buzzfeednews--2020-04-08--A Man With The Coronavirus Hugged People At A Funeral And A Birthday Party. Three Of Them Died.

A federal report details how a potential `` super-spreading event '' in Chicago likely infected 15 people at two family gatherings , three of whom died of COVID-19 .
In February , a Chicago man hugged members of a grieving family at a funeral and shared meals with them .
A few days later , he attended a birthday party , where he hugged and shared food with members of another family .
With these friendly gestures at family gatherings , the man — who later tested positive for COVID-19 — unwittingly infected as many as 15 other people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implemented in Illinois and other states in the US .
Three of those people died of the virus .
The chain of transmission triggered by the man — who had had mild respiratory symptoms at the time he attended the funeral and party — was detailed in a report released by the CDC on Wednesday .
The report highlighted the dangerous potential of a `` super-spreading event '' and showed how extended family gatherings might have facilitated the transmission of COVID-19 `` beyond household contacts and into the broader community . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were between the ages of 5 and 86 years old .
They came into contact with each other at the funeral , the birthday , and a church service .
The three patients who died were over the age of 60 , and all three had at least one underlying cardiovascular or respiratory medical condition , the report said .
The CDC said the findings in this tragic case illustrate how important social distancing is to preventing the spread of COVID-19 , even within families .
The evening before the funeral in February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takeout meal , eaten from common serving dishes , with two family members of the deceased at their home .
The man ( referred to as `` an index patient '' in the report ) was the grieving family 's close friend .
He had recently traveled out of state and was experiencing mild respiratory symptoms at the time .
He was only tested later as part of the broader epidemiological investigation and was then diagnosed with COVID-19 .
The next day , at the two-hour funeral , the man shared a potluck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least four members of the grieving family to express his condolences .
These four people developed symptoms of COVID-19 within six days of the funeral .
One of them was hospitalized , required `` endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure , '' and died .
Before the person died , they were visited in the hospital by a family member who had also been in close physical contact with the index patient at the funeral .
That family member embraced their COVID-19–infected relative in the hospital ward and took care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment .
Three days after that visit , the person developed COVID-19 symptoms , including a fever and a cough .
The index patient , who was still experiencing mild respiratory symptoms , then attended a birthday party with nine members of another family , three days after he attended the funeral .
At the three-hour party , the man hugged and shared food with the other guests .
Seven of the guests developed COVID-19 within a week .
Five of them experienced mild symptoms , including a cough and a low-grade fever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation , and died .
A family member and a home care professional who took care of one of the party guests who died also probably developed COVID-19 , the report said .
The other party guest who died likely transmitted the virus to a household contact who had not attended the birthday party .
Three symptomatic birthday party attendees with probable cases of COVID-19 then attended a church service , six days after they developed their first symptoms .
They conversed with and passed the offering plate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same row for 90 minutes .
That church attendee , a health care professional , was diagnosed with COVID-19 .
The index patient `` was apparently able to transmit infection to 10 other persons , despite having no household contacts and experiencing only mild symptoms for which medical care was not sought , '' the report said .
It 's not yet clear how common this type of transmission has been during the current pandemic , the report noted .
`` Super-spreading events have played a significant role in transmission of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , but added that their relevance to COVID-19 spread is `` debated . ''
The most notable `` super-spreading event '' likely occurred at a choir practice in Washington state when at least 45 of 60 singers were either diagnosed with COVID-19 or showed symptoms .
In another potential super-spreading case , a New York lawyer was connected to one of the earliest clusters of COVID-19 cases that developed in New Rochelle .
Dr. Mark Dworkin , an epidemiology professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to refer to people as `` super-spreaders '' but to instead acknowledge how funerals and birthday parties are the kinds of events that allow for super-spreading .
These events include a close congregation of people who are socially and physically more familiar with each other , Dworkin told BuzzFeed News .
At a family event , `` it 's kiss , kiss , kiss , hug , hug , hug , '' with people sitting inches away from each other , he said .
The authors of the CDC report said their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current social distancing recommendations .
Eight states have not yet issued stay-at-home orders , and those that have are forced to remind residents to take social distancing measures seriously .
As of Wednesday , Illinois has reported 15,078 positive cases and 462 people have died .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker issued a stay-at-home order in the state on March 20 .
While the Chicago cluster occurred before social distancing measures were implemented , Dworkin said he could not fault authorities for introducing them at a time when community spread of the disease was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the current stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures were at that time considered `` really super-extreme thing to do . ''
`` It 's really hard to pull off a recommendation to the public like that if you do n't have evidence of why it 's absolutely necessary , '' he said .
And how much evidence the general public needs `` right in front of them to buy into these extreme recommendations varies from population to population and from culture to culture , '' Dworkin said .
He called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the virus is taking advantage of our positive behaviors '' when it comes to celebrating milestones , supporting loved ones , or turning to faith .
`` It 's really sad that such events need to be curtailed at a time in order to promote our health , '' Dworkin said .
`` But we need to remember this is temporary .
We need to be patient .
The more we accept and are patient with this evolving science , the more successful we will be . ''

The evening before the funeral in February, the Chicago man shared a three-hour takeout meal, eaten from common serving dishes, with two family members of the deceased at their home.
The man (referred to as "an index patient" in the report) was the grieving family's close friend. He had recently traveled out of state and was experiencing mild respiratory symptoms at the time. He was only tested later as part of the broader epidemiological investigation and was then diagnosed with COVID-19.
The next day, at the two-hour funeral, the man shared a potluck meal with other attendees and hugged at least four members of the grieving family to express his condolences. These four people developed symptoms of COVID-19 within six days of the funeral.
One of them was hospitalized, required "endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure," and died.
Before the person died, they were visited in the hospital by a family member who had also been in close physical contact with the index patient at the funeral.
That family member embraced their COVID-19–infected relative in the hospital ward and took care of the patient without wearing personal protective equipment. Three days after that visit, the person developed COVID-19 symptoms, including a fever and a cough.
The index patient, who was still experiencing mild respiratory symptoms, then attended a birthday party with nine members of another family, three days after he attended the funeral.
At the three-hour party, the man hugged and shared food with the other guests. Seven of the guests developed COVID-19 within a week.
Five of them experienced mild symptoms, including a cough and a low-grade fever. Two others were hospitalized, required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, and died.
A family member and a home care professional who took care of one of the party guests who died also probably developed COVID-19, the report said. The other party guest who died likely transmitted the virus to a household contact who had not attended the birthday party.
Three symptomatic birthday party attendees with probable cases of COVID-19 then attended a church service, six days after they developed their first symptoms.
They conversed with and passed the offering plate to another church attendee who was sitting in the same row for 90 minutes. That church attendee, a health care professional, was diagnosed with COVID-19.
The index patient "was apparently able to transmit infection to 10 other persons, despite having no household contacts and experiencing only mild symptoms for which medical care was not sought," the report said.
It's not yet clear how common this type of transmission has been during the current pandemic, the report noted.
"Super-spreading events have played a significant role in transmission of other recently emerged coronaviruses," the report said, but added that their relevance to COVID-19 spread is "debated."
The most notable "super-spreading event" likely occurred at a choir practice in Washington state when at least 45 of 60 singers were either diagnosed with COVID-19 or showed symptoms. In another potential super-spreading case, a New York lawyer was connected to one of the earliest clusters of COVID-19 cases that developed in New Rochelle.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-09--They Work Inside Target Stores. They Don’t Get The Same Coronavirus Protections As Target Employees.

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A MarketSource spokesperson said the health and safety of its employees is its top priority .
The company is rolling out a new policy that will allow two weeks of paid leave to anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 or lives with someone who has tested positive , the spokesperson said .
Target ’ s policy does not require a test — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortages nationwide .
More than 3,000 Target Tech employees work in over 1,000 Target stores in close contact with customers , many of whom are senior citizens , who run the highest risk of dying from the coronavirus .
Several told BuzzFeed News they are afraid to come into work but feel that they have little choice .
One employee said that when she tried to extend her unpaid quarantine , her manager told her she had to return to work or resign — even after she provided a doctor ’ s note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of preexisting health conditions .
“ We are at an advantage as a result of competitors being closed , ” a district manager recently wrote to employees .
“ Let ’ s not forget what we are here to do - Engage EVERY guest with a mobile conversation EVERY time !
” While regular Target employees get paid leave related to the coronavirus , with vulnerable staff able to take up to 30 days as a precaution , Target Tech workers who have needed to quarantine have received no pay , and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they stayed home for too long .
Target Tech workers continue to peddle cell phone plans and troubleshoot misfiring electronics in person , something other leading technology retailers backed away from weeks ago to help stop the spread of the virus .
And they have faced pressure from MarketSource bosses to interact with customers and boost sales , internal communications obtained by BuzzFeed News from employees around the country show .
Thousands of people work inside Target stores across America under a program known as “ Target Tech.
” But Target doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retail giant goes through an outsourcing firm , MarketSource , instead .
And during the coronavirus pandemic , MarketSource plays by different rules .
Coronavirus In The Workplace : BuzzFeed News looks at how companies and employees are handling the coronavirus pandemic .
MarketSource has also `` partnered '' with Target to allow Target Tech workers to use personal protective equipment set aside for regular employees , the spokesperson said , and Target Tech workers experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 have been told they should stay home .
“ It is important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tolerate any pressure put on employees to report to work if they feel uncomfortable doing so , ” she said .
Target , the eighth largest retailer in the US , declined to comment except to say its top priority “ is the health and safety of our team , guests and partners ” and that it regularly updates partners such as MarketSource with information about government guidelines and its own policies pertaining to COVID-19 .
