npr--2020-04-29--New Information Emerges Around Biden Sexual Assault Allegation

Editor 's note : This story contains graphic descriptions of an alleged sexual assault .
New information has emerged in recent days about a sexual assault allegation against the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , Joe Biden , made by Tara Reade , a former staff assistant in Biden 's Senate office .
For the first time , someone has gone on the record to say that Reade detailed the allegation to her decades ago in the same way Reade is describing it now .
A former neighbor of Reade 's named Lynda LaCasse told NPR on Wednesday about a conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarding the alleged assault .
The revelation , first reported by Business Insider , comes with increasing pressure on Democrats to respond , as well as calls from Republicans for the accusation to be examined more openly .
LaCasse said she remembers stepping outside her home in California to sneak a cigarette away from her kids sometime in 1995 or early 1996 , when she was joined by Reade on her front stoop .
They were emotional , discussing custody issues and violence , and she recalls Reade then mentioning Joe Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with at the time .
`` I do remember her telling me that Joe Biden had put her up against a wall and had put his hands up her skirt and had put his fingers inside her , '' LaCasse said .
Reade , as detailed in a previous NPR report , has accused Biden of pinning her up against a wall in the hallway of a Capitol Hill building and penetrating her vagina with his fingers in the spring of 1993 .
The Biden campaign denies the alleged incident , as do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time .
The Biden campaign did not specifically respond to the latest developments , but pointed NPR to its previous statement , which said that the alleged incident `` absolutely did not happen . ''
Biden has not addressed the accusation himself .
LaCasse did not initially respond to multiple phone calls and text messages from NPR , but through Reade , NPR was able to reach her .
Public records confirmed that Reade and LaCasse were neighbors in Morro Bay , Calif. , during the 1990s .
LaCasse said Reade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she tried to comfort her ; LaCasse also recalls advising her to file a police report .
LaCasse described herself as a `` very strong Democrat , '' who supported Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren during the primaries and intends to support Biden in the general election .
She said she felt compelled to share `` the truth '' despite her personal politics .
When asked how she reconciles voting for someone she believes assaulted her old friend , LaCasse explained , `` Biden is n't a bad guy .
I think he 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this — this just happened . ''
Then she clarified , `` and this happened , not just happened , this did happen . ''
LaCasse declined to answer how she thinks other voters should consider this allegation as they weigh whether or not Biden should be president .
Other new information has surfaced in recent days , including a video that Reade claims includes her mother calling into a cable TV show around the time of the alleged incident , and another interview with a former co-worker of Reade .
Lorraine Sanchez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state legislator 's office as Reade in the mid 1990s , also spoke with Business Insider , saying that she recalls Reade saying that her former boss in Washington , D.C. , had sexually harassed her .
She did not mention assault , but harassment is a separate allegation Reade has made against Biden .
It has also been denied by multiple former Biden staffers .
Additionally , a video from a 1993 episode of CNN 's Larry King Live surfaced last week that Reade says includes her mother , whom Reade says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
Reade 's mother has since died .
In the video , an unnamed woman called into the show , identified only as being from San Luis Obispo , Calif .
The caller said , `` Hello .
I 'm wondering what a staffer would do besides go to the press in Washington .
My daughter has just left there after working for a prominent senator and could not get through with her problems at all , and the only thing she could have done was go to the press , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of respect for him . ''
She does not explain what the `` problems '' were , nor does she mention sexual harassment , sexual assault , Joe Biden or Tara Reade .
Reade has said her mother encouraged her to file a police report back in 1993 , which she did not do .
Earlier this month , Reade decided to file a report about the alleged assault with the Washington , D.C. , Metropolitan Police Department because she was worried about her safety after receiving `` online harassment . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged assault has expired and a law enforcement source tells NPR that the case is not under active investigation .
NPR has spoken with multiple staffers in Biden 's office from the time period when Reade worked for him , and none of them could confirm Reade 's recollections of harassment or assault .
Many of them described an office culture that promoted and cultivated women at a time period when that was not the norm .
Biden 's campaign has not separately responded to the latest developments , but Biden 's deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this statement disputing the allegation : `` Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women .
He authored and fought for the passage and reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act .
He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard — and heard respectfully .
Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press .
What is clear about this claim : it is untrue .
This absolutely did not happen . ''
Reade 's allegation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , torn between defending the presumptive Democratic nominee and believing all women who make allegations against any powerful men .
This additional information is renewing attention on Biden 's behavior and has put pressure on the presumptive Democratic nominee to respond , which he has not yet done directly .
At the same time , President Trump 's allies have been eager to pounce on the allegations and amplify them , accusing the media of downplaying the story relative to allegations against Republican men , particularly pointing to the frenzy around allegations against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmation process .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News Radio , `` At the very least it 's pretty obvious that the same people who were outraged about allegations — unproven allegations against Justice Kavanaugh when he was in high school , seemed to have little or no interest , or certainly not as much interest in suggestions of improper behavior by an adult who 's in the Senate . ''
Republicans are starting to more directly pressure Democrats on the substance of the allegation , despite the fact that more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump of various incidents of sexual assault , all of which he denies .
When asked about Reade 's allegation , some of Biden 's allies point to his legislative record on women 's issues , particularly the Violence Against Women Act .
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand , D-N.Y. , who was a leading voice calling for former Democratic Sen. Al Franken to resign after allegations of sexual misconduct emerged against him in 2017 , stood by Biden this week .
`` So when we say 'believe women , ' it 's for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's space for all women to come forward to speak their truth , to be heard .
And in this allegation , that is what Tara Reade has done , '' Gillibrand told reporters on a call .
`` She has come forward , she has spoken , and they have done an investigation in several outlets .
Those investigations , Vice President Biden has called for himself .
Vice President Biden has vehemently denied these allegations and I support Vice President Biden . ''
Stacey Abrams , the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in being Biden 's running mate , told CNN on Tuesday that she believes the former vice president , as well .
`` I believe that women deserve to be heard and I believe they need to be listened to , but I also believe that those allegations have to be investigated by credible sources , '' she said .
`` I believe the Biden I know , and I think he will make women proud ; he will make America proud , '' Abrams added .

