buzzfeednews--2020-04-29--“So What?” How Brazil’s President’s Responded To The Record Daily Increase In Coronavirus Deaths

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As Brazil ’ s official death toll from the coronavirus surpassed China ’ s , where the virus first emerged , President Jair Bolsonaro did little more than shrug .
“ So what ?
” he said to reporters who asked him about the day ’ s record number of deaths on Tuesday night .
“ What do you want me to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strange response from the man who is in charge of Latin America ’ s biggest country .
Bolsonaro , a right-wing former military officer , has become a global pariah , minimizing the impact of the pandemic even as most world leaders have locked their countries down , warning about the dangers of returning too soon to life as we once knew it .
Bolsonaro ’ s political strategy is not dissimilar to President Donald Trump ’ s : undermine governors who are implementing shutdowns while calling to jumpstart the economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it might end up being good politics , ” said Brian Winter , editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly , a magazine about politics in Latin America , noting that Bolsonaro ’ s base continues to stand by him in large part .
His approval rating grew to 33 % , up from 30 % in December , according to pollster Datafolha .
In Brazil , where 71,886 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and at least 5,017 have died , according to the health ministry , there is no national lockdown .
Bolsonaro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work rather than run from the virus “ like cowards.
” And he has continued to visit public places , like pharmacies and supermarkets , shaking hands with supporters .

As Brazil’s official death toll from the coronavirus surpassed China’s, where the virus first emerged, President Jair Bolsonaro did little more than shrug.
“So what?” he said to reporters who asked him about the day’s record number of deaths on Tuesday night. “What do you want me to do?”
This might seem like a strange response from the man who is in charge of Latin America’s biggest country. Bolsonaro, a right-wing former military officer, has become a global pariah, minimizing the impact of the pandemic even as most world leaders have locked their countries down, warning about the dangers of returning too soon to life as we once knew it.
Bolsonaro’s political strategy is not dissimilar to President Donald Trump’s: undermine governors who are implementing shutdowns while calling to jumpstart the economy.
“It is clearly bad policy, but it might end up being good politics,” said Brian Winter, editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly, a magazine about politics in Latin America, noting that Bolsonaro’s base continues to stand by him in large part. His approval rating grew to 33%, up from 30% in December, according to pollster Datafolha.
In Brazil, where 71,886 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and at least 5,017 have died, according to the health ministry, there is no national lockdown. Bolsonaro has repeatedly urged Brazilians to return to work rather than run from the virus “like cowards.” And he has continued to visit public places, like pharmacies and supermarkets, shaking hands with supporters.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-16--Don't Believe Those Texts That Say The Federal Government Is Going To Use The Stafford Act To Quaran

Don't Believe Those Texts That Say The Federal Government Is Going To Use The Stafford Act To Quarantine The United States

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One such text falsely claimed that US President Donald Trump would enact the Stafford Act in 48 to 72 hours and order a two-week mandatory quarantine .
The National Security Council quickly refuted the rumors of a national quarantine on Twitter .
Over the weekend , as many schools and businesses shuttered , text messages began to cause panic .
Text message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FAKE .
There is no national lockdown .
@ CDCgov has and will continue to post the latest guidance on # COVID19 .
# coronavirus Other viral texts have claimed that cities were going to shut down over the weekend .
In New York , one text message falsely said roads , airports , and public transportation would be affected .
The texts became so widespread that Mayor Bill De Blasio and the NYPD both had to debunk .
In fact , the Stafford Act , a law that allows the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already been activated .
Trump declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency on Friday , using authority granted by the law , which passed in 1988 and has been updated twice since .
The Stafford Act does not have a provision that would allow the federal government to declare a mandatory quarantine .
NO , there is NO TRUTH to rumors about Manhattan being quarantined .
Whoever is spreading this misinformation , PLEASE STOP NOW !
THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA : ONE TWEET IN PARTICULAR IS FALSE .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ NO PLANS BY THE NYPD TO SHUT DOWN ROADWAYS OR SUBWAYS .
The texts were not limited to New York .
Similar messages spread in Florida , Chicago , Los Angeles , and cities outside the US .
The misinformation is not even limited to group chats , with many people passing on dubious voice memos that made similar claims .
Claire Wardle , cofounder of the fact-checking nonprofit First Draft , said it ’ s not surprising these false facts were circulating quickly .
“ It ’ s a kernel of truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You see that and it ’ s not out of the realm of possibility.
” The messages are like a broken game of telephone .
“ Fear is the biggest driver of disinformation ; it ’ s a perfect storm of misinformation , ” she said .
The false texts are impossible to trace back to their sources , meaning they could be the work of an intentional disinformation campaign or an organic rumor .
“ Right now I would like to see WhatsApp to give governments broadcast capabilities , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason right now to not test any big ideas.
” She also suggested WhatsApp turn off forwarding functions and work with governments and academics to find new ways to thwart the spread of misinformation .
“ WhatsApp should recognize that it ’ s a huge vector for misinformation , ” Wardle said .
A spokesperson for the company said WhatsApp has implemented measures to fight disinformation in 15 countries , including Israel , Brazil , and Singapore .
The company also reached out to health officials in North America .
“ I this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , technology companies , and civil society to respond to the immense challenge presented by the Coronavirus .
WhatsApp is an important tool for health workers to coordinate and we have engaged health ministries around the world to provide simple ways for citizens to receive accurate information about the virus right on WhatsApp , '' the spokesperson said in an emailed statement .
Other mass text messages shared very bad health advice .
One falsely said that drinking water can help kill the virus .
It was falsely attributed to Stanford University and @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The texts were not limited to New York. Similar messages spread in Florida, Chicago, Los Angeles, and cities outside the US. The misinformation is not even limited to group chats, with many people passing on dubious voice memos that made similar claims.
Claire Wardle, cofounder of the fact-checking nonprofit First Draft, said it’s not surprising these false facts were circulating quickly.
“It’s a kernel of truth thing,” she told BuzzFeed News. “You see that and it’s not out of the realm of possibility.”
The messages are like a broken game of telephone.
“Fear is the biggest driver of disinformation; it’s a perfect storm of misinformation,” she said.
The false texts are impossible to trace back to their sources, meaning they could be the work of an intentional disinformation campaign or an organic rumor.
“Right now I would like to see WhatsApp to give governments broadcast capabilities,” Wardle said. “There is no reason right now to not test any big ideas.”
She also suggested WhatsApp turn off forwarding functions and work with governments and academics to find new ways to thwart the spread of misinformation.
“WhatsApp should recognize that it’s a huge vector for misinformation,” Wardle said.
A spokesperson for the company said WhatsApp has implemented measures to fight disinformation in 15 countries, including Israel, Brazil, and Singapore. The company also reached out to health officials in North America.
“I this extraordinary time we are partnering with governments, technology companies, and civil society to respond to the immense challenge presented by the Coronavirus. WhatsApp is an important tool for health workers to coordinate and we have engaged health ministries around the world to provide simple ways for citizens to receive accurate information about the virus right on WhatsApp," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
Other mass text messages shared very bad health advice. One falsely said that drinking water can help kill the virus. It was falsely attributed to Stanford University and has been debunked by multiple experts.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-21--Fighting With Boomers About Coronavirus Misinformation On WhatsApp Won’t Make Any Of Us Less Afraid

