronavirus-related lockdowns , fashion changed .
The globe-trotting , stylish woman from Zara ’ s campaigns moved indoors — or at least , that ’ s where you ’ ll see her in the slickly produced videos that the global fashion brand uploads to Twitter .
It ’ s possible that no one will don a Versace cape anytime soon , but consumers are ordering clothes online to reflect their new lives : clothes to wear on work Zoom calls , athleisure for exercising at home , sweats and pajamas for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make us feel good .
The world might be full of uncertainty , but being able to choose the fit , color , and fabric of the shirt we pair with those comfy pajamas still offers the possibility of feeling in control .
The cost of this retail therapy , the longing for comfort and normalcy under lockdown , is being borne by workers thousands of miles away , faces you ’ d never see in a summer fashion campaign , even when the videos include token models of color .
These workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some cases , they are working in factories in close proximity to each other where there is no concern for protecting them from the coronavirus .
While brands like Zara , which has stores in 96 countries , ramp up work at logistics centers , workers assembling clothes , swimwear , accessories , and shoes are being sacrificed to meet the demand .
Issues with fast fashion far precede the emergence of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , but its rapid spread has deepened the incredible inequity between garment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the supply chain and wealthy individuals like Zara ’ s Spanish billionaire owner Amancio Ortega , the world ’ s sixth-richest man , who are rebranding themselves as benevolent saviors .
At the height of the pandemic in Spain this year , Zara ’ s parent company , Inditex , closed more than 3,000 stores .
Ortega pivoted his fashion empire to making hospital gowns and masks , and according to Forbes , flew in medical supplies worth millions from China .
Ortega also made sure that Zara ’ s Spanish employees received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of which won him plenty of great press and support in Spain .
On March 28 , ambulance crews gathered outside his home to wish him a happy birthday .
But Ortega ’ s generosity and concern for Zara ’ s workers stopped at the borders of Spain .
Inditex said it rejects the assertions made by BuzzFeed News .
“ Inditex has worked tirelessly over many years to ensure the standards set out in its supplier code of conduct are followed , including through its global partnership with the IndustriALL Global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind in the industry – and its membership of the ACT platform on living wages , ” a spokesperson said in a statement issued after this article was published .
“ As soon as the Coronavirus pandemic hit , we committed to pay our suppliers in full for all orders produced or currently in production .
Freedom of association is a core principle of our supplier Code of Conduct which is why as soon as the Myanmode dispute arose we insisted on a mediation process.
” Anxiety about being laid off or having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis has led to thinkpieces , graffiti , and “ eat the rich ” memes .
Britney Spears might be a communist now , and teenagers on TikTok are calling Karl Marx “ daddy.
” Jeff Bezos — memed mercilessly for losing a minuscule portion of his money — has in fact now added $ 25 billion , more than the GDP of Honduras , to his total wealth since the coronavirus crisis began .
Billionaires in the US have seen their net worth increase by tens of millions of dollars in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultra-rich to do more , which might be why Rihanna , who has donated millions of dollars to coronavirus relief efforts , has been described as a “ one-woman COVID-19 foe.
” But the pandemic and its economic repercussions have laid bare the hypocrisy of the super-wealthy who do just enough to make sure they get good press , while treating workers who labor for their brands as disposable .
“ We could all die , and for what ?
Making already rich brands super rich , ” one worker said on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yangon , speaking on the condition of anonymity .
“ The working class is being sacrificed so they can wear good clothes.
” The coronavirus has so far not spread extensively in Myanmar , despite the country sharing a nearly 1,400-mile border with China , and the fact that an estimated 10,000 migrant workers were crossing the border on a daily basis until late January .
As of May 7 , the country has officially recorded only 176 cases and six deaths .
The country ’ s first positive case of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Myanmar citizen living in the United States who had recently returned for a wedding .
Until then , Myanmar ’ s government was still patting itself on the back because there were “ no cases of coronavirus in the country ” — something the health minister said the people owed to their diet and lifestyle .
There was still no mention of social distancing .
But like several parts of Southeast Asia , it is difficult to give a true picture because there is insufficient testing — as of May 1 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear that if the number of coronavirus cases increased dramatically , the country ’ s public healthcare system would collapse .
The World Bank has estimated that Myanmar has only 249 ventilators for a population of almost 55 million .
Not a whole lot had changed in the working practices at Myan Mode , the Zara factory which lies in the heart of the industrial district of Hlaing Tharyar , in Myanmar ’ s capital , Yangon .
Since the factory , whose owners are based in South Korea , opened in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Zara .
Hlaing Tharyar is a crowded hub of garment factories and light manufacturers , home to gang violence , police violence , and union clashes .
Most of Myan Mode ’ s workers are young women from rural villages — Myanmar ’ s garment workforce is over 90 % women .
At the insistence of the workers ’ union , factory bosses had added a basin for workers to wash their hands , while temperature checks took place as workers entered the factory .
Employees had been provided with cloth masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the factory did not supply any other masks .
Then suddenly , in the last week of March , everything changed .
“ The husbands of two women who worked at the factory returned from Thailand and were showing symptoms of COVID-19 , ” Ohmar Myint , a 34-year-old sewing machine operator at Myan Mode , told BuzzFeed News .
“ The women and their husbands lived in the dormitory , so everyone found out.
” On March 28 , the union decided to speak to the factory ’ s owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be made mandatory , an end to mandatory overtime while the crisis was on , and we wanted them to send home the two women whose husbands had COVID-like symptoms , ” a veteran union leader named Mau Maung , who was part of the negotiating committee , said .
“ It was a half-day , Saturday , so the management told us it would come back with a decision soon.
” A few hours later , an official came to the room where the workers were gathered and read out a list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list , including Myint , Maung , and 520 union members , was fired on the spot , representing about half of Myan Mode ’ s workforce .
“ We were given no notice at all , ” Maung said .
Nearly half a million people in Myanmar work in garment factories , living cheek by jowl in dormitories that factories rent to them for half of their salaries .
The country ’ s minimum wage is one of the lowest in Asia , and following a wave of strikes last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formed unions .
These unions are a lifeline for people who are treated by big brands as convenient , but ultimately disposable , cheap labor .
Myan Mode ’ s union was able to negotiate small victories for the workers , like permission to be up to 15 minutes late for work , and more reasonable working hours than other factories demanded — 44 hours a week , with up to 14 hours of overtime .
Dig into Zara ’ s history , and you will find its owner Ortega ’ s origin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always begins with poverty , the seed for his philanthropic nature was planted when as a 12-year-old boy he saw his mother being denied food on credit at a local shop in La Coruña .
That kind of poverty is familiar for Myint , who was one of the 571 employees laid off at Myan Mode .
When she spoke to BuzzFeed News on the phone from Yangon , she sounded defiant and sad in turns — the factory had fired every single union member , and a woman who had complained that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made sexual advances toward her .
Myint said sexual harassment was rampant at garment worker factories in Myanmar , and she admired the way the union stood by the complainant , their solidarity ultimately leading to the man ’ s resignation from Myan Mode .
This , she said , was why she joined the union .
BuzzFeed News has been unable to contact the complainant , who union members say has left Yangon and returned to her native village .
“ Workers can not oppress workers , but that ’ s what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ The factory owners have absolute power — we can not talk back to them no matter how much they exploit us , or demand better pay , or even ask for leave .
If we take even one day off , we lose money .
On days we finish our work early , we can not sign out of the factory , we ’ re simply given another task , and then another , and another ... the work never stops.
” Being in the union gave Myint more bargaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collective of over 500 people , most of whom were women .
But at the end of each day , Myint said , she still felt as though she was a machine whose batteries had died .
Her entire body ached from hunching over the zippers and lining she sewed into skirts , jackets , shirts , and hoodies for Zara and its rival Spanish brand , Mango .
Once her shift ended , there was still housework to be done , groceries to be carried home , food to be cooked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to herself in the entire day , and those were meant for sleep .
Myint said she first learned about the novel coronavirus in January , while browsing Facebook .
“ [ I was reading about ] how contagious it is , and that ’ s scary for me , because we work so close to each other all day , if one of us fell sick , everyone would fall sick , ” she said .
By February , Myint and the other union members had heard that the supply of raw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fabric , buttons , rivets , and velcro , had stopped coming to Myan Mode .
That ’ s when Myint and the union decided to talk to their employers at the factory .
“ We told them , ‘ If you have plans to close the factory or fire workers because of coronavirus , let the union know first so we can help people look for other work , ’ ” she said .
“ The owners agreed , but said there was no plan to close the factory yet.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation .
The reputation that Ortega , Inditex ’ s billionaire founder , enjoys as a small-town hero in Spain is bolstered by stories about his legendary humility .
Stories like how his first fashion distribution network began in 1963 at the port city of La Coruña to help women earn money , while their husbands went out to sea to fish .
At Inditex ’ s headquarters in Arteixo , northwestern Spain , he sits at a desk in a corner of a Zara Woman workspace .
Ortega , now 84 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photograph of him had even been published .
Until lockdowns in Spain forced everyone to stay indoors , Ortega still drank his coffee at his favorite local café .
But Ortega ’ s true gift is speed .
Inditex owns several other brands , including Pull & Bear , Massimo Dutti , Bershka , Oysho , Stradivarius , Zara Home , and Uterqüe .
But the company ’ s crown jewel is undoubtedly Zara .
Last month Spanish media gleefully noted that even Pablo Iglesias , Spain ’ s second deputy prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vocal critics , was spotted wearing a black , fitted Zara Man jacket .
Over the years , as Zara evolved both its name — from Zorba to Zara — and its fashion ethos , the brand built its reputation by trend-spotting and delivering those trends to customers at warp speed : in fashion terms , weeks , instead of months .
Ortega ’ s quick thinking served him well even when the coronavirus hit Spain .
He directed 11 of his factories in Galicia , northwest Spain , to immediately switch to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Zara also delivered washable , splash-proof , even arguably stylish turquoise hospital gowns to medical workers in the city of La Coruña .
Soon after that , Ortega flew in another 3 million units of PPE from China , along with 1,450 ventilators for Spain .
In a pre-coronavirus world , Ortega ’ s way of doing business courted plenty of controversy .
In 2015 , Zara was accused of discriminating against black employees at its corporate offices ( Zara denied the reports ) , while conditions in factories in Brazil were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazil responded to the charges saying “ the alleged criminal offences pointed out by the inspection report refer to third-party conduct that is not to be confused with Zara ’ s ” ) .
In 2016 , Inditex was accused of tax evasion worth over 550 million euros , about $ 596 million ( Inditex published a lengthy response denying the allegations ) .
In 2017 , workers making clothes for Zara in Turkey began sewing pleas for help into their lining .
( Inditex said it had set up a hardship fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these allegations from Brazil and Turkey , Zara turned to the argument often used by big brands that rely on cheap labor for supply chains — they had a contract with the factory , and the factory alone .
The way those factories treat their employees is not the brand ’ s business .
“ That ’ s completely false , of course , ” Andrew Tillett-Saks , a labor rights activist who lives and works in Myanmar , told BuzzFeed News .
“ If these brands were to indicate any interest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately follow suit .
The fact is the brands have all the power to change things .
They just don ’ t because they prioritize their financial profits over the people who make their clothes.
” To some extent , fashion ’ s exploitative practices looked like they were about to change following a massive factory accident in Bangladesh ’ s Rana Plaza in 2013 , when an eight-story commercial building collapsed , killing over 1,000 garment factory workers .
Inditex was among 200 fast fashion labels to sign a worker safety accord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but increasingly , that accord has ceased to matter .
This month , for instance , thousands of workers including those who sew clothes for Zara are returning to garment factories in Bangladesh , even during the pandemic .
As Thingyan , Myanmar 's annual new year water festival , began in April , hundreds of workers returned to their hometowns , uncertain of when they would return to work .
Most workers had accepted a small severance from the factory ; some had not .
Myint said she and the other union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were being punished .
Another factory , Rui Ning , located in the same industrial complex as Myan Mode , had laid off 30 % of its workers , most of whom were union members too .
By this time , the coronavirus crisis was also growing : Yangon imposed a lockdown during the holiday season from April 10 to April 19 , as well as a night curfew when it was discovered that 80 % of the country ’ s positive COVID-19 cases were in the capital .
In the past , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of publicly calling out brands because they were afraid of precisely what happened at Myan Mode and Rui Ning — troublemakers would be fired , or the brand would shut that particular factory down and sign a contract with another .
“ Owners briefly shut down the factory only to quickly reopen with new , nonunion workers , ” Tillet-Saks , the labor rights activist , said .
“ Often , they will change technical details such as the factory ’ s name or registrant to circumvent labor laws , while maintaining the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being unemployed during a pandemic might change that .
For the past month , around 30 members of the Myan Mode union who were sacked appeared daily outside the factory ’ s gates in protest , where they ate , slept , sang union songs .
The union has also approached the South Korean consulate and Yangon ’ s Arbitration Council .
“ If that does not work , we might even sue , ” one leader told BuzzFeed News on the condition of anonymity .
BuzzFeed News also learned that union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ning unions have reached out to union workers in Spain , who have assured them that they will add pressure to negotiations with Inditex and Mango .
“ If the Spanish unions do help , this is a great step in the international labor rights movement .
It will mean a lot to the union in Myanmar , ” said Tillett-Saks , who was aware of emails exchanged between the unions in Myanmar and Spain .
“ With the employers and brands being so multinational , workers need to be united internationally as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any power to improve the garment industry .
All they want is that workers who were fired should be reinstated and that they do not use the pandemic as an excuse to attack the union.
” Inditex ’ s own code of conduct states that the company supports unions and wants factories to treat workers in the supply chain with care for their health and safety .
Days after BuzzFeed News reached out to the company ’ s ethics committee for a response on the sacking of workers at Myan Mode , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Myan Mode with 29 workers had been resolved through dialogue , and that the factory had agreed to reinstate the protesting workers .
The more than 500 workers who had accepted severance pay could possibly be able to return to the factory once it resumed work at full capacity — although it was unclear when that might happen .
“ We have communicated with suppliers to follow local government recommendations and instructions and/or to implement measures to ensure they are following the health protection guidelines for workplaces detailed by the WHO regarding Covid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We are working closely with our suppliers at this difficult time and we expect continued compliance with our Code of Conduct , which clearly requires fair treatment of workers and no discrimination against workers ’ representatives.
” But union workers said the olive branch from Zara , which arrived on May 6 , more than a month after 571 workers were fired , was a belated attempt at damage control .
“ This union-busting case using COVID-19 as cover has not yet been resolved , ” a union worker told BuzzFeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anonymity .
The union worker said that the offer to reinstate 29 people fell short of the union ’ s demands .
For instance , more than 500 workers who were laid off still had no jobs , and the fact that they had accepted a paltry severance was being used against them .
Myan Mode had failed to honor an agreement that it would not target the union and lay off workers during the pandemic , the union member said .
Myan Mode is still refusing to recognize the union officially , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ migrant workers who are not members of any union .
Mango did not respond to a BuzzFeed News request for comment .
Across Asia , countries have had two kinds of responses to the pandemic : complete shutdowns like India and Sri Lanka , or partial lockdowns with restrictions , like Cambodia , Indonesia , and Myanmar , where governments have banned gatherings but kept factories running .
While these decisions have largely depended on the health of each country ’ s domestic economy , countries suddenly closing down their borders have caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most invisible populations of migrant workers , who cross domestic and international borders searching for work .
This exodus of worried workers , desperate to return home as the worst economic and health crisis grows around them , is occurring in tandem with spikes in COVID-19 cases .
Everything is terrible — but the pandemic is particularly worrying for the people making our clothes , because readymade garment workers work on short-term contracts or are sometimes paid per piece of apparel , existing precariously close to poverty .
Already , several brands have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been made in factories , and many have reneged on payments promised to workers in Asia .
The relentless consumer hunger for branded clothes and fast fashion means that when the worst of the crisis is over , and our appetite for shopping returns , all that a big brand has to do is find the next bunch of cheap laborers .
For too long , we ’ ve pretended that fast fashion and eco-consciousness can coexist , that the worst excesses of sweatshop exploitation are a thing of the past .
Brands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over their stores ; other brands assure customers that they recycle all their packaging .
But in the middle of a pandemic , it is no longer enough to wear faux concern .
●

