npr--2020-04-17--China's Economy Retreats, With Pandemic Causing Biggest GDP Drop In Decades

China 's economy contracted by 6.8 % in the first three months of 2020 from the same period a year ago — its biggest drop in nearly three decades , as the country 's factory output and domestic spending ground to a halt amid the unprecedented shock of the coronavirus pandemic .
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China on Friday showed that industrial output was down 8.4 % from the year before and retail sales fell by a whopping 19 % as the country has been on lockdown for weeks in an effort to contain the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in first-quarter gross domestic product , the biggest since China began sharing quarterly economic data in 1992 , represents a 9.8 % contraction over the final three months of 2019 .
The country has n't recorded an economic contraction in any of its official statistics since 1976 , the year it exited the Cultural Revolution , a bloody decade of political turmoil .
In the more than four decades since , China blazed a path of explosive — some would say reckless — economic growth , transforming itself from a largely rural , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has risen to become the world 's second-largest economy .
The potentially deadly coronavirus was first discovered in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December and quickly spread to the rest of the country before spilling over its borders and , in a matter of weeks , making its way across the globe .
While China was the early epicenter of the disease , aggressive action to isolate its population , first in Wuhan and then across the country , helped tamp down the disease , even as Beijing was accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak .
For nearly two months , China imposed severe lockdown measures on more than 700 million of its residents in a desperate bid to slow down the spread of the new virus .
Although it has slowly begun to crank up its economy as quarantines are lifted and infections appear to be tailing off , the rest of the world is still battling COVID-19 , devastating global trade and causing consumption of Made in China products to plummet .
China 's contraction is likely a harbinger of the painful economic re-opening that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States , which are grappling with surging unemployment after shutting down their economies in a bid to stem the spread of the virus .
The steep decline in growth will also almost certainly force China 's ruling Communist Party to abandon an important political milestone : the doubling of annual GDP from 2010 to the end of 2020 .
`` They could [ reach this target ] , but they would have to unleash so much useless spending and such a big surge in debt , that I think think even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes no sense '' , said Michael Pettis , a finance professor at Beijing 's Peking University .
The lockdowns disproportionately affected China 's itinerant migrant workers , who power the country 's service and manufacturing sectors .
Millions found themselves unable to return to their places of employment because the government measures went in place around the time of Chinese New Year , when many people return to their hometowns and villages for family gatherings .
Local governments lifted many of those restrictions as new case counts decelerated , with many re-opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hubei province , the epicenter of the outbreak in China , began its economic restart a month later .
Municipal governments chartered buses and trains to ferry workers trapped by local quarantine measures back to their places of work and entire hotels were set aside to house workers for 14 days before they returned to the production line .
And they worked with factory managers to put in place health protocols , such as twice-daily temperature checks and the purchasing of large caches of face masks and disinfectant equipment .
`` From the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each individual person , we have made sure there are no blind spots whatsoever , '' said Li Shijian , a manager at the Honda Dongfeng joint venture automotive plant in the Chinese city of Wuhan , where the coronavirus first began and where more than 50,000 people ultimately were sickened .
The company says it has managed to reach 98 % of its pre-coronavirus output of Honda Civics .
But China 's mom-and-pop businesses and even many large private firms have not been able to marshal the same kind of financial and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and state support to re-open .
On Friday , China 's cabinet-level State Council said 99 % of manufacturing firms had begun working again , while 84 % of small and medium businesses had re-opened .
Yet the numbers do not mean economic activity has resumed in full .
Many white-collar businesses say they can have no more than half of their workers in the office at any given time .
In Hubei province and areas with a more recent history of infections , restaurants and other services remain take-out only .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the outbreak .
Just 25 miles from Honda Dongfeng , Maomao Shoe , a company that makes leather shoes , said it was still waiting for state permission to begin production again .
`` Many of our workers are just getting back [ to Hubei ] , '' said Angela Su , a sales manager , by phone .
`` I expect that it will be an even longer time before we can begin working on-site again . ''
The lucky few who have opened their doors again face another problem : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact on consumption is double : on the one hand because so many people do n't have jobs , household income is lower .
On the other hand , because people were so shocked by the coronavirus , they probably all will decide to increase their savings even if their income is unaffected , '' said Pettis .
Experts warned that weak demand for China 's exports will mean limited economic relief coming from abroad .
`` Lingering fear of the virus and uncertainty over income and job losses will weigh on consumption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tommy Wu , an economist with consultancy Oxford Economics , in a research note Friday .

China's Economy Retreats, With Pandemic Causing Biggest GDP Drop In Decades
Enlarge this image toggle caption Yao Jianfeng/Xinhua via AP Yao Jianfeng/Xinhua via AP
China's economy contracted by 6.8% in the first three months of 2020 from the same period a year ago — its biggest drop in nearly three decades, as the country's factory output and domestic spending ground to a halt amid the unprecedented shock of the coronavirus pandemic.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China on Friday showed that industrial output was down 8.4% from the year before and retail sales fell by a whopping 19% as the country has been on lockdown for weeks in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
The sharp drop-off in first-quarter gross domestic product, the biggest since China began sharing quarterly economic data in 1992, represents a 9.8% contraction over the final three months of 2019. The country hasn't recorded an economic contraction in any of its official statistics since 1976, the year it exited the Cultural Revolution, a bloody decade of political turmoil.
In the more than four decades since, China blazed a path of explosive — some would say reckless — economic growth, transforming itself from a largely rural, agrarian country into an urban manufacturing power that has risen to become the world's second-largest economy.
The potentially deadly coronavirus was first discovered in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December and quickly spread to the rest of the country before spilling over its borders and, in a matter of weeks, making its way across the globe. While China was the early epicenter of the disease, aggressive action to isolate its population, first in Wuhan and then across the country, helped tamp down the disease, even as Beijing was accused of covering up the extent of its outbreak.
For nearly two months, China imposed severe lockdown measures on more than 700 million of its residents in a desperate bid to slow down the spread of the new virus. Although it has slowly begun to crank up its economy as quarantines are lifted and infections appear to be tailing off, the rest of the world is still battling COVID-19, devastating global trade and causing consumption of products made in China to plummet.
China's contraction is likely a harbinger of the painful economic reopening that other countries must face, such as the United States, which are grappling with surging unemployment after shutting down their economies in a bid to stem the spread of the virus.
The steep decline in growth will also almost certainly force China's ruling Communist Party to abandon an important political milestone: the doubling of annual GDP from 2010 to the end of 2020.
"They could [reach this target], but they would have to unleash so much useless spending and such a big surge in debt, that I think even [China's leaders] agree it makes no sense," said Michael Pettis, a finance professor at Beijing's Peking University.
A tough road to recovery
The lockdowns disproportionately affected China's itinerant migrant workers, who power the country's service and manufacturing sectors. Millions found themselves unable to return to their places of employment because the government measures went in place around the time of Chinese New Year, when many people return to their hometowns and villages for family gatherings.
Local governments lifted many of those restrictions as new case counts decelerated, with many reopening shuttered factories in stages by mid-February. Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak in China, began its economic restart a month later.
Municipal governments chartered buses and trains to ferry workers trapped by local quarantine measures back to their places of work, and entire hotels were set aside to house workers for 14 days before they returned to the production line. And they worked with factory managers to put in place health protocols, such as twice-daily temperature checks and the purchasing of large caches of face masks and disinfectant equipment.
"From the factory down to each department down to each individual person, we have made sure there are no blind spots whatsoever," said Li Shijian, a manager at the Honda Dongfeng joint venture automotive plant in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where more than 50,000 people ultimately were sickened. The company says it has managed to reach 98% of its pre-coronavirus output of Honda Civics.
But China's mom-and-pop businesses and even many large private firms have not been able to marshal the same kind of financial and political capital to secure the needed permits and state support to reopen.
On Friday, China's cabinet-level State Council said 99% of manufacturing firms had begun working again, while 84% of small and medium businesses had reopened.
Yet the numbers do not mean economic activity has resumed in full. Many white-collar businesses say they can have no more than half of their workers in the office at any given time. In Hubei province and areas with a more recent history of infections, restaurants and other services remain take-out only. More than 240,000 small businesses have gone bankrupt during the outbreak.
Just 25 miles from Honda Dongfeng, Maomao Shoe, a company that makes leather shoes, said it was still waiting for state permission to begin production again.
"Many of our workers are just getting back [to Hubei]," said Angela Su, a sales manager, by phone. "I expect that it will be an even longer time before we can begin working on-site again."
The lucky few who have opened their doors again face another problem: shoppers aren't coming.
"The impact on consumption is double: on the one hand because so many people don't have jobs, household income is lower. On the other hand, because people were so shocked by the coronavirus, they probably all will decide to increase their savings even if their income is unaffected," Pettis said.
Experts warned that weak demand for China's exports will mean limited economic relief coming from abroad.
"Lingering fear of the virus and uncertainty over income and job losses will weigh on consumption in the coming months," wrote Tommy Wu, an economist with consultancy Oxford Economics, in a research note Friday.


npr--2020-04-17--In Fine Print, HHS Seems To Have Banned Surprise Medical Bills During The Pandemic

