npr--2020-11-05--Child Marriages Are Up In The Pandemic. Here's How India Tries To Stop Them

Child Marriages Are Up In The Pandemic .
Here 's How India Tries To Stop Them Sometimes the call comes from a teenage girl .
She is pleading for help , `` saying her parents are trying to get her married but she wants to stay in school , '' says Vijay Muttur .
He 's the child protection officer in the town of Solapur in south-central India .
After India went under a coronavirus lockdown in late March , his phone has been ringing off the hook .
He 's hearing from girls under the age of 18 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and child-care workers .
The message from all these callers : Desperate parents , left without a livelihood in the middle of a pandemic , are rushing to marry off their underage daughters .
( In India , it is illegal for a girl under age 18 to wed .
The legal age for men to marry is 21 . )
Data provided to NPR by the government in the western Indian state of Maharashtra , where Muttur 's district is located , shows that officials have stopped 208 child marriages in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By comparison , authorities halted 116 child marriages in the 12 months between April 2019 and March 2020 .
Nationwide data is not available yet .
But there are concerns throughout India – and indeed around the world – that the pandemic is bringing an increase in child marriage .
And the numbers are already high : An estimated 1.5 million underage girls in India and 12 million underage girls worldwide get married each year , according to the United Nations , which defines child marriage as `` both formal marriages and informal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives with a partner as if married before the age of 18 . ''
The number is based on household surveys .
And South Asia is home to the largest number of child brides , says UNICEF .
Of 650 million women and girls in the world who were married before their 18th birthday , 285 million or more than 40 % are in South Asia .
The United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA ) says coronavirus restrictions may delay interventions against child marriage and cause a long-lasting economic downturn that will push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a key driver of child marriage .
So how do you stop a child marriage from taking place during a pandemic ?
Muttur says he often has to use harsh language to convince parents of child brides that what they 're doing is wrong .
`` I tell them , 'by doing this , you are giving someone the permission to rape your daughter ' , '' Muttur says .
Like Muttur , Rolee Singh is getting lots of reports of child marriage in the offing .
She lives in Varanasi , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonprofit Dr. Shambhunath Singh Research Foundation .
`` The first tipoff I got was about a 14-year-old girl being married to a 30-year-old man , '' says Singh .
She alerted the police and showed up with them at the temple where the wedding was taking place .
She explained to the family that what they were doing was wrong and unlawful .
`` I also told them that if they delay their daughter 's marriage till she turned 18 , they would receive financial assistance as part of a government policy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family was convinced and the wedding was stopped .
During the pandemic , Singh says she has halted 5 marriages mid-ceremony and convinced almost two dozen families to call off the marriage before the wedding date .
In India , if an adult man ( over age 21 ) marries an underage bride , he and the girl 's parents or guardians — along with anyone who officiates the marriage — are in violation of the law .
If convicted , they can be sentenced to up to two years in prison or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than $ 1,300 , or both .
According to data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau , 964 people were arrested under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act last year and 525 cases of child marriage were reported .
But actual figures are hard to tally .
A 2018 report by the Centre for Law and Policy Research in Bengaluru and the Center for Reproductive Rights in New York outlines several challenges in the implementation of the law including stigma faced by child brides whose marriage was halted and a low conviction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of child marriages are probably taking place unnoticed .
Before the pandemic , the child marriage cases that Muttur encountered typically involved 16 or 17-year-olds .
Now he 's seeing brides as young as 12 , he says .
`` These are families that survive on their day 's earnings but during the pandemic , they 've got no work , '' says Muttur .
`` Their financial situation is dire . ''
India imposed an early and stringent lockdown which severely hurt its economy and was especially difficult for poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them lost their jobs and dozens died while trying to walk back to their native villages .
India now has more than 8 million reported coronavirus cases , the second-highest in the world after the United States .
Before the pandemic , under the government 's mid-day meal scheme , students from lower-income families would get one meal at their school for free .
But with schools closed , the meals have stopped and parents are scrambling to feed their kids .
They 're also worried about the virus , which is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are scarce .
`` They think , 'If I die , what will happen to my family ? '
So they think it 's better to get the girl married now .
They feel like it 's their duty , '' says Muttur .
`` They also think authorities are so busy with the coronavirus , that they can get away with this . ''
But why would a man 's family want to assume the additional financial burden of his wife ?
One motive could be India 's skewed sex ratio — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` To find brides in the face of this sex ratio imbalance , some traditional-marriage-aged men must reach into younger female cohorts , '' note researchers Peter Leeson and Paola Suarez in their 2017 paper on child brides in India .
Singh says often a man seeking a child bride is a widower or someone who ca n't find a bride his own age – perhaps because he has special medical needs .
Such a man , who would normally have a hard time looking for a bride , finds it easier to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of girls are eager to marry them off , says Singh .
The families of boys may be willing to bear the additional financial burden , even in a pandemic , because the alternative would be a son who remains unmarried .
One way to keep child marriages in check during the pandemic is to recognize child protection workers as essential workers , says Gabrielle Szabo , senior gender equality adviser at Save the Children in London .
`` [ To ] make sure they have access to protective equipment to continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
Szabo also notes that child marriages spike during crises because of the common belief that marrying a girl to a man protects her from violence from other men in the community .
Singh witnessed that firsthand when her town saw an influx of men left unemployed because of the lockdown .
`` Young men started behaving indecently , roaming around , catcalling girls or harassing them , '' says Singh .
`` So families were feeling scared and hurried to get their daughters married . ''
Those kinds of concerns convinced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be arranged for his youngest niece , Sau Sutar , 17 .
Her father died in February .
When schools closed due to the pandemic , Sau was left at home all day while her mother worked in the fields to earn money to feed Sau and her 10-year-old brother .
So Sutar and other relatives arranged Sau 's marriage to a man in his 20s .
`` We thought we should get her married for her own safety , '' says the uncle .
Community representatives alerted authorities , who intervened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marriage .
The family signed a statement promising not to marry off Sau married before she turns 18 .
`` I was relieved when the marriage was called off , '' says the teenager .
`` I always felt strange about it but I thought there was no other option . ''
She wants to study humanities and will start 11th grade whenever her school reopens .

