npr--2020-07-19--'Change Can Happen': Black Families On Racism, Hope And Parenting

'Change Can Happen ' : Black Families On Racism , Hope And Parenting The Black Lives Matter movement has changed the country and shifted conversations about police , social justice and structural racism .
Nowhere is the impact as great as it is for Black families , especially those with children .
NPR spoke with five couples about how their family conversations have changed and how they try to support and inform their children in the face of police violence and racism .
The parents spoke about how painful it is to have these issues rupture the innocence of childhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussion proactively .
They say they try to model a measured optimism about the future , teaching their kids `` to stand up and speak out '' , as one mother , Dr. Rhea Roper Nedd puts it .
She says she and her husband 's message to their children right now is hopeful , despite their own misgivings about the slow pace of progress .
`` This is the time for us to move forward , '' she says .
`` This is the time to change . ''
'Exercise your right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Eriade Williams decided to take their children to participate in peaceful protests near their home in Silver Spring , Md.
, their daughter Marley , 9 , told them she was scared .
Eriade , an attorney and lobbyist , had to explain that violence would n't be likely .
Chris , who works in pharmaceutical sales , talked to both the kids — their son Hunter is 6 — about managing fear .
And he told them : `` These are things that we 're protesting because they 've never been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Marley remained skeptical , telling her parents she was afraid there would be violence or police brutality .
Her parents told her , `` You still have to exercise your right to say what you think about things and you ca n't be scared and stay in your house , '' recalls Eriade .
The protest turned out to be a positive , empowering experience for the children .
There was no violence .
Marley was interviewed by local TV and even made up a dance to go with a chant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ exuberant , '' says Eriade .
The Williams say they have a sense of relief that , after George Floyd 's brutal killing , the whole nation began discussing police violence and racism .
It means , they said , that as parents `` we are the ones who can explain all this to our kids and that their friends in school will have a similar baseline of experience now to understand these issues better . ''
When to have 'the talk' As Black parents , Derek and Barbara Ford knew they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about racism at some point with their sons .
Chandler , who is nearly 1-year-old , is too young to understand .
And for Alexander who turns 5 this month , the Fords had n't thought of starting at such an early age .
But as the Black Lives Matter protests took off in late May , they realized it was time .
Derek , a human resources manager in the oil and gas industry , says they did n't try to tackle the whole topic at once .
`` We talk about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this point .
And then through the years , that conversation morphs '' he says .
They have started with storytelling and books that portray individuals with brown skin so the children will `` feel comfortable in their own skin '' and have a positive image of themselves .
In the future , they 'll have to tackle harder issues head-on .
`` I mean you have to have hope , but you also have the reality that he will become a Black man ; right now , he sees police officers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's a shame that this frame of mind will likely change over time to where he no longer sees public servants as superheroes , but he sees them as something else . ''
They try to strike a balance , Barbara says , between exposing their children to the reality of racism while instilling confidence in them as individuals .
`` We grew up and understood that everything in life was n't going to be fair ; so we want to raise the children with a sense of reality , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them and we do n't want them to be blindsided by anything either . ''
When Maryam Jernigan-Noesi and Mariano Noesi were expecting their first child , they recall playing a trivia game at their baby shower .
They were asked what they feared most about becoming new parents .
They answered without hesitation .
`` We were both on the same page and it was 'the world , ' '' says Mariano , a national accounts manager for an environmental firm .
`` It was the systems created outside of our homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although he 'd be forced to live in them for now . ''
Along with the joy of having a child , says Maryam , a licensed psychologist specializing in children and adolescents , `` there is an intergenerational fear about your ability to protect Black children and help keep them alive because of the pervasiveness and , frankly , the danger of racism . ''
The family lives in a suburb of Atlanta .
Today , when they talk with their son Carter , now 4 , about racism , a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reducing the amount of trauma that I pass on to him .
Reducing it being key because some trauma is inevitable in the life of a Black person in this country . ''
Their approach , says Maryam , is to start with an understanding of racial differences .
`` We want him to first notice and appreciate human differences , not avoid or condemn what is different , '' she says .
From there , they are gradually introducing the history of racial injustice and the civil rights movement .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to not wait until there is a blatant example that we are trying to explain after the fact , '' says Maryam .
She also gives her son room to express his feelings , like when she first explained the history of segregation to him and `` he was visibly upset . ''
She says these early lessons paid off when he saw some footage of protests on TV and wanted to know what was going on.
`` And I said , well , remember Martin Luther King ?
You know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to be treated equally . ''
'It 's up to the next generation' After George Floyd 's killing , the Roper Nedd family who live in Silver Spring , Md.
, a suburb of Washington , D.C. went into `` protective mode '' toward their two sons , Christopher and Noah , says Dr. Rhea Roper Nedd , associate director of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program at the University of Maryland .
`` We did n't want them to see this on TV and to internalize this , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came a point in time when we knew ... as much as we tried to protect them ... we had to start talking about it . ''
Husband Wilton Nedd II , an attorney , says it 's imperative `` for us to instill in our children that they are equal to their white counterparts in every respect but they may not be viewed that way by everyone they encounter . ''
They want their children to feel proud of who they are .
They watch movies with strong Black characters , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soca , afro-beats , gospel music and Chelsey Green 's violin . ''
`` Conversations about race within the four walls of our home are intentional messages about the beauty of blackness , '' says Rhea .
She says they have worked to balance realism and hope in their conversations about racial justice .
When they went as a family to one of the recent protests , one of their sons questioned why they were bothering when violence against Black people keeps getting repeated .
`` It 's hard to hear a young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware of the history of this country , of how racism has been institutionalized , and to already know that the change that is happening , it 's so slow , '' Rhea says .
But she said they told their kids , `` Things are changing .
There is something about the movement and we have to be part of it . ''
During the protests and candlelight vigils the family attended , Wilton told his sons that as they grow up , they have a role to play `` in changing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Our generation has made incremental progress but it is up to the next generation to take it even further , '' he says .
'We 're not walking alone' Both Albert and Quinetta Latham remember when their own parents had `` the talk '' with them years ago .
And while some of the nuances have changed , Albert , a regional asset protection director for a national retailer says , the conversations they 're having with their own children , Albert III , 18 , and Maria , 12 , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a certified life coach and transformational speaker , says the Black Lives Matter movement has given the family a sense of hope .
`` While our 12 year old daughter might not necessarily be able to wrap her entire mind around systematic racism , both she and our son realize and understand the power and the pain that is attached to the three words Black Lives Matter . ''
The support for the movement is `` very visible for our children to see '' she says , whether it 's on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TikTok .
Albert says in the movement today he sees more allies of all races .
`` We 're not walking alone , '' Albert says .
`` And while these occurrences and conversations are n't necessarily new for our household I do realize ... George Floyd 's untimely and unfortunate death was certainly a tipping point for the nation . ''
But seeing repeated examples of police brutality weighs on their children , the Latham parents say .
And even when they went out to protest recently , the family encountered racism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One man in a truck deliberately blew his exhaust into the crowd .
`` My children looked at me in disbelief , '' recalls Quinetta .
`` We 're out here trying to stand up for what 's right and here 's what we 're still having to face . ''
`` So you know , it 's hard not to see it , it 's hard not to experience it , and it 's almost impossible not to fear it , '' she says .
`` For us as parents , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haven , a safe space for our children to feel they 're accepted when the world rejects them .
A place where they can come and be lifted when the world knocks them down . ''
And , when talking to their children , Albert says , '' we 've got to be very careful to not preach doom and gloom all the time — to not talk about the history of Black folk as starting in slavery or in the Jim Crow south ; our history is much , much richer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` And so another way that we try to reduce the stress for us and our children is to make sure that we understand there 's still greatness that courses through our veins . ''
This story was produced by Meredith Rizzo and Ryan Kellman with editing by Carmel Wroth of NPR .
Design and development by Alyson Hurt of NPR .