Then suddenly, in the last week of March, everything changed. “The husbands of two women who worked at the factory returned from Thailand and were showing symptoms of COVID-19,” Ohmar Myint, a 34-year-old sewing machine operator at Myan Mode, told BuzzFeed News. “The women and their husbands lived in the dormitory, so everyone found out.”
On March 28, the union decided to speak to the factory’s owners again. “We wanted masks to be made mandatory, an end to mandatory overtime while the crisis was on, and we wanted them to send home the two women whose husbands had COVID-like symptoms,” a veteran union leader named Mau Maung, who was part of the negotiating committee, said. “It was a half-day, Saturday, so the management told us it would come back with a decision soon.” A few hours later, an official came to the room where the workers were gathered and read out a list of 571 names. Everyone on the list, including Myint, Maung, and 520 union members, was fired on the spot, representing about half of Myan Mode’s workforce.
“We were given no notice at all,” Maung said.
Nearly half a million people in Myanmar work in garment factories, living cheek by jowl in dormitories that factories rent to them for half of their salaries. The country’s minimum wage is one of the lowest in Asia, and following a wave of strikes last year, approximately 50,000 garment workers have joined or formed unions. These unions are a lifeline for people who are treated by big brands as convenient, but ultimately disposable, cheap labor. Myan Mode’s union was able to negotiate small victories for the workers, like permission to be up to 15 minutes late for work, and more reasonable working hours than other factories demanded — 44 hours a week, with up to 14 hours of overtime.
Dig into Zara’s history, and you will find its owner Ortega’s origin story recounted in breathless detail. It always begins with poverty, the seed for his philanthropic nature was planted when as a 12-year-old boy he saw his mother being denied food on credit at a local shop in La Coruña.
That kind of poverty is familiar for Myint, who was one of the 571 employees laid off at Myan Mode.
When she spoke to BuzzFeed News on the phone from Yangon, she sounded defiant and sad in turns — the factory had fired every single union member, and a woman who had complained that a senior colleague at the factory had made sexual advances toward her.
Myint said sexual harassment was rampant at garment worker factories in Myanmar, and she admired the way the union stood by the complainant, their solidarity ultimately leading to the man’s resignation from Myan Mode. This, she said, was why she joined the union. BuzzFeed News has been unable to contact the complainant, who union members say has left Yangon and returned to her native village.
“Workers cannot oppress workers, but that’s what happens at the factories,” Myint said. “The factory owners have absolute power — we cannot talk back to them no matter how much they exploit us, or demand better pay, or even ask for leave. If we take even one day off, we lose money. On days we finish our work early, we cannot sign out of the factory, we’re simply given another task, and then another, and another...the work never stops.”
Being in the union gave Myint more bargaining power, she was part of a collective of over 500 people, most of whom were women. But at the end of each day, Myint said, she still felt as though she was a machine whose batteries had died. Her entire body ached from hunching over the zippers and lining she sewed into skirts, jackets, shirts, and hoodies for Zara and its rival Spanish brand, Mango. Once her shift ended, there was still housework to be done, groceries to be carried home, food to be cooked for her family. She had five hours to herself in the entire day, and those were meant for sleep.
Myint said she first learned about the novel coronavirus in January, while browsing Facebook.
“[I was reading about] how contagious it is, and that’s scary for me, because we work so close to each other all day, if one of us fell sick, everyone would fall sick,” she said.
By February, Myint and the other union members had heard that the supply of raw materials from China, things like zippers, fabric, buttons, rivets, and velcro, had stopped coming to Myan Mode. That’s when Myint and the union decided to talk to their employers at the factory.
“We told them, ‘If you have plans to close the factory or fire workers because of coronavirus, let the union know first so we can help people look for other work,’” she said. “The owners agreed, but said there was no plan to close the factory yet.” Myan Mode confirmed the details of this conversation.