In Fine Print , HHS Seems To Have Banned Surprise Medical Bills During The Pandemic U.S. officials offering emergency funding to hospitals , clinics and doctors ' practices during the coronavirus pandemic have included this stipulation : They are not permitted to foist surprise medical bills on COVID-19 patients .
But buried in the Department of Health and Human Services ' terms and conditions for eligibility is language that could carry much broader implications .
`` HHS broadly views every patient as a possible case of COVID-19 , '' the guidance states .
Some health care analysts say that line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice of balance billing , in which a patient is billed for the difference between what a provider charges and what the insurer pays .
Such charges are a major source of surprise bills , and can be financially devastating for patients .
The practice of balance billing is banned in several states , though not federally .
The possibility that HHS might have done with fine print what Congress and the White House could not do — despite bipartisan support and public outrage — caught some who have been immersed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what exactly HHS meant .
As the first wave of $ 30 billion in payouts began to hit bank accounts last week , health care providers were asked to sign an online form agreeing to the government 's terms .
Among those terms is this stipulation : `` For all care for a possible or actual case of COVID-19 , '' the provider will not charge patients any more in out-of-pocket costs than they would have if the provider were in-network , or contracted with the patient 's insurance company to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HHS.gov page .
`` The intent of the terms and conditions was to bar balance billing for actual or presumptive COVID-19 , '' an HHS spokesperson said late Friday .
`` We are clarifying this in the terms and conditions . ''
Lobbyists , advocates and health policy scholars say the ambiguity could be enough to mandate that providers who accept federal funds not send surprise medical bills to patients — whether or not they test positive for COVID-19 .
`` If you took the broadest interpretation , any of us could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jack Hoadley , a professor emeritus of health policy at Georgetown University and former commissioner of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission .
Last week , as HHS released an initial draft of its terms and conditions for the emergency funds allocated by Congress in the CARES Act , the Trump administration startled many in health care by declaring that providers would have to agree not to send surprise bills to COVID-19 patients for treatment .
A White House spokesperson declined to comment .
HHS did not immediately comment .
But the blanket assertion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' is considered a COVID-19 patient , offered without further clarification , seems to go beyond the administration 's announcement and open the door to lawsuits over whether HHS intended to ban balance billing entirely .
`` Because the terms and conditions do not appear to be sufficiently clarified , there is a concern that there will be legal challenges around the balance-billing provision , '' says Rodney Whitlock , a health policy consultant and former staffer for Republicans in the Senate .
Some health care providers and others in the industry have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control over what they can bill patients for care .
Certain lobbying groups later revealed to be connected to physician staffing firms owned by profit-driven private equity companies , spent millions last summer to buy political ads that targeted members of Congress who were working on legislation to end surprise billing .
Congress has yet to pass any legislation on surprise billing , but debate over the practice continues behind the scenes .
Lawmakers did include modest provisions in relief legislation that prevent people from having to pay out of pocket for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' guidance should have addressed some of the problems that Congress did not explicitly account for in its relief legislation .
`` The providers , the insurers , everybody else is going to need clarification , as well as , of course , all of us as potential patients , '' Hoadley says .
`` That 's going to affect our willingness to '' seek testing or treatment .
Frederick Isasi , executive director of Families USA , a nonprofit that advocates for health care consumers , says the group supports the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urged lawmakers to enshrine broad protections against surprise billing into law .
`` It 's time to just ban them permanently , not just related to COVID , '' Isasi says .
Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit , editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation .
KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

In Fine Print, HHS Seems To Have Banned Surprise Medical Bills During The Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stan Grossfeld/Boston Globe via Getty Images Stan Grossfeld/Boston Globe via Getty Images
U.S. officials offering emergency funding to hospitals, clinics and doctors' practices during the coronavirus pandemic have included this stipulation: They are not permitted to foist surprise medical bills on COVID-19 patients.
But buried in the Department of Health and Human Services' terms and conditions for eligibility is language that could carry much broader implications. "HHS broadly views every patient as a possible case of COVID-19," the guidance states.
Some health care analysts say that line could disrupt a longtime health care industry practice of balance billing, in which a patient is billed for the difference between what a provider charges and what the insurer pays. Such charges are a major source of surprise bills, and can be financially devastating for patients. The practice of balance billing is banned in several states, though not federally.
The possibility that HHS might have done with fine print what Congress and the White House could not do — despite bipartisan support and public outrage — caught some who have been immersed in the issue off guard, and raised questions about what exactly HHS meant.
As the first wave of $30 billion in payouts began to hit bank accounts last week, health care providers were asked to sign an online form agreeing to the government's terms. Among those terms is this stipulation: "For all care for a possible or actual case of COVID-19," the provider will not charge patients any more in out-of-pocket costs than they would have if the provider were in-network, or contracted with the patient's insurance company to provide care.
The agreement is posted on the HHS.gov page.
"The intent of the terms and conditions was to bar balance billing for actual or presumptive COVID-19," an HHS spokesperson said late Friday. "We are clarifying this in the terms and conditions."
Lobbyists, advocates and health policy scholars say the ambiguity could be enough to mandate that providers who accept federal funds not send surprise medical bills to patients — whether or not they test positive for COVID-19.
"If you took the broadest interpretation, any of us could be a potential patient," says Jack Hoadley, a professor emeritus of health policy at Georgetown University and former commissioner of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.
Last week, as HHS released an initial draft of its terms and conditions for the emergency funds allocated by Congress in the CARES Act, the Trump administration startled many in health care by declaring that providers would have to agree not to send surprise bills to COVID-19 patients for treatment. A White House spokesperson declined to comment. HHS did not immediately comment.
But the blanket assertion by health officials that "every patient" is considered a COVID-19 patient, offered without further clarification, seems to go beyond the administration's announcement and open the door to lawsuits over whether HHS intended to ban balance billing entirely.
"Because the terms and conditions do not appear to be sufficiently clarified, there is a concern that there will be legal challenges around the balance-billing provision," says Rodney Whitlock, a health policy consultant and former staffer for Republicans in the Senate.
Some health care providers and others in the industry have fought tooth and nail to safeguard their control over what they can bill patients for care. Certain lobbying groups later revealed to be connected to physician staffing firms owned by profit-driven private equity companies, spent millions last summer to buy political ads that targeted members of Congress who were working on legislation to end surprise billing.
Congress has yet to pass any legislation on surprise billing, but debate over the practice continues behind the scenes. Lawmakers did include modest provisions in relief legislation that prevent people from having to pay out of pocket for COVID-19 tests.
Hoadley of Georgetown says HHS' guidance should have addressed some of the problems that Congress did not explicitly account for in its relief legislation.
"The providers, the insurers, everybody else is going to need clarification, as well as, of course, all of us as potential patients," Hoadley says. "That's going to affect our willingness to" seek testing or treatment.
Frederick Isasi, executive director of Families USA, a nonprofit that advocates for health care consumers, says the group supports the administration's guidance "wholeheartedly" but has urged lawmakers to enshrine broad protections against surprise billing into law.
"It's time to just ban them permanently, not just related to COVID," Isasi says.
Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit, editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


npr--2020-04-17--Workers' Advocate Says South Dakota Pork Plant Delayed Action On Coronavirus

A pork processing plant in Sioux Falls , S.D.
, has became a hot spot of coronavirus transmission and now workers and their advocates say the company failed to communicate the risks of possible exposure and waited too long to implement safety measures .
At least 634 employees at the Smithfield Foods facility have tested positive .
The facility normally employs 3,700 people , but has stopped meat processing indefinitely after requests by the city 's mayor and South Dakota 's governor .
In a statement to NPR , Keira Lombardo , the company 's executive vice president for corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smithfield has taken to protect workers , including adding hand sanitizing stations , enhanced cleaning and installing plexiglass barriers at its plants .
But she said the company is suffering from the same supply chain shortages as the rest of the country when it comes to personal protective equipment .
`` We are doing everything in our power to help protect our team members from COVID-19 in the workplace , '' said Lombardo .
`` ... We have been working to get these measures implemented for many many weeks , all day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a magic wand . ''
Taneeza Islam is the founder of the South Dakota Dream Coalition , an immigrant advocacy group working with Smithfield employees .
She says some workers believed managers knew there were coronavirus cases before any were reported .
Islam spoke with NPR 's All Things Considered on Friday about what workers at the plant are saying about the working conditions .
Here are selected excerpts from the conversation : What have workers been telling you about what conditions were like inside this processing plant over the past month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. ?
We understand from firsthand employee accounts that they were not provided any protective gear .
They were not given any hand sanitizer .
There was no social distancing occurring on the lines from at least before March 26 , to when some measures like taking temperatures outside of the plant before employees had to come in , took place on Monday , April 6 .
And typically how closely packed together are workers inside a processing plant like Smithfield ?
We 've heard from employees that they consider themselves to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 500 employees at a time .
And that was still occurring until mitigation efforts were being taken the week of April 6 .
Given the importance of Smithfield , which is a major part of the U.S. 's whole pork supply , do you get the sense that employees trust the company to take their health into consideration enough as they 're deciding when to reopen ?
I do n't believe they do .
I think the first death of a Smithfield employee that just occurred has really shaken the community and employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong sentiment that if proper mitigation efforts , proper PPE , proper social distancing , proper sanitizing , that it would n't have been this bad .
We all understand that we ca n't eradicate the virus , but we could have curtailed [ it ] .
Listen to the full audio version of the interview here .