Child Marriages Are Up In The Pandemic. Here's How India Tries To Stop Them
Enlarge this image toggle caption Prakash Hatvalne/AP Prakash Hatvalne/AP
Sometimes the call comes from a teenage girl.
She is pleading for help, "saying her parents are trying to get her married but she wants to stay in school," says Vijay Muttur.
He's the child protection officer in the town of Solapur in south-central India. After India went under a coronavirus lockdown in late March, his phone has been ringing off the hook. He's hearing from girls under the age of 18, from village elders, from social activists and child-care workers.
The message from all these callers: Desperate parents, left without a livelihood in the middle of a pandemic, are rushing to marry off their underage daughters. (In India, it is illegal for a girl under age 18 to wed. The legal age for men to marry is 21.)
Data provided to NPR by the government in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, where Muttur's district is located, shows that officials have stopped 208 child marriages in the 5 months from April through August. By comparison, authorities halted 116 child marriages in the 12 months between April 2019 and March 2020.
Nationwide data is not available yet. But there are concerns throughout India – and indeed around the world – that the pandemic is bringing an increase in child marriage.
And the numbers are already high: An estimated 1.5 million underage girls in India and 12 million underage girls worldwide get married each year, according to the United Nations, which defines child marriage as "both formal marriages and informal unions in which a girl or boy lives with a partner as if married before the age of 18." The number is based on household surveys.
And South Asia is home to the largest number of child brides, says UNICEF. Of 650 million women and girls in the world who were married before their 18th birthday, 285 million or more than 40% are in South Asia.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says coronavirus restrictions may delay interventions against child marriage and cause a long-lasting economic downturn that will push more families into poverty, which is a key driver of child marriage.
So how do you stop a child marriage from taking place during a pandemic?
Muttur says he often has to use harsh language to convince parents of child brides that what they're doing is wrong.
"I tell them, 'by doing this, you are giving someone the permission to rape your daughter'," Muttur says.
Like Muttur, Rolee Singh is getting lots of reports of child marriage in the offing. She lives in Varanasi, where she serves as program director of the nonprofit Dr. Shambhunath Singh Research Foundation.
"The first tipoff I got was about a 14-year-old girl being married to a 30-year-old man," says Singh. She alerted the police and showed up with them at the temple where the wedding was taking place. She explained to the family that what they were doing was wrong and unlawful.
"I also told them that if they delay their daughter's marriage till she turned 18, they would receive financial assistance as part of a government policy," says Singh. Eventually, the family was convinced and the wedding was stopped.
During the pandemic, Singh says she has halted 5 marriages mid-ceremony and convinced almost two dozen families to call off the marriage before the wedding date.
In India, if an adult man (over age 21) marries an underage bride, he and the girl's parents or guardians — along with anyone who officiates the marriage — are in violation of the law. If convicted, they can be sentenced to up to two years in prison or asked to pay a fine of more than $1,300, or both.
According to data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau, 964 people were arrested under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act last year and 525 cases of child marriage were reported.
But actual figures are hard to tally. A 2018 report by the Centre for Law and Policy Research in Bengaluru and the Center for Reproductive Rights in New York outlines several challenges in the implementation of the law including stigma faced by child brides whose marriage was halted and a low conviction rate for those accused. Muttur says a lot of child marriages are probably taking place unnoticed.
Before the pandemic, the child marriage cases that Muttur encountered typically involved 16 or 17-year-olds. Now he's seeing brides as young as 12, he says.
"These are families that survive on their day's earnings but during the pandemic, they've got no work," says Muttur. "Their financial situation is dire."
India imposed an early and stringent lockdown which severely hurt its economy and was especially difficult for poor day laborers. Nearly 100 million of them lost their jobs and dozens died while trying to walk back to their native villages. India now has more than 8 million reported coronavirus cases, the second-highest in the world after the United States.
Before the pandemic, under the government's mid-day meal scheme, students from lower-income families would get one meal at their school for free. But with schools closed, the meals have stopped and parents are scrambling to feed their kids. They're also worried about the virus, which is now spreading in rural areas where health-care facilities are scarce.
"They think, 'If I die, what will happen to my family?' So they think it's better to get the girl married now. They feel like it's their duty," says Muttur. "They also think authorities are so busy with the coronavirus, that they can get away with this."
But why would a man's family want to assume the additional financial burden of his wife?
One motive could be India's skewed sex ratio — there are more men than women. "To find brides in the face of this sex ratio imbalance, some traditional-marriage-aged men must reach into younger female cohorts," note researchers Peter Leeson and Paola Suarez in their 2017 paper on child brides in India.
Singh says often a man seeking a child bride is a widower or someone who can't find a bride his own age – perhaps because he has special medical needs. Such a man, who would normally have a hard time looking for a bride, finds it easier to get one during a pandemic because parents of girls are eager to marry them off, says Singh.
The families of boys may be willing to bear the additional financial burden, even in a pandemic, because the alternative would be a son who remains unmarried.
One way to keep child marriages in check during the pandemic is to recognize child protection workers as essential workers, says Gabrielle Szabo, senior gender equality adviser at Save the Children in London.
"[To] make sure they have access to protective equipment to continue to do that work safely," Szabo says.
Szabo also notes that child marriages spike during crises because of the common belief that marrying a girl to a man protects her from violence from other men in the community.
Singh witnessed that firsthand when her town saw an influx of men left unemployed because of the lockdown.
"Young men started behaving indecently, roaming around, catcalling girls or harassing them," says Singh. "So families were feeling scared and hurried to get their daughters married."
Those kinds of concerns convinced 40-year-old Dattatray Shankar Sutar that a marriage should be arranged for his youngest niece, Sau Sutar, 17. Her father died in February. When schools closed due to the pandemic, Sau was left at home all day while her mother worked in the fields to earn money to feed Sau and her 10-year-old brother.
So Sutar and other relatives arranged Sau's marriage to a man in his 20s.
"We thought we should get her married for her own safety," says the uncle.
Community representatives alerted authorities, who intervened and convinced the family to cancel the marriage. The family signed a statement promising not to marry off Sau married before she turns 18.
"I was relieved when the marriage was called off," says the teenager. "I always felt strange about it but I thought there was no other option."
She wants to study humanities and will start 11th grade whenever her school reopens.


npr--2020-11-05--Wall Street Bet On A 'Blue Wave,' But Divided Government Suits It Just Fine Too

Wall Street Bet On A 'Blue Wave , ' But Divided Government Suits It Just Fine Too Wall Street seemed to love the prospect of a `` blue wave '' just a few days ago .
Now that Democrats appear less likely to get the landslide they hoped for , investors are happy about that as well .
Stock prices began climbing early in the week , when polls showed that Democrats could capture both the Senate and the White House , giving them complete control of Washington .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished 1.6 % higher on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before polls closed on Election Day .
Though Wall Street is usually wary of Democratic control of government , investors saw it as the best chance to pass the kind of economic relief bill that markets have been clamoring for during the coronavirus pandemic .
The election outcome still remains uncertain .
But former Vice President Joe Biden is leading President Trump , while hopes for a Democratic-led Senate have faded .
A Biden win and a Republican-led upper chamber would mean a divided government for at least the next two years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dow finished up by another 542 points Thursday , an increase of nearly 2 % .
The S & P 500 also ended up nearly 2 % .
`` I am calling it the 'Tails I win , Heads I Win ' market , '' tweeted David Rosenberg , chief economist at Rosenberg Research .
Reading the market tea leaves at a volatile time can be challenging .
But it 's axiomatic on Wall Street that periods of divided government often herald a boom for stocks .
`` If you look back over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Democratic president and a split Congress , markets have risen around 13 % .
There 's no reason to think this will be any different , '' said Scott Glasser , co-chief investment officer at ClearBridge Investments .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , said on Wednesday that he wants to see some kind of relief bill before the end of the year after previously saying such a package would have to wait until early 2021 .
Any bill will likely be considerably smaller than it would have been under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics .
`` The economy is sending distressing signals to policymakers , but it 's uncertain whether significant fiscal support will arrive before year-end , particularly with post-election policy gridlock likely in Washington , D.C. , '' Daco said .
Economists have urged Congress to pass a new relief bill as coronavirus cases again spike across the United States .
But investors are taking comfort in the prospect that a Republican-led Senate would put the brakes on many Democratic initiatives that Wall Street looks askance at , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is a key part of Biden 's agenda .
`` You 've almost certainly now taken that off the table because of the Senate vote and lack of a blue wave , '' Glasser says .
Prospects of a diluted Democratic economic agenda because of split control of Congress , along with a new relief bill this year , would be a welcome development in markets , according to Seema Shah , chief strategist at Principal Global Investors .
`` Lower chances of tax hikes , regulatory action and a fiscal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market , '' said Shah .
She also points out that much of the surge in stock prices over the past decade has been driven by the Federal Reserve and other central banks making money cheaper , something that 's likely to continue whatever the makeup of Congress .

Wall Street Bet On A 'Blue Wave,' But Divided Government Suits It Just Fine Too
Enlarge this image toggle caption Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 4:23 p.m. ET
Wall Street seemed to love the prospect of a "blue wave" just a few days ago. Now that Democrats appear less likely to get the landslide they hoped for, investors are happy about that as well.
Stock prices began climbing early in the week, when polls showed that Democrats could capture both the Senate and the White House, giving them complete control of Washington.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished 1.6% higher on Monday and then rose more than 2% before polls closed on Election Day.
Though Wall Street is usually wary of Democratic control of government, investors saw it as the best chance to pass the kind of economic relief bill that markets have been clamoring for during the coronavirus pandemic.
The election outcome still remains uncertain. But former Vice President Joe Biden is leading President Trump, while hopes for a Democratic-led Senate have faded.
A Biden win and a Republican-led upper chamber would mean a divided government for at least the next two years.
Yet stocks continued to climb. The Dow finished up by another 542 points Thursday, an increase of nearly 2%. The S&P 500 also ended up nearly 2%.
"I am calling it the 'Tails I win, Heads I Win' market," tweeted David Rosenberg, chief economist at Rosenberg Research.
Reading the market tea leaves at a volatile time can be challenging. But it's axiomatic on Wall Street that periods of divided government often herald a boom for stocks.
"If you look back over previous eras, when you have had a Democratic president and a split Congress, markets have risen around 13%. There's no reason to think this will be any different," said Scott Glasser, co-chief investment officer at ClearBridge Investments.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on Wednesday that he wants to see some kind of relief bill before the end of the year after previously saying such a package would have to wait until early 2021.
Any bill will likely be considerably smaller than it would have been under Democratic control, which worries Gregory Daco, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics.
"The economy is sending distressing signals to policymakers, but it's uncertain whether significant fiscal support will arrive before year-end, particularly with post-election policy gridlock likely in Washington, D.C.," Daco said.
Economists have urged Congress to pass a new relief bill as coronavirus cases again spike across the United States.
But investors are taking comfort in the prospect that a Republican-led Senate would put the brakes on many Democratic initiatives that Wall Street looks askance at, such as an increase in corporate taxes, which is a key part of Biden's agenda.
"You've almost certainly now taken that off the table because of the Senate vote and lack of a blue wave," Glasser says.
Prospects of a diluted Democratic economic agenda because of split control of Congress, along with a new relief bill this year, would be a welcome development in markets, according to Seema Shah, chief strategist at Principal Global Investors.
"Lower chances of tax hikes, regulatory action and a fiscal stimulus bill create a positive backdrop for the market," said Shah.
She also points out that much of the surge in stock prices over the past decade has been driven by the Federal Reserve and other central banks making money cheaper, something that's likely to continue whatever the makeup of Congress.


npr--2020-11-05--Facebook Removes Pro-Trump Group Urging 'Boots On The Ground'