buzzfeednews--2020-06-10--New York's Latest Coronavirus Sex Advice Basically Encourages Glory Holes And Zoom Orgies

Remember back in mid-March , right as the coronavirus pandemic was taking off in the United States , New York City officials issued some helpful advice on sex practices during the outbreak ?
The guide , issued by the New York City Health Department , advised residents on `` how to enjoy sex and avoid spreading COVID-19 '' by essentially sticking to masturbation and only having sex with people in your household , meaning your partner or consenting roommate ( if that 's the deal you have with them — not wise , IMHO !
!
! )
.
Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because the good folks at the health department are back , and they are feeling KINKY .
On Monday , the city updated its advisory , and among its new recommendations are masks , glory holes , and Zoom orgies .
`` Wear a face covering or mask , '' advised health officials .
`` Maybe it ’ s your thing , maybe it ’ s not , but during COVID-19 wearing a face covering that covers your nose and mouth is a good way to add a layer of protection during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread the virus further , and if you or your partner have COVID-19 and don ’ t know it , a mask can help stop that spread . ''
`` Make it a little kinky , '' they suggested before alluding to something that can only be construed as a glory hole .
`` Be creative with sexual positions and physical barriers , like walls , that allow sexual contact while preventing close face to face contact . ''

Remember back in mid-March, right as the coronavirus pandemic was taking off in the United States, New York City officials issued some helpful advice on sex practices during the outbreak?
The guide, issued by the New York City Health Department, advised residents on "how to enjoy sex and avoid spreading COVID-19" by essentially sticking to masturbation and only having sex with people in your household, meaning your partner or consenting roommate (if that's the deal you have with them — not wise, IMHO!!!).
Well, get ready, you horny quarantinos, because the good folks at the health department are back, and they are feeling KINKY.
On Monday, the city updated its advisory, and among its new recommendations are masks, glory holes, and Zoom orgies.
"Wear a face covering or mask," advised health officials. "Maybe it’s your thing, maybe it’s not, but during COVID-19 wearing a face covering that covers your nose and mouth is a good way to add a layer of protection during sex. Heavy breathing and panting can spread the virus further, and if you or your partner have COVID-19 and don’t know it, a mask can help stop that spread."
"Make it a little kinky," they suggested before alluding to something that can only be construed as a glory hole. "Be creative with sexual positions and physical barriers, like walls, that allow sexual contact while preventing close face to face contact."


buzzfeednews--2020-05-27--The Official Coronavirus Death Toll In The US Has Passed 100,000

The US has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in the world , but public health experts say the actual count is likely much higher .
BuzzFeed News has reporters around the world 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 .
Amid discussions about reopening businesses among lawmakers and tentative summer plans among friend groups , the US hit a bleak milestone on Wednesday as the recorded number of people who have died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,694,599 people have contracted the coronavirus to date , and 100,047 have died , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
The US death toll makes up nearly one-third of the total number of coronavirus-related deaths worldwide .
The US has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths , but public health experts say the real number of infections and deaths from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel virus , is likely much higher than the official count .
`` Almost certainly it 's higher , '' Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allergy and Infectious Diseases director who sits on the White House coronavirus task force , said about the death toll at a Senate hearing on May 12 .
`` There may have been people who died at home who were not counted as COVID because they never really got to the hospital . ''
The Wednesday death count marks a grim milestone for the US as many states prepare to reopen after weeks of stay-at-home orders .
Some business owners have urged officials to allow them to reopen , and many people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks in the warm weather and attending large parties .
Experts have warned that reopening businesses and relaxing social distancing rules will likely lead to a `` resurgence in cases and deaths '' across the country .
At a hearing in May , Fauci told senators that ending stay-at-home orders across the country could be disastrous .
`` There is a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak that you may not be able to control , which , in fact , paradoxically will set you back — not only leading to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoided , but could even set you back on the road to trying to get economic recovery , '' he said .
`` We will almost turn the clock back rather than going forward . ''
Sources : COVID-19 death data according to Johns Hopkins University .
Iraq War includes Operation Iraqi Freedom ( March 19 , 2003–Aug .
31 , 2010 ) and Operation New Dawn ( Sept. 1 , 2010–Dec .
31 , 2011 ) , per information from the Department of Defense .
Afghanistan War includes Operation Enduring Freedom ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 ) and Operation Freedom 's Sentinel ( Jan. 1 , 2015–present ) , per information from the Department of Defense .
2020 gun deaths in the US is based on information in the Gun Violence Archive ( including the actual total of all non-suicide deaths plus daily calculated suicide deaths ) .

Amid discussions about reopening businesses among lawmakers and tentative summer plans among friend groups, the US hit a bleak milestone on Wednesday as the recorded number of people who have died from the coronavirus surpassed 100,000.
Officially, 1,694,599 people have contracted the coronavirus to date, and 100,047 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The US death toll makes up nearly one-third of the total number of coronavirus-related deaths worldwide.
The US has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths, but public health experts say the real number of infections and deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel virus, is likely much higher than the official count.
"Almost certainly it's higher," Dr. Anthony Fauci, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director who sits on the White House coronavirus task force, said about the death toll at a Senate hearing on May 12. "There may have been people who died at home who were not counted as COVID because they never really got to the hospital."


buzzfeednews--2020-03-12--One Panicked Couple Paid $4,600 For Plane Tickets To Get Home After Trump’s Europe Travel Ban Caused

One Panicked Couple Paid $4,600 For Plane Tickets To Get Home After Trump’s Europe Travel Ban Caused Chaos