New Information Emerges Around Biden Sexual Assault Allegation
Enlarge this image toggle caption Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Editor's note: This story contains graphic descriptions of an alleged sexual assault.
Updated at 12:56 p.m. ET
New information has emerged in recent days about a sexual assault allegation against the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, made by Tara Reade, a former staff assistant in Biden's Senate office. For the first time, someone has gone on the record to say that Reade detailed the allegation to her decades ago in the same way Reade is describing it now.
The revelation, first reported by Business Insider, comes with increasing calls from Republicans for the accusation to be examined more openly and pressure on Democrats to respond. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who endorsed Biden on Monday, expressed on Thursday that she has a "great comfort-level with the situation."
A former neighbor of Reade's named Lynda LaCasse told NPR on Wednesday about a conversation the two had approximately 25 years ago regarding the alleged assault.
LaCasse said she remembers stepping outside her home in California to sneak a cigarette away from her kids sometime in 1995 or early 1996, when she was joined by Reade on her front stoop. They were emotional, discussing custody issues and violence, and she recalls Reade then mentioning Biden, a man LaCasse was not particularly familiar with at the time.
"I do remember her telling me that Joe Biden had put her up against a wall and had put his hands up her skirt and had put his fingers inside her," LaCasse said. Reade, as detailed in a previous NPR report, has accused Biden of pinning her against a wall in the hallway of a Capitol Hill building and penetrating her vagina with his fingers in the spring of 1993.
The Biden campaign denies the alleged incident, as do longtime Biden staffers whom Reade worked for at the time.
The Biden campaign did not specifically respond to the latest developments, but pointed NPR to its previous statement, which said that the alleged incident "absolutely did not happen." Biden has not addressed the accusation himself.
LaCasse did not initially respond to multiple phone calls and text messages from NPR, but through Reade, NPR was able to reach her. Public records confirmed that Reade and LaCasse were neighbors in Morro Bay, Calif., during the 1990s.
LaCasse said Reade was very upset during their conversation and she tried to comfort her; LaCasse also recalls advising her to file a police report.
LaCasse described herself as a "very strong Democrat," who supported Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren during the primaries and intends to support Biden in the general election.
She said she felt compelled to share "the truth" despite her personal politics.
When asked how she reconciles voting for someone she believes assaulted her old friend, LaCasse explained, "Biden isn't a bad guy. I think he's an OK guy. He just has this — this just happened."
Then she clarified: "And this happened, not just happened, this did happen." LaCasse declined to answer how she thinks other voters should consider this allegation as they weigh whether Biden should be president.
Information and questions grow
Other new information has surfaced in recent days, including a video that Reade says includes her mother calling into a cable TV show around the time of the alleged incident and another interview with a former co-worker of Reade.
Lorraine Sanchez, who worked in the same California state legislator's office as Reade in the mid-1990s, also spoke with Business Insider, saying that she recalls Reade saying that her former boss in Washington, D.C., had sexually harassed her. She did not mention assault, but Reade has made a separate harassment allegation against Biden. That has also been denied by multiple former Biden staffers.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Tara Reade Courtesy of Tara Reade
Additionally, a video from a 1993 episode of CNN's Larry King Live surfaced last week that Reade says includes her mother, whom Reade says she told about the alleged assault at the time. Reade's mother has since died.
In the video, a woman calls into the show, identified only as being from San Luis Obispo, Calif. The caller said, "Hello. I'm wondering what a staffer would do besides go to the press in Washington. My daughter has just left there after working for a prominent senator and could not get through with her problems at all, and the only thing she could have done was go to the press, and she chose not to do it out of respect for him."
She does not explain what the "problems" were, nor does she mention sexual harassment, sexual assault, Joe Biden or Tara Reade.
Reade has said her mother encouraged her to file a police report back in 1993, which she did not do.
Earlier this month, Reade decided to file a report about the alleged assault with the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department because she was worried about her safety after receiving "online harassment." A spokesperson for the D.C. police department, Kristen Metzger, tells NPR that an investigation into the allegation is now inactive. The statute of limitations for prosecuting the alleged assault has expired.
NPR has spoken with multiple staffers in Biden's office from the time period when Reade worked for him, and none of them could confirm Reade's recollections of harassment or assault. Many of them described an office culture that promoted and cultivated women in a time period when that was not the norm.
Biden's campaign has not separately responded to the latest developments, but Biden's deputy campaign manager, Kate Bedingfield, previously put out this statement disputing the allegation: "Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women. He authored and fought for the passage and reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act. He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard — and heard respectfully. Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press. What is clear about this claim: it is untrue. This absolutely did not happen."
More political pressure on Democrats
Reade's allegation has put Democrats in an uncomfortable spot, torn between defending the presumptive Democratic nominee and believing all women who make allegations against any powerful men.
Asked about the allegation on Thursday morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who formally endorsed Biden this week, said "I have complete respect for the whole #metoo movement. I have four daughters and one son. And there's a lot of excitement around the idea that women will be heard and listened to. There is also due process."
Pelosi also expressed her continued support for Biden. "I want to remove all doubt in anyone's mind, I have great comfort-level with the situation as I see it with all the respect in the world for any woman who comes forward," she said.
This additional information is renewing attention on Biden's behavior and has put pressure on the presumptive Democratic nominee to respond, which he has not yet done directly. At the same time, President Trump's allies have been eager to pounce on the allegations and amplify them, accusing the media of downplaying the story relative to allegations against Republican men, particularly pointing to the frenzy around allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation process.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News Radio, "At the very least, it's pretty obvious that the same people who were outraged about allegations — unproven allegations against Justice Kavanaugh when he was in high school — seemed to have little or no interest, or certainly not as much interest in suggestions of improper behavior by an adult who's in the Senate."
Republicans are starting to more directly pressure Democrats on the substance of the allegation, despite the fact that more than a dozen women have publicly accused Trump of various incidents of sexual assault, all of which he denies.
The campaign committee for House Republicans put out a number of statements on Thursday morning calling on individual Democratic House members and candidates to respond.
When asked about Reade's allegation, some of Biden's allies point to his legislative record on women's issues, particularly the Violence Against Women Act.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who was a leading voice calling for former Democratic Sen. Al Franken to resign after allegations of sexual misconduct emerged against him in 2017, stood by Biden this week.
"So when we say 'believe women,' it's for this explicit intention of making sure there's space for all women to come forward to speak their truth, to be heard. And in this allegation, that is what Tara Reade has done," Gillibrand told reporters on a call. "She has come forward, she has spoken, and they have done an investigation in several outlets. Those investigations, Vice President Biden has called for himself. Vice President Biden has vehemently denied these allegations and I support Vice President Biden."
Stacey Abrams, the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee in Georgia who has expressed strong interest in being Biden's running mate, told CNN on Tuesday that she believes the former vice president as well.
"I believe that women deserve to be heard and I believe they need to be listened to, but I also believe that those allegations have to be investigated by credible sources," she said. "I believe the Biden I know, and I think he will make women proud; he will make America proud."


npr--2020-04-30--Answering Your Coronavirus Questions: COVID-19 And Kidneys, Masks And Pets

Answering Your Coronavirus Questions : COVID-19 And Kidneys , Masks And Pets On this broadcast of The National Conversation , @ @ @ @ @ about pre-existing conditions and how to protect yourself .
We 'll discuss the reopening of @ @ @ @ @ lockdown restrictions .
And we 'll answer your questions about masks and pets .

Answering Your Coronavirus Questions: COVID-19 And Kidneys, Masks And Pets
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
On this broadcast of The National Conversation, a doctor answers your questions about pre-existing conditions and how to protect yourself. We'll discuss the reopening of businesses as some states ease lockdown restrictions. And we'll answer your questions about masks and pets.


npr--2020-04-30--Passengers Must Wear Masks On Major Airlines To Cut Spread Of Coronavirus

Passengers Must Wear Masks On Major Airlines To Cut Spread Of Coronavirus The three largest U.S. airlines will begin to require passengers to wear face coverings or masks on flights to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
American , Delta and United Airlines join JetBlue and Frontier in taking the action amid growing pressure from Congress and their own employees .
Flight attendants having been calling on their airlines and the federal government to require face coverings or masks on passengers since the pandemic began , and in recent weeks , some Democratic lawmakers have been urging the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration and the airlines to do more to protect travelers and employees from COVID-19 .
The Federal Aviation Administration has said it expects airlines to follow CDC recommendations that everyone wear face coverings when in public , but the regulatory agency has stopped short of requiring them .
Some airlines already require crew members to wear masks , and in addition to now requiring passengers to do the same , some airlines are blocking out middle seats , spacing out passengers during boarding and taking other steps to ensure social distancing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaning and disinfecting of airplane cabins , as well .
JetBlue was the first U.S. airline to require passengers to wear face masks , effective on Monday , May 4 .
Delta and United will make masks mandatory on Monday , too .
Frontier 's requirement goes into effect May 8 , and American will require passengers to wear masks as of May 11 .

Passengers Must Wear Masks On Major Airlines To Cut Spread Of Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images
Updated on Friday at 7:36 p.m. ET
Most of the nation's airlines are beginning to require passengers to wear face coverings or masks on flights to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Southwest and Alaska Airlines announced Friday they will join American, Delta, United, Frontier and JetBlue in taking the action amid growing pressure from Congress and their own employees.
Flight attendants having been calling on their airlines and the federal government to require face coverings or masks on passengers since the pandemic began, and in recent weeks, some Democratic lawmakers have been urging the same, ramping up pressure on the Trump administration and the airlines to do more to protect travelers and employees from COVID-19.
The Association of Flight Attendants, which represents employees of United, Alaska, Frontier and 17 other airlines, says at least 300 of its members have contracted COVID-19 and several flight attendants have died. The union continues to call on the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services to mandate face coverings be worn by all travelers on flights and in airports.
The FAA has said it expects airlines to follow CDC recommendations that everyone wear face coverings when in public, but the regulatory agency has stopped short of requiring them.
Some airlines already require crew members to wear masks, and in addition to now requiring passengers to do the same, some airlines are blocking out middle seats, spacing out passengers during boarding and taking other steps to ensure social distancing on flights. They've stepped up their cleaning and disinfecting of airplane cabins, as well.
JetBlue was the first U.S. airline to require passengers to wear face masks, starting next week. "Wearing a face covering isn't about protecting yourself, it's about protecting those around you," said JetBlue President Joanna Geraghty. "This is the new flying etiquette."
United and several other airlines will provide masks to those passengers who do not have them.
Asked why his airline didn't act sooner when the flight attendants union had been calling for such step for over a month, United Airlines spokesman Josh Earnest said it was a supply chain issue.
"We did not want to be in a position in which we are diverting medical supplies that were badly needed for medical professionals," Earnest said. "Now that there is more inventory, we have been able to work through our supply chain to ensure that we can provide our customers with masks on May 4," when the new requirement takes effect.
Earnest would not say if the airline will deny boarding to passengers who refuse to wear a mask.
"We will be providing masks to all of our customers" to make it easy for them to comply, he said. "We do have language in our contract of carriage that will be updated, so we're going to be real clear about what the requirements are."
Earnest added that social norms are changing to the new coronavirus realities, "and I think those changing norms will carry over into the social environment on board an aircraft."
Delta will make masks mandatory on Monday, too. Frontier's requirement goes into effect May 8, and American will require passengers to wear masks as of May 11.


npr--2020-04-30--Governor Temporarily Closes All Beaches And State Parks In Orange County, Calif.