Facebook removed a group filled with false claims about voter fraud and calls for real-world protests over vote counting that had gained more than 360,000 members since it was created on Wednesday .
`` The group was organized around the delegitimization of the election process , and we saw worrying calls for violence from some members of the group , '' said Andy Stone , a spokesman for the social network .
He said the decision was made `` in line with the exceptional measures that we are taking during this period of heightened tension '' because the group `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social network 's crackdown comes amid a push by President Trump and his allies to accuse Democrats falsely of trying to steal the election .
The Facebook group , Stop the Steal , said on its now-removed page it was created by Women for America First , a pro-Trump organization founded by a former Tea Party activist .
Before Facebook took action , membership was growing rapidly .
It swelled by more than 25,000 just between noon and 1 p.m .
ET Thursday .
The group 's description echoed baseless claims that `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican votes . ''
It called for `` boots on the ground to protect the integrity of the vote . ''
Posts in the Stop the Steal Facebook group included debunked claims that ballots cast with Sharpie markers were being discarded in Arizona and false allegations that poll workers were tossing out votes for the president .
The group was also being used to organize protests at vote-counting centers , and some members discussed arming themselves for violent confrontations .
Researchers who track online disinformation have warned that a prolonged period without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ripe opportunities for falsehoods , rumors and misleading narratives to spread and possibly incite physical violence .
`` This is the most intense online disinformation event in U.S. history and the pace of what we have found has only accelerated since [ Election Day ] , '' said Alex Stamos , director of the Stanford Internet Observatory and Facebook 's former chief security officer .
The president 's supporters have rallied behind the hashtag # stopthesteal on social media to spread unverified and false claims about the vote-counting process .
Twitter has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Facebook group 's removal , some members said they had encountered limits on how many people they were allowed to invite to join it .
And after it was taken down , other similarly named groups were quickly created to replace it .
One has already gained more than 2,000 members .
Critics say Facebook groups have become a potent vector for the spread of misinformation and even radicalization of users .
The social network had temporarily stopped suggesting that users join any political groups or any newly created groups in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note : Facebook is among NPR 's financial supporters .

Facebook Removes Pro-Trump Group Urging 'Boots On The Ground'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Facebook removed a group filled with false claims about voter fraud and calls for real-world protests over vote counting that had gained more than 360,000 members since it was created on Wednesday.
"The group was organized around the delegitimization of the election process, and we saw worrying calls for violence from some members of the group," said Andy Stone, a spokesman for the social network. He said the decision was made "in line with the exceptional measures that we are taking during this period of heightened tension" because the group "was creating real-world events."
The social network's crackdown comes amid a push by President Trump and his allies to accuse Democrats falsely of trying to steal the election.
The Facebook group, Stop the Steal, said on its now-removed page it was created by Women for America First, a pro-Trump organization founded by a former Tea Party activist. Before Facebook took action, membership was growing rapidly. It swelled by more than 25,000 just between noon and 1 p.m. ET Thursday.
The group's description echoed baseless claims that "Democrats are scheming to disenfranchise and nullify Republican votes." It called for "boots on the ground to protect the integrity of the vote."
Posts in the Stop the Steal Facebook group included debunked claims that ballots cast with Sharpie markers were being discarded in Arizona and false allegations that poll workers were tossing out votes for the president. The group was also being used to organize protests at vote-counting centers, and some members discussed arming themselves for violent confrontations.
Researchers who track online disinformation have warned that a prolonged period without a clear outcome in the presidential race creates ripe opportunities for falsehoods, rumors and misleading narratives to spread and possibly incite physical violence.
"This is the most intense online disinformation event in U.S. history and the pace of what we have found has only accelerated since [Election Day]," said Alex Stamos, director of the Stanford Internet Observatory and Facebook's former chief security officer.
The president's supporters have rallied behind the hashtag #stopthesteal on social media to spread unverified and false claims about the vote-counting process. Twitter has said it is monitoring the hashtag.
Before the Facebook group's removal, some members said they had encountered limits on how many people they were allowed to invite to join it.
And after it was taken down, other similarly named groups were quickly created to replace it. One has already gained more than 2,000 members.
Critics say Facebook groups have become a potent vector for the spread of misinformation and even radicalization of users. The social network had temporarily stopped suggesting that users join any political groups or any newly created groups in the runup to Election Day.
Editor's note: Facebook is among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-11-05--Denmark To Kill Up To 17 Million Minks After Discovering Mutated Coronavirus

Denmark To Kill Up To 17 Million Minks After Discovering Mutated Coronavirus Denmark is killing its large mink population after discovering a coronavirus mutation that can spread to humans , the nation 's government said Wednesday .
The country , which is the world 's largest supplier of mink fur , will cull as many as 17 million animals in an effort to stop the spread .
`` We have a great responsibility towards our own population , but with the mutation that has now been found , we have an even greater responsibility for the rest of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mette Frederiksen said in a news conference , according to the BBC .
She said Danish officials have seen the mutated virus display a weak reaction to antibodies .
The government said it is concerned that the variant could reduce the effectiveness of a future vaccine .
It 's worth noting that all viruses mutate , something that does n't necessarily mean they are more dangerous .
Danish officials notified the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control .
Twelve people have been diagnosed with the virus strain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
About 200 coronavirus cases in total can be traced to exposure from mink .
`` It is normal for viruses to mutate or change over time .
WHO works with networks of researchers , including evolutionary virologists , sequencing teams , and synthetic biologists to look at these changes , '' the WHO said in a statement to NPR .
The government has not released specific details on the virus variation .
Thousands of minks recently died in Utah after the coronavirus swept through farms , according to Boise State Public Radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time that people did n't appear to be at risk from that outbreak .
Emma Hodcroft , a virologist and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Basel , in Switzerland , urged people not to panic .
There 's not enough information to tell how dangerous the mutation is , she explained on Twitter .
Hodcroft also criticized the lack of information disclosed .
`` If Denmark believes this is serious enough to kill their entire mink population , '' Hodcroft tweeted , `` one would perhaps also conclude that this [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the information about these mutations to scientists worldwide as quickly as possible to see if variants are found elsewhere . ''

Denmark To Kill Up To 17 Million Minks After Discovering Mutated Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Denmark is killing its large mink population after discovering a coronavirus mutation that can spread to humans, the nation's government said Wednesday.
The country, which is the world's largest supplier of mink fur, will cull as many as 17 million animals in an effort to stop the spread.
"We have a great responsibility towards our own population, but with the mutation that has now been found, we have an even greater responsibility for the rest of the world as well," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a news conference, according to the BBC.
She said Danish officials have seen the mutated virus display a weak reaction to antibodies.
The government said it is concerned that the variant could reduce the effectiveness of a future vaccine. It's worth noting that all viruses mutate, something that doesn't necessarily mean they are more dangerous.
Danish officials notified the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Twelve people have been diagnosed with the virus strain so far, according to the WHO. About 200 coronavirus cases in total can be traced to exposure from minks.
"It is normal for viruses to mutate or change over time. WHO works with networks of researchers, including evolutionary virologists, sequencing teams, and synthetic biologists to look at these changes," the WHO said in a statement to NPR.
The government has not released specific details on the virus variation.
Thousands of minks recently died in Utah after the coronavirus swept through farms, according to Boise State Public Radio. But the state veterinarian said at the time that people didn't appear to be at risk from that outbreak.
Emma Hodcroft, a virologist and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Basel, in Switzerland, urged people not to panic.
There's not enough information to tell how dangerous the mutation is, she explained on Twitter. Hodcroft also criticized the lack of information disclosed.
"If Denmark believes this is serious enough to kill their entire mink population," Hodcroft tweeted, "one would perhaps also conclude that this [is] serious enough to pass on the information about these mutations to scientists worldwide as quickly as possible to see if variants are found elsewhere."


npr--2020-11-05--Kosovo's President Steps Down To Face War Crimes Charges

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci , who fought in his country 's 1998-1999 war for independence from Serbia , has abruptly resigned after a Hague-based special court confirmed that he 's been indicted on war crimes charges .
Speaking at a news conference in the Kosovo capital , Pristina , Thaci said he was stepping down `` to protect the integrity of the state . ''
`` I resign as of today , '' he told reporters on Thursday , urging calm and `` political and civic unity . ''
Thaci , a fixture in Kosovo 's politics for 20 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Specialist Chambers in The Hague .
The tribunal was set up in 2015 to handle allegations of war crimes stemming from the war that ended in 1999 after U.S.-led NATO troops bombed Serbia .
Kosovo declared itself a nation in 2008 , but Serbia still claims Kosovo as its own .
Serbia 's allies have blocked Kosovo from joining the United Nations , NATO and the European Union .
Thaci was a senior commander in the Kosovo Liberation Army guerrilla group .
After the end of the war in 1999 , he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president in 2016 .
In July , a month after the indictment was first announced , he met with the prosecutors to discuss the allegations that include `` a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes , including murder , enforced disappearance of persons , persecution , and torture , '' according to a statement by the court .
The indictment alleged that Thaci and several others `` are criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders ... of known victims of Kosovo Albanian , Serb , Roma , and other ethnicities and include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the procedures of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers , after charges are filed , they must be confirmed by an independent judge who determines if the allegations raised are well-grounded .
Thaci said Thursday he has learned the charges against him were confirmed .
Kadri Veseli , leader of Democratic Party of Kosovo to which Thaci also belongs , released a statement Thursday saying that the same tribunal also indicted him and that he would voluntarily travel to The Hague to turn himself in .
A third politician , Rexhep Selimi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also announced his indictment .
He said that like Veseli , he would travel to The Hague .
Thaci 's resignation follows the arrest and transfer to The Hague on Wednesday of Jakup Krasniqi , a former Kosovo Liberation Army spokesman and former speaker of Kosovo 's parliament .
Krasniqi was arrested `` pursuant to a confirmed indictment related to war crimes and crimes against humanity , and an arrest warrant and transfer order issued by a Pre-Trial Judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers , '' the tribunal said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the indictment against him .
Stephanie van den Berg , a Dutch journalist who hosts a podcast on international war crimes , said the court is controversial in Kosovo , where `` all the KLA leaders are veteran politicians . ''
`` It 's hugely significant that Thaci turned himself in , '' she said .
`` He has always denied involvement in any crimes and presented himself as a liberator of his people , a peacemaker , '' she added .
`` It will be interesting to see how the special court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because previous cases against Kosovar Albanians were marred by witness intimidation . ''
In June , Human Rights Watch expressed concern about the protection of witnesses in the case , which it says `` has plagued so many war crimes trials of former KLA members , both in Kosovo and at the United Nations ' International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia . ''
Vjosa Osmani , the speaker of Kosovo 's parliament , will fill in as interim president until lawmakers approve a successor to Thaci .