While many Americans stay at home , workers at companies selling essential supplies keep coming into work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology are considered essential to infrastructure , but Apple , Verizon , T-Mobile , and Sprint have still shut all or most of their brick and mortar stores to protect customers and staff .
Target Tech staffers ' work can largely be done online , employees told BuzzFeed News .
The only exceptions are in-store activations and support visits — but people can activate their phones at home and get items shipped to them directly .
Yet Target Tech employees are still required to report for their scheduled shifts , even in areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine for having flulike symptoms , an executive said .
District managers within the program continue to make store visits , often spanning areas that cross state lines .
Do you have a story to tell about frontline workers during the coronavirus ?
We ’ d love to hear from you .
Email katie.baker @ buzzfeed.com or reach out via one of our tip line channels .
The MarketSource spokesperson denied employees ’ assertions that the in-store services they provide could be accomplished remotely , although she declined to provide any examples of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to connect with others is a critical aspect to many at this time , ” the spokesperson said .
While MarketSource has offered some additional support in recent weeks , their policies fall behind Target ’ s — for example , Target Tech employees were told they ’ d receive an extra dollar per hour of hazard pay only after Target employees began to receive $ 2 per hour .
After BuzzFeed News reached out to MarketSource for comment , Target Tech workers learned that this would be increased to $ 1.50 extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would pay workers in quarantine in mid-March , MarketSource held firm .
“ All employees are expected to report to work , ” MarketSource Human Resources wrote to one person who posted their email on Twitter on March 18 .
“ If the employee does not report the employee WILL NOT be paid.
” The MarketSource spokesperson said “ eligible ” employees are allowed to use accrued paid time off if they need to stay home and quarantine .
But MarketSource salespeople — the ones worried for their safety — don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , internal records show .
One employee said she didn ’ t even know that she was allowed to take time off without pay until she told her manager she was worried about COVID-19 because she has asthma , and her manager gave her that option .
“ My company has had absolutely nothing in place , and instead in multiple emails directed us to follow Target ’ s leadership , while we 've been largely ignored and left out of the loop because we 're not actual Target employees , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't afford to take two weeks off without pay — not that this will be over in two weeks anyway — but I also do n't like my odds at making it if I do get sick , because some idiot is n't social distancing and is coming out just to upgrade their perfectly fine working phone.
” Another employee , who said she felt ill and was worried about infecting her child , only learned she could self-quarantine after speaking with coworkers and reaching out to regional management to inquire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanded to know who told her that self-quarantine was available , she said , and told her this was a one-time offer .
“ He said , ‘ Just so you know you can only do this once , ” she told BuzzFeed News .
“ ‘ Even if you catch COVID-19 , you can ’ t take out again.
’ ” The employee tried to extend her quarantine with a physician ’ s note , reviewed by BuzzFeed News , which said , owing to preexisting health conditions , were she to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatal .
The manager told her she still had to report to work , she said .
Her only other option was to resign , she said he told her while reassuring her that she could collect unemployment .
She saw no documentation describing those terms .
US employees who voluntarily quit jobs are not usually able to collect unemployment .
“ If I don ’ t show up tomorrow , I ’ ll be terminated , ” she told BuzzFeed News .
“ They don ’ t care about your health.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Target is now reminding customers to practice social distancing over loudspeakers , she said , and she ’ s allowed to use a mask and gloves to handle customers ’ phones , but customers are still coming closer to her than the recommended 6 feet .
Documents show that even as the pandemic worsened , MarketSource managers kept up pressure on Target Tech employees to interact with customers and land sales .
On March 15 , days after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency , one manager gave some oddly timed sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and offer free phone cleanings to potential clients .
`` Everyone always forgets how much they use these things without cleaning them !
” he wrote .
It feels impossible to practice social distancing for Target Tech , said one employee , because most of her customers are over 50 and need patient and attentive assistance .
“ It sometimes takes 15 minutes just to get a guest to understand that just because their new smartphone screen is black does n't mean it 's broken or dead , ” she said .

MarketSource has also "partnered" with Target to allow Target Tech workers to use personal protective equipment set aside for regular employees, the spokesperson said, and Target Tech workers experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 have been told they should stay home. “It is important to note that we do not condone or tolerate any pressure put on employees to report to work if they feel uncomfortable doing so,” she said.
Target, the eighth largest retailer in the US, declined to comment except to say its top priority “is the health and safety of our team, guests and partners” and that it regularly updates partners such as MarketSource with information about government guidelines and its own policies pertaining to COVID-19.
While many Americans stay at home, workers at companies selling essential supplies keep coming into work. Retail workers in consumer electronics and technology are considered essential to infrastructure, but Apple, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint have still shut all or most of their brick and mortar stores to protect customers and staff.
Target Tech staffers' work can largely be done online, employees told BuzzFeed News. The only exceptions are in-store activations and support visits — but people can activate their phones at home and get items shipped to them directly. Yet Target Tech employees are still required to report for their scheduled shifts, even in areas where MarketSource personnel are under medically advised quarantine for having flulike symptoms, an executive said. District managers within the program continue to make store visits, often spanning areas that cross state lines.
Do you have a story to tell about frontline workers during the coronavirus? We’d love to hear from you. Email katie.baker@buzzfeed.com or reach out via one of our tip line channels.
The MarketSource spokesperson denied employees’ assertions that the in-store services they provide could be accomplished remotely, although she declined to provide any examples of those essential services.
The “ability to connect with others is a critical aspect to many at this time,” the spokesperson said.
While MarketSource has offered some additional support in recent weeks, their policies fall behind Target’s — for example, Target Tech employees were told they’d receive an extra dollar per hour of hazard pay only after Target employees began to receive $2 per hour. After BuzzFeed News reached out to MarketSource for comment, Target Tech workers learned that this would be increased to $1.50 extra per hour.
Even after Target announced it would pay workers in quarantine in mid-March, MarketSource held firm. “All employees are expected to report to work,” MarketSource Human Resources wrote to one person who posted their email on Twitter on March 18. “If the employee does not report the employee WILL NOT be paid.”
The MarketSource spokesperson said “eligible” employees are allowed to use accrued paid time off if they need to stay home and quarantine. But MarketSource salespeople — the ones worried for their safety — don’t receive any paid time off at all, internal records show. One employee said she didn’t even know that she was allowed to take time off without pay until she told her manager she was worried about COVID-19 because she has asthma, and her manager gave her that option.
“My company has had absolutely nothing in place, and instead in multiple emails directed us to follow Target’s leadership, while we've been largely ignored and left out of the loop because we're not actual Target employees,” she told BuzzFeed News. “I can't afford to take two weeks off without pay — not that this will be over in two weeks anyway — but I also don't like my odds at making it if I do get sick, because some idiot isn't social distancing and is coming out just to upgrade their perfectly fine working phone.”
Another employee, who said she felt ill and was worried about infecting her child, only learned she could self-quarantine after speaking with coworkers and reaching out to regional management to inquire. When she did so, the manager demanded to know who told her that self-quarantine was available, she said, and told her this was a one-time offer.
“He said, ‘Just so you know you can only do this once,” she told BuzzFeed News. “‘Even if you catch COVID-19, you can’t take out again.’”
The employee tried to extend her quarantine with a physician’s note, reviewed by BuzzFeed News, which said, owing to preexisting health conditions, were she to contract COVID-19, it would likely prove fatal. The manager told her she still had to report to work, she said. Her only other option was to resign, she said he told her while reassuring her that she could collect unemployment. She saw no documentation describing those terms. US employees who voluntarily quit jobs are not usually able to collect unemployment.
“If I don’t show up tomorrow, I’ll be terminated,” she told BuzzFeed News. “They don’t care about your health.” She is now back at work. Target is now reminding customers to practice social distancing over loudspeakers, she said, and she’s allowed to use a mask and gloves to handle customers’ phones, but customers are still coming closer to her than the recommended 6 feet.
Documents show that even as the pandemic worsened, MarketSource managers kept up pressure on Target Tech employees to interact with customers and land sales.
On March 15, days after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency, one manager gave some oddly timed sales advice: Grab a pair of gloves and offer free phone cleanings to potential clients.
"Everyone always forgets how much they use these things without cleaning them!” he wrote.
It feels impossible to practice social distancing for Target Tech, said one employee, because most of her customers are over 50 and need patient and attentive assistance. “It sometimes takes 15 minutes just to get a guest to understand that just because their new smartphone screen is black doesn't mean it's broken or dead,” she said.


buzzfeednews--2020-05-02--This Doctor Is Suggesting COVID-19 Lockdowns Are A Conspiracy To Take Away Your Freedom

On Sunday , April 5 , Dr. Annie Bukacek , wearing a white doctor ’ s coat and a pink stethoscope draped around her neck , stood behind a makeshift pulpit against the plain backdrop of a Hilton Garden Inn conference room in Kalispell , Montana .
She was there to deliver a sermon of sorts to members of the Liberty Fellowship , an anti-government , anti-globalism church led by a pastor named Chuck Baldwin that serves as a beacon for the extreme political right — a mix of constitutionalists , militia members , and separatists — in Montana ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a Facebook post and her own experience as a doctor , Bukacek made her case to the congregation : that the “ alleged death rate ” due to COVID-19 has been significantly inflated in order to justify otherwise unjust stay-at-home orders .
Doctors , Bukacek argued , rely on “ assumptions and educated guesses that go unquestioned , ” which has resulted in an overreporting of deaths .