'Change Can Happen': Black Families On Racism, Hope And Parenting
Enlarge this image toggle caption (Left to right) Lynsey Weatherspoon for NPR; Michael A. McCoy for NPR; Michael Starghill for NPR (Left to right) Lynsey Weatherspoon for NPR; Michael A. McCoy for NPR; Michael Starghill for NPR
The Black Lives Matter movement has changed the country and shifted conversations about police, social justice and structural racism.
Nowhere is the impact as great as it is for Black families, especially those with children. NPR spoke with five couples about how their family conversations have changed and how they try to support and inform their children in the face of police violence and racism.
The parents spoke about how painful it is to have these issues rupture the innocence of childhood, and the importance of having these discussion proactively. They say they try to model a measured optimism about the future, teaching their kids "to stand up and speak out", as one mother, Dr. Rhea Roper Nedd puts it.
She says she and her husband's message to their children right now is hopeful, despite their own misgivings about the slow pace of progress. "This is the time for us to move forward," she says. "This is the time to change."
'Exercise your right to say what you think'
Loading...
When Chris and Eriade Williams decided to take their children to participate in peaceful protests near their home in Silver Spring, Md., their daughter Marley, 9, told them she was scared. Eriade, an attorney and lobbyist, had to explain that violence wouldn't be likely. Chris, who works in pharmaceutical sales, talked to both the kids — their son Hunter is 6 — about managing fear. And he told them: "These are things that we're protesting because they've never been dealt with appropriately in the past."
Marley remained skeptical, telling her parents she was afraid there would be violence or police brutality. Her parents told her, "You still have to exercise your right to say what you think about things and you can't be scared and stay in your house," recalls Eriade.
The protest turned out to be a positive, empowering experience for the children. There was no violence. Marley was interviewed by local TV and even made up a dance to go with a chant. "When they came home they were exuberant," says Eriade.
The Williams say they have a sense of relief that, after George Floyd's brutal killing, the whole nation began discussing police violence and racism. It means, they said, that as parents "we are the ones who can explain all this to our kids and that their friends in school will have a similar baseline of experience now to understand these issues better."
When to have 'the talk'
Loading...
As Black parents, Derek and Barbara Ford knew they would have to have "the talk" about racism at some point with their sons. Chandler, who is nearly 1-year-old, is too young to understand. And for Alexander who turns 5 this month, the Fords hadn't thought of starting at such an early age. But as the Black Lives Matter protests took off in late May, they realized it was time.
Derek, a human resources manager in the oil and gas industry, says they didn't try to tackle the whole topic at once. "We talk about certain aspects that he can comprehend at this point. And then through the years, that conversation morphs" he says. They have started with storytelling and books that portray individuals with brown skin so the children will "feel comfortable in their own skin" and have a positive image of themselves.
In the future, they'll have to tackle harder issues head-on. "I mean you have to have hope, but you also have the reality that he will become a Black man; right now, he sees police officers and cops as superheroes." Derek says. "It's a shame that this frame of mind will likely change over time to where he no longer sees public servants as superheroes, but he sees them as something else."
They try to strike a balance, Barbara says, between exposing their children to the reality of racism while instilling confidence in them as individuals. "We grew up and understood that everything in life wasn't going to be fair; so we want to raise the children with a sense of reality, but we don't want to poison them and we don't want them to be blindsided by anything either."
Preparing children for the future
Loading...
When Maryam Jernigan-Noesi and Mariano Noesi were expecting their first child, they recall playing a trivia game at their baby shower. They were asked what they feared most about becoming new parents.
They answered without hesitation. "We were both on the same page and it was 'the world,'" says Mariano, a national accounts manager for an environmental firm. "It was the systems created outside of our homes that were not made for him, although he'd be forced to live in them for now."
Along with the joy of having a child, says Maryam, a licensed psychologist specializing in children and adolescents, "there is an intergenerational fear about your ability to protect Black children and help keep them alive because of the pervasiveness and, frankly, the danger of racism."
The family lives in a suburb of Atlanta. Today, when they talk with their son Carter, now 4, about racism, a major goal, Mariano says, is "reducing the amount of trauma that I pass on to him. Reducing it being key because some trauma is inevitable in the life of a Black person in this country."
Their approach, says Maryam, is to start with an understanding of racial differences."We want him to first notice and appreciate human differences, not avoid or condemn what is different," she says.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lynsey Weatherspoon for NPR Lynsey Weatherspoon for NPR
From there, they are gradually introducing the history of racial injustice and the civil rights movement.
"The key is to be consistent and proactive and to not wait until there is a blatant example that we are trying to explain after the fact," says Maryam. She also gives her son room to express his feelings, like when she first explained the history of segregation to him and "he was visibly upset."
She says these early lessons paid off when he saw some footage of protests on TV and wanted to know what was going on. " And I said, well, remember Martin Luther King? You know, we're still fighting for people to be able to be treated equally."
'It's up to the next generation'
Loading...
After George Floyd's killing, the Roper Nedd family who live in Silver Spring, Md., a suburb of Washington, D.C. went into "protective mode" toward their two sons, Christopher and Noah, says Dr. Rhea Roper Nedd, associate director of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program at the University of Maryland.
"We didn't want them to see this on TV and to internalize this," she recalls. "But then there came a point in time when we knew ... as much as we tried to protect them ... we had to start talking about it."
Husband Wilton Nedd II, an attorney, says it's imperative "for us to instill in our children that they are equal to their white counterparts in every respect but they may not be viewed that way by everyone they encounter."
They want their children to feel proud of who they are. They watch movies with strong Black characters, they enjoy and "move to hip-hop, soca, afro-beats, gospel music and Chelsey Green's violin."
"Conversations about race within the four walls of our home are intentional messages about the beauty of blackness," says Rhea.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael A. McCoy for NPR Michael A. McCoy for NPR
She says they have worked to balance realism and hope in their conversations about racial justice. When they went as a family to one of the recent protests, one of their sons questioned why they were bothering when violence against Black people keeps getting repeated.
"It's hard to hear a young child at the age of ten already aware of the history of this country, of how racism has been institutionalized, and to already know that the change that is happening, it's so slow," Rhea says.
But she said they told their kids, "Things are changing. There is something about the movement and we have to be part of it."
During the protests and candlelight vigils the family attended, Wilton told his sons that as they grow up, they have a role to play "in changing narratives and outcomes in society."
"Our generation has made incremental progress but it is up to the next generation to take it even further," he says.
'We're not walking alone'
Loading...
Both Albert and Quinetta Latham remember when their own parents had "the talk" with them years ago. And while some of the nuances have changed, Albert, a regional asset protection director for a national retailer says, the conversations they're having with their own children, Albert III, 18, and Maria, 12, are, unfortunately, familiar.
But Quinetta, a certified life coach and transformational speaker, says the Black Lives Matter movement has given the family a sense of hope. "While our 12 year old daughter might not necessarily be able to wrap her entire mind around systematic racism, both she and our son realize and understand the power and the pain that is attached to the three words Black Lives Matter."
The support for the movement is "very visible for our children to see" she says, whether it's on the news, hashtags, t-shirts, or TikTok. Albert says in the movement today he sees more allies of all races.
"We're not walking alone," Albert says. "And while these occurrences and conversations aren't necessarily new for our household I do realize... George Floyd's untimely and unfortunate death was certainly a tipping point for the nation."
But seeing repeated examples of police brutality weighs on their children, the Latham parents say. And even when they went out to protest recently, the family encountered racism and profanity from people passing by. One man in a truck deliberately blew his exhaust into the crowd. "My children looked at me in disbelief," recalls Quinetta. "We're out here trying to stand up for what's right and here's what we're still having to face."
"So you know, it's hard not to see it, it's hard not to experience it, and it's almost impossible not to fear it," she says. "For us as parents, it's important to just create a safe haven, a safe space for our children to feel they're accepted when the world rejects them. A place where they can come and be lifted when the world knocks them down."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Erica Brechtelsbauer for NPR Erica Brechtelsbauer for NPR
And, when talking to their children, Albert says,"we've got to be very careful to not preach doom and gloom all the time — to not talk about the history of Black folk as starting in slavery or in the Jim Crow south; our history is much, much richer than the misfortunes that we faced."
"And so another way that we try to reduce the stress for us and our children is to make sure that we understand there's still greatness that courses through our veins."
This story was produced by Meredith Rizzo and Ryan Kellman with editing by Carmel Wroth of NPR. Design and development by Alyson Hurt of NPR.


npr--2020-07-19--Your 'Doomscrolling' Breeds Anxiety. Here's How To Stop The Cycle

Your 'Doomscrolling ' Breeds Anxiety .
Here 's How To Stop The Cycle So many of us do it : You get into bed , turn off the lights , and look at your phone to check Twitter one more time .
You see that coronavirus infections are up .
Maybe your kids ca n't go back to school .
The economy is cratering .
Still , you incessantly scroll though bottomless doom-and-gloom news for hours as you sink into a pool of despair .
This self-destructive behavior has become so common that a new word for it has entered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The recent onslaught of dystopian stories related to the coronavirus pandemic , combined with stay-at-home orders , have enabled our penchant for bingeing on bad news .
But the habit is eroding our mental health , experts say .
Karen Ho , a finance reporter for Quartz , has been tweeting about doomscrolling every day over the past few months , often alongside a gentle nudge to stop and engage in healthier alternatives .
Ho first saw the term in a Twitter post from October 2018 , although the word may very well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice of doomscrolling is almost a normalized behavior for a lot of journalists , so once I saw the term I was like , 'Oh , this is a behavior I 've been doing for several years , ' `` she says .
If Ho 's daily reminders are n't enough to break the habit , clinical psychologist Dr. Amelia Aldao warns that doomscrolling traps us in a `` vicious cycle of negativity '' that fuels our anxiety .
`` Our minds are wired to look out for threats , '' she says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrolling , the more we find those dangers , the more we get sucked into them , the more anxious we get . ''
That grim content can then throw a dark filter how you see the world , says Aldao .
`` Now you look around yourself , and everything feels gloomy , everything makes you anxious .
So you go back to look for more information . ''
Aldao , the director of Together CBT , a clinic that specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy , has worked with her patients to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of her advice on how to temper the doom : I work mostly with clients who experience anxiety and part of what I 've been doing with them now for weeks , for months , is actually setting limits to how much they 're scrolling .
And I literally tell them , `` Set up a timer . ''
You do want to know what 's happening in the world , so the solution is n't to never go online again , but it 's finding boundaries .
Going into it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why you 're there , what are you looking for , what information are you trying to find .
And then periodically checking in with yourself — have I found what I needed ?
Whether it 's ice cream , commencing with friends , sending something funny to a friend — those are the things we should spend more time doing just to build positive emotions in our lives .
Daniel Hensel and Barrie Hardymon produced and edited the audio for this story .
Emma Bowman produced it for the Web .