The constant bombardment of WhatsApp forwards on supposed miracle cures for the coronavirus is about one thing : fear .
NEW DELHI — It began with Winston Churchill .
My otherwise lo-fi , chilled out , “ Green living ” WhatsApp group , whose members are women of various ages with a shared love for composting and plant photos , randomly brought up the British wartime leader a week ago with the quote : “ Never let a good crisis go to waste.
” The crisis was the coronavirus , and Churchill , apparently , was supposed to be our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times .
“ Although COVID 19 has tragically killed many worldwide , it has altered the global scenario for the better , ” the WhatsApp forward began , asking all 34 of us to travel only when necessary , stop taking kids to malls , bathe more , pray , eat at home , read instead of watching movies , and let the economy and ourselves slow down .
“ At times nature puts things in order and we must obey .
Introspect !
” It ended with an insouciant smiley that made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an open drain .
I typed out a response — a scream in text form : “ For the most privileged among us , the coronavirus is an enforced staycation with the kids — for others , it has meant death , poverty , being stranded in foreign countries , not being able to see our parents and families when they are most vulnerable and a strange , unsettling loneliness with no end in sight .
But hey !
keep praising the dude who oversaw a famine in India that killed millions : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Over this past week , the WhatsApp forwards have doubled , then tripled in number and bled out from Green Living to family groups , video calls with my mother , phone calls with my in-laws , chats with friends , Twitter and drawing room conversations .
I feel less like screaming with frustration and more like crying , because I now recognize the misinformation and hoaxes about the coronavirus for what it ’ s really about : fear .
The incomprehensible feeling that the world as we know it might come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cure will make it all go away .
We reassure ourselves with the idea that the medicine for a disease the world ’ s best minds are trying to fix , lies on a kitchen shelf , or in a government warehouse , or a message on your phone that a neighbor passed along .
“ Hot water and lemon kills cancer cells !
” read one such text from an elder relative , who followed it up with another message : “ no harm in taking this : ) , ” possibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up links from the World Health Organization for him .
I would ’ ve more likely sent him a link from the Indian fact-checking organization , Alt News , which has already debunked this and several coronavirus-related rumors online .
But it would not have made a difference , because all my conversations with my family this week have been gentle chidings telling me not to freak out .
There ’ s no real need to worry because Indians have “ higher immunity because we have been exposed to more anti-bodies than people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not survive in warm weather.
” Naively , I thought the problem was only boomers , but then one morning this week , a friend told me she was being invited to “ anti-COVID smoking sessions ” every day because someone in Goa had decided that the coronavirus hated weed .
I called Alt News ’ founder , Pratik Sinha , to find out when the coronavirus rumors began to peak .
He sounded tired — in the past months , Alt News ’ tiny team has worked tirelessly to debunk rumors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rampant police violence against students , the Delhi riots and now , a global pandemic .
“ The thing with misinformation is that it follows focal points in the news , ” Sinha said .
“ India hanged four rapists today , from one of the most closely followed gang-rape stories in the world — but all that the people here are reading about online right now is COVID-19.
” Facebook-owned WhatsApp , which has more than 200 million users in India ( its largest market ) has previously told the Indian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and civil society to fight fake news and misinformation .
In 2018 , WhatsApp added a tiny “ forwarded ” label on all forwarded messages to control the spread of misinformation and added a limit to the number of people you could forward tests to , but misinformation continues to lead to violence and deaths in India .
In January , Sinha said , when news about the novel coronavirus was still focused on China , India saw a deluge of false WhatsApp forwards about Chinese police shooting people suspected of having the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of Alt News ’ most read news stories online .
“ Then slowly , as the disease became a global concern , the season of prophylactics and preventive cures began , ” Sinha said , calling the Indian magic cure-all for all diseases , ginger , lemon , honey , and spices about as effective as a “ tandoori chicken marinade.
” “ We are now seeing more and more warnings — like the rumor about ibuprofen worsening corona symptoms , or a government advisory from a foreign country passing around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent days , Alt News has published fact-checks on a mind-boggling array of rumors about the pandemic ’ s effects : from a major Indian milk brand closing its cooling centers due to the coronavirus to Saddam Hussein allegedly saying the US had threatened Iraq with the coronavirus and the rumor that all countries worst-affected by the virus lie along the 40-degree latitude .
“ Misinformation always plays on the fault lines of our fears and deepest beliefs , ” Sinha said , pointing to some of the rumors rife in an increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refusing coronavirus testing for religious reasons , or the stigmatization of meat-eating by saying that meat-suppliers in west India have shut shop because cattle are infected with the coronavirus .
“ It ’ s extremely worrying , because rumors about child kidnapping have led to lynchings for three consecutive years .
The rumor about coronavirus affecting meat has destroyed poultry farming in Telangana ( a state in South India ) .
” Another form of misinformation coming into its own this pandemic has been the spread of recorded phone calls , passed around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors .
“ A lot of these recorded calls are just one person boasting — like he ’ s predicting apocalyptic scenarios , foreseeing the future of coronavirus or the economy — then someone forwards it claiming it ’ s from an expert , ” Sinha said .
At least two Indian doctors , Naresh Trehan and Devi Shetty , both founders of multispecialty hospital chains have been falsely portrayed as having shared coronavirus-related medical advice via voice recordings .
Shetty , contrary to WhatsApp and multiple news outlets , never shared the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people not to get themselves tested unnecessarily .
A WhatsApp forward claiming to be from the “ office of Dr. Naresh Trehan , ” an Indian cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgeon , claimed special knowledge that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was going to declare a national emergency : “ Keep enough rations , medicines , and cash , ” the message warned .
It was fake .
The scary part of coronavirus-related misinformation isn ’ t the people who believe it , it ’ s the lack of good information to counter it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government itself falsely advised that homeopathy can help prevent and manage coronavirus symptoms , but natural medicines have not been proven to have any effect on the disease .
Modi addressed the country for the first time yesterday about the coronavirus , but his speech included nothing on government measures to curb the virus .
The government is not , as my mother asked me yesterday , spraying cities from helicopters to kill the virus — a rumor that has apparently been floated in the UAE before .

I typed out a response — a scream in text form: “For the most privileged among us, the coronavirus is an enforced staycation with the kids — for others, it has meant death, poverty, being stranded in foreign countries, not being able to see our parents and families when they are most vulnerable and a strange, unsettling loneliness with no end in sight. But hey! keep praising the dude who oversaw a famine in India that killed millions :)” But I never sent it.
Over this past week, the WhatsApp forwards have doubled, then tripled in number and bled out from Green Living to family groups, video calls with my mother, phone calls with my in-laws, chats with friends, Twitter and drawing room conversations. I feel less like screaming with frustration and more like crying, because I now recognize the misinformation and hoaxes about the coronavirus for what it’s really about: fear. The incomprehensible feeling that the world as we know it might come to an end, and no known cure will make it all go away. We reassure ourselves with the idea that the medicine for a disease the world’s best minds are trying to fix, lies on a kitchen shelf, or in a government warehouse, or a message on your phone that a neighbor passed along.
“Hot water and lemon kills cancer cells!” read one such text from an elder relative, who followed it up with another message: “no harm in taking this :),” possibly anxious that I would once again dig up links from the World Health Organization for him. I would’ve more likely sent him a link from the Indian fact-checking organization, Alt News, which has already debunked this and several coronavirus-related rumors online.
But it would not have made a difference, because all my conversations with my family this week have been gentle chidings telling me not to freak out. There’s no real need to worry because Indians have “higher immunity because we have been exposed to more anti-bodies than people in the west” and “coronavirus does not survive in warm weather.” Naively, I thought the problem was only boomers, but then one morning this week, a friend told me she was being invited to “anti-COVID smoking sessions” every day because someone in Goa had decided that the coronavirus hated weed.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-20--All People In Illinois Have Been Ordered To Stay Home To Stop The Coronavirus From Spreading

Anish Kapoor 's Cloud Gate sculpture , also known as the Bean and one of Chicago 's most popular tourist attractions , is pictured Thursday .
It was closed because of the coronavirus outbreak .
The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
All people in Illinois will be ordered to stay home and all nonessential businesses will close as the fifth-largest US state ’ s coronavirus case count climbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker announced Friday .
`` To avoid the loss of potentially tens of thousands of lives , we must enact an immediate stay-at-home order for the state of Illinois , '' the governor said at a press conference .
The order , which will go into effect on Saturday at 5 p.m. local time and last until at least April 7 , will mean everyone in Illinois should stay home unless they work in an essential business such as a supermarket , pharmacy , or hospital .
Gas stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to use , and the governor said there was no need to rush to such places now to hoard supplies .
Residents will also still be allowed to go outside to exercise or walk their pets .
But nonessential stores , such as restaurants and fashion retailers , will all be closed .
The governor said he decided to take the step after consulting scientists and experts on how to halt the spread of the virus .
`` I fully recognize I am choosing between saving people 's lives and saving people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` but ultimately you ca n't have a livelihood if you do n't have a life . ''
Pritzker said he preferred people to enforce the rules themselves , but he said he has asked police to `` monitor for violations and take action — but that is not an option that anyone prefers . ''
In the weeks since Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation on March 9 over the coronavirus outbreak , cities across Illinois have instituted strict orders for businesses and services to close .
Chicago public schools , the third-largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be closed until at least April 21 , Mayor Lori Lightfoot said this week .
The Trump administration announced Friday that standardized testing will not happen this year because most schools have closed over the coronavirus .
Lightfoot also announced Friday all city parks and libraries would close on Saturday .
Pritzker ’ s order comes after the governors of California and New York announced similar measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus in their respective states .
Nonessential businesses have been ordered to close , and residents have been directed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent the coronavirus from spreading to catastrophic levels .
The Trump administration has come under fire for its initial slow and inadequate response to the coronavirus threat , including from many state governors , who say the administration failed to take the pandemic seriously from the beginning .
Last week , Pritzker also criticized the president on Twitter for the crowds and long lines at Chicago 's O'Hare airport that resulted from Trump 's ban on travel from Europe .