Workers' Advocate Says South Dakota Pork Plant Delayed Action On Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stephen Groves/AP Stephen Groves/AP
A pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, S.D., has became a hot spot of coronavirus transmission and now workers and their advocates say the company failed to communicate the risks of possible exposure and waited too long to implement safety measures.
At least 634 employees at the Smithfield Foods facility have tested positive. The facility normally employs 3,700 people, but has stopped meat processing indefinitely after requests by the city's mayor and South Dakota's governor.
In a statement to NPR, Keira Lombardo, the company's executive vice president for corporate affairs and compliance, outlined 17 steps Smithfield has taken to protect workers, including adding hand sanitizing stations, enhanced cleaning and installing plexiglass barriers at its plants. But she said the company is suffering from the same supply chain shortages as the rest of the country when it comes to personal protective equipment.
"We are doing everything in our power to help protect our team members from COVID-19 in the workplace," said Lombardo. "... We have been working to get these measures implemented for many many weeks, all day, every day. But we do not have a magic wand."
Taneeza Islam is the founder of the South Dakota Dream Coalition, an immigrant advocacy group working with Smithfield employees. She says some workers believed managers knew there were coronavirus cases before any were reported.
Islam spoke with NPR's All Things Considered on Friday about what workers at the plant are saying about the working conditions. Here are selected excerpts from the conversation:
What have workers been telling you about what conditions were like inside this processing plant over the past month as this pandemic was worsening all over the U.S.?
We understand from firsthand employee accounts that they were not provided any protective gear. They were not given any hand sanitizer. There was no social distancing occurring on the lines from at least before March 26, to when some measures like taking temperatures outside of the plant before employees had to come in, took place on Monday, April 6.
And typically how closely packed together are workers inside a processing plant like Smithfield?
We've heard from employees that they consider themselves to be inches apart. That lunchrooms held 500 employees at a time. And that was still occurring until mitigation efforts were being taken the week of April 6.
Given the importance of Smithfield, which is a major part of the U.S.'s whole pork supply, do you get the sense that employees trust the company to take their health into consideration enough as they're deciding when to reopen?
I don't believe they do. I think the first death of a Smithfield employee that just occurred has really shaken the community and employees as a whole. There's a strong sentiment that if proper mitigation efforts, proper PPE, proper social distancing, proper sanitizing, that it wouldn't have been this bad. We all understand that we can't eradicate the virus, but we could have curtailed [it].
Listen to the full audio version of the interview here.


npr--2020-04-17--West Virginia Aims To Test All Nursing Home Residents, Workers for COVID-19

West Virginia Aims To Test All Nursing Home Residents , Workers for COVID-19 Amid growing concern about the well-being of residents of elder care facilities , West Virginia officials are preparing to test every nursing home resident and worker in the state for the new coronavirus .
Gov .
Jim Justice has issued an executive order directing state health officials and the National Guard and to conduct the tests , including retesting those who 've previously been checked for the virus .
`` Our nursing homes , we all know , are the most vulnerable of all of our people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
`` This disease has a way of attacking the elderly . ''
The decision follows outbreaks at care centers nationwide , including multiple positive tests at a facility in Jackson County , W.Va. , this week .
Justice expressed frustration at incomplete testing and inconsistent information he said was coming from nursing homes where outbreaks of the virus have occurred .
`` I 'm sick and tired of listening to the discrepancies , '' he said .
`` We 've got ta go back and redo everybody . ''
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request from NPR for data on the number of tests that will be administered in West Virginia , and information about the state 's testing capacity .
No other state has required tests `` on the scale of West Virginia as far as we are aware , '' said James Nash , a spokesman for the National Governors Association .
Elder care centers have been a major focus of concern as numerous outbreaks and deaths have occurred at such facilities .
In Florida , the National Guard also has been brought in to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and assisted living centers .
In Virginia , where more than half of reported outbreaks have been at long-term care centers , Gov .
Ralph Northam recently set up a nursing home task force designed to help mitigate the spread of the virus .

West Virginia Aims To Test All Nursing Home Residents, Workers For COVID-19
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris Jackson/AP Chris Jackson/AP
Updated at 6:44 p.m. ET
Amid growing concern about the well-being of residents of elder care facilities, West Virginia officials are preparing to test every nursing home resident and worker in the state for the new coronavirus.
Gov. Jim Justice has issued an executive order directing state health officials and the National Guard and to conduct the tests, including retesting those who've previously been checked for the virus.
"Our nursing homes, we all know, are the most vulnerable of all of our people," Justice said during a briefing on Friday. "This disease has a way of attacking the elderly."
The decision follows outbreaks at care centers nationwide, including multiple positive tests at a facility in Jackson County, W.Va., this week.
Justice expressed frustration at incomplete testing and inconsistent information he said was coming from nursing homes where outbreaks of the virus have occurred.
"I'm sick and tired of listening to the discrepancies," he said. "We've gotta go back and redo everybody."
A spokesman did not immediately respond to a request from NPR for data on the number of tests that will be administered in West Virginia, and information about the state's testing capacity.
No other state has required tests "on the scale of West Virginia as far as we are aware," said James Nash, a spokesman for the National Governors Association.
Elder care centers have been a major focus of concern as numerous outbreaks and deaths have occurred at such facilities. In Florida, the National Guard also has been brought in to help ramp up testing at nursing homes and assisted living centers. In Virginia, where more than half of reported outbreaks have been at long-term care centers, Gov. Ralph Northam recently set up a nursing home task force designed to help mitigate the spread of the virus.


npr--2020-04-17--Governors Divide By Party On Trump Plan To Reopen Businesses Shut By Coronavirus

Governors Divide By Party On Trump Plan To Reopen Businesses Shut By Coronavirus As the death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise , governors around the U.S. are figuring out how to reopen their economies while still ensuring the safety of their citizens .
The White House released a three-phase plan on Thursday that would provide guidelines for when states might reopen .
In a call with governors , Trump said states should begin loosening restrictions after new COVID-19 cases have declined for least 14 days .
Trump has repeatedly said that testing for coronavirus is a state responsibility .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democratic governors generally said it was far too early to provide a timeline for reopening , and they said they wished they had more testing support from the federal government .
Republicans , while urging caution , were more bullish about the possibility for a swift return to normalcy .
`` We appreciate their suggestions , and we will evaluate them thoroughly , but the plain overriding fact is we can not put the cart before the horse , '' said New Mexico Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham , a Democrat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health experts across the country have made clear , we are not at a point currently where it would be safe to reopen , and doing so prematurely would undo the heroic work of our health workers and first responders , endanger many more people and essentially guarantee enhanced transmission of the virus , leading to more illness and death . ''
`` We can not do it without federal help , '' said New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , regarding fully reopening the state 's economy .
Widespread testing will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state does n't have , he said , accusing Trump of `` passing the buck without passing the bucks . ''
Trump responded on Twitter : `` Governor Cuomo should spend more time 'doing ' and less time 'complaining . '
`` Washington state recently extended its stay-at-home order to early May .
Democratic Gov .
Jay Inslee told NPR 's All Things Considered that two conditions would have to exist before the state could reopen its economy : `` No .
1 , we have to drive down the number of infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible so that we 're very confident that there will not be a resurgence that could overwhelm our hospitals , '' he said .
`` The second condition is we have to have a comprehensive and robust testing and contact-tracing system . ''
Inslee said the state is far from being able to meet either of those conditions .
The contact tracing system is dependent on being able to massively test the population to see who has been infected .
`` That testing capability does not exist anywhere in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis told NPR 's Morning Edition that the federal guidelines resemble the plan the state adopted the day before .
But Polis said he wishes that , like other countries , the U.S. had a national testing strategy .
`` Most other countries are doing it nationally , '' said Polis , a Democrat .
`` I wish that we had more help from the federal government . ''
When each state is responsible for testing , he said , the states end up competing against other states for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Of course it would be better to have a national testing strategy .
There 's no question about that .
But we 're not going to let the lack of one stand in the way of Colorado doing what 's right , '' Polis said .
In North Carolina , Democratic Gov .
Roy Cooper said he appreciated the White House 's guidance , `` but we still need the federal government to help with testing and personal protective equipment . ''
Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown echoed other Democratic governors ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are still in dire need of critical resources from the federal government , including sufficient personal protective equipment ( PPE ) and increased testing capacity , '' she said .
`` We have current , large unfulfilled order requests with the federal government for both PPE and testing materials ; these are vital components to reopening Oregon and remain necessary to prevent a resurgence of the disease . ''
In contrast to Democrats , the response from Republican governors was more enthusiastic .
`` I think the president and his team are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee .
Lee said his state would use the same sort of gradual reopening strategy .
Iowa Gov .
Kim Reynolds said her takeaway from Thursday 's two-hour call between Trump and governors was that the federal government is a partner .
`` They are standing alongside us , '' Reynolds said .
`` If there 's anything that we need to ramp it up and get our state 's economy moving again , they stand ready and willing . ''
Reynolds said she was hoping to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May , if possible .
`` I appreciate President Trump 's guidelines for reopening pieces of the economy that have been closed temporarily , '' said Nebraska Gov .
Pete Ricketts .
`` It is critical that we get people back to work safely and continue to slow the spread of the virus as the country opens up . ''
Idaho Gov .
Brad Little said the president 's criteria for phased opening `` matches the criteria we have been using in Idaho . ''
The guidelines also confirm that Idaho is focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Little said : expansion of testing access , contact tracing , and increased health care system capacity .
`` Our collective efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus are working , but we have not yet seen a prolonged downward trend , as recommended by the president , to justify opening up everything at once .
Until we do , we must continue to stay the course . ''
Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott announced on Friday a series of executive orders that would start to reopen shuttered businesses .
According to The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first state to lay out a defined rollback of COVID-19 restrictions . ''
Retail outlets in the state will be able to open on Friday , April 24 , as long as they can deliver items to customers ' cars or homes in order to minimize contact .
Texas will also loosen restrictions on surgeries , permitting procedures that `` would not deplete the hospital capacity or the PPE needed to cope with COVID-19 . ''