Governor Temporarily Closes All Beaches And State Parks In Orange County , Calif. California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ordered all beaches and state parks in Orange County to temporarily close on Thursday , after images in the news showed crowds gathering on beaches there and , according to Newsom , violating the state 's physical distancing rules .
It 's a much more narrow order than what had been expected after a California Police Chiefs Association memo surfaced Wednesday .
`` After the well-publicized media coverage of overcrowded beaches this past weekend , in violation of Governor Newsom 's Shelter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be announcing [ Thursday ] that ALL beaches and all state parks in California will be closed , effective Friday , May 1st , '' the memo read .
Activity seen on only a few beaches threatened the progress California has made in battling coronavirus , the governor said Thursday .
`` Specific issues on some of those beaches raised alarm bells , '' Newsom said .
The vast majority of coastlines saw people following the statewide orders , he said .
But the `` density , the volume of people , concentrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coastal cities off and around Orange County area .
Those were the point of particular concern . ''
`` We 're gon na do a hard close in that part of the state , just in the Orange County area .
We 're working with the county , '' the governor announced Thursday .
Concern over infection and hospitalization rates in the county was part of the Orange County closure calculation , Newsom said , noting that Orange County was in the top three or four counties in hospitalizations .
On Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seashore last weekend during a record heat wave , saying that type of behavior could cause a surge in coronavirus infections .
In his press briefing Thursday , Newsom said California had seen a 5.2 % increase in positive coronavirus tests earlier this week .
`` I know we want it to go away , '' the governor said , `` But we have n't bent back curve downward .
We 've just flattened that curve .
It 's stable , but 95 souls were lost in the last 24 hours . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas of the state , like Ventura and Santa Cruz counties .
Crowds flocked to those areas as well , and local officials met in recent days to discuss ways to limit gatherings .
Officials in Newport Beach , Orange County , met Tuesday and voted to not implement any further restrictions on beach or park access .
The governor 's total closure orders will likely supersede that local mandate .
In Santa Cruz , where heat waves brought massive crowds to the beach , officials are implementing a beach curfew starting Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and after 5 p.m. Newsom stressed that the Orange County order was part of a highly targeted and focused approach in battling the pandemic , and said he did not want to be `` heavy handed . ''
Still , local officials in Orange County have said the majority of beachgoers were following distancing rules , and that the widely reported photos warped what actually happened on the shore .
The governor has repeatedly said this week that modifications of statewide measures to control the spread of the coronavirus are `` weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any any level of reopening the economy in California will be guided by behavior , data and science .
Newsom offered people hope , saying , `` We have the opportunity to move into this next phase ... very soon , in the next few weeks . ''
Officials in less-populated areas have called on Newsom to allow them to reopen , while unemployment in the state has reached record levels .
In Modoc County officials are going ahead with plans to reopen , without the governor 's approval .

Governor Temporarily Closes All Beaches And State Parks In Orange County, Calif.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all beaches and state parks in Orange County to temporarily close on Thursday, after images in the news showed crowds gathering on beaches there and, according to Newsom, violating the state's physical distancing rules.
It's a much more narrow order than what had been expected after a California Police Chiefs Association memo surfaced Wednesday.
"After the well-publicized media coverage of overcrowded beaches this past weekend, in violation of Governor Newsom's Shelter in Place Order, the Governor will be announcing [Thursday] that ALL beaches and all state parks in California will be closed, effective Friday, May 1st," the memo read.
Activity seen on only a few beaches threatened the progress California has made in battling coronavirus, the governor said Thursday.
"Specific issues on some of those beaches raised alarm bells," Newsom said.
The vast majority of coastlines saw people following the statewide orders, he said.
But the "density, the volume of people, concentrated space, particularly in the ... few coastal cities off and around Orange County area. Those were the point of particular concern."
"We're gonna do a hard close in that part of the state, just in the Orange County area. We're working with the county," the governor announced Thursday.
Concern over infection and hospitalization rates in the county was part of the Orange County closure calculation, Newsom said, noting that Orange County was in the top three or four counties in hospitalizations.
On Monday, the governor scolded Californians for crowding the seashore last weekend during a record heat wave, saying that type of behavior could cause a surge in coronavirus infections.
In his press briefing Thursday, Newsom said California had seen a 5.2% increase in positive coronavirus tests earlier this week.
"I know we want it to go away," the governor said, "But we haven't bent back curve downward. We've just flattened that curve. It's stable, but 95 souls were lost in the last 24 hours."
Beaches have stayed open in some other areas of the state, like Ventura and Santa Cruz counties. Crowds flocked to those areas as well, and local officials met in recent days to discuss ways to limit gatherings.
Officials in Newport Beach, Orange County, met Tuesday and voted to not implement any further restrictions on beach or park access. The governor's total closure orders will likely supersede that local mandate.
In Santa Cruz, where heat waves brought massive crowds to the beach, officials are implementing a beach curfew starting Saturday, only allowing visitors before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
Newsom stressed that the Orange County order was part of a highly targeted and focused approach in battling the pandemic, and said he did not want to be "heavy handed."
Still, local officials in Orange County have said the majority of beachgoers were following distancing rules, and that the widely reported photos warped what actually happened on the shore.
The governor has repeatedly said this week that modifications of statewide measures to control the spread of the coronavirus are "weeks, not months away." But that any any level of reopening the economy in California will be guided by behavior, data and science.
Newsom offered people hope, saying, "We have the opportunity to move into this next phase ... very soon, in the next few weeks."
Officials in less-populated areas have called on Newsom to allow them to reopen, while unemployment in the state has reached record levels. In Modoc County officials are going ahead with plans to reopen, without the governor's approval.


npr--2020-04-30--Army Brass Defend Decision To Hold West Point Graduation, With Trump As Speaker

Army Brass Defend Decision To Hold West Point Graduation , With Trump As Speaker Top U.S. Army leaders insisted Thursday that the June 13 graduation ceremony they have announced for West Point cadets — after President Trump declared on April 17 he would be the commencement speaker — will take place in a `` safety bubble '' of measures aimed at preventing a further spread of the coronavirus .
`` We will conduct the ceremony much like the Air Force Academy did on April 18 in honoring completion of their 47-month journey to enter the Army ranks , '' Army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon , `` including at this unprecedented time for our country . ''
Vice President Mike Pence addressed Air Force cadets in person at the outdoor graduation ceremony McCarthy cited .
Only those who were graduating attended , seated eight feet apart from one another .
Critics of the planned in-person West Point ceremony have pointed to a partial audio recording obtained by The Washington Post of a video call made by a West Point instructor to a group of 25 cadets four days after Trump said he would speak at their graduation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to be coming back , '' the instructor is quoted by the Post as telling cadets in the recording , `` you 're probably going to be about 60 percent who have coronavirus , so we 're going to likely test all of you . ''
Such a potential degree of infection at the military academy does not appear to have dissuaded Army brass from going ahead with the graduation .
After West Point cadets went home for spring break in early March and were told not to return because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent Defense Secretary Mark Esper `` a revised concept with the date '' for a graduation ceremony which was then sent to the White House .
`` We were looking at specifically how the [ COVID-19 outbreak ] trend was in the state of New York , '' said McCarthy , `` and ultimately was the curve flattening and how we were in a place with much reduced risk of bringing them back to the academy . ''
The superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point , located about 50 miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City , described what he called `` a safety bubble '' for returning cadets .
`` We 'll do it safely , and for all the parents and cadets that are out there watching right now , we 're going to take care of them , '' said Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams , who noted that all cadets are to be tested for COVID-19 before entering the campus and those testing negative will be kept under a special two-week regime .
`` While they 're at West Point , they 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll come back in five cohorts , no cohort will intermingle while they 're there for those 14 days , '' Williams said .
`` They 'll eat separately , they 'll live separately , and we 'll make sure that they are ready to join our great United States Army . ''
The Army 's top civilian , for his part , said the graduation ceremony is not the only reason why the cadets are being asked to return to the New York campus .
`` We have to bring the cadets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process of the physicals they need , to take all of their clearance procedures , to clear barracks , get their personal items , `` said McCarthy .
`` We have to bring the cadets back to start the process to get them to their initial duty assignments . ''
Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville , who also attended the Pentagon briefing , said the cadets would have to be dealing with the pandemic after graduating as commissioned second lieutenants .
`` They 're going to have an opportunity to lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are coming into the Army , and they 're going to have to work their way through this , '' said McConville , `` and that 's why we 're putting the safety procedures in place , so we can do this safely . ''
The Army officials downplayed the possibility that some cadets may not want to risk their health by attending the graduation .
`` I am confident that our cadets will come back and graduate , this is a culmination of a 47-month experience , '' said Williams .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we 're very excited for them , to do this graduation . ''
Asked about disciplinary action being taken against cadets who do not return for the ceremony , Williams demurred .
`` We will make it case by case , sir , '' he said .