Dora Dynov and Alec Huxford were looking forward to celebrating their engagement in Paris .
But what was supposed to be a romantic weeklong vacation with an engagement photo shoot in front of the Eiffel Tower turned out to be a stressful disaster .
As news of the coronavirus became more urgent closer to the date of her trip , Dynov started worrying .
She contacted Parisians she knew , all of whom said the city is safe and that things were operating as usual .
On Sunday , the day before her redeye flight to Paris , Dynov called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were not canceling any flights to the city .
So they flew to France as planned .
When they arrived , Dynov said everything seemed fine .
`` No one was wearing masks .
There were a ton of other American people , '' she told BuzzFeed News .
`` It just seemed like 'off-season Paris . '
The streets and restaurants weren ’ t extremely busy , but there were definitely still people around . ''
Then , on Wednesday , their second day in Paris , President Trump announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe to the US for 30 days , beginning Saturday at midnight .
Dynov , 24 , and Huxford , 25 , began getting frantic calls from friends and family alarmed that they may not be able to make it back to the US .
`` I got a flight home as soon as I could , '' Dynov said over DM while she was on the plane back .
`` The situation really sucks ... Flights were only selling at skyrocketed prices . ''
Trump 's address on Wednesday evening caused mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not clarify in his announcement that US citizens , permanent residents , and their family members would be exempt from the Europe travel ban , causing panic among those who scrambled to buy flight tickets departing before Saturday out of fear that they may not be able to get back into the country .
Though Dynov and Huxford are both US citizens , when they heard Trump 's announcement , they rushed to change their flights because they were n't sure if he was going to change his mind about who the ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading and changing so quickly , it ’ s one of those things where I guess you don ’ t want to risk it by staying and then he comes out with a new message saying US citizens are stuck too , '' Dynov said .
`` Trump 's announcement was honestly really alarming to me and my family . ''
Dynov and Huxford paid a total of $ 580 for round-trip tickets from Newark , New Jersey , to Paris when they planned the trip in July .
When they tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday , the cheaper flights were sold out .
`` It was one of those things where we clicked on it when it said one price and then 2 minutes later the price jumped , '' she said .
`` At that point it was either 'take the flight and go home or possibly get stuck here . '
'' They ended up paying more than $ 4,600 for two seats on an early morning flight on Thursday .
`` We packed within minutes and immediately went to the airport in case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the airport for 7+ hours before our flight , '' she said , adding : `` Exhausted truly isn ’ t even the word . ''
David Charon , 31 , was half asleep in his Paris hotel room when his parents called from Maryland on Wednesday night telling him they ’ d just gotten news alerts about the travel ban .
They demanded he find a way home immediately .
He started searching for flights online — the hotel Wi-Fi wasn ’ t working , so he relied on slow data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a flight from Paris to Washington , DC ( close to his parents in Maryland ) , or to Orlando ( his home ) were $ 3,200 .
“ God bless my parents , ” said Charon , “ they searched high and low for something not so expensive.
” They found an $ 850 flight from Paris to New York and quickly purchased it .
He stayed up until nearly 6 a.m. figuring out his new flight schedule , then had to check out of his hotel at 11 a.m .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to head to Munich for the second leg of their two-week trip , but instead were slated to fly home Thursday evening .
Charon said he understood US citizens were exempt from the ban , but believed it only applied to citizens who ’ d been in Europe for 30 days .
( Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf did not include that 30-day stipulation for Americans in a statement clarifying the ban . )
Charon also feared his flight home from Paris on March 18 was canceled .
“ Everyone here was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t make it back by Friday , then we have to wait , ” said Charon .
European citizens have also been sent into chaos , forced to cancel business trips and vacations because they won ’ t be allowed to enter the US .
Samir Hussain , a 33-year-old hip-hop producer from Cologne , Germany , who makes music under the name Gun Productions , planned to spend a month in New York recording music , seeing friends , and having business meetings .
He was due to fly out on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waking up to a message from a friend from Dallas .
“ Well you can ’ t come now , ” it stated .
“ I was mad disappointed , ” Hussain said .
“ I was ready to leave.
” But the producer understood some of the coronavirus fears the US is dealing with .
“ The panic that ’ s happening in New York right now , was happening in Cologne last week , ” he said .
Hussain added that he drove to the Netherlands with friends to buy food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were empty .
When he first planned the trip , there were cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , in Europe , but not New York , meaning he ’ d thought he was at less risk of getting it by leaving .
“ If I go over there , I ’ m probably safer than here , ” he said .
Hussain hadn ’ t bought tickets and planned to stay with friends , so there was no huge immediate financial loss caused by Trump 's travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ loss of opportunity.
” Most of the artists he works with will spend their summer touring festivals and won ’ t be available , so the trip is likely delayed until the fall .
Other business meetings and plans can ’ t go ahead .
“ I hate it .
That just means I ’ m losing time , ” Hussain said .
“ The sooner I get there , the better.
” Trump ’ s travel ban announcement similarly left US citizens confused and frustrated as they were about to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 22 , and Teresa Corrente , 24 , booked a trip to Barcelona , Spain , through Expedia in January , paying $ 1,600 for their flights and hotel room .
Corrente tried canceling the trip a week ago as the coronavirus outbreak became more alarming , but was told that Expedia would not refund them their money or give them travel credits if they bailed on their trip .
“ I did try to cancel it out of fear and safety , but at the end of the day , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s me being overcautious , ' '' she told BuzzFeed News .
“ If I can ’ t get my money back , let me just go.
” On Wednesday , they went to JFK airport in New York City , checked their bags , and got their boarding passes .
As they waited in line to go through security , Corrente received a panicked call from her aunt about the impending travel ban .
`` We 're just kind of in line like , What do we do ?
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everybody pass us while we were talking to an airline attendant who , at the time , she did n't seem to know too much about it either because it 's all literally happening in the moment , '' LaCause told BuzzFeed News .
`` You would think that if something this serious is happening , somebody in the airlines would know .
There would be an announcement or something . ''
But he and Corrente said when they went around the airport asking employees for more information , `` they were just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban .
After speaking to an official with TAP Air Portugal , who they said told them the ban was indeed real and that there were no exemptions , they decided to leave the airport and go back home .
LaCause and Corrente were still unsure about who the ban applied to when speaking to BuzzFeed News on Thursday .
When told that they are exempt as US citizens and technically could have boarded their plane and gone on their planned vacation , LaCause said , “ Are you fucking serious ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trip ?
Did we just forfeit our money ?
” LaCause said .
“ I don ’ t know , I ’ m trying to get in touch with Expedia , but they ’ re literally having technical difficulties because too many people are calling.
” LaCause stressed that they were told the ban applied to everybody .
“ And also — we did ask that question .
We asked the Tap Airline Portugal manager .
We asked him , are there any exemptions , because we had a friend text us and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t leave .
American citizens are exempted , ’ ” LaCause said .
“ And [ the manager ] said , 'No , there ’ s absolutely nothing .
If you go , you can ’ t come back . '
'' The couple are still trying to get their money back .
“ We ’ re basically fresh-out-of-college students .
It might not be a lot of money to everybody , but to us that ’ s a hole in our pockets , ” LaCause said .
They don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the near future — especially not after Trump ’ s announcement , which they said instilled a sense of panic .
On Thursday morning , Corrente went to get supplies with her mom .
`` We were supposed to be at a rooftop swimming pool with a bar in Barcelona right now , at a five-star hotel , '' LaCause said .
`` And now , ” Corrente added , “ I 'm panic-buying toilet paper at ShopRite instead . ''

Dora Dynov and Alec Huxford were looking forward to celebrating their engagement in Paris. But what was supposed to be a romantic weeklong vacation with an engagement photo shoot in front of the Eiffel Tower turned out to be a stressful disaster.
As news of the coronavirus became more urgent closer to the date of her trip, Dynov started worrying. She contacted Parisians she knew, all of whom said the city is safe and that things were operating as usual.
On Sunday, the day before her redeye flight to Paris, Dynov called Air France, whose employees told her they were not canceling any flights to the city. So they flew to France as planned. When they arrived, Dynov said everything seemed fine.
"No one was wearing masks. There were a ton of other American people," she told BuzzFeed News. "It just seemed like 'off-season Paris.' The streets and restaurants weren’t extremely busy, but there were definitely still people around."
Then, on Wednesday, their second day in Paris, President Trump announced that the US will suspend all travel from Europe to the US for 30 days, beginning Saturday at midnight. Dynov, 24, and Huxford, 25, began getting frantic calls from friends and family alarmed that they may not be able to make it back to the US.
"I got a flight home as soon as I could," Dynov said over DM while she was on the plane back. "The situation really sucks...Flights were only selling at skyrocketed prices."
Trump's address on Wednesday evening caused mass confusion among Americans abroad. He did not clarify in his announcement that US citizens, permanent residents, and their family members would be exempt from the Europe travel ban, causing panic among those who scrambled to buy flight tickets departing before Saturday out of fear that they may not be able to get back into the country.
Though Dynov and Huxford are both US citizens, when they heard Trump's announcement, they rushed to change their flights because they weren't sure if he was going to change his mind about who the ban will include.
"With the coronavirus spreading and changing so quickly, it’s one of those things where I guess you don’t want to risk it by staying and then he comes out with a new message saying US citizens are stuck too," Dynov said. "Trump's announcement was honestly really alarming to me and my family."


buzzfeednews--2020-03-12--The Coronavirus Outbreak Could Spread To Millions In The US. We Don’t Have Nearly Enough Hospital Be

The Coronavirus Outbreak Could Spread To Millions In The US. We Don’t Have Nearly Enough Hospital Beds If It Does.