“ Based on inaccurate , incomplete data , ” she said , “ people are being terrorized by fearmongers into relinquishing cherished freedoms.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that coronavirus deaths have actually been dramatically underreported . )
Like many others who ’ ve propagated falsehoods about COVID , Bukacek argues that because many who ’ ve succumbed to the disease also had other health concerns , they thus died with COVID-19 , not of COVID-19 .
( People with “ comorbidities ” like hypertension , diabetes , or immune deficiencies are indeed more likely to die from COVID-19 , but the infection itself is the trigger for the respiratory or organ failures that actually cause death . )
The video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radio , Infowars , QAnon accounts , and other media beacons of the far right .
But it ’ s also made its way to less conspiracy-minded audiences , with over a million views on Facebook and various YouTube channels .
For months , figures on the far right have been questioning the severity of government reaction to COVID-19 .
But Bukacek , who did not respond to multiple requests for an interview , is an unusual messenger for these unfounded claims .
As Baldwin was careful to note when he introduced her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degree from the University of Illinois and completed her residency at the Oregon Health and Science University .
She is a member of the American College of Physicians , Montana Chapter .
She was voted the Best Family Physician in the area in both 2012 and 2019 .
And , most importantly , she is currently serving as a member of the Flathead County Board of Health .
The story of how a doctor now peddling potentially dangerous COVID-19 misinformation found her way onto a board entrusted with preserving communitywide health is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local political grudges and maneuvering .
Bukacek ’ s appointment was controversial when it happened and remains so ; there are currently competing petitions to keep her on and remove her from the board .
But the story also serves as a microcosm of the national conflict and confusion around the pandemic , as conspiracy theories and anti-government outrage have filled the vacuum created by the general lack of information about a new virus and constantly evolving — and confusing , and sometimes contradictory — public health messaging .
When Bukacek took the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Steve Bullock had already issued a stay-at-home order , closing all nonessential businesses and preventing gatherings over ten people unless appropriate social distancing could be maintained .
Most churches across the state had moved to online services .
But Liberty Fellowship — which already tapes and broadcasts their services every week — decided to meet in person anyway .
They asked at-risk individuals to stay home , directed attendees to spread out in the room , and had ample supplies of hand sanitizer .
At least that ’ s what they reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congregation was inside the conference room , and the livestream was focused on the pulpit .
When most pastors preach , they use Scripture and anecdotes to illustrate their points .
For that week ’ s sermon , titled “ Christianity 101 : The Cure Against a Medical Coup , ” Baldwin did that — but he also used Bukacek , a longtime member of the congregation and a fierce opponent of abortion and vaccinations .
( Bukacek , who is colloquially known as “ Dr .
Annie , ” prefers to describe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it comes to vaccines , and echoes inaccurate arguments concerning safety and herd immunity that are often used by others opposed to vaccines. )
.
Bukacek and Baldwin ’ s message arrived weeks before dozens of anti-lockdown protests began attracting national attention , but they telegraphed the character , and foundational arguments , of the movement to come .
No matter how or when a pandemic hit the United States , there was bound to be some resistance to government actions designed to stem its spread .
Resistance to government mandates is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characteristic .
But as frustration with these measures grows , the ideology and talking points of anti-government “ medical freedom ” activists have moved from the fringes of the political spectrum to the mainstream , radicalizing people across the country .
For this growing number of skeptics , the experts , institutions , and authorities of mainstream science and medicine can no longer be trusted .
And that underlying distrust makes someone like Bukacek — a doctor who positions herself as a rebel unafraid to speak ( alleged ) truth to the medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are already nursing their own suspicions .
As Bukacek put it herself in an interview , describing the viral success of her video , “ Here 's a person that has credentials , who is speaking to them about what the CDC itself says about death certificates .
And they ’ re saying , ‘ I was right all along .
I knew it .
I knew something wasn ’ t right.
’ ” Figures like Bukacek do more than fan the flames of the conspiracy minded .
As evidenced by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side of her , they turn communities against one another at the very time when collaboration , whether on the federal or community level , is needed most .
“ This seems to be a clear opportunity to create antagonism between neighbors , ” said Cherilyn DeVries , who heads up the Flathead chapter of Love Lives Here , an affiliate of the Montana Human Rights Network .
“ As soon as this disease hit , we started posting and letting people know : These tense , uncertain environments are when extremists have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prey on divisions , and they try to radicalize people , wedging in their talking points in the midst of controversy.
” This sort of division is by no means limited to the local level .
Instead of coming together as a country to take on a once-in-a-century pandemic , national opinions about COVID-19 itself have begun to split along political affiliation , with President Trump himself referring to doctor-recommended social distancing as “ politically correct ” distancing and suggesting — to his own medical adviser ’ s apparent dismay — that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into our bodies .
( The president now claims he was being “ sarcastic.
” ) Bukacek ’ s not just speaking to a congregation in a conference room in the corner of Montana .
Like the president , she ’ s speaking to a frustrated , confused , and receptive audience of millions .
Bukacek , age 62 , has been a well-known figure in Montana for more than a decade .
She lives in the city of Kalispell but is known across the state for carrying plastic fetuses with her as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Montana Pro-Life Coalition .
She was investigated ( but not prosecuted ) for Medicaid fraud in 2009 , following allegations she had billed for time spent praying with patients .
( At the time , Bukacek said she had been unfairly targeted because of her anti-abortion activism ) .
Bukacek , who remains firmly opposed to what she calls “ Obamacare , ” no longer has admitting privileges at the area hospital , Kalispell Regional Healthcare .
But as the head of a private “ concierge ” practice called Hosanna Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she still prays with patients — both of which , to a certain swath of the Flathead population , are cherished services .
As one health professional in the area told me , “ the little old ladies just love her.
” That ’ s part of the reason Bukacek has found support from the community .
The other is that , unlike other political extremists who ’ ve arrived in the valley , she ’ s been here for a long time .
“ I usually tell people that we have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come in here from the outside , ” DeVries , the head of Love Lives Here , told me .
“ And we ’ ve gotten really good at kicking them out .
But Annie is a local person , supported by local people.
” She ’ s not going anywhere .
In 1990 , Flathead County — which covers an area roughly the size of Connecticut , to the direct west of Glacier National Park — was home to just under 60,000 residents .
Like the rest of Montana , it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maybe , than other places in the state , but it still prided itself on voting for person over party .
That began to change in the 1990s and 2000s , as conservatives started fleeing what they saw as overly progressive states in favor of the vast , seemingly unregulated expanse of North Idaho and Northwest Montana .
That included members of Pioneer Little Europe , who viewed the Valley as the place to establish a “ white-only ” homeland , but it also included retired cops sick of California and its shift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grew to the roughly 103,000 of today , the area became not just more conservative , but a different kind of conservative : far more ideological , polemical , and committed to purity tests of “ true conservativism ” when it came to stances on abortion , religious freedoms , and gun rights .
As is the case in the GOP on the national level , the so-called Chamber of Commerce Republicans — often lambasted as RINOs , or Republicans in Name Only — have been gradually marginalized in the party and primaried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenger for a legislature seat once asked to be paid for his service in gold , and drafted a bill to let convicts opt for corporal punishment over jail sentences . )
Some of that work is supported and funded by larger organizations ; some is genuinely grassroots .
And some is centered around Liberty Fellowship .
An undergirding philosophy of the patriot movement is that the government has impinged upon Americans ’ God-given freedoms in pretty much all corners of our lives .
That includes medicine , and particularly vaccines .
Bukacek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , advocates for “ medical freedom , ” and believes that vaccinations should be a matter of personal , informed decision — not mandated by public policy .
The influence of likeminded lawmakers has already made Idaho a haven for parents who don ’ t wish to vaccinate their children , and several legislators have attempted ( and , so far , failed ) to implement similar measures in Montana .
In Flathead County , the Board of Health — made up of nine members , appointed by the county commissioners , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was already concerned about declining vaccination rates among public school students .
Over the course of the 2018–2019 school year , the county ’ s vaccination rate fell from 93.7 % to 92.6 % , which may not seem like much , but is significant when a 95 % rate is ideal to maintain herd immunity .
The board embarked on a concerted campaign to up vaccination rates across the county .
People like Bukacek were an obstacle to that goal , but not a barrier .
But then , in December 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans , took drastic action .
Without public discussion , they removed two members of the Board of Health : Dr. David Myerowitz , its chair , and Dr. Wayne Miller , both of whom had served for over a decade .
In their place , they appointed Ardis Larsen , the wife of a local GOP rainmaker who has no medical qualifications and does not work in health care , and Dr. Bukacek .
The appointments , according to a dozen Flathead residents on both sides of the political spectrum , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was pointed but localized .
Myerowitz — who , before his appointment to the board , launched the heart transplant programs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Ohio State University — issued an extensive indictment of the machinations that predicated his removal .
( You can read it here . )
Joan Driscoll , a nurse practitioner at the Kalispell hospital and former member of the Board of Health , found the entire situation “ horrifying.
” “ I couldn ’ t believe they took two-forward thinking physicians off the board and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she told me , “ who doesn ’ t have admitting privileges at our hospital , and has always been on the right-wing fringe of our community.
” The primary concern was over Bukacek ’ s position on vaccination , and that her anti-abortion stance meant she would work to block or delay funding for women ’ s health programs .
But the county commissioners defended her appointment as a means of adding “ diversity ” to the board .
“ Bukacek is only one person on the board , ” County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December .
Myerowitz and Miller , she suggested , “ are just upset that they got kicked off the board … This is not a big deal .
It ’ s all being blown out of proportion.
” This might seem like small-town politics , and it is .
But small-town politics can have outsize implications , especially when something as society-throttling as a pandemic arrives .
On April 4 , Bukacek posed a question on Facebook : “ Know anyone personally with baseline good health who has been hospitalized for COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 ?