Kosovo's President Steps Down To Face War Crimes Charges
Enlarge this image toggle caption Visar Kryeziu/AP Visar Kryeziu/AP
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, who fought in his country's 1998-1999 war for independence from Serbia, has abruptly resigned after a Hague-based special court confirmed that he's been indicted on war crimes charges.
Speaking at a news conference in the Kosovo capital, Pristina, Thaci said he was stepping down "to protect the integrity of the state."
"I resign as of today," he told reporters on Thursday, urging calm and "political and civic unity."
Thaci, a fixture in Kosovo's politics for 20 years, will face charges at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague. The tribunal was set up in 2015 to handle allegations of war crimes stemming from the war that ended in 1999 after U.S.-led NATO troops bombed Serbia. Kosovo declared itself a nation in 2008, but Serbia still claims Kosovo as its own. Serbia's allies have blocked Kosovo from joining the United Nations, NATO and the European Union.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Visar Kryeziu/AP Visar Kryeziu/AP
Thaci was a senior commander in the Kosovo Liberation Army guerrilla group. After the end of the war in 1999, he was prime minister of Kosovo and was elected president in 2016.
In July, a month after the indictment was first announced, he met with the prosecutors to discuss the allegations that include "a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, enforced disappearance of persons, persecution, and torture," according to a statement by the court.
The indictment alleged that Thaci and several others "are criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders ... of known victims of Kosovo Albanian, Serb, Roma, and other ethnicities and include political opponents," the court said.
According to the procedures of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, after charges are filed, they must be confirmed by an independent judge who determines if the allegations raised are well-grounded. Thaci said Thursday he has learned the charges against him were confirmed.
Kadri Veseli, leader of Democratic Party of Kosovo to which Thaci also belongs, released a statement Thursday saying that the same tribunal also indicted him and that he would voluntarily travel to The Hague to turn himself in. A third politician, Rexhep Selimi, a deputy in Kosovo's parliament, also announced his indictment. He said that like Veseli, he would travel to The Hague.
Thaci's resignation follows the arrest and transfer to The Hague on Wednesday of Jakup Krasniqi, a former Kosovo Liberation Army spokesman and former speaker of Kosovo's parliament.
Krasniqi was arrested "pursuant to a confirmed indictment related to war crimes and crimes against humanity, and an arrest warrant and transfer order issued by a Pre-Trial Judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers," the tribunal said in a statement. It did not give details about the indictment against him.
Stephanie van den Berg, a Dutch journalist who hosts a podcast on international war crimes, said the court is controversial in Kosovo, where "all the KLA leaders are veteran politicians."
"It's hugely significant that Thaci turned himself in," she said.
"He has always denied involvement in any crimes and presented himself as a liberator of his people, a peacemaker," she added. "It will be interesting to see how the special court cases against him and others play out because previous cases against Kosovar Albanians were marred by witness intimidation."
In June, Human Rights Watch expressed concern about the protection of witnesses in the case, which it says "has plagued so many war crimes trials of former KLA members, both in Kosovo and at the United Nations' International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia."
Vjosa Osmani, the speaker of Kosovo's parliament, will fill in as interim president until lawmakers approve a successor to Thaci.


npr--2020-11-05--Clots, Strokes And Rashes. Is COVID-19 A Disease Of The Blood Vessels?

Clots , Strokes And Rashes .
Is COVID-19 A Disease Of The Blood Vessels ?
Whether it 's strange rashes on the toes or blood clots in the brain , the widespread ravages of COVID-19 have increasingly led researchers to focus on how the novel coronavirus sabotages the body 's blood vessels .
As scientists have come to know the disease better , they have homed in on the vascular system — the body 's network of arteries , veins and capillaries , stretching more than 60,000 miles — to understand this wide-ranging disease and to find treatments that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the earliest insights into how COVID-19 can act like a vascular disease came from studying the aftermath of the most serious infections .
Those reveal that the virus warps a critical piece of our vascular infrastructure : the single layer of cells lining the inside of every blood vessel , known as the endothelial cells or simply the endothelium .
Dr. William Li , a vascular biologist , compares this lining to a freshly resurfaced ice skating rink before a hockey game on which the players and pucks glide smoothly along .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the blood vessel and shreds the lining , that 's like the ice after a hockey game , '' says Li , a researcher and founder of the Angiogenesis Foundation .
`` You wind up with a situation that is really untenable for blood flow . ''
In a study published this summer , Li and an international team of researchers compared the lung tissues of people who died from COVID-19 with those who died from influenza .
They found stark differences : The lung tissues of COVID-19 patients had nine times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microthrombi '' ) compared with those of the influenza patients , and the coronavirus-infected lungs also exhibited `` severe endothelial injury . ''
`` The surprise was that this respiratory virus makes a beeline for the cells lining blood vessels , filling them up like a gumball machine and shredding the cell from the inside out , '' Li says .
`` We found blood vessels are blocked and blood clots are forming because of that lining damage . ''
It 's already known that the coronavirus breaks into cells by way of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is found all over the body .
But scientists are still trying to understand how the virus sets off a cascade of events that cause so much destruction to blood vessels .
Li says one theory is that the virus directly attacks endothelial cells .
Lab experiments have shown that the coronavirus can infect engineered human endothelial cells .
It 's also possible the problems begin elsewhere , and the endothelial cells sustain collateral damage along the way as the immune system reacts — and sometimes overreacts — to the invading virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important jobs ; these include preventing clotting , controlling blood pressure , regulating oxidative stress and fending off pathogens .
And Li says uncovering how the virus jeopardizes the endothelium may link many of COVID-19 's complications : `` The effects in the brain , the blood clots in the lung and elsewhere in the legs , the COVID toe , the problem with the kidneys and even the heart . ''
In Spain , skin biopsies of distinctive red lesions on toes , known as chilblains , found viral particles in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclude that `` endothelial damage induced by the virus could be the key mechanism . ''
Could the lining of our blood vessels be a common denominator ?
With a surface area larger than a football field , the endothelium helps maintain a delicate balance in the bloodstream .
These cells are essentially the `` gatekeeper '' to the bloodstream .
`` The endothelium has developed a distant early warning system to alert the body to get ready for an invasion if there 's trouble brewing , '' says Peter Libby , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School .
When that happens , endothelial cells change the way they function , he says .
But that process can also go too far .
`` The very functions that help us maintain health and fight off invaders , when they run out of control , then it can actually make the disease worse , '' Libby says .
In that case , the endothelial cells turn against their host and start to promote clotting and high blood pressure .
`` In COVID-19 patients , we have both of these markers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cardiologist and researcher at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City .
The novel coronavirus triggers a condition seen in other cardiovascular diseases called endothelial dysfunction .
Santulli , who wrote about this idea in the spring , says that may be the `` cornerstone '' of organ dysfunction in COVID-19 patients .
`` The common denominator in all of these COVID-19 patients is endothelial dysfunction , '' he says .
`` It 's like the virus knows where to go and knows how to attack these cells .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vascular system likely also comes from the body 's own runaway immune response to the novel coronavirus .
`` What we see with the SARS-CoV-2 is really an unprecedented level of inflammation in the bloodstream , '' says Yogen Kanthi , a cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist at the National Institutes of Health , who 's researching this phase of the illness .
`` This virus is leveraging its ability to create inflammation , and that has these deleterious , nefarious effects downstream . ''
When inflammation spreads through the inner lining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called endothelialitis — blood clots can form throughout the body , starving tissues of oxygen and promoting even more inflammation .
`` We start to get this relentless , self-amplifying cycle of inflammation in the body , which can then lead to more clotting and more inflammation , '' Kanthi says .
Another sign of endothelial damage comes from analyzing the blood of COVID-19 patients .
A recent study found elevated levels of a protein produced by endothelial cells , called Von Willebrand factor , which is involved in clotting .
`` They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are critically ill , '' says Alfred Lee , a hematologist at the Yale Cancer Center , who coauthored the study with Hyung Chun , a cardiologist and vascular biologist at Yale .
Lee points out that some autoimmune diseases can lead to a similar interplay of clotting and inflammation called immunothrombosis .
Chun says the elevated levels of Von Willebrand factor show that vascular injury can be detected in patients while in the hospital — and perhaps even before , which could help predict their likelihood of developing more serious complications .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear what 's the driving force behind the blood vessel damage : `` It does seem to be a progression of disease that really brings out this endothelial injury ; the key question is what 's the root cause of this ? ''
After they presented their data , Lee says Yale 's hospital system started putting patients who were critically ill with COVID-19 on aspirin , which can prevent clotting .
While the best combinations and dosages are still being studied , research indicates that blood thinners may improve outcomes in COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being studied that may more directly protect endothelial cells from the coronavirus .
`` Is that the end-all be-all to treating COVID-19 ?
I absolutely do n't think so .
There 's so many aspects of the disease that we still do n't understand , '' he says .
COVID-19 as a vascular `` stress test '' for people with preexisting vascular problems Early in the pandemic , Roger Seheult , a critical care and pulmonary physician in Southern California , realized the patients he expected to be most vulnerable to a respiratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma , were not the ones ending up disproportionately in his intensive care unit .
Seheult , who runs the popular medical education website called MedCram , says , `` Instead , what we are seeing are patients who are obese , people who have large BMIs , people who have Type 2 diabetes and with high blood pressure . ''
Over time , all of those conditions can cause inflammation and damage to the lining of blood vessels , he says , including a harmful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seheult says infection with the coronavirus becomes an added stress for people with those conditions that already tax the blood vessels .
`` If you 're right on the edge and you get the wind blown from this coronavirus , now you 've gone over the edge . ''
He says the extensive damage to blood vessels could explain why COVID-19 patients with severe respiratory problems do n't necessarily resemble patients who get sick from the flu .
`` They are having shortness of breath , but we have to realize the lungs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he says .
`` It 's an issue with the blood vessels themselves . ''
This is why COVID-19 patients struggle to fill their blood supply with oxygen , even when air is being pumped into their lungs .
`` The endothelial cells get leaky , so instead of being like Saran Wrap , it turns into a sieve and then it allows fluid from the bloodstream to accumulate in the airspaces , '' Harvard 's Libby says .
Doctors who treat COVID-19 are now keenly aware that complications such as strokes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a patient gets better and their breathing improves .
`` They are off oxygen , they can be discharged home , but their vasculature is not completely resolved , they still have inflammation , '' he says .
`` What can happen is they develop a blood clot , and they have a massive pulmonary embolism . ''
Patients can be closely monitored for these problems , but one of the big unknowns for doctors and patients are the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the circulatory system .
The Angiogenesis Foundation 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The virus enters your body and it leaves your body .
You might or might not have gotten sick .
But is that leaving behind a trashed vascular system ? ''
This story comes from NPR 's partnership with Kaiser Health News .

Clots, Strokes And Rashes. Is COVID-19 A Disease Of The Blood Vessels?
Enlarge this image Jasmin Merdan/Getty Images Jasmin Merdan/Getty Images
Whether it's strange rashes on the toes or blood clots in the brain, the widespread ravages of COVID-19 have increasingly led researchers to focus on how the novel coronavirus sabotages the body's blood vessels.
As scientists have come to know the disease better, they have homed in on the vascular system — the body's network of arteries, veins and capillaries, stretching more than 60,000 miles — to understand this wide-ranging disease and to find treatments that can stymie its most pernicious effects.
Some of the earliest insights into how COVID-19 can act like a vascular disease came from studying the aftermath of the most serious infections. Those reveal that the virus warps a critical piece of our vascular infrastructure: the single layer of cells lining the inside of every blood vessel, known as the endothelial cells or simply the endothelium.
Dr. William Li, a vascular biologist, compares this lining to a freshly resurfaced ice skating rink before a hockey game on which the players and pucks glide smoothly along.
"When the virus damages the inside of the blood vessel and shreds the lining, that's like the ice after a hockey game," says Li, a researcher and founder of the Angiogenesis Foundation. "You wind up with a situation that is really untenable for blood flow."
In a study published this summer, Li and an international team of researchers compared the lung tissues of people who died from COVID-19 with those who died from influenza.
They found stark differences: The lung tissues of COVID-19 patients had nine times as many tiny blood clots ("microthrombi'') compared with those of the influenza patients, and the coronavirus-infected lungs also exhibited "severe endothelial injury."
"The surprise was that this respiratory virus makes a beeline for the cells lining blood vessels, filling them up like a gumball machine and shredding the cell from the inside out," Li says. "We found blood vessels are blocked and blood clots are forming because of that lining damage."
It's already known that the coronavirus breaks into cells by way of a specific receptor, called ACE2, which is found all over the body. But scientists are still trying to understand how the virus sets off a cascade of events that cause so much destruction to blood vessels. Li says one theory is that the virus directly attacks endothelial cells. Lab experiments have shown that the coronavirus can infect engineered human endothelial cells.
It's also possible the problems begin elsewhere, and the endothelial cells sustain collateral damage along the way as the immune system reacts — and sometimes overreacts — to the invading virus.
Endothelial cells have a slew of important jobs; these include preventing clotting, controlling blood pressure, regulating oxidative stress and fending off pathogens. And Li says uncovering how the virus jeopardizes the endothelium may link many of COVID-19's complications: "The effects in the brain, the blood clots in the lung and elsewhere in the legs, the COVID toe, the problem with the kidneys and even the heart."
In Spain, skin biopsies of distinctive red lesions on toes, known as chilblains, found viral particles in the endothelial cells, leading the authors to conclude that "endothelial damage induced by the virus could be the key mechanism."
Could the lining of our blood vessels be a common denominator?
With a surface area larger than a football field, the endothelium helps maintain a delicate balance in the bloodstream. These cells are essentially the "gatekeeper" to the bloodstream.
"The endothelium has developed a distant early warning system to alert the body to get ready for an invasion if there's trouble brewing," says Peter Libby, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and research scientist at Harvard Medical School.
When that happens, endothelial cells change the way they function, he says. But that process can also go too far.
"The very functions that help us maintain health and fight off invaders, when they run out of control, then it can actually make the disease worse," Libby says.
In that case, the endothelial cells turn against their host and start to promote clotting and high blood pressure.
"In COVID-19 patients, we have both of these markers of dysfunction," says Gaetano Santulli, a cardiologist and researcher at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
The novel coronavirus triggers a condition seen in other cardiovascular diseases called endothelial dysfunction. Santulli, who wrote about this idea in the spring, says that may be the "cornerstone" of organ dysfunction in COVID-19 patients.
"The common denominator in all of these COVID-19 patients is endothelial dysfunction," he says. "It's like the virus knows where to go and knows how to attack these cells."
A runaway immune response adds a plot twist
A major source of damage to the vascular system likely also comes from the body's own runaway immune response to the novel coronavirus.
"What we see with the SARS-CoV-2 is really an unprecedented level of inflammation in the bloodstream," says Yogen Kanthi, a cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist at the National Institutes of Health, who's researching this phase of the illness.
"This virus is leveraging its ability to create inflammation, and that has these deleterious, nefarious effects downstream."
When inflammation spreads through the inner lining of the blood vessels — a condition called endothelialitis — blood clots can form throughout the body, starving tissues of oxygen and promoting even more inflammation.
"We start to get this relentless, self-amplifying cycle of inflammation in the body, which can then lead to more clotting and more inflammation," Kanthi says.
Another sign of endothelial damage comes from analyzing the blood of COVID-19 patients. A recent study found elevated levels of a protein produced by endothelial cells, called Von Willebrand factor, which is involved in clotting.
"They are through the roof in those who are critically ill," says Alfred Lee, a hematologist at the Yale Cancer Center, who coauthored the study with Hyung Chun, a cardiologist and vascular biologist at Yale.
Lee points out that some autoimmune diseases can lead to a similar interplay of clotting and inflammation called immunothrombosis.
Chun says the elevated levels of Von Willebrand factor show that vascular injury can be detected in patients while in the hospital — and perhaps even before, which could help predict their likelihood of developing more serious complications.
But he says it's not yet clear what's the driving force behind the blood vessel damage: "It does seem to be a progression of disease that really brings out this endothelial injury; the key question is what's the root cause of this?"
After they presented their data, Lee says Yale's hospital system started putting patients who were critically ill with COVID-19 on aspirin, which can prevent clotting. While the best combinations and dosages are still being studied, research indicates that blood thinners may improve outcomes in COVID-19 patients.
Chun says treatments are also being studied that may more directly protect endothelial cells from the coronavirus.
"Is that the end-all be-all to treating COVID-19? I absolutely don't think so. There's so many aspects of the disease that we still don't understand," he says.
COVID-19 as a vascular ''stress test'' for people with preexisting vascular problems
Early in the pandemic, Roger Seheult, a critical care and pulmonary physician in Southern California, realized the patients he expected to be most vulnerable to a respiratory virus, those with underlying lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, were not the ones ending up disproportionately in his intensive care unit.
Seheult, who runs the popular medical education website called MedCram, says, "Instead, what we are seeing are patients who are obese, people who have large BMIs, people who have Type 2 diabetes and with high blood pressure."
Over time, all of those conditions can cause inflammation and damage to the lining of blood vessels, he says, including a harmful chemical imbalance known as oxidative stress. Seheult says infection with the coronavirus becomes an added stress for people with those conditions that already tax the blood vessels.
"If you're right on the edge and you get the wind blown from this coronavirus, now you've gone over the edge."
He says the extensive damage to blood vessels could explain why COVID-19 patients with severe respiratory problems don't necessarily resemble patients who get sick from the flu.
"They are having shortness of breath, but we have to realize the lungs are more than just the airways," he says. "It's an issue with the blood vessels themselves."
This is why COVID-19 patients struggle to fill their blood supply with oxygen, even when air is being pumped into their lungs.
"The endothelial cells get leaky, so instead of being like Saran Wrap, it turns into a sieve and then it allows fluid from the bloodstream to accumulate in the airspaces," Harvard's Libby says.
Doctors who treat COVID-19 are now keenly aware that complications such as strokes and heart problems can appear, even after a patient gets better and their breathing improves.
"They are off oxygen, they can be discharged home, but their vasculature is not completely resolved, they still have inflammation," he says. "What can happen is they develop a blood clot, and they have a massive pulmonary embolism."
Patients can be closely monitored for these problems, but one of the big unknowns for doctors and patients are the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the circulatory system.
The Angiogenesis Foundation's Li puts it this way: "The virus enters your body and it leaves your body. You might or might not have gotten sick. But is that leaving behind a trashed vascular system?"
This story comes from NPR's partnership with Kaiser Health News.


npr--2020-11-05--'Count Every Vote!' Large Postelection Protests Seen In Several U.S. Cities

'Count Every Vote ! '
Large Postelection Protests Seen In Several U.S. Cities Public protests took place in several U.S. cities , including New York , Washington , D.C. , and Minneapolis , as demonstrators call for every vote to be counted in the presidential race .
President Trump has falsely declared he has already won the election .
Several clashes with police brought arrests .
Some of the protests had been planned ahead of Election Day .
They were apparently intensified by Trump 's attempts to pronounce himself the winner of a presidential race that 's still playing out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to count ballots after Nov. 3 – and he is now amplifying that sentiment .
Trump trails Democrat Joe Biden , with several key states too close to call .
But on the day after the election , the president said his campaign will `` claim '' electoral votes in the undecided states of Pennsylvania , Georgia and North Carolina , and also in Michigan – where a narrow victory has since been called for Biden .
A large march in Manhattan on Wednesday night resulted in 25 arrests , the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Count every vote !
Every vote counts ! ''
the protesters yelled as they marched .
Clashes with police broke out later in the evening , and some protesters lit fires on sidewalks .
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said weapons were found on some people at the march .
These included knives , a Taser and M-80 explosives .
`` Many businesses in this part of the city are boarded up anticipating more postelection unrest , '' NPR 's Brian Mann reports .
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday that protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been peaceful .
He urged New Yorkers to respect the democratic process , adding that violence wo n't be tolerated .
`` If people have concerns , express them — but express them peacefully , '' de Blasio said .
In Minneapolis , police issued citations to hundreds of protesters after a march went through downtown and onto Interstate 94 .
`` Troopers and Minneapolis police cited and released 646 people , '' member station Minnesota Public Radio reports , citing the State Patrol .
`` We 're here because the simple fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump and his cronies do n't steal this election , '' protest organizer Rod Adams told MPR .
Many of the demonstrations included a mix of activists with differing strategies and goals .
In Denver , a march to the state Capitol building included Black Lives Matter activists as well as anti-police protesters , Denverite reports .
`` The mood and actions of demonstrators and police changed as the march moved toward the District 6 police station in downtown Denver , '' according to the news site .
`` At least one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which prompted officers to respond with what appeared to be tear gas and pepper-spray projectiles . ''
In the Denver suburb of Arvada , people gathered at city hall , urging patience as vote tallies are finalized .
`` I just want every vote counted , '' Pat Malone , a rally organizer , told Denverite , which is owned by member station Colorado Public Radio .
`` You know , Trump might win it if every vote is counted , '' she said .
`` So I honestly do n't understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Her goal is to support America 's democracy , Malone said .
`` If we ca n't even elect and get through an election , oh my gosh , I honestly feel like we 're done , '' she told Denverite .
Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Seattle for a Count Every Vote/ Protect Every Person rally – one of several demonstrations that were planned for Wednesday night , according to Esmy Jimenez of member station KUOW .
As the rally ended , people danced and sang , `` Count every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the event ended without police involvement – and that more demonstrations , organized by Black Lives Matter , will be held this week .
The Seattle Police Department says seven people were arrested during demonstrations in the Capitol Hill neighborhood .
The charges included property damage and `` pedestrian interference . ''
Officers issued a dispersal order , citing damage to property , police vehicles and a blocked intersection .
Outside the White House in Washington , D.C. , `` hundreds of people gathered in Black Lives Matter Plaza for a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ station WAMU reports .
There were sporadic clashes with police , the station says .
People danced and shared art and music as they waited , along with the rest of the country , for news about who will occupy the Oval Office for the next four years .

'Count Every Vote!' Large Postelection Protests Seen In Several U.S. Cities
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Dee Delgado/Getty Images David Dee Delgado/Getty Images
Updated at 3:00 p.m. ET
Public protests took place in several U.S. cities, including New York, Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis, as demonstrators call for every vote to be counted in the presidential race. President Trump has falsely declared he has already won the election. Several clashes with police brought arrests.
Some of the protests had been planned ahead of Election Day. They were apparently intensified by Trump's attempts to pronounce himself the winner of a presidential race that's still playing out.
The president has also urged officials not to count ballots after Nov. 3 – and he is now amplifying that sentiment.
"STOP THE COUNT!" Trump tweeted Thursday morning.
Trump trails Democrat Joe Biden, with several key states too close to call. But on the day after the election, the president said his campaign will "claim" electoral votes in the undecided states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina, and also in Michigan – where a narrow victory has since been called for Biden.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stephen Maturen/Getty Images Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
A large march in Manhattan on Wednesday night resulted in 25 arrests, the New York City Police Department says.
"Count every vote! Every vote counts!" the protesters yelled as they marched.
Clashes with police broke out later in the evening, and some protesters lit fires on sidewalks.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said weapons were found on some people at the march. These included knives, a Taser and M-80 explosives.
"Many businesses in this part of the city are boarded up anticipating more postelection unrest," NPR's Brian Mann reports.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday that protests in his city have "overwhelmingly" been peaceful. He urged New Yorkers to respect the democratic process, adding that violence won't be tolerated.
"If people have concerns, express them — but express them peacefully," de Blasio said.
In Minneapolis, police issued citations to hundreds of protesters after a march went through downtown and onto Interstate 94.
"Troopers and Minneapolis police cited and released 646 people," member station Minnesota Public Radio reports, citing the State Patrol.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lev Radin/Sipa USA via Reuters Lev Radin/Sipa USA via Reuters
"We're here because the simple fact is we want to make sure that Donald Trump and his cronies don't steal this election," protest organizer Rod Adams told MPR.
Many of the demonstrations included a mix of activists with differing strategies and goals.
In Denver, a march to the state Capitol building included Black Lives Matter activists as well as anti-police protesters, Denverite reports.
"The mood and actions of demonstrators and police changed as the march moved toward the District 6 police station in downtown Denver," according to the news site. "At least one protestor threw a firework at the station, which prompted officers to respond with what appeared to be tear gas and pepper-spray projectiles."
In the Denver suburb of Arvada, people gathered at city hall, urging patience as vote tallies are finalized.
"I just want every vote counted," Pat Malone, a rally organizer, told Denverite, which is owned by member station Colorado Public Radio.
"You know, Trump might win it if every vote is counted," she said. "So I honestly don't understand why everybody wouldn't embrace that."
Her goal is to support America's democracy, Malone said.
"If we can't even elect and get through an election, oh my gosh, I honestly feel like we're done," she told Denverite.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Seattle for a Count Every Vote/ Protect Every Person rally – one of several demonstrations that were planned for Wednesday night, according to Esmy Jimenez of member station KUOW.
As the rally ended, people danced and sang, "Count every vote." KUOW's Casey Martin says the event ended without police involvement – and that more demonstrations, organized by Black Lives Matter, will be held this week.
The Seattle Police Department says seven people were arrested during demonstrations in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The charges included property damage and "pedestrian interference." Officers issued a dispersal order, citing damage to property, police vehicles and a blocked intersection.
Outside the White House in Washington, D.C., "hundreds of people gathered in Black Lives Matter Plaza for a second night in a row," member station WAMU reports.
There were sporadic clashes with police, the station says. People danced and shared art and music as they waited, along with the rest of the country, for news about who will occupy the Oval Office for the next four years.
NPR's Sally Herships contributed to this report.