All people in Illinois will be ordered to stay home and all nonessential businesses will close as the fifth-largest US state’s coronavirus case count climbs and more people are dying from COVID-19, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday.
"To avoid the loss of potentially tens of thousands of lives, we must enact an immediate stay-at-home order for the state of Illinois," the governor said at a press conference.
The order, which will go into effect on Saturday at 5 p.m. local time and last until at least April 7, will mean everyone in Illinois should stay home unless they work in an essential business such as a supermarket, pharmacy, or hospital.
Gas stations and grocery stores will remain open for people to use, and the governor said there was no need to rush to such places now to hoard supplies.
Residents will also still be allowed to go outside to exercise or walk their pets.
But nonessential stores, such as restaurants and fashion retailers, will all be closed.
The governor said he decided to take the step after consulting scientists and experts on how to halt the spread of the virus.
"I fully recognize I am choosing between saving people's lives and saving people's livelihoods," Pritzker said, "but ultimately you can't have a livelihood if you don't have a life."
Pritzker said he preferred people to enforce the rules themselves, but he said he has asked police to "monitor for violations and take action — but that is not an option that anyone prefers."
In the weeks since Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation on March 9 over the coronavirus outbreak, cities across Illinois have instituted strict orders for businesses and services to close.
Chicago public schools, the third-largest school district in the country, will be closed until at least April 21, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said this week. The Trump administration announced Friday that standardized testing will not happen this year because most schools have closed over the coronavirus.
Lightfoot also announced Friday all city parks and libraries would close on Saturday.
Pritzker’s order comes after the governors of California and New York announced similar measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus in their respective states. Nonessential businesses have been ordered to close, and residents have been directed to stay at home as much as possible to prevent the coronavirus from spreading to catastrophic levels.
The Trump administration has come under fire for its initial slow and inadequate response to the coronavirus threat, including from many state governors, who say the administration failed to take the pandemic seriously from the beginning.
Last week, Pritzker also criticized the president on Twitter for the crowds and long lines at Chicago's O'Hare airport that resulted from Trump's ban on travel from Europe.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-21--This Photographer Went Off The Grid In The Russian Wilderness. He Returned To Coronavirus Chaos.

“ I just thought , ‘ Wow !
’ I left the world unattended for 10 days and it was enough for it to fall apart . ''
Russian photographer Max Avdeev set off in late February for a journey that had become somewhat of a tradition : roaming the wilderness in Russia ’ s far north with a group of reindeer herders on snowmobiles , completely off the grid .
It was his third trip to remote Yakutia — a sprawling territory in eastern Siberia that makes up about 20 % of Russia ’ s territory and is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last one before putting the finishing touches on an eight-year project he hopes to turn into a book .
When he left the world looked like this : A federal judge had just sentenced Roger Stone to more than three years in prison for lying to Congress , witness tampering and other charges , and Russia had been trying to interfere in the Democratic primaries to help Sen. Bernie Sanders , who was on a winning streak .
Spending time with the herders during their biannual reindeer roundup , in which they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their animals ’ health , Avdeev didn ’ t think much about the coronavirus and neither did his hosts .
After all , just prior to his trip , China had reported the spread of it there was slowing down .
The nomadic herders , whose lives in the far-north Bulunsky district of Yakutia revolve around their animals , certainly weren ’ t concerned .
“ They don ’ t care what ’ s happening in the big world , ” Avdeev said .
They seemed only to show interest in the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had been infected by it upon his arrival .
But by the end of his trip on March 17 , the coronavirus outbreak had exploded into a full-blown pandemic , killed thousands , devastated the global economy , forced countries to close their borders and completely altered the lives of almost every person on the planet .
Avdeev , 32 , was oblivious to the fact that the world he was returning to was very different to the one he left behind , right up until his snowmobile arrived in a town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to blow up .
The text messages came in fast and hot .
“ My girlfriend said , 'Are you OK !
?
Are you alive !
?
Should we start a rescue operation !
?
’ ” Avdeev said , recounting one of the first texts he received .
He recalled a friend telling him , “ Take a photo of your face now .
And then take another photo after you read the news.
” “ I was like , What ?
Totally confused , ” Avdeev said , adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was happening in the world .
“ He told me , ‘ Just read the news !
’ ” But Avdeev still couldn ’ t access the internet because of a slow connection .
He could only receive and send texts .
So he sent a text to another friend who , with some reservation , filled him in .
“ He asked me , ‘ Are you sure you want to know it now ?
’ I said , ‘ Yes , I really want to know.
’ ” Avdeev said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus had ravaged Italy and was spreading throughout the US , and how the global economy was in a tailspin .
“ He said oil is less than $ 30 per barrel and that the [ Russian ] ruble had fallen 20 or 30 % , ” Avdeev recalled .
He said it sounded so “ crazy ” that he almost didn ’ t believe it .
Then he found an internet connection that allowed him to access news websites , and it finally began to sink in .
Avdeev read about cultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ canceled and businesses closing their doors everywhere .
He saw that Italy was on lockdown , that Trump was getting heat over America 's response to the health crisis , and that the number of coronavirus cases in Russia had shot up to more than 100 and appeared to be rising rapidly — even as President Vladimir Putin claimed the country had “ managed to contain the massive penetration and spread of the infection in Russia.
” Russia 's cases have surged to 306 in total , with most in Moscow , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was likely much higher .
Pro-Kremlin media outlets meanwhile have been spreading disinformation abroad about the public health crisis with the aim of “ aggravating ” the situation .
Avdeev then learned that the Russian parliament had approved changes to the country ’ s constitution to allow Putin to remain in power until 2036 .
“ I just thought , Wow !
” he told BuzzFeed News by phone from Moscow on Friday .
“ I left the world unattended for 10 days and it was enough for it to fall apart — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light of the situation , Avdeev said he thought about how his American and British friends were managing the situation .
“ I saw reports about how there was no toilet paper in Los Angeles and London , and I thought about how they lack the Soviet experience of how to deal with things when there are limited products !
” he said .
After taking it all in , Avdeev snapped a photo of his face and sent it to his friend .
He also posted it on Facebook , where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience .
The image shows Avdeev ’ s eyes wide with surprise and peeking through a scarf and hat that cover most of his face .
In this day and age , with information available at the push of a button or a swipe , Avdeev ’ s situation is remarkable and rare .
Surprisingly , though , others have found themselves in similar situations .
There were the American rafters in the Grand Canyon who , like Avdeev , had no idea what had happened while they were on the river and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And there were the Big Brother contestants in Germany , who were left in the cold from the moment they entered their reality TV home until the show ’ s producers finally filled them in on Tuesday — funnily enough , the same day Avdeev learned the news .
Finally back in Moscow after days of traveling on planes , cars , and snowmobiles , Avdeev isn ’ t quite ready to accept the new reality .
He is busy sifting through the collection of photographs he took of the reindeer herders and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ north .
And he is looking forward to finding restaurants in Moscow that remain open , despite the health crisis , where he can get a meal that doesn ’ t include reindeer meat and a drink with friends like the not-so-old days .
He admits that it would be nice to go back in time to when things felt less uncertain and before “ social distancing ” became a buzzword — but not if it meant returning to the frigid Russian north and a diet consisting entirely of reindeer meat .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prefers it — and being in the know — to isolation and being kept in the dark .
“ We have a saying in Russian , you know , ‘ The city is fucking shit , but the village is even worse.
’ ” ●

Russian photographer Max Avdeev set off in late February for a journey that had become somewhat of a tradition: roaming the wilderness in Russia’s far north with a group of reindeer herders on snowmobiles, completely off the grid.
It was his third trip to remote Yakutia — a sprawling territory in eastern Siberia that makes up about 20% of Russia’s territory and is the coldest populated region on Earth — and the last one before putting the finishing touches on an eight-year project he hopes to turn into a book.
When he left the world looked like this: A federal judge had just sentenced Roger Stone to more than three years in prison for lying to Congress, witness tampering and other charges, and Russia had been trying to interfere in the Democratic primaries to help Sen. Bernie Sanders, who was on a winning streak.
Spending time with the herders during their biannual reindeer roundup, in which they count their herds and take stock of their animals’ health, Avdeev didn’t think much about the coronavirus and neither did his hosts. After all, just prior to his trip, China had reported the spread of it there was slowing down.
The nomadic herders, whose lives in the far-north Bulunsky district of Yakutia revolve around their animals, certainly weren’t concerned. “They don’t care what’s happening in the big world,” Avdeev said. They seemed only to show interest in the coronavirus once — when they asked him if he had been infected by it upon his arrival.
But by the end of his trip on March 17, the coronavirus outbreak had exploded into a full-blown pandemic, killed thousands, devastated the global economy, forced countries to close their borders and completely altered the lives of almost every person on the planet.
Avdeev, 32, was oblivious to the fact that the world he was returning to was very different to the one he left behind, right up until his snowmobile arrived in a town with mobile service and his phone began to blow up.
The text messages came in fast and hot.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-21--How The Ultimate Career Politician Is Making The Coronavirus Crisis His Moment