Your 'Doomscrolling' Breeds Anxiety. Here's How To Stop The Cycle
Enlarge this image toggle caption Simone Golob/Getty Images Simone Golob/Getty Images
So many of us do it: You get into bed, turn off the lights, and look at your phone to check Twitter one more time.
You see that coronavirus infections are up. Maybe your kids can't go back to school. The economy is cratering.
Still, you incessantly scroll though bottomless doom-and-gloom news for hours as you sink into a pool of despair.
This self-destructive behavior has become so common that a new word for it has entered our lexicon: "doomscrolling."
The recent onslaught of dystopian stories related to the coronavirus pandemic, combined with stay-at-home orders, have enabled our penchant for binging on bad news. But the habit is eroding our mental health, experts say.
Karen Ho, a finance reporter for Quartz, has been tweeting about doomscrolling every day over the past few months, often alongside a gentle nudge to stop and engage in healthier alternatives.
Ho first saw the term in a Twitter post from October 2018, although the word may very well have much earlier origins.
"The practice of doomscrolling is almost a normalized behavior for a lot of journalists, so once I saw the term I was like, 'Oh, this is a behavior I've been doing for several years,' " she says.
If Ho's daily reminders aren't enough to break the habit, clinical psychologist Dr. Amelia Aldao warns that doomscrolling traps us in a "vicious cycle of negativity" that fuels our anxiety.
"Our minds are wired to look out for threats," she says. "The more time we spend scrolling, the more we find those dangers, the more we get sucked into them, the more anxious we get."
That grim content can then throw a dark filter how you see the world, says Aldao.
"Now you look around yourself, and everything feels gloomy, everything makes you anxious. So you go back to look for more information."
The cycle continues.
Aldao, the director of Together CBT, a clinic that specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, has worked with her patients to cut back on doomscrolling.
Here's some of her advice on how to temper the doom:
Set a timer
I work mostly with clients who experience anxiety and part of what I've been doing with them now for weeks, for months, is actually setting limits to how much they're scrolling. And I literally tell them, "Set up a timer."
You do want to know what's happening in the world, so the solution isn't to never go online again, but it's finding boundaries.
Stay cognizant
Going into it, opening up your phone, reminding yourself why you're there, what are you looking for, what information are you trying to find. And then periodically checking in with yourself — have I found what I needed?
Swap 'vicious cycles' for 'virtuous cycles'
Whether it's ice cream, connecting with friends, sending something funny to a friend — those are the things we should spend more time doing just to build positive emotions in our lives.
Danny Hensel and Barrie Hardymon produced and edited the audio for this story. Emma Bowman produced it for the Web.


npr--2020-07-18--U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Top 140,000 As World Sets Daily Record In New Cases

U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Top 140,000 As World Sets Daily Record In New Cases Updated at 4:30 a.m .
ET Sunday Over a 24-hour period , the world saw nearly 260,000 new coronavirus cases — a new record .
Deaths were also on the rise , with 7,360 new fatalities reported Saturday in the highest one-day increase since May .
The World Health Organization announced the numbers Saturday .
The United States , Brazil , India and South Africa were responsible for more than 165,000 of the cases .
The WHO said it included more than 11,000 new cases from Kyrgyzstan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting criteria .
Globally , nearly 600,000 people have been killed by the virus , according to data from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center .
Deaths in the U.S. surpassed 140,000 , accounting for almost a quarter of the world 's COVID-19 fatalities .
On the testing front , the Food and Drug Administration gave emergency approval Saturday to Quest Diagnostics for using its test for active COVID-19 infections using `` pooled '' samples .
Specimens of up to four people can be tested together ; if the results come back negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those tested has the virus .
A positive result would then be followed up by individual testing of the samples .
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said sample pooling would let more Americans be tested more quickly , while also preserving testing supplies .
`` Sample pooling becomes especially important as infection rates decline and we begin testing larger portions of the population , '' he said in a statement .
Across the U.S. , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 74,000 new coronavirus cases on Saturday , fueled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
Arizona saw its highest daily number of deaths , reporting over 2,700 new cases , and 147 people killed by the virus .
The high number was reportedly partially caused by a review of death certificates .
It brought the total death count in Arizona to 2,730 .
North Carolina also saw a one-day record Saturday , announcing over 2,400 new cases .
Texas reported 130 deaths on Saturday , a day after setting a state record for most deaths in one day Friday , with 174 people succumbing to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the virus , officials confirmed more than 10,300 new cases of the virus over the past day , with 90 deaths .
That brings the death toll in Florida to more than 5,000 .
It 's the first day in five days that the death count was below 100 , according to the Miami Herald .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis said that one reason for the high number of cases was that the state received 143,000 COVID-19 test results that day .
`` It 's important to put that in context @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see cases I think they get really , really scared , and my message is fear is our enemy , '' DeSantis said Saturday .
The median age of people getting infected in Florida continues to drop , DeSantis said .
In Miami-Dade County , the median age is 41 ; in Orange County , it 's 29 ; and in Seminole County , it 's 26 .
Missouri also set a record for daily increases , with 958 new cases reported Saturday .
The seven-day average of new cases is 731 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An internal White House coronavirus task force document has placed 18 states in the `` red zone , '' with 100 new cases per 100,000 people last week , the Center for Public Integrity first reported Thursday .
In a speech Saturday , United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that the pandemic has demonstrated how fragile the world really is .
`` It has laid bare risks we have ignored for decades : inadequate health systems ; gaps in social protection ; structural inequalities ; environmental degradation ; the climate crisis , '' @ @ @

U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Top 140,000 As World Sets Daily Record In New Cases
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matias Delacroix/AP Matias Delacroix/AP
Updated at 4:30 a.m. ET Sunday
Over a 24-hour period, the world saw nearly 260,000 new coronavirus cases — a new record. Deaths were also on the rise, with 7,360 new fatalities reported Saturday in the highest one-day increase since May.
The World Health Organization announced the numbers on Saturday. The United States, Brazil, India and South Africa accounted for more than 165,000 of the cases. The WHO said it included more than 11,000 new cases from Kyrgyzstan on Saturday because of a change in reporting criteria.
Globally, nearly 600,000 people have been killed by the virus, according to data from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Deaths in the U.S. surpassed 140,000, accounting for almost a quarter of the world's COVID-19 fatalities.
On the testing front, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave emergency approval on Saturday to Quest Diagnostics to use its test for active coronavirus infections with "pooled" samples. Specimens from up to four people can be tested together; if the results come back negative, health officials will know that none of those individuals tested has the virus. A positive result would be followed up by individual testing of the samples.
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said sample pooling would let more Americans be tested more quickly, while also preserving testing supplies. "Sample pooling becomes especially important as infection rates decline and we begin testing larger portions of the population," he said in a statement.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 74,000 new coronavirus cases across the U.S. on Saturday, fueled by record or near-record increases in several states.
Arizona saw its highest daily number of deaths, reporting 147 people killed by the virus and over 2,700 new cases. The high number was reportedly partially caused by a review of death certificates. It brought the total death count in Arizona to 2,730.
North Carolina also saw a one-day record on Saturday, announcing over 2,400 new cases. Texas reported 130 deaths on Saturday, a day after setting a state record on Friday for most deaths in one day, with 174 people succumbing to the virus.
In Florida, also besieged by the virus, officials confirmed more than 10,300 new cases of the virus over the past day, with 90 deaths. That brings the death toll in Florida to more than 5,000. It's the first day in five days that the death count was below 100, according to The Miami Herald.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that one reason for the high number of cases was that the state received 143,000 coronavirus test results that day. "It's important to put that in context, because I think a lot of people see cases, I think they get really, really scared, and my message is fear is our enemy," DeSantis said Saturday.
The median age of people getting infected in Florida continues to drop, DeSantis said. In Miami-Dade County, the median age is 41; in Orange County, it's 29; and in Seminole County, it's 26.
Missouri also set a record for daily increases, with 958 new cases reported Saturday. The seven-day average of new cases is 731, up from 560 one week earlier.
An internal White House coronavirus task force document has placed 18 states in the "red zone," with 100 new cases per 100,000 people last week, the Center for Public Integrity first reported Thursday.
In a speech Saturday, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said that the pandemic has demonstrated how fragile the world really is.
"It has laid bare risks we have ignored for decades: inadequate health systems, gaps in social protection, structural inequalities, environmental degradation, the climate crisis," Guterres said.