” The post has attracted more than 450 comments — a mix of people saying that they didn ’ t know anyone firsthand , or that an acquaintance had it and had been hospitalized , or that they themselves had tested positive .
The next day , Bukacek used those responses as opening evidence in her speech at Liberty Fellowship .
“ Last I counted , there were three or four who answered yes , and said their case fit the criteria and gave me some details , ” Bukacek said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four , giving them the benefit of the doubt that they were answering honestly to the best of their knowledge , does that mean that the person described was actually stricken with COVID-19 ?
” At that point , in early April , many people outside early hot spots in the US didn ’ t know anyone with COVID-19 .
It hadn ’ t spread extensively yet outside urban areas , and testing , in most places , remained very limited .
And in that gap — while most rural areas were under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bukacek began to cultivate existing doubt and confusion about the virus .
In an April 12 interview with former Presbyterian minister John Shuck , who has become a full-bore COVID-denier , she ’ s even more explicit .
“ I think many , if not most people , they have this feeling in their gut , ” she said .
“ I call it the Holy Spirit , but other people would say it ’ s like a gut feeling , that the stylish popular narrative about how scary this virus is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us all , they just have a feeling inside of them that this is not true .
It ’ s not ringing true to them .
They ’ re looking at their neighbors….they ’ re not seeing people , you know , drop dead from it .
And so people just aren ’ t buying it.
” The phenomenon Bukacek described is why some people are still skeptical of the importance of vaccines , too — they ’ re not seeing their friends and family drop dead from polio .
The most successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst enemy : With time and buy-in , they erase the evidence of their own necessity .
And if you take away that sort of powerful anecdotal evidence , it makes it all the easier to fan anxieties about injecting a child with a live culture of a disease .
The maintenance of public health ( through vaccination ) seems worse to people than the alternative ( going about life as usual ) .
That logic has been a talking point among conservatives since the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic : the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aka social distancing and business shutdowns ) might be worse than the disease itself ( which , from some individuals ’ perspective , has no effect on them personally ) .
What makes social distancing hard for people to accept as a preventative tool is that it has to start early , before a disease is widespread , in order to be fully effective .
The evidence of its effectiveness is what ’ s missing : no loved ones dead , no ventilator shortages , no mass burials .
The cure , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than what it ’ s preventing — which makes it all the easier to question or protest .
“ It ’ s a smart tactic , ” said Heidi Lawrence , an assistant professor of English and rhetoric at George Mason University and author of Vaccine Rhetorics , after watching the video of Bukacek ’ s speech at Liberty Fellowship .
“ We know that testing is limited , that resources are scarce , and that actual scientific knowledge around the virus is incomplete , ” she said .
“ She ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justify taking down the CDC , and the government rationale for the closures , too.
” That ’ s a common strategy among vaccine skeptics , according to Lawrence .
“ You question the science behind a claim , rather than the claim itself , ” she said .
“ Instead of saying , ‘ I think there ’ s a problem with government overreach , ’ you say that overreach is based on a bad piece of scientific information.
” The laundry list of Bukacek ’ s qualifications that preceded her speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among vaccine skeptics .
“ When they write something , they always include the details of their degree , whether it ’ s an MA , a JD , an MD , ” Lawrence explained .
“ They ’ re trying to signal that they are , in fact , very smart , and educated — that ’ s what you see with the performativity of the white coat and the stethoscope in the video .
It ’ s a direct response to people calling them idiots.
” “ I think the reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s coming from a physician , ” Bukacek said , when questioned about the virality of her video .
“ Some people had a hunch in their gut about these death certificates , like how did they know these people were really dying from that ?
They had that feeling inside of them .
But because they don ’ t have an MD or PhD ... or they don ’ t have the confidence or the ability to stand up against the popular narrative , they just kept it to themselves.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Koltai , who just completed her dissertation on the way that vaccine discourse circulates online , told me .
“ You work really hard to get a degree , and it gives you some level of authority .
But the danger is that people with these degrees often dissent from the mainstream in areas outside of their expertise .
It ’ s like these economists and physicists trying to be epidemiologists on Twitter.
” Bukacek , whose specialty is internal medicine , appears to have no expertise in infectious diseases or public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invites viewers to watch as Bukacek “ blows the whistle ” — another common framework for vaccine skeptics , painting them as the only people willing to question corrupt , untrustworthy institutions .
In this case , Bukacek says the CDC has a history of making “ a big deal of out nothing ” during previous pandemics , and has created a “ huge financial incentive ” for hospitals to report COVID-19 deaths .
( Hospitals are receiving a 20 % payment increase for Medicaid patients treated for COVID-19 , but the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strain ; one data analysis concluded that most lose thousands of dollars on each case treated . )
She also questions scientists ’ predictions , based on existing data , about how the virus will continue to spread in the next year , which , she says , is just “ the next narrative.
” “ Where did they get this ?
” she asked Shuck during their interview .
“ I think they ’ re pulling it out of their hat .
They ’ re just coming up with it.
” She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanding testing .
“ PROMOTING COVID 19 TESTING TO FEEL SAFE ...
THIS PROLONGS CONTAGION OF FEAR , ” she posted on Facebook earlier this week .
“ KEEP FIRMLY IN MIND : LOCKDOWN BASED on FEAR NOT FACTS.
” Bukacek has exploited that fear and confusion about the virus herself to fuel an even larger mistrust of the government and skepticism toward scientific findings and medical guidance .
And she ’ s been able to do so not just because she has a medical degree , or because YouTube and Facebook are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theories — but because faith in the overall project of “ public health ” has been deteriorating for years .
In the United States , public health boards were first established in the 1860s and ’ 70s , charged with implementing policies in line with the idea that a society , working as a whole , can help protect individuals from disease and generally increase quality of life .
Creating sanitation campaigns , tracing E. coli cases , or managing norovirus outbreaks at a nursing home — all of those things are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But another , far less discussed component of public health is engendering trust in public health — because sooner or later , people may need to trust medical advice that isn ’ t intuitively or automatically convincing in order to protect themselves and others .
“ Any advocate of vaccinations or any science that you can ’ t see , hear , or touch has an uphill road to walk , ” said Mark Navin , an associate professor of philosophy at Oakland University who specializes in the bioethics of public health .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a lot of ‘ common sense ’ and intuitionist ways of knowledge .
With COVID , for example , people might not see others dying , but exponential growth is also a really hard concept : how two deaths becomes four deaths , becomes 16 deaths , and the chart explodes really quickly.
” “ Every generation has to come and decide if they ’ re going to trust the government , and if they ’ re going to trust medicine , ” Navin said .
“ And we ’ ve taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ II era that people have this , but every generation has to come in and cultivate it.
” And that ’ s the problem with the current era .
There are some people , like Myerowitz , the doctor whom Bukacek replaced on the Flathead County Board of Health , who have firsthand experience with pandemics : When he was a young boy , Myerowitz nearly died from polio .
He was bedridden for an entire summer .
But others struggle with the intangibility or invisibility of public health success , either with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the vast majority of Americans do believe in vaccines , and have adhered to social distancing guidelines .
But when it comes to public health , distrust is contagious — and exacerbated by the relatively recent politicization and polarization of science .
“ Responses to pandemics , support for vaccinations , those parts of public health governance were , until very recently , bipartisan and sacrosanct , ” Navin explained .
This time around , though , initial skepticism around COVID-19 in the US was fueled , with extremely serious consequences , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and Fox News .
( Both the Trump campaign and Fox News host Sean Hannity have disputed the claim that their responses were dismissive . )
A small faction of people on the far right and far left have resisted vaccinations for some time , but “ medical freedom ” has recently been taken up as a defining issue of the far right .
Ongoing protests against lockdowns across the nation are being organized and funded by many of the same groups that were instrumental in the rise of the tea party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures to combat the spread of coronavirus are attempting to keep up the appearance that their movement is nonpartisan and nonideological , and simply focused on getting people back to work .
But no number of Facebook posts advising protesters to keep their Confederate flags at home will keep the most fervent members of the movement from the front lines .
And once these issues become polarized , Navin points out , they also become integral to people ’ s identities .
Believers on both sides become more entrenched .
To concede to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” is to join them .
Which helps explain — at least in part — what ’ s going on in the Flathead Valley .
On April 6 , the day after Bukacek spoke at Liberty Fellowship , she helped organize one of the earliest protests against stay-at-home policies in the nation .
As the Kalispell City Council met online , voting to officially declare a “ state of emergency , ” Bukacek and around 30 others gathered outside the empty city hall .
In an email to local press , Bukacek claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law ” by complying with the stay-at-home orders .
At the protest , she held a sign reading “ HEIL RUSSELL , ” referring to Kalispell City Manager Doug Russell .
Bukacek is not the only person to publicly compare shutdown orders with Nazi rule .
Liberty Fellowships ’ s Chuck Baldwin refers to Dr. Fauci , the White House health adviser , as a “ Big Pharma Fascist , ” and in North Idaho , far-right state Rep. Heather Scott claimed her state ’ s stay-at-home order was “ no different than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling people , ‘ You are an essential worker or a nonessential worker , ’ and the nonessential workers got put on a train.
” Since the protest , Bukacek has met with a handful of other protesters called the “ People ’ s Meeting , ” led by Nick Ramlow , who owns a local construction company .
The meetings are held in an outbuilding at a home in Kalispell and broadcast on Facebook .
As with the broadcast of the Liberty Fellowship church service , the only person visible is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Bukacek , are audible .
Ramlow , who moved to the Flathead area six years ago , is not a member of Liberty Fellowship .
But his anti-government politics align with theirs and he has mentioned Ammon Bundy — one of the leaders of the standoff at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Northeast Oregon — as someone with whom he has “ cross-pollinated ideas.
” “ We ’ re the last stand , ” Ramlow told me when I reached him by phone , referring to Idaho , Wyoming , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where freedoms are still allowed.
” The shutdown , he said , made it clear that it was time to “ build a body of people who are willing to stand on principles , ” to draw up grievances against government officials engaging in overreach .
Ramlow expressed great admiration for “ Dr .
Annie , ” as he calls her .
“ There ’ s a great deal of energy that pulses through that woman , ” he said .
“ And she ’ s really pointing out how they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so that every case becomes COVID .
It ’ s exactly the same as the Salem Witch Trials , where you give bounties to people hunting witches — eventually they ’ re going to be paying people who are finding people who aren ’ t witches , you know ?
” Ramlow is currently running , as a libertarian , for the state legislature .
And the mayor of Kalispell , he said — along with other government officials — “ armed me with everything I needed to campaign .
As soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was all I needed to get my brand of freedom out there.
” He sees the ongoing purpose of the People ’ s Meetings as twofold : to file criminal complaints against public officials ordering lockdowns , and to organize local business owners in a pact to help one another keep their businesses open , regardless of the stay-at-home order .
Ramlow ’ s group , at least for now , will not need to take action .
On Sunday , April 26 , the state of Montana began to gradually reopen : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the week after , restaurants and bars .
No Flathead Valley business owners were called upon to protect others ’ freedom .
Ramlow attempted to serve cease-and-desist orders concerning the “ unlawful enforcement ” of remaining restrictions to various governmental offices , and solicited the home address of the Kalispell mayor on Facebook Classifieds for $ 100 so as to perform a citizen ’ s arrest .
But his actions have been largely ignored .
Still , these protests are not the end of something — they ’ re the beginning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a way so that this doesn ’ t happen again , ” Ramlow told me .
“ You can think of this as being out in the desert , and you come across a den of snakes .
Well , after that , you never want to come across a den of snakes again .
We want our bite to be that toxic , that no one comes near it again.
” That ’ s some big , vaguely coded talk .
But so , too , was the talk around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement , led by the Bundys , and the apocalyptic prepper movements that have congregated in and around Northwest Montana .
Before the pandemic , the fire behind those groups had largely died out .
The further right arm of the local GOP was still powerful , but the tea party , at least as a coherent entity , had largely disappeared .
Ammon Bundy was in the suburbs of Boise , flailing about for a new cause to throw his weight behind .
With a president who is openly sympathetic to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less to fight against .
But COVID-19 and the scientific uncertainty , government-mandated lockdowns , and federally funded relief programs it ’ s given rise to have resparked the embers and united them around a common cause .
These groups know , better than others , never to waste a crisis .
For years , anti-vax and anti-government truthers have been anticipating a government mandate that everyone submit to a vaccine — no exceptions .
For them , the coronavirus pandemic is the Medical Conspiracy Super Bowl , the moment they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corner of Montana — and far beyond , thanks to the internet — Bukacek is just one of many players who ’ ve been waiting what feels like their entire lives to get off the bench .
The members of the Board of Health , according to the board ’ s bylines , serve at the pleasure of the county commissioners .
That means that nobody else — not the mayor , the city council , or the governor — can force Bukacek ’ s removal .
Two of the three commissioners voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And , at least as of now , it ’ s not going to happen .
Ten days after Bukacek ’ s Liberty Fellowship video was posted , the Board of Health held its first virtual meeting .
Several members of the community voiced their concerns about Bukacek ’ s appointment , given her remarks in the video and her coordination of the Kalispell protest , and asked for her dismissal from the board .
Bukacek held her ground , and criticized guidelines prohibiting visitors to long-term care and assisted living homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( In Toole County — just on the other side of Glacier Park — a COVID-19 outbreak in an assisted care facility has been responsible for six deaths , more than a third of Montana ’ s official count . )
Thus far , the only one of the county ’ s three commissioners to publicly criticize Bukacek has been Phil Mitchell .
According to locals , it ’ s not because he ’ s particularly brave , but because he ’ s already declared that he won ’ t be running for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 scandal involving Mitchell ’ s removal of $ 16,000 worth of trees on county land abutting his home .
“ I am disappointed in her and in fact I am pissed off , ” Mitchell told the Flathead Beacon on April 20 .
“ I am sorry that I put her on the board and I am sorry for how she has acted .
I ’ m frustrated but there ’ s not a lot I can do .
I ’ m only one commissioner.
” The other two , Pam Holmquist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their initial reasoning for appointing Bukacek to the board .
Holmquist pointed out that Bukacek is one member of nine ; as for Brodehl , he told me , “ It ’ s very important that we have a diverse board , with people who have and are willing to voice an opinion that represents their heart .
And there is a group of people in the valley who feel the same way.
” It ’ s also likely , given the political history of the area , that they ’ re concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Holmquist knows that if she votes to unseat Bukacek , she ’ s screwed , ” said one local politician , who requested anonymity in order to avoid retaliation .
“ And Brodehl knows the same thing.
” Brodehl wanted to be clear that Bukacek has promised that she would not speak on behalf of the board , and didn ’ t see an issue with her exercising her right to freedom of speech .
“ It ’ s the government ’ s job to do what ’ s right , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s right to me is following the constitution and the First Amendment .
And that ’ s allowing every side to this to voice their opinion.
” “ Saying that Annie provides a diversity of opinion is nonsense , ” Myerowitz , the former chair of the board , told me .
“ Would they appoint an alt-right military person to the Board of Health ?
That represents a part of this community too .
You have to invite people who share the vision of what a board of health does , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county .
Annie doesn ’ t believe in the basic principles of public health.
” Bukacek ’ s appointment represents the far-right libertarian mindset taken to its logical conclusion : a public health appointee who seemingly doesn ’ t believe in public health .
The doubt she ’ s sowing now foments what she and supporters call “ civil disobedience ” against stay-at-home advisories .
But that doubt and resistance may expand to include other attempts on the part of public health officials to track and mitigate the spread of the disease , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing or , in the years to come , vaccination .
In Idaho , Texas , and California , some of the most vocal and visible groups protesting the lockdowns have been groups advocating for medical freedom .
If they ’ re resisting medically informed guidance about prevention now , that resistance will likely only intensify when prevention turns into vaccination .
“ I already see this assumption that anti-vaxxers are going to line up for a COVID-19 vaccination , ” Lawrence , the anti-vax rhetoric scholar , told me .
“ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they ’ ll be shown how wrong they are .
But I do not think that ’ s how it ’ s going to play out .
Many people will line up , and will clamor for it .
And others will be persuaded that vaccines are not to be trusted .
And right now , we ’ re getting ready to see what those arguments will look like.
” At this point , Bukacek wins if she stays on the Board of Health , and she wins if she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed now , she might not sit on the board , but she will still wear the lab coat .
Her video may have been marked as “ Partly False Information ” by Facebook ’ s fact-checkers , but for many , that designation only underlines the boldness of the truths she ’ s telling .
Every successful movement needs martyrs , and Bukacek — along with others fired , assailed , arrested , ridiculed , or threatened for their resistance — could easily become a unifying hero of the cause , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bukacek and others like her frame their opposition to COVID-19 restrictions , now and in the future , as part of a larger spiritual , political , and ideological battle .
Their resistance is local , and , even here in Montana , still very much in the minority .
Which perhaps explains the feeling of discombobulation , watching and hearing about the protests in the news or in your feeds : They ’ re such a small percentage of an otherwise largely compliant whole .
But in a state of emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking to people ’ s deepest and darkest fears , to destabilize an entire society .
●

On Sunday, April 5, Dr. Annie Bukacek, wearing a white doctor’s coat and a pink stethoscope draped around her neck, stood behind a makeshift pulpit against the plain backdrop of a Hilton Garden Inn conference room in Kalispell, Montana. She was there to deliver a sermon of sorts to members of the Liberty Fellowship, an anti-government, anti-globalism church led by a pastor named Chuck Baldwin that serves as a beacon for the extreme political right — a mix of constitutionalists, militia members, and separatists — in Montana’s Flathead Valley. Based on responses from a Facebook post and her own experience as a doctor, Bukacek made her case to the congregation: that the “alleged death rate” due to COVID-19 has been significantly inflated in order to justify otherwise unjust stay-at-home orders.
Doctors, Bukacek argued, rely on “assumptions and educated guesses that go unquestioned,” which has resulted in an overreporting of deaths. “Based on inaccurate, incomplete data,” she said, “people are being terrorized by fearmongers into relinquishing cherished freedoms.” (The most recent CDC data suggests that coronavirus deaths have actually been dramatically underreported.) Like many others who’ve propagated falsehoods about COVID, Bukacek argues that because many who’ve succumbed to the disease also had other health concerns, they thus died with COVID-19, not of COVID-19. (People with “comorbidities” like hypertension, diabetes, or immune deficiencies are indeed more likely to die from COVID-19, but the infection itself is the trigger for the respiratory or organ failures that actually cause death.)
The video has since been picked up by talk radio, Infowars, QAnon accounts, and other media beacons of the far right. But it’s also made its way to less conspiracy-minded audiences, with over a million views on Facebook and various YouTube channels. For months, figures on the far right have been questioning the severity of government reaction to COVID-19. But Bukacek, who did not respond to multiple requests for an interview, is an unusual messenger for these unfounded claims.
As Baldwin was careful to note when he introduced her on camera, Bukacek received her medical degree from the University of Illinois and completed her residency at the Oregon Health and Science University. She is a member of the American College of Physicians, Montana Chapter. She was voted the Best Family Physician in the area in both 2012 and 2019. And, most importantly, she is currently serving as a member of the Flathead County Board of Health.
The story of how a doctor now peddling potentially dangerous COVID-19 misinformation found her way onto a board entrusted with preserving communitywide health is, as one might expect, filled with local political grudges and maneuvering. Bukacek’s appointment was controversial when it happened and remains so; there are currently competing petitions to keep her on and remove her from the board. But the story also serves as a microcosm of the national conflict and confusion around the pandemic, as conspiracy theories and anti-government outrage have filled the vacuum created by the general lack of information about a new virus and constantly evolving — and confusing, and sometimes contradictory — public health messaging.


buzzfeednews--2020-05-03--The Angry Protest Images From Michigan Don't Tell The Whole Story As The State Decides How To Reopen

The nation is seeing groups of angry protesters , some with face masks and others carrying rifles — on TV and on social media .
But many people in the state do n't agree on when business should reopen .
The coronavirus shutdown has cost Nadine Maliniak all of her April and May bookings at the five-room bed and breakfast she runs in Lexington about two blocks from the Lake Huron shore .
`` I need to get open , but I am a little bit afraid , '' said Maliniak , whose husband has health troubles .
Mike Jones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a short walk from the shores of Lake Michigan .
He 's more confident , saying that with the right precautions , he can operate safely .
`` It 's gon na be a new , different normal , but I think we have to move forward .
There 's not much choice , '' Jones said .
As the state prepares to reopen the economy after a stay-at-home order that has been in place since early March , even people in the same business are unsure about how to proceed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is seeing on TV and on social media — groups of angry protesters , some with face masks and others carrying rifles , entering the state capitol in Lansing on Thursday demanding an end to the state of emergency — these outstate Michiganders are struggling to find consensus .
Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer this week announced a plan that creates eight geographic regions that could potentially reopen for business on different schedules depending on how active the virus is in those areas .
During a debate this week , state Sen. Ed McBroom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different needs .
“ I have five counties that don ’ t have a single case , '' said McBroom , who represents the western Upper Peninsula .
`` I have hospitals that are not going to make it and are sitting there empty , getting the slow roll.
” McBroom said that if the situation were reversed , and a virus was raging in the U.P .
but had barely touched the Lower Peninsula , “ you guys would have burned the bridge down already , ” and would not have let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy of the rest of the state .
Metro Detroit has borne the brunt of the virus , with Wayne , Oakland , and Macomb counties reporting 30,247 confirmed cases and 3,254 deaths as of Saturday , according to state figures .
But others are pressing for a more cooperative approach .
Travel Michigan , which promotes travel and tourism with things like the `` Pure Michigan '' commercials , launched a campaign aimed at unity .
`` We want to remind people that no one is in this alone — we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dave Lorenz , the group 's vice president .
“ The 'Pure Michigan ' campaign has served as a unifying force during other hard times , and through our 'Two Peninsulas , One Pure Michigan ' message , we hope to instill the value of staying united at a time when it is needed most.
” [ More : For those who market Detroit and Michigan , it 's 'dream now and visit later ' ] Michigan 's tourism industry has a short season to make the bulk of its money , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ balance economic health and public health .
`` I 've got a lot of very eager members , hoteliers , restaurateurs , bar owners , who 'd like to see some normalcy , they 'd like to get back to business , '' said Trevor Tkach , president of Traverse City Tourism .
`` For us , that means welcoming guests , maybe in a different fashion than we have in the past .
Right now we 're going to have to do business differently . ''
Traverse City is in Grand Traverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases and five deaths as of Saturday , according to state figures .
Tkach said businesses can adapt .
`` They 're ready to do business , they 're willing to follow whatever safety precautions , whatever hygiene measures the state sees fit , '' he said .
`` They 're ready to follow those guidelines and prepare a safe environment to take guests . ''
Jones draws a military pension and has owned his cottages for years .
He said he 's better positioned to weather a bad season than business owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ properties .
Still , he worries about them .
`` If we do not have tourists here starting in June , there are a whole bunch of places going to not make it through the winter , '' he said .
`` We literally have 90 days for a huge number of businesses to make their money . ''
Jones lives in Benzie County , which has logged just six coronavirus cases and no deaths .
Jones said he plans to buy an electrostatic disinfection sprayer that can be used on soft surfaces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard surfaces .
They cost about $ 1,000 , but he said it 's worth the investment to reassure guests .
`` Between 45 % to 60 % of my guests repeat every year , '' he said .
`` I 'm getting phone calls from them saying they ca n't wait .
They just want to get up here . ''
That worries some Up North locals .
Hillary Way lives in Boyne City , in Charlevoix County , which has logged 13 coronavirus cases and one death .
`` I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much , too soon , '' she said .
`` There are so many people who are out and about going on with daily lives without wearing masks .
I think a push for local businesses to open and for locals-only for shopping and getting back to normal is fine , but all the local economies up here are tourism-based and if people downstate catch wind of us being open , even more will migrate Up North and they will bring COVID with them and it could really hit hard . ''
Treetops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courses , the Tradition , on Friday .
The course is the flattest of the five courses on the property and therefore the most conducive to walking .
Whitmer 's order allows golf now , but not golf carts , which put two players elbow-to-elbow as they ride .
In a typical year , 99 % of rounds played at Tree Tops are played with carts , said assistant general manager Kevin McKinley .
`` We 've sort of reinvented our mojo , '' McKinley said .
Gaylord is in Otsego County , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight deaths .
McKinley said he expects limited business in the near term because the governor 's orders do n't yet allow leisure travel .
Most Treetops players come from other parts of Michigan , or from other states , and spend the night .
The open course should attract some locals who live within driving distance , but not a lot more .
That 's OK with McKinley .
While he 's eager to see things return to normal , he also has safety concerns .
`` We have 400 employees to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and those 400 employees have family members and friends that they potentially will be in contact with throughout the community , '' McKinley said .
`` So we 're just waiting for the legal go ahead , but also making sure that our protocols are in place so that we 're keeping not only our guests safe , but maybe even more importantly , our staff 's . ''
Some businesses have been scrutinizing Whitmer 's executive orders in search of loopholes that would allow them to operate more freely , but Treetops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to come when they feel safe , McKinley said .
Safety concerns extend to small businesses as well .
At A Night to Remember bed and breakfast in Lexington , Maliniak and her husband basically are the employees .
They book the guests , clean the rooms , cook the breakfasts , and do everything else needed to keep their business open .
Maliniak said she has concerns about both her guests and her family .
`` Even though I clean so good anyways , I 'm always concerned , what more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` And with people coming , where are they coming from ?
Where have they been ?
Have they been social distancing ? ''
Lexington is in Sanilac County , which had reported 36 coronavirus cases and five deaths as of Saturday , according to state figures .
Maliniak said her husband has health difficulties and she 's kept him quarantined for almost two months to avoid potential exposure .
In addition to the bed and breakfast , Maliniak also operates a small ice cream parlor on the property that draws foot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including its harbor .
The space inside is tiny and she does n't want people congregating there while the virus threat looms .
She 's trying to find a way to balance her safety concerns and her need for business .
`` I did not have a walk-up window but I have ordered a ( sliding ) window to put in there , so I possibly could do walk-up service there , '' she said .
Mark Hume runs the Oscoda Canoe Rental on the Au Sable River in Oscoda .
Guests park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he buses them to spots upstream where they put in canoes and kayaks to paddle back down .
That business typically starts in earnest in June and he thinks it can be done safely with proper precautions .
`` I 'm from downstate and as long as they social distance up here , I think it was crazy to tell people , they ca n't come up to their place Up North , '' he said .
`` Just do the whole social distancing thing and do n't worry about it . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had logged 52 coronavirus cases and seven deaths as of Saturday .
Kathy Jacobs , 27 , lives in Montmorency County , in the northeastern part of the Lower Peninsula .
She agrees .
Her county has logged five cases and no deaths .
She normally works as a waitress at a small diner but she did n't work at all in April .
“ I don ’ t see why we can ’ t be open .
There really aren ’ t cases up here , '' she said .
`` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up here .
I think Detroit needs to be closed down and around it — it ’ s bad there , it seems — but I just don ’ t see it here .
There ’ s just not a huge risk here and we can all stay safe .
It ’ s not like we ’ re all working in some plant or something .
We ’ re spread out .
We ’ re good.
” Even in the Upper Peninsula , there 's no consensus on what to do .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , things are different at the eastern end .
Bryan Newland is the chair of the executive council of the Bay Mills Indian Community , which runs a casino just west of Sault Ste .
Marie .
The casino is in Chippewa County , which has logged two coronavirus cases and no deaths .
As a sovereign nation , the community is not bound by Whitmer ’ s orders .
Still , Bay Mills went into lockdown until the end of June and has a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ track illness .
As of Wednesday , it had no confirmed cases .
The shutdown has devastated the casino , which just signed papers for a Paycheck Protection Program loan .
The tribe counts on downstate visitors who stay in the RV park , and gamble and eat at the casino .
There ’ s also a lot of folks with cottages and camps .
Newland has seen license plates from Indiana , Ohio , and car dealer decals from metro Detroit already up there .
“ You can ’ t wall off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think the rules have to be across the board .
If we are open up here , what ’ s to stop people from coming here from a place that is closed ? ''
He notes that Sault Ste .
Marie has only a couple of places to shop for groceries — a Meijer and Walmart .
People mix there all the time .
“ This notion of dividing the state into regions just creates incentives for people to go to regions that are open.
” Jesse Metz lives in Arenac @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saginaw Bay , which has logged 24 coronavirus cases and one death .