CLEVELAND — Not long after Mike DeWine became Ohio ’ s governor last year , people noticed all of the fun he was having with the ceremonial duties .
At 72 , he finally got the job he always wanted .
There was no ribbon-cutting too small , no photo op too corny .
He was , as one lobbyist observed to a reporter in Columbus , “ Ohio ’ s Grandpa.
” The image wasn ’ t entirely favorable .
Even a few of his fellow Republicans wondered if DeWine was coasting , treating the governor ’ s mansion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four decades in public life .
But the last few weeks have been a revelation for DeWine ’ s doubters and vindication for those who believed his governorship could be more than a capstone .
He has asserted himself as a national example for how to manage the coronavirus crisis , combining a reassuring presence with aggressive action .
He understood earlier than other governors that closing schools , restaurants , and bars — as disruptive as those decisions were — would help contain COVID-19 ’ s spread .
He took unprecedented steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary and keep voters at home .
DeWine ’ s paternal instincts used to prompt snickers , his decades grinding through public office discounted as the bloodless work of a career politician .
But in a crisis , where DeWine has parlayed 40 years of government experience into calm and quick decisiveness , those old weaknesses now project as strengths .
“ Sometimes you have an instinct based on the facts , ” DeWine said by telephone Thursday , in between local radio interviews and a call with the state ’ s mayors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my instincts , I 've made mistakes .
My instinct throughout this has been that we ’ ve got to move faster.
” Republicans are happy to rally around DeWine even as they wrestle with uncomfortable questions about how he has approached the pandemic with more urgency than President Donald Trump has .
Many Democrats are lauding his approach too .
“ The good governors , and DeWine has been one of them in this , know they have to drive this because we have a president who has been AWOL on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s caused damage to their efforts , ” Sen. Sherrod Brown , a past DeWine rival , told me .
“ DeWine won ’ t say that .
I would think he wouldn ’ t , but of course he knows that .
We all know that.
” Citizens who don ’ t ordinarily tune in to state government are tuning in for DeWine ’ s daily press conferences .
The afternoon briefings , where he relies on the expertise of his health director , a medical doctor with a master ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewing .
I ’ ve been an Ohio resident for all of my 38 years .
Mike DeWine has held one public office or another for almost all of them .
I can ’ t remember him being an actual household name here until now .
“ I think he ’ s treating Ohio like he would treat his own family , ” John Kasich , DeWine ’ s Republican predecessor as governor , told me approvingly , echoing a sentiment others shared .
When I spoke this week with DeWine and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them talked — in a way that would seem cultish or at least scripted if it wasn ’ t true — about how this job , being governor , is the job he prepared for his entire life .
He ’ d been a county prosecutor and state lawmaker .
He ’ d served in both chambers of Congress .
He ’ d been the lieutenant governor and the state ’ s attorney general .
“ We all talk about career politicians and people like that , ” Lt. Gov .
Jon Husted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily press conferences , told me as he began to laugh .
“ But this is probably one time that you want a guy like Mike DeWine in charge — because he ’ s seen it all , and you ’ re not going to slip anything by him .
He was built for this moment.
” The most notable thing about DeWine ’ s career might be its longevity .
Until now , he wasn ’ t defined by a signature achievement or piece of legislation .
The work that stands out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of untested rape kits while he was attorney general .
During the types of historical events that friends say informed DeWine ’ s approach to crises , he was mostly a bystander .
As lieutenant governor , he watched his boss , the late George Voinovich , deal with the deadly Lucasville prison riot .
He experienced 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina as a senator .
Ideologically , DeWine rates as a social conservative .
He signed into law last year a ban on abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected .
( Kasich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was governor . )
A question that animated the closing days of the 2018 gubernatorial race was whether DeWine was more of a Donald Trump Republican or a John Kasich Republican .
He and his allies argued he was neither — he was a Mike DeWine Republican .
The “ heartbeat bill ” notwithstanding , DeWine is more in sync with Kasich ’ s old-guard mainstream conservatism than Trump ’ s populism .
But his political identity is tethered more to his personality and to his family than to any ideology .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wouldn ’ t know by the suits that hang off his short and slender frame that he ’ s the kind of guy who can loan his campaign $ 4 million , thanks largely to his family ’ s seed and twine businesses .
( When I saw him sporting new and fashionable eyeglasses at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland , I joked it was a sure sign he was running for governor . )
He met his wife , Fran , when he was in the first grade .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and settled in for a life as political partners .
No one in his tight circle of advisers has as much influence on his decision-making as Fran does , J.B. Hadden , a lawyer who ’ s been close to DeWine and his family for more than 30 years , told me .
Fran is a constant presence at DeWine ’ s side , often sporting an “ I Like Mike ” button with “ Like ” crossed out and replaced with “ Love.
” When DeWine turned over the first portion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her , she encouraged parents to read and cook with their kids as a way to pass time during self-isolation and school closings .
Friends said the death of the DeWines ’ 22-year-old daughter Becky in a 1993 car accident shaped them more than any political event .
“ It ’ s internal , but it ’ s profound , ” Hadden told me .
“ It ’ s what drives the two of them.
” DeWine was in the midst of his second Senate bid at the time .
This one would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t where he wanted to be long-term .
As Hadden described it , DeWine found himself lulled into seeking a third term in 2006 .
“ Back in ’ 05 I think he decided in his head , he could tell things were getting rough for Republicans , ” Hadden said .
“ I think he just decided he was going to stay in the Senate for the rest of his life .
If Sherrod wouldn ’ t have run , Mike DeWine probably wouldn ’ t be governor right now .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the job .
He always wanted to be governor.
” Brown beat DeWine in a heated campaign that exposed some of DeWine ’ s questionable judgment .
In an ad accusing Brown of being soft on terrorism , DeWine ’ s campaign used an altered image of the World Trade Center towers burning on 9/11 .
As DeWine suspected , 2006 was a terrible year for Republicans .
Brown won .
DeWine went home .
Fourteen years later , as DeWine leads Ohio through a crisis , Brown is one of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not surprising , ” Brown told me when I asked if it was , given their acrimonious history , “ because he ’ s an honorable elected official , and I thought that running against him.
” Brown said he ’ s been talking and texting with DeWine , mostly about how they can share information that would be helpful as Brown fights for more federal resources .
“ Quarterbacks are better when they have experience , ” Brown said .
“ DeWine could not do this so well if he didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way government works.
” In the middle of intense partisanship and frustration over how Trump has handled the coronavirus response so far , Democrats have been exuberant in their praise for DeWine .
David Pepper , who failed in a bid to unseat DeWine as attorney general in 2014 and now chairs the Ohio Democratic Party , has cheered DeWine ’ s response .
Emilia Sykes , the Democratic leader in the Ohio House of Representatives , told me she has largely positive views of DeWine ’ s efforts .
“ What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you have someone experienced in this role , ” she said .
“ The reach goes far , the relationships are long.
” Sykes has been especially impressed with DeWine ’ s empowerment of Amy Acton , the health director who ’ s been a major presence at the daily press conferences .
Acton has built up her own devoted following : An Ohio T-shirt company printed a tribute to her this week ; a TV reporter presented her with flowers Thursday .
DeWine allies point to Acton ’ s appointment last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The top spot at the Ohio Department of Health can be a soft landing for patronage hires or career bureaucrats .
It was the last Cabinet post DeWine filled , at least in part because he took time to find someone with both experience in public health and strong communication skills .
“ A lot of times people hire administrators , ” Husted , DeWine ’ s lieutenant governor , observed .
“ He wanted to hire a doctor that really understood how public health worked .
It was that decision that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Who better could you have in that position at this moment ?
” Acton “ has been both that voice of confidence and authority but also reassurance , ” Frank LaRose , Ohio ’ s Republican secretary of state , told me .
“ She ’ s been reassuring to Ohioans while at the same time not sugarcoating things .
He ’ s been right there by her side saying , ‘ I ’ m the governor , the buck stops here , and what my health director says is law.
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together this month have been tough , even as they ’ ve since been replicated across the country .
DeWine , a traditional , pro-business Republican , has found himself telling restaurants and bars they could only stay open for takeout or delivery and ordering the closings of gyms , movie theaters , barbershops , and hair and nail salons .
He told me he struggled with balancing the loss of jobs against the loss of life .
“ The decisions we ’ re making throw some people out of work , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But we ’ ve got to balance that with ... we ’ ve got to get them through it.
” Pat Tiberi , a Republican who served in Congress with DeWine and now leads the Ohio Business Roundtable , told me DeWine sought input from the private sector .
“ He ’ s the type of elected official who ’ s deliberative but then acts .
Whether you agree with him or not — and I tend to agree with almost everything he 's done — you ca n't say he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cringe about how casual DeWine is about handing out his personal cellphone number , but the move has created an information network that has helped serve as a gut check .
On Sunday , for example , DeWine received texts from people worried about how crowded bars were the night before .
That day , he and Acton announced the bar and restaurant restrictions .
DeWine ’ s moves have not gone without criticism .
Larry Householder , the Republican speaker of the Ohio House and one of the most ambitious politicians in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urging the governor against a restaurant shutdown , drawing an attaboy from DeWine ’ s Republican successor as attorney general .
And DeWine ’ s efforts to postpone Ohio ’ s presidential primary were particularly messy .
On Monday , after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised against gatherings larger than 50 people , DeWine determined holding in-person voting the next day would be a health risk .
But because of provisions in Ohio law and a legislature that no one was sure could convene under the circumstances , DeWine asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work with LaRose to find a solution .
The result was a last-minute , third-party lawsuit to delay the primary until June and allow absentee voting in the meantime .
A judge ruled against the plaintiffs , and for several hours Monday night there was chaos , as no one knew if polls would open the next morning .
Finally , DeWine and Acton invoked a health emergency to keep the polls closed .
If and when a new vote will be scheduled remains unclear .
The emergency closing , LaRose told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The lawyerly DeWine didn ’ t want to do an end run around the courts if he didn ’ t have to .
“ It wasn ’ t because of indecisiveness , ” said LaRose , addressing the second-guessing that DeWine should have set the postponement in motion days earlier .
“ It was because of new science.
” Those who know DeWine best told me the politics surrounding the coronavirus matter little to him .
That ’ s been evident in how far ahead of Trump he ’ s been .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the president have been slower to react , hemming , hawing , and encouraging their citizens to “ go to Bob Evans and eat.
” DeWine has been careful not to frame his approach as a contrast to Trump ’ s , and he and his allies mostly parried my questions about the obvious differences .
“ Look , ” DeWine told me Thursday , “ I think a public health crisis is naturally the province of the governor , and that people look to a governor , they look to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inherently have the power to deal with.
” He said Trump ’ s administration has been helpful throughout the crisis : “ I feel good about that relationship.
” He praised the Agriculture Department for granting a waiver that allows the state to keep school meal programs running while the buildings are closed .
“ We can pick up the phone if we ’ ve got a problem and we can find somebody to help drive it through.
” Others turned the Trump questions around to gently suggest DeWine is showing that experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was elected , matters .
“ I guess at this point in my life , at age 73 , having been in politics for 40 years , I think there is some advantage to experience , ” DeWine said .
“ I ’ m literally using my lifetime of experience in government .
I ’ d rather have that experience than not have it.
” Then DeWine , who at his coronavirus briefings often talks about lessons learned from the 1918 flu pandemic , made a comment that suggested he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Every governor who I talked to before I took the oath of office said , ‘ There ’ ll be something that comes up — you don ’ t have a clue what it is , but there ’ ll be something that comes up .
It 'll be a flood or a tornado , ’ ” DeWine said .
“ Well , this is the ultimate crisis , a once-in-a-century crisis .
I kind of laughed with a friend last night .
I said , ‘ We have n't had this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor when it happens.
’ You can ’ t make this stuff up , right ?
”