npr--2020-07-19--Calls Grow To Honor John Lewis In Ways Both Symbolic And Concrete

Calls Grow To Honor John Lewis In Ways Both Symbolic And Concrete As tributes pour in for John Lewis , so do proposals for ways to honor the legacy of the long-time congressman and civil rights icon , who died at age 80 on Friday .
Suggestions range from renaming a historic bridge to passing voting rights legislation to holding a pandemic-safe public memorial .
There are growing calls to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma , Ala. — the place where then-25-year-old Lewis and other protesters marching for voting rights were brutally beaten by state troopers — in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pilgrimage to Selma to commemorate the march , continuing the tradition this year despite the coronavirus pandemic and his own health challenges .
Pettus , the bridge 's namesake , was a decorated Confederate general and member of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan .
A petition asking for the name change began circulating last month , and has gained momentum in recent days .
As of Sunday , it had more than 469,000 signatures .
`` It 's far past time to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge after Rep. John Lewis , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life on that bridge , '' wrote petition creator Michael Starr Hopkins .
`` Edmund Pettus was a bitter racist , undeserving of the honor bestowed upon him .
As we wipe away this country 's long stain of bigotry , we must also wipe away the names of men like Edmund Pettus . ''
As support for the renaming grows , other voices are advocating for a tribute they see as more befitting of Lewis ' legacy .
On Sunday , Democratic lawmakers including House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn , Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the swift passage of existing voting rights legislation .
The Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013 .
When the House approved the legislation in Dec. 2019 , it was Lewis who announced the tally .
In a Sunday appearance on CNN 's State of the Union , Clyburn urged President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to pass the legislation , which he said should be in Lewis ' name .
`` It should be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , '' Clyburn said .
`` That 's the way to do it .
Words may be powerful , but deeds are lasting . ''
Supporters are also hoping to honor Lewis by allowing his remains to lie in state in the Capitol , a public memorial that presents logistical and public health challenges due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
The Capitol building is closed to tourists , and people permitted inside must maintain six feet of distance from others .
In the current phase of Washington , D.C. 's reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a maximum of 50 people .
It remains to be seen how lawmakers will honor the man known as `` the conscience of the Congress . ''
`` I know he will be honored properly ... because he was the most respected member of the House , respected by the Senate , respected by both parties , '' Rep. Bass , chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus , told ABC on Sunday .
She added that she believes flags should be flown at half-mast until Lewis is laid to rest .
President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and all government facilities nationwide lowered to half-staff for the day on Saturday .
In Atlanta , the city Lewis represented for more than three decades , Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said flags will fly at half-staff indefinitely .

Calls Grow To Honor John Lewis In Ways Both Symbolic And Concrete
Enlarge this image toggle caption Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images
As tributes pour in for John Lewis, so do proposals for ways to honor the legacy of the long-time congressman and civil rights icon, who died at age 80 on Friday.
Suggestions range from renaming a historic bridge to passing voting rights legislation to holding a pandemic-safe public memorial.
There are growing calls to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala. — the place where then-25-year-old Lewis and other protesters marching for voting rights were brutally beaten by state troopers — in his honor.
Lewis led an annual pilgrimage to Selma to commemorate the march, continuing the tradition this year despite the coronavirus pandemic and his own health challenges.
Pettus, the bridge's namesake, was a decorated Confederate general and member of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan.
A petition asking for the name change began circulating last month, and has gained momentum in recent days. As of Sunday, it had more than 469,000 signatures.
"It's far past time to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge after Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights icon that nearly gave his life on that bridge," wrote petition creator Michael Starr Hopkins. "Edmund Pettus was a bitter racist, undeserving of the honor bestowed upon him. As we wipe away this country's long stain of bigotry, we must also wipe away the names of men like Edmund Pettus."
As support for the renaming grows, other voices are advocating for a tribute they see as more befitting of Lewis' legacy.
On Sunday, Democratic lawmakers including House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn, Rep. Karen Bass and Rep. Ayanna Pressley called for the swift passage of existing voting rights legislation.
The Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013. When the House approved the legislation in Dec. 2019, it was Lewis who announced the tally.
In a Sunday appearance on CNN's State of the Union, Clyburn urged President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to pass the legislation, which he said should be in Lewis' name.
"It should be the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of 2020," Clyburn said. "That's the way to do it. Words may be powerful, but deeds are lasting."
Supporters are also hoping to honor Lewis by allowing his remains to lie in state in the Capitol, a public memorial that presents logistical and public health challenges due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The Capitol building is closed to tourists, and people permitted inside must maintain six feet of distance from others. In the current phase of Washington, D.C.'s reopening plan, mass gatherings are limited to a maximum of 50 people.
It remains to be seen how lawmakers will honor the man known as "the conscience of the Congress."
"I know he will be honored properly ... because he was the most respected member of the House, respected by the Senate, respected by both parties," Rep. Bass, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, told ABC on Sunday.
She added that she believes flags should be flown at half-mast until Lewis is laid to rest.
President Trump ordered U.S. flags at the White House and all government facilities nationwide lowered to half-staff for the day on Saturday.
In Atlanta, the city Lewis represented for more than three decades, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said flags will fly at half-staff indefinitely.


npr--2020-07-19--'Like Adding Gasoline': Oregon Officials Blast Trump Response To Portland Protests