Models suggest that the US could be headed toward 150,000 COVID-19 cases by the end of the month , with only 45,000 ICU hospital beds nationwide .
But there are some things we can do to help .
WASHINGTON — The new front lines of the coronavirus pandemic are emergency rooms , where hospitals are desperately readying for repeats of scenes of overwhelmed wards in Wuhan , China , Milan , and Tehran , as the outbreak crests this month in the USA .
Hospital groups on Wednesday appealed to President Trump to declare the COVID-19 outbreak a national disaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow hospitals to add more hospital beds and enable out-of-state doctors to assist in the event of a crisis .
“ We ’ re going to see a lot more cases but I think we are taking the big steps to limit the dangers to patients , ” the American Hospital Association ’ s Nancy Foster told BuzzFeed News .
“ I ’ m not a person who does modeling , but I ’ m optimistic we have taken all the steps.
” But modeling studies , as well as the current capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , point to grim possibilities for the US hospital system .
Early modeling suggests that COVID-19 could spread to millions of people in the US .
First , the numbers to date : More than 1,300 US cases were reported as of Thursday , with beachhead community outbreaks in Washington state , California , and New York .
Cities like Atlanta , Miami , Boston , and Denver are reporting dozens of cases each .
Total case numbers have grown at a rough average rate of 30 % a day in the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At that rate , the US will have more than 8,000 cases by next week , 40,000 cases in two weeks , and nearly 150,000 cases by the end of the month .
Around 5 % of those cases might be critical ones , leaving 7,500 Americans with life-threatening cases of COVID-19 .
Although the nationwide “ social distancing ” moves of the last two days — closing schools , theaters , and professional sports events — might cut into this growth , they didn ’ t help right away in China when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January , noted a preliminary Harvard and Johns Hopkins analysis of intensive care bed needs in a COVID-19 outbreak .
By the peak of the outbreak last month in Wuhan , nearly 20,000 patients were hospitalized simultaneously , with 10,000 in severe or critical condition .
If a Wuhan-like outbreak were to take place in a US city , even with people isolating themselves , the study authors concluded , “ hospitalization and ICU ( intensive care unit ) needs from COVID-19 patients alone may exceed current capacity.
” Another model from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggests that a “ moderate ” scenario for the coronavirus pandemic , akin to a 1968 flu pandemic , could lead to 1 million people in the US requiring hospitalization this year .
A “ severe ” outbreak would hospitalize 9.6 million people .
Social distancing will be a necessity to prevent more severe scenarios .
`` A little more alarm is needed , '' said epidemiologist Caroline Buckee of Harvard 's T.H .
Chan School of Public Health .
`` We need people to start taking personal responsibility for social distancing right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the biggest concern , ” Tim Pfarr of the Washington State Hospital Association told BuzzFeed News .
Washington is now facing the largest outbreak in the US , with 373 cases and 30 deaths , largely among residents of a nursing home in Kirkland , Washington .
Hospitals in the state are modeling their coronavirus response after a 2017 Amtrak derailment that killed three people and sent 70 to the hospital , he said , expressing confidence in their readiness for a bigger outbreak .
Asked about whether the hospitals would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of undetected cases some models suggest are currently in the state , he said , “ we have had a lot of experience with pandemics before , like H1N1 , so we are building off that experience.
” Hospital beds and ventilators are the two biggest needs in the outbreak — and there may not be enough available if too many people get sick .
There are around 6,000 hospitals nationwide , with more than 900,000 hospital beds outside of the intensive care unit ( ICU ) , according to the AHA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but remember : It is fewer than the millions of hospitalized cases that could occur in a pandemic resembling the 1968 flu .
And people will still get the flu , have car wrecks , and deliver babies , needing some large portion of those beds .
That same “ moderate ” 1968 scenario would also put 200,000 patients into ICUs , while a “ severe ” outbreak would require 2.9 million people receive ICU care .
“ As a comparison , there are about 46,500 medical ICU beds in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICU beds that could be used in a crisis , ” the Johns Hopkins study authors , Eric Toner and Richard Waldhorn , wrote .
“ Even spread out over several months , the mismatch between demand and resources is clear.
” Since the most severe symptom associated with COVID-19 is the respiratory failure associated with severe pneumonia , the biggest worry aside from capacity at hospitals is about the number of ventilators , as well as the specialists who can staff them .
There are an estimated 150,000 respiratory therapists in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Washington state , a request has been made to a national stockpile of medical equipment to release more ventilators , said Pfarr .
The stockpile maintains another 10,000 ventilators , which come in three varieties .
A 2018 analysis reported most should function well out of the box , aside from one model that only lasted 58 % as long as expected .
The limited capacity is why many public health officials are calling for us all to help “ flatten the curve ” of the outbreak .
The shortfall between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff against projected numbers of cases — pitting the hundreds of thousands against the millions — explains the drumbeat of calls to help “ flatten the curve ” of the outbreak .
It ’ s a simple idea : A tidal wave of sudden cases in just a few weeks will swamp emergency rooms , but the same number of cases spread over months will test the surge capacity of hospitals without overwhelming them .
Two hundred thousand ICU cases in the “ moderate ” pandemic scenario hitting hospitals in the next three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we might have available .
But spread over a year , those 200,000 cases would be a difficult , but possible , strain for our hospitals to handle .
`` It is impossible to predict the impact COVID-19 will have on our nation 's staffing of respiratory therapists or for how long it might last , ” Thomas Kallstrom of the American Association for Respiratory Care told BuzzFeed News .
“ Should the need arise , hospitals would be wise to consider reaching out to recently retired respiratory therapists as a backup and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” If we don ’ t “ flatten the curve , ” cities with fewer hospital resources could face catastrophe .
A Wuhan-style outbreak in a US city would mean 2.1 to 4 critically ill patients per 10,000 people , depending on factors like the average age and high blood pressure status of its residents .
US ICU beds average about 2.8 per 10,000 adults .
Cities like Detroit , Memphis , and Louisville look potentially at high risk of critical care shortfalls by that measure , according to the preliminary ICU analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequences of not flattening the curve are horrible , a switch from treating patients on a “ sickest first ” basis to “ most likely to recover ” as a basis for allocating ventilators , described in a 2011 CDC pandemic ethics publication .
“ After a public health emergency is declared , rules that favor the overall benefit to the population and society may have to be considered , ” the CDC wrote .
More than 3,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Hubei Province , China , home to Wuhan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Widespread testing and telemedicine could help hospitals handle the outbreak .
Some hospitals have started adding parking lot tents for screening for coronavirus to increase capacity .
The tents , which the American Hospital Association describes as standard parts of emergency planning , also help keep patients with dangerous illnesses separate from others , especially high-risk groups like diabetics or people with lung illnesses .
On the plus side for hospitals , AHA ’ s Foster added , the coronavirus appears largely transmitted through contact with droplets from coughs and sneezes , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That means that while staff have to wear protective gowns , gloves , and masks — another area of reported shortages — at least they won ’ t be required to prepare costly negative pressure hospital suites to handle patients , like in the 2014 Ebola outbreak .
CDC guidelines do call for these rooms for people undergoing procedures that will lead to a lot of coughing by patients .
One approach to sparing hospital staff is the advent of drive-through testing for coronavirus , seen in Seattle , Denver , and Hartford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach ’ s goal is to minimize the exposure of staff to sick patients , limit the amount of protective gear exposed , and get as many people tested as possible .
Telemedicine approaches to treating patients with COVID-19 are also about to get a tryout , said Edward O'Bryan of the Medical University of South Carolina .
Everyone in his state is now able to access an online portal to see about 90 specialists through phone , video , or a chatline ahead of going to the doctor ’ s office or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take pressure off those points .
“ We ’ re staffing up , ” said O ’ Bryan , who added that he has been preparing the telemedicine portal in preparation for an outbreak like this for five years .
“ Luckily in South Carolina , we have an emergency about once a year — it ’ s called a hurricane — so we have had a lot of reasons to try to get ready.
” But so far , testing in the US has been woefully inadequate .
Looming over preparations for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extent of the disease , driven by a shortfall in testing tied to a botched CDC public health lab test , strict and sometimes contradictory criteria for testing , and federal limits on academic and private lab tests removed only in the last two weeks .
The result has been a country waking up daily to hidden blooms of cases suddenly revealed by fresh testing .
With the private labs used by most doctors to perform lab tests only now entering the arena , say experts , there are still more surprises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more testing , we are really working in the dark , '' said Harvard ’ s Buckee .
Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb testified to Congress on Thursday that labs in the United States currently only have the capacity to process lab tests of about 17,000 patients a day .
That ’ s fewer than the number of cases the US should have in the next 10 days under current rates of increase .
Also testifying to Congress on Thursday , Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US , “ is a failing .
Let ’ s admit it.
” Until widespread testing is put in place and the full COVID-19 picture emerges , confusion and uncertainty will surround the outbreak , adding to the mounting fears that always accompany epidemics .
“ There are four cases in Ohio , three of which are in my county , ” Henry Bloom , a family practice doctor in Shaker Heights , Ohio , told BuzzFeed News .
“ I still can ’ t get N95 masks .
I still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for anyone with any respiratory symptoms , because people often don ’ t fit with the official description.
” “ I have hotline numbers , but don ’ t know if they work , and don ’ t want to clog them to see , ” Bloom added .
“ Does that sound like [ we ’ re ] ready , to you ?
”