CLEVELAND — Not long after Mike DeWine became Ohio’s governor last year, people noticed all of the fun he was having with the ceremonial duties. At 72, he finally got the job he always wanted. There was no ribbon-cutting too small, no photo op too corny. He was, as one lobbyist observed to a reporter in Columbus, “Ohio’s Grandpa.”
The image wasn’t entirely favorable. Even a few of his fellow Republicans wondered if DeWine was coasting, treating the governor’s mansion as some sort of retirement home after four decades in public life.
But the last few weeks have been a revelation for DeWine’s doubters and vindication for those who believed his governorship could be more than a capstone. He has asserted himself as a national example for how to manage the coronavirus crisis, combining a reassuring presence with aggressive action. He understood earlier than other governors that closing schools, restaurants, and bars — as disruptive as those decisions were — would help contain COVID-19’s spread. He took unprecedented steps to preempt his state’s presidential primary and keep voters at home.
DeWine’s paternal instincts used to prompt snickers, his decades grinding through public office discounted as the bloodless work of a career politician. But in a crisis, where DeWine has parlayed 40 years of government experience into calm and quick decisiveness, those old weaknesses now project as strengths.
“Sometimes you have an instinct based on the facts,” DeWine said by telephone Thursday, in between local radio interviews and a call with the state’s mayors. “When I have not trusted my instincts, I've made mistakes. My instinct throughout this has been that we’ve got to move faster.”
Republicans are happy to rally around DeWine even as they wrestle with uncomfortable questions about how he has approached the pandemic with more urgency than President Donald Trump has. Many Democrats are lauding his approach too.
“The good governors, and DeWine has been one of them in this, know they have to drive this because we have a president who has been AWOL on this — worse than AWOL, he’s caused damage to their efforts,” Sen. Sherrod Brown, a past DeWine rival, told me. “DeWine won’t say that. I would think he wouldn’t, but of course he knows that. We all know that.”
Citizens who don’t ordinarily tune in to state government are tuning in for DeWine’s daily press conferences. The afternoon briefings, where he relies on the expertise of his health director, a medical doctor with a master’s degree in public health, are appointment viewing. I’ve been an Ohio resident for all of my 38 years. Mike DeWine has held one public office or another for almost all of them. I can’t remember him being an actual household name here until now.
“I think he’s treating Ohio like he would treat his own family,” John Kasich, DeWine’s Republican predecessor as governor, told me approvingly, echoing a sentiment others shared.
When I spoke this week with DeWine and his close friends and colleagues, all of them talked — in a way that would seem cultish or at least scripted if it wasn’t true — about how this job, being governor, is the job he prepared for his entire life. He’d been a county prosecutor and state lawmaker. He’d served in both chambers of Congress. He’d been the lieutenant governor and the state’s attorney general.
“We all talk about career politicians and people like that,” Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who appears with DeWine at the daily press conferences, told me as he began to laugh. “But this is probably one time that you want a guy like Mike DeWine in charge — because he’s seen it all, and you’re not going to slip anything by him. He was built for this moment.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-21--Costco Employees Say They're Not Properly Protected To Be On The "Front Lines" Of The Coronavirus Pa

Costco Employees Say They're Not Properly Protected To Be On The "Front Lines" Of The Coronavirus Pandemic