Oregon officials are lashing out at President Trump for sending federal agents into Portland amid the ongoing protests against police brutality and racism .
Both the governor and Portland 's mayor told NPR the administration 's actions are nothing more than political theater meant to appeal to Trump 's political base in an effort to win reelection .
`` As best as I can tell , this is an effort — a last gasp effort — by a failed president with sagging polling data , who 's trying to look strong for his base , '' Mayor Ted Wheeler told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` He 's actually using the federal police function in support of his candidacy . ''
For more than 50 nights , hundreds have gathered in the city 's downtown to protest racism and police brutality , following the killing of George Floyd .
Last week Oregon Public Broadcasting reported that federal agents wearing camouflage and tactical gear had been pulling some protesters into unmarked vans .
In response , the state of Oregon said it would sue the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal law enforcement agencies .
And multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watchdogs investigate the Trump administration 's `` use of violent tactics '' against peaceful protesters .
Portland 's mayor , Oregon 's governor and both of the state 's U.S. senators have said federal agents are n't needed to deal with the civil unrest .
Gov .
Kate Brown has asked the Trump administration and the head of DHS to take their federal officers off the streets of Portland .
`` The Trump administration needs to stop playing politics with people 's lives , '' Brown told NPR 's Michel Martin .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this country .
This is not a dictatorship .
And Trump needs to get his officers off the streets . ''
In a tweet , Trump blamed Portland 's officials for failing to control the situation .
`` We are trying to help Portland , not hurt it , '' Trump said .
`` Their leadership has , for months , lost control of the anarchists and agitators .
They are missing in action .
We must protect Federal property , AND OUR PEOPLE .
These were not merely protesters , these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local officials say that the situation in Portland had been improving over several weeks .
Speaking to Weekend Edition , Wheeler called the federal government 's actions an `` attack on democracy '' that inflamed an already tense situation .
Among the protesters , a `` small handful '' were engaging in criminal activity , Wheeler said , but `` it was dissipating .
It was calming down . ''
Sending in federal forces merely exacerbated the situation , they said .
`` It 's simply like adding gasoline to a fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` What 's needed is de-escalation and dialogue .
That 's how we solve problems here in the state of Oregon . ''
Protests continued Saturday night , with federal officers deploying tear gas and using batons to try to disperse the crowd gathered at the federal courthouse in downtown Portland .
In North Portland , another group of demonstrators gathered and chanted outside the Portland Police Association Building .
Some broke into the building and set a fire at the police union headquarters .
Portland police called the gathering a riot .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed the violent incidents on a small group of protesters with `` criminal '' tendencies , who are `` motivated by an anarchistic ideology . ''
Despite the animus shown by state and local officials toward the federal response , Portland 's police joined forces with them Saturday night , working together to make arrests and clear the streets .
Portland City Council member Jo Ann Hardesty criticized local police , saying they had `` joined in the aggressive clampdown of peaceful protest . ''
Hardesty also criticized Wheeler for not sufficiently controlling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not the first time local police have been accused of teaming up with federal agents .
The Portland Mercury reported that the president of Portland 's police union met with the acting DHS chief and federal officials on Thursday .
Speaking to NPR , Wheeler said Portland residents ca n't always tell the difference between local police officers , county deputies , state patrol or federal law enforcement .
On Friday night after federal police started tear gassing people , `` about 300 people came to my house and wanted to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas people . ''
Wheeler had n't authorized it ; it was federal law enforcement .
`` But it 's a distinction without a difference in the eyes of the public . ''
In nearly seven weeks of nightly demonstrations , Portland police `` have done many things right and they 've done some things wrong as well , '' Wheeler said .
But local law enforcement has clear policies and directives , complaint processes , independent accountability and a review system , he added .
`` With the federal government , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Wheeler said .
`` We do n't know why they 're here , we do n't know the circumstances under which they 're making the arrests , we do n't know what their policies are or what accountability mechanisms there are . ''
Oregon 's U.S. attorney has called for an investigation into the tactics of some of the federal agents .
In a joint statement Saturday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer criticized the Trump administration for showing a `` lack of respect '' for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to peaceful protest .
`` Last month , the Administration tear-gassed peaceful protestors in Washington , D.C. , '' Pelosi and Blumenauer said .
`` Now , videos show them kidnapping protestors in unmarked cars in Portland – all with the goal of inflaming tensions for their own gain .
While Portland is the President 's current target , any city could be next .
`` We live in a democracy , not a banana republic , '' they added .
`` We will not tolerate the use of Oregonians , Washingtonians – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in President Trump 's political games .
The House is committed to moving swiftly to curb these egregious abuses of power immediately . ''
Separately , leaders of the House Judiciary Committee , Homeland Security Committee and Oversight and Reform Committee asked the inspectors general at the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to investigate the administration 's use of federal agents against what they described as peaceful protests .
`` The Attorney General of the United States does not have unfettered authority to direct thousands of federal law enforcement personnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their First Amendment rights , '' they wrote .
`` The Acting Secretary [ of Homeland Security ] appears to be relying on an ill-conceived executive order meant to protect historic statues and monuments as justification for arresting American citizens in the dead of night . ''
To Gov .
Brown , the deployment of federal officers is `` a mere distraction from the president 's failure to lead this nation through a global pandemic , '' she said on Weekend All Things Considered .
`` It is a blatant abuse of power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inappropriately trained .
Their presence is not needed .
And frankly they 're exacerbating an already challenging situation .
It is absolutely counterproductive to the work we 're trying to do here . ''

'Like Adding Gasoline': Oregon Officials Blast Trump Response To Portland Protests
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mason Trinca/Getty Images Mason Trinca/Getty Images
Oregon officials are lashing out at President Trump for sending federal agents into Portland amid the ongoing protests against police brutality and racism. Both the governor and Portland's mayor told NPR the administration's actions are nothing more than political theater meant to appeal to Trump's political base in an effort to win reelection.
"As best as I can tell, this is an effort — a last gasp effort — by a failed president with sagging polling data, who's trying to look strong for his base," Mayor Ted Wheeler told NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro on Sunday. "He's actually using the federal police function in support of his candidacy."
For more than 50 nights, hundreds have gathered in the city's downtown to protest racism and police brutality, following the killing of George Floyd. Last week Oregon Public Broadcasting reported that federal agents wearing camouflage and tactical gear had been pulling some protesters into unmarked vans.
In response, the state of Oregon said it would sue the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal law enforcement agencies. And multiple Democratic members of Congress demanded internal government watchdogs investigate the Trump administration's "use of violent tactics" against peaceful protesters.
"Like adding gasoline to a fire"
Portland's mayor, Oregon's governor and both of the state's U.S. senators have said federal agents aren't needed to deal with the civil unrest. Gov. Kate Brown has asked the Trump administration and the head of DHS to take their federal officers off the streets of Portland. "The Trump administration needs to stop playing politics with people's lives," Brown told NPR's Michel Martin. "We don't have a secret police in this country. This is not a dictatorship. And Trump needs to get his officers off the streets."
In a tweet, Trump blamed Portland's officials for failing to control the situation. "We are trying to help Portland, not hurt it," Trump said. "Their leadership has, for months, lost control of the anarchists and agitators. They are missing in action. We must protect Federal property, AND OUR PEOPLE. These were not merely protesters, these are the real deal!"
State and local officials say that the situation in Portland had been improving over several weeks. Speaking to Weekend Edition, Wheeler called the federal government's actions an "attack on democracy" that inflamed an already tense situation. Among the protesters, a "small handful" were engaging in criminal activity, Wheeler said, but "it was dissipating. It was calming down."
Sending in federal forces merely exacerbated the situation, they said.
"It's simply like adding gasoline to a fire," Gov. Brown said. "What's needed is de-escalation and dialogue. That's how we solve problems here in the state of Oregon."
52 days and counting
Protests continued Saturday night, with federal officers deploying tear gas and using batons to try to disperse the crowd gathered at the federal courthouse in downtown Portland. In North Portland, another group of demonstrators gathered and chanted outside the Portland Police Association Building. Some broke into the building and set a fire at the police union headquarters. Portland police called the gathering a riot.
Portland Police Deputy Chief Chris Davis has blamed the violent incidents on a small group of protesters with "criminal" tendencies, who are "motivated by an anarchistic ideology."
Despite the animus shown by state and local officials toward the federal response, Portland's police joined forces with them Saturday night, working together to make arrests and clear the streets. Portland City Council member Jo Ann Hardesty criticized local police, saying they had "joined in the aggressive clampdown of peaceful protest." Hardesty also criticized Wheeler for not sufficiently controlling the city's law enforcement.
It's not the first time local police have been accused of teaming up with federal agents. The Portland Mercury reported that the president of Portland's police union met with the acting DHS chief and federal officials on Thursday.
Speaking to NPR, Wheeler said Portland residents can't always tell the difference between local police officers, county deputies, state patrol or federal law enforcement. On Friday night after federal police started tear gassing people, "about 300 people came to my house and wanted to know why I allowed our police officers to gas people." Wheeler hadn't authorized it; it was federal law enforcement. "But it's a distinction without a difference in the eyes of the public."
In nearly seven weeks of nightly demonstrations, Portland police "have done many things right and they've done some things wrong as well," Wheeler said. But local law enforcement has clear policies and directives, complaint processes, independent accountability and a review system, he added.
"With the federal government, they won't even identify who they are," Wheeler said. "We don't know why they're here, we don't know the circumstances under which they're making the arrests, we don't know what their policies are or what accountability mechanisms there are."
Oregon's U.S. attorney has called for an investigation into the tactics of some of the federal agents.
Congress responds
In a joint statement Saturday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer criticized the Trump administration for showing a "lack of respect" for Americans' dignity and First Amendment right to peaceful protest.
"Last month, the Administration tear-gassed peaceful protestors in Washington, D.C.," Pelosi and Blumenauer said. "Now, videos show them kidnapping protestors in unmarked cars in Portland – all with the goal of inflaming tensions for their own gain. While Portland is the President's current target, any city could be next.
"We live in a democracy, not a banana republic," they added. "We will not tolerate the use of Oregonians, Washingtonians – or any other Americans – as props in President Trump's political games. The House is committed to moving swiftly to curb these egregious abuses of power immediately."
Separately, leaders of the House Judiciary Committee, Homeland Security Committee and Oversight and Reform Committee asked the inspectors general at the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to investigate the administration's use of federal agents against what they described as peaceful protests.
"The Attorney General of the United States does not have unfettered authority to direct thousands of federal law enforcement personnel to arrest and detain American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights," they wrote. "The Acting Secretary [of Homeland Security] appears to be relying on an ill-conceived executive order meant to protect historic statues and monuments as justification for arresting American citizens in the dead of night."
To Gov. Brown, the deployment of federal officers is "a mere distraction from the president's failure to lead this nation through a global pandemic," she said on Weekend All Things Considered. "It is a blatant abuse of power by the federal government. They are inappropriately trained. Their presence is not needed. And frankly they're exacerbating an already challenging situation. It is absolutely counterproductive to the work we're trying to do here."


npr--2020-07-19--Global Coronavirus Deaths Surpass 600,000, With U.S. Accounting For Nearly A Quarter