WASHINGTON — The new front lines of the coronavirus pandemic are emergency rooms, where hospitals are desperately readying for repeats of scenes of overwhelmed wards in Wuhan, China, Milan, and Tehran, as the outbreak crests this month in the USA.
Hospital groups on Wednesday appealed to President Trump to declare the COVID-19 outbreak a national disaster or emergency, a declaration that would allow hospitals to add more hospital beds and enable out-of-state doctors to assist in the event of a crisis.
“We’re going to see a lot more cases but I think we are taking the big steps to limit the dangers to patients,” the American Hospital Association’s Nancy Foster told BuzzFeed News. “I’m not a person who does modeling, but I’m optimistic we have taken all the steps.”
But modeling studies, as well as the current capacity of beds and equipment at US hospitals, point to grim possibilities for the US hospital system.
Early modeling suggests that COVID-19 could spread to millions of people in the US.
First, the numbers to date: More than 1,300 US cases were reported as of Thursday, with beachhead community outbreaks in Washington state, California, and New York. Cities like Atlanta, Miami, Boston, and Denver are reporting dozens of cases each. Total case numbers have grown at a rough average rate of 30% a day in the US since the last week of February.
At that rate, the US will have more than 8,000 cases by next week, 40,000 cases in two weeks, and nearly 150,000 cases by the end of the month. Around 5% of those cases might be critical ones, leaving 7,500 Americans with life-threatening cases of COVID-19. Although the nationwide “social distancing” moves of the last two days — closing schools, theaters, and professional sports events — might cut into this growth, they didn’t help right away in China when even more draconian measures started in late January, noted a preliminary Harvard and Johns Hopkins analysis of intensive care bed needs in a COVID-19 outbreak.
By the peak of the outbreak last month in Wuhan, nearly 20,000 patients were hospitalized simultaneously, with 10,000 in severe or critical condition. If a Wuhan-like outbreak were to take place in a US city, even with people isolating themselves, the study authors concluded, “hospitalization and ICU (intensive care unit) needs from COVID-19 patients alone may exceed current capacity.”
Another model from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests that a “moderate” scenario for the coronavirus pandemic, akin to a 1968 flu pandemic, could lead to 1 million people in the US requiring hospitalization this year. A “severe” outbreak would hospitalize 9.6 million people.
Social distancing will be a necessity to prevent more severe scenarios.
"A little more alarm is needed," said epidemiologist Caroline Buckee of Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "We need people to start taking personal responsibility for social distancing right away."


buzzfeednews--2020-03-12--Disney World And Other Major Theme Parks Are Closing Until The End Of March Due To The Coronavirus

The Walt Disney Company said Thursday that it would close several major parks , including its flagship resort in Florida , because of the coronavirus .
Disneyland , located in Anaheim , California , and its sister park , Disney California Adventure , were the first locations to announce the shutdowns , citing updated warning guidelines on gathering in public spaces from the state health department .
It was only the third time in history that Disneyland closed its gates to guests .
While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort , after carefully reviewing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees , we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure , beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month .
The Hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday , March 16 to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements ; Downtown Disney will remain open .
We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies .
Disney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time .
Disneyland Resort will work with guests who wish to change or cancel their visits , and will provide refunds to those who have hotel bookings during this closure period .
Please contact The Walt Disney Travel Company for questions and cancellations at 714-520-5050 .
A few hours later , the company said in a statement that `` out of an abundance of caution '' it would also close the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort , beginning on Sunday , through the end of the month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all new departures on Saturday for the same amount of time .
Hotels at the parks will remain open , however , as will the retail and dining complexes .
`` We will continue to stay in close contact with appropriate officials and health experts , '' the statement said .
The parks ' decisions came after California officials advised on Thursday that gatherings of more than 250 people should be postponed in order to help stop the spread of the virus — a practice known as social distancing .
But Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Disneyland was not covered by that guidance due to `` the complexity of their unique circumstances . ''
The governor said he had spoken by phone with Bob Iger , executive chair of the Walt Disney Company , to discuss the crisis .
The other two times Disneyland suspended operations were after President John F. Kennedy 's assassination and the Sept. 11 attacks .
In 2014 , a multistate outbreak of measles began at Disneyland , ultimately infecting 159 people in 18 states and the District of Columbia .
Universal Studios Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California theme park `` out of an abundance of caution and in response to the guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health . ''
The closures will begin Saturday , with the theme park saying it anticipates reopening on March 28 `` as we continue to monitor the situation . ''
The parks are the latest American attractions that have suspended or postponed operations amid the coronavirus pandemic .
On Thursday , the National Hockey League , Major League Soccer , and the Association of Tennis Professionals suspended games .
Major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the remainder of all spring training games and delay the opening day of the regular season by two weeks .
A day earlier , the National Basketball Association announced its season would be suspended .
In New York City , theaters on Broadway were ordered shut until the end of the month , while museums were also shutting their doors .

The Walt Disney Company said Thursday that it would close several major parks, including its flagship resort in Florida, because of the coronavirus.
Disneyland, located in Anaheim, California, and its sister park, Disney California Adventure, were the first locations to announce the shutdowns, citing updated warning guidelines on gathering in public spaces from the state health department. It was only the third time in history that Disneyland closed its gates to guests.
In a statement to BuzzFeed News, a Disneyland Resort spokesperson said:
While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California’s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month. The Hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday, March 16 to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements; Downtown Disney will remain open. We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies. Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time. Disneyland Resort will work with guests who wish to change or cancel their visits, and will provide refunds to those who have hotel bookings during this closure period. Please contact The Walt Disney Travel Company for questions and cancellations at 714-520-5050.
A few hours later, the company said in a statement that "out of an abundance of caution" it would also close the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort, beginning on Sunday, through the end of the month.
Disney Cruise Line will also suspend all new departures on Saturday for the same amount of time. Hotels at the parks will remain open, however, as will the retail and dining complexes.
"We will continue to stay in close contact with appropriate officials and health experts," the statement said.
The parks' decisions came after California officials advised on Thursday that gatherings of more than 250 people should be postponed in order to help stop the spread of the virus — a practice known as social distancing.
But Gov. Gavin Newsom had said earlier on Thursday that Disneyland was not covered by that guidance due to "the complexity of their unique circumstances."
The governor said he had spoken by phone with Bob Iger, executive chair of the Walt Disney Company, to discuss the crisis.
The other two times Disneyland suspended operations were after President John F. Kennedy's assassination and the Sept. 11 attacks.
In 2014, a multistate outbreak of measles began at Disneyland, ultimately infecting 159 people in 18 states and the District of Columbia.
Universal Studios Hollywood also announced it would be closing its California theme park "out of an abundance of caution and in response to the guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health."
The closures will begin Saturday, with the theme park saying it anticipates reopening on March 28 "as we continue to monitor the situation."
The parks are the latest American attractions that have suspended or postponed operations amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday, the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, and the Association of Tennis Professionals suspended games. Major League Baseball also announced it would suspend the remainder of all spring training games and delay the opening day of the regular season by two weeks. A day earlier, the National Basketball Association announced its season would be suspended.
In New York City, theaters on Broadway were ordered shut until the end of the month, while museums were also shutting their doors.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-12--The World Is Falling Apart, But Direct-To-Consumer Toilet Paper Companies Are Doing Just Great, Than

The World Is Falling Apart, But Direct-To-Consumer Toilet Paper Companies Are Doing Just Great, Thanks

As people are stocking up on supplies in case they need to stay inside due to the coronavirus , there ’ s one item other than hand sanitizer that they ’ re clearing off the shelves : toilet paper .
No , Covid-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , won ’ t make you shit or piss more , but the fear of not being able to leave the house has driven people to hoard TP , leaving some store shelves bare .
Which is bad for the average pooper , but great for new direct-to-consumer toilet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last two years .
Companies like Peach Goods , Reel Paper , and No .
2 have seen huge boosts in sales over the last two weeks .
Aaron Doades , CEO of Peach , told BuzzFeed News that its sales have gone up about 267 % in the last two weeks .
Doades said new customers were coming in through organic Google searches for toilet paper , not paid ads .
Peach , which markets itself with millennial pink packaging and a Glossier-esque website , promises to be the ultimate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triple-ply paper embossed with a peach logo and ships in packaging with tissue paper .
Peach is a subscription service — you get a monthly box of paper , which in theory means that you don ’ t need to hoard toilet paper , since you ’ ll be getting a shipment in the mail soon .
Peach ’ s toilet paper is made with North American tree pulp and manufactured in Georgia , which hasn ’ t been significantly hit by the coronavirus yet .
Doades said the company was not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are in a pretty good situation set up with our warehouses where we do pretty large production runs a few times a year , and we just completed one in February , ” he said .
Derin Oyekan , cofounder of Reel Paper , which launched last spring and is made from bamboo , said the company seen at least a 200 % bump in sales recently .
“ This isn ’ t a pattern we usually have seen , ” he told BuzzFeed News about the new orders .
`` Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re seeing people buy three to four boxes now.
” Reel Paper uses sustainable bamboo pulp imported from China for its paper , creating a more complicated supply chain .
Oyekan said that it has n't had any disruption in its supply chain , however , and is able to order more on short notice to fill the need .
By contrast , No .
2 , a bamboo toilet paper brand that comes in stylish print wrappers , has been struggling slightly to keep up with demand .
“ We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we are definitely at risk of selling out completely on all our carton sizes , ” founder Samira Far told BuzzFeed News .
“ We 're working hard to replenish our inventory in a timely manner to meet the demand of customers at this time.
” The crunch on its supply is from its strategy of selling not just over its own website but also through Amazon , where the company has seen a 1,643 % surge in sales in the last week .