Army Brass Defend Decision To Hold West Point Graduation, With Trump As Speaker
Enlarge this image toggle caption Julius Motal/AP Julius Motal/AP
Top U.S. Army leaders insisted Thursday that the June 13 graduation ceremony they have announced for West Point cadets — after President Trump declared on April 17 he would be the commencement speaker — will take place in a "safety bubble" of measures aimed at preventing a further spread of the coronavirus.
"We will conduct the ceremony much like the Air Force Academy did on April 18 in honoring completion of their 47-month journey to enter the Army ranks," Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told reporters at the Pentagon, "including at this unprecedented time for our country."
Vice President Mike Pence addressed Air Force cadets in person at the outdoor graduation ceremony McCarthy cited. Only those who were graduating attended, seated eight feet apart from one another.
Critics of the planned in-person West Point ceremony have pointed to a partial audio recording obtained by The Washington Post of a video call made by a West Point instructor to a group of 25 cadets four days after Trump said he would speak at their graduation.
"Because all 1,000 of you are going to be coming back," the instructor is quoted by the Post as telling cadets in the recording, "you're probably going to be about 60 percent who have coronavirus, so we're going to likely test all of you."
Such a potential degree of infection at the military academy does not appear to have dissuaded Army brass from going ahead with the graduation.
After West Point cadets went home for spring break in early March and were told not to return because of the pandemic, McCarthy said the Army sent Defense Secretary Mark Esper "a revised concept with the date" for a graduation ceremony which was then sent to the White House.
"We were looking at specifically how the [COVID-19 outbreak] trend was in the state of New York," said McCarthy, "and ultimately was the curve flattening and how we were in a place with much reduced risk of bringing them back to the academy."
The superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, located about 50 miles north of the pandemic's epicenter in New York City, described what he called "a safety bubble" for returning cadets.
"We'll do it safely, and for all the parents and cadets that are out there watching right now, we're going to take care of them," said Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, who noted that all cadets are to be tested for COVID-19 before entering the campus and those testing negative will be kept under a special two-week regime.
"While they're at West Point, they'll be segregated the entire time, they'll come back in five cohorts, no cohort will intermingle while they're there for those 14 days," Williams said. "They'll eat separately, they'll live separately, and we'll make sure that they are ready to join our great United States Army."
The Army's top civilian, for his part, said the graduation ceremony is not the only reason why the cadets are being asked to return to the New York campus.
"We have to bring the cadets back to West Point to begin the process of the physicals they need, to take all of their clearance procedures, to clear barracks, get their personal items, " said McCarthy. "We have to bring the cadets back to start the process to get them to their initial duty assignments."
Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville, who also attended the Pentagon briefing, said the cadets would have to be dealing with the pandemic after graduating as commissioned second lieutenants.
"They're going to have an opportunity to lead, these extraordinary young men and women that are coming into the Army, and they're going to have to work their way through this," said McConville, "and that's why we're putting the safety procedures in place, so we can do this safely."
The Army officials downplayed the possibility that some cadets may not want to risk their health by attending the graduation.
"I am confident that our cadets will come back and graduate, this is a culmination of a 47-month experience," said Williams. "They're very excited about it, we're very excited for them, to do this graduation."
Asked about disciplinary action being taken against cadets who do not return for the ceremony, Williams demurred.
"We will make it case by case, sir," he said.


npr--2020-04-30--American Airlines And United Report Nearly $4 Billion In Combined Losses

American Airlines And United Report Nearly $ 4 Billion In Combined Losses Two more airlines are reporting staggering losses due to the coronavirus pandemic .
American Airlines announced Thursday that because of a sharp decline in air travel , the company lost more than $ 2.2 billion in the first quarter of 2020 .
United Airlines reported a $ 1.7 billion loss for the quarter .
Few industries have been as hard hit by the pandemic as airlines , as the number of air travelers has plummeted 95 % over the last two months .
The planes that are flying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passengers per domestic flight , and 25 passengers per international flight , according to the industry group Airlines for America .
It 's not just that people are n't flying now .
They are also not booking for future travel , decimating the airlines ' balance sheets .
Delta Air Lines last week reported a $ 534 million loss for the first quarter .
On Tuesday , Southwest reported losing $ 94 million — its first quarterly loss in nine years .
But worst hit so far is American , whose loss in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came despite strong months in January and February .
The company said it 's burning through cash at a rate of $ 70 million a day .
`` Never before has our airline , or our industry , faced such a significant challenge , '' American Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said on a conference call with analysts Thursday .
`` We all expect that recovery will be slow and demand for air travel will be suppressed for quite some time , '' Parker said .
American is getting $ 5.8 billion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendants , mechanics , gate agents and other employees on the payroll through September 30 .
In addition , the airline has applied for a $ 4.75 billion government loan to help it stay afloat .
Both forms of assistance were made available through the coronavirus economic relief package known as the CARES act , which was approved by Congress last month .
To help reduce costs , the airline is also sharply reducing its flight schedule — by 80 % in April and May , and 70 % in June .
Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well , including United , which is cutting its flight schedule by 90 % in May , and expects to fly fewer passengers all month than it averaged on one day last May .
United had said it is burning through $ 100 million a day , but it expects to reduce that to a burn rate of $ 40- $ 45 million a day in the second quarter .

American Airlines And United Report Nearly $4 Billion In Combined Losses
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images
Two more airlines are reporting staggering losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. American Airlines announced Thursday that because of a sharp decline in air travel, the company lost more than $2.2 billion in the first quarter of 2020. United Airlines reported a $1.7 billion loss for the quarter.
Few industries have been as hard hit by the pandemic as airlines, as the number of air travelers has plummeted 95% over the last two months. The planes that are flying are nearly empty, averaging just 10 passengers per domestic flight, and 25 passengers per international flight, according to the industry group Airlines for America.
It's not just that people aren't flying now. They are also not booking for future travel, decimating the airlines' balance sheets.
Delta Air Lines last week reported a $534 million loss for the first quarter. On Tuesday, Southwest reported losing $94 million — its first quarterly loss in nine years.
But worst hit so far is American, whose loss in the first three months of this year came despite strong months in January and February. The company said it's burning through cash at a rate of $70 million a day.
"Never before has our airline, or our industry, faced such a significant challenge," American Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said on a conference call with analysts Thursday.
"We all expect that recovery will be slow and demand for air travel will be suppressed for quite some time," Parker said.
American is getting $5.8 billion in federal aid to keep pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, gate agents and other employees on the payroll through September 30. In addition, the airline has applied for a $4.75 billion government loan to help it stay afloat. Both forms of assistance were made available through the coronavirus economic relief package known as the CARES act, which was approved by Congress last month.
To help reduce costs, the airline is also sharply reducing its flight schedule — by 80% in April and May, and 70% in June.
Other airlines are substantially cutting back on flights as well, including United, which is cutting its flight schedule by 90% in May, and expects to fly fewer passengers all month than it averaged on one day last May.
United had said it is burning through $100 million a day, but it expects to reduce that to a burn rate of $40-$45 million a day in the second quarter.


npr--2020-04-30--NYC Subways To Close Every Night For Disinfection

NYC Subways To Close Every Night For Disinfection In a move that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called `` unprecedented , '' the New York City subway system will begin halting service every night from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. so that trains can be disinfected .
Cuomo announced the decision on Thursday , saying the new policy was needed to help keep essential workers who rely on the city 's subway system safe from the coronavirus .
The effort will begin on Wednesday , May 6 .
`` It is a massive undertaking that we have never done before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the largest transit system in the United States .
Previously , it had been cleaning its trains every 72 hours in response to the coronavirus .
The crisis has decimated subway traffic in New York , with ridership down more than 90 % , according to city officials , as residents observe lockdown measures .
An estimated 11,000 riders have been traveling the subway during the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. window .
Cuomo said the undertaking will be a joint effort between the MTA and city and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers will be able to take alternative transportation at no cost , including buses and `` for-hire vehicles . ''
`` We have a greater need than ever to disinfect the subways , the buses , and the stations , '' Cuomo said .
`` You want to honor the essential workers , [ saying ] 'We 'll fly airplanes , we 'll have public demonstrations . '
Even better than that is what you do and how you act . ''
New York has reported more than 23 , ooo deaths from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state in the nation .
The city has reported more than 162,000 cases and nearly 18,000 confirmed or probable deaths from COVID-19 .