Global Coronavirus Deaths Surpass 600,000 , With U.S. Accounting For Nearly A Quarter Total coronavirus deaths in the U.S. have surpassed 140,000 , reaching somber new heights as surging cases continue to break records in parts of the country and around the world .
The U.S. passed the latest threshold late on Saturday , the same day the World Health Organization reported the largest one-day increase in global fatalities since May , with 7,360 new deaths .
Global deaths had been averaging 4,600 a day in June and 4,800 in July .
According to data from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 603,285 people worldwide as of Sunday .
Nearly one quarter of those deaths are accounted for by the U.S .
The U.S. reports approximately 5,000 deaths each week , according to Reuters .
In contrast , Canada has reported a total of 8,800 deaths since the start of the pandemic .
The WHO also reported a record number of nearly 260,000 new global coronavirus cases on Saturday .
While some countries have nearly brought the virus under control , others are seeing cases spike in record numbers .
Brazil , India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are next in line for the highest number of confirmed cases after the U.S. India surpassed 1 million confirmed cases on Friday , becoming the third country to do so .
Brazil has now reported more than 2 million cases , and the U.S. passed the 3 million mark earlier this month .
Over the weekend , leaders around the world tightened restrictions in response to increases in cases .
In Hong Kong , which had initially managed to keep cases numbers low , Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced its highest one-day increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 — and enacted new precautionary measures .
She said nonessential civil servants must work from home and face masks will be required in indoor public spaces .
Recently announced closures of bars , gyms and clubs , as well as restaurant curfews , will be extended .
Australian states are enacting new measures in response to rising case numbers .
Victoria is newly requiring people in the city of Melbourne — which is nearly two weeks into a six-week lockdown — to wear masks in public or face fines .
New South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities '' including singing in choirs , dancing at nightclubs and bars and dining out in groups larger than 10 people .
New restrictions also took effect in Israel on Friday , with gyms ordered to close and restaurants limited to takeout and delivery only .
Additional nonessential establishments must close on weekends , such as stores , malls , hair salons , pools , tourist attractions and beaches .
And officials in Ireland announced earlier this past week that the country will delay its next phase of reopening until mid-August , keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for about a month longer than planned .
Within the U.S. , hard-hit states like California , Arizona and Texas have closed bars , delayed reopening plans and tightened other restrictions in recent weeks .
Many have implemented statewide mask mandates .
Others , like Florida , are enacting more closures and mandates at the local level .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 74,700 new cases and 918 new deaths in the U.S. on Saturday as Missouri , North Carolina , South Carolina and Wisconsin all broke state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported in a single day .
On Sunday , South Carolina reported 2,335 new cases , marking its highest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic , though it said 526 of those were from Friday .
Florida reported more than 12,000 new cases on Sunday , its fifth consecutive day of infections past the 10,000 mark .
It also reported 89 new deaths .
According to Reuters , deaths in the state have risen by 78 % over the last two weeks compared with the previous two weeks .
In an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump downplayed the severity of the virus and called the U.S. mortality rate one of the lowest in the world .
Of the 20 counties currently most affected by the pandemic , the U.S. is ranked eighth highest for its observed case-fatality ratio .

Global Coronavirus Deaths Surpass 600,000, With U.S. Accounting For Nearly A Quarter
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Total coronavirus deaths in the U.S. have surpassed 140,000, reaching somber new heights as surging cases continue to break records in parts of the country and around the world.
The U.S. passed the latest threshold late on Saturday, the same day the World Health Organization reported the largest one-day increase in global fatalities since May, with 7,360 new deaths. Global deaths had been averaging 4,600 a day in June and 4,800 in July.
According to data from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, the virus has killed at least 603,285 people worldwide as of Sunday.
Nearly one quarter of those deaths are accounted for by the U.S.
The U.S. reports approximately 5,000 deaths each week, according to Reuters. In contrast, Canada has reported a total of 8,800 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
The WHO also reported a record number of nearly 260,000 new global coronavirus cases on Saturday.
While some countries have nearly brought the virus under control, others are seeing cases spike in record numbers. Brazil, India, Russia, South Africa and Peru are next in line for the highest number of confirmed cases after the U.S.
India surpassed 1 million confirmed cases on Friday, becoming the third country to do so. Brazil has now reported more than 2 million cases, and the U.S. passed the 3 million mark earlier this month.
Over the weekend, leaders around the world tightened restrictions in response to increases in cases.
In Hong Kong, which had initially managed to keep cases numbers low, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced its highest one-day increase in cases on Sunday — more than 100 — and enacted new precautionary measures. She said nonessential civil servants must work from home and face masks will be required in indoor public spaces. Recently announced closures of bars, gyms and clubs, as well as restaurant curfews, will be extended.
Australian states are enacting new measures in response to rising case numbers. Victoria is newly requiring people in the city of Melbourne — which is nearly two weeks into a six-week lockdown — to wear masks in public or face fines. New South Wales is imposing restrictions on "high-risk activities" including singing in choirs, dancing at nightclubs and bars and dining out in groups larger than 10 people.
New restrictions also took effect in Israel on Friday, with gyms ordered to close and restaurants limited to takeout and delivery only. Additional nonessential establishments must close on weekends, such as stores, malls, hair salons, pools, tourist attractions and beaches.
And officials in Ireland announced earlier this past week that the country will delay its next phase of reopening until mid-August, keeping bars closed and gathering limits in place for about a month longer than planned.
Within the U.S., hard-hit states like California, Arizona and Texas have closed bars, delayed reopening plans and tightened other restrictions in recent weeks. Many have implemented statewide mask mandates. Others, like Florida, are enacting more closures and mandates at the local level.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 74,700 new cases and 918 new deaths in the U.S. on Saturday as Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and Wisconsin all broke state records for the number of new cases reported in a single day.
On Sunday, South Carolina reported 2,335 new cases, marking its highest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic, though it said 526 of those were from Friday.
Florida reported more than 12,000 new cases on Sunday, its fifth consecutive day of infections past the 10,000 mark. It also reported 89 new deaths. According to Reuters, deaths in the state have risen by 78% over the last two weeks compared with the previous two weeks.
In an interview with Fox News Sunday, President Trump downplayed the severity of the virus and called the U.S. mortality rate one of the lowest in the world. Of the 20 counties currently most affected by the pandemic, the U.S. is ranked eighth highest for its observed case-fatality ratio.


npr--2020-07-19--Some People 'Have The Sniffles': Trump Downplays The Coronavirus's Severity

Some People 'Have The Sniffles ' : Trump Downplays The Coronavirus 's Severity President Trump downplayed the danger of the coronavirus , claiming in an interview that aired Sunday that many cases are simply people who `` have the sniffles . ''
`` Many of those cases are young people that would heal in a day , '' Trump said in his interview with Fox News Sunday .
`` They have the sniffles , and we put it down as a test . ''
He added that many of those sick `` are going to get better very quickly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been confirmed in the United States , and more than 140,000 Americans have died , according to Johns Hopkins University researchers .
Cases and hospitalizations are spiking in many parts of the United States .
While the number of tests conducted has risen , new confirmed cases are rising at a faster rate than tests .
But Trump again falsely asserted that testing is to blame for the spike in identified infections .
`` Cases are up .
Many of those cases should n't even be cases , '' Trump told interviewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because we have the best testing in the world .
...
I 'm glad we do [ testing ] , but it really skews the numbers . ''
He added : `` We 're creating trouble . ''
Told by Wallace that he could appear to be downplaying the coronavirus , Trump called it `` serious '' but added that the U.S. has one of the lowest mortality rates in the world .
Many nations , including Italy and France , have higher case-fatality rates than the U.S. , but many other countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wallace pointed out that hundreds of Americans a day are dying from the virus .
`` Excuse me , it 's all too much , '' Trump retorted , before blaming China .
`` There should n't be one case .
It came from China .
They should have never let it escape ; they should have never let it out , but it is what it is . ''
The president said he has a `` great relationship '' with Anthony Fauci , the top infectious disease doctor on the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump also said that Fauci is `` a little bit of an alarmist '' who has made a few mistakes .
Wallace reminded Trump that he has also said things that have not turned out to be true , like saying earlier this year that the virus will at some point `` disappear . ''
`` I 'll be right eventually , '' the president responded .
Trump also controversially weighed in on matters of race in America .
Defending the Confederate flag , for example , he said that for many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that he 's not offended by it , and then he deflected .
`` I 'm not offended , either , by Black Lives Matter , '' Trump said .
`` That 's freedom of speech . ''
Trump , however , had called a proposed Black Lives Matter sign in New York City a `` symbol of hate . ''
He also again spoke out against renaming military bases that are named after Confederate generals — despite the Army being open to that .
`` I do n't care what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding : `` What are we going to name it ?
You going to name it after the Rev .
Al Sharpton ? ''
In the 1980s and 1990s , Sharpton was a controversial figure in New York City who spoke out against police violence .
He has now become a prominent Black television personality on MSNBC .
But bringing up Sharpton was curious , considering that many would argue that renaming the bases is n't solely about race or even about race at all .
After all , the generals those bases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .
On health care and the election On policy , Trump boasted that he would be getting major initiatives put in place on health care and immigration within the next month .
`` No one would have done what I 'm going to do in the next four weeks , '' he said .
`` We 're signing a health care plan within two weeks , a full and complete health care plan , '' Trump claimed , despite not being able to pass a health care bill since taking office and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Congress at this point .
On the presidential election , Trump cast several aspersions on presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden 's mental fitness , including : `` Joe does n't know he 's alive , OK ?
Do the American people want that ? ''
And if Biden wins , Trump claimed , `` Religion will be gone . ''
Biden leads in polls against Trump , as Trump has fallen in polls during the pandemic and amid protests against racism .
A majority of Americans say they disapprove of Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of the Fox interview .
Despite his current standing , many strategists expect a close election .
But because of the pandemic , a close election may not be decided for days after Election Day because of mail-in ballots that have to be postmarked , not received , by Election Day .
Some 70 % of Americans could cast ballots by mail this year , in part so they do n't potentially expose themselves to the coronavirus by waiting in lines to vote in person .
Trump has spoken out against mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent elections .
More Republicans are saying they 'll vote in person than Democrats , which could show Trump leading in some places until mail-in votes come in post-Election Day .
That 's something Trump fears , and he 's already casting doubt about its legitimacy .
`` I think mail-in voting is going to rig the election .
I really do , '' Trump claimed without evidence .
Asked if that means he 's suggesting he might not accept the results of the election , Trump added : `` I have to @ @ @