Governors Divide By Party On Trump Plan To Reopen Businesses Shut By Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
As the death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise, governors around the U.S. are figuring out how to reopen their economies while still ensuring the safety of their citizens.
The White House released a three-phase plan on Thursday that would provide guidelines for when states might reopen. In a call with governors, Trump said states should begin loosening restrictions after new COVID-19 cases have declined for least 14 days. Trump has repeatedly said that testing for coronavirus is a state responsibility.
Enthusiasm for the plan varied by party. Democratic governors generally said it was far too early to provide a timeline for reopening, and they said they wished they had more testing support from the federal government. Republicans, while urging caution, were more bullish about the possibility for a swift return to normalcy.
"We appreciate their suggestions, and we will evaluate them thoroughly, but the plain overriding fact is we cannot put the cart before the horse," said New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat. "As CDC, FEMA, and public health experts across the country have made clear, we are not at a point currently where it would be safe to reopen, and doing so prematurely would undo the heroic work of our health workers and first responders, endanger many more people and essentially guarantee enhanced transmission of the virus, leading to more illness and death."
"We cannot do it without federal help," said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, regarding fully reopening the state's economy. Widespread testing will require supplies and hospital capacity that the state doesn't have, he said, accusing Trump of "passing the buck without passing the bucks." Trump responded on Twitter: "Governor Cuomo should spend more time 'doing' and less time 'complaining.' "
Washington state recently extended its stay-at-home order to early May. Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee told NPR's All Things Considered that two conditions would have to exist before the state could reopen its economy: "No. 1, we have to drive down the number of infections so they're as close to zero as possible so that we're very confident that there will not be a resurgence that could overwhelm our hospitals," he said. "The second condition is we have to have a comprehensive and robust testing and contact-tracing system."
Inslee said the state is far from being able to meet either of those conditions. The contact tracing system is dependent on being able to massively test the population to see who has been infected. "That testing capability does not exist anywhere in the United States right now," Inslee said.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis told NPR's Morning Edition that the federal guidelines resemble the plan the state adopted the day before. But Polis said he wishes that, like other countries, the U.S. had a national testing strategy.
"Most other countries are doing it nationally," said Polis, a Democrat. "I wish that we had more help from the federal government." When each state is responsible for testing, he said, the states end up competing against other states for supplies — which drives prices up. "Of course it would be better to have a national testing strategy. There's no question about that. But we're not going to let the lack of one stand in the way of Colorado doing what's right," Polis said.
In North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said he appreciated the White House's guidance, "but we still need the federal government to help with testing and personal protective equipment."
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown echoed other Democratic governors' call for more federal assistance. "We are still in dire need of critical resources from the federal government, including sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) and increased testing capacity," she said. "We have current, large unfulfilled order requests with the federal government for both PPE and testing materials; these are vital components to reopening Oregon and remain necessary to prevent a resurgence of the disease."
In contrast to Democrats, the response from Republican governors was more enthusiastic. "I think the president and his team are headed in a very good direction," said Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. Lee said his state would use the same sort of gradual reopening strategy.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said her takeaway from Thursday's two-hour call between Trump and governors was that the federal government is a partner. "They are standing alongside us," Reynolds said. "If there's anything that we need to ramp it up and get our state's economy moving again, they stand ready and willing." Reynolds said she was hoping to reopen the state's economy sometime in May, if possible.
"I appreciate President Trump's guidelines for reopening pieces of the economy that have been closed temporarily," said Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts. "It is critical that we get people back to work safely and continue to slow the spread of the virus as the country opens up."
Idaho Gov. Brad Little said the president's criteria for phased opening "matches the criteria we have been using in Idaho." The guidelines also confirm that Idaho is focused on the right areas for improvement, Little said: expansion of testing access, contact tracing, and increased health care system capacity. "Our collective efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus are working, but we have not yet seen a prolonged downward trend, as recommended by the president, to justify opening up everything at once. Until we do, we must continue to stay the course."
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Friday a series of executive orders that would start to reopen shuttered businesses. According to The Hill, that makes Texas "the first state to lay out a defined rollback of COVID-19 restrictions." Retail outlets in the state will be able to open on Friday, April 24, as long as they can deliver items to customers' cars or homes in order to minimize contact. Texas will also loosen restrictions on surgeries, permitting procedures that "would not deplete the hospital capacity or the PPE needed to cope with COVID-19."


npr--2020-04-17--COVID-19 Is Cutting Into Vital Money U.S. Migrant Workers Send Back Home

COVID-19 Is Cutting Into Vital Money U.S. Migrant Workers Send Back Home As U.S. joblessness climbs , immigrant workers are facing a tough decision : pay rent and buy food or send critical dollars to family back home .
Fifty-one-year-old Anabel is struggling to do both .
The Beverly Hills clothing store she cleaned four nights a week closed in early March .
Holding onto the small apartment she and her husband share in Los Angeles is a top priority .
`` We have had to cut back on food just to pay the rent , '' says Anabel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full name because she is undocumented .
Anabel usually sends money every two weeks to El Salvador where she supports her two adult children and three grandchildren .
Last week , she says , she was able to send them only $ 50 .
Anabel 's daughter Elba Mariela , 30 , is grateful for the money her mother sends .
`` I just think about what she 's going without and if she has food , '' worries Elba Mariela in San Salvador , where she lives with 20 extended family members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
El Salvador was one of the first countries in the region to close its borders and quarantine residents .
In 2019 , immigrant workers in the U.S. sent an estimated $ 150 billion abroad — half of it to Latin America and the Caribbean , according to Manuel Orozco at the Inter-American Dialogue , a think tank in Washington , D.C .
In Haiti , remittances account for a third of the economy .
In Honduras , it 's nearly a quarter .
Even in Mexico , where remittances represent a smaller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the losses will affect 1.2 million households , according to Orozco .
He estimates that remittances to Latin America will fall this year by at least 7 % , similar to the decline seen during the 2009 global recession .
The drop in dollars sent home by workers in the U.S. comes as Latin America faces its worst recession in 50 years .
For now , Ari , 33 , a nanny in D.C. , is still able to send money to her aging parents in Oaxaca , Mexico .
Her employers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they do n't know for how much longer .
She , too , asked NPR not to use her full name because she is working in the country illegally .
Hopefully , the shutdown will be lifted soon , she says , `` so we can go back to work and start sending money back home again . ''

COVID-19 Is Cutting Into Vital Money U.S. Migrant Workers Send Back Home
Enlarge this image toggle caption Moises Castillo/AP Moises Castillo/AP
As U.S. joblessness climbs, immigrant workers are facing a tough decision: pay rent and buy food or send critical dollars to family back home.
Fifty-one-year-old Anabel is struggling to do both. The Beverly Hills clothing store she cleaned four nights a week closed in early March. Holding onto the small apartment she and her husband share in Los Angeles is a top priority.
"We have had to cut back on food just to pay the rent," says Anabel, who asked NPR to not use her full name because she is undocumented.
Anabel usually sends money every two weeks to El Salvador where she supports her two adult children and three grandchildren. Last week, she says, she was able to send them only $50.
Anabel's daughter Elba Mariela, 30, is grateful for the money her mother sends. "I just think about what she's going without and if she has food," worries Elba Mariela in San Salvador, where she lives with 20 extended family members. Only one cousin is still working.
El Salvador was one of the first countries in the region to close its borders and quarantine residents.
In 2019, immigrant workers in the U.S. sent an estimated $150 billion abroad — half of it to Latin America and the Caribbean, according to Manuel Orozco at the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank in Washington, D.C.
In Haiti, remittances account for a third of the economy. In Honduras, it's nearly a quarter.
Even in Mexico, where remittances represent a smaller share of its gross domestic product, the losses will affect 1.2 million households, according to Orozco.
He estimates that remittances to Latin America will fall this year by at least 7%, similar to the decline seen during the 2009 global recession.
The drop in dollars sent home by workers in the U.S. comes as Latin America faces its worst recession in 50 years.
For now, Ari, 33, a nanny in D.C., is still able to send money to her aging parents in Oaxaca, Mexico. Her employers are paying her during the shutdown, but they don't know for how much longer.
She, too, asked NPR not to use her full name because she is working in the country illegally.
Hopefully, the shutdown will be lifted soon, she says, "so we can go back to work and start sending money back home again."