NYC Subways To Close Every Night For Disinfection
Enlarge this image toggle caption Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
In a move that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called "unprecedented," the New York City subway system will begin halting service every night from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. so that trains can be disinfected.
Cuomo announced the decision on Thursday, saying the new policy was needed to help keep essential workers who rely on the city's subway system safe from the coronavirus. The effort will begin on Wednesday, May 6.
"It is a massive undertaking that we have never done before," Cuomo said.
The city's Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the largest transit system in the United States. Previously, it had been cleaning its trains every 72 hours in response to the coronavirus.
The crisis has decimated subway traffic in New York, with ridership down more than 90%, according to city officials, as residents observe lockdown measures. An estimated 11,000 riders have been traveling the subway during the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. window.
Cuomo said the undertaking will be a joint effort between the MTA and city and state officials. Cuomo added that essential workers will be able to take alternative transportation at no cost, including buses and "for-hire vehicles."
"We have a greater need than ever to disinfect the subways, the buses, and the stations," Cuomo said. "You want to honor the essential workers, [saying] 'We'll fly airplanes, we'll have public demonstrations.' Even better than that is what you do and how you act."
New York has reported more than 23,ooo deaths from the coronavirus, more than any other state in the nation. The city has reported more than 162,000 cases and nearly 18,000 confirmed or probable deaths from COVID-19.


npr--2020-04-30--Without Federal Funding, Ohio Mayor Faces 'Very Painful' Cuts To Services

Without Federal Funding , Ohio Mayor Faces 'Very Painful ' Cuts To Services States and cities rely on business-generated tax revenue to help pay for employees delivering public services , like sanitation workers , first responders , health and safety workers , and librarians .
Until recently , that is .
In the six weeks since the coronavirus pandemic began ravaging U.S. businesses , more than 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment .
And with businesses tanking , many local governments are running out of money to pay for those public services .
Cities like Dayton , Ohio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the economic crisis .
Mayor Nan Whaley says the city has furloughed 470 employees — about 25 % of its workforce .
She says the cuts have affected nearly every department except for police and fire services .
Whaley is calling on the federal government to help before the city is forced to lose those critical public workers .
Nearly $ 3 trillion has been approved in federal coronavirus relief assistance , but little of that has made its way to state or local governments .
Whatley says that what federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a limited number of cities with populations of more than 500,000 , while most people live in smaller cities like Dayton , with a population of about 140,000 .
`` We have not seen very much of that money , if any at all , here in Dayton , '' she says .
Without the help of federal aid , Whaley says , `` It will be very , very painful . ''
Here are excerpts from the conversation .
What is your response to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , who argues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for bailing out local governments who have not budgeted accordingly ?
Well , I think that 's laughable .
I do n't think anybody was budgeting [ for ] a pandemic last December .
I think that Sen. McConnell needs to really get a reality check of what 's going on on the ground here .
These are cities that have had tough times , even past the Great Recession .
And then to have a disaster where they have to provide front-line services — it 's exactly what the federal government should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen quickly .
What happens if Dayton and other cities like yours do n't get this money ?
It will be very , very painful .
We will see less police officers .
We will see less firefighters .
We will have to do services dramatically differently , if we do some services at all .
And I 'm talking about the equity issues of helping kids in summer .
And our city is a poor city .
You will see cities like Dayton get to the very , very minimum , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut to bone and are n't doing services that are needed for a prosperous economy .

Without Federal Funding, Ohio Mayor Faces 'Very Painful' Cuts To Services
Enlarge this image toggle caption Daniel Sewell/AP Daniel Sewell/AP
States and cities rely on business-generated tax revenue to help pay for employees delivering public services, like sanitation workers, first responders, health and safety workers, and librarians.
Until recently, that is.
In the six weeks since the coronavirus pandemic began ravaging U.S. businesses, more than 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment.
And with businesses tanking, many local governments are running out of money to pay for those public services.
Cities like Dayton, Ohio, are having to make tough decisions in response to the economic crisis. Mayor Nan Whaley says the city has furloughed 470 employees — about 25% of its workforce. She says the cuts have affected nearly every department except for police and fire services.
Whaley is calling on the federal government to help before the city is forced to lose those critical public workers. Nearly $3 trillion has been approved in federal coronavirus relief assistance, but little of that has made its way to state or local governments.
Whatley says that what federal aid has been disbursed has gone to a limited number of cities with populations of more than 500,000, while most people live in smaller cities like Dayton, with a population of about 140,000.
"We have not seen very much of that money, if any at all, here in Dayton," she says.
Without the help of federal aid, Whaley says, "It will be very, very painful."
Here are excerpts from the conversation.
What is your response to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who argues the federal government shouldn't be responsible for bailing out local governments who have not budgeted accordingly?
Well, I think that's laughable. I don't think anybody was budgeting [for] a pandemic last December. I think that Sen. McConnell needs to really get a reality check of what's going on on the ground here.
These are cities that have had tough times, even past the Great Recession. And then to have a disaster where they have to provide front-line services — it's exactly what the federal government should do if they want the recovery to happen quickly.
What happens if Dayton and other cities like yours don't get this money?
It will be very, very painful. We will see less police officers. We will see less firefighters. We will have to do services dramatically differently, if we do some services at all. And I'm talking about the equity issues of helping kids in summer.
And our city is a poor city. You will see cities like Dayton get to the very, very minimum, and then we will see where they actually cut to bone and aren't doing services that are needed for a prosperous economy.


npr--2020-04-30--Boris Johnson: U.K. Is 'Past The Peak' Of Its Coronavirus Outbreak

Boris Johnson : U.K. Is 'Past The Peak ' Of Its Coronavirus Outbreak The United Kingdom has endured the worst of its coronavirus outbreak , according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson .
The British leader laid out the positive outlook on Thursday at his first briefing since his return to work after contracting COVID-19 .
`` I can confirm today that for the first time , we are past the peak of this disease , '' Johnson told reporters during a news conference at the prime minister 's residence in London .
`` We 're past the peak and on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister 's comments came the same day the British government reported at least 674 coronavirus deaths over the previous 24-hour span .
All told , the U.K. has so far suffered Europe 's second-highest COVID-19 death toll — numbering upward of 26,700 , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University , with more than 172,000 confirmed cases .
Yet according to Johnson , the country 's testing capabilities have radically ramped up , and more than a month 's worth of lockdown has helped save the U.K. 's medical resources from exhaustion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victories , the prime minister was in the mood for an extended metaphor .
`` We have come through the peak — or rather , we 've come under what could have been a vast peak , as though we 've been going through some huge Alpine tunnel and we can now see the sunlight and the pasture ahead of us , '' he said .
The same could be said for Johnson personally , after the prime minister emerged from a tumultuous period that saw him hospitalized and placed in intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was released from the hospital earlier this month and returned to work Monday — and just one day ago announced the birth of his son .
Still , despite his optimism , the prime minister refrained from giving a time frame for easing the country 's lockdown measures .
He promised instead to deliver `` a roadmap , a menu of options '' on how to proceed with the next steps of the response .
`` We are going to make sure that the U.K. bounces back as strongly and as fast as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to be sensible , '' he said .
`` I think the public have been very sensible insofar as they have been obeying the advice .
It 's vital , as I say , that that does not fray and we do n't start seeing people starting to disregard what we 're saying . ''

Boris Johnson: U.K. Is 'Past The Peak' Of Its Coronavirus Outbreak
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Parsons/AP Andrew Parsons/AP
The United Kingdom has endured the worst of its coronavirus outbreak, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The British leader laid out the positive outlook on Thursday at his first briefing since his return to work after contracting COVID-19.
"I can confirm today that for the first time, we are past the peak of this disease," Johnson told reporters during a news conference at the prime minister's residence in London. "We're past the peak and on the downward slope."
The prime minister's comments came the same day the British government reported at least 674 coronavirus deaths over the previous 24-hour span. All told, the U.K. has so far suffered Europe's second-highest COVID-19 death toll — numbering upward of 26,700, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, with more than 172,000 confirmed cases.
Yet according to Johnson, the country's testing capabilities have radically ramped up, and more than a month's worth of lockdown has helped save the U.K.'s medical resources from exhaustion. And in the flush of those victories, the prime minister was in the mood for an extended metaphor.
"We have come through the peak — or rather, we've come under what could have been a vast peak, as though we've been going through some huge Alpine tunnel and we can now see the sunlight and the pasture ahead of us," he said.
The same could be said for Johnson personally, after the prime minister emerged from a tumultuous period that saw him hospitalized and placed in intensive care during his bout with COVID-19. He was released from the hospital earlier this month and returned to work Monday — and just one day ago announced the birth of his son.
Still, despite his optimism, the prime minister refrained from giving a time frame for easing the country's lockdown measures. He promised instead to deliver "a roadmap, a menu of options" on how to proceed with the next steps of the response.
"We are going to make sure that the U.K. bounces back as strongly and as fast as we possibly can, but we've got to be sensible," he said. "I think the public have been very sensible insofar as they have been obeying the advice. It's vital, as I say, that that does not fray and we don't start seeing people starting to disregard what we're saying."