“ Never did I think that working at Costco would be the same thing as a first responder .
We ’ re fucking ground zero , '' an employee in Los Angeles said .
Employees at a Costco in Los Angeles are sharing gloves , when they can find them .
A supervisor at a warehouse in Austin has been calculating which bills she ’ ll skip this month if she has to keep missing work because she can ’ t stop coughing .
A worker in the South is waiting for her COVID-19 test results , wondering how many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Across the US , thousands of Costco workers at hundreds of warehouses have been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic , interacting with hoards of panicked shoppers every day , hustling to unload trucks , restock toilet paper , water , diapers , and fill prescriptions .
The stores have stayed open to long lines of mask-wearing members and extended hours , with some never closing , while surrounding small businesses and stores shutter as counties and states enact stricter quarantine measures to try to slow the virus ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but employees say they know it 's important and their global retailer has raked in record profits because of it .
But they are terrified it will cost them their own health because , they said , they ’ re on the front lines without any protection .
“ My biggest concern is people are saying , ‘ Where do I get a mask ?
Where do I get a mask ?
’ On a daily basis , you have people cough in your face or talk when they spit , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Costco in Culver City , California , told BuzzFeed News .
“ Never did I think that working at Costco would be the same thing as a first responder .
We ’ re fucking ground zero.
” BuzzFeed News spoke to more than a dozen employees from Costco locations across the country .
They are supervisors , truck drivers , door greeters , cashiers , pharmacists , stockers , and TV sellers and requested anonymity out of fear of losing their jobs .
They are some of the nearly 30 workers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days , expressing their fear , exhaustion , and frustration at the lack of gloves , masks , sanitization equipment , and protocol .
Their predominant concern was that if they needed to take time off , for reasons pertaining to the coronavirus , they would have to use paid time off or sick days , and many do n't have those hours to spare .
In private Facebook groups and chats , workers across the country are also sharing stories of unprecedented door counts and questioning why their stores have not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
`` Yeah we 've done very little at our store .
'Limiting ' 1000 people in the building at one time ... have to say as a 13yr employee I 'm extremely disappointed with the way our company is handling the situation '' an employee from Billings , Montana , commented in a group .
`` Our door counts have been in the 900s , '' another in San Jose , California , posted Friday .
`` My location has not started limiting on how many people come in at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , card checkers at the Culver City location have been welcoming hundreds of people at once .
According to door count sheets provided to BuzzFeed News , last Friday at 9 a.m. , 1,346 shoppers were waiting to get into the store .
Thirty minutes later , they let in 1,206 more .
From 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. , employees at the door checked in 4,015 members .
The total door count for that day , 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. , was 10,371 .
“ We were having 3,500 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no masks have been required , ” a supervisor at that location told BuzzFeed News .
“ Everyone is sharing gloves .
We ’ re bringing our own and if we have enough , we give them to each other.
” In addition to not having the proper gear to protect themselves , it ’ s been nearly impossible to buy goods for their own families , since they can really only shop after their shifts , the veteran employee said .
About an hour after opening , the shelves are wiped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other necessities .
“ My staff hasn ’ t been able to buy anything .
We ’ re turning our own employees away from milk and diapers , ” she said .
“ We stand on the foundation of taking care of our employees .
We are a wholesome company .
An American company .
But our employees can ’ t buy food for their families .
It breaks my heart to see employees not be able to buy water .
We ’ re hurting here.
” Got a tip ?
Email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buzzfeed.com or contact us here .
In a memo sent to staff in Culver City , California , on March 16 , management acknowledged that due to the “ long hours and extra days to keep up with the demand of business , ” they would offer two employee-only shopping days : this past Thursday , from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. and this upcoming Sunday , from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. “ It ’ s ridiculous , ” said the supervisor , who has worked at the company for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disgusted as an employee .
We have dropped the ball as a company .
You have employees working endlessly and they are scared.
” At the same time , she said her warehouse had made $ 1.4 million one day last week .
Managers at other warehouses across the country shared similar profits , balking at how they ’ ve far surpassed their Christmas and Black Friday numbers , yet their employees say they aren ’ t seeing any extra compensation .
“ It feels like you ’ re expendable , ” a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , told BuzzFeed News .
“ The government deemed us essential yet what are we getting ?
Our exposure level is massive .
This isn ’ t like fires or earthquakes , it ’ s different now that it ’ s a global pandemic and normal , ordinary people are now 'essential ' and we have no extra pay or benefits .
If we bring it home to our parents , our children , and they get it , what is the benefit for being at work ?
” This manager , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has started telling his employees to stay home , concerned by how leadership has been downplaying the severity of the virus and the “ laissez-faire ” attitude toward sanitization .
“ We have truck drivers coming in and they don ’ t have any protective gear .
We unwrap the goods and put it straight on the floor because the demand is so high , ” he said .
“ I wouldn ’ t feel comfortable bringing items home to my family knowing what I know .
So many hands-on things goes through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no screening , no nothing.
” What ’ s been the most agonizing , he said , and keeping him up at night , is when his staff do stay home for their own safety , “ they are getting docked their own sick time and vacation.
” “ How is that OK ?
” he asked .
“ How is that fair ?
” If Costco employees want to stay home because they develop a cough , are pregnant , have an autoimmune disease , or are concerned because they 're taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they have to use their own paid time off or sick leave , which takes a long time to accrue .
Many employees say they ’ re running low or have used all those hours and , as a result , they ’ re taking those absences and forgoing a paycheck .
Because of the unprecedented nature of the coronavirus pandemic , several supervisors told BuzzFeed News that Costco changed its policy and is no longer penalizing employees for taking extra absences .
However , many workers can not afford to miss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven days in a row , especially now .
“ I don ’ t have any more sick time , ” Amari , a manager at a Costco in the southeast , told BuzzFeed News .
“ I literally can not afford to miss work.
” But she has been .
Toward the end of one of her shift ’ s this week , Amari started to feel warm and strange .
She ’ d been feeling “ off ” this whole week , coughing and congested , and said that when she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me it sounded like I had allergies.
” She decided to take her temperature using some of the new thermometers in the break room .
“ I said , 'This can ’ t be right .
I had a fever of 101 , ’ ” she said .
“ I had to finish my shift , and after , I expressed I had a fever and there was no sense of like , Let ’ s check protocol .
You read everything that the CDC says and none of it is being followed @ @

Employees at a Costco in Los Angeles are sharing gloves, when they can find them. A supervisor at a warehouse in Austin has been calculating which bills she’ll skip this month if she has to keep missing work because she can’t stop coughing. A worker in the South is waiting for her COVID-19 test results, wondering how many of her colleagues she might have infected.
Across the US, thousands of Costco workers at hundreds of warehouses have been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, interacting with hoards of panicked shoppers every day, hustling to unload trucks, restock toilet paper, water, diapers, and fill prescriptions. The stores have stayed open to long lines of mask-wearing members and extended hours, with some never closing, while surrounding small businesses and stores shutter as counties and states enact stricter quarantine measures to try to slow the virus’s spread.
It’s grueling work, but employees say they know it's important and their global retailer has raked in record profits because of it. But they are terrified it will cost them their own health because, they said, they’re on the front lines without any protection.
“My biggest concern is people are saying, ‘Where do I get a mask? Where do I get a mask?’ On a daily basis, you have people cough in your face or talk when they spit,” a member of the sales team at a Costco in Culver City, California, told BuzzFeed News. “Never did I think that working at Costco would be the same thing as a first responder. We’re fucking ground zero.”
BuzzFeed News spoke to more than a dozen employees from Costco locations across the country. They are supervisors, truck drivers, door greeters, cashiers, pharmacists, stockers, and TV sellers and requested anonymity out of fear of losing their jobs. They are some of the nearly 30 workers who have contacted BuzzFeed News over the past few days, expressing their fear, exhaustion, and frustration at the lack of gloves, masks, sanitization equipment, and protocol. Their predominant concern was that if they needed to take time off, for reasons pertaining to the coronavirus, they would have to use paid time off or sick days, and many don't have those hours to spare.
In private Facebook groups and chats, workers across the country are also sharing stories of unprecedented door counts and questioning why their stores have not limited how many people enter at a time.


buzzfeednews--2020-02-03--This Is What It’s Like To Watch The Super Bowl Under A Coronavirus Quarantine

A man who was evacuated from China during the coronavirus outbreak described what it ’ s like to have a Super Bowl party while under quarantine at a US military base .
It looked like any other Super Bowl party : A large group of people cheered for their teams in front of two big-screen televisions while enjoying pizza , cakes , and chips and salsa and drinking from red Solo cups on a sunny California day .
But people were being cautious , some wearing masks and avoiding physical touch .
These Super Bowl viewers were all under a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being evacuated from Wuhan , the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China .
Jarred Evans , a 27-year-old football player who plays for the Chinese National Football League 's Wuhan Berserkers , is now one of the 195 evacuees being housed at an inn on the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside , California .
Evans , who on Sunday was rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs , told BuzzFeed News the Super Bowl party was a much-needed morale boost for the evacuees .
Members of the group — comprised of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their families — were chatting and getting to know each other while sitting on the chairs arranged on the lawn at the base .
Others helped themselves to an array of Super Bowl snacks laid out on long tables .
People were rooting for their teams , Evans said , and there was the usual good-natured competition that comes with big sporting events .
All things considered , he said , “ it was a great Super Bowl party.
” He added , “ Everyone was relaxed .
It brought us back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be OK. ” On Jan. 29 , Evans managed to get a seat on the flight chartered by the US State Department to evacuate around 210 people from China to the US .
At first , the evacuees were under a three-day voluntary quarantine at the base , during which they were screened and evaluated by a team of doctors from CDC .
But after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency , the evacuees were put under a mandatory 14-day quarantine starting from the time they left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shock when told about the mandatory quarantine .
He wanted to go home .
For the six months of each year he 's not playing in Wuhan , he lives in Miami .
However , he said , all the evacuees ultimately accepted the change of plans and understood the severity of the situation .
“ This is not your common cold , ” he said .
“ We don ’ t want anyone here to go home and happen to have the coronavirus and give it to their friends and family and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday declared the coronavirus outbreak a nationwide public health emergency , enforcing the quarantines for all US citizens traveling from the epicenter of the disease in China 's Hubei province .
The US government has also barred foreign nationals ( except relatives of US citizens and permanent residents ) traveling from China from entering the US .
There are 20,438 confirmed cases of people infected by the virus globally , of which 17,205 have been diagnosed in China .
The outbreak has killed 425 people so far , only one of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Pentagon said Monday it had identified four bases with housing support for up to 1,000 people who may need to be quarantined upon their arrival in the US .
The four bases include the 168th Regiment Regional Training Institute in Fort Carson , Colorado ; the Travis Air Force Base and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California ; and Lackland Air Force Base in Texas .
Evans said his advice to others who may have to undergo quarantine at any of the bases would be to develop a routine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes for a run .
Then he joins other evacuees for a breakfast of eggs , bacon , potatoes , orange juice , and coffee .
They also get their temperatures checked in the morning .
He then goes back to his room and usually watches TV .
Lunchtime is around noon , after which Evans does his second workout at the gym .
The rest of the evening is spent enjoying the California sun .
People usually play cards while kids cycle around the grounds , he said .
The evacuees get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dinner is around 6 p.m. , followed by some more TV and then bedtime .
Overall , Evans said , the rooms have been comfortable and the food arrangements good .
“ I ’ m blessed to be here , even if I am in quarantine , in America because it could be a lot worse , ” he said .
“ It could be in China in an epidemic center , and I could be quarantined with a shortage of food.
” Evans said it was “ scary ” for him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he doesn ’ t speak or read Chinese .
“ I was in survival mode , ” he said .
He stocked up on food and water because he did not know how long he was going to be locked up in his home .
Any information he got came from his Chinese friends , one of whom alerted him to the State Department flight evacuating US citizens from China .
Once he 's released from the base , Evans has two plans : to hit the gym and go to North Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important goal there : to “ get a hug from my mother .
”