As people are stocking up on supplies in case they need to stay inside due to the coronavirus, there’s one item other than hand sanitizer that they’re clearing off the shelves: toilet paper.
No, Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, won’t make you shit or piss more, but the fear of not being able to leave the house has driven people to hoard TP, leaving some store shelves bare.
Which is bad for the average pooper, but great for new direct-to-consumer toilet paper brands that have popped up in the last two years. Companies like Peach Goods, Reel Paper, and No. 2 have seen huge boosts in sales over the last two weeks.
Aaron Doades, CEO of Peach, told BuzzFeed News that its sales have gone up about 267% in the last two weeks. Doades said new customers were coming in through organic Google searches for toilet paper, not paid ads.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-12--It’s Not Just Food And Hand Sanitizer — Panicked Coronavirus Shoppers Are Stocking Up On Guns And Bo

It’s Not Just Food And Hand Sanitizer — Panicked Coronavirus Shoppers Are Stocking Up On Guns And Body Armor

Stores across the country selling ballistic body armor , tactical gear , and firearms are seeing a huge increase in sales due to the worsening coronavirus outbreak in the US .
As of Thursday , the US had more than 1,323 cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic .
Italy , as well as New Rochelle , New York , have gone into lockdown , and many major companies have urged their employees to self-quarantine .
On Wednesday night , President Donald Trump announced the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe to the United States for at least 30 days .
Bracing for the worst , Americans are stockpiling face masks , nonperishables , hand sanitizer , and toilet paper .
Prepper and survivalist stores have also seen a massive increase in sales .
“ I think with the way things have escalated quite quickly around the world and in the US in just the last couple of weeks , it 's very hard to tell what 's going to happen next , and I believe it is better to be safe than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owner of Bulletproof Zone , a tactical gear retailer , told BuzzFeed News .
“ That 's what our business is about , after all , keeping people safe.
” According to Matt Materazo , the founder of Gladiator Solutions , a ballistic body armor and tactical outfitting store , the coronavirus outbreak has changed the kind of orders his store has received .
He said typically the majority of his business has been big bulk orders from the law enforcement and the first responder communities .
Now , it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't usually get these one , two sales , ” he told BuzzFeed News .
“ They 're not particularly preppers , they 're people who are seeing what 's going on and saying to themselves , ‘ where is this going ?
’ ” Materazo wouldn ’ t share specific sales numbers , but said the increase has been considerable .
“ I do of course get a certain amount of my business from the prepper community , but the majority of the uptick is n't coming from the prepper community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
The surge in interest around tactical gear due to the outbreak is happening across the country .
Many of the stores BuzzFeed News reached out to had posted messages on their websites apologizing for longer-than-normal wait times due to higher-than-usual demand .
Lim said that if the demand continued to be high , a shortage was possible .
“ A lot of body armor and body armor materials are manufactured in China and we are already seeing shortages and/or extended lead times for many of the products we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gladiator Solutions , Bulletproof Zone ’ s customers are typically civilians and survivalists , but Lim ’ s noticed a surge in interest — his sales numbers have jumped between 50 % and 100 % since the coronavirus outbreak .
“ More customers are buying , and they range from those who are generally concerned to those who are seriously gearing up for ‘ end of the world ’ scenarios , ” he said .
Nick Groat , the president of Safe Life Defense , told BuzzFeed News he ’ d seen a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 10 % increase in civilian sales over the last few weeks .
“ They 're afraid the coronavirus will put the country into lockdown and they 'll defend themselves and their supplies , ” he said .
“ Having that protection is always an excellent option.
” It ’ s not just body armor , though .
Americans appear to be picking up firearms to go with their tactical gear as well .
Employees at several gun stores BuzzFeed News contacted said they were too busy to talk .
A woman on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shop in Mount Vernon , New York , told BuzzFeed News she didn ’ t have time to give an interview .
“ With the panic , we are just inundated with people , ” she said .
Larry Hyatt , the owner of Hyatt Guns in Charlotte , North Carolina , said he has seen an increase in sales since the outbreak .
“ We 're not seeing hunting guns , ” he said .
“ It 's pretty much self-defense .
We 're seeing a lot of AR-15–type guns — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of the customers coming in right now are senior citizens .
“ People who feel vulnerable are buying guns.
” According to Hyatt , the fears over both the coronavirus and a stock market crash because of the outbreak are making customers think twice about what to do during a period of civil unrest .
He said there are a lot of unknowns right now .
“ This is a 61-year-old store , ” he said .
“ But this is sort of uncharted territory , we do n't know what exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t seen a spike in sales yet are preparing for one .
David Pringle , the general manager for DEGuns in Lincoln , Nebraska , said he ’ s spoken to distributors and other store owners who are seeing as much as 58 % increases in sales .
“ The spike is a real thing , ” he said .
“ But it just has n't hit the area I 'm in.
” Pringle had the same concerns that Lim did about not being about to keep shelves stocked should the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributor he works with ran out of 9 mm , 2 mm , and 5.56 mm ammunition .
“ I was talking to a distributor and he has a dealer who just bought 100 AR-15s , ” he said .
“ So in some places it 's going already , ” he said .
“ It just has n't gotten to everywhere , just like the coronavirus .
”

Stores across the country selling ballistic body armor, tactical gear, and firearms are seeing a huge increase in sales due to the worsening coronavirus outbreak in the US.
As of Thursday, the US had more than 1,323 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic. Italy, as well as New Rochelle, New York, have gone into lockdown, and many major companies have urged their employees to self-quarantine. On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump announced the US would be suspending travel from much of Europe to the United States for at least 30 days.
Bracing for the worst, Americans are stockpiling face masks, nonperishables, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper. Prepper and survivalist stores have also seen a massive increase in sales.
“I think with the way things have escalated quite quickly around the world and in the US in just the last couple of weeks, it's very hard to tell what's going to happen next, and I believe it is better to be safe than sorry,” Kevin Lim, the owner of Bulletproof Zone, a tactical gear retailer, told BuzzFeed News. “That's what our business is about, after all, keeping people safe.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-12--That Viral Post With Coronavirus Tips Has Some Really Bad Advice

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 .
A viral list of coronavirus tips purportedly from Stanford University and other medical experts is filled with questionable advice , including the false claim that drinking water can “ kill ” the virus .
The list is being shared on Facebook , Twitter , WhatsApp , and other platforms , with many people incorrectly attributing it to Stanford University , or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctor at Shenzhen Hospital in China .
Its most alarming claim is that drinking water every 15 minutes will wash coronavirus “ down through your throat and into the stomach .
Once there , your stomach acid will kill all the virus.
” That ’ s false , and has been debunked by multiple experts .
“ We always caution anyone healthy and people who are sick to keep up fluid intake and keep mucus membranes moist , ” Dr. William Schaffner , an infectious disease expert with Vanderbilt University , told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel better , but there is no clear indication that it directly protects you against complications.
” The same list also includes instructions , often attributed to a Taiwanese doctor , for checking yourself for coronavirus .
It advises people to hold a deep breath for 10 seconds .
“ If you complete it successfully without coughing , without discomfort , stiffness or tightness , etc.
, it proves there is no Fibrosis in the lungs , basically indicates no infection.
” “ That ’ s not true .
That can check if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” but not tell you if you have coronavirus , according to Dr. Loren Rauch , a doctor at Antelope Valley Hospital in Los Angeles , who has a master ’ s degree in epidemiology .
Rauch also told Mother Jones that the list ’ s claim that the virus can be “ killed by a temperature of just 26/27 degrees ” is incorrect .
Sunlight does act as a disinfectant thanks to its natural ultraviolet light .
“ But just , like , ‘ It ’ s gon na be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have to worry about coronavirus , ’ I don ’ t think that ’ s gon na work , ” Rauch said .
The best prevention advice is to avoid exposure by practicing social distancing , washing your hands regularly , and avoiding touching your face , mouth , and eyes .
If you feel ill , seek medical attention .
And instead of relying on viral chain letters , consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the World Health Organization , or the real coronavirus advice being offered by @ @ @

A viral list of coronavirus tips purportedly from Stanford University and other medical experts is filled with questionable advice, including the false claim that drinking water can “kill” the virus.
The list is being shared on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and other platforms, with many people incorrectly attributing it to Stanford University, or other seemingly reliable sources, such as a doctor at Shenzhen Hospital in China.
Its most alarming claim is that drinking water every 15 minutes will wash coronavirus “down through your throat and into the stomach. Once there, your stomach acid will kill all the virus.”
That’s false, and has been debunked by multiple experts.
“We always caution anyone healthy and people who are sick to keep up fluid intake and keep mucus membranes moist,” Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert with Vanderbilt University, told the Associated Press. “It makes you feel better, but there is no clear indication that it directly protects you against complications.”
The same list also includes instructions, often attributed to a Taiwanese doctor, for checking yourself for coronavirus. It advises people to hold a deep breath for 10 seconds. “If you complete it successfully without coughing, without discomfort, stiffness or tightness, etc., it proves there is no Fibrosis in the lungs, basically indicates no infection.”
Well, no.
“That’s not true. That can check if you are anxious or have respiratory compromise,” but not tell you if you have coronavirus, according to Dr. Loren Rauch, a doctor at Antelope Valley Hospital in Los Angeles, who has a master’s degree in epidemiology.
Rauch also told Mother Jones that the list’s claim that the virus can be “killed by a temperature of just 26/27 degrees” is incorrect. Sunlight does act as a disinfectant thanks to its natural ultraviolet light. “But just, like, ‘It’s gonna be a warm day today. We don’t have to worry about coronavirus,’ I don’t think that’s gonna work,” Rauch said.
The best prevention advice is to avoid exposure by practicing social distancing, washing your hands regularly, and avoiding touching your face, mouth, and eyes. If you feel ill, seek medical attention. And instead of relying on viral chain letters, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, or the real coronavirus advice being offered by Stanford Medicine.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-12--Joe Biden’s Coronavirus Speech And Campaign Shakeup Show Him Shifting Into General Election Mode

Joe Biden is looking past the remaining primaries with a shakeup of his campaign leadership and an approach to the coronavirus outbreak framed as a rebuttal to President Donald Trump .
During remarks Thursday afternoon in Wilmington , Delaware , Biden pointedly called back to Trump ’ s address the night before , when from the Oval Office he announced a ban on a significant amount of travel from Europe and described the disease as a “ foreign ” virus with origins in China .
“ Downplaying it , being overly dismissive , or spreading misinformation is only going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the disease , ” Biden said .
“ But neither should we panic or fall back on xenophobia .
Labeling COVID-19 a foreign virus does not displace accountability for the misjudgments that have been taken thus far by the Trump administration.
” “ Let me be crystal clear , ” the former vice president added .
“ The coronavirus does not have a political affiliation , but will infect Republicans , independents , and Democrats alike .
And it will not discriminate based on national origin , race , gender , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in positions of power , as well as the most vulnerable in our society .
And it will not stop banning all travel from Europe or any other part of the world .
It may slow it , but as we ’ ve seen , it will not stop it.
” Biden , who on Wednesday formed a public health advisory committee for his campaign , also criticized the Trump administration for cuts to global health investments that he said left the US vulnerable to a pandemic like the coronavirus .
And he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus that is heavy on broad themes and ideas , like `` restoring trust , credibility , and common purpose . ''
But it also includes big and potentially expensive proposals , like preventing Americans from paying out of pocket for preventive care or treatment for the virus , and providing emergency paid leave for people impacted by the virus ’ s spread .
The Democratic frontrunner also called for COVID-19 testing to be made both free and widely available , for mobile testing sites and drive-through medical facilities in each state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patient influxes with temporary hospitals and military resources .
“ Biden believes , ” the plan states , “ we must spend whatever it takes , without delay , to meet public health needs and deal with the mounting economic consequences.
” Trump reelection campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh defended the president in a statement emailed after Biden ’ s speech .
“ His every move has been aimed at keeping Americans safe , ” Murtaugh said of Trump , “ while Joe Biden has sought to capitalize politically and stoke citizens ’ fears.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pivotal moment in the campaign .
Both Biden and Bernie Sanders have canceled events , citing the public health risks .
The next debate , initially set for Sunday in Phoenix , is now closed to spectators and the media and happening in Washington , DC .
Just as Biden tightens his grasp on the Democratic nomination and Sanders struggles to reconcile what ’ s next for his now–long shot candidacy , both are limited to televised moments .
( Sanders is expected to address the “ health and economic crisis ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference in Burlington , Vermont . )
Biden also has canceled upcoming visits to Chicago and Miami ahead of next week ’ s primaries in Illinois and Florida , and instead plans events such as a “ virtual town hall ” Friday for Illinois voters .
He spoke Thursday about “ radical changes ” necessary in daily behavior , with more hand-washing and less hand-shaking and more people working remotely .
The NBA and NHL have suspended the remainder of their seasons indefinitely .
The NCAA ’ s March Madness tournament is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assess and adjust how we conduct our campaign as we move forward and find new ways to share our message with the public while putting the health and safety of the American people first , ” Biden said .
Just before he began his remarks Thursday , Biden announced a shakeup that puts longtime Democratic strategist Jen O ’ Malley Dillon in as the new campaign manager and moves Greg Schultz , who had held the position since Biden ’ s campaign launch last year , into an organizational role that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I am grateful to Greg for his leadership and hard work to help get our campaign where it is today , and I will value his continued input on this campaign , ” Biden said in a statement distributed by the campaign .
“ I am also thrilled that Jen is bringing her considerable talent and insight to this team .
She will be a tremendous asset to a campaign that is only growing and getting stronger as we prepare to take the fight to Donald Trump this fall.
” Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a reassuring attribute during times of crisis , tragedy , and uncertainty .
As impeachment proceedings began against Trump last year , he used a speech in Wilmington to paint the president as a threat to the Constitution .
And the overall theme of Biden ’ s campaign is that Trump — through his character and his handling of racist riots in Charlottesville , Virginia — has forced a battle for the soul of the nation .
“ No president can promise to prevent future outbreaks , ” Biden said Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : When I am president , we will be better prepared , respond better , and recover better .
”

Joe Biden is looking past the remaining primaries with a shakeup of his campaign leadership and an approach to the coronavirus outbreak framed as a rebuttal to President Donald Trump.
During remarks Thursday afternoon in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden pointedly called back to Trump’s address the night before, when from the Oval Office he announced a ban on a significant amount of travel from Europe and described the disease as a “foreign” virus with origins in China.
“Downplaying it, being overly dismissive, or spreading misinformation is only going to hurt us and further advantage the spread of the disease,” Biden said. “But neither should we panic or fall back on xenophobia. Labeling COVID-19 a foreign virus does not displace accountability for the misjudgments that have been taken thus far by the Trump administration.”
“Let me be crystal clear,” the former vice president added. “The coronavirus does not have a political affiliation, but will infect Republicans, independents, and Democrats alike. And it will not discriminate based on national origin, race, gender, or zip code. It will touch people in positions of power, as well as the most vulnerable in our society. And it will not stop banning all travel from Europe or any other part of the world. It may slow it, but as we’ve seen, it will not stop it.”
Biden, who on Wednesday formed a public health advisory committee for his campaign, also criticized the Trump administration for cuts to global health investments that he said left the US vulnerable to a pandemic like the coronavirus. And he released a lengthy plan to combat the coronavirus that is heavy on broad themes and ideas, like "restoring trust, credibility, and common purpose." But it also includes big and potentially expensive proposals, like preventing Americans from paying out of pocket for preventive care or treatment for the virus, and providing emergency paid leave for people impacted by the virus’s spread.
The Democratic frontrunner also called for COVID-19 testing to be made both free and widely available, for mobile testing sites and drive-through medical facilities in each state, and for preparing hospitals for possibly gigantic patient influxes with temporary hospitals and military resources.
“Biden believes,” the plan states, “we must spend whatever it takes, without delay, to meet public health needs and deal with the mounting economic consequences.”
Trump reelection campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh defended the president in a statement emailed after Biden’s speech. “His every move has been aimed at keeping Americans safe,” Murtaugh said of Trump, “while Joe Biden has sought to capitalize politically and stoke citizens’ fears.”
Thursday’s speech came at a pivotal moment in the campaign. Both Biden and Bernie Sanders have canceled events, citing the public health risks. The next debate, initially set for Sunday in Phoenix, is now closed to spectators and the media and happening in Washington, DC. Just as Biden tightens his grasp on the Democratic nomination and Sanders struggles to reconcile what’s next for his now–long shot candidacy, both are limited to televised moments. (Sanders is expected to address the “health and economic crisis” at a 3 p.m. ET news conference in Burlington, Vermont.)
Biden also has canceled upcoming visits to Chicago and Miami ahead of next week’s primaries in Illinois and Florida, and instead plans events such as a “virtual town hall” Friday for Illinois voters. He spoke Thursday about “radical changes” necessary in daily behavior, with more hand-washing and less hand-shaking and more people working remotely. The NBA and NHL have suspended the remainder of their seasons indefinitely. The NCAA’s March Madness tournament is in jeopardy.
“We’ll continue to assess and adjust how we conduct our campaign as we move forward and find new ways to share our message with the public while putting the health and safety of the American people first,” Biden said.
Just before he began his remarks Thursday, Biden announced a shakeup that puts longtime Democratic strategist Jen O’Malley Dillon in as the new campaign manager and moves Greg Schultz, who had held the position since Biden’s campaign launch last year, into an organizational role that is expected to focus on general election planning.
“I am grateful to Greg for his leadership and hard work to help get our campaign where it is today, and I will value his continued input on this campaign,” Biden said in a statement distributed by the campaign. “I am also thrilled that Jen is bringing her considerable talent and insight to this team. She will be a tremendous asset to a campaign that is only growing and getting stronger as we prepare to take the fight to Donald Trump this fall.”
Biden often offers his experience in federal government as a reassuring attribute during times of crisis, tragedy, and uncertainty. As impeachment proceedings began against Trump last year, he used a speech in Wilmington to paint the president as a threat to the Constitution. And the overall theme of Biden’s campaign is that Trump — through his character and his handling of racist riots in Charlottesville, Virginia — has forced a battle for the soul of the nation.
“No president can promise to prevent future outbreaks,” Biden said Thursday. “But I can promise you this: When I am president, we will be better prepared, respond better, and recover better.”