npr--2020-04-30--Antarctica And Greenland Are Losing Thousands Of Gigatons of Ice — That's A Lot

Antarctica And Greenland Are Losing Thousands Of Gigatons of Ice — That 's A Lot As the climate has warmed , Antarctica and Greenland have lost enough ice in the last 16 years to fill Lake Michigan , according to results from a new NASA mission .
Put another way , more than 5,000 gigatons of ice has melted ( a gigaton equals one billion metric tons or enough to fill 400,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools ) , which drove up sea levels around the world .
The findings show how the massive ice sheets at the far ends of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coastlines everywhere .
`` It will reach us eventually here , even though it 's really far away and hard to think about , '' said Helen Fricker , a glaciologist with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California-San Diego .
`` How much ice we are going to lose , and how quickly we are going to lose it , is a really key thing that needs to be understood , so that we can plan . ''
The data was measured by ICESat-2 , a NASA satellite launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take detailed measurements of ice .
It 's the sequel to a previous satellite , ICESat , that gathered data from 2003 to 2009 .
Using information from both missions , researchers were able to quantify the massive scale of melting .
The mission is also shedding light on what 's driving the melting .
Antarctica 's ice , now sitting on land , makes a slow progression to the ocean .
When it reaches the coast , it floats , creating ice shelves skirting around the continent .
Those shelves are natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss , but as they melt in a warming ocean , that barrier is shrinking .
`` It 's like an apple tart and the ice shelves are like the wall of pastry around the edges of the tart , '' says Fricker .
`` And if those walls are too thin or they 're not baked well enough , then the filling will ooze out . ''
Warmer air temperatures around Greenland are directly melting its ice , as well as causing ice to calve off into the ocean .
Greenland holds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as much as 23 feet and other NASA studies have found melting is accelerating .
Combined , melting ice from both places has caused about half an inch of sea level rise , around a third of what 's been seen over the 16-year period .
Sea levels are also rising because warmer water expands .
`` The ocean expands first and then the ice responds to the warming ocean and warming air , '' said Robin Bell , a research professor at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory .
`` It 's like , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your backyard before the ice cube melts on the table . ''
With ICESat-2 still circling the planet , scientists say it will continue to provide crucial information , helping refine their understanding of how the planet is changing .
`` We 've all been waiting for this new dataset , '' Bell said .
`` Our goal is to be able to tell every coastal community what they can plan on [ in ] the coming decades .
To be able to do that , we both need to measure how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why it 's changing . ''
With oceans predicted to rise as much as 8 feet by the end of the century , governments around the world are looking for detailed projections of how fast that will happen .
`` There 's a lot of infrastructure and airports and people that live right on the ocean , '' Fricker said .
`` And these people are going to feel the effects of sea level rise that 's resulted because the ice sheets have melted . ''

Antarctica And Greenland Are Losing Thousands Of Gigatons of Ice — That's A Lot
Enlarge this image toggle caption NASA/Jeremy Harbeck NASA/Jeremy Harbeck
As the climate has warmed, Antarctica and Greenland have lost enough ice in the last 16 years to fill Lake Michigan, according to results from a new NASA mission.
Put another way, more than 5,000 gigatons of ice has melted (a gigaton equals one billion metric tons or enough to fill 400,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools), which drove up sea levels around the world.
The findings show how the massive ice sheets at the far ends of the planet will affect millions of people on coastlines everywhere.
It's like an apple tart and the ice shelves are like the wall of pastry around the edges of the tart. And if those walls are too thin or they're not baked well enough, then the filling will ooze out."
"It will reach us eventually here, even though it's really far away and hard to think about," said Helen Fricker, a glaciologist with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California-San Diego. "How much ice we are going to lose, and how quickly we are going to lose it, is a really key thing that needs to be understood, so that we can plan."
The data was measured by ICESat-2, a NASA satellite launched in 2018, which uses lasers to take detailed measurements of ice. It's the sequel to a previous satellite, ICESat, that gathered data from 2003 to 2009. Using information from both missions, researchers were able to quantify the massive scale of melting.
The mission is also shedding light on what's driving the melting. Antarctica's ice, now sitting on land, makes a slow progression to the ocean. When it reaches the coast, it floats, creating ice shelves skirting around the continent. Those shelves are natural barriers that slow the rate of ice loss, but as they melt in a warming ocean, that barrier is shrinking.
"It's like an apple tart and the ice shelves are like the wall of pastry around the edges of the tart," says Fricker. "And if those walls are too thin or they're not baked well enough, then the filling will ooze out."
Warmer air temperatures around Greenland are directly melting its ice, as well as causing ice to calve off into the ocean. Greenland holds enough ice to raise global sea levels as much as 23 feet and other NASA studies have found melting is accelerating.
Combined, melting ice from both places has caused about half an inch of sea level rise, around a third of what's been seen over the 16-year period. Sea levels are also rising because warmer water expands.
"The ocean expands first and then the ice responds to the warming ocean and warming air," said Robin Bell, a research professor at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. "It's like, you're going to feel warmer in your backyard before the ice cube melts on the table."
With ICESat-2 still circling the planet, scientists say it will continue to provide crucial information, helping refine their understanding of how the planet is changing.
"We've all been waiting for this new dataset," Bell said. "Our goal is to be able to tell every coastal community what they can plan on [in] the coming decades. To be able to do that, we both need to measure how the ice is changing but also understand better why it's changing."
With oceans predicted to rise as much as 8 feet by the end of the century, governments around the world are looking for detailed projections of how fast that will happen.
"There's a lot of infrastructure and airports and people that live right on the ocean," Fricker said. "And these people are going to feel the effects of sea level rise that's resulted because the ice sheets have melted."


npr--2020-04-30--African Americans Hit Hardest By COVID-19 But Most Likely To Say Faith Has Grown

African Americans Hit Hardest By COVID-19 But Most Likely To Say Faith Has Grown The coronavirus pandemic has hit African Americans proportionally harder , with higher infection and death rates than for any other demographic group .
The global health crisis , however , may actually have strengthened their religious faith .
A new survey by the Pew Research Center found that 56 percent of those attending historically black churches said their faith has grown stronger as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
For every other denominational group , majorities said their faith has been unchanged during this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a whole say their faith has strengthened , with evangelicals more likely than mainline Protestants to say so .
Just seven percent of American Jews said their religious faith has strengthened during this time .
The survey found that women were more likely than men to say their faith has grown , older adults more than younger people and those who pray or attend church regularly more than those who are less religious .
Among those who previously attended religious services at least monthly , 91 percent reported that their congregations have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churchgoing Christians say their congregation is now offering streaming or recorded services .
The survey was conducted from April 20-26 .

African Americans Hit Hardest By COVID-19 But Most Likely To Say Faith Has Grown
The coronavirus pandemic has hit African Americans proportionally harder, with higher infection and death rates than for any other demographic group. The global health crisis, however, may actually have strengthened their religious faith.
A new survey by the Pew Research Center found that 56 percent of those attending historically black churches said their faith has grown stronger as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. For every other denominational group, majorities said their faith has been unchanged during this time.
Just 35 percent of U.S. Christians as a whole say their faith has strengthened, with evangelicals more likely than mainline Protestants to say so. Just seven percent of American Jews said their religious faith has strengthened during this time.
The survey found that women were more likely than men to say their faith has grown, older adults more than younger people and those who pray or attend church regularly more than those who are less religious.
Among those who previously attended religious services at least monthly, 91 percent reported that their congregations have suspended in-person religious services. About eight-in-ten churchgoing Christians say their congregation is now offering streaming or recorded services.
The survey was conducted from April 20-26.


npr--2020-04-30--How To Nab Suspects While Social Distancing? Indian Police Try Giant Tongs

How To Nab Suspects While Social Distancing ?
Indian Police Try Giant Tongs For police , the new coronavirus poses a dilemma : How do you apprehend a suspect in the era of social distancing ?
In India , they 've come up with a way to lengthen the long arms of the law : giant tongs .
In what looks more like a scene from a cops-and-robbers cartoon , this week police in the northern city of Chandigarh tweeted a video of an officer demonstrating how to use a 6-foot pole with a two-pronged claw at the end to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing a surgical mask , clamps the device around a man 's waist and forces him into a pickup truck .
`` We call it a 'social distancing clamp ' or a 'lockdown-breaker catcher , ' `` head constable Gurdeep Singh told NPR by phone from Chandigarh Police headquarters .
`` This is especially used in instances where we suspect that someone has the coronavirus and they are not cooperating with us . ''
Chandigarh , the joint capital of the Indian states of Haryana and Punjab , has been declared a containment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 cases .
Nationwide , India has more than 24,000 active cases and has counted about 1,100 deaths — though testing has not been widespread .
Officers in Chandigarh are still practicing with a prototype of the claw contraption and have n't yet put it into use against criminals , Singh says .
`` Great equipment , great drill !
!
! ''
their director-general , Sanjay Baniwal , tweeted with the video .
Not everyone agrees .
On Twitter , some people called the device `` appalling '' and a violation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police for their creativity to `` control stupid people . ''
This is only the latest unconventional innovation by Indian police during the coronavirus crisis .
In the central Indian city of Nagpur , officers were filmed in March forcing lockdown violators to do exercise squats in the street .
And near the popular tourist resort of Rishikesh , in the north , when foreign backpackers strayed from their hostels , police made them write `` I did not follow the rules of lockdown .
I am very sorry '' 500 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chandigarh policeman Singh says he got the idea from police in Nepal , where officers have reportedly detained over 1,400 suspects using a similar `` multifunctional arrest device . ''
But he says the one designed in India has additional features .
`` We can expand the size depending on the person 's waistline , '' Singh explains .

