buzzfeednews--2020-03-19--This Is What It’s Like Inside Coronavirus Quarantine When Almost Everything Goes Wrong

India has so far avoided the worst of the coronavirus pandemic .
But Indians returning from Europe were held in unsanitary conditions ripe for cross-contamination , threatened with violence , and accused of elitism .
NEW DELHI — For months , all Mrinal Sabharwal and his wife Shelly Dhingra had talked about was their long-planned trip to Europe .
They ’ d been saving for the four years since they were married and finally had enough vacation time to spend three weeks in Paris , Barcelona , and Lisbon .
But four days into their vacation , they realized they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe went into lockdown over the coronavirus outbreak .
In the early hours of Monday , March 16 , they flew back into New Delhi .
That was when their ordeal began .
“ We learned on the news that Barcelona was under lockdown , Portugal had closed its borders , ” Sabharwal told BuzzFeed News over the phone from self-quarantine at their home in New Delhi .
“ We decided to take the first flight home .
I downloaded the Indian government ’ s form on the flight , and we reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we landed — we wanted to get tested .
There was no way we could go home to our elderly parents without getting a test first.
” The government has embarked on an aggressive airport screening program — Indian airports have screened almost 1.4 million people so far , and cities like Mumbai are preparing to screen and quarantine another 26,000 people arriving from the Gulf countries .
In Maharashtra , a state in western India , the government has come up with a novel way to mark patients showing symptoms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with indelible ink to ensure they are sent home if they venture outdoors .
Sabharwal and Dhingra are among 40,000 Indians presently under quarantine .
But there are fears that the government ’ s selective testing may have underestimated the spread of the virus .
India had tested only 9,100 people by March 16 .
Sabharwal and Dhingra ’ s experience at Indira Gandhi International Airport showed how even screening passengers at airports is not enough , if quarantine centers are not prepared to handle travelers as human beings panicking at the thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troublesome virus carriers .
At the airport , the couple were among a crowd of approximately 40 people waiting to be screened or tested .
An exhausted Dhingra asked airport staff for a drink of water .
She was told to drink from the faucet in the bathroom .
“ My wife was shocked , ” Sabharwal said .
“ India is not a First World country — water in our lavatories is not potable .
When she pointed this out to the staff , they told her they didn ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ” Things only got worse .
A few hours later , the group was herded into a bus to be taken to what they were told was a testing facility on the city limits .
But the facility turned out to be former police barracks that had been converted into a quarantine center only 24 hours earlier .
Upon arrival , the bus was surrounded by police officers .
Not a single medic was present .
“ I tried to open the door and the police men rushed toward the door to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corona will come out ! '
” Dhingra said .
More unpleasant surprises awaited the group when , two hours later , they were finally let into the building .
“ The toilets were flooded , the bedsheets stained .
There weren ’ t even separate dorms for men and women — how was my wife supposed to sleep in the same room as seven strange men ?
It made no sense , ” said Sabharwal .
As the group waited , another busload of passengers arrived at the facility , then another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told by police officers outside the building , over 200 people were expected to be housed at the quarantine facility , which had only three toilets .
The WHO says that while there are no universal standards regarding the infrastructure for a quarantine facility , at the bare minimum , quarantine wards should not enhance potential transmission .
Travelers should be provided with adequate food , water , sleeping arrangements and clothing , protection for baggage and other possessions , appropriate medical treatment , and means of necessary communication .
The guidelines encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearly to avoid panic .
“ Travellers should be treated , with respect for their dignity , human rights and fundamental freedoms and minimize any discomfort or distress associated with such measures , including by treating all travellers with courtesy and respect ; taking into consideration the gender , sociocultural , ethnic or religious concerns of traveller , ” the guidelines state .
There are similarities between India and the US in how sections of the media and political leaders are responding to the coronavirus outbreak .
Fox News and Donald Trump have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which the US president now exclusively refers to as “ the Chinese virus.
” In India , community transmission is thought to still be low , and most affected cases are believed to have been “ imported ” from coronavirus-affected countries .
So the pandemic has become a way to blame “ elite ” Indians who can afford to travel outside the country — and now , who complain about quarantine facilities and the government ’ s lack of preparedness , for “ giving India a bad name.
” On Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named “ FLYERS THROW TANTRUMS !
CHAOS AT INTN ' L AIRPORT.
” The channel , CNN-IBN , aired closely edited footage of Sabharwal and Dhingra ’ s group of travelers standing before an immigration desk .
“ Is this the sort of behavior that we expect Indian citizens to display ?
Just take a ... just listen to this !
” the news anchor says in the video .
The accompanying audio is an incoherent rumble from the crowd until one man is clearly heard screaming : “ Shoot us !
Shoot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was then shared multiple times on WhatsApp groups and Twitter — until Indira Gandhi International Airport finally tweeted to offer reassurances that the airport was now functioning smoothly .
“ I was there when this happened .
One of the airport security guards behind the immigration officers told us that we were infected , and if we didn ’ t behave ourselves , we would be shot , ” Sabharwal said .
“ Just because we went to Europe doesn ’ t make us rich brats throwing tantrums .
Some of us had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were students who were studying on loans or scholarships .
One guy had taken his elderly parents along with his wife and daughter — why is the government and media trying to portray us like this ?
” Someone from Sabharwal ’ s group tweeted images of the facility , but then almost immediately they were inundated with comments blaming the passengers .
“ You have some time , why don ’ t you clean the facility yourself ?
” said one .
Sabharwal told BuzzFeed News that the criticism was frustrating because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the facility were concerned about cross-contamination in an already terrifying situation .
“ The problem was never that the facility was poorly furnished , '' Sabharwal said .
“ We ’ ve grown up in India , my wife and I have traveled across the country , slept on floors , used Indian toilets — we ’ re OK with basic .
We don ’ t need luxury .
But we wanted a hygienic proper isolation ward where at least we would not all infect one another.
” Not everyone has had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barracks quarantine was unsanitary and hostile , Sabharwal said his friends who were taken to a religious hostel in a different part of New Delhi found their quarantine perfectly clean and safe .
In Mumbai too , passengers have both complained about and praised quarantine facilities .
In the south Indian state of Kerala , people in quarantine were served steaming hot banana fritters , tea , boiled eggs , and bread .
The travelers who could not be tested , and also did not wish to stay at the police barracks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to three hotels near the airport — with the caveat that they would have to pay for 14 days of isolation up front , regardless of what their tests eventually said .
Sabharwal and Dhingra refused to check in at the hotel .
“ We just wanted to get our tests as soon as possible , and we knew that would only happen at the quarantine facility , ” he said .
Dhingra , who is claustrophobic , added that she was worried about the possibility of being separated from Sabharwal at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood pressure , and the couple hoped that even if they were isolated from the crowd , they would be able to look after one another .
At the police barracks , several passengers who had had their passports taken away by airport authorities were growing irate .
They were Indian citizens , but recent news cycles in the cities of Bengaluru had mentioned quarantined patients escaping isolation , something authorities feared might happen again .
Others were thirsty and starving , desperate to know when more tests would come , and when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home .
Finally , in the early hours of Tuesday , Sabharwal said , he and his wife were told to go home — they had no fever , and their swab results would take time .
Travelers had also been given food and water by this time .
“ We still weren ’ t fully convinced about the veracity of those tests , so we sent our parents to stay with other relatives , ” he said .
“ I ’ ve been trying to trace those results since the morning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have them.
” Sabharwal said he had reached out to multiple official bodies including the airport authorities who originally accompanied them to the quarantine facility , the National Center for Disaster Control , a hospital in New Delhi which is collecting the tests , and the National Institute of Virology where he was told all the tests will eventually be sent — no one knew where his or his wife ’ s samples were .
“ One of the officers I spoke to even said , ‘ Are you sure you ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be surprised to learn that India is underreporting coronavirus numbers now that I ’ ve seen this happen myself , ” he said.●

There are similarities between India and the US in how sections of the media and political leaders are responding to the coronavirus outbreak. Fox News and Donald Trump have embraced xenophobia to defend against the virus, which the US president now exclusively refers to as “the Chinese virus.”
In India, community transmission is thought to still be low, and most affected cases are believed to have been “imported” from coronavirus-affected countries. So the pandemic has become a way to blame “elite” Indians who can afford to travel outside the country — and now, who complain about quarantine facilities and the government’s lack of preparedness, for “giving India a bad name.”
On Wednesday, an Indian news station ran a segment named “FLYERS THROW TANTRUMS! CHAOS AT INTN'L AIRPORT.” The channel, CNN-IBN, aired closely edited footage of Sabharwal and Dhingra’s group of travelers standing before an immigration desk.
“Is this the sort of behavior that we expect Indian citizens to display? Just take a...just listen to this!” the news anchor says in the video. The accompanying audio is an incoherent rumble from the crowd until one man is clearly heard screaming: “Shoot us! Shoot us then!”
The edited video was then shared multiple times on WhatsApp groups and Twitter — until Indira Gandhi International Airport finally tweeted to offer reassurances that the airport was now functioning smoothly.
“I was there when this happened. One of the airport security guards behind the immigration officers told us that we were infected, and if we didn’t behave ourselves, we would be shot,” Sabharwal said. “Just because we went to Europe doesn’t make us rich brats throwing tantrums. Some of us had saved for years to travel. Others were students who were studying on loans or scholarships. One guy had taken his elderly parents along with his wife and daughter — why is the government and media trying to portray us like this?”
Someone from Sabharwal’s group tweeted images of the facility, but then almost immediately they were inundated with comments blaming the passengers.
“You have some time, why don’t you clean the facility yourself?” said one.


buzzfeednews--2020-05-08--"How Am I Going To Survive?": A Costco Meatpacking Worker Speaks Of Her Fears As She And Others Labo

"How Am I Going To Survive?": A Costco Meatpacking Worker Speaks Of Her Fears As She And Others Labor To Keep Chicken In Stores

BuzzFeed News has reporters across five continents bringing you trustworthy stories about the impact of the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
Costco announced Monday that it would be limiting the amount of meat and poultry each customer would be allowed to purchase because supplies had been affected by coronavirus outbreaks at meatpacking plants .
On that same day , the first worker at one of Costco ’ s poultry producers , Lincoln Premium Poultry , died of COVID-19 .
The worker was one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nebraska , plant , which employs 1,100 workers , most of them immigrants .
With some plants closing because of the spread of the coronavirus , President Donald Trump has classified meat processing as critical infrastructure in a move to keep plants open and safeguard the nation ’ s food supply .
The CDC reported nearly 5,000 meatpacking workers in 115 facilities across the country tested positive in April .
At least 20 have died .
BuzzFeed News spoke with an employee of the Fremont plant .
She asked that we not use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company ; BuzzFeed verified she worked for the company by checking her employee identification .
The employee arrived in the United States from Central America more than 10 years ago .
She is an immigrant who has mostly worked in meatpacking plants since arriving in the US .
BuzzFeed News talked with her about what it ’ s like going to work in one of the virus ’ s hot spots , what she and her colleagues are talking about , and why she keeps showing up despite the dangers .
Below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , translated from Spanish to English .
I know about 18 of the people who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Lincoln Premium Poultry plant where I work .
They say the virus feels like death .
That it brings about this deep cold in your body .
Everyone says stay in your house , but if I stay in my house , how am I going to survive ?
I don ’ t feel safe going to work .
Before the virus , I used to get to work early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now I struggle to get to the plant .
I worry about getting sick and bringing the virus home to my three children .
Fortunately I work in an area where we have a good amount of space , not like the place where they kill the chickens .
In that area , they ’ re practically on top of one another .
I stand at one of three conveyor belts where 120 chickens pass per minute .
They ’ re mostly clean by the time they get to me , without their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that look purple or still have feathers and take them off of the belt .
I make $ 16 per hour doing that .
Sometimes if someone is missing , I ’ ll go to the area where they cut the chickens ’ necks .

Costco announced Monday that it would be limiting the amount of meat and poultry each customer would be allowed to purchase because supplies had been affected by coronavirus outbreaks at meatpacking plants. On that same day, the first worker at one of Costco’s poultry producers, Lincoln Premium Poultry, died of COVID-19. The worker was one of 28 diagnosed at the Fremont, Nebraska, plant, which employs 1,100 workers, most of them immigrants.
With some plants closing because of the spread of the coronavirus, President Donald Trump has classified meat processing as critical infrastructure in a move to keep plants open and safeguard the nation’s food supply. The CDC reported nearly 5,000 meatpacking workers in 115 facilities across the country tested positive in April. At least 20 have died.
BuzzFeed News spoke with an employee of the Fremont plant. She asked that we not use her name for fear of retaliation by the company; BuzzFeed verified she worked for the company by checking her employee identification.
The employee arrived in the United States from Central America more than 10 years ago. She is an immigrant who has mostly worked in meatpacking plants since arriving in the US. BuzzFeed News talked with her about what it’s like going to work in one of the virus’s hot spots, what she and her colleagues are talking about, and why she keeps showing up despite the dangers.
Below is an edited transcript of that conversation, translated from Spanish to English.
I know about 18 of the people who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Lincoln Premium Poultry plant where I work.
They say the virus feels like death. That it brings about this deep cold in your body. Everyone says stay in your house, but if I stay in my house, how am I going to survive?
It’s a question without an answer.
I don’t feel safe going to work. Before the virus, I used to get to work early to start my 5 a.m. shift. Now I struggle to get to the plant. I worry about getting sick and bringing the virus home to my three children.
Fortunately I work in an area where we have a good amount of space, not like the place where they kill the chickens. In that area, they’re practically on top of one another. I stand at one of three conveyor belts where 120 chickens pass per minute. They’re mostly clean by the time they get to me, without their feathers. I look for the chickens that look purple or still have feathers and take them off of the belt. I make $16 per hour doing that. Sometimes if someone is missing, I’ll go to the area where they cut the chickens’ necks.


buzzfeednews--2020-05-11--People Did Push-Ups On The Street In Protest Of Coronavirus Gym Closures. The Guy Who Organized It W

People Did Push-Ups On The Street In Protest Of Coronavirus Gym Closures. The Guy Who Organized It Wishes They Hadn't.

Travis LaBazzo thought the push-ups and squats would be good visuals to get his protest noticed .
Now he thinks his message is getting lost .
Travis LaBazzo was hoping his small protest calling for Florida leaders to reopen gyms would get national attention , so when a news chopper hovered over the group of about 30 people , he called on everyone to drop down and do push-ups or squats .
`` This will be great , '' someone can be heard saying in a Facebook livestream of the protest , which took place Monday outside the Pinellas County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America . ''
One demonstrator put an American flag in his mouth and dropped down to the sidewalk to do push-ups .
Others balanced protest signs as they squatted for the television camera above .
Within minutes , video of the stunt spread quickly across social media .
`` I 'm glad it got out there , but it completely lost the message , '' LaBazzo told BuzzFeed News .
`` People out there saying , 'You just proved you do n't need the gym , ' but it 's not about that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are out of work in Florida . ''
Protests calling for the reopening of nonessential businesses have sprung up across the country in recent days , many of them headed by organizers calling stay-at-home orders meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus an attack on personal freedoms .
Some of the protests have lured right-wing militia groups suspicious of government overreach as well as conspiracy theorists who have called the pandemic a manufactured crisis .
But LaBazzo — whose Florida gyms have been closed for at least two months — said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the frustrations of local businesses hurt by stay-at-home orders .
Instead , since video of the protest went viral , attention has now focused on how a group of gym owners , employees , and customers calling for the reopening of gyms demonstrated to the world they can still exercise while gyms are closed .
`` IF YOU CAN DO SQUATS AND PUSH UPS ON THE SIDEWALK YOU CAN DO THEM IN YOUR LIVING ROOM AND DO N'T NEED TO BE AT THE GYM , '' one person on Twitter pointed out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ LaBazzo told BuzzFeed News he now thinks the idea to exercise for the cameras was a bad one , and he grants that the criticism about not needing a gym to work out is true .
Still , he said , the point was n't about getting back to exercise , but about the struggle of local businesses in his community .
`` If you 're [ supportive ] of going back to work , you automatically are told you want to get people sick , and that 's not fair that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
He said he 's never been politically active or attended a protest , but the lack of clarity from Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis about when gyms and other businesses can reopen prompted him to organize the courthouse protest Monday .
A task force formed by DeSantis had originally proposed a more lenient opening during Phase 1 , including the opening of gyms and barbershops with restrictions , but the governor opted for a more cautious approach .
Instead , gyms are expected to reopen during Phase 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's not yet clear exactly when that will happen .
`` I did what we were supposed to do until he made this announcement , '' LaBazzo said .
LaBazzo had considered opening his gym anyway against the state 's orders , he said , but he decided against it .
`` One side says one thing , the other says another , '' he said .
`` All of this makes no sense . ''
The most frustrating part has been receiving mixed messages from local , state , and federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entity pushing for the reopening of businesses , another fighting against it , and no clear guidelines relayed to the public or business owners about what benchmarks need to be met .
`` Why are we not allowed to open up , but you 're allowed to go to Walmart , or a Home Depot ? ''
he said .
`` We 're very much a necessity for a lot of these people and yet we 're being left out .
I mean , we 've had strip clubs that stayed open after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Florida has deemed professional wrestling as `` essential , '' while it 's still unclear when his businesses can again open .
According to the state 's guidelines , that would begin `` once the governor determines it is suitable to continue re-opening and after fully considering medical data in consultation with state health officials . ''
LaBazzo added that he 's already taken steps to implement social distancing in his gyms — including limiting capacity inside and closing some machines so that patrons are not exercising close to each other .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ assure people that gyms can keep people safe , the group of demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse was n't implementing some of the guidelines suggested by the CDC .
Most of the demonstrators were not wearing a mask , including LaBazzo , and most of them stood less than 6 feet of each other .
Video of the demonstration shows that protesters only began to distance from each other when the news chopper hovered above .
LaBazzo said he feels that wearing a mask should be a choice .
And despite efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , even people who try to adhere to distancing are unable to do so all the time .
Still , he said he feels businesses should be trusted to enact measures to keep the people safe .
Businesses can be guided to adopt measures to mitigate the risk .
`` I would n't argue that , '' he said , `` mainly because I do n't want to be the guy that gets people more sick . ''

A task force formed by DeSantis had originally proposed a more lenient opening during Phase 1, including the opening of gyms and barbershops with restrictions, but the governor opted for a more cautious approach. Instead, gyms are expected to reopen during Phase 2 of the governor's plan — but it's not yet clear exactly when that will happen.
"I did what we were supposed to do until he made this announcement," LaBazzo said.
LaBazzo had considered opening his gym anyway against the state's orders, he said, but he decided against it.
"One side says one thing, the other says another," he said. "All of this makes no sense."
The most frustrating part has been receiving mixed messages from local, state, and federal officials, he said, with one entity pushing for the reopening of businesses, another fighting against it, and no clear guidelines relayed to the public or business owners about what benchmarks need to be met.
"Why are we not allowed to open up, but you're allowed to go to Walmart, or a Home Depot?" he said. "We're very much a necessity for a lot of these people and yet we're being left out. I mean, we've had strip clubs that stayed open after gyms closed."
LaBazzo pointed out that Florida has deemed professional wrestling as "essential," while it's still unclear when his businesses can again open.
According to the state's guidelines, that would begin "once the governor determines it is suitable to continue re-opening and after fully considering medical data in consultation with state health officials."
LaBazzo added that he's already taken steps to implement social distancing in his gyms — including limiting capacity inside and closing some machines so that patrons are not exercising close to each other.
He also admitted that despite trying to assure people that gyms can keep people safe, the group of demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse wasn't implementing some of the guidelines suggested by the CDC.
Most of the demonstrators were not wearing a mask, including LaBazzo, and most of them stood less than 6 feet of each other. Video of the demonstration shows that protesters only began to distance from each other when the news chopper hovered above.
LaBazzo said he feels that wearing a mask should be a choice. And despite efforts to stay 6 feet away from others, he said, even people who try to adhere to distancing are unable to do so all the time.
Still, he said he feels businesses should be trusted to enact measures to keep the people safe. Businesses can be guided to adopt measures to mitigate the risk.
"I wouldn't argue that," he said, "mainly because I don't want to be the guy that gets people more sick."


buzzfeednews--2020-05-12--Democrats Want $3 Trillion In New Coronavirus Relief, Including Stimulus Checks For Individuals. Rep

Democrats Want $3 Trillion In New Coronavirus Relief, Including Stimulus Checks For Individuals. Republicans Say It’s Too Soon To Do More.

BuzzFeed News has reporters across five continents bringing you trustworthy stories about the impact of the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans rejected a new coronavirus aid bill from House Democrats Tuesday , putting Congress at a standstill that is unlikely to end anytime soon , as 33.5 million Americans have filed for unemployment .
Republicans say it is too soon to tell what , if any , additional relief is needed as the pandemic continues , but there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect businesses against lawsuits from employees who get sick .
Republicans dismissed the new $ 3 trillion aid bill drafted by Democrats as “ dead on arrival ” Tuesday .
The 1,815-page bill includes another round of up to $ 1,200 direct cash payments to most people , $ 200 billion in “ hazard pay ” for essential workers , and over $ 900 billion for state and local governments .
Republicans called it a messaging bill — a Democratic wish list that was not negotiated and has no chance to pass .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : liability reforms to shield businesses from lawsuits if their employees contract COVID-19 .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Tuesday the liability shields are “ so essential ” in reopening the economy .
McConnell said Republicans will insist on doing “ narrowly targeted legislation , ” while Democrats want a broad suite of reforms that include funding for coronavirus testing and tracing , funding to keep the US Postal Service afloat , and billions for food stamps and programs aimed at combating violence against women and supporting victims .
Several Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they do not expect any coronavirus bill to pass anytime soon .
The two parties have not yet come together to work out a deal , and President Donald Trump said last week there is “ no rush ” to pass more coronavirus aid .
Instead , both parties are taking to the media and the public to fight for leverage .
McConnell refused to take a position on specific parts of the Democrat bill , such as more direct payments to Americans or hazard pay for essential workers .
Instead , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents , saying the protections will be essential for schools and universities to open in the fall .
“ This is not a time for aspirational legislation , this is a time for practical response to the coronavirus pandemic , ” he said .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wouldn ’ t entertain the question of whether his caucus would accept liability shields in exchange for some Democrat priorities .
“ We have people starving , ” said Schumer .
“ We have people being kicked out of their homes and he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sued because he ’ s let one of his workers be susceptible to COVID ?
Come on.
” Democrats are attempting to compare Trump and McConnell to Herbert Hoover failing to react to the Great Depression .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the coronavirus pandemic “ the biggest catastrophe in our nation ’ s history.
” The House plans to try Friday to pass its bill , which would also extend the $ 600-per-week federal top-up of unemployment insurance benefits through the end of the year .
That program was passed as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the CARES Act , but is currently set to expire at the end of July .
The bill would also provide $ 75 billion for coronavirus testing and contact tracing , plus $ 3.6 billion to the states to implement safety measures and additional mail-in ballots for the November federal election .
It would establish a $ 75 billion homeowner relief fund that would allow states to help pay housing costs such as mortgage payments and property taxes .
Another $ 75 billion program would help homeowners afford costs such as mortgage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would extend student loan relief to borrowers with federal loans that were left out of the CARES Act and require the Department of Education to make some payments on behalf of borrowers with private student loans .

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans rejected a new coronavirus aid bill from House Democrats Tuesday, putting Congress at a standstill that is unlikely to end anytime soon, as 33.5 million Americans have filed for unemployment. Republicans say it is too soon to tell what, if any, additional relief is needed as the pandemic continues, but there is one key thing they want: to protect businesses against lawsuits from employees who get sick.
Republicans dismissed the new $3 trillion aid bill drafted by Democrats as “dead on arrival” Tuesday. The 1,815-page bill includes another round of up to $1,200 direct cash payments to most people, $200 billion in “hazard pay” for essential workers, and over $900 billion for state and local governments.
Republicans called it a messaging bill — a Democratic wish list that was not negotiated and has no chance to pass. But Republicans have their own legislative wish: liability reforms to shield businesses from lawsuits if their employees contract COVID-19. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Tuesday the liability shields are “so essential” in reopening the economy.
McConnell said Republicans will insist on doing “narrowly targeted legislation,” while Democrats want a broad suite of reforms that include funding for coronavirus testing and tracing, funding to keep the US Postal Service afloat, and billions for food stamps and programs aimed at combating violence against women and supporting victims.
Several Republican senators said there is no urgency and they do not expect any coronavirus bill to pass anytime soon. The two parties have not yet come together to work out a deal, and President Donald Trump said last week there is “no rush” to pass more coronavirus aid. Instead, both parties are taking to the media and the public to fight for leverage.
McConnell refused to take a position on specific parts of the Democrat bill, such as more direct payments to Americans or hazard pay for essential workers. Instead, he targeted his pitch for liability shields to parents, saying the protections will be essential for schools and universities to open in the fall. “This is not a time for aspirational legislation, this is a time for practical response to the coronavirus pandemic,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wouldn’t entertain the question of whether his caucus would accept liability shields in exchange for some Democrat priorities. “We have people starving,” said Schumer. “We have people being kicked out of their homes and he’s worried about a big businessman being sued because he’s let one of his workers be susceptible to COVID? Come on.”
Democrats are attempting to compare Trump and McConnell to Herbert Hoover failing to react to the Great Depression. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the coronavirus pandemic “the biggest catastrophe in our nation’s history.”
The House plans to try Friday to pass its bill, which would also extend the $600-per-week federal top-up of unemployment insurance benefits through the end of the year. That program was passed as part of the last major coronavirus relief package, the CARES Act, but is currently set to expire at the end of July.
The bill would also provide $75 billion for coronavirus testing and contact tracing, plus $3.6 billion to the states to implement safety measures and additional mail-in ballots for the November federal election. It would establish a $75 billion homeowner relief fund that would allow states to help pay housing costs such as mortgage payments and property taxes. Another $75 billion program would help homeowners afford costs such as mortgage payments and property taxes. And it would extend student loan relief to borrowers with federal loans that were left out of the CARES Act and require the Department of Education to make some payments on behalf of borrowers with private student loans.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-20--Germany Is Treating More Than 200 Critically Ill Coronavirus Patients From Other European Countries

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
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Intensive care units in German hospitals are treating more than 200 coronavirus patients from neighboring EU countries , Germany ’ s health minister has said .
Jens Spahn said Monday there was a “ willingness and the capacity to accept more [ patients ] if necessary.
” Spahn said Germany would cover the costs of the treatments .
“ That is our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
A German health ministry spokesperson told BuzzFeed News that the patients were mainly from France , Italy , and the Netherlands , with dozens of critically ill people from some of the European areas hardest hit by the coronavirus airlifted to hospitals in several German regions .
According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper , the cost of providing the treatment is around 20 million euros ( about $ 21.75 million ) .
Germany has been praised for its response to the coronavirus as its official statistics show that it has suffered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other European countries .
But the acts of solidarity by Germany come as the EU has been criticized for its response to the pandemic , with people in some countries feeling abandoned by the bloc ’ s slow reaction , despite a recent uptick in measures and an apology from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen .
Support for the EU has collapsed in Italy , which has suffered more coronavirus deaths than any other European country , multiple polls have shown .
A recent poll showed that 42 % of Italian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up from 26 % in 2018 .
Another survey found trust in the EU among voters had dropped 13 points to 25 % since January alone .
Nearly six in 10 voters feel that the EU as it is makes no sense , a third poll found , with support for membership dropping even among voters of normally pro-EU parties .
As well as paying to treat coronavirus patients from neighboring EU states , Germany has supplied 7.5 tons of equipment , including ventilators and face masks , to Italy , and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurses to work in a hospital near Naples .
Germany has expanded its intensive care beds to 40,000 and ventilation units to 30,000 , one of the highest rates per capita in Europe .
Before the crisis , there were 28,000 intensive care beds nationwide , including 20,000 with ventilation .
According to data published by Germany 's national health institute based on a register of 30,058 intensive care units , 17,393 ( 58 % ) beds are currently occupied and 12,665 beds are currently available .
Among these , there are 2,889 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this weekend .
The institute ’ s data shows that 139,897 people have tested positive to the virus so far in Germany and 4,294 have died .
Meanwhile , EU leaders are deep in debate over which financial measures to adopt to support the bloc ’ s economic recovery .
Southern European countries , including Spain , Portugal , and Italy , as well as France , have been pushing for a joint fund supported by common debt and guarantees .
But such proposals have so far been resisted by northern members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most vociferously opposed .
As the continent is expected to be hit by its hardest recession in recent history , both German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have warned that the EU is facing its biggest challenge since its foundation .
The French president told the Financial Times in an interview last week that the EU risked unraveling if it failed to embrace financial solidarity .
Jean-Yves Le Drian , France ’ s foreign minister , said on Monday that the pandemic threatened the multilateral world order .

Support for the EU has collapsed in Italy, which has suffered more coronavirus deaths than any other European country, multiple polls have shown. A recent poll showed that 42% of Italian voters want to leave the EU, up from 26% in 2018. Another survey found trust in the EU among voters had dropped 13 points to 25% since January alone. Nearly six in 10 voters feel that the EU as it is makes no sense, a third poll found, with support for membership dropping even among voters of normally pro-EU parties.
As well as paying to treat coronavirus patients from neighboring EU states, Germany has supplied 7.5 tons of equipment, including ventilators and face masks, to Italy, and has also sent a team of doctors and nurses to work in a hospital near Naples.
Germany has expanded its intensive care beds to 40,000 and ventilation units to 30,000, one of the highest rates per capita in Europe. Before the crisis, there were 28,000 intensive care beds nationwide, including 20,000 with ventilation.
According to data published by Germany's national health institute based on a register of 30,058 intensive care units, 17,393 (58%) beds are currently occupied and 12,665 beds are currently available. Among these, there are 2,889 COVID-19 patients in intensive care as of this weekend.
The institute’s data shows that 139,897 people have tested positive to the virus so far in Germany and 4,294 have died.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-08--A Man Attacked An Asian Woman Taking Out Her Trash At Night. She Now Has Chemical Burns On Her Face

A Man Attacked An Asian Woman Taking Out Her Trash At Night. She Now Has Chemical Burns On Her Face And Body.

Police released photos of the suspect and asked the public to help identify him .
An Asian woman in Brooklyn , New York , was taking out her trash when a man outside her apartment building doused her with a substance that gave her chemical burns before running away , police said .
The attack took place on Sunday night in the Sunset Park neighborhood .
In a video released by the New York Police Department , the woman appears to be taking out her trash when the man , who is sitting on the stoop , stands up as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her from behind with a bottle in his hand .
`` There was no interaction between the individual and the victim prior to the assault , '' the NYPD said .
The woman , who is 39 years old , was admitted to the Maimonides Medical Center with chemical burns to her face , neck , and back .
Police said she was in stable condition .
The NYPD is asking for the public 's help to identify the man , whose ethnicity is unknown .
He was wearing a face mask , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police confirmed to BuzzFeed News that the victim is Asian .

An Asian woman in Brooklyn, New York, was taking out her trash when a man outside her apartment building doused her with a substance that gave her chemical burns before running away, police said.
The attack took place on Sunday night in the Sunset Park neighborhood. In a video released by the New York Police Department, the woman appears to be taking out her trash when the man, who is sitting on the stoop, stands up as she exits the building, and approaches her from behind with a bottle in his hand.
"There was no interaction between the individual and the victim prior to the assault," the NYPD said.
The woman, who is 39 years old, was admitted to the Maimonides Medical Center with chemical burns to her face, neck, and back. Police said she was in stable condition.
The NYPD is asking for the public's help to identify the man, whose ethnicity is unknown. He was wearing a face mask, gloves, and a black hoodie.
Police confirmed to BuzzFeed News that the victim is Asian.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-25--Her Colleagues Watched Her OnlyFans Account At Work. When Bosses Found Out, They Fired Her.

In a recording , the young mechanic 's boss can be heard telling her the OnlyFans account `` might encourage [ her coworkers ] to approach you with unwanted sexual conduct or comments . ''
A promising young mechanic at a Honda dealership in Indiana was fired from her job after management learned she was making amateur porn outside of work using the platform OnlyFans .
Kirsten Vaughn , 24 , told BuzzFeed News she was on track to become the first woman master technician at Don Ayres Honda dealership in Fort Wayne when she was abruptly let go from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on OnlyFans , a social media site where people can pay to subscribe to private content and which is commonly used for adult material .
Vaughn said that after she mentioned her account in her Instagram stories coworkers began watching her videos together at the workplace and then sexually harassing her .
But instead of punishing her colleagues , she said management blamed her for making the OnlyFans account .
“ If the guys just would ’ ve watched their porn at home , none of this would ’ ve happened , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking at it like , ‘ Hey , the guys are kind of creepy , ’ it ’ s , ‘ Oh well , you ’ re the girl that brought this to their attention , and you ’ re responsible . '
” Vaughn was fired in mid-February , but her story went viral after she posted about it on Twitter on Wednesday .
“ Really a shame they had to fire me for having my only fans page , cuz I got down at my dealership , ” she wrote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air conditioning system .
Jason Johnston , who handles human resources for the dealership , denied that Vaughn had been fired over her OnlyFans account , and said instead that she had violated company policy .
He declined to specify which policy Vaughn had violated .
But in audio recordings that Vaughn provided to BuzzFeed News of meetings she had with Johnston and dealership general manager John Watkins , the two men can be heard questioning her about her OnlyFans presence and discussing the harm it could do to the reputation of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Watkins also seem to blame Vaughn for the reaction of her coworkers .
“ If I walked out into the shop and spread a rumor , how other people react to it , that ’ s their responsibility , but I ’ m still the one who yelled 'fire , ' ” Watkins can be heard saying in one recording .
The pair also questioned Vaughn about how she felt about the fact that her coworkers were likely seeing her naked .
Johnston also seemed to blame Vaughn for creating a situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexually harass her .
“ If there were coworkers over there who had access to your page , that might encourage them to approach you with unwanted sexual conduct or comments , ” Johnston said on the recording .
Vaughn ’ s viral tweet about her OnlyFans account came as many people who are out of work due to the coronavirus consider doing sex work online to make money in the interim .
Starting an OnlyFans account has become something of a meme , and cam sites have expanded rapidly in the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have warned that anyone joining the industry now should be wary of the risks .
“ People will find out , ” said porn star Asa Akira during a town hall on Wednesday aimed at educating newcomers and organized by the porn trade association Free Speech Coalition .
“ Your best friends and your worst enemies will all eventually find out that you ’ ve done porn.
” Vaughn has an active social media presence , and she has a following for her work as a woman mechanic on Instagram where she posts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and time-lapse videos of her capable work on cars .
While she was on company time , Vaughn was by all accounts an ambitious and capable employee .
The dealership celebrated her role as a woman in the industry , featuring a video praising her work on their Facebook page .
“ I was a phenomenal employee with a perfect record that never got in trouble , ” said Vaughn .
“ When I went to work and I was on the clock , I did my job and I was good at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was at work .
I wore my uniform .
I did what I had to do.
” Johnston , the HR coordinator , confirmed to BuzzFeed News that Vaughn was well-regarded at the dealership .
“ We think very highly of her , ” Johnston said over the phone .
Vaughn started the OnlyFans account in January to make some extra money so she could pay off her student loans and mortgage , and start to save a little .
She said her dream is to save up enough for her own shop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was called in to speak with management , she said she initially thought it might be about a prize she was up for — and for which she was later named a semifinalist .
Vaughn wasn ’ t sure exactly how management learned about her account on the site , but she said word got out among some of the employees when she posted about her OnlyFans in her Instagram stories feature .
After that , she said , some of the men started showing her videos to other employees in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come up to me and ... he was telling me how the salesmen were all huddled up in a group , and that he had come up to the group and they were on an OnlyFans page , ” she recalled .
“ And he said that he didn ’ t know it was me until they passed by a picture of my face and he said , ‘ I ’ ve seen a lot of you.
’ ” “ I was like , ‘ That ’ s fucking great , thanks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to fucking everybody.
” Vaughn said two employees in particular became fixated on the fact that she was on OnlyFans , and began to harass her online and in the shop .
She subsequently stopped any mentions of the account on Instagram .
“ They literally would not shut up about my page , ” said Vaughn .
“ I begged them to not tell anybody , and they would laugh in my face and say , ‘ Ha ha ha , we ’ re helping you make money .
Shut up.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to BuzzFeed News of Vaughn ’ s meeting with management , the men could be heard asking Vaughn a series of questions about the content of her OnlyFans .
Vaughn acknowledged to her managers that she shared some photos in her uniform and from the dealership ’ s bathroom on her OnlyFans account — but she told the men she took pains to obscure any logos or identifying features .
Vaughn told BuzzFeed News she was not the first employee in the shop to appear in an OnlyFans account , and that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it treats men and women .
“ To me it just does not make sense that they ’ re so concerned about their image and they ’ re so concerned about [ my OnlyFans page ] , but they just let [ other ] things slide , ” she said .
Vaughn said one male employee who appeared in his girlfriend ’ s OnlyFans account was teased by colleagues but was not reprimanded .
( Another male employee who works at the dealership told BuzzFeed News he had also heard about the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s OnlyFans .
“ The whole shop knew about it , ” he said ) .
Caryn Looper , who worked at the same dealership as a porter from November 2019 to March , told BuzzFeed News she had also started an OnlyFans while working there .
Like Vaughn , she said one of her colleagues began harassing her about the account and showed it to others , saying he was helping her drum up business .
Looper said she quit after complaining that the male colleague had groped her buttocks after work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 could get him .
“ I was depressed .
It was eating at me , ” said Looper .
“ I knew he was still going to be there , and that ’ s what really freaked me out.
” Looper said she filed a police report for sexual battery against the man the day she quit her job .
A spokesperson for Fort Wayne police could not confirm whether Looper herself had made a report , citing privacy issues , but did confirm a report for battery was made the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job and which matched a report number she provided to BuzzFeed News .
In one of the audio recordings made by Vaughn , when Johnston talked about how her OnlyFans might encourage coworkers to make sexual remarks to her , Vaughn then asked if Johnston was concerned about a repeat of Looper ’ s experience with the male colleague .
“ Absolutely !
” Johnston can be heard responding .
“ Sexual harassment that you would find personally unwelcome , and that 's something I would be concerned about for you.
” Reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke only briefly before saying , “ I think I ’ ve got more important things to do with my time right now , and I don ’ t think that ’ s any business of yours.
” When contacted later with additional questions , Johnston hung up .
He and Watkins did not respond to emailed questions .
Vaughn said she knew it was a risk to start doing sex work , but that ultimately she feels like she made the right decision to join OnlyFans .
The shop has had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can lately due to the coronavirus , and Vaughn said that in the midst of record unemployment , she ’ s making more money from sex work than she ever did as a mechanic .
Vaughn said she was depressed when sent out the now-viral tweet , but she ’ s received a lot of support and she wants to get involved in activism to better protect sex workers .
“ It highlights how sex workers are not properly protected , ” said Vaughn , “ and it can also be used as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep their day job .
”

Vaughn has an active social media presence, and she has a following for her work as a woman mechanic on Instagram where she posts videos from the shop, how-tos, and time-lapse videos of her capable work on cars.
While she was on company time, Vaughn was by all accounts an ambitious and capable employee. The dealership celebrated her role as a woman in the industry, featuring a video praising her work on their Facebook page.
“I was a phenomenal employee with a perfect record that never got in trouble,” said Vaughn. “When I went to work and I was on the clock, I did my job and I was good at it. I was appropriate when I was at work. I wore my uniform. I did what I had to do.”
Johnston, the HR coordinator, confirmed to BuzzFeed News that Vaughn was well-regarded at the dealership. “We think very highly of her,” Johnston said over the phone.
Vaughn started the OnlyFans account in January to make some extra money so she could pay off her student loans and mortgage, and start to save a little. She said her dream is to save up enough for her own shop and work on race cars.
When she was called in to speak with management, she said she initially thought it might be about a prize she was up for — and for which she was later named a semifinalist.
Vaughn wasn’t sure exactly how management learned about her account on the site, but she said word got out among some of the employees when she posted about her OnlyFans in her Instagram stories feature.
After that, she said, some of the men started showing her videos to other employees in the shop.
“I had a coworker come up to me and...he was telling me how the salesmen were all huddled up in a group, and that he had come up to the group and they were on an OnlyFans page,” she recalled. “And he said that he didn’t know it was me until they passed by a picture of my face and he said, ‘I’ve seen a lot of you.’”
“I was like, ‘That’s fucking great, thanks,’" she said. “Showing it to fucking everybody.”
Vaughn said two employees in particular became fixated on the fact that she was on OnlyFans, and began to harass her online and in the shop. She subsequently stopped any mentions of the account on Instagram.
“They literally would not shut up about my page,” said Vaughn. “I begged them to not tell anybody, and they would laugh in my face and say, ‘Ha ha ha, we’re helping you make money. Shut up.’”
In the audio recordings provided to BuzzFeed News of Vaughn’s meeting with management, the men could be heard asking Vaughn a series of questions about the content of her OnlyFans. Vaughn acknowledged to her managers that she shared some photos in her uniform and from the dealership’s bathroom on her OnlyFans account — but she told the men she took pains to obscure any logos or identifying features.
Vaughn told BuzzFeed News she was not the first employee in the shop to appear in an OnlyFans account, and that the shop has a double standard for how it treats men and women.
“To me it just does not make sense that they’re so concerned about their image and they’re so concerned about [my OnlyFans page], but they just let [other] things slide,” she said.
Vaughn said one male employee who appeared in his girlfriend’s OnlyFans account was teased by colleagues but was not reprimanded. (Another male employee who works at the dealership told BuzzFeed News he had also heard about the same male colleague appearing on a girlfriend’s OnlyFans. “The whole shop knew about it,” he said).


buzzfeednews--2020-04-24--Ontario Has Given Its Police Access To People's COVID-19 Test Data

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 civil liberties organization is raising the alarm after the province of Ontario began sharing COVID-19 test results with police and other organizations .
On April 6 , Ontario officials announced that first responders in the province , including police , firefighters , and paramedics , would have access to a database that includes names , addresses , dates of birth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 .
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is calling it `` an extraordinary invasion of privacy . ''
In a letter sent to Ontario Solicitor General Sylvia Jones , which was cosigned by other advocacy organizations , the CCLA said it was concerned about the legality of the measures .
`` We have not found sufficient explanation of how providing this information to first responders , and police in particular , is useful , much less necessary , in responding to the present emergency , '' the letter said .
Abby Deshman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CCLA 's criminal justice program , told BuzzFeed News , `` Based on what we know about COVID-19 testing in this province , any database of test results will be a very partial picture of who ’ s carrying COVID-19 , and it may also be out of date . ''
She added , `` Personal health information is among the most private information that people have in their lives , and it is usually extremely tightly controlled and only shared with health providers and only with consent and only when absolutely necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not yet replied to the letter , which was sent on Thursday .
A spokesperson for Jones told BuzzFeed News , `` First responders put their lives on the line every day to protect Ontarians , and they are at great risk of being directly exposed to COVID-19 as they fulfill their frontline duties .
That ’ s why it ’ s critical that we protect and support our frontline responders who are fighting to protect us from this virus every day . ''
The emergency order has a time limit and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a state of emergency .
`` Strict protocols are enforced to limit access to this information , and it is used only to allow first responders to take appropriate safety precautions to protect themselves and the communities they serve , '' the spokesperson said .
Deshman , however , said there are no province-wide measures to ensure information is shared appropriately or to register complaints .
She is also concerned about how the information-sharing may impact people of color and people with HIV who have a history of negative interactions with law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CCLA , the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario , the Black Legal Action Centre , and Aboriginal Legal Services .

A civil liberties organization is raising the alarm after the province of Ontario began sharing COVID-19 test results with police and other organizations.
On April 6, Ontario officials announced that first responders in the province, including police, firefighters, and paramedics, would have access to a database that includes names, addresses, dates of birth, and whether a person had tested positive for COVID-19.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is calling it "an extraordinary invasion of privacy."
In a letter sent to Ontario Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, which was cosigned by other advocacy organizations, the CCLA said it was concerned about the legality of the measures.
"We have not found sufficient explanation of how providing this information to first responders, and police in particular, is useful, much less necessary, in responding to the present emergency," the letter said.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-25--How Everyone From “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” To “The Walking Dead” Have Kept Production Alive

How Everyone From “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” To “The Walking Dead” Have Kept Production Alive Despite Coronavirus Quarantines

“ The first week it was a little bit more ragtag .
It was definitely more like , Wait , what are we doing here ?
” a Tonight Show producer told BuzzFeed News .
In just a matter of weeks , the coronavirus pandemic shut down all of Hollywood , bringing more than 70 television productions to a complete halt .
There are fears about COVID-19 spreading in a close-knit working environment like television sets where there ’ s abundant human contact and endless transferring of germs , even at the cost of billions of dollars and countless production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majority of TV shows from continuing to shoot , pushing back release dates and leaving people concerned about the future of the industry , but some producers jumped into brainstorming creative solutions to create their shows .
The transition to virtual television production is still evolving as the world continues to grapple with an uncertain timeline of how long people will be in quarantine because of COVID-19 .
BuzzFeed News spoke to producers on popular TV shows about how they ’ re working behind the scenes to stay in production , make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run dry , and keep their networks in business .
Keeping Up With the Kardashians Khloé Kardashian and Scott Disick were scheduled to film for an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashian ’ s 18th season on March 16 , but once the mandatory quarantine hit , executive producer Farnaz Farjam hopped on the phone with Kris Jenner and the two decided it wasn ’ t worth the risk to continue shooting with family members together in one place .
“ I 'm very confident and excited for people to see these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're actually super charming and they 're super fun , ” Farjam , who ’ s worked on the reality series since its inception in 2007 , told BuzzFeed News .
“ They feel even more intimate , if that 's possible because we 're so intimate with them anyway.
” On Tuesday , March 17 , iPhones were delivered to each family member so they could each continue filming on their own .
Initially , they experimented with uploading their raw footage to a Google Drive and sharing what they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producers decided to have runners pick up the iPhones directly from the family members ’ houses once a week so that the footage would be as high resolution as possible .
Farjam said she had no concerns about the quality of content coming from Kim , Khloé , Kris , and Kylie since they ’ re already been producers on the show and are experienced in curating their own content .
Not every reality star or celebrity could pull off filming by themselves without a lot of direction or assistance from producers or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it , it ’ s the Kardashian/Jenner family .
“ I also work with development and we 've tried to task certain people with self-shooting some stuff for us so that we could keep working towards things , and it 's just not the same , ” Farnaz said .
“ People just do n't have the same skill sets as this family.
” They even briefly debated giving the cast professional filming cameras , but in a time like this , there isn ’ t a lot of room for error @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided that iPhone cameras yielded high enough quality videos and it would be easier for the family to use a tool they ’ re already familiar with .
“ I mean , honestly , I think Kim , Khloé , and Kris , and even Kylie , and even Kendall and Scott , I think everybody has been really having fun with it .
They ’ re already kind of producers and EPs and they know what 's fun anyway , so they 're just kind of owning it and they 're running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On a recent episode of the show ’ s current season , Kourtney Kardashian announced she ’ s taking a break from filming after 13 years of being on camera .
But when asked if Kourtney was participating in the quarantine shoots , Farnaz said “ Kourtney ’ s involved.
” “ She sends us some videos , ” she added .
“ I just think that with Kim , Khloé , Kris , and Kylie , there 's just some of them that like to do it more and are better at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage , Farnaz said the production crew realized they ’ d need to conduct professional-looking interviews to ask the women questions and enhance the episodes like they normally do .
They sent their director of photography and someone in charge of lighting to set up interview rooms at the houses .
Both crew members , who Farnaz said “ stayed super safe during the quarantine , ” wore hazmat-like gear — full painter ’ s suits and masks — when entering each home .
They sanitized all of the equipment , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rooms for the following 24 hours .
They also left directions on the equipment about which buttons to press and how to use the cameras while producers asked interview questions over videoconferencing .
Kim even posted a behind-the-scenes video of the setup in an Instagram story .
The episode about the quarantine which will include all of this collected footage is supposed to air sometime at the end of the current season .
“ I think this is going to be such a big part of people 's lives and the Kardashians are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Farnaz said .
“ I think people will be curious to see what they did during the quarantine , so why not continue to capture it so that you can share it with the fans ?
” The Tonight Show crew filmed the show ’ s last episode in their New York City studio on March 12 without an audience before shutting down for the foreseeable future .
Everyone took the weekend to regroup , some of them relocating outside of the city , but according to producer Jamie Granet-Bederman , host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waste any time getting back onscreen in whatever capacity he could .
A team of staffers met virtually on Monday to plan for a show the following day and with the help of Nancy Juvonen — Fallon ’ s wife who ’ s also an experienced producer and co-owns the production company Flower Films with Drew Barrymore — The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon : At Home Edition premiered its first installment that Tuesday “ Jimmy said he felt like he needed to do something .
He was like , ‘ I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ’ ” Granet-Bederman told BuzzFeed News .
Fallon and Juvonen filmed the entire show by themselves on their iPhones and using Zoom at their house in Long Island .
The 10-minute segments have continued to run on YouTube with NBC then airing the videos along with rerun material .
Similarly to the Keeping Up With the Kardashians team , the Tonight Show producers felt Fallon was well-equipped to continue filming from home because of his range of skills beyond his role in front of the camera .
“ At heart , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producer , and he could do a one-man show — obviously , he 's doing it now , ” Granet-Bederman said .
Fallon and Juvonen ’ s daughters , 6-year-old Winnie and 5-year-old Frannie , have also regularly made appearances on the show .
They have played musical introductions , have handwritten title cards , and are Fallon ’ s audience when he ’ s reading his monologue .
The kids were an organic addition to Fallon ’ s show , according to Granet-Bederman , and weren ’ t a part of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just what ’ s happening right now .
In my house , my son pops up in the back of my Zoom calls .
If you have children at home with you , you ca n't not have your kids a part of everything , ” she said .
“ And Jimmy and his wife are just like us .
He 's in a house and his kids are there and now he 's dealing with homeschooling , but before homeschooling started the kids had nothing to do .
So he ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Daddy 's going to work and Mommy 's helping me too ’ and not include them .
They were there filming all this stuff and the girls are young enough that they do n't really understand.
” By the time the second episode aired , Fallon was already interviewing his first virtual guest , Lin Manuel-Miranda , on Zoom , the videoconferencing app on which he also interviewed Kerry Washington , Melissa McCarthy , John Legend , Justin Timberlake , Kim Kardashian West , and even Joe Biden , while also raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first week it was a little bit more ragtag .
It was definitely more like , Wait , what are we doing here ?
” Granet-Bederman said .
“ Now we 've looped in some more production people so it 's definitely a lot better planned .
We have real rundowns and more meetings that actually make sense .
We have planning meetings , but at the end of the day , it is still Jimmy and an iPhone and his wife and him doing interviews on Zoom .
Like , there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do when it 's just him at the house doing it.
” While production staff aren ’ t clear how long they ’ ll have to adapt to this new way of filming The Tonight Show , Granet-Bederman said Fallon ’ s presence and the At Home Edition version of the show is bringing joy to people ’ s screens .
In a world of uncertainty , the show is giving viewers something they can rely on .
“ There 's so much bad and there 's so much grim news everywhere you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the facts and to learn about it , but there 's only so much you can take , and Jimmy 's providing a little bit of normalcy , ” Granet-Bederman said .
“ That 's the feedback I 've gotten , that people really love that Jimmy 's providing normalcy and he 's also being realistic about what 's going on in the world .
We think , What can we do to help bring a smile to people 's faces ?
Because that 's what entertainment does.
” Showtime ’ s Desus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmed its last episode without an audience on March 12 before taking a two-week hiatus to figure out its next steps .
After producers and the hosts brainstormed what a virtual version of the show would look like , producer and writer Josh Gondelman said the team began hopping on regularly scheduled Zoom meetings to prep for their first at-home show , which aired on March 30 .
“ It 's a weird and scary time globally , but it is very satisfying to work on the show right now and I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this ongoing thing that I 'm really proud of , ” Gondelman told BuzzFeed News .
According to Gondelman , a runner dropped off equipment to Desus and Mero ’ s homes , leaving it on their doorsteps in order to stay safe and follow the rules of quarantine .
“ They are each a one-man crew , making sure their lighting is set up , someone walks them through the audio , and someone is directing episodes from Zoom , ” he said .
“ Desus is in the Bronx and Mero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a real long-distance intimacy to make the show feel like the fast , quick , intimate show that it is .
It takes people all over the place and literally no one is in the same room.
” Gondelman said they ’ re able to use their whole staff remotely , from producers and writers to the graphic department .
The logistics of how to keep the show running from a distance has been challenging , he said , but their team jumped into problem-solving mode and has continued to adapt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazing working with the technology needed to make this happen , and our showrunner has been so amazing , figuring out how to keep this staff in communication with each other and figuring out a workflow where every person is in a different office with different Wi-Fi set up in seven different boroughs of New York and even with people in New Jersey , ” Gondelman said .
“ It was a real logistical challenge.
” In this new world of virtual TV production , Desus & Mero airs episodes weekly on Showtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviews with Anthony Fauci , Tracee Ellis Ross , Mark Cuban , and Alicia Keys .
They even snagged an interview with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , using Zoom to put it all together .
Gondelman said the production team is happy to move forward with the show virtually , giving people content at a time when they need it .
“ We wanted to do things as safely as possible and still make this show happen , and I think we 've been able to do that — which is really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ It 's a very scary and anxious time and it ’ s nice to have this routine .
So many people are out of work and there are so many question marks amidst the public health worries , but then everyone 's life has to keep going , and so I 'm just overwhelmingly grateful for being able to participate in this.
” When it was reported March 11 that two CBS News employees had tested positive for the coronavirus and both of their buildings were affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which films in one of the buildings — immediately shut down production .
Staff members took one week off before getting back to work and adjusting to a new production model , leading to the first virtual episode on March 25 .
Late-night host Samantha Bee started filming episodes from the backyard of her Connecticut home with the help of her husband , Jason Jones , who ’ s also a producer and actor .
The two are using Zoom to prep with other members of the production team and an iPhone to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sam wanted to make sure to have a show and we tried to get back on air as quickly as possible , ” producer Razan Ghalayini told BuzzFeed News .
Ghalayini called the experience “ a crash course in learning how to do this and think creatively , ” saying that the show ’ s IT department has been instrumental in helping producers and talent set up their Zoom and other technology and capture footage at a high enough resolution that editors can work with .
“ They ’ re the people making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're the people who are downloading the media with you , ” Ghalayini said .
“ Everyone would be lost without them.
” The team also collaborates in Google Docs , writing scripts for final versions of the videos and making changes in real time .
Zoom has also been useful when interviewing talent from the comfort of their own homes .
On April 15 , Full Frontal aired an interview with former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren , another virtual feat .
“ After we booked her on the show , we sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collaborated with one of her staffers to test the audio and make sure all of her settings were set up .
We did the same thing with Sam .
And then basically we all got on to the Zoom call at the same time , ” Ghalayini said .
The show , which is currently in its fifth season on TBS , is prepared to keep filming from home into the future , according to Ghalayini , no matter how creative they need to get .
“ Sam is driving and piloting her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice social distancing in a seamless way , ” Ghalayini said .
“ I think if someone was able to be there and help her it would be a lot easier , but a lot of it is falling on her shoulders .
She is the superhero of this.
” When threats of COVID-19 suspended production on the 18th season of American Idol , the show had already narrowed down its contestants to their top 20 performers .
On March 17 , the show announced production had been working remotely since the previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward .
Showrunner and executive producer Trish Kinane told BuzzFeed News there was a debate : Should they postpone the season until contestants could compete with each other in person , or could American Idol pull off a version of a technologically adjusted version of the show ?
“ It became clear that if we did postpone , we were n't quite sure when we could come back because the virus was developing in a way that nobody could predict what was going to happen , ” Kinane said .
And they didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the strong ratings , interaction with viewers , and the hopes of the contestants who had already worked hard to get to this point on the show .
“ I think none of us wanted to make the show under the circumstances , but it ’ s proved challenging , exciting , and actually it ’ s bringing out different things , ” Kinane said .
“ So we ’ re embracing it.
” With the decision to go ahead with the live shows , which will air on Sunday nights starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technical preparation .
Kinane said in the last five to six weeks , the producers were on a mission to execute a remote live show “ with all of the characteristics that are American Idol.
” The executive producer said they were up for the challenge because the show has a history of integrating new technology into the series , ever since American Idol encouraged viewers to text in their votes .
Executive producer Megan Michaels Wolflick told BuzzFeed News it ’ s been inspiring and reassuring to watch late-night TV shows like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jimmy Kimmel Live !
continue to air episodes during the pandemic , but their competition show is an entirely different format .
“ This is a cohesive show , ” Wolflick said .
“ We have a rundown , the way the acts are broken out , and it ’ s almost identical to what we do in the studio.
” Wolflick said one of the most important components of pulling off the production was to make sure all 20 contestants had a level playing field , not only sounding their best , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their remote locations .
With everyone filming from their homes , production sent each contestant iPhones , tripods , lighting equipment , and high-quality microphones .
They helped contestants set everything up over Zoom , which is also how they ’ ve been directing the contestants ’ filming and how they communicate during dress rehearsals and performances .
Producers even toyed with the idea of somehow incorporating a virtual audience , but ultimately nixed it because of logistical complications .
Even though contestants won ’ t continue to perform in front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past seasons have , Wolflick said it ’ s “ just a different challenge for contestants ” who are still maintaining the same nerves and energy when they perform in front of the judges remotely .
“ They have been practicing for their American Idol moment their whole life in these spaces , so what would have been your living room stage since the age of 4 is now where you 're performing for American Idol , ” Wolflick said .
“ So they 're comfortable , but they 're also trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them are performing in front of their families , and when the lights come on and it ’ s time to perform , they amp it up just like we do in the studio .
It ’ s funny how that energy can transfer.
” Most importantly , Kinane said , the technical setup allows for natural interactions with the contestants and judges can react immediately to each performance .
“ In order to be the next American Idol you 've got to have a great voice , you 've got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to have resilience , hard work ethic , and charisma .
There 's a lot more that goes into having a hugely successful career than just having singing talent , ” Kinane said .
“ This experience is really pushing them to show off those other skills and talents that they 've got .
I also think the judges would say , if you 've got star quality , you 've got it .
It does n't matter whether you 're in your bedroom or on a stage at CBS Studios in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Not only did the coronavirus shut down TV shows that were already filming , but scripted programs that were in preproduction have also been brought to a halt .
The writers room for AMC ’ s The Walking Dead had been in session for a few months when the quarantine forced everyone to stay out of the office and meet virtually over Zoom .
Consulting producer LaToya Morgan told BuzzFeed News the writers started working from home on March 13 , and even though she ’ d much rather be working with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s grateful they ’ re all still able to come up with stories for the show ’ s 11th season .
“ I think Zoom offers a great opportunity to check in with people visually .
Seeing everyone ’ s faces , even if it is in those Brady Bunch boxes , you 're like , ‘ Okay , you 're safe .
We 're all going to get through this together , ’ ” Morgan told BuzzFeed News .
“ So it 's reassuring in a sense.
” Morgan said the writers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine people and last between four and five hours .
They take breaks throughout the day and are on the Zoom calls for less time than a normal day in their actual writers room , which Morgan said can make it feel even more focused because everyone has a certain block of time to get their work done .
“ Of course this is all disruptive in certain ways , but at the end of the day we 're still able to do our jobs , ” Morgan said .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to do that , and any burden or small technological glitches that we have really pale in comparison to the work that 's being done by all our essential workers , our doctors , our nurses , our mail carriers .
So we 're able to endure.
” The Walking Dead has maintained a rabid fanbase since it first premiered in 2010 , and a lot of people are also turning to postapocalyptic films and TV shows in light of the coronavirus .
Morgan said she ’ s glad shows like The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s about a zombie-related pandemic , can “ give people comfort at a time like this.
” “ I know it 's odd for that to be something like a horror show , ” she said .
“ But it 's nice to be able to escape for a little while from the news.
” While some TV shows are virtually up and running and have shown that they ’ re capable of functioning with limited resources , unclear timelines about the coronavirus quarantine have left production crews who work in the field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future of the industry .
In a field of work that already lacks stability , with projects coming and going and crew members hopping from set to set , the coronavirus has left the state of television production especially in limbo .
“ We do n't know how this is going to change the industry in general , because I do think when everything goes back to normal , whenever that is , it won ’ t be the same exactly , ” a crew member on NBC ’ s Chicago Fire who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ No one knows what that ’ s going to entail.
” While crew members are out of jobs and scrambling to pay their bills , the public is relying on television and movies more than ever as a form of entertainment and distraction while in quarantine , a paradox that isn ’ t lost on those same crew members .
The Chicago Fire staff member expressed concern that those very workers responsible for creating TV shows on the ground aren ’ t being considered or prioritized .
“ Everyone ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching movies and I ’ m like , ‘ Who do you think is making that content for you to not be bored ?
’ ” the crew member said .
“ And yet I feel like our country is kind of ignoring gig and freelance workers , not just in television and movies , but also in music and theater .
I think everyone in the arts is kind of getting left behind and not being thought of.
” Unlike others in the entertainment industry , unemployed production crew members don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , keeping their benefits , and maintaining job security .
Callie Moore , a camera assistant in Atlanta , was finishing up a job on Amazon ’ s upcoming series The Underground Railroad when the coronavirus cut production short by just a couple of days .
“ It ’ s scary just to know that our coverage can go away in the blink of an eye , ” she said .
“ And there ’ s nothing you can do about it because you ’ re not working , you 're not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough hours in order to cover yourself , then you 're just floating.
” In addition to all of the unpredictability about when production crew members can get back to work on sets , producers have more questions than answers about what this new era of television production will look like in a post-quarantine world .
The Tonight Show producer Jamie Granet-Bederman said she thinks “ there are some things that are better like this and obviously there are things that are worse.
” “ To tell monologue jokes to no audience is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the interviews have been a little bit more laid back and a bit more special .
It 's also a time when everyone 's feeling very vulnerable , everyone 's in their home , so they ’ re more comfortable , ” Granet-Bederman said .
“ It 'll be interesting to see what changes and what stays the same after all of this.
” According to Farjam , the Keeping Up With the Kardashians producer , the way production has shifted during quarantine will be representative of a temporary moment in time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think for now we are just making it work and it 's going to be fascinating and fun to watch , but I still think it takes a team to make things the best that they could be , ” Farjam said .
“ We were at such a trend , in my opinion , where everyone wanted more premium content .
People wanted content to look shiny , glossy , and beautiful and use prime lenses and all this stuff .
Then all of a sudden , it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and everyone 's going to have to videoconference in and deal with whatever kind of quality you can get .
But I do think once this time is over , people are gon na start craving the beauty and the premium and the style again.
” Gondelman from Desus & Mero said this new way of working together remotely has been an exciting experiment in creativity “ against terrible circumstances ” and “ is a testament to the flexibility and talent of the people on our team.
” Virtual TV production is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he doesn ’ t envision this process being permanent because of the simple fact that people miss working alongside other people .
“ Even though we 're on calls with each other , everybody kind of misses being in a workplace together and getting to collaborate in person and just the little subtleties of talking with people in the same room , ” Gondelman said .
“ Facial expressions do n't always read on a 3X4 box and just the speed at which you can share ideas and build on other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do miss it.
” Now that a smaller staff of television crews are developing new skill sets and being innovative about how to get their shows made , Ghalayini , the Full Frontal With Samantha Bee producer , said she thinks the industry might change “ in the sense that we 're learning that you can make something with less.
” Whatever those potential changes will be , however , remain unclear given the overall uncertainty of how long statewide shelter-in-place and quarantines will last .
“ I 'm not sure if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future now , but I do think like you 'll probably see some sort of new version of storytelling emerge from this , ” Ghalayini said .
“ Because invariably what will happen is people will have to get creative in new ways , and I think when they learn new languages and develop new tools , they 're not just going to put them away when we can all go outside again.
” “ But we 're still so early in this , we just figured out how to do Zoom , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we going to figure out in three weeks when we get bored with Zoom ?
”

Khloé Kardashian and Scott Disick were scheduled to film for an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashian’s 18th season on March 16, but once the mandatory quarantine hit, executive producer Farnaz Farjam hopped on the phone with Kris Jenner and the two decided it wasn’t worth the risk to continue shooting with family members together in one place.
“I'm very confident and excited for people to see these episodes of Keeping Up during quarantine because they're actually super charming and they're super fun,” Farjam, who’s worked on the reality series since its inception in 2007, told BuzzFeed News. “They feel even more intimate, if that's possible because we're so intimate with them anyway.”
On Tuesday, March 17, iPhones were delivered to each family member so they could each continue filming on their own. Initially, they experimented with uploading their raw footage to a Google Drive and sharing what they’d been up to, but then producers decided to have runners pick up the iPhones directly from the family members’ houses once a week so that the footage would be as high resolution as possible.
Farjam said she had no concerns about the quality of content coming from Kim, Khloé, Kris, and Kylie since they’re already been producers on the show and are experienced in curating their own content. Not every reality star or celebrity could pull off filming by themselves without a lot of direction or assistance from producers or crew members, but if anyone could do it, it’s the Kardashian/Jenner family.
“I also work with development and we've tried to task certain people with self-shooting some stuff for us so that we could keep working towards things, and it's just not the same,” Farnaz said. “People just don't have the same skill sets as this family.”
They even briefly debated giving the cast professional filming cameras, but in a time like this, there isn’t a lot of room for error without the technical expertise. They ultimately decided that iPhone cameras yielded high enough quality videos and it would be easier for the family to use a tool they’re already familiar with.
“I mean, honestly, I think Kim, Khloé, and Kris, and even Kylie, and even Kendall and Scott, I think everybody has been really having fun with it. They’re already kind of producers and EPs and they know what's fun anyway, so they're just kind of owning it and they're running with it,” she said.
On a recent episode of the show’s current season, Kourtney Kardashian announced she’s taking a break from filming after 13 years of being on camera. But when asked if Kourtney was participating in the quarantine shoots, Farnaz said “Kourtney’s involved.”
“She sends us some videos,” she added. “I just think that with Kim, Khloé, Kris, and Kylie, there's just some of them that like to do it more and are better at it.”
After watching some of the footage, Farnaz said the production crew realized they’d need to conduct professional-looking interviews to ask the women questions and enhance the episodes like they normally do. They sent their director of photography and someone in charge of lighting to set up interview rooms at the houses. Both crew members, who Farnaz said “stayed super safe during the quarantine,” wore hazmat-like gear — full painter’s suits and masks — when entering each home. They sanitized all of the equipment, and the families were instructed not to enter the rooms for the following 24 hours. They also left directions on the equipment about which buttons to press and how to use the cameras while producers asked interview questions over videoconferencing. Kim even posted a behind-the-scenes video of the setup in an Instagram story.
The episode about the quarantine which will include all of this collected footage is supposed to air sometime at the end of the current season.
“I think this is going to be such a big part of people's lives and the Kardashians are going through it like everyone else,” Farnaz said. “I think people will be curious to see what they did during the quarantine, so why not continue to capture it so that you can share it with the fans?”
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon


buzzfeednews--2020-04-02--Bodies Are Being Left To Rot At Home In This City As The Coronavirus Spreads

One woman told BuzzFeed News she went out into the street to find people to remove her uncle 's corpse , as her home city in Ecuador is overwhelmed by the coronavirus .
José Francisco Vargas died on the second floor of his house on Sunday .
For five days , his body languished there .
In a bedroom on the ground floor , Carmen , Vargas ’ niece , huddled with her two young daughters .
Eight months pregnant , she had called 911 countless times , begging to have his remains removed .
Carmen is afraid they , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , the harbinger of COVID-19 , the potentially fatal disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
Hundreds of corpses are rotting inside homes , on sidewalks , and in hospitals in Guayaquil , Ecuador ’ s largest city and one of the hardest hit in Latin America by the spread of the coronavirus .
Overwhelmed , the government has been unable to keep up the pace with the dead , and scared of contagion , funeral homes are refusing to handle the bodies .
Leaders around the world have for weeks imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from being overwhelmed by the virus .
For Guayaquil , that moment has arrived and it is a scary preview of what many countries in the region are likely to confront .
“ I ’ m tired , agitated , worried , ” said Carmen , who asked that her last name be withheld for fear of retaliation by the state , “ and this torment is still not over.
” Videos of families dumping bodies on the streets of Guayaquil and of hospital rooms filled with body bags have flooded social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are difficult to verify , authorities admit that the situation has gotten out of control .
“ We demand that the national government come pick up the corpses that are piling up , ” said Cynthia Viteri , the mayor of Guayaquil , during an interview with NTN24 , a Colombian news channel , on Monday .
The following day , Viteri said several shipping containers would be installed around the city to temporarily house the dead .
Viteri , who gained international notoriety last month after blocking a runway to stop a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she had tested positive for coronavirus .
Ecuador has taken some of the most strict measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus , including shutting down all international and interstate travel and imposing a nationwide 2pm-5am curfew .
Still , the crisis there provides a window into what happens when a nation ’ s health and security apparatuses collapse in the middle of a pandemic .
By Thursday , Ecuador had 3,163 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 120 deaths , according to the country ’ s health ministry .
The majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Guayaquil is located .
In the coming months , between 2,500 and 3,500 people are expected to die there , according to Jorge Wated , the official in charge of managing the task force to dispose of the dead .
When he was initially assigned to lead the task force earlier this week , Wated said that there were plans to build a mass grave in Guayaquil , though authorities later appeared to backtrack .
“ Everyone who dies must have a dignified burial , ” vice-president Otto Sonnenholzner said .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for many , for now .
Because testing is extremely limited , it isn ’ t clear who is dying of coronavirus .
Carmen said her uncle developed a cough and shortness of breath last weekend .
They took him to a hospital but it was so busy that they weren ’ t able to get inside , she said .
Vargas died within a day .
Now , another of Carmen ’ s uncles , who lives next door , has begun to exhibit Covid-19 symptoms .
In homes across Guayaquil , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the anger of having to watch relatives decompose — quickly , with an average temperature of 88F these days .
On Saturday another resident , Stefany Espinoza , called 911 repeatedly after her grandmother began struggling to breathe .
The following day , Espinoza tweeted a photograph of her and her grandmother .
“ She died today at midday , I keep calling over and over to get help removing the body .
We are devastated and need help , please.
” Minutes before a scheduled telephone interview to discuss the situation with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandfather had started to develop symptoms .
In a tweet to Wated , another woman pleaded to have the body of her father removed from her home .
“ I have children at home , I ’ ve called 911 a thousand times , ” wrote @ MaFerPeG .
“ He ’ s beginning to smell.
” Tired of waiting for the authorities to come up and pick up the body of her uncle , on Thursday afternoon , Carmen tried to flag down a group of soldiers .
They ignored her , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , found a group of men on the street , and told them she ’ d pay them to help her out .
Carmen said she gave each $ 10 , gloves and a mask , and together , they brought Vargas down the narrow stairway and onto the street .
Then they loaded his body onto a red pick up truck , and drove off .

Ecuador has taken some of the most strict measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus, including shutting down all international and interstate travel and imposing a nationwide 2pm-5am curfew. Still, the crisis there provides a window into what happens when a nation’s health and security apparatuses collapse in the middle of a pandemic.
By Thursday, Ecuador had 3,163 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 120 deaths, according to the country’s health ministry. The majority of these cases are in Guayas province, where Guayaquil is located. In the coming months, between 2,500 and 3,500 people are expected to die there, according to Jorge Wated, the official in charge of managing the task force to dispose of the dead.
When he was initially assigned to lead the task force earlier this week, Wated said that there were plans to build a mass grave in Guayaquil, though authorities later appeared to backtrack.
“Everyone who dies must have a dignified burial,” vice-president Otto Sonnenholzner said.
But that seems to be out of reach for many, for now.
Because testing is extremely limited, it isn’t clear who is dying of coronavirus. Carmen said her uncle developed a cough and shortness of breath last weekend. They took him to a hospital but it was so busy that they weren’t able to get inside, she said. Vargas died within a day. Now, another of Carmen’s uncles, who lives next door, has begun to exhibit Covid-19 symptoms.
In homes across Guayaquil, the pain of loss is compounded by the anger of having to watch relatives decompose — quickly, with an average temperature of 88F these days.
On Saturday another resident, Stefany Espinoza, called 911 repeatedly after her grandmother began struggling to breathe. The following day, Espinoza tweeted a photograph of her and her grandmother. “She died today at midday, I keep calling over and over to get help removing the body. We are devastated and need help, please.”
Minutes before a scheduled telephone interview to discuss the situation with BuzzFeed News, Espinoza cancelled. Her grandfather had started to develop symptoms.
In a tweet to Wated, another woman pleaded to have the body of her father removed from her home. “I have children at home, I’ve called 911 a thousand times,” wrote @MaFerPeG. “He’s beginning to smell.”
Tired of waiting for the authorities to come up and pick up the body of her uncle, on Thursday afternoon, Carmen tried to flag down a group of soldiers. They ignored her, she said. So she walked out, found a group of men on the street, and told them she’d pay them to help her out.
Carmen said she gave each $10, gloves and a mask, and together, they brought Vargas down the narrow stairway and onto the street. Then they loaded his body onto a red pick up truck, and drove off.