Some People 'Have The Sniffles': Trump Downplays The Coronavirus's Severity
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
President Trump downplayed the danger of the coronavirus, claiming in an interview that aired Sunday that many cases are simply people who "have the sniffles."
"Many of those cases are young people that would heal in a day," Trump said in his interview with Fox News Sunday. "They have the sniffles, and we put it down as a test." He added that many of those sick "are going to get better very quickly."
More than 3.7 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the United States, and more than 140,000 Americans have died, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers.
Cases and hospitalizations are spiking in many parts of the United States. While the number of tests conducted has risen, new confirmed cases are rising at a faster rate than tests. But Trump again falsely asserted that testing is to blame for the spike in identified infections.
"Cases are up. Many of those cases shouldn't even be cases," Trump told interviewer Chris Wallace. "Cases are up because we have the best testing in the world. ... I'm glad we do [testing], but it really skews the numbers." He added: "We're creating trouble."
Told by Wallace that he could appear to be downplaying the coronavirus, Trump called it "serious" but added that the U.S. has one of the lowest mortality rates in the world. Many nations, including Italy and France, have higher case-fatality rates than the U.S., but many other countries, like Australia, have lower rates.
Wallace pointed out that hundreds of Americans a day are dying from the virus.
"Excuse me, it's all too much," Trump retorted, before blaming China. "There shouldn't be one case. It came from China. They should have never let it escape; they should have never let it out, but it is what it is."
The president said he has a "great relationship" with Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease doctor on the White House's coronavirus task force. But Trump also said that Fauci is "a little bit of an alarmist" who has made a few mistakes.
Wallace reminded Trump that he has also said things that have not turned out to be true, like saying earlier this year that the virus will at some point "disappear."
"I'll be right eventually," the president responded.
On bases named after Confederate generals
Trump also controversially weighed in on matters of race in America.
Defending the Confederate flag, for example, he said that for many people, it's not a racist symbol and that he's not offended by it, and then he deflected.
"I'm not offended, either, by Black Lives Matter," Trump said. "That's freedom of speech." Trump, however, had called a proposed Black Lives Matter sign in New York City a "symbol of hate."
He also again spoke out against renaming military bases that are named after Confederate generals — despite the Army being open to that.
"I don't care what the military says," Trump said, adding: "What are we going to name it? You going to name it after the Rev. Al Sharpton?"
In the 1980s and 1990s, Sharpton was a controversial figure in New York City who spoke out against police violence. He has now become a prominent Black television personality on MSNBC.
But bringing up Sharpton was curious, considering that many would argue that renaming the bases isn't solely about race or even about race at all. After all, the generals those bases are named after fought against the United States.
On health care and the election
On policy, Trump boasted that he would be getting major initiatives put in place on health care and immigration within the next month.
"No one would have done what I'm going to do in the next four weeks," he said.
"We're signing a health care plan within two weeks, a full and complete health care plan," Trump claimed, despite not being able to pass a health care bill since taking office and despite there being no push for one in Congress at this point.
On the presidential election, Trump cast several aspersions on presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden's mental fitness, including: "Joe doesn't know he's alive, OK? Do the American people want that?" And if Biden wins, Trump claimed, "Religion will be gone."
Biden leads in polls against Trump, as Trump has fallen in polls during the pandemic and amid protests against racism. A majority of Americans say they disapprove of Trump's handling of both — which were key parts of the Fox interview.
Despite his current standing, many strategists expect a close election. But because of the pandemic, a close election may not be decided for days after Election Day because of mail-in ballots that have to be postmarked, not received, by Election Day.
Some 70% of Americans could cast ballots by mail this year, in part so they don't potentially expose themselves to the coronavirus by waiting in lines to vote in person. Trump has spoken out against mail-in voting, despite utilizing it himself in recent elections.
More Republicans are saying they'll vote in person than Democrats, which could show Trump leading in some places until mail-in votes come in post-Election Day. That's something Trump fears, and he's already casting doubt about its legitimacy.
"I think mail-in voting is going to rig the election. I really do," Trump claimed without evidence.
Asked if that means he's suggesting he might not accept the results of the election, Trump added: "I have to see."


npr--2020-07-19--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

Coronavirus World Map : Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak Since the new coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan , China , in December , the infectious respiratory disease COVID-19 has spread rapidly within China and to neighboring countries and beyond .
The first confirmed coronavirus cases outside China occurred on Jan. 20 , in Japan , Thailand and South Korea .
On Jan. 21 , the first case in the U.S. was identified in Washington state .
On Jan. 24 , the first two European cases were confirmed in France .
By Feb. 1 , eight European nations had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month later that count had risen to 24 countries with at least 2,200 cases , most of them in Italy .
On March 11 , Italy eclipsed 10,000 cases and the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic — the first since H1N1 in 2009 .
That 's also when China , the original epicenter , began seeing drops in daily counts of new cases .
March also saw exponential spread of the virus throughout the U.S. , with all 50 states reporting cases by March 17 .
This particular virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third strain of coronavirus known to frequently cause severe symptoms in humans .
The other two strains cause Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome .
Click here to see the state-by-state breakdown of cases in the United States .
This story was originally published on March 30 , 2020 .

Coronavirus world map: We've now passed the 600 million mark for infections
Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated. The last update was Sept. 5, 2022. For current data about COVID-19 cases and deaths around the world, Johns Hopkins University and Our World in Data are useful resources.
In late January 2020 only a few dozen COVID-19 infections had been identified outside of China. A year later, the world tallied its first 100 million cases. It took the globe just 7 more months to pass the 200 million mark— then another 5 months to hit 300 million, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Now the virus has spread to every corner of the globe and has been blamed for more than 6 million deaths.
The United States, India and Brazil in that order have had the most COVID cases and the three nations collectively account for almost half of all recorded infections so far in the pandemic.
Explore the chart below to find a country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January 2020.
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Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time. The first chart compares each continent to each other, while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region.
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This story was originally published on March 30, 2020.


npr--2020-07-19--Tracking The Pandemic: Are Coronavirus Cases Rising Or Falling In Your State?

Tracking The Pandemic : Are Coronavirus Cases Rising Or Falling In Your State ?
More than 3.5 million people in the U.S. have tested positive for the coronavirus and more than 135,000 have died .
Though growth in new cases slowed in late spring , by mid-June new cases began to trend upward nationally .
In the graphics below , explore the trend in new cases in your state to see whether cases are rising , falling or staying level .
You can view the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , a curve chart and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case trends over the last three weeks .
Or to see states ' total cases and deaths on a map , click here .
The following chart displays states ' trends in new daily case counts , total cases , and per capita totals .
To compare state outbreaks , the trend lines for average new daily cases are graphed against each state 's total case count to date .
This highlights a state 's daily growth relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As cases slow , the curve levels or bends down .
In New York , site of the country 's largest outbreak , the state 's curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
Since then , new cases have fallen from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to under 800 per day in mid July .
Conversely , Florida peaked around 1,200 new cases per day on average in April , only to surge again to nearly 12,000 per day in mid-July Coronavirus case totals are much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the spring , a large share of U.S. cases were centered around New York City .
As of mid July , other large , populous states such as California , Florida and Texas have reached high totals as well .
Some other states such as Arizona and Louisiana show a heavy burden of infection relative to their population size .
Explore the map below to see totals and per capita figures around the country for both cases and deaths .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state , week over week .
States marked in shades of red are showing growth , those in shades of green , are showing declines .
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies .
This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
In early June , Michigan health authorities started including probable cases in its totals .
This resulted in a brief spike in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JHU team was able to reconcile the historical data .
On June 25 , New Jersey included 1,854 previously-unreported probable deaths in its totals , resulting in a spike in the state 's daily death numbers .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn contributed to and Carmel Wroth edited this story .