How To Nab Suspects While Social Distancing? Indian Police Try Giant Tongs
For police, the new coronavirus poses a dilemma: How do you apprehend a suspect in the era of social distancing?
In India, they've come up with a way to lengthen the long arms of the law: giant tongs.
In what looks more like a scene from a cops-and-robbers cartoon, this week police in the northern city of Chandigarh tweeted a video of an officer demonstrating how to use a 6-foot pole with a two-pronged claw at the end to detain a suspect. The officer, wearing a surgical mask, clamps the device around a man's waist and forces him into a pickup truck.
"We call it a 'social distancing clamp' or a 'lockdown-breaker catcher,' " head constable Gurdeep Singh told NPR by phone from Chandigarh Police headquarters. "This is especially used in instances where we suspect that someone has the coronavirus and they are not cooperating with us."
Chandigarh, the joint capital of the Indian states of Haryana and Punjab, has been declared a containment zone, with a high concentration of COVID-19 cases. Nationwide, India has more than 24,000 active cases and has counted about 1,100 deaths — though testing has not been widespread.
Officers in Chandigarh are still practicing with a prototype of the claw contraption and haven't yet put it into use against criminals, Singh says.
"Great equipment, great drill !!!" their director-general, Sanjay Baniwal, tweeted with the video.
Not everyone agrees. On Twitter, some people called the device "appalling" and a violation of "human dignity." Others applauded the police for their creativity to "control stupid people."
This is only the latest unconventional innovation by Indian police during the coronavirus crisis. In the central Indian city of Nagpur, officers were filmed in March forcing lockdown violators to do exercise squats in the street. And near the popular tourist resort of Rishikesh, in the north, when foreign backpackers strayed from their hostels, police made them write "I did not follow the rules of lockdown. I am very sorry" 500 times.
As for the giant tongs, Chandigarh policeman Singh says he got the idea from police in Nepal, where officers have reportedly detained over 1,400 suspects using a similar "multifunctional arrest device."
But he says the one designed in India has additional features.
"We can expand the size depending on the person's waistline," Singh explains.


npr--2020-04-30--In Gaza, Coronavirus Sparks Wedding Fever

For Gaza 's broke grooms , the coronavirus crisis has been the perfect time to get married .
With wedding halls closed and public gatherings forbidden to prevent the spread of the virus , many couples have celebrated their marriage in alleyways and apartments — so grooms can save the fortune they 're normally expected to spend on big parties .
Palestinian tradition dictates that the groom pay for the wedding , not the bride or her family .
`` I have saved at least $ 5,000 on renting a wedding hall , having a banquet , two wedding parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Aziz Masoud , 26 and jobless , who was carried on his friends ' shoulders in an alleyway of Gaza 's Jabaliya refugee camp earlier this month .
Officials do not collect statistics on wedding parties , but one hair and makeup salon for brides reported a 60 % jump in business since Gaza imposed restrictions in March , and the chief justice of Gaza 's Islamic court in charge of registering marriages said he 'd noticed the unseasonable wedding boom .
Marriage is one of many financial burdens in beleaguered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel and Egypt , which imposed a blockade on the territory after the Islamist group Hamas took it over in 2007 .
Most of the territory 's 2 million residents live in poverty and 43 % were unemployed at the end of 2019 .
Many young men in Gaza delay marriage because they ca n't afford the two traditional parties they 're meant to sponsor : a bachelor party with a traditional marching band for the groom and his male friends , and a big celebration in a wedding hall for the families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , featuring a banquet during the day and dancing at night .
The newlywed Masoud signed a marriage contract a year and a half ago , but in Gaza 's socially conservative society , he could n't live together with his wife until he threw the requisite parties .
He asked his father for cash , but he too is out of work .
In March , Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas ordered wedding halls , schools , mosques and some markets shut in the West Bank , and Hamas in Gaza imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rivalry with the West Bank leadership .
`` Use the coronavirus crisis to save money '' '' I whispered in my son 's ear to use the coronavirus crisis to save money , especially because I do n't have work anymore , '' Sami Masoud , the groom 's father , said .
His son 's several dozen friends sang , danced and set off celebratory fireworks in the alleyway until neighbors complained , mistaking the booms for Israeli airstrikes .
Outdoor parties are n't allowed anyway , due to coronavirus restrictions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No one wore masks or was concerned about gathering .
Officials warn of disaster should the virus spread in the small seaside territory with health services frayed from years of war and blockade .
But the young men shared the confidence of many locals that the virus is contained in Gaza .
There have been only 17 confirmed virus cases , all were quarantined , and all but five have recovered , according to Gaza 's Health Ministry .
About 1,900 Palestinians who crossed into Gaza from Egypt have been held in quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Testing has not been widespread , but Gaza 's suffocating blockade prevented an influx of travelers able to bring in the virus early on .
Couples rushed to hold wedding parties before the April 23 start of Ramadan , a month of prayer and fasting when weddings are not typically held .
By the time Ramadan ends , many Gazans expect coronavirus restrictions to be lifted , wedding halls to be reopened and social pressure back again to throw lavish wedding parties .
One big hidden cost of a low-cost Gaza coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wedding of their dreams , perhaps in one of Gaza 's fancy wedding halls with beach views of the Mediterranean Sea .
Mohammed Aqel , 24 , called off the two parties he 'd planned , canceled his wedding hall reservation and held a small gathering inside his house in March with plastic chairs and balloons .
`` It 's awesome that I saved at least $ 4,500 , '' Aqel said .
`` But honestly , I have pain in my heart . ''
His wife , Islam Abu Matar , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most important night in my life .
It will not be repeated , '' said Abu Matar , 20 .
She compared herself to her married friends .
`` They did their night with lots of guests and a big wedding hall .
But I had very limited number of guests with no hall . ''
Another bride , 23-year-old architecture student Diana Aqel , of no relation to Mohammed , faced pressure from her fiancé and his family to ditch the traditional wedding party and have a more modest event this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did it , I would feel remorse for the rest of my life , '' said Aqel .
`` Happiness is more important than money . ''

