npr--2020-03-21--Holocaust Survivor Is First Coronavirus Death In Israel

Holocaust Survivor Is First Coronavirus Death In Israel A Holocaust survivor is the first reported fatality in Israel from COVID-19 .
Israeli media report that 88-year-old Arie Even moved from Hungary to Israel in 1949 .
He died Friday .
He was one of several residents and staff at a retirement home in Jerusalem to catch the coronavirus , after a social worker reportedly caught the virus from a French visitor at a wedding .
His family said they were saddened not to be able to be with him during his final days .
They were asked to stay away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` He was a beloved and dear man , lived a full life , was dedicated to his family , and showed strength until his very last moments , '' his son said in a statement published by the Israeli daily Haaretz .
`` We lament that he had to spend his last moment without his family by his side . ''
Coronavirus cases in Israel have spiked in recent days to more than 800 by Saturday .
Israelis are required to stay at home , with some exceptions .
But many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .
Health ministry officials threatened stricter lockdown measures if crowds do n't comply .

Holocaust Survivor Is First Coronavirus Death In Israel
A Holocaust survivor is the first reported fatality in Israel from COVID-19.
Israeli media report that 88-year-old Arie Even moved from Hