buzzfeednews--2020-04-06--Doctors Want The Government To Give More Racial Data About Who Is Dying And Sick From The Coronaviru

Doctors Want The Government To Give More Racial Data About Who Is Dying And Sick From The Coronavirus

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Hundreds of doctors and a civil rights group are calling for the federal health department to release race and ethnicity breakdowns of COVID-19 data to identify and track potential disparities in how the coronavirus crisis is affecting different communities .
“ This Administration ’ s alarming lack of transparency and data is preventing public health officials from understanding the full impact of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities of color , ” the group , which includes the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and doctors from around the country , wrote in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Monday .
“ We are concerned that Black communities are being disproportionately impacted by the pandemic , and have lower access to COVID-19 testing which may cause delayed care , an increased risk of high mortality rates , and the acceleration of the spread of the disease in our communities , ” they wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health and Human Services and its sub-agencies are charged with ensuring that racial disparities do not persist in the administration of healthcare services , even in a pandemic.
” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
A group of black doctors in Virginia first raised these concerns weeks ago , and have since been calling for state and federal authorities to release data on who is getting sick and dying .
The group is also calling for state and municipal authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnicity data .
“ We understand that this data is being collected [ by the federal government ] and not being reported out to the public , and we believe they need to do their part in pressing state and local health departments to do the same , ” Kristen Clarke , president of the Lawyers ’ Committee , said on a call with reporters .
The CDC ’ s COVID-19 reporting form requires information on patients ’ race and ethnicity , meaning reports of COVID-19 diagnoses and deaths reported to federal authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include that data .
`` Black Americans face insurmountable barriers to testing and treatment for COVID-19 , '' the letter reads .
`` Private COVID-19 testing is costly , and government-administered testing is severely restricted .
These barriers are exacerbated by the fact that racial minorities are suddenly uninsured , as they are overrepresented in recently shuttered industries , such as travel , retail , restaurant and hospitality . ''
Clarke said there is “ some data which suggests that this crisis is in fact having a disparate impact on African Americans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made available by the Illinois Department of Health and a few other local jurisdictions around the country .
Those reports have shown severe disparities in the numbers of black people contracting and dying of COVID-19 .
The Illinois data shows that 29.4 % of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state are black residents , and black people account for 41.2 % of COVID-19 deaths in the state .
Black people account for just 14 % of the state ’ s population .
`` I have seen in my waiting rooms , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brown patients who are essential workers and service workers who can not afford to stay home , '' Uché Blackstock , an emergency room doctor in Brooklyn and CEO of Advancing Health Equity , said on the press call .
She said that the data is essential because it could change how authorities deal with the public health crisis , including directing resources to the communities and parts of the country most urgently in need .
“ In the past , the CDC has tracked those types of data , demographic , race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks , and they ’ ve typically released that kind of data in the past , but they ’ re not doing so for COVID-19 , ” said Dariely Rodriguez , director of the Lawyers ’ Committee ’ s Economic Justice Project .
The short supply of testing in the US is one major concern for Dr. Taison Bell , an assistant professor at the University of Virginia 's infectious disease and pulmonary critical care division , who said , “ early and aggressive testing allows us all to stay safe.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t reporting on racial demographics that there ’ s been a surge of patients dying of respiratory diseases … These are conditions caused by COVID-19 , ” Bell said , adding that preexisting conditions that make COVID-19 more fatal , like asthma , diabetes , and heart disease , are also more prevalent in black communities .

Hundreds of doctors and a civil rights group are calling for the federal health department to release race and ethnicity breakdowns of COVID-19 data to identify and track potential disparities in how the coronavirus crisis is affecting different communities.
“This Administration’s alarming lack of transparency and data is preventing public health officials from understanding the full impact of this pandemic on Black communities and other communities of color,” the group, which includes the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and doctors from around the country, wrote in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Monday.
“We are concerned that Black communities are being disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and have lower access to COVID-19 testing which may cause delayed care, an increased risk of high mortality rates, and the acceleration of the spread of the disease in our communities,” they wrote in the letter. “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its sub-agencies are charged with ensuring that racial disparities do not persist in the administration of healthcare services, even in a pandemic.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A group of black doctors in Virginia first raised these concerns weeks ago, and have since been calling for state and federal authorities to release data on who is getting sick and dying. The group is also calling for state and municipal authorities across the country to release race and ethnicity data.
“We understand that this data is being collected [by the federal government] and not being reported out to the public, and we believe they need to do their part in pressing state and local health departments to do the same,” Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers’ Committee, said on a call with reporters.
The CDC’s COVID-19 reporting form requires information on patients’ race and ethnicity, meaning reports of COVID-19 diagnoses and deaths reported to federal authorities from state and local health departments must include that data.
"Black Americans face insurmountable barriers to testing and treatment for COVID-19," the letter reads. "Private COVID-19 testing is costly, and government-administered testing is severely restricted. These barriers are exacerbated by the fact that racial minorities are suddenly uninsured, as they are overrepresented in recently shuttered industries, such as travel, retail, restaurant and hospitality."
Clarke said there is “some data which suggests that this crisis is in fact having a disparate impact on African Americans,” referring to reports that have been made available by the Illinois Department of Health and a few other local jurisdictions around the country. Those reports have shown severe disparities in the numbers of black people contracting and dying of COVID-19.
The Illinois data shows that 29.4% of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state are black residents, and black people account for 41.2% of COVID-19 deaths in the state. Black people account for just 14% of the state’s population.
"I have seen in my waiting rooms, in my exam rooms, mostly black and brown patients who are essential workers and service workers who cannot afford to stay home," Uché Blackstock, an emergency room doctor in Brooklyn and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, said on the press call.
She said that the data is essential because it could change how authorities deal with the public health crisis, including directing resources to the communities and parts of the country most urgently in need.
“In the past, the CDC has tracked those types of data, demographic, race, and ethnicity data for other virulent outbreaks, and they’ve typically released that kind of data in the past, but they’re not doing so for COVID-19,” said Dariely Rodriguez, director of the Lawyers’ Committee’s Economic Justice Project.
The short supply of testing in the US is one major concern for Dr. Taison Bell, an assistant professor at the University of Virginia's infectious disease and pulmonary critical care division, who said, “early and aggressive testing allows us all to stay safe.”
“We see in states that aren’t reporting on racial demographics that there’s been a surge of patients dying of respiratory diseases … These are conditions caused by COVID-19,” Bell said, adding that preexisting conditions that make COVID-19 more fatal, like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease, are also more prevalent in black communities.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-03--He Was Hospitalized, But His COVID-19 Test Was Negative. Days Later, He Tested Positive And Died.

`` He was so loved for being a positive light in the community . ''
A man who dedicated his career to education — spending 20 years at an all-girls private Catholic high school in Queens , rising the ranks from teacher and coach to athletic director and most recently to assistant principal of student life — has died as a result of the coronavirus .
Joseph Lewinger , 42 , an assistant principal at the Mary Louis Academy in Queens , New York , died after spending more than 11 days in the hospital , including on a ventilator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement released by the school , Lewinger began feeling sick in early March when he woke up with a fever .
At the time , he was told he did not qualify for to a COVID-19 test and that he should isolate himself at home and rest .
When his fever would n't break , Lewinger went to the emergency room , where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and his test for the coronavirus came back negative .
`` After a few days while still hospitalized , he was again tested for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for COVID-19 , '' the statement read .
On March 25 , three days after the school announced his diagnosis , principal Ann O ’ Hagan-Cordes said Lewinger had died as a result of the coronavirus .
According to NY1 , Lewinger did not have any underlying medical conditions .
`` There will be time in the future to celebrate all of Joe 's numerous accomplishments .
Now is the time to grieve and mourn our tremendous loss , '' O ’ Hagan-Cordes said in a statement .
`` Once again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come together , to console each other , to hug , cry , scream and say it 's not fair ... sadly the time for us to do that as a community has to wait . ''
“ We pray that others who are inflicted with this disease recover and return to their families .
We pray for those on the front lines , trying their best to save lives , that they themselves are safe.
” Lewinger also served on the board of education of the Franklin Square Union Free School District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and served as the board ’ s president in 2016 , according to school district officials .
For Erica Yulo , who graduated from the Mary Louis Academy in 2009 , Lewinger was more than just her history teacher .
`` He was so loved for being a positive light in the community , he gave back tremendously , taught lessons beyond school books , and always made sure that his students , athletes , and faculty were always taken care of , '' she told BuzzFeed News .
Yulo had not seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ graduated high school , but in the past year , she said she bumped into him three times , including at a concert in Brooklyn and once when she visited the school for an alumni event .
`` We chatted about my current career and he told me he was proud of me .
I hugged him goodbye and I did n't know it would be the last time I 'd see him , '' she said .
`` His death has broken the hearts of the community of the Mary Louis Academy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , every person he 's ever come across , he has made a difference in their lives . ''
Lewinger 's wife , Maura , who had previously posted updates about her husband 's health on Facebook , said she 's not surprised to hear about the impact he had on people .
`` I am overwhelmed , but not surprised to read so many of the amazing testimonials to the impact my husband had on the lives of everyone he met , '' she wrote on Facebook .
`` He made me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took care of me ... mind , body and spirit . ''
She pleaded with people to stay home to help fight `` this beast , COVID-19 . ''
`` If my husband had to die to save others , I will make peace ( one day ) with the fact that his death was just as impactful as his life .
But it has to be for that reason ! ''
she wrote .

A man who dedicated his career to education — spending 20 years at an all-girls private Catholic high school in Queens, rising the ranks from teacher and coach to athletic director and most recently to assistant principal of student life — has died as a result of the coronavirus.
Joseph Lewinger, 42, an assistant principal at the Mary Louis Academy in Queens, New York, died after spending more than 11 days in the hospital, including on a ventilator in the ICU.
According to a statement released by the school, Lewinger began feeling sick in early March when he woke up with a fever. At the time, he was told he did not qualify for to a COVID-19 test and that he should isolate himself at home and rest.
When his fever wouldn't break, Lewinger went to the emergency room, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and his test for the coronavirus came back negative.
"After a few days while still hospitalized, he was again tested for the coronavirus; this test did come back positive for COVID-19," the statement read.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-26--The Coronavirus Is Going To Make Life Inside Refugee Camps Even More Nightmarish

The cramped and unsanitary conditions tens of thousands of people live in pose a catastrophic risk , aid groups have warned .
LONDON — In Europe ’ s biggest refugee camp , social distancing is simply not possible .
There ’ s also no place to frequently wash your hands , and no access whatsoever to testing or medical facilities short of life-threatening conditions .
Aid groups are warning that the coronavirus could pose a catastrophic threat to people housed in Greece ’ s camps , and by extension , to everyone who lives in the country .
Many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Syria , Libya , and Somalia arrive in Greece because of its position on the Mediterranean in southeast Europe .
Aid workers have been calling for years for the overcrowded camps to be evacuated because of the risk of the transmission of disease .
The spread of the novel coronavirus makes this even more urgent .
Greece ’ s government implemented a total lockdown this week in response to the coronavirus and called for residents to stay home .
The European Commission is working with Greece on an emergency plan to contend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Greece has reported 821 cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , and 23 deaths .
At least two of the cases are on the island of Lesbos , which houses the massive refugee camp of Moria , Europe ’ s largest .
Moria was originally built in 2015 to house 3,000 people but is now home to some 23,000 .
There are no documented cases of the coronavirus among refugees in Greece , but that is likely because there has been no testing .
There are virtually no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fact , there are very few for the whole country ’ s population , say health experts .
Dozens of aid groups are calling with renewed urgency for the most vulnerable in Greece ’ s camps to be evacuated .
Médecins Sans Frontières ( MSF ) has called for the urgent evacuation of Moria .
The camps , the groups say , are a ticking time bomb for coronavirus .
The same logic holds true for all of the world ’ s refugee camps .
Most countries in the world are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who often lack access to necessities like health care and water , will live through some of the toughest circumstances of the pandemic .
“ When the virus hits overcrowded settlements in places like Iran , Bangladesh , Afghanistan and Greece , the consequences will be devastating , ” Jan Egeland , secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council , said on March 16 .
“ We must act now.
” George Makris , a medical doctor who is a coordinator in Greece for MSF , described the water and sanitation conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country as “ tragic.
” His organization had tried to improve access to water , he said , but it has not been enough .
“ The transmission of the virus can not be contained there , ” he said .
“ We have warned this repeatedly in the past in the context of other infectious disease outbreaks like meningitis and measles.
” “ Our message is simple , ” he added .
“ As health authorities are saying all mass gatherings are prohibited , mass containment should also be avoided.
” More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Greek islands , including Lesbos .
Just like elsewhere in Greece , the Greek government has suspended movement within camps .
But given the unsanitary conditions , humanitarian groups say it will not be enough to hold off an outbreak .
“ It ’ s true that the coronavirus is an equalizer because it does n't care about ethnicity or social status , ” said Epaminondas Farmakis , the founder of HumanRights360 , an NGO that works with refugees in Greece .
“ But it also exposes the big gaps in terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said he was afraid that an outbreak would further stigmatize refugees , who are already accused by right-wing politicians of carrying disease into the country .
In reality , he pointed out , it was Greeks who were traveling on holiday to Italy and Israel who are likely responsible for introducing the coronavirus to the country .
The overcrowding and other problematic conditions within the camps are what make them ideal spots for the virus to spread .
“ In refugee camp life , wherever it is — Greece , Turkey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanitary conditions are the opposite of what is recommended , ” said Amed Khan , the founder of Elpida Home , which works with refugees in Greece .
“ There is no way to keep a distance or wash your hands .
You can not do social distancing in a crowded refugee camp.
” “ Even the models of the best camps are literally all a disaster in this scenario , ” he added .
The Greek government has effectively imposed a daytime curfew within the camps , between 7 a.m. and 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The curfew is enforced by police .
New arrivals to the camps , who have not been subject to health checks in the past , are now being tested for fever .
“ We ’ ve been literally saying the same thing since 2015 and it never happened .
You can not keep human beings in close quarters like this , ” said Khan .
“ The people are going to pay the price for it.
” ●

LONDON — In Europe’s biggest refugee camp, social distancing is simply not possible.
There’s also no place to frequently wash your hands, and no access whatsoever to testing or medical facilities short of life-threatening conditions.
Aid groups are warning that the coronavirus could pose a catastrophic threat to people housed in Greece’s camps, and by extension, to everyone who lives in the country. Many people fleeing violence in countries such as Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Somalia arrive in Greece because of its position on the Mediterranean in southeast Europe.
Aid workers have been calling for years for the overcrowded camps to be evacuated because of the risk of the transmission of disease. The spread of the novel coronavirus makes this even more urgent. Greece’s government implemented a total lockdown this week in response to the coronavirus and called for residents to stay home.
The European Commission is working with Greece on an emergency plan to contend with a possible outbreak in the camps. Greece has reported 821 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and 23 deaths. At least two of the cases are on the island of Lesbos, which houses the massive refugee camp of Moria, Europe’s largest. Moria was originally built in 2015 to house 3,000 people but is now home to some 23,000.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-26--Costco Employees Are Testing Positive For The Coronavirus And Their Coworkers Say Managers Aren't Be

Costco Employees Are Testing Positive For The Coronavirus And Their Coworkers Say Managers Aren't Being Transparent

“ Literally no one told us anything about it , ” a warehouse employee in Colorado said about two coworkers who are sick with COVID-19 .
Workers at Costco warehouses across the US have been testing positive for COVID-19 , according to bulletins seen by BuzzFeed News , and their colleagues say the retail giant is not being transparent about how they are informing staff or taking the proper precautions to prevent further spread .
Costco , which is the second-largest retailer in the world behind Walmart , has become a vital resource for millions of Americans during the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buildings and parking lots as record numbers of people purchase goods at one of the company ’ s nearly 550 warehouses .
Its 163,000 full- and part-time US employees , like scores of other grocery store and food retail workers , have now been deemed essential , but some say their employer has not been giving them the proper training , protection , or compensation to work in what is now a high-risk environment , especially now that their colleagues are testing positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozens of Costco workers have told BuzzFeed News they ’ ve been handling products and interacting with hundreds of customers per day without proper social distancing or gear .
In at least eight locations , employees told BuzzFeed News that management had informed staff that a coworker had tested positive by posting letters in places inaccessible to customers , in the break room .
At another store in Colorado Springs , Colorado , an employee said they did not have a notice posted , but found out about a positive coronavirus case through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their stores did not close for deep cleaning , nor were shoppers notified , and feel that managers tried to “ hide ” or downplay the situation .
“ It has taken a toll on every employee .
I 'm just shocked that the public was not made aware of this , ” a worker at Costco ’ s Manhattan location , who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity , told BuzzFeed News .
“ I would n't want my family showing up , so I 'm sure others would feel the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not return BuzzFeed News ’ request for comment .
However , the company has maintained in internal messages that it is following federal safety guidelines , prioritizing the health and safety of its staff and members , and is allowing workers to take unpaid sick leave if they are showing symptoms , are high-risk , or are concerned about endangering their families .
However , many employees live paycheck to paycheck or are part-time workers who can ’ t afford to miss days and not get paid .
As a result , employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming into work , even if they are not feeling well .
On Monday , CEO Craig Jelinek said in an internal email that “ all full-time , part-time , and limited part-time hourly Costco employees in the US and Puerto Rico will receive an additional $ 2 per hour for hours worked during the five weeks of March 2 through April 5 , 2020.
” BuzzFeed News obtained letters posted at warehouses in Manhattan ; Avon , Ohio ; Long Island , New York ; Glen Mills , Pennsylvania ; Nesconset , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan .
The notices inform workers that a colleague tested positive for COVID-19 , list that person ’ s most recent day at work , and explain the company ’ s “ immediate response plan.
” In each memo , Costco states that it had contacted the local health department and is working closely with officials , “ undertaking additional thorough cleaning and sanitation protocols , ” and communicating directly with “ co-workers who have been in close contact.
” “ Current health guidelines state that people who have not been in contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk for infection , ” the letters say .
Given the rapid rate at which coronavirus cases are climbing in the US , workers at these warehouses were concerned about what they feel is a lax and risky reaction that puts them and the public at risk .
The letters list the most recent day of work and normal schedule , but symptoms can be mild or take days to appear , if they do at all `` For those who do n't go into the breakroom , we , I would never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warehouse in New York told BuzzFeed News on Thursday after seeing the new notice .
`` I only found out that we have a COVID because a coworker came up and told me , 'Hey did you see the sign ? '
and I said , 'What sign ? '
'' At another New York store in Nesconset , a worker said that `` it was hidden that the employee was feeling symptoms for a week . ''
`` When the test came back positive , all we got was a letter posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a word , ” this person said .
“ This employee worked with people ’ s food and was in the building with thousands of members .
No members were notified at all.
” Like several other workers , this employee said that Costco staff cleaned and sanitized the area where the infected person worked , wiping down the “ deli and rotisserie departments ” with “ gloves and sanitizing spray , nothing more.
” The employees added that the warehouses never fully closed for a deep cleaning , rules for which vary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store in Madison Heights , Michigan , an employee tested positive for COVID-19 on March 16 .
In the notice posted on a board in the break room , the general manager said all employees are considered “ low risk ” and that they had “ performed extreme deep cleaning of the entire Receiving and RTV area.
” However , according to an employee familiar with the situation , hourly employees who usually work at the cash registers were the ones who sanitized the area .
“ They didn ’ t know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this employee said .
“ They were given gloves and disinfectant , but no masks .
Managers selected employees , told them they were working on a ‘ special project ’ ...
They ended up putting two and two together after the letter was posted .
The employees who did clean are very , very upset now that they know why and what they cleaned.
” According to another coworker , staff were not given extra protective gear after managers posted the single letter , which was the only official communication about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Michigan location would not take BuzzFeed News 's call about the store 's handling of the COVID-19 case .
At a warehouse in Colorado Springs , an employee said he never saw any official posting from his employer notifying them that a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19 , but found out from his direct manager and is also friends with the alleged infected worker .
“ Literally no one told us anything about it , ” he told BuzzFeed News .
“ Once word got out that some of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely turned a blind eye to the situation , resulting in many of us remaining at home , in fear , without pay , uncertain of what ’ s to come.
” On Monday , the Food and Drug Administration posted guidelines for food and grocery retailers now on the frontlines of the pandemic .
The agency noted the importance of social distancing , but pointed out that if “ effective hygiene practices ” aren ’ t in place , standing 6 feet apart may not be enough .
The CDC has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , unless you have the disease or are showing symptoms .
If an employee is confirmed sick , which is hard to do given the shortage of tests , the FDA says the company must tell its workers .
Costco employees across the US have told BuzzFeed News that social distancing is not being upheld in their stores , which they say are logging record numbers of shoppers every day .
Steffanie Strathdee , an infectious disease epidemiologist and global health expert at the University of California , San Diego , said there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader scale for companies that are now considered essential services .
Otherwise , places we very much rely on , like grocery stores , can end up becoming “ an incubator.
” “ Paid sick leave is incredibly important .
If a worker is pressured to come back to work after they have been exposed or showing symptoms , that ’ s wrong , ” she said .
“ People need to be notified when they are working with an infected person because of all the people they are putting in harm ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become the world ’ s epicenter [ for COVID-19 ] and we need to take it seriously .
The longer we allow policies to be lax , the more contagious it becomes .
”

Workers at Costco warehouses across the US have been testing positive for COVID-19, according to bulletins seen by BuzzFeed News, and their colleagues say the retail giant is not being transparent about how they are informing staff or taking the proper precautions to prevent further spread.
Costco, which is the second-largest retailer in the world behind Walmart, has become a vital resource for millions of Americans during the coronavirus pandemic. Lines continue to stretch around buildings and parking lots as record numbers of people purchase goods at one of the company’s nearly 550 warehouses.
Its 163,000 full- and part-time US employees, like scores of other grocery store and food retail workers, have now been deemed essential, but some say their employer has not been giving them the proper training, protection, or compensation to work in what is now a high-risk environment, especially now that their colleagues are testing positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Over the past few weeks, dozens of Costco workers have told BuzzFeed News they’ve been handling products and interacting with hundreds of customers per day without proper social distancing or gear.
In at least eight locations, employees told BuzzFeed News that management had informed staff that a coworker had tested positive by posting letters in places inaccessible to customers, in the break room. At another store in Colorado Springs, Colorado, an employee said they did not have a notice posted, but found out about a positive coronavirus case through word of mouth. These employees say their stores did not close for deep cleaning, nor were shoppers notified, and feel that managers tried to “hide” or downplay the situation.
“It has taken a toll on every employee. I'm just shocked that the public was not made aware of this,” a worker at Costco’s Manhattan location, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, told BuzzFeed News. “I wouldn't want my family showing up, so I'm sure others would feel the same if they knew.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-26--How To Plague: Advice On Elevators, Voting, And Hogging Bandwidth

Hi , I ’ m Katie Notopoulos , a tech reporter here at BuzzFeed News , and I have no actual expertise in epidemiology , but I sure do enjoy telling people how to live their lives .
Which means I ’ m the perfect person to tell you How to Plague .
This is BuzzFeed News ' advice column for these incredibly confusing times .
The coronavirus pandemic is changing rapidly , with new information coming out seemingly by the hour .
I ’ ll try to help with your queries about social distancing etiquette and ethical dilemmas large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actual experts to weigh in when needed .
I live in New York City and wonder if it is OK to ask those people with masks on if they are ill before I get on my building ’ s elevator ?
We have 25 floors of approximately 10-12 apartments on each floor .
Since some people are wearing masks for protection even if they aren ’ t sick , it is obviously hard to tell if someone is ill or not .
For self-preservation , I would prefer not to get on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible .
Hoping I am not a monster for asking , but it has been bothering me .
—Suz-anna , New York I have good news for you .
You are perfectly welcome to NOT get on the elevator with someone wearing a mask .
In fact , don ’ t get on the elevator with anyone , unless your elevator is so massive that you can be 6 feet apart .
Wait for the next empty elevator .
Obviously , you don ’ t want to seem like the asshole neighbor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll understand .
When there ’ s anyone else in the elevator ( or waiting in line for it ) , just say , “ Oops !
Got ta do my social distancing .
I ’ ll catch the next one .
Be well !
” Hopefully , you and your neighbors are not leaving the building too often , so elevator traffic should be lighter than usual .
I have a compromised immune system and live alone .
I 'm at high risk if I contract COVID-19 and I live in Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use an absentee ballot in my state , I HAVE to have it witnessed .
So here 's my dilemma : Do I take public transit ( thus endangering others and violating a shelter-in-place order ) or a ride share to reach the polls , or do I ask someone else to witness my absentee ballot as required by the state , or in the middle of a huge crisis do I just pretend who my elected officials are do n't matter and ... choose not to vote ?
–Amber , Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information officer for the Wisconsin Elections Commission , for advice .
He said that yes , you will still need a witness , but that person doesn ’ t have to enter your home .
“ Overall , we ’ re telling people to be creative , ” Magney said .
“ For example , can they have a witness look through their window , then slide the envelope under the door or through the mail slot ?
Can they video-chat ?
Someone today suggested using the drive-up teller at your bank if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought about witnesses with cars pulling up next to each other in a parking lot or driveway and witnessing through the windows.
” Zoom to the rescue again !
Call up a friend or neighbor over Zoom or FaceTime , have them witness you signing it over video chat , then leave the ballot on your doorstep ( or theirs ) or send it to them through the mail to mail back to you .
They can sign it and you can pick it up afterward — no touching .
Both you and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after touching the ballot .
A recent study showed that the coronavirus can live on cardboard for 24 hours , so if you want to be super-super safe , leave a day in between handing it back and forth .
Is it safe for me to go on a hike as long as I keep my distance from other people and do n't touch anything ?
Yes , go hike if you can maintain social distancing .
Enjoy it .
Pay attention to your state rules regarding parking lot closures , though ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
I have an enormous amount of DVD rips of personal videos and photos across the years just eating up space on my laptop ( about 45 gbs , already on an external hard drive ) , and I 've been meaning to back them up to the cloud .
In light of services dropping video quality to ease congested networks , would backing up my multi-gigabyte trash pile to the cloud be an ethical thing to do ?
—Pranav Dixit ( BuzzFeed News tech reporter ) , Delhi , India I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best way to back up old photos and digital debris .
There never seems to be one obvious and simple solution ( if anyone replies to this “ Google Photos , ” so help me god , I will dump a vat of coronavirus juice in your car ’ s gas tank ) .
The thought that my photos exist in a variety of places — some on a physical drive , some on iCloud , some in web services like Flickr or Instagram — fills me with a low level of dread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to self-care during this stressful time by finding efficient and organized cloud storage solutions .
But the ethical question is out of my range .
Yes , some web services like YouTube are lowering their bit rate ( lowering video quality to keep up with increased demand ) .
So I asked Paul Ford , cofounder of the tech firm Postlight and sometimes journalist who has written about the people who keep the lights on on the internet in times of super-heavy user load — like the engineers for Paper magazine when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet ( she did not actually break their site , thanks to the engineers ’ hard work ) .
`` In real terms , it 's just NBD .
Your upload speed is going to limit how much damage you can do , ” said Ford .
“ If you wanted to be super-maximum ethical to the point of paranoia , then pick a cloud service with a hosting provider in the same country ( i.e.
, nice open-bandwidth pipes ) and just run this over a few nights , after the distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately this is just a tiny pile of garbage that it 's hard to even work up to a good trolley problem about it .
It 's a good thing to think about but just not the real problem .
”

I live in New York City and wonder if it is OK to ask those people with masks on if they are ill before I get on my building’s elevator? We have 25 floors of approximately 10-12 apartments on each floor. Since some people are wearing masks for protection even if they aren’t sick, it is obviously hard to tell if someone is ill or not. For self-preservation, I would prefer not to get on an elevator with someone who has COVID-19 if possible. Hoping I am not a monster for asking, but it has been bothering me.
—Suz-anna, New York
I have good news for you. You are perfectly welcome to NOT get on the elevator with someone wearing a mask. In fact, don’t get on the elevator with anyone, unless your elevator is so massive that you can be 6 feet apart. Wait for the next empty elevator.
Obviously, you don’t want to seem like the asshole neighbor, but I’m sure they’ll understand. When there’s anyone else in the elevator (or waiting in line for it), just say, “Oops! Gotta do my social distancing. I’ll catch the next one. Be well!” Hopefully, you and your neighbors are not leaving the building too often, so elevator traffic should be lighter than usual.
I have a compromised immune system and live alone. I'm at high risk if I contract COVID-19 and I live in Wisconsin. I want to vote! But to use an absentee ballot in my state, I HAVE to have it witnessed. So here's my dilemma:
Do I take public transit (thus endangering others and violating a shelter-in-place order) or a ride share to reach the polls, or do I ask someone else to witness my absentee ballot as required by the state, or in the middle of a huge crisis do I just pretend who my elected officials are don't matter and... choose not to vote?
–Amber, Wisconsin
I asked Reid Magney, the public information officer for the Wisconsin Elections Commission, for advice. He said that yes, you will still need a witness, but that person doesn’t have to enter your home.
“Overall, we’re telling people to be creative,” Magney said. “For example, can they have a witness look through their window, then slide the envelope under the door or through the mail slot? Can they video-chat? Someone today suggested using the drive-up teller at your bank if it’s open. I also thought about witnesses with cars pulling up next to each other in a parking lot or driveway and witnessing through the windows.”
Zoom to the rescue again! Call up a friend or neighbor over Zoom or FaceTime, have them witness you signing it over video chat, then leave the ballot on your doorstep (or theirs) or send it to them through the mail to mail back to you. They can sign it and you can pick it up afterward — no touching.
Both you and your witness should wash hands before and after touching the ballot. A recent study showed that the coronavirus can live on cardboard for 24 hours, so if you want to be super-super safe, leave a day in between handing it back and forth.
Is it safe for me to go on a hike as long as I keep my distance from other people and don't touch anything?
Yes, go hike if you can maintain social distancing. Enjoy it. Pay attention to your state rules regarding parking lot closures, though (here are California's, for example).
I have an enormous amount of DVD rips of personal videos and photos across the years just eating up space on my laptop (about 45 gbs, already on an external hard drive), and I've been meaning to back them up to the cloud. In light of services dropping video quality to ease congested networks, would backing up my multi-gigabyte trash pile to the cloud be an ethical thing to do?
—Pranav Dixit (BuzzFeed News tech reporter), Delhi, India
I have spent many hours thinking about the best way to back up old photos and digital debris. There never seems to be one obvious and simple solution (if anyone replies to this “Google Photos,” so help me god, I will dump a vat of coronavirus juice in your car’s gas tank). The thought that my photos exist in a variety of places — some on a physical drive, some on iCloud, some in web services like Flickr or Instagram — fills me with a low level of dread and anxiety. So I respect your need to self-care during this stressful time by finding efficient and organized cloud storage solutions.
But the ethical question is out of my range. Yes, some web services like YouTube are lowering their bit rate (lowering video quality to keep up with increased demand). So I asked Paul Ford, cofounder of the tech firm Postlight and sometimes journalist who has written about the people who keep the lights on on the internet in times of super-heavy user load — like the engineers for Paper magazine when Kim Kardashian West “broke” the internet (she did not actually break their site, thanks to the engineers’ hard work).
"In real terms, it's just NBD. Your upload speed is going to limit how much damage you can do,” said Ford. “If you wanted to be super-maximum ethical to the point of paranoia, then pick a cloud service with a hosting provider in the same country (i.e., nice open-bandwidth pipes) and just run this over a few nights, after the distance learners have gone to bed. But ultimately this is just a tiny pile of garbage that it's hard to even work up to a good trolley problem about it. It's a good thing to think about but just not the real problem.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-26--Three Unaccompanied Immigrant Children In US Custody Have Tested Positive For The Coronavirus

Two young girls watch a World Cup soccer match on a television from their holding area where hundreds of mostly Central American immigrant children are were processed Arizona in 2014 .
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 .
Three unaccompanied immigrant children in the custody of a US refugee agency in New York have tested positive for the coronavirus , becoming the first such cases of immigrant children in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from an official with the Office of Refugee Resettlement .
“ As of March 26 , 2020 , there have been three confirmed COVID-19 disease cases among UAC in one ORR care provider facility in New York , ” the Office of Refugee Resettlement said in a statement .
“ At this time , ORR is suspending releases from New York care provider facilities .
ORR ’ s medical team is working with the programs in New York and local health department to collect information and determine next steps.
” The agency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health and Human Services , oversees shelters across the country that hold unaccompanied immigrant children .
These shelters then look to identify potential `` sponsors '' or family members in the US for permanent placement .
There have been 18 unaccompanied children who have been tested , 11 of whom have tested negative , while another four are still awaiting results .
There are more than 3,500 unaccompanied immigrant children currently in the custody of ORR .
On Wednesday , attorneys filed a legal request in court to force the Office of Refugee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ custody due to risks associated with COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
“ As the number of documented cases of COVID-19 rises , the CDC , state health authorities , and epidemiologists , all urge safety precautions that are difficult , if not impossible , to observe in facilities housing more than ten individuals at a time , including social distancing .
But many children in ORR custody live , eat and sleep in close proximity , ” the groups , which include the National Center for Youth Law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Rights & Constitutional Law , said in a statement .

Three unaccompanied immigrant children in the custody of a US refugee agency in New York have tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first such cases of immigrant children in government custody, according to a statement from an official with the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
“As of March 26, 2020, there have been three confirmed COVID-19 disease cases among UAC in one ORR care provider facility in New York,” the Office of Refugee Resettlement said in a statement. “At this time, ORR is suspending releases from New York care provider facilities. ORR’s medical team is working with the programs in New York and local health department to collect information and determine next steps.”
The agency, which is housed within the Department of Health and Human Services, oversees shelters across the country that hold unaccompanied immigrant children. These shelters then look to identify potential "sponsors" or family members in the US for permanent placement.
There have been 18 unaccompanied children who have been tested, 11 of whom have tested negative, while another four are still awaiting results.
There are more than 3,500 unaccompanied immigrant children currently in the custody of ORR.
On Wednesday, attorneys filed a legal request in court to force the Office of Refugee Resettlement to release unaccompanied children in government custody due to risks associated with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
“As the number of documented cases of COVID-19 rises, the CDC, state health authorities, and epidemiologists, all urge safety precautions that are difficult, if not impossible, to observe in facilities housing more than ten individuals at a time, including social distancing. But many children in ORR custody live, eat and sleep in close proximity,” the groups, which include the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL), the Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law, said in a statement.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-28--How To Plague: Advice On Navigating Joint Child Custody During Coronavirus

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
Hi , I ’ m Katie Notopoulos , a tech reporter here at BuzzFeed News , and I have no actual expertise in epidemiology , but I sure do enjoy telling people how to live their lives .
Which means I ’ m the perfect person to tell you How to Plague .
This is BuzzFeed News ' advice column for these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is changing rapidly , with new information coming out seemingly by the hour .
I ’ ll try to help with your queries about social distancing etiquette and ethical dilemmas large and small , and call up some actual experts to weigh in when needed .
Send me your questions at katie @ buzzfeed.com , or sign up for our text messaging service to send me questions that way .
I am a senior in college and now would be prime time to start looking for jobs .
Do I look for jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggling financially ?
Or do I wait it out and hope that eventually I will be able to join the workforce a little later this year ?
—Olivia , Ohio Ouch .
I ’ m sorry for this terrible timing .
Graduating during an economic downturn is brutal — just ask the class of 2008 .
But what ’ s happening now looks to be much worse .
More than 3 million people filed unemployment claims last week — far , far more than any week of 2008 .
If you had thoughts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you found a desk job related to your degree , those industries are also getting crushed .
In theory , there ’ s no reason NOT to start applying to jobs in your field right now .
You might not find a ton of openings .
But who knows , you might also find your dream job and get in just before everything really goes to shit !
But if this turns into a lasting recession that drags on for a few years ( and it very well could ! )
, you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying your search in the fall .
There will be fewer jobs , at lower wages , and with more competition .
One option college students who graduate into a recession have taken in the past is ride it out at grad school and reenter the workforce in a few years with an extra degree .
Think hard about this : The downside here is ending up saddled with endless student debt , especially if you ’ re considering a degree in a field that isn ’ t super lucrative .
Andrew Chamberlain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the job search site Glassdoor , has already done some looking into this and said there ’ s some hope .
He points out that some industries won ’ t be hit as hard as others .
He predicts tech and professional services or consulting may be OK. “ Job postings are falling overall , ” he said .
“ However , some new jobs related to the pandemic are already starting to pop up ( a silver lining ) .
And if you ever wanted to work remotely — live in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salary — the next few years will be a great time to do that.
” How do I get my two children to their dad for a custody exchange when we live in two different California cities ?
They 're out of school for at least 7 weeks and we need to split their time between the two of us during that , but he 's in San Jose and I 'm in LA .
Flying seems like a great way to infect everyone but cops are pulling over and ticketing drivers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , California I have a 12 year old daughter who splits her time between my home and her father ’ s .
I told her until either school is back in session or the stay inside order in my area has been lifted , she must stay where she is — which is at her father ’ s .
I miss her terribly .
Do you think she could come home as long as precautions are in place ?
Or should I continue to be separated from her ?
—April , Tennessee Currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is considered essential travel , so if you ’ re in a place that ’ s currently in lockdown , you can still make the trip to do the exchange ( triple-check in your city/state before you leave the house , though ! )
.
And for what it ’ s worth : To date , Los Angeles has not been ticketing people who are out driving .
So , yes , legally you can still do it .
But should you ?
You are not alone in struggling with this question .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of children between two homes are also trying to weigh the interest of safety versus sticking to a fair custody arrangement .
I talked to Erin Levine , family law attorney and founder of Hello Divorce , a resource site for divorcing couples .
She told me : There ’ s a legal answer and a mama bear answer ( “ mama ” for purposes of this = gender-neutral ) .
The legal answer is that parents that live near each other should probably continue to exchange their kids .
At least that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying .
The mama bear answer is go with your gut .
Check yourself — are you trying to keep your ex away from the kids , or is there a real reason why the kids should stay with you ( or them ) ?
If there ’ s a serious reason not to ( e.g.
, you have an autoimmune disease , your spouse has been exposed to COVID-19 , they live with aging parents ) , you NEED to speak with your co-parent .
If you have lawyers , have them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can come to some sort of an agreement that keeps kids in contact with both parents ( even if it 's via FaceTime ) and agree to make up time for the other parent when things return to a new normal .
Nicole Sodoma , a family law attorney at Sodoma Law , advises that you stick to the parenting schedule in place as best you can , barring any obvious reasons not to .
If you believe your co-parent is putting the kids at risk , get a third party , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weigh in .
Currently , most legal custody arrangements don ’ t have a special provision for something like an act of God pandemic , Sodoma said , but her firm will start including something like this going forward .
“ We ’ re not only going to see new provisions become standard , but we ’ re going to see that people are going to do things differently , ” she said .
“ Courts are going to have to adjust how they deal with emergencies , even with limited personnel.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least stop internally griping about ) the people in your life who didn ’ t take the pandemic seriously early on , especially those who put you and your family in danger ?
I ’ m thinking of : my spouse ’ s boss , who as late as the second week of March was resistant to letting people work from home ( even though it ’ s a very easy industry to shift to remote work ) ; the neighbor in the apartment building who coughed into their hand and touched the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain nameless who suggested an inoculation party so we ’ d “ all go home and cough for a couple of days and then be immune.
” I have a long memory for grudges anyway , and self-isolation has only sharpened it ; I ’ d rather not spend my precious time dwelling on this crap , and it would be nice to be able to be cordial with these folks once this is all over .
But it ’ s really hard , and I ’ m so angry .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first is simpler ; it ’ s about people who ’ ve exercised poor judgment , but maybe not because they ’ re rotten to the core , but because they ’ re just uninformed .
The last month has been a tsunami of information , and yet also a desert of information .
The big questions we want answered — When will this be over ?
How much danger am I in ?
— are still big fat TBDs .
A few weeks ago , common wisdom was COVID-19 only affected old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are hearing reports of young and healthy people getting sick and even dying .
Our government leaders have waffled over how long and how severe this crisis will be .
People are desperate for information — and no matter how much news they ’ re consuming , they ’ re still searching for those answers .
That ’ s why the rise of these bogus “ I heard from a friend ’ s friend who works in the government ” text messages are so pervasive .
We want to feel like there IS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is happening .
Depending on what cable news channel they watch , your spouse ’ s boss probably genuinely believed things would be fine and it was all overblown .
It ’ s not their fault ; they ’ re not a bad person .
Your neighbor sounds just forgetful or wasn ’ t on as high an alert as they should have been .
We all make mistakes .
Your friend who suggested the immunization party , well , they have some odd worldviews , but clearly they didn ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone .
Forgive them their corona sins , for they know not what they do .
That layer is easy .
The harder part seems inevitable .
People you know and love will get sick , and they may die .
How do you forgive the person you suspect transmitted the coronavirus to your loved one ?
How do you forgive your child for unwittingly giving it to your elderly parents and killing them ?
Your best friend for giving it to your spouse ?
How do you forgive yourself for giving it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
I ca n't answer those questions .
Only you can .
I hope you do n't have to .
●

Hi, I’m Katie Notopoulos, a tech reporter here at BuzzFeed News, and I have no actual expertise in epidemiology, but I sure do enjoy telling people how to live their lives. Which means I’m the perfect person to tell you How to Plague. This is BuzzFeed News' advice column for these incredibly confusing times. The coronavirus pandemic is changing rapidly, with new information coming out seemingly by the hour. I’ll try to help with your queries about social distancing etiquette and ethical dilemmas large and small, and call up some actual experts to weigh in when needed.
Send me your questions at katie@buzzfeed.com, or sign up for our text messaging service to send me questions that way.
I am a senior in college and now would be prime time to start looking for jobs. Do I look for jobs when I know so many industries are struggling financially? Or do I wait it out and hope that eventually I will be able to join the workforce a little later this year?
—Olivia, Ohio
Ouch. I’m sorry for this terrible timing. Graduating during an economic downturn is brutal — just ask the class of 2008. But what’s happening now looks to be much worse. More than 3 million people filed unemployment claims last week — far, far more than any week of 2008. If you had thoughts of working retail or waiting tables while you found a desk job related to your degree, those industries are also getting crushed.
In theory, there’s no reason NOT to start applying to jobs in your field right now. You might not find a ton of openings. But who knows, you might also find your dream job and get in just before everything really goes to shit! But if this turns into a lasting recession that drags on for a few years (and it very well could!), you won’t have much better luck trying your search in the fall. There will be fewer jobs, at lower wages, and with more competition. One option college students who graduate into a recession have taken in the past is ride it out at grad school and reenter the workforce in a few years with an extra degree. Think hard about this: The downside here is ending up saddled with endless student debt, especially if you’re considering a degree in a field that isn’t super lucrative.
Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist and director of research for the job search site Glassdoor, has already done some looking into this and said there’s some hope. He points out that some industries won’t be hit as hard as others. He predicts tech and professional services or consulting may be OK. “Job postings are falling overall,” he said. “However, some new jobs related to the pandemic are already starting to pop up (a silver lining). And if you ever wanted to work remotely — live in a cheap place but earn a big-city salary — the next few years will be a great time to do that.”
How do I get my two children to their dad for a custody exchange when we live in two different California cities? They're out of school for at least 7 weeks and we need to split their time between the two of us during that, but he's in San Jose and I'm in LA. Flying seems like a great way to infect everyone but cops are pulling over and ticketing drivers who are out for non-essential reasons.
—T.P., California
I have a 12 year old daughter who splits her time between my home and her father’s. I told her until either school is back in session or the stay inside order in my area has been lifted, she must stay where she is — which is at her father’s. I miss her terribly. Do you think she could come home as long as precautions are in place? Or should I continue to be separated from her?
—April, Tennessee
Currently, transferring kids between parents for custody is considered essential travel, so if you’re in a place that’s currently in lockdown, you can still make the trip to do the exchange (triple-check in your city/state before you leave the house, though!). And for what it’s worth: To date, Los Angeles has not been ticketing people who are out driving. So, yes, legally you can still do it. But should you?
You are not alone in struggling with this question. Millions of families where parents share custody of children between two homes are also trying to weigh the interest of safety versus sticking to a fair custody arrangement.
I talked to Erin Levine, family law attorney and founder of Hello Divorce, a resource site for divorcing couples. She told me:
There’s a legal answer and a mama bear answer (“mama” for purposes of this = gender-neutral). The legal answer is that parents that live near each other should probably continue to exchange their kids. At least that’s what most government websites are saying. The mama bear answer is go with your gut. Check yourself — are you trying to keep your ex away from the kids, or is there a real reason why the kids should stay with you (or them)? If there’s a serious reason not to (e.g., you have an autoimmune disease, your spouse has been exposed to COVID-19, they live with aging parents), you NEED to speak with your co-parent. If you have lawyers, have them negotiate, too. See if you can come to some sort of an agreement that keeps kids in contact with both parents (even if it's via FaceTime) and agree to make up time for the other parent when things return to a new normal.
Nicole Sodoma, a family law attorney at Sodoma Law, advises that you stick to the parenting schedule in place as best you can, barring any obvious reasons not to. If you believe your co-parent is putting the kids at risk, get a third party, like the child’s doctor, to weigh in.
Currently, most legal custody arrangements don’t have a special provision for something like an act of God pandemic, Sodoma said, but her firm will start including something like this going forward. “We’re not only going to see new provisions become standard, but we’re going to see that people are going to do things differently,” she said. “Courts are going to have to adjust how they deal with emergencies, even with limited personnel.”
How do you forgive (or at least stop internally griping about) the people in your life who didn’t take the pandemic seriously early on, especially those who put you and your family in danger? I’m thinking of: my spouse’s boss, who as late as the second week of March was resistant to letting people work from home (even though it’s a very easy industry to shift to remote work); the neighbor in the apartment building who coughed into their hand and touched the front doorknob; the acquaintance who shall remain nameless who suggested an inoculation party so we’d “all go home and cough for a couple of days and then be immune.” I have a long memory for grudges anyway, and self-isolation has only sharpened it; I’d rather not spend my precious time dwelling on this crap, and it would be nice to be able to be cordial with these folks once this is all over. But it’s really hard, and I’m so angry.
There are two layers to your question. The first is simpler; it’s about people who’ve exercised poor judgment, but maybe not because they’re rotten to the core, but because they’re just uninformed. The last month has been a tsunami of information, and yet also a desert of information. The big questions we want answered — When will this be over? How much danger am I in? — are still big fat TBDs. A few weeks ago, common wisdom was COVID-19 only affected old or sick people, but now we are hearing reports of young and healthy people getting sick and even dying. Our government leaders have waffled over how long and how severe this crisis will be.
People are desperate for information — and no matter how much news they’re consuming, they’re still searching for those answers. That’s why the rise of these bogus “I heard from a friend’s friend who works in the government” text messages are so pervasive. We want to feel like there IS someone who actually knows what the fuck is happening.
Depending on what cable news channel they watch, your spouse’s boss probably genuinely believed things would be fine and it was all overblown. It’s not their fault; they’re not a bad person.
Your neighbor sounds just forgetful or wasn’t on as high an alert as they should have been. We all make mistakes.
Your friend who suggested the immunization party, well, they have some odd worldviews, but clearly they didn’t know yet that COVID-19 could be deadly to anyone.
Forgive them their corona sins, for they know not what they do.
That layer is easy. The harder part seems inevitable. People you know and love will get sick, and they may die. How do you forgive the person you suspect transmitted the coronavirus to your loved one? How do you forgive your child for unwittingly giving it to your elderly parents and killing them? Your best friend for giving it to your spouse? How do you forgive yourself for giving it to someone else, even a stranger?
I can't answer those questions. Only you can. I hope you don't have to. ●


buzzfeednews--2020-03-28--The Coronavirus Comes To Immigration Court

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 .
Prominent Democratic senators , including Elizabeth Warren , Kamala Harris , Cory Booker , and Amy Klobuchar , called on the Department of Justice on Friday to suspend immigration court appearances for unaccompanied children during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Anything less jeopardizes the health and safety of those children as well as of your employees , other government staff , attorneys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” they wrote , in a letter to Attorney General William Barr and James McHenry , director of the Executive Office of Immigration Review .
That agency “ should not force government personnel to choose between preserving their jobs by going to court.
” In fiscal year 2019 , more than 425,000 kids appeared in immigration courts .
The senators said that in emergencies , standard court appearances should be replaced with videoconferencing .
As it happens , video proceedings have recently come under fire from child welfare advocates , who say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rushing unaccompanied minors through their asylum hearings and depriving them of the chance to pursue their case .
The Texas program launched the same week the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic , but it wasn ’ t intended to address health concerns .
Video hearings “ still require that children pack on the buses with shelter staff , travel to immigration court , huddle together in waiting rooms , and in courtrooms , ” Jason Boyd , director of policy for the nonprofit Kids in Need of Defense .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to clear cases on a shorter 60-day time frame .
Attorneys representing children say that the videoconferencing program , which pairs immigrant children in Texas and a judge in Georgia , diminishes the children ’ s ability to communicate their reasons for seeking asylum , limits the judge ’ s ability to evaluate nonverbal cues , and impedes the kids ’ ability to understand what is at stake for them .

Prominent Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Amy Klobuchar, called on the Department of Justice on Friday to suspend immigration court appearances for unaccompanied children during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Anything less jeopardizes the health and safety of those children as well as of your employees, other government staff, attorneys, interpreters and the public at large,” they wrote, in a letter to Attorney General William Barr and James McHenry, director of the Executive Office of Immigration Review. That agency “should not force government personnel to choose between preserving their jobs by going to court.”
In fiscal year 2019, more than 425,000 kids appeared in immigration courts.
The senators said that in emergencies, standard court appearances should be replaced with videoconferencing.
As it happens, video proceedings have recently come under fire from child welfare advocates, who say a new pilot program in Texas is rushing unaccompanied minors through their asylum hearings and depriving them of the chance to pursue their case.
The Texas program launched the same week the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, but it wasn’t intended to address health concerns. Video hearings “still require that children pack on the buses with shelter staff, travel to immigration court, huddle together in waiting rooms, and in courtrooms,” Jason Boyd, director of policy for the nonprofit Kids in Need of Defense. Instead, the new program was an attempt to clear cases on a shorter 60-day time frame.
Attorneys representing children say that the videoconferencing program, which pairs immigrant children in Texas and a judge in Georgia, diminishes the children’s ability to communicate their reasons for seeking asylum, limits the judge’s ability to evaluate nonverbal cues, and impedes the kids’ ability to understand what is at stake for them.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-30--They Were Opposed To Government Surveillance. Then The Coronavirus Pandemic Began.

As nations around the world take on sweeping new powers to fight the disease , critics are n't sure what 's necessary and what 's too far .
The coronavirus pandemic , which has grown to over 740,000 cases and 35,000 deaths around the world , has been so singular an event that even some staunch advocates for civil liberties say they ’ re willing to accept previously unthinkable surveillance measures .
“ I ’ m very concerned ” about civil liberties , writer Glenn Greenwald , cofounder of the Intercept , who built his career as a critic of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But at the same time , I 'm also much more receptive to proposals that in my entire life I never expected I would be , because of the gravity of the threat.
” Greenwald won a Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for his reporting on the disclosures by NSA contractor Edward Snowden , who revealed a vast secret infrastructure of US government surveillance .
But like others who have spent years raising concerns about government overreach , he now accepts the idea that surveilling people who have contracted the coronavirus could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The kind of digital surveillance that I spent a lot of years — even before Snowden , and then obviously , the two or three years during Snowden — advocating against is now something I think could be warranted principally to stave off the more brute solutions that were used in China , ” Greenwald said .
Greenwald said he was still trying to understand how to balance his own views on privacy against the current unprecedented situation .
“ We have to be very careful not to get into that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hey , because your actions affect the society collectively , we have the right now to restrict it in every single way.
’ We 're in this early stage where our survival instincts are guiding our thinking , and that can be really dangerous .
And I ’ m trying myself to calibrate that.
” And he is far from the only prominent civil libertarian and opponent of surveillance trying to calibrate their response as governments around the world are planning or have already implemented location-tracking programs to monitor coronavirus transmission , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping people indoors .
Broad expansions of surveillance power that would have been unimaginable in February are being presented as fait accompli in March .
That has split an international community that would have otherwise been staunchly opposed to such measures .
Is the coronavirus the kind of emergency that requires setting aside otherwise sacrosanct commitments to privacy and civil liberties ?
Or like the 9/11 attacks before it , does it mark a moment in which panicked Americans will accept new erosions on their freedoms , only to regret it when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circumstances ?
Yeah , go for it , Facebook .
You know , go for it , Google , ” Gary Johnson , the former governor of New Mexico and 2016 Libertarian Party presidential candidate , told BuzzFeed News .
“ But then , when the crisis goes away , how is that going to apply given that it 's in place ?
I mean , these are the obvious questions , and no , that would not be a good thing.
” `` My fear is that , historically , in any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want massive surveillance powers will finally have an avenue and an excuse to get them , ” Matthew Guariglia , an analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation , told BuzzFeed News .
Marc Rotenberg , president and executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center ( EPIC ) , told BuzzFeed News that it ’ s possible to find a solution that protects privacy and prevents the spread of the virus .
“ People like to say , 'well , we need to strike a balance between protecting public health and safeguarding privacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong way to think about it , ” Rotenberg said .
“ You really want both .
And if you 're not getting both , there 's a problem with the policy proposal.
” Beyond the sick and dead , the most immediate effects that the pandemic has visited upon the United States have been broad constraints that state and local governments have imposed on day-to-day movement .
Those are in keeping with public health experts ’ recommendations to practice social distancing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hasn ’ t announced a nationwide stay-at-home order like France and Italy have , large parts of the US are under some degree of lockdown , with nonessential businesses shuttered and nonessential activities outside the home either banned or discouraged .
And while President Trump and his allies have focused on the economic devastation wrought by this shutdown , some libertarians have raised concerns about the damage those decrees have done to people 's freedoms .
Appearing on libertarian former Texas lawmaker and two-time Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul ’ s YouTube show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massie pointed to a Kentucky man who , after testing positive for the coronavirus , refused to self-isolate , and whom sheriff 's deputies forced to stay home .
( Massie later came under bipartisan criticism for attempting to hold up the coronavirus stimulus bill in the House . )
“ What would they do if that man walked out and got in his car ?
Would they shoot him ?
Would they suit up in hazmat uniforms and drag him off ?
” Massie said .
“ Those are the images we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everybody was appalled at those images .
And now we ’ re literally , we could be five minutes away from that happening in the United States , here in Kentucky.
” “ It ’ s crazy , and what concerns me the most is that once people start accepting that , in our own country , the fact that somebody could immobilize you without due process , that when this virus is over people will have a more paternalistic view of government and more tolerance for ignoring the Constitution , ” Massie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son , Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul , announced that he had tested positive for the disease , only a few days after Ron Paul wrote in his online column that the pandemic could be a “ big hoax ” pushed by “ fearmongers ” to put more power in government hands .
But the elder Paul 's concerns are not shared among some of his fellow former Libertarian Party nominees for president .
Johnson said measures to encourage people to stay in their homes and temporarily shutter businesses taken by states like New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to believe that they 're dealing with [ this ] in the best way that they possibly can , ” he told BuzzFeed News .
“ And I think it 's also telling that most of them are following the same route.
” Johnson added that although it was easy to raise criticisms , as a former governor , he saw few other options .
“ You 're just not hearing it : What are the alternatives ?
” Johnson said .
“ I do n't know , not having [ currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what the options were .
And given that every state appears to be doing the same thing , I have to believe that everything is based on the best available information.
” Gaming out the role of intense surveillance during a pandemic isn ’ t just a theoretical political debate on YouTube .
Surveillance at previously politically unimaginable scales has reached countries around the world .
Imagine opening an app , scanning a QR code , and creating a profile that ’ s instantly linked with information about your health and where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you if you ’ ve been in close contact with someone sick with the coronavirus .
This software already exists in China .
Developed by the Electronics Technology Group Corporation and the Chinese government , it works by tapping into massive troves of data collected by the private sector and the Chinese government .
In South Korea , the government is mapping the movements of COVID-19 patients using data from mobile carriers , credit card companies , and the Institute of Public Health and Environment .
In Israel , Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tap into a previously undisclosed cache of cellphone data to trace the movements of infected persons in that country and in the West Bank .
And in the Indian state of Karnataka , the government is requiring people in lockdown to send it selfies every hour to prove they are staying home .
No such tools currently exist in the United States — but some in the tech community who might have been expected to oppose such capacities have found themselves favoring these previously unthinkable steps .
Maciej Cegłowski , the founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech companies ’ intrusions into privacy , wrote a blog post arguing for a “ massive surveillance program ” to fight the virus .
“ My frustration is that we have this giant surveillance network deployed and working , '' Cegłowski told BuzzFeed News .
`` We have location tracking .
We have people carrying tracking devices on them all the time .
But we ’ re using it to sell skin cream — you know , advertising .
And we ’ re using it to try to persuade investors to put more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we have this crisis right now , let ’ s put it to use to save lives.
” This position is a major departure for Ceglowski , who has warned of how tech companies have invaded our “ ambient privacy ” and argued that tech giants ’ reach into our lives is as pernicious a force as government surveillance .
“ We put up with the fire department breaking down our door if there ’ s a fire at our neighbor ’ s house or in our house because we know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Cegłowski said .
“ I think similarly if we can have a sense that we ’ ll have real privacy regulation , then in emergency situations like this we can decide , hey , we ’ re going to change some things.
” Those doors are already being broken down .
The COVID-19 Mobility Data Network — a collaboration between Facebook , Camber Systems , Cuebiq , and health researchers from 13 universities — will use corporate location data from mobile devices to give local officials `` consolidated daily situation reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Representatives from the COVID-19 Mobility Data Network did not respond to requests for comment .
Lots of companies claim that they have the technology to save people ’ s lives .
But critics worry that they are taking advantage of a vulnerable time in American society to sign contracts that wo n't easily be backed out of when the threat passes .
“ Sometimes people have an almost sacrificial sense about their privacy , ” Rotenberg told BuzzFeed News .
“ They say things like , ‘ Well , if it 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my data , of course , I should do that.
’ But that 's actually not the right way to solve a problem .
Particularly if asking people to sacrifice their privacy is not part of an effective plan to save lives.
” In response to the pandemic , some data analytics and facial recognition companies have offered new uses for existing services .
Representatives from data analytics company have reportedly been working with the CDC on collecting and integrating data about COVID-19 , while Clearview AI has reportedly been in talks with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Neither Palantir nor Clearview AI responded to requests for comment , but the appearance of these controversial companies has raised alarms among those in the privacy community .
“ The deployment of face recognition , as a way of preventing the spread of virus , is something that does not pass the sniff test at all , ” Guariglia said .
“ Even the companies themselves , I do n't think , can put out a logical explanation as to how face recognition , especially Clearview , would help.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ design tools for law enforcement have tried to offer tools to combat COVID-19 as well .
Banjo , which combines social media and satellite data with public information , like CCTV camera footage , 911 calls , and vehicle location , to detect criminal or suspicious activity , will be releasing a tool designed to respond to the outbreak .
“ We are working with our partners to finalize a new tool that would provide public health agencies and hospitals with HIPAA-compliant information that helps identify potential outbreaks and more efficiently apply resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson told BuzzFeed News , adding that the company strips personally identifiable information from the data it processes .
Those efforts cause concerns for people like Evan Greer , the deputy director of digital rights activist group Fight for the Future , who told BuzzFeed News that such tools , once deployed , would inevitably be used for more purposes than to fight the pandemic .
“ We have so much history that shows us that mass surveillance generally is n't very effective , and mission creep is inevitable , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question of if data that was handed over to the government because of this crisis would be repurposed .
It 's a matter of when.
” In addition to those companies , many camera makers have been making a bold claim : Using just an infrared sensor , they can detect fevers , helping venues filter out the sick from the healthy .
These firms include Dahua Technology in Israel , Guide Infrared in China , Diycam in India , Rapid-Tech Equipment in Australia , and Athena Security in the US .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had donated about $ 144,000 worth of equipment that could “ warn users when fever is detected ” to Japan .
The company said its devices would be used in Japanese “ hospitals and epidemic prevention stations.
” Although Guide Infrared claimed that its “ temperature measurement solutions ” have helped in emergencies including SARS , H1N1 , and Ebola , the Chinese army and government authorities are “ some of its major customers , ” according to the South China Morning Post .
It ’ s been used in railway stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s also partnered with Hikvision , a Chinese company blacklisted by the US over its work outfitting Chinese detention centers with surveillance cameras .
Australian company Rapid-Tech Equipment claims that its fever-detection cameras can be used in `` minimizing the spread [ of ] coronavirus infections . ''
Its cameras are being used in Algeria , France , Egypt , Greece , Morocco , Saudi Arabia , Turkey , and “ many more ” countries , according to its website .
UK camera maker Westminster International said that it has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Coronavirus , Ebola & Flu . ''
US company Testo Thermal Imaging sells two cameras with a “ FeverDetection assistant.
” A section of its website titled “ Why fever detection ?
” argues that managers of high-traffic venues have a responsibility to filter for fevers : “ Whether ebola , SARS or coronavirus : no-one wants to imagine the consequences of an epidemic or even a pandemic.
” A Testo spokesperson told BuzzFeed News that the company has seen a “ massive increase in demand ” for its products in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being used “ worldwide.
” The spokesperson declined to provide specific examples or name specific countries .
While the appetite for fever-detecting cameras is clearly there , civil liberties advocates have concerns .
Guariglia said that , regardless of their thermal imaging capabilities , surveillance cameras are surveillance cameras .
“ More surveillance cameras always have dubious implications for civil liberties .
Even if their contract with thermal imaging ends at the end of six months , ” Guariglia said , “ I bet those cameras are gon na stay up.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cato Institute and commentator on digital surveillance and privacy issues , told BuzzFeed News he was willing to accept measures he might otherwise have concerns about to limit the spread of the virus .
“ I ’ m about as staunch a privacy guy as it gets , ” Sanchez said .
“ In the middle of an epidemic outbreak , there are a number of things I ’ m willing to countenance that I would normally object to , on the premise that they are temporary and will save a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficacy of some of the current proposals : There ’ s “ a ton of snake oil being pitched by surveillance vendors , ” he said .
More than that , he had concerns about what would happen to civil liberties after the pandemic passed , but the measure put in place to combat it did not .
“ I think a lot of civil liberties advocates would say , ‘ Well , if this is very tightly restricted , and only for this purpose , and it 's temporary , then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right .
Maybe we ’ re able to accept that , if we ’ re confident it 's for this purpose , and then it ends , ’ ” Sanchez said .
“ The question is whether that 's the case.
” Sanchez worried that the coronavirus , like the war on terror , is an open-ended threat with no clear end — inviting opportunities for those surveillance measures to be abused long after the threat has passed .
In the same week that he spoke , the US Senate voted to extend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act , originally passed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks 19 years ago .
●