In Gaza, Coronavirus Sparks Wedding Fever
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images
For Gaza's broke grooms, the coronavirus crisis has been the perfect time to get married.
With wedding halls closed and public gatherings forbidden to prevent the spread of the virus, many couples have celebrated their marriage in alleyways and apartments — so grooms can save the fortune they're normally expected to spend on big parties.
Palestinian tradition dictates that the groom pay for the wedding, not the bride or her family.
"I have saved at least $5,000 on renting a wedding hall, having a banquet, two wedding parties, renting cars and other details," said Aziz Masoud, 26 and jobless, who was carried on his friends' shoulders in an alleyway of Gaza's Jabaliya refugee camp earlier this month.
Officials do not collect statistics on wedding parties, but one hair and makeup salon for brides reported a 60% jump in business since Gaza imposed restrictions in March, and the chief justice of Gaza's Islamic court in charge of registering marriages said he'd noticed the unseasonable wedding boom.
Marriage is one of many financial burdens in beleaguered Gaza. The strip is sandwiched between Israel and Egypt, which imposed a blockade on the territory after the Islamist group Hamas took it over in 2007.
Most of the territory's 2 million residents live in poverty and 43% were unemployed at the end of 2019.
Many young men in Gaza delay marriage because they can't afford the two traditional parties they're meant to sponsor: a bachelor party with a traditional marching band for the groom and his male friends, and a big celebration in a wedding hall for the families and friends of the bride and groom, featuring a banquet during the day and dancing at night.
The newlywed Masoud signed a marriage contract a year and a half ago, but in Gaza's socially conservative society, he couldn't live together with his wife until he threw the requisite parties. He asked his father for cash, but he too is out of work.
In March, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas ordered wedding halls, schools, mosques and some markets shut in the West Bank, and Hamas in Gaza imposed the same restrictions, despite its deep rivalry with the West Bank leadership.
"Use the coronavirus crisis to save money"
"I whispered in my son's ear to use the coronavirus crisis to save money, especially because I don't have work anymore," Sami Masoud, the groom's father, said.
His son's several dozen friends sang, danced and set off celebratory fireworks in the alleyway until neighbors complained, mistaking the booms for Israeli airstrikes. Outdoor parties aren't allowed anyway, due to coronavirus restrictions, so they moved the festivities indoors.
No one wore masks or was concerned about gathering. Officials warn of disaster should the virus spread in the small seaside territory with health services frayed from years of war and blockade. But the young men shared the confidence of many locals that the virus is contained in Gaza.
There have been only 17 confirmed virus cases, all were quarantined, and all but five have recovered, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. About 1,900 Palestinians who crossed into Gaza from Egypt have been held in quarantine centers to ensure they are not infected. Testing has not been widespread, but Gaza's suffocating blockade prevented an influx of travelers able to bring in the virus early on.
Dream wedding deferred
Couples rushed to hold wedding parties before the April 23 start of Ramadan, a month of prayer and fasting when weddings are not typically held. By the time Ramadan ends, many Gazans expect coronavirus restrictions to be lifted, wedding halls to be reopened and social pressure back again to throw lavish wedding parties.
One big hidden cost of a low-cost Gaza coronavirus wedding: Couples do not get the wedding of their dreams, perhaps in one of Gaza's fancy wedding halls with beach views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Mohammed Aqel, 24, called off the two parties he'd planned, canceled his wedding hall reservation and held a small gathering inside his house in March with plastic chairs and balloons.
"It's awesome that I saved at least $4,500," Aqel said. "But honestly, I have pain in my heart." His wife, Islam Abu Matar, was not happy.
"I lost the most important night in my life. It will not be repeated," said Abu Matar, 20. She compared herself to her married friends. "They did their night with lots of guests and a big wedding hall. But I had very limited number of guests with no hall."
Another bride, 23-year-old architecture student Diana Aqel, of no relation to Mohammed, faced pressure from her fiancé and his family to ditch the traditional wedding party and have a more modest event this month. She refused.
"If I did it, I would feel remorse for the rest of my life," said Aqel. "Happiness is more important than money."
Sami Abu Salem reported from Gaza.


npr--2020-04-30--Fauci Says It's 'Doable' To Have Millions Of Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine By January

Fauci Says It 's 'Doable ' To Have Millions Of Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine By January There 's a chance that hundreds of millions of doses of a potential COVID-19 vaccine could be available by early next year , Dr. Anthony Fauci , a key member of the White House coronavirus task force , said Thursday , even though the federal government has not approved a vaccine against the virus .
In an appearance on NBC 's Today Show , Fauci was asked whether he thought it was `` in the realm of possibility '' to have a potential vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I do , '' Fauci replied .
`` I mean , I 'm obviously part of the team that 's involved in that . ''
Fauci , who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , noted that the ideal plan for a potential vaccine is to ensure it is safe and effective — and can be rapidly scaled up for distribution .
Of course , the Food and Drug Administration has not approved a vaccine for the coronavirus .
Noting that vaccine trials are still in the early phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the companies making the medicine would need to do so `` at risk . ''
`` In other words , you do n't wait until you get an answer before you start manufacturing .
You at risk — proactively — start making it , assuming it 's going to work , '' Fauci said .
`` And if it does , then you can scale up and hopefully get to that timeline . ''
`` I think that is doable if things fall in the right place , '' Fauci said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ media reports that the Trump administration is launching a project dubbed Operation Warp Speed , to speed up delivery of a vaccine against COVID-19 .
The deadly disease has been diagnosed in more than a million people in the U.S .
The White House plan aims to bring together pharmaceutical companies , government agencies and the military with the goal of substantially shrinking the development time for a vaccine .
Bloomberg News , which first reported the existence of the plan to accelerate vaccine delivery , says the government 's goal is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doses by early 2021 .
As NPR science correspondent Joe Palca has reported , advances in science have revolutionized the speed at which vaccines can be developed .
`` In the past it used to take 5-10 years to make a vaccine , and now people are talking about a year or 18 months .
So it 's really going faster than expected , '' Palca reported on NPR 's Morning Edition this month .
He added that in addition to a vaccine that is safe for people , there are other factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that generates a strong and lasting immune response .
You need to be able to manufacture it .
Sometimes you come up with a brilliant idea of how to package the virus and you just ca n't make it at a scale that would be useful .
You want to have a vaccine that does n't require special handling , '' Palca reports .
During the NBC interview , Fauci was asked whether he is nervous that stay-at-home orders are beginning to lift in many states , including Alabama , Texas , Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines are set to expire at the end of April .
Fauci declined to give detailed assessments on individual states , but he pointed to White House guidelines for reopening state and local economies , which call for a `` downward trajectory '' of documented COVID-19 cases over a 14-day period .
Fauci said he expects to see an uptick in coronavirus cases when towns and states reopen for business .
`` When you pull back , there will be cases , '' Fauci said .
`` And what we need to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capability of identifying , isolating and contact-tracing individuals . ''
While he said he was `` cautiously optimistic , '' Fauci also said governments must have `` the core principles of the guidelines '' before reopening .
`` You ca n't just leap over things and get into a situation where you 're really tempting a rebound .
That 's the thing I get concerned about , '' Fauci said .
`` I hope they do n't do that . ''

Fauci Says It's 'Doable' To Have Millions Of Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine By January
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris Kleponis/Polaris/Bloomberg via Getty Images Chris Kleponis/Polaris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
There's a chance that hundreds of millions of doses of a potential COVID-19 vaccine could be available by early next year, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of the White House coronavirus task force, said Thursday, even though the federal government has not approved a vaccine against the virus.
In an appearance on NBC's Today Show, Fauci was asked whether he thought it was "in the realm of possibility" to have a potential vaccine ready for wide distribution by January.
"I do," Fauci replied. "I mean, I'm obviously part of the team that's involved in that."
Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted that the ideal plan for a potential vaccine is to ensure it is safe and effective — and can be rapidly scaled up for distribution.
Of course, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved a vaccine for the coronavirus. Noting that vaccine trials are still in the early phase, Fauci added that to accelerate production, the companies making the medicine would need to do so "at risk."
"In other words, you don't wait until you get an answer before you start manufacturing. You at risk — proactively — start making it, assuming it's going to work," Fauci said. "And if it does, then you can scale up and hopefully get to that timeline."
"I think that is doable if things fall in the right place," Fauci said.
Fauci was responding to a question about media reports that the Trump administration is launching a project dubbed Operation Warp Speed, to speed up delivery of a vaccine against COVID-19. The deadly disease has been diagnosed in more than a million people in the U.S.
The White House plan aims to bring together pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and the military with the goal of substantially shrinking the development time for a vaccine.
Bloomberg News, which first reported the existence of the plan to accelerate vaccine delivery, says the government's goal is to have as many as 300 million vaccine doses by early 2021.
As NPR science correspondent Joe Palca has reported, advances in science have revolutionized the speed at which vaccines can be developed.
"In the past it used to take 5-10 years to make a vaccine, and now people are talking about a year or 18 months. So it's really going faster than expected," Palca reported on NPR's Morning Edition this month.
He added that in addition to a vaccine that is safe for people, there are other factors to consider.
"You want one that generates a strong and lasting immune response. You need to be able to manufacture it. Sometimes you come up with a brilliant idea of how to package the virus and you just can't make it at a scale that would be useful. You want to have a vaccine that doesn't require special handling," Palca reports.
During the NBC interview, Fauci was asked whether he is nervous that stay-at-home orders are beginning to lift in many states, including Alabama, Texas, Arizona and Florida.
White House social distancing guidelines are set to expire at the end of April.
Fauci declined to give detailed assessments on individual states, but he pointed to White House guidelines for reopening state and local economies, which call for a "downward trajectory" of documented COVID-19 cases over a 14-day period.
Fauci said he expects to see an uptick in coronavirus cases when towns and states reopen for business.
"When you pull back, there will be cases," Fauci said. "And what we need to do is make sure they have in place the capability of identifying, isolating and contact-tracing individuals."
While he said he was "cautiously optimistic," Fauci also said governments must have "the core principles of the guidelines" before reopening.
"You can't just leap over things and get into a situation where you're really tempting a rebound. That's the thing I get concerned about," Fauci said. "I hope they don't do that."