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
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Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
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The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
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Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-07-19--International Students Can Study In The U.S. This Fall — If They Can Get Here

International Students Can Study In The U.S .
This Fall — If They Can Get Here There 's a lot Andy Tu was looking forward to as a freshman at Claremont McKenna College , a small private college in California .
He imagined having intellectual debates on the quad and meeting `` highly motivated , open-minded friends . ''
Coming from an environment that 's `` intolerant of unconventional ideas , '' he says he was looking forward to being able to express himself freely on campus .
He 'd even been daydreaming about learning how to surf .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Shanghai , he feels like that iconic American freshman year is slipping further and further away .
`` This uncertainty is making me anxious , '' he says , `` I 'm really concerned . ''
Due to the pandemic , many international students who are starting a graduate program or their freshman year , like Tu , face a series of hurdles — travel restrictions , limited flights and closed U.S. consulate offices — that make it incredibly difficult to start the fall semester at U.S. colleges .
That 's despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Customs Enforcement agreed to allow international students to stay in the country even if their schools opted for online-only learning in the fall .
The biggest hurdle for students like Tu is acquiring a student visa .
U.S. consulate offices , where students go for an in-person interview , are closed — it 's unclear when they 'll reopen .
Tu has heard that he may not be able to get a visa until October in Shanghai .
Even if he can get a visa , travel restrictions will make it difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S .
The State Department has currently barred travelers coming directly from China .
`` The travel restrictions mean I would need at least a month , '' he explains , `` I would quarantine in Japan for two weeks and then the U.S. for two weeks . ''
Still , he 's holding out hope , keeping an eye on flights , even though he knows he 's probably searching in vain .
`` There is not much of a chance I can get on campus by late August or September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the U.S. from all over the world , but China and India send the most .
In 2019 , there were more than 350,000 Chinese international students in U.S. colleges and universities .
And because they often pay full-tuition , that translates to big money for schools : international students studying in the U.S. contributed $ 41 billion during the 2018-2019 academic year , according to an economic analysis by NAFSA : Association of International Educators .
Colleges are bracing for the possibility that their students wo n't make it to campus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new international students is projected to decline 63 % to 98 % from last year .
In the worst case scenario , that means the U.S. would admit the lowest level of new international students since just after World War II , when the U.S. first started tracking these numbers .
The Trump administration said last week that students coming from Europe are exempt from the current travel ban to the U.S. , but it 's unclear the impact that will have on enrollment , given that no European country is represented on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for international students .
Florida International University , a public school in Miami which enrolls thousands of students from more than 140 countries , is getting creative with their virtual offerings for international students.. `` We 're working with many of those students to keep them engaged , '' says Dr. Pablo G. Ortiz , FIU 's vice president for regional and world locations .
The school is hoping to keep those students interested and connected enough to the institution through the fall , that they 'll still pursue an `` in-person experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he expects a significant drop in enrollment come fall , especially for FIU 's graduate programs .
`` Optimistically , I 'd love to say that with our menu of offerings and our online programing , that we can sustain our numbers , but we do expect it to take a hit , '' he says .
With weeks left before the first day of school , there are few options for international students trying to enter the U.S .
They could stay enrolled in their U.S. colleges and take classes remotely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zone challenges will make that impossible ; he ca n't imagine being awake for a seminar at 2 a.m , potentially keeping his family up too .
He says that all the activities planned outside of class , like orientation or networking events would also be a challenges — it 's hard to make friends over video chat .
A second option is to take the year off and try again next year ( what some call a gap year ) but in many cases that means students must start the visa application @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also considered enrolling in a local program at a university in China .
He says he wants the support of his U.S. institution , before he pays for any classes .
He 's proposed a partnership to Claremont — with hopes of staying enrolled there , while taking classes and using resources like the library , locally .
Ultimately it may be the case that an in-person fall is a fallacy for all students , not just an impossible feat for those living abroad .
More and more colleges have scaled back or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Claremont McKenna College , where Andy Tu was set to enroll , is weighing that transition now , according to the college .
So in the end , there may be no new surfing skills or robust debates on the campus green for anyone .

International Students Can Study In The U.S. This Fall — If They Can Get Here
Enlarge this image LA Johnson/NPR LA Johnson/NPR
There's a lot Andy Tu was looking forward to as a freshman at Claremont McKenna College, a small private college in California. He imagined having intellectual debates on the quad and meeting "highly motivated, open-minded friends." Coming from an environment that's "intolerant of unconventional ideas," he says he was looking forward to being able to express himself freely on campus. He'd even been daydreaming about learning how to surf.
But every morning he wakes up at home in Shanghai, he feels like that iconic American freshman year is slipping further and further away.
"This uncertainty is making me anxious," he says, "I'm really concerned."
Due to the pandemic, many international students who are starting a graduate program or their freshman year, like Tu, face a series of hurdles — travel restrictions, limited flights and closed U.S. consulate offices — that make it incredibly difficult to start the fall semester at U.S. colleges. That's despite a reprieve last week, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement agreed to allow international students to stay in the country even if their schools opted for online-only learning in the fall.
The biggest hurdle for students like Tu is acquiring a student visa. U.S. consulate offices, where students go for an in-person interview, are closed — it's unclear when they'll reopen. Tu has heard that he may not be able to get a visa until October in Shanghai. Even if he can get a visa, travel restrictions will make it difficult for him to make his way to the U.S. The State Department has currently barred travelers coming directly from China. "The travel restrictions mean I would need at least a month," he explains, "I would quarantine in Japan for two weeks and then the U.S. for two weeks."
Still, he's holding out hope, keeping an eye on flights, even though he knows he's probably searching in vain. "There is not much of a chance I can get on campus by late August or September," Tu says.
Students come to the U.S. from all over the world, but China and India send the most. In 2019, there were more than 350,000 Chinese international students in U.S. colleges and universities. And because they often pay full-tuition, that translates to big money for schools: international students studying in the U.S. contributed $41 billion during the 2018-2019 academic year, according to an economic analysis by NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
Colleges are bracing for the possibility that their students won't make it to campus. One recent analysis estimates enrollment for new international students is projected to decline 63% to 98% from last year. In the worst case scenario, that means the U.S. would admit the lowest level of new international students since just after World War II, when the U.S. first started tracking these numbers. The Trump administration said last week that students coming from Europe are exempt from the current travel ban to the U.S., but it's unclear the impact that will have on enrollment, given that no European country is represented on the top 10 list of origin countries for international students.
Florida International University, a public school in Miami which enrolls thousands of students from more than 140 countries, is getting creative with their virtual offerings for international students.. "We're working with many of those students to keep them engaged," says Dr. Pablo G. Ortiz, FIU's vice president for regional and world locations. The school is hoping to keep those students interested and connected enough to the institution through the fall, that they'll still pursue an "in-person experience in the spring semester."
Still, he expects a significant drop in enrollment come fall, especially for FIU's graduate programs. "Optimistically, I'd love to say that with our menu of offerings and our online programing, that we can sustain our numbers, but we do expect it to take a hit," he says.
With weeks left before the first day of school, there are few options for international students trying to enter the U.S. They could stay enrolled in their U.S. colleges and take classes remotely. Andy Tu is worried that time zone challenges will make that impossible; he can't imagine being awake for a seminar at 2 a.m, potentially keeping his family up too. He says that all the activities planned outside of class, like orientation or networking events would also be a challenges — it's hard to make friends over video chat. A second option is to take the year off and try again next year (what some call a gap year) but in many cases that means students must start the visa application process all over again. Tu has also considered enrolling in a local program at a university in China. He says he wants the support of his U.S. institution, before he pays for any classes. He's proposed a partnership to Claremont — with hopes of staying enrolled there, while taking classes and using resources like the library, locally.
Ultimately it may be the case that an in-person fall is a fallacy for all students, not just an impossible feat for those living abroad. More and more colleges have scaled back or reversed their decision to hold in-person classes. Claremont McKenna College, where Andy Tu was set to enroll, is weighing that transition now, according to the college. So in the end, there may be no new surfing skills or robust debates on the campus green for anyone.


npr--2020-07-20--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak


npr--2020-07-20--Tracking The Pandemic: Are Coronavirus Cases Rising Or Falling In Your State?