Metz lost his job because of the shutdown but he 's opposed to opening different regions .
“ I would really err on the side of caution , '' he said `` It ’ s really tempting to open up the rural areas like here , especially as summer comes and everyone wants to do their normal travels Up North .
We ’ ve made progress as a state and I really worry about that all being for naught .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the lack of patience .
I would hope we could ride it out . ''
Metz said he worries an outbreak near him would overwhelm the local health care system .
He wants to see how other places like Georgia fare , before moving ahead with reopening Michigan .
`` We can ’ t afford to throw away all the progress we have made in mitigating this virus over the last month by rushing a return to normal , no matter how appealing that might sound , '' he said .
Agriculture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the crisis so it 's been allowed to operate as best it can .
But that has n't spared farmers from the economic hit the crisis has brought , said Matt Smego , manager of government relations for the Michigan Farm Bureau .
`` I would say the impact to the farmer of late has been staggering , '' Smego said .
`` We 've seen substantial reductions in prices in farm gate value of products that they sell . ''
Smego said that before the COVID crisis , Michigan farmers sold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produce to commercial meal providers like restaurants , dormitories , and school cafeterias .
With all of those now closed , that market has shifted to where consumers buy food : grocery stores .
But the supply chain is n't set up to push 100 % of the food through that channel , Smego said .
Food is packaged differently for commercial use than it is for retail consumers .
Think 5-gallon buckets instead of 12-ounce containers .
`` We 've got plenty of food in this country , it 's just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process , '' Smego said .
`` The supply chain that we have today really was n't built for this kind of stress , of that much product needing to go to a grocery shelf . ''
Farmers are trying to adapt and do n't want to be left behind .
Mike Fusilier owns a farm west of Ann Arbor and his two sons own farms near him .
He grows flowers as well as produce and a small amount of fruit .
Washtenaw County has logged almost 1,100 cases and 61 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until Whitmer relaxed restrictions on them April 24 .
Fusilier opened his two days later , not knowing whether customers would be comfortable shopping .
`` We were swamped , '' he said .
`` We were worried that people were n't going to come out , we just did n't know . ''
Fusilier wants to be open because springtime is crucial in the flower business .
He does n't want to be left behind because he 's located in Washtenaw County .
He said he 's tried to be creative in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have developed a produce delivery service to homes in the area , which is now booming .
He 's taking other precautions in his greenhouse store , like social distancing , to ensure safety .
`` I think we 've done a good job at our stores with the face masks and we use gloves if we need to , '' he said .
`` I think there 's a lot of businesses , they could probably do something similar to that . ''

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer this week announced a plan that creates eight geographic regions that could potentially reopen for business on different schedules depending on how active the virus is in those areas. During a debate this week, state Sen. Ed McBroom said different regions of the state have different needs.
“I have five counties that don’t have a single case," said McBroom, who represents the western Upper Peninsula. "I have hospitals that are not going to make it and are sitting there empty, getting the slow roll.”
McBroom said that if the situation were reversed, and a virus was raging in the U.P. but had barely touched the Lower Peninsula, “you guys would have burned the bridge down already,” and would not have let what was happening Up North impede the economy of the rest of the state.
Metro Detroit has borne the brunt of the virus, with Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties reporting 30,247 confirmed cases and 3,254 deaths as of Saturday, according to state figures.
But others are pressing for a more cooperative approach. Travel Michigan, which promotes travel and tourism with things like the "Pure Michigan" commercials, launched a campaign aimed at unity.
"We want to remind people that no one is in this alone — we are all one Pure Michigan,” said Dave Lorenz, the group's vice president. “The 'Pure Michigan' campaign has served as a unifying force during other hard times, and through our 'Two Peninsulas, One Pure Michigan' message, we hope to instill the value of staying united at a time when it is needed most.”
[More: For those who market Detroit and Michigan, it's 'dream now and visit later']
Short season
Michigan's tourism industry has a short season to make the bulk of its money, but people who run it are trying to balance economic health and public health.
"I've got a lot of very eager members, hoteliers, restaurateurs, bar owners, who'd like to see some normalcy, they'd like to get back to business," said Trevor Tkach, president of Traverse City Tourism. "For us, that means welcoming guests, maybe in a different fashion than we have in the past. Right now we're going to have to do business differently."
Traverse City is in Grand Traverse County, which has logged 19 coronavirus cases and five deaths as of Saturday, according to state figures. Tkach said businesses can adapt.
"They're ready to do business, they're willing to follow whatever safety precautions, whatever hygiene measures the state sees fit," he said. "They're ready to follow those guidelines and prepare a safe environment to take guests."
Jones draws a military pension and has owned his cottages for years. He said he's better positioned to weather a bad season than business owners who might have a mortgage on their properties. Still, he worries about them.
"If we do not have tourists here starting in June, there are a whole bunch of places going to not make it through the winter," he said. "We literally have 90 days for a huge number of businesses to make their money."
Jones lives in Benzie County, which has logged just six coronavirus cases and no deaths.
Jones said he plans to buy an electrostatic disinfection sprayer that can be used on soft surfaces like beds and furniture as well as hard surfaces. They cost about $1,000, but he said it's worth the investment to reassure guests.
"Between 45% to 60% of my guests repeat every year," he said. "I'm getting phone calls from them saying they can't wait. They just want to get up here."
That worries some Up North locals. Hillary Way lives in Boyne City, in Charlevoix County, which has logged 13 coronavirus cases and one death.
"I think things could spike if we open too much, too soon," she said. "There are so many people who are out and about going on with daily lives without wearing masks. I think a push for local businesses to open and for locals-only for shopping and getting back to normal is fine, but all the local economies up here are tourism-based and if people downstate catch wind of us being open, even more will migrate Up North and they will bring COVID with them and it could really hit hard."
Employee safety
Treetops Resort in Gaylord opened one of its courses, the Tradition, on Friday. The course is the flattest of the five courses on the property and therefore the most conducive to walking. Whitmer's order allows golf now, but not golf carts, which put two players elbow-to-elbow as they ride. In a typical year, 99% of rounds played at Tree Tops are played with carts, said assistant general manager Kevin McKinley.
"We've sort of reinvented our mojo," McKinley said.
Gaylord is in Otsego County, which has reported 92 coronavirus cases and eight deaths.
McKinley said he expects limited business in the near term because the governor's orders don't yet allow leisure travel. Most Treetops players come from other parts of Michigan, or from other states, and spend the night. The open course should attract some locals who live within driving distance, but not a lot more.
That's OK with McKinley. While he's eager to see things return to normal, he also has safety concerns.
"We have 400 employees to think about and to keep safe, and those 400 employees have family members and friends that they potentially will be in contact with throughout the community," McKinley said. "So we're just waiting for the legal go ahead, but also making sure that our protocols are in place so that we're keeping not only our guests safe, but maybe even more importantly, our staff's."
Some businesses have been scrutinizing Whitmer's executive orders in search of loopholes that would allow them to operate more freely, but Treetops plans a nuanced marketing pitch that encourages people to come when they feel safe, McKinley said.
Mom-and-pop
Safety concerns extend to small businesses as well.
At A Night to Remember bed and breakfast in Lexington, Maliniak and her husband basically are the employees. They book the guests, clean the rooms, cook the breakfasts, and do everything else needed to keep their business open. Maliniak said she has concerns about both her guests and her family.
"Even though I clean so good anyways, I'm always concerned, what more should I do?" Maliniak said. "And with people coming, where are they coming from? Where have they been? Have they been social distancing?"


buzzfeednews--2020-05-01--This Leader Has Banned His Doctors From Saying The Word Coronavirus — And Refuses To Admit There Are

This Leader Has Banned His Doctors From Saying The Word Coronavirus — And Refuses To Admit There Are Any Cases

In Turkmenistan , people are rounded up on the street just for speaking about the coronavirus , and doctors are banned from diagnosing it .
As countries around the world continued to encourage their people to stick to strict social distancing measures in an effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus , Turkmenistan ’ s president ordered hundreds , if not thousands , of his citizens to take part in National Horse Day events — starring himself and his rare steeds .
Celebrated on April 26 , the events , led by authoritarian Gurbanguly Berdimukhammedov , included a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the capital of Ashgabat , an annual horse beauty contest , and horse dancing performances , according to state and opposition media reports .
Some 186 countries and territories have reported more than a combined 3.2 million cases of coronavirus and 220,000 related deaths .
Even nearby Tajikistan , ruled by another authoritarian , publicly announced on Thursday its first cases of COVID-19 .
But secretive Turkmenistan continues to hold out , with the government insisting that the country has miraculously been able to avoid the pandemic altogether while investing $ 680 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s deficient health care system .
It is doing so despite a growing body of evidence that the coronavirus is , in fact , already there and even after it accepted nearly $ 1 million in health assistance from the US as part of Washington ’ s global response to help stem the spread of the virus .
Skeptical Central Asia experts , government critics , and local journalists are not surprised by the neglectful attitude of authorities ; reports say Berdimukhammedov has ordered plainclothes police officers to pull people off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ coronavirus ” and doctors to ignore positive diagnoses .
Kate Watters , cofounder and executive director of Crude Accountability , an organization focused on environmental and social justice in Central Asia , told BuzzFeed News that unlike some of its fellow former Soviet neighbors , Turkmenistan “ never had that moment of opening up.
” “ The first instinct in that experience is to say ‘ We don ’ t have a problem , ’ ” she said .
Others say information about coronavirus cases is being suppressed through threats and intimidation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Berdimukhammedov and loyal state-run media .