npr--2020-11-05--Poor Countries Fall Behind In Race To Reserve COVID-19 Vaccine

Poor Countries Fall Behind In Race To Reserve COVID-19 Vaccine Rich countries are rapidly claiming the world 's lion 's share of future doses of COVID-19 vaccine , creating deep inequalities in global distribution .
Despite an international agreement to allocate the vaccine equitably around the world , billions of people in poor and middle-income countries might not be immunized until 2023 or even 2024 , researchers at Duke University predict .
One reason is tied to the financial might of upper-income nations .
The world has a limited capacity to manufacture any forthcoming COVID-19 vaccines each year .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vast majority of that capacity , leaving very little vaccine for low-income countries .
Specifically , rich countries have already purchased , or are in the process of purchasing , more than 5 billion doses of candidate vaccines before clinical trials have completed .
India has claimed another 1.6 billion doses , and Brazil has 200 million .
Fewer than 800 million doses have been earmarked for the world 's poorest countries .
Not all of the candidate vaccines will work .
And so rich countries are hedging their bets by reserving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Krishna Udayakumar , who led the study at Duke University .
This just-in-case strategy has an upside : `` It 's flooding investment into vaccine development and allowing many more candidates to be developed than otherwise would be possible , '' he says .
But the strategy also has a downside : It will likely greatly delay vaccine distribution in poor countries .
`` We could be looking at two to four years before a general population in low-income countries really have a vaccine available , '' Udayakumar says .
To generate these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together all publicly available data about vaccine agreements between countries and pharmaceutical companies .
Their findings , published last Thursday on the Web , point to glaring inequalities in acquiring the vaccine .
Several countries , including the U.S. , Canada and the U.K. as well as members of the EU , are reserving enough potential doses of different types of vaccines to immunize their entire populations several times before some poor countries have any vaccine at all .
For example , the U.S. and the U.K. will potentially have enough to cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada could have enough to immunize its population five times .
At the same time , several of these countries , including Canada and the U.K. , recently joined an international initiative to help distribute the vaccine more equally around the world and to help bring vaccine to countries who ca n't produce or purchase it themselves .
( The U.S. has n't yet joined the agreement . )
That initiative , called COVAX , aims to have 2 billion doses available by the end of next year .
So far , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But there are potential stumbling blocks .
There 's no guarantee those doses will work in many poor places , says Amanda Glassman , executive director of the Center for Global Development .
Or that the countries in question will have the funds for any requested payment from COVAX .
`` One concern that I have with COVAX is that it 's committed to purchasing vaccines that could be too expensive or inappropriate for low- and middle-income countries , '' Glassman says .
For instance , the vaccine could require special freezers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Hopefully , that does n't happen , '' she adds .
`` But COVAX could possibly be stuck paying for some vaccine that would not be particularly usable in countries that need it . ''

Poor Countries Fall Behind In Race To Reserve COVID-19 Vaccine
Enlarge this image toggle caption Adriana Adie/NurPhoto via Getty Images Adriana Adie/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Rich countries are rapidly claiming the world's lion's share of future doses of COVID-19 vaccine, creating deep inequalities in global distribution.
Despite an international agreement to allocate the vaccine equitably around the world, billions of people in poor and middle-income countries might not be immunized until 2023 or even 2024, researchers at Duke University predict.
One reason is tied to the financial might of upper-income nations. The world has a limited capacity to manufacture any forthcoming COVID-19 vaccines each year. As of October, wealthy countries have claimed the vast majority of that capacity, leaving very little vaccine for low-income countries. Specifically, rich countries have already purchased, or are in the process of purchasing, more than 5 billion doses of candidate vaccines before clinical trials have completed. India has claimed another 1.6 billion doses, and Brazil has 200 million. Fewer than 800 million doses have been earmarked for the world's poorest countries.
Not all of the candidate vaccines will work. And so rich countries are hedging their bets by reserving more than one candidate, says Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, who led the study at Duke University.
This just-in-case strategy has an upside: "It's flooding investment into vaccine development and allowing many more candidates to be developed than otherwise would be possible," he says.
But the strategy also has a downside: It will likely greatly delay vaccine distribution in poor countries. "We could be looking at two to four years before a general population in low-income countries really have a vaccine available," Udayakumar says.
To generate these predictions, Udayakumar and his colleagues pulled together all publicly available data about vaccine agreements between countries and pharmaceutical companies. Their findings, published last Thursday on the Web, point to glaring inequalities in acquiring the vaccine.
Several countries, including the U.S., Canada and the U.K. as well as members of the EU, are reserving enough potential doses of different types of vaccines to immunize their entire populations several times before some poor countries have any vaccine at all. For example, the U.S. and the U.K. will potentially have enough to cover its population four times over. And Canada could have enough to immunize its population five times.
At the same time, several of these countries, including Canada and the U.K., recently joined an international initiative to help distribute the vaccine more equally around the world and to help bring vaccine to countries who can't produce or purchase it themselves. (The U.S. hasn't yet joined the agreement.)
That initiative, called COVAX, aims to have 2 billion doses available by the end of next year. So far, it has reserved about 740 million doses.
But there are potential stumbling blocks. There's no guarantee those doses will work in many poor places, says Amanda Glassman, executive director of the Center for Global Development. Or that the countries in question will have the funds for any requested payment from COVAX.
"One concern that I have with COVAX is that it's committed to purchasing vaccines that could be too expensive or inappropriate for low- and middle-income countries," Glassman says. For instance, the vaccine could require special freezers for storage or multiple doses to be effective.
"Hopefully, that doesn't happen," she adds. "But COVAX could possibly be stuck paying for some vaccine that would not be particularly usable in countries that need it."


npr--2020-11-05--Trump Launches Broad Legal Gambit Paired With Moves To Raise Public Doubts On Results

Trump Launches Broad Legal Gambit Paired With Moves To Raise Public Doubts On Results President Trump 's campaign has unleashed a multipronged legal offensive directed at states where vote counting continued Thursday based on unsupported allegations about fraud and irregularities in the election .
Attorneys for the Trump campaign sought intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court and also filed suit in Pennsylvania , Georgia and Nevada seeking remedies they hoped would help their prospects in those places .
In some instances , that included requests for counting to cease altogether or at least pause for a time .
In Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request a recount after unofficial tallies showed Democrat Joe Biden leading Trump by about 20,000 votes .
The Trump campaign alleged , with little evidence , irregularities in the vote .
A recount ca n't begin until the state officially certifies the results , which are due by Dec. 1 .
In particular , Republicans have complained their observers are not being granted access close enough to observe vote counting and filed a flurry of lawsuits around the issue .
In Nevada , a lawsuit also objected to the state 's decision this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ active voters .
Trump made his objective clear with posts on Twitter , including one that sought to `` STOP THE COUNT . ''
Twitter flagged some of Trump 's activity on Thursday because it said the posts violated its rules about spreading misleading information connected with the election .
The president issued an old-fashioned statement via e-mail later in the afternoon in all capital letters that was n't subject to those terms of service and also shifted his position : `` IF YOU COUNT THE LEGAL VOTES , I EASILY WIN THE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AND LATE VOTES , THEY CAN STEAL THE ELECTION FROM US ! ''
Trump wrote .
Learn more here about the states that remain undecided .
Neither local government officials , international observers , news organizations or others have made any credible reports about widespread irregularities with voting practices through the election .
Separately , some U.S. national security officials took victory laps claiming credit for what they called the relative smoothness and freedom of the process from cyber-harassment .
Mostly baseless allegations about fraud , however , have been a leitmotif of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They continued through the campaign and now after Election Day in a bid to raise doubts about the validity of the results .
Officials in Nevada and Georgia gave updates on their progress counting large numbers of ballots that arrived within the limits set by those states ' laws .
If one or both of those states awarded their electoral votes to Biden , it would push the Democrat 's tally to the 270 necessary to win the presidency , according to the count of Electoral College votes maintained by The Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow the process as much as possible in the key states and , meanwhile , to continue casting doubt on the results .
Trump supporters appeared to plan rallies in Philadelphia , Detroit , Phoenix and Atlanta branded as `` Protect the Vote , '' premised upon opposing some kind of malfeasance in those places .
The campaign celebrated a ruling from a Pennsylvania court that allowed campaign observers closer access to the vote-counting process there .
`` It guarantees we are going to be able to watch the ballots being counted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We will make sure we can review all the things they have done to date , '' deputy campaign manager Justin Clark said on a call with reporters Thursday .
`` Our observers are gon na be 6 feet behind every person who 's counting these votes , '' campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski told reporters in Philadelphia .
The campaign said later in the day it would file a federal lawsuit seeking to strengthen its position because city officials were n't cooperating in the way the campaign wants .
Initial indications did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might become involved in the lawsuits , which so far have been between the campaign and defendants in various states .
Attorney General William Barr had vowed in general terms before Election Day that the Justice Department would do what was required to ensure the appropriate conduct of the election .
Spokeswoman Kerri Kupec also did n't rule out action if it appears warranted on claims about alleged fraud .
`` The Department of Justice pursues all actionable information it receives and , as is always the case , encourages anyone who suspects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their local FBI office , '' she said .
Bob Bauer , a legal adviser to Biden 's campaign , called the Trump legal challenges `` meritless '' on Thursday .
`` We see through them , so do the courts and so do election officials , '' Bauer said .
A Georgia judge summarily dismissed a Trump campaign lawsuit on Thursday afternoon that alleged ballots received after a 7 p.m. Election Day deadline were mixed in with legitimate ballots , according to The Current , a nonprofit newsroom in Georgia that partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The court finds that there is no evidence that the ballots referenced in the petition were received after 7:00 p.m. on [ Election Day ] , thereby making those ballots invalid , '' Judge James F. Bass wrote .
Later Thursday , a Michigan Court of Claims judge ruled against a challenge filed by Trump 's campaign as to how absentee ballot counting was handled , reported Rick Pluta of NPR member Michigan Public Radio Network and Abigail Censky of member station WKAR in East Lansing , Mich. Trump 's campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for its poll challengers in counting sites .
Judge Cynthia Stephens said the Trump campaign failed to make its case , and that it 's too late to grant the remedy requested .
`` On this factual record , I have no basis to find that there 's a substantial likelihood of success on the merits as relates to this defendant , nor am I convinced that there is a clear legal duty on behalf of anyone who is properly before this court to manage this issue , '' Stephens said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges appeared thin to many legal analysts .
`` It does seem like they 're throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks , which I tell my law students is never a good strategy , '' said Joshua Douglas , a professor at the University of Kentucky who specializes in election law .
`` You need to have actual legal arguments with real evidence , '' Douglas continued .
`` Again , I think probably the political goal here is to sow discord , to undermine the legitimacy of the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , and now it 's come to a head . ''
Laws in the states involved always contemplated counting all valid ballots , and this year 's unusual election meant not only record turnout but an unusual surge in mailed ballots .
In Pennsylvania , the Republican-controlled Legislature specifically did not permit the counting of many mailed ballots until after the tally was complete of in-person votes this week .
Pennsylvania may need several more days to report its full results .
Election results in the United States have almost never been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Projections or early declarations familiar from TV coverage before the pandemic often were the result of news organizations ' analysis , as opposed to official totals by state officials .
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson , a Democrat , told NPR 's Here & Now on Thursday that she thought Americans should be patient but also confident in the final result .
`` I think especially as we see other disruptions occurring in other states where counts are still ongoing , that we can really come together and recognize that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in time is to respect the integrity of our elections , '' Benson said .
`` Respect the will of the people and ensure and have faith that every valid vote will count and that every voice will be heard . ''
NPR 's Brakkton Booker , Pam Fessler , Carrie Johnson , Tamara Keith and Alina Selyukh contributed to this report .