npr--2020-04-17--Popular Blog SB Nation Furloughs Writers With Few Sports to Cover During Pandemic

Popular Blog SB Nation Furloughs Writers With Few Sports to Cover During Pandemic With few to no sporting events taking place because of the coronavirus crisis , sports journalism is feeling the crunch .
Vox Media announced Friday that it would furlough around 9 % of its workforce for three months starting on May 1 , according to a staff email from CEO Jim Bankoff obtained by NPR .
Several of those furloughs are hitting the media group 's flagship sports website SB Nation .
Staff writer Natalie Weiner tweeted out the news that she was furloughed , adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleagues , who work harder than anyone and whose many years of loyalty to the site are being repaid this way . ''
Vox Media also owns websites The Verge , Vox , Eater , Polygon and Curbed , in addition to SB Nation .
Bankoff indicated in the email that editorial furloughs would only take place at SB Nation and Curbed .
Several writers and editors at both sites , including SB Nation 's only copy editor Sam Eggleston , are among the furloughed .
According to the staff email , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Vox Media Union said via Twitter that it fought for no staff cuts to take place and helped ensure that no furloughed employees would lose their health insurance .
The union said hundreds of staffers across the organization offered to cut their own pay to save jobs , but Bankoff noted in his email that furloughs were financially unavoidable .
Plenty of furloughed staff members at SB Nation praised one another 's work in the wake of the company 's move .
Editor Alex Kirshner tweeted that his co-worker Ricky O'Donnell is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world history .
I do n't even care about the Bulls but his blogs about their front office are appointment reading because that kind of fine-pointed destruction is nutritious . ''
Editor Spencer Hall also shared that writer Zito Madu is `` an impossible human being who is as trainable as a concussed cat but fortunately ... is a beautiful writer who can make a story about literally anything sing . ''
Other sports outlets across the country are also hurting because of the coronavirus crisis .
Two weeks ago , Sports Illustrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff , according to The Washington Post .
Several local sports reporters have been laid off as well .
In California 's Bay Area , the entire sports staff of the San Jose Mercury-News and East Bay Times have been furloughed .

Popular Blog SB Nation Furloughs Writers With Few Sports to Cover During Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nam Y. Huh/AP Nam Y. Huh/AP
With few to no sporting events taking place because of the coronavirus crisis, sports journalism is feeling the crunch.
Vox Media announced Friday that it would furlough around 9% of its workforce for three months starting on May 1, according to a staff email from CEO Jim Bankoff obtained by NPR. Several of those furloughs are hitting the media group's flagship sports website SB Nation.
Staff writer Natalie Weiner tweeted out the news that she was furloughed, adding that she was "mostly hurting for my colleagues, who work harder than anyone and whose many years of loyalty to the site are being repaid this way."
Vox Media also owns websites The Verge, Vox, Eater, Polygon and Curbed, in addition to SB Nation. Bankoff indicated in the email that editorial furloughs would only take place at SB Nation and Curbed. Several writers and editors at both sites, including SB Nation's only copy editor Sam Eggleston, are among the furloughed.
According to the staff email, many employees will also see pay cuts. The Vox Media Union said via Twitter that it fought for no staff cuts to take place and helped ensure that no furloughed employees would lose their health insurance. The union said hundreds of staffers across the organization offered to cut their own pay to save jobs, but Bankoff noted in his email that furloughs were financially unavoidable.
Plenty of furloughed staff members at SB Nation praised one another's work in the wake of the company's move. Editor Alex Kirshner tweeted that his co-worker Ricky O'Donnell is "one of the great bloggers in world history. I don't even care about the Bulls but his blogs about their front office are appointment reading because that kind of fine-pointed destruction is nutritious." Editor Spencer Hall also shared that writer Zito Madu is "an impossible human being who is as trainable as a concussed cat but fortunately ... is a beautiful writer who can make a story about literally anything sing."
Other sports outlets across the country are also hurting because of the coronavirus crisis. Two weeks ago, Sports Illustrated laid off 6% of its editorial staff, according to The Washington Post. Several local sports reporters have been laid off as well. In California's Bay Area, the entire sports staff of the San Jose Mercury-News and East Bay Times have been furloughed.


npr--2020-04-17--In Spain, Pandemic Restrictions Mean Children Aren't Allowed Outside Their Homes

In Spain , Pandemic Restrictions Mean Children Are n't Allowed Outside Their Homes It 's been over a month since the coronavirus pandemic forced the Spanish government to declare a state of emergency and put the country on lockdown .
People have n't been allowed to leave their homes except to buy food and medical supplies or walk the dog .
Anyone who breaks these rules faces fines of more than $ 1,000 .
But children are n't allowed out at all , even to accompany their parents to the grocery store .
Almost all other European countries allow at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patricia Silvio has been confined in her Barcelona apartment since March 14 with her husband and 5-year-old son Max , whose birthday party had to be canceled last month .
`` The situation has been really hard , '' she told NPR over the phone .
Silvio is working from home for an events-coordinating company .
Recently , her husband fell sick , showing symptoms of COVID-19 .
He was n't able to get tested ( testing is reserved for those with difficulty breathing or who have had a fever for longer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolate himself .
`` It 's been really , really complicated to keep the house in order , take care of the kid , take care of my husband , '' said Silvio .
`` And without the chance to go out and get my kid some exercise . ''
Silvio says she 's lucky — the family has a small terrace where Max can play .
However , millions of children in Spain live in apartments without outdoor space ; others live in cramped spaces with large families .
All these children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Various regional governments in Spain have introduced local laws that would allow children to go outside — as long as they 're accompanied by an adult , wear a face mask ( if they 're over 3 years old ) and leave their homes during permitted times .
But these measures must first be approved by the central government in Madrid .
Barcelona 's Mayor Ada Colau said it was unfair that the strict rules are still in place for children , when other measures are being relaxed .
`` If we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preventative measures in place , we should also be able to allow our children to leave their houses to go for a walk , '' she said .
Spain 's Health Minister Salvador Illa told a press conference on Friday that the central government was studying the regional proposals to relax the rules for children .

In Spain, Pandemic Restrictions Mean Children Aren't Allowed Outside Their Homes
Enlarge this image toggle caption Miguel Pereira/Getty Images Miguel Pereira/Getty Images
It's been over a month since the coronavirus pandemic forced the Spanish government to declare a state of emergency and put the country on lockdown.
People haven't been allowed to leave their homes except to buy food and medical supplies or walk the dog. Anyone who breaks these rules faces fines of more than $1,000.
But children aren't allowed out at all, even to accompany their parents to the grocery store. Almost all other European countries allow at least some outside time for kids.
Patricia Silvio has been confined in her Barcelona apartment since March 14 with her husband and 5-year-old son Max, whose birthday party had to be canceled last month.
"The situation has been really hard," she told NPR over the phone.
Silvio is working from home for an events-coordinating company. Recently, her husband fell sick, showing symptoms of COVID-19. He wasn't able to get tested (testing is reserved for those with difficulty breathing or who have had a fever for longer than seven days), but had to isolate himself.
"It's been really, really complicated to keep the house in order, take care of the kid, take care of my husband," said Silvio. "And without the chance to go out and get my kid some exercise."
Silvio says she's lucky — the family has a small terrace where Max can play. However, millions of children in Spain live in apartments without outdoor space; others live in cramped spaces with large families. All these children haven't been outdoors since mid-March.
Various regional governments in Spain have introduced local laws that would allow children to go outside — as long as they're accompanied by an adult, wear a face mask (if they're over 3 years old) and leave their homes during permitted times. But these measures must first be approved by the central government in Madrid.
Barcelona's Mayor Ada Colau said it was unfair that the strict rules are still in place for children, when other measures are being relaxed.
"If we can resume some economic activity with all the preventative measures in place, we should also be able to allow our children to leave their houses to go for a walk," she said.
Spain's Health Minister Salvador Illa told a press conference on Friday that the central government was studying the regional proposals to relax the rules for children.


npr--2020-04-17--Thousands Of Cars Line Up At One Texas Food Bank As Job Losses Hit Hard

Thousands Of Cars Line Up At One Texas Food Bank As Job Losses Hit Hard Ten thousand cars waited hours in line for emergency food aid in San Antonio last week .
A drone photograph of the packed parking lot went viral .
Two thousand more showed up for another distribution today .
These were some of the more than 20 million unemployed Americans , many of them recently laid off because of the pandemic .
The San Antonio Food Bank operates a huge , 200,000-square-foot warehouse on the outskirts of the city .
It is stacked four stories high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potatoes , tomatoes and onions ; chicken , ground beef and tater tots .
A quartet of forklifts—working like soldier ants—fills a truck with pallets of carrots , while the boss watches .
`` We stock refrigerated , frozen and nonperishable food items so it moves through our facility at a fairly rapid pace , '' said food bank CEO Eric Cooper .
`` Obviously , now in the midst of COVID-19 , the demand far outpaces the supply . ''
In addition to feeding the hungry in this city of more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies 500 food pantries throughout South Texas .
In a normal week , the food bank feeds about 60,000 people in its region .
Today , that number has doubled .
Last week , they knew they 'd be busy .
A record 6,000 families had preregistered for food distribution at a flea market parking lot .
When word got out on social media , 4,000 more cars showed up .
`` I panicked .
I 've never seen a line that long , '' Cooper said .
`` So I called our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get more food on site .
But we , in the end , served 10,000 families . ''
Cooper estimates half of the people coming to the food bank these days are first-timers .
They are mothers like Erica Campos , a 42-year-old bank employee with two young daughters at home .
She had been doing okay .
Her job is stable .
She even bought a home late last year .
But she really depended on $ 1,200 a month in child support from her ex-husband .
Then he lost his job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus shutdown , and his checks stopped .
Campos could no longer make ends meet .
`` I never , ever could have even imagined anything like this , '' she said .
Campos drives a nice car and wears stylish eyeglasses over her facemask .
`` I was almost ashamed , to be honest , to even pick up food from the food bank because somebody might look at my used Cadillac and be like , 'What is she doing in the food bank line ? '
But I had to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's no shame in feeding my children . ''
With other natural disasters , you might expect to see regional hardship and strained food banks , but the economic cataclysm that has followed coronavirus has spread out the suffering around the globe .
`` What we 're seeing at the San Antonio Food Bank , Feeding America food banks are seeing all over the country , '' said that group 's spokesperson Zaina Villareal .
Feeding America is a network of 200 food banks nationwide , including San Antonio 's .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' household budgets , '' she added .
`` With one lost paycheck , many families are figuring out how to put food on the table . ''
On Friday morning , the San Antonio Food Bank set up another pop-up distribution center in the Alamodome parking lot .
By the time they started handing out bags of groceries , more than two thousand cars were waiting in line and some drivers had waited all night .

Thousands Of Cars Line Up At One Texas Food Bank As Job Losses Hit Hard
Enlarge this image toggle caption Adrees Latif/Reuters Adrees Latif/Reuters
Ten thousand cars waited hours in line for emergency food aid in San Antonio last week. A drone photograph of the packed parking lot went viral. Two thousand more showed up for another distribution today.
These were some of the more than 20 million unemployed Americans, many of them recently laid off because of the pandemic.
The San Antonio Food Bank operates a huge, 200,000-square-foot warehouse on the outskirts of the city. It is stacked four stories high with apples, oranges and watermelons; potatoes, tomatoes and onions; chicken, ground beef and tater tots.
A quartet of forklifts—working like soldier ants—fills a truck with pallets of carrots, while the boss watches.
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Burnett/NPR John Burnett/NPR
"We stock refrigerated, frozen and nonperishable food items so it moves through our facility at a fairly rapid pace," said food bank CEO Eric Cooper. "Obviously, now in the midst of COVID-19, the demand far outpaces the supply."
In addition to feeding the hungry in this city of more than 2 million souls, the food bank supplies 500 food pantries throughout South Texas. In a normal week, the food bank feeds about 60,000 people in its region. Today, that number has doubled.
Economy Lines At Food Banks Grow Longer By The Week Lines At Food Banks Grow Longer By The Week Listen · 3:42 3:42
Last week, they knew they'd be busy. A record 6,000 families had preregistered for food distribution at a flea market parking lot. When word got out on social media, 4,000 more cars showed up.
"I panicked. I've never seen a line that long," Cooper said. "So I called our warehouse to send more trucks, to get more food on site. But we, in the end, served 10,000 families."
Cooper estimates half of the people coming to the food bank these days are first-timers. They are mothers like Erica Campos, a 42-year-old bank employee with two young daughters at home.
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Burnett/NPR John Burnett/NPR
She had been doing okay. Her job is stable. She even bought a home late last year. But she really depended on $1,200 a month in child support from her ex-husband. Then he lost his job as a hotel concierge because of the coronavirus shutdown, and his checks stopped. Campos could no longer make ends meet.
"I never, ever could have even imagined anything like this," she said. Campos drives a nice car and wears stylish eyeglasses over her facemask.
"I was almost ashamed, to be honest, to even pick up food from the food bank because somebody might look at my used Cadillac and be like, 'What is she doing in the food bank line?' But I had to get past those feelings of shame. There's no shame in feeding my children."
With other natural disasters, you might expect to see regional hardship and strained food banks, but the economic cataclysm that has followed coronavirus has spread out the suffering around the globe.
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Burnett/NPR John Burnett/NPR
"What we're seeing at the San Antonio Food Bank, Feeding America food banks are seeing all over the country," said that group's spokesperson Zaina Villareal. Feeding America is a network of 200 food banks nationwide, including San Antonio's.
"The pandemic is showing the fragility of families' household budgets," she added. "With one lost paycheck, many families are figuring out how to put food on the table."
On Friday morning, the San Antonio Food Bank set up another pop-up distribution center in the Alamodome parking lot. By the time they started handing out bags of groceries, more than two thousand cars were waiting in line and some drivers had waited all night.


npr--2020-04-17--Coronavirus Forces Organizers To Cancel San Diego Comic-Con

The continued spread of the coronavirus claimed yet another big event on the 2020 entertainment calendar this Friday , when the San Diego Comic-Con announced the annual entertainment and comic book convention would be postponed until 2021 .
In a statement on its website , organizers said it is `` with deep regret that there will be no Comic-Con in 2020 , '' marking the first time in the event 's 50-year history it would not be held .
`` Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures and while we are saddened to take this action , we know it is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ David Glanzer .
`` We eagerly look forward to the time when we can all meet again and share in the community we all love and enjoy . ''
The event , which was expected to draw more than 100,000 people , was scheduled to be held July 23-26 .
It will now take place almost a year to the day later , kicking off July 22-25 , 2021 .
Comic-Con — which launched as a small comic-book themed event — is now a powerhouse summer festival that attracts major figures from movies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest fan events of the year ; last year more than 135,000 people attended , and not just for comics , but for interactive experiences , signings and big announcements about the latest Marvel movies .
SDCC officials said fans who bought passes for Comic-Con 2020 can either request a refund or transfer their badges to next year .
The same offer is being made to the event 's exhibitors .
Organizers also announced that a previously postponed event , Anaheim WonderCon — originally set for April 10-12 — will also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held at California 's Anaheim Convention Center from March 26-28 .
The spread of the coronavirus has decimated the festival and sporting calendar , with many states implementing broad social distancing guidelines and stay at home orders that have shuttered all but essential businesses from operating .
In March , California governor Gavin Newsom issued a stay at home order , and banned gatherings of more than 250 people .

Coronavirus Forces Organizers To Cancel San Diego Comic-Con
Enlarge this image toggle caption Denis Poroy/Denis Poroy/Invision/AP Denis Poroy/Denis Poroy/Invision/AP
The continued spread of the coronavirus claimed yet another big event on the 2020 entertainment calendar this Friday, when the San Diego Comic-Con announced the annual entertainment and comic book convention would be postponed until 2021.
In a statement on its website, organizers said it is "with deep regret that there will be no Comic-Con in 2020," marking the first time in the event's 50-year history it would not be held.
"Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures and while we are saddened to take this action, we know it is the right decision," said Comic-Con spokesperson David Glanzer. "We eagerly look forward to the time when we can all meet again and share in the community we all love and enjoy."
The event, which was expected to draw more than 100,000 people, was scheduled to be held July 23-26. It will now take place almost a year to the day later, kicking off July 22-25, 2021.
Comic-Con — which launched as a small comic-book themed event — is now a powerhouse summer festival that attracts major figures from movies and television. It's one of the biggest fan events of the year; last year more than 135,000 people attended, and not just for comics, but for interactive experiences, signings and big announcements about the latest Marvel movies.
SDCC officials said fans who bought passes for Comic-Con 2020 can either request a refund or transfer their badges to next year. The same offer is being made to the event's exhibitors.
Organizers also announced that a previously postponed event, Anaheim WonderCon — originally set for April 10-12 — will also be pushed to 2021. It will be held at California's Anaheim Convention Center from March 26-28.
The spread of the coronavirus has decimated the festival and sporting calendar, with many states implementing broad social distancing guidelines and stay at home orders that have shuttered all but essential businesses from operating.
In March, California governor Gavin Newsom issued a stay at home order, and banned gatherings of more than 250 people.


npr--2020-04-17--Trump Defends Testing Capacity Despite Experts' Warnings

President Trump on Friday said states are well equipped to adequately test for COVID-19 , a position that has been contradicted by state leaders and health care experts .
The Trump administration this week released a plan to begin reopening the U.S. economy , even as experts warn that the country has a long way to go before it can responsibly ease restrictions .
The White House on Thursday issued guidelines to states outlining a three-tiered approach to relaxing social distancing measures .
But while Trump boasted of the country 's comeback from the coronavirus ' grip , health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy without adequate measures like widespread testing could have disastrous implications on containing the virus .
`` There have been some very partisan voices in the media who have spread false and misleading information about our testing capacity , '' Trump said during the Friday briefing .
But experts say that the United States still needs to ramp up its testing capabilities , more aggressively trace the contacts of those infected and build up hospitals ' capacities to treat COVID-19 patients before they can consider the virus contained .
Despite still lagging in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the nation 's handling of the virus and said he expects to see some states relaxing restrictions even before the federal guidelines for social distancing expire on May 1 .
Vice President Mike Pence and Dr. Anthony Fauci supported Trump in saying that the United States had enough tests specifically to move into Phase 1 of the reopening plan , which calls to limit social gatherings to 10 people or fewer and for vulnerable populations to continue to shelter in place .
Trump is eager to reopen the slumbering U.S. economy as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay afloat .
The administration says more than 80 million Americans have received coronavirus relief payments of up to $ 1,200 .
And on Friday , an additional stimulus package of $ 19 billion for farmers , ranchers and producers was announced to help relieve the strain the pandemic has put on the agriculture industry .
Earlier this week , Trump spoke to governors to outline his administration 's vision for reopening the economy , though several state leaders spoke out after the call to reject the president 's suggested timeline .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had escalated into a full-on spat between Trump and New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .
`` The federal government has to be part of this approach , '' Cuomo said in his Friday coronavirus briefing .
Cuomo was talking about his state 's testing abilities , noting that officials did not have enough supplies to match the need for COVID-19 tests .
Before Cuomo had even finished his news conference , Trump tweeted to tell the governor to `` Stop talking ! ''
`` Governor Cuomo should spend more time 'doing ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out there and get the job done , '' Trump wrote .
Cuomo , prompted by a reporter question , responded just minutes later during the briefing .
`` He 's sitting home watching TV , maybe he should get up and go to work , '' Cuomo said .
`` How many times do you want me to say 'thank you ' ?
But I 'm saying thank you for doing your job .
This was your role as president , '' he added later .
The clash carried on through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ridiculously wanted '40 thousand Ventilators . '
We gave him a small fraction of that number , and it was plenty .
State should have had them in stockpile ! ''
The administration 's disagreements with Democratic officials bled into a Friday phone call between Pence and Senate Democrats .
A Democratic source told NPR that nearly every question to Pence fielded on the call was related to testing .
The source said that the feeling on the call was that the administration was avoiding giving clear answers .
`` I have never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in my life , '' the source reports Sen. Angus King saying during the call .
King criticized the administration , the source says , for not developing an adequate national testing system .
Sen. Tim Kane also brought up that Trump tweeted `` LIBERATE VIRGINIA , '' and asked Pence why the president was sowing division , according to two sources familiar with the call .
Pence reportedly deflected , saying that the administration is working respectfully with governors .
Susan Davis and Scott Detrow contributed to this report .

Trump Defends Testing Capacity Despite Experts' Warnings
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
Updated 8:22 p.m. ET
President Trump on Friday said states are well equipped to adequately test for COVID-19, a position that has been contradicted by state leaders and health care experts.
The Trump administration this week released a plan to begin reopening the U.S. economy, even as experts warn that the country has a long way to go before it can responsibly ease restrictions.
The White House on Thursday issued guidelines to states outlining a three-tiered approach to relaxing social distancing measures.
But while Trump boasted of the country's comeback from the coronavirus' grip, health care authorities say that rushing to reopen the economy without adequate measures like widespread testing could have disastrous implications on containing the virus.
"There have been some very partisan voices in the media who have spread false and misleading information about our testing capacity," Trump said during the Friday briefing.
But experts say that the United States still needs to ramp up its testing capabilities, more aggressively trace the contacts of those infected and build up hospitals' capacities to treat COVID-19 patients before they can consider the virus contained.
Despite still lagging in those efforts, Trump has spoken victoriously on the nation's handling of the virus and said he expects to see some states relaxing restrictions even before the federal guidelines for social distancing expire on May 1.
Vice President Mike Pence and Dr. Anthony Fauci supported Trump in saying that the United States had enough tests specifically to move into Phase 1 of the reopening plan, which calls to limit social gatherings to 10 people or fewer and for vulnerable populations to continue to shelter in place.
Trump is eager to reopen the slumbering U.S. economy as unemployment numbers soar and businesses struggle to stay afloat.
The administration says more than 80 million Americans have received coronavirus relief payments of up to $1,200. And on Friday, an additional stimulus package of $19 billion for farmers, ranchers and producers was announced to help relieve the strain the pandemic has put on the agriculture industry.
Earlier this week, Trump spoke to governors to outline his administration's vision for reopening the economy, though several state leaders spoke out after the call to reject the president's suggested timeline.
By Friday morning, the disagreement on timing had escalated into a full-on spat between Trump and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
"The federal government has to be part of this approach," Cuomo said in his Friday coronavirus briefing. Cuomo was talking about his state's testing abilities, noting that officials did not have enough supplies to match the need for COVID-19 tests.
Before Cuomo had even finished his news conference, Trump tweeted to tell the governor to "Stop talking!"
"Governor Cuomo should spend more time 'doing' and less time 'complaining.' Get out there and get the job done," Trump wrote.
Cuomo, prompted by a reporter question, responded just minutes later during the briefing.
"He's sitting home watching TV, maybe he should get up and go to work," Cuomo said.
"How many times do you want me to say 'thank you'? But I'm saying thank you for doing your job. This was your role as president," he added later.
The clash carried on through the afternoon with Trump tweeting: "Cuomo ridiculously wanted '40 thousand Ventilators.' We gave him a small fraction of that number, and it was plenty. State should have had them in stockpile!"
The administration's disagreements with Democratic officials bled into a Friday phone call between Pence and Senate Democrats.
A Democratic source told NPR that nearly every question to Pence fielded on the call was related to testing. The source said that the feeling on the call was that the administration was avoiding giving clear answers.
"I have never been so mad about a phone call in my life," the source reports Sen. Angus King saying during the call. King criticized the administration, the source says, for not developing an adequate national testing system.
Sen. Tim Kane also brought up that Trump tweeted "LIBERATE VIRGINIA," and asked Pence why the president was sowing division, according to two sources familiar with the call. Pence reportedly deflected, saying that the administration is working respectfully with governors.
Susan Davis and Scott Detrow contributed to this report.
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Susan Davis contributed to this report


npr--2020-04-17--Coronavirus FAQs: Can Sunlight Kill The Virus? How Risky Is An Elevator Ride?

Coronavirus FAQs : Can Sunlight Kill The Virus ?
How Risky Is An Elevator Ride ?
Can sunlight kill the coronavirus ?
What about UV light ?
Sunlight contains three types of ultraviolet light – UVA , which tans your skin ( and ages it ) and can cause eye damage ; UVB , which burns and also ages skin ; and UVC , which is `` the most harmful one '' because it 's quite good at destroying genetic material , explains Juan Leon , a virologist who focuses on environmental health at Emory University .
Luckily , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't reach us because they are filtered out by Earth 's atmosphere .
Sunlight can be a good disinfectant with other pathogens .
Leon notes that 's why in the developing world , the World Health Organization recommends sterilizing water by putting it in plastic containers and leaving it outside in the sun for about 5 hours .
`` Right now , there is no data on whether the UVA rays of the sun can inactivate this coronavirus , '' says Leon .
However , research on SARS , another coronavirus closely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , found that exposing that virus to UVA light for 15 minutes did nothing to reduce its infectivity , Leon says .
The results with UVC light were more promising , notes virologist Julia Silva Sobolik , a researcher in Leon 's lab at Emory .
`` UVC for longer durations , over 15 minutes , was found to be more effective at inactivating SARS , '' she says .
In fact , UVC light is frequently used to sterilize equipment in medical settings , says Leon .
But while UVC products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are n't really any uniform performance standards , and testing validation can vary greatly , according to the International Ultraviolet Association .
Besides , UV light of any kind can be harmful to eyes and skin – and UVC is the most damaging kind , so you 'd have be extra careful and properly trained not to seriously hurt yourself , experts say .
( And you definitely should n't try to use any kind of UV light to disinfect your body , WHO has warned . )
For disinfecting your body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trick .
That said , researchers believe UVC light has a part to play in the fight against the coronavirus .
In China and Italy , UVC-wielding robots reportedly are being deployed to disinfect hospitals .
If I step into an elevator where an infected person has recently been , could I get the virus ?
Perhaps you live in a building with an elevator , you ride in one at work or you use one at the grocery store with a full cart .
Maybe you 're facing an empty elevator and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 have just been in that space .
Should you worry about viral particles in the air ?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says current data suggest that the primary mode of transmission is through respiratory droplets from an infected person that can land in the mouths , noses or eyes of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs of those within close proximity .
The virus is also believed to spread by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes , nose or mouth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ air ?
The CDC says the role of `` small respirable particles , sometimes called aerosols or droplet nuclei , to close proximity transmission is currently uncertain .
However , airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely . ''
As NPR 's Nell Greenfieldboyce has reported , the question of how the virus moves through the air is something scientists are still trying to understand — and disagree about .
Even if traces of the virus can be found in the air if an infected person breathes or speaks , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high enough to transmit the virus .
Linsey Marr is an aerosol scientist at Virginia Tech , and she believes that transmission by inhalation of virus in the air is happening .
`` I would be concerned about elevators because they are a confined space , '' she said in an email interview with NPR .
`` Many elevators do not seem to have mechanical ventilation , like a fan , beyond the natural ventilation that occurs when the doors open and close and some leakage that always occurs with any room .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ infectious diseases expert at Columbia University , says he believes the air in elevators does n't pose a risk unless some very particular event just happened there that generated aerosols .
Certain medical procedures , like inserting a tube into an airway , are likely to generate higher concentrations of infectious respiratory aerosols .
Vomiting can also produce aerosols , Griffin says .
`` Unless someone had just vomited in that elevator and aerosolized [ the viral particles ] or someone had just been intubated in that elevator , you 're okay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are the main spreader of the virus fall to the ground quickly after a cough or sneeze , Griffin says .
`` You can think of these small wet balls that are flying through the air when someone coughs or sneezes — and they 're traveling pretty fast , but they 're large enough that they 're actually heading toward the ground due to gravity . ''
So the main thing to watch out for is the surfaces on the elevator : especially the buttons .
`` Everyone is going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he says .
`` You got to do something if you 're going to touch the buttons . ''
If you are , either wash your hands or use hand sanitizer afterward .
And if possible , try to only ride the elevator with people in your household .
Unless the elevator is huge , it will be hard to keep six feet of social distance .
Can I safely let a repair person into my home ?
With everything else happening , this is an unfortunate time to need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Wait , if you can .
It can be difficult in some cases to get someone to come .
Say your internet is down .
Verizon says that for now , `` our technicians will not be able to enter your home for new services or to do repair work '' as part of precautions to keep employees and customers safe .
It says self-setup remains an option where it 's available , and they 'll ship the necessary equipment .
Meanwhile , AT & T has advised its technicians to contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ask questions concerning health and travel .
Technicians have been instructed not to go inside the home or business of any customer who has been sick or quarantined , traveled to a high-risk Level 3 country in the last 14 days or been in close contact with someone confirmed positive for coronavirus or who traveled through a high-risk country in the last 14 days .
Trane , which makes air conditioners and heat pumps , says in a statement its service technicians are still taking appointments .
It recommends calling your local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC 's recommended steps for facilities , including checking employees for fever and cleaning surfaces often .
A few other common-sense tips from Trane if you do need an emergency repair : Have discussions outside , if possible .
Wipe any door handles the technician may need to touch .
Do n't share pens and paper .
Keep your distance and do n't shake hands .
Consumer Reports has some suggestions , too : Inquire about whether the technician will wear a mask .
Talk to the service person in advance about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And after the technician leaves , clean the area where the person was working — here 's the CDC-approved list of disinfectants against the coronavirus .
Meanwhile , do n't just think of yourself .
Trane 's bold-faced request : Do n't schedule a service appointment if anyone in your home is showing symptoms .
You could infect the repair person .

Coronavirus FAQs: Can Sunlight Kill The Virus? How Risky Is An Elevator Ride?
Enlarge this image toggle caption ICHIRO/Getty Images ICHIRO/Getty Images
Can sunlight kill the coronavirus? What about UV light?
Sunlight contains three types of ultraviolet light — UVA, which tans your skin (and ages it) and can cause eye damage; UVB, which burns and also ages skin; and UVC, which is "the most harmful one" because it's quite good at destroying genetic material, explains Juan Leon, a virologist who focuses on environmental health at Emory University. Luckily, he notes, the sun's UVC rays don't reach us because they are filtered out by Earth's atmosphere.
Sunlight can be a good disinfectant with other pathogens. Leon notes that's why in the developing world, the World Health Organization recommends sterilizing water by putting it in plastic containers and leaving it outside in the sun for about five hours.
"Right now, there is no data on whether the UVA rays of the sun can inactivate this coronavirus," says Leon. However, research on SARS, another coronavirus closely related to the one causing the current pandemic, found that exposing that virus to UVA light for 15 minutes did nothing to reduce its infectivity, Leon says.
The results with UVC light were more promising, notes virologist Julia Silva Sobolik, a researcher in Leon's lab at Emory. "UVC for longer durations, over 15 minutes, was found to be more effective at inactivating SARS," she says.
In fact, UVC light is frequently used to sterilize equipment in medical settings, says Leon.
But while UVC products are available for consumers to buy, there aren't really any uniform performance standards, and testing validation can vary greatly, according to the International Ultraviolet Association. Besides, UV light of any kind can be harmful to eyes and skin — and UVC is the most damaging kind, so you'd have to be extra-careful and properly trained not to seriously hurt yourself, experts say. (And you definitely shouldn't try to use any kind of UV light to disinfect your body, the WHO has warned.) For disinfecting your body, soap and water will do the trick.
That said, researchers believe UVC light has a part to play in the fight against the coronavirus. In China and Italy, UVC-wielding robots reportedly are being deployed to disinfect hospitals.
If I step into an elevator where an infected person has recently been, could I get the virus?
Perhaps you live in a building with an elevator, you ride in one at work or you use one at the grocery store with a full cart. Maybe you're facing an empty elevator and are worried. Could a person with COVID-19 have just been in that space? Should you worry about viral particles in the air?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says current data suggest that the primary mode of transmission is through respiratory droplets from an infected person that can land in the mouths, noses or eyes of people nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs of those within close proximity. The virus is also believed to spread by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
What about smaller viral particles in the air? The CDC says the role of "small respirable particles, sometimes called aerosols or droplet nuclei, to close proximity transmission is currently uncertain. However, airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely."
As NPR's Nell Greenfieldboyce has reported, the question of how the virus moves through the air is something scientists are still trying to understand — and disagree about. Even if traces of the virus can be found in the air if an infected person breathes or speaks, it's not clear that the concentration is high enough to transmit the virus.
Linsey Marr is an aerosol scientist at Virginia Tech, and she believes that transmission by inhalation of virus in the air is happening.
"I would be concerned about elevators because they are a confined space," she said in an email interview with NPR. "Many elevators do not seem to have mechanical ventilation, like a fan, beyond the natural ventilation that occurs when the doors open and close and some leakage that always occurs with any room."
But Dr. Daniel Griffin, an infectious diseases expert at Columbia University, says he believes the air in elevators doesn't pose a risk unless some very particular event just happened there that generated aerosols. Certain medical procedures, such as inserting a tube into an airway, are likely to generate higher concentrations of infectious respiratory aerosols. Vomiting can also produce aerosols, Griffin says.
"Unless someone had just vomited in that elevator and aerosolized [the viral particles] or someone had just been intubated in that elevator, you're OK," he says.
The respiratory particles that are the main spreader of the virus fall to the ground quickly after a cough or sneeze, Griffin says. "You can think of these small wet balls that are flying through the air when someone coughs or sneezes — and they're traveling pretty fast, but they're large enough that they're actually heading toward the ground due to gravity."
So the main thing to watch out for is the surfaces of the elevator, especially the buttons.
"Everyone is going to be pushing the same buttons with their hands," he says. "You got to do something if you're going to touch the buttons."
If you are, either wash your hands or use hand sanitizer afterward.
And if possible, try to ride the elevator only with people in your household. Unless the elevator is huge, it will be hard to keep 6 feet of social distance.
Can I safely let a repair person into my home?
With everything else happening, this is an unfortunate time to need repairs. So what do you do?
Wait, if you can. It can be difficult in some cases to get someone to come. Say your Internet is down. Verizon says that for now, as part of precautions to keep employees and customers safe, "our technicians will not be able to enter your home for new services or to do repair work." It says self-setup remains an option where it's available, and it'll ship the necessary equipment.
Meanwhile, AT&T has advised its technicians to contact customers prior to arriving for scheduled appointments to ask questions concerning health and travel. Technicians have been instructed not to go inside the home or business of any customer who has been sick or quarantined, traveled to a high-risk Level 3 country in the last 14 days or been in close contact with someone confirmed positive for the coronavirus or who traveled through a high-risk country in the last 14 days.
Trane, which makes air conditioners and heat pumps, said in a statement that its service technicians are still taking appointments. It recommends calling your local provider to ask if it is taking the CDC's recommended steps for facilities, including checking employees for fever and cleaning surfaces often.
A few other commonsense tips from Trane if you do need an emergency repair: Have discussions outside, if possible. Wipe any door handles the technician may need to touch. Don't share pens and paper. Keep your distance and don't shake hands.
Consumer Reports has some suggestions too: Inquire about whether the technician will wear a mask. Talk to the service person in advance about a plan to maintain social distance. And after the technician leaves, clean the area where the person was working — here's the CDC-approved list of disinfectants against the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, don't just think of yourself. Trane's boldface request: Don't schedule a service appointment if anyone in your home is showing symptoms. You could infect the repair person.