“ All medical data is doctored , ” Sebastien Peyrouse , a research professor at George Washington University whose focus is Central Asia and who is well-sourced inside Turkmenistan , told BuzzFeed News .
In recent weeks , when someone there has tested positive for COVID-19 , “ they just don ’ t diagnose it , they diagnose them with pneumonia , ” a common symptom of the coronavirus , Peyrouse said .
But Diana Serebryannik , a Turkmen dissident who fled the country in 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 , and who leads the human rights organization Rights and Freedoms of Turkmen Citizens , told BuzzFeed News that even that is changing now .
According to doctors treating COVID-19 patients who were interviewed by members of Serebryannik ’ s group for a new report published Thursday , the government is instructing them to not diagnose pneumonia , as well , after a spike in cases and ahead of a planned visit from World Health Organization ( WHO ) officials .
( Meanwhile , Chronicles of Turkmenistan , a group that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that authorities had ordered coronavirus patients to be moved to remote hospitals to hide them from WHO officials . )
Serebryannik said doctors and nurses she has spoken with across Turkmenistan told her they are barred from even saying the word `` coronavirus '' and were recently banned from using smartphones in hospitals because officials “ don ’ t want photos or videos [ to leak to the media ] , ” exposing the true nature of the situation .
The gag order doesn ’ t seem to stop there .
Radio Free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has journalists in the country ’ s capital , Ashgabat , reported last month that people talking in public about the pandemic were being quickly whisked away by plainclothes agents .
Steve Swerdlow , a human rights lawyer and authority on Central Asia , told BuzzFeed News that Turkmenistan “ is intent on hiding the reality and it ’ s not working.
” Reports and whispers inside the country are beginning to spread in outlets like RFE/RL ’ s Turkmen Service and through word of mouth as quickly as people are becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t just cracks that are showing , these are gaping holes in the narrative , ” Swerdlow said .
A tightly controlled police state that could be called a sort of North Korea lite ( Reporters Without Borders even ranked it worst in the world for press freedom last year , replacing North Korea ) , Turkmenistan , with a population of roughly 5.6 million people , rarely makes headlines and when it does it ’ s usually because of Berdimukhammedov ’ s latest antics , many of which John Oliver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Week Tonight .
Those antics include but are certainly not limited to : setting absurd Guinness World Records ; rapping about the nation ’ s revered Akhal-Teke horses with his grandson ; firing a pistol while riding a bicycle ; throwing knives ; sinking improbable foul shots ; deejaying techno festivals ; and cutting donuts on the edge of a burning natural gas pit known as the Gates of Hell to dispel rumors of his death .
What Berdimukhammedov is not known for is caring much about the well being of the Turkmen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least acknowledge the risk of the coronavirus by taking some steps to stem the spread of it .
In fact , he was quick to ground flights coming from China , which purchases gas from the country , and other Asian nations before closing Turkmenistan ’ s borders entirely .
International flights were redirected to an airport outside of Ashgabat and passengers on their flights who displayed symptoms were forced into quarantine .
( There were reports , however , that some passengers were able to avoid the quarantine by paying bribes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) The government barred foreign nationals from entering the country and restricted movement within its borders , as well .
And schoolchildren are reportedly being taught about the importance of personal hygiene , especially washing their hands with soap .
But critics and journalists say the virus was likely to have already found its way inside the country before many of these measures were put in place .
In early March , RFE/RL ’ s Turkmen Service reported that several confirmed cases of the virus had been detected by medical staff at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Berdimukhammedov ’ s coronavirus denials , said Swerdlow , is that his cult of personality is particularly tied to health and fitness — something the leader has rapped about .
“ He ’ s a physician , as we understand — he ’ s a dentist , ” Swerdlow said of Berdimukhammedov , who is 62 and has ruled as president since 2007 .
“ I think this only adds to the absurdity and the tragedy of what he ’ s doing to his people with these mass public events and outright — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinformation that is being used.
” Berdimuhamedov , who is also the author of several books about herbal medicine , recently recommended to the Turkmen people that they burn the herb harmala , much like you might smudge sage in your home , to ward off viruses that are “ invisible to the naked eye.
” State workers quickly heeded that advice and began smudging schools , government offices , and even cemeteries , according to RFE/RL ’ s Turkmen Service .
Some countries and international organizations like the United Nations have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus even though it hasn ’ t yet officially recognized its presence in the country .
In March , Russia sent the country hundreds of testing kits while the US State Department provided it $ 920,000 in health assistance “ to help prepare laboratory systems , activate case-finding and event-based surveillance , support technical experts for response and preparedness , bolster risk communication , and more.
” But Swerdlow said those supplies may not be getting into the right hands .
He said he has been collecting reports in Turkmenistan and Tajikistan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 866,000 in health assistance , that doctors in both countries are being intimidated and pressured to buy the equipment themselves out of their small paychecks .
“ When doctors complain or nurses complain that they can ’ t afford this , some of them are intimidated and told they can be fired if they don ’ t pay for this out of their own pocket , ” Swerdlow said .
“ There appears to be , as usual , a lot of corruption involved ” with the US assistance .
In a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson justified the health assistance to the countries , saying , “ Given the nature of the disease and its spread around the world , it appears likely that no country will be able to avoid it altogether.
” The spokesperson said the US has safeguards in place to ensure the assistance reached those it is meant for .
“ No US government funding goes directly to the governments of any country in Central Asia .
The private sector firms and nongovernmental organizations that implement US government-funded activities are selected through a rigorous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department spokesperson .
“ USAID is committed to ensuring that American taxpayer dollars are used wisely , effectively , and for their intended purpose every place we work.
” “ USAID has an extensive contractor oversight program , ” the spokesperson added .
Even with US assistance , if a substantial outbreak does occur in Turkmenistan , it is likely to be devastating .
Swerdlow said the health care system of Turkmenistan , a country already in deep economic crisis before the pandemic , has been “ decimated after years of neglect.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals there are unequipped to handle a potential flood of COVID-19 patients , with an extremely limited supply of Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ) , ventilators and oxygen Peyrouse had one word for what the outcome would likely be : “ disaster.
” One group of people in the country at great risk of becoming infected is the prison population , among which are hundreds of political prisoners , including government critics and journalists .
“ There ’ s this list of disappeared prisoners , ” Swerdlow said .
“ Maybe 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost 20 years.
” Human rights groups have pushed a campaign called Prove They Are Alive to try to get Turkmen authorities to provide information about them .
“ Conditions in the prisons are abysmal , ” Swerdlow said , adding that political prisoners have had no access to international health organizations while in custody .
“ It ’ s of the utmost importance that there be some international pressure to release these prisoners .
”

It is doing so despite a growing body of evidence that the coronavirus is, in fact, already there and even after it accepted nearly $1 million in health assistance from the US as part of Washington’s global response to help stem the spread of the virus.
Skeptical Central Asia experts, government critics, and local journalists are not surprised by the neglectful attitude of authorities; reports say Berdimukhammedov has ordered plainclothes police officers to pull people off the streets just for uttering the word “coronavirus” and doctors to ignore positive diagnoses.
Kate Watters, cofounder and executive director of Crude Accountability, an organization focused on environmental and social justice in Central Asia, told BuzzFeed News that unlike some of its fellow former Soviet neighbors, Turkmenistan “never had that moment of opening up.”
“The first instinct in that experience is to say ‘We don’t have a problem,’” she said.
Others say information about coronavirus cases is being suppressed through threats and intimidation, and that disinformation is being pushed by Berdimukhammedov and loyal state-run media.
“All medical data is doctored,” Sebastien Peyrouse, a research professor at George Washington University whose focus is Central Asia and who is well-sourced inside Turkmenistan, told BuzzFeed News.
In recent weeks, when someone there has tested positive for COVID-19, “they just don’t diagnose it, they diagnose them with pneumonia,” a common symptom of the coronavirus, Peyrouse said.
But Diana Serebryannik, a Turkmen dissident who fled the country in 2015, survived a stabbing attack in Moscow in 2016, and who leads the human rights organization Rights and Freedoms of Turkmen Citizens, told BuzzFeed News that even that is changing now.
According to doctors treating COVID-19 patients who were interviewed by members of Serebryannik’s group for a new report published Thursday, the government is instructing them to not diagnose pneumonia, as well, after a spike in cases and ahead of a planned visit from World Health Organization (WHO) officials. (Meanwhile, Chronicles of Turkmenistan, a group that monitors the Turkmen news media, reported that authorities had ordered coronavirus patients to be moved to remote hospitals to hide them from WHO officials.)
Serebryannik said doctors and nurses she has spoken with across Turkmenistan told her they are barred from even saying the word "coronavirus" and were recently banned from using smartphones in hospitals because officials “don’t want photos or videos [to leak to the media],” exposing the true nature of the situation.
The gag order doesn’t seem to stop there. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Turkmen service, which has journalists in the country’s capital, Ashgabat, reported last month that people talking in public about the pandemic were being quickly whisked away by plainclothes agents.
Steve Swerdlow, a human rights lawyer and authority on Central Asia, told BuzzFeed News that Turkmenistan “is intent on hiding the reality and it’s not working.”
Reports and whispers inside the country are beginning to spread in outlets like RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service and through word of mouth as quickly as people are becoming infected with the coronavirus.
“These aren’t just cracks that are showing, these are gaping holes in the narrative,” Swerdlow said.
A tightly controlled police state that could be called a sort of North Korea lite (Reporters Without Borders even ranked it worst in the world for press freedom last year, replacing North Korea), Turkmenistan, with a population of roughly 5.6 million people, rarely makes headlines and when it does it’s usually because of Berdimukhammedov’s latest antics, many of which John Oliver once featured in an episode of Last Week Tonight.