Beyond the sick and dead, the most immediate effects that the pandemic has visited upon the United States have been broad constraints that state and local governments have imposed on day-to-day movement. Those are in keeping with public health experts’ recommendations to practice social distancing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
While the US hasn’t announced a nationwide stay-at-home order like France and Italy have, large parts of the US are under some degree of lockdown, with nonessential businesses shuttered and nonessential activities outside the home either banned or discouraged. And while President Trump and his allies have focused on the economic devastation wrought by this shutdown, some libertarians have raised concerns about the damage those decrees have done to people's freedoms.
Appearing on libertarian former Texas lawmaker and two-time Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul’s YouTube show on March 19, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie pointed to a Kentucky man who, after testing positive for the coronavirus, refused to self-isolate, and whom sheriff's deputies forced to stay home. (Massie later came under bipartisan criticism for attempting to hold up the coronavirus stimulus bill in the House.)
“What would they do if that man walked out and got in his car? Would they shoot him? Would they suit up in hazmat uniforms and drag him off?” Massie said. “Those are the images we saw in China two months ago and everybody was appalled at those images. And now we’re literally, we could be five minutes away from that happening in the United States, here in Kentucky.”
“It’s crazy, and what concerns me the most is that once people start accepting that, in our own country, the fact that somebody could immobilize you without due process, that when this virus is over people will have a more paternalistic view of government and more tolerance for ignoring the Constitution,” Massie said.
Last Monday, Paul's son, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, announced that he had tested positive for the disease, only a few days after Ron Paul wrote in his online column that the pandemic could be a “big hoax” pushed by “fearmongers” to put more power in government hands.
But the elder Paul's concerns are not shared among some of his fellow former Libertarian Party nominees for president.
Johnson said measures to encourage people to stay in their homes and temporarily shutter businesses taken by states like New York were appropriate. “I really have to believe that they're dealing with [this] in the best way that they possibly can,” he told BuzzFeed News. “And I think it's also telling that most of them are following the same route.”
Johnson added that although it was easy to raise criticisms, as a former governor, he saw few other options.
“You're just not hearing it: What are the alternatives?” Johnson said. “I don't know, not having [currently] sat at the table as governor, what the options were. And given that every state appears to be doing the same thing, I have to believe that everything is based on the best available information.”