Trump Launches Broad Legal Gambit Paired With Moves To Raise Public Doubts On Results
Enlarge this image toggle caption Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 10:17 p.m. ET
President Trump's campaign has unleashed a multipronged legal offensive directed at states where vote counting continued Thursday based on unsupported allegations about fraud and irregularities in the election.
Attorneys for the Trump campaign sought intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court and also filed suit in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Nevada seeking remedies they hoped would help their prospects in those places. In some instances, that included requests for counting to cease altogether or at least pause for a time.
In Wisconsin, the campaign said Wednesday it would request a recount after unofficial tallies showed Democrat Joe Biden leading Trump by about 20,000 votes. The Trump campaign alleged, with little evidence, irregularities in the vote. A recount can't begin until the state officially certifies the results, which are due by Dec. 1.
In particular, Republicans have complained their observers are not being granted access close enough to observe vote counting and filed a flurry of lawsuits around the issue. In Nevada, a lawsuit also objected to the state's decision this year to send absentee ballots to all active voters.
Trump made his objective clear with posts on Twitter, including one that sought to "STOP THE COUNT."
Twitter flagged some of Trump's activity on Thursday because it said the posts violated its rules about spreading misleading information connected with the election.
The president issued an old-fashioned statement via e-mail later in the afternoon in all capital letters that wasn't subject to those terms of service and also shifted his position: "IF YOU COUNT THE LEGAL VOTES, I EASILY WIN THE ELECTION! IF YOU COUNT THE ILLEGAL AND LATE VOTES, THEY CAN STEAL THE ELECTION FROM US!" Trump wrote.
Learn more here about the states that remain undecided.
Little evidence for claims
Neither local government officials, international observers, news organizations or others have made any credible reports about widespread irregularities with voting practices through the election. Separately, some U.S. national security officials took victory laps claiming credit for what they called the relative smoothness and freedom of the process from cyber-harassment.
Mostly baseless allegations about fraud, however, have been a leitmotif of Trump and his camp since his inauguration. They continued through the campaign and now after Election Day in a bid to raise doubts about the validity of the results.
Officials in Nevada and Georgia gave updates on their progress counting large numbers of ballots that arrived within the limits set by those states' laws. If one or both of those states awarded their electoral votes to Biden, it would push the Democrat's tally to the 270 necessary to win the presidency, according to the count of Electoral College votes maintained by The Associated Press.
Trump's objective was to slow the process as much as possible in the key states and, meanwhile, to continue casting doubt on the results. Trump supporters appeared to plan rallies in Philadelphia, Detroit, Phoenix and Atlanta branded as "Protect the Vote," premised upon opposing some kind of malfeasance in those places.
The campaign celebrated a ruling from a Pennsylvania court that allowed campaign observers closer access to the vote-counting process there.
"It guarantees we are going to be able to watch the ballots being counted in a corrupt place known for its shenanigans. We will make sure we can review all the things they have done to date," deputy campaign manager Justin Clark said on a call with reporters Thursday.
"Our observers are gonna be 6 feet behind every person who's counting these votes," campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski told reporters in Philadelphia.
The campaign later filed a federal lawsuit seeking to strengthen its position because city officials weren't cooperating in the way the campaign wants. That lawsuit was quickly thrown out by a federal judge.
Initial indications did not suggest whether the U.S. Justice Department might become involved in the lawsuits, which so far have been between the campaign and defendants in various states.
Attorney General William Barr had vowed in general terms before Election Day that the Justice Department would do what was required to ensure the appropriate conduct of the election.
Spokeswoman Kerri Kupec also didn't rule out action if it appears warranted on claims about alleged fraud.
"The Department of Justice pursues all actionable information it receives and, as is always the case, encourages anyone who suspects a federal crime to report it to their local FBI office," she said.
Bob Bauer, a legal adviser to Biden's campaign, called the Trump legal challenges "meritless" on Thursday. "We see through them, so do the courts and so do election officials," Bauer said.
Judges reject Trump challenges
A Georgia judge summarily dismissed a Trump campaign lawsuit on Thursday afternoon that alleged ballots received after a 7 p.m. Election Day deadline were mixed in with legitimate ballots, according to The Current, a nonprofit newsroom in Georgia that partners with NPR member station Georgia Public Broadcasting.
"The court finds that there is no evidence that the ballots referenced in the petition were received after 7:00 p.m. on [Election Day], thereby making those ballots invalid," Judge James F. Bass wrote.
Later Thursday, a Michigan Court of Claims judge ruled against a challenge filed by Trump's campaign as to how absentee ballot counting was handled, reported Rick Pluta of NPR member Michigan Public Radio Network and Abigail Censky of member station WKAR in East Lansing, Mich.
Trump's campaign alleged it was not getting enough access for its poll challengers in counting sites. Judge Cynthia Stephens said the Trump campaign failed to make its case, and that it's too late to grant the remedy requested.
"On this factual record, I have no basis to find that there's a substantial likelihood of success on the merits as relates to this defendant, nor am I convinced that there is a clear legal duty on behalf of anyone who is properly before this court to manage this issue," Stephens said.
The legal merits of Trump's various other challenges appeared thin to many legal analysts.
"It does seem like they're throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, which I tell my law students is never a good strategy," said Joshua Douglas, a professor at the University of Kentucky who specializes in election law.
"You need to have actual legal arguments with real evidence," Douglas continued. "Again, I think probably the political goal here is to sow discord, to undermine the legitimacy of the election. Trump has been doing this for years, and now it's come to a head."
Laws in the states involved always contemplated counting all valid ballots, and this year's unusual election meant not only record turnout but an unusual surge in mailed ballots.
In Pennsylvania, the Republican-controlled Legislature specifically did not permit the counting of many mailed ballots until after the tally was complete of in-person votes this week. Pennsylvania may need several more days to report its full results.
Election results in the United States have almost never been clear on the evening of Election Day. Projections or early declarations familiar from TV coverage before the pandemic often were the result of news organizations' analysis, as opposed to official totals by state officials.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, told NPR's Here & Now on Thursday that she thought Americans should be patient but also confident in the final result.
"I think especially as we see other disruptions occurring in other states where counts are still ongoing, that we can really come together and recognize that the patriotic thing to do at this moment in time is to respect the integrity of our elections," Benson said.
"Respect the will of the people and ensure and have faith that every valid vote will count and that every voice will be heard."
NPR's Brakkton Booker, Pam Fessler, Carrie Johnson, Tamara Keith and Alina Selyukh contributed to this report.