It looked like any other Super Bowl party: A large group of people cheered for their teams in front of two big-screen televisions while enjoying pizza, cakes, and chips and salsa and drinking from red Solo cups on a sunny California day.
But people were being cautious, some wearing masks and avoiding physical touch. These Super Bowl viewers were all under a 14-day mandatory quarantine at a military base after being evacuated from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China.
Jarred Evans, a 27-year-old football player who plays for the Chinese National Football League's Wuhan Berserkers, is now one of the 195 evacuees being housed at an inn on the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California. Evans, who on Sunday was rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs, told BuzzFeed News the Super Bowl party was a much-needed morale boost for the evacuees.
Members of the group — comprised of US government personnel and private US citizens and their families — were chatting and getting to know each other while sitting on the chairs arranged on the lawn at the base. Others helped themselves to an array of Super Bowl snacks laid out on long tables. People were rooting for their teams, Evans said, and there was the usual good-natured competition that comes with big sporting events.
All things considered, he said, “it was a great Super Bowl party.” He added, “Everyone was relaxed. It brought us back to reality that things are going to be OK.”


buzzfeednews--2020-05-22--Employers May Soon Get Protected From Lawsuits While Workers and Customers Are Left In The Dark On S

Employers May Soon Get Protected From Lawsuits While Workers and Customers Are Left In The Dark On Safety

BuzzFeed News has reporters around the world bringing you trustworthy stories about the impact of the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
WASHINGTON — As states reopen , nonessential workers across the country can be summoned back to work , but there are no federal coronavirus rules protecting them and their ability to sue over unsafe work conditions could soon be severely limited .
The Trump administration has not enacted any health and safety rules to govern how workplaces must keep employees safe during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal requirements to provide masks or enforce social distancing when possible .
At the same time , Congress is debating whether to pass sweeping liability reforms to shield employers from coronavirus-related lawsuits .
That combination could result in a legal landscape where employers are under no obligation to adapt to coronavirus , yet workers and customers are unable to sue for changes or if they get sick .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made passing a liability shield his top coronavirus priority , insisting it be included in any aid bill Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean workers couldn ’ t sue their employer over allegations that they contracted COVID-19 due to unsafe working conditions , and customers couldn ’ t sue a business they believe caused them to be infected .
Employers ranging from hospital groups to the owner of Burger King have made a hard push for legal immunity as the country reopens .
But the driving force has been the US Chamber of Commerce .
During a Thursday conference call , Chamber executives called for Congress to pass a liability shield and opposed any new health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House has so far avoided taking a firm oversight role .
OSHA , the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released only guidance — nonbinding advice that is unenforceable — rather than enforceable regulations .
The White House ’ s “ Opening Up America Again ” plan punts workplace health and safety to being a state responsibility .
OSHA falls under the purview of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia .
Scalia was formerly a corporate lawyer at the Washington office of Gibson , Dunn & Crutcher , where he specialized in overturning workplace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Chamber and represented the group several times over the years .
In 2001 , then-president George W. Bush tried to appoint Scalia as Labor Department solicitor , but he was initially blocked in the Senate because of his perceived hostility toward worker protections .
He had led a US Chamber of Commerce legal campaign against Clinton-era workplace safety design rules , mocking the underlying science as “ quackery.
” He was later appointed through a rarely used process that circumvents the Senate .
( And , yes , he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antonin Scalia . )

WASHINGTON — As states reopen, nonessential workers across the country can be summoned back to work, but there are no federal coronavirus rules protecting them and their ability to sue over unsafe work conditions could soon be severely limited.
The Trump administration has not enacted any health and safety rules to govern how workplaces must keep employees safe during the coronavirus epidemic. There are no federal requirements to provide masks or enforce social distancing when possible. At the same time, Congress is debating whether to pass sweeping liability reforms to shield employers from coronavirus-related lawsuits.
That combination could result in a legal landscape where employers are under no obligation to adapt to coronavirus, yet workers and customers are unable to sue for changes or if they get sick.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made passing a liability shield his top coronavirus priority, insisting it be included in any aid bill Congress passes next.
An immunity shield would mean workers couldn’t sue their employer over allegations that they contracted COVID-19 due to unsafe working conditions, and customers couldn’t sue a business they believe caused them to be infected.
Employers ranging from hospital groups to the owner of Burger King have made a hard push for legal immunity as the country reopens. But the driving force has been the US Chamber of Commerce.
During a Thursday conference call, Chamber executives called for Congress to pass a liability shield and opposed any new health and safety regulations on businesses.
The White House has so far avoided taking a firm oversight role. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released only guidance — nonbinding advice that is unenforceable — rather than enforceable regulations. The White House’s “Opening Up America Again” plan punts workplace health and safety to being a state responsibility.
OSHA falls under the purview of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia. Scalia was formerly a corporate lawyer at the Washington office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where he specialized in overturning workplace protections. Scalia has lobbied on behalf of the Chamber and represented the group several times over the years.
In 2001, then-president George W. Bush tried to appoint Scalia as Labor Department solicitor, but he was initially blocked in the Senate because of his perceived hostility toward worker protections.
He had led a US Chamber of Commerce legal campaign against Clinton-era workplace safety design rules, mocking the underlying science as “quackery.” He was later appointed through a rarely used process that circumvents the Senate. (And, yes, he’s the son of late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.)


buzzfeednews--2020-05-23--Thinking About Expanding Your Quarantine Circle? Here's What Public Health Experts Say

`` There is no such thing as safe , '' one infectious disease professor said .
But `` there are some things you can do to make it safer . ''
The days are long , your skin remembers what sunshine feels like again , and the trees that line your block are green and lush .
In any non-pandemic year , we 'd welcome summer with open arms .
But with more than 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases in the US and nearly 100,000 deaths to date , the change in season has brought about uncertainty and frustration as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past few months , many of our social lives have been restricted to the people we live with and to talking to friends through a screen .
However , there are signs that people are becoming more lax about social distancing measures , flocking to parks and beaches and being less diligent about wearing masks .
With summer around the corner and with lawmakers discussing how to reopen businesses , some people may begin expanding their `` quaranteam '' — the circle of people that they are socially isolating with — to include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at the Mayo Clinic and the director of the Mayo Vaccine Research Group , cautioned that while nobody is totally safe from the coronavirus under any circumstances , `` there are things you can do to be safer . ''
`` There is no such thing as safe .
All we can do is mitigate or reduce risk , '' he told BuzzFeed News .
If you 've been trying to sort through the complications of building out your quarantine circle , you 're not alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts and researchers what to take into account when considering whether to see friends and family in person — or if you should even be socializing at this point .
( Some comments have been edited and condensed for clarity . )
What should I be thinking about when adding someone to my quarantine circle ?
Gerardo Chowell , Department of Population Health Sciences chair and professor of mathematical epidemiology at Georgia State University : Number one , I think you need to trust that group of people , let 's say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or a couple .
I think it 's easier if you can identify that group as living in a single unit , in the same household .
Those are people you trust that if you ask them , `` Have you been in contact or interacted with someone else in the last couple of weeks ? ''
they would tell you [ honestly ] yes or no .
If that circle you want to join has been in quarantine vigorously — the same way you have — I think it 's fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Once you make that decision to interact , that does n't mean you 're a group forever .
That only counts for one instance , because maybe next week after the social gathering , they had another meeting with other people .
So the next time you want to gather again , you have to reassess .
Poland : If you live in your home by yourself and do n't go out , from a COVID perspective , that ’ s the safest thing you can do .
For every additional person or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ add risk .
And it really depends on geography .
If you ’ re in rural Kansas where there ’ s no community transmission and people have n't traveled , no problem .
If you ’ re in New York City or LA , there ’ s still community transmission .
You ’ re basically saying , `` I 'm definitely and significantly increasing my risk of infection , but I 'm going to go for it . ''
That ’ s your decision .
Everybody has their own values .
Vincent Racaniello @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Columbia University : A big factor depends on where you are in the US , because if you 're in New York City , we still have 3,000 infections being recorded a day .
So the likelihood that someone you 're with is infected is still pretty high , whereas if you 're in a rural area which has n't experienced as much infections , you can do different things .
So that 's the first thing you have to take into account : where are you in the US and what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates ] .
And you should also keep an eye on the daily case counts ; they 're released by most departments of health .
Scott Meschke , professor and assistant chair of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington : My first recommendation is follow your government guidelines , so whatever your governor suggests , that 's what I would recommend .
In Washington , at least in King County , we 're still on stay-at-home [ orders ] .
For us , even expanding your circle at this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is n't just about individuals .
This is about public health and the spread [ of the virus ] , and the fact that we do n't know who 's a carrier and who 's not , for the most part .
If you were in a situation where everyone was getting tested daily like in the White House , then maybe you could interact without masks and things like that .
But you see what happened in the White House — there were several aides [ who got infected ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I should look out for when deciding who to let into my circle ?
Poland : Your assessment of their level of respiratory and hand etiquette and hygiene , and where they 've been and what they 've done .
If you talk to them on the phone and you say , `` Hey , come on over , we 're going to have a barbecue , '' and they 're , you know , [ imitates sniffles ] doing that kind of thing , I 'd say no .
You would insist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking their shoes off and sanitizing their hands , and maybe wearing a mask .
Your social connections should be probably 10 , 12 — maybe even bigger — feet apart .
There 's so many specific permutations in all of this .
It depends on who you are , who the person is , and what they do , where they 've been .
What kind of precautions do they take ?
Meschke : If they 're coughing , sneezing , not wearing a mask , clearly not abiding by other social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimize my contact with that person .
It 's a contextual thing , because as we 're moving through the different phases of reopening , the recommendations do n't really change until we 're sure the virus is gone .
Good practices are good practices .
Racaniello : I would be careful of older people .
If they 're older , we know they get the most serious diseases — anybody over 65-ish [ years old ] , be particularly careful about them .
You do n't want to infect them , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know it .
What if one of us had the coronavirus , but recovered ?
Racaniello : There 's no reason to stay away from someone who 's recovered .
They can definitely participate .
They should still wear a face mask to be careful .
We 're not 100 % sure yet if recovery means you 're not going to get infected again .
Poland : Well , what you do n't know is whether they 're still shedding [ the virus ] .
The fact that they 've had it before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to nothing , about — are they protected and the duration of that protection .
People naively say , 'Oh I was positive , '' or `` I had it and I 'm fine now . ''
Maybe , maybe not .
The virus could very well change by this fall .
Let 's say I was going to have a friend over — I 'd ask them to use their bathroom at home so that they do n't use the bathroom at my house .
We 'd probably sit outside , separated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do that until they had been symptom-free and recovered for at least a month .
Chowell : You would want to wait 3–4 weeks to be sure that the individual has fully recovered and is clear of the virus completely .
Say I have a kid who 's really lonely at home by themself , and I want to let another small family into my circle .
Should I look out for anything different with children involved ?
Poland : It 's imponderable that you would have now quantifiably increased your risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child into your circle ] .
Kids can be infected and not know it , or parents not know it .
They are the least knowledgable and adherent about respiratory and hand etiquette , because they do n't know .
Meschke : The biggest concern with kids right now is that we used to think that they were n't an at-risk group .
But in fact , some of the newer evidence — most states are now reporting some kids that are having some more severe reactions with COVID .
Again , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and your governor 's orders .
I would not seek to expand [ my circle ] until it was safe to do so .
Racaniello : It depends what they want to do .
Kids like to be close to each other when they play , they want to run around and they 're going to end up being close to each other .
So it 's harder to manage that .
I 'm not sure kids would be happy sitting across from each other and talking like adults would .
You could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face mask , and you could make a game out of it , I guess — you could have cool face masks that they can wear .
But the bottom line is kids do n't get very sick , there are rare exceptions to that .
The real concern is if they 're infected then they 're bringing it to someone else who 's older .
But I would try to have them play apart if possible .
What would I want to know about a friend 's recent movement and social activity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them ?
Poland : I 'd basically say , have you traveled , have you had any exposure , have you basically been quarantined at home and working from home ?
That 's what we did : We had 3 couples over , we have a big driveway , and we said , 'Use the bathroom before you come , bring your own soft drinks , bring your own lawn chairs , and we 're going to sit about 12–15 feet apart . '
And all those 3 couples had been meticulous about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing .
If they 'd told me , 'We just got back from a cruise a week ago , ' well , sorry , not a good idea for you to come over .
Chowell : So — who have you interacted with in the past couple of weeks ?
Have you seen any other friends or family members , if they have come to your place or if you visited them ?
Have you used public transportation ?
I think the most important one is if you have been in a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask ?
So I 've opened my quarantine circle to include some friends .
Should we wear masks ?
Poland : I think if you were outside , and people have n't been exposed and sick , I think you 're fine without a mask , appropriately distanced .
If you were closer [ than 12–15 feet ] I 'd wear a mask .
Meschke : I do n't think [ wearing a mask is ] a bad idea .
Even though we 're on lockdown — stay home , stay safe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not 100 % not leaving the home , not the way Italy did it , not the way other places in the world have done it .
So we 're already interacting in public .
So it 's the same kind of factors that you 're going to want to be aware of : you still want to keep that 6 feet , good hygiene , masks .
This is a perfect time to be risk-averse .
Use common sense .
Use the guidelines that are being provided by governments to minimize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always warn people , no matter where we are , the virus is always going to be around .
We 're not going to get rid of it .
There 's going to be someone around who has it , so until we have a vaccine , which is going to be at least until the end of this year , maybe next year , you still have to be careful .
And that means you should still do social distancing , you should keep away from people , and as much as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I invite them into my house ?
Janet Baseman , associate dean for public health practice and Department of Epidemiology professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health : It is safer to socialize outside than inside .
People should be aware of , and follow , local/state public health directives and guidance in their areas .
Wearing face coverings , frequent hand-washing and maintaining social distancing recommendations ( avoiding crowds ) are all really good ideas even as things open up .
Racaniello : One thing we do know is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Closed rooms with more than one person , those situations where you 're going to be in a room with a lot of people , I would just stay away from that for a while .
But it depends who 's in the apartment or house .
If it 's really crowded , it 's not a great idea .
But I think even crowded situations where you 're going to be there temporarily [ like to use the bathroom ] , you can mitigate that with a face mask .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you want to sit inside for a while , unless you 're all wearing face masks , I would n't do it .
Chowell : You could invite them to your house , but you have to be very vigorous with who you invite .
I would suggest [ social distancing ] indoors .
I 'm not sure who would be wearing face masks inside , but you could do it .
Once they come into your home , at that point you know that that risk is essentially close to zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a strict quarantine period .
These are a lot of rules to follow and factors to consider !
Is it best if I just do n't hang out with people ?
Chowell : I would say yes , I think that that 's the wise thing to do .
I think it 's possible — if you do it outside , particularly , and if you wear a face mask most of the time .
It is feasible and depends on the level of risk you 're prepared to take .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have to do it so that the risk is very low .
Meschke : I would n't recommend it at this point , until your governor says it 's time to go and you can start gathering .
This thing 's not over despite what some of the people might think or want , and you really ought to be listening to public health recommendations .
They will open when it 's time to open .
Nobody wants to stay closed any longer than they have to .
Racaniello : I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some semblance of before .
People are social animals , they like to see each other , and if they do n't they 're going to end up with serious issues .
I do think we have to take advantage of the fact that infections are declining and try to socialize as safely as possible .
I would not discourage people at all , I would just say be safe about it .
I think it 's really important for people to interact to a certain extent , much more than we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Gerardo Chowell, Department of Population Health Sciences chair and professor of mathematical epidemiology at Georgia State University: Number one, I think you need to trust that group of people, let's say that's a family, or a friend, or a couple. I think it's easier if you can identify that group as living in a single unit, in the same household. Those are people you trust that if you ask them, "Have you been in contact or interacted with someone else in the last couple of weeks?" they would tell you [honestly] yes or no.
If that circle you want to join has been in quarantine vigorously — the same way you have — I think it's fine, the risk is pretty low.
Once you make that decision to interact, that doesn't mean you're a group forever. That only counts for one instance, because maybe next week after the social gathering, they had another meeting with other people. So the next time you want to gather again, you have to reassess.
Poland: If you live in your home by yourself and don't go out, from a COVID perspective, that’s the safest thing you can do. For every additional person or place that you go to, you add risk.
And it really depends on geography. If you’re in rural Kansas where there’s no community transmission and people haven't traveled, no problem. If you’re in New York City or LA, there’s still community transmission. You’re basically saying, "I'm definitely and significantly increasing my risk of infection, but I'm going to go for it." That’s your decision. Everybody has their own values.
Vincent Racaniello, Higgins Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Columbia University: A big factor depends on where you are in the US, because if you're in New York City, we still have 3,000 infections being recorded a day. So the likelihood that someone you're with is infected is still pretty high, whereas if you're in a rural area which hasn't experienced as much infections, you can do different things.
So that's the first thing you have to take into account: where are you in the US and what's been the history [of infection rates]. And you should also keep an eye on the daily case counts; they're released by most departments of health.
Scott Meschke, professor and assistant chair of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington: My first recommendation is follow your government guidelines, so whatever your governor suggests, that's what I would recommend. In Washington, at least in King County, we're still on stay-at-home [orders]. For us, even expanding your circle at this point would not be a recommended idea.
This isn't just about individuals. This is about public health and the spread [of the virus], and the fact that we don't know who's a carrier and who's not, for the most part. If you were in a situation where everyone was getting tested daily like in the White House, then maybe you could interact without masks and things like that. But you see what happened in the White House — there were several aides [who got infected].
Are there any obvious red flags I should look out for when deciding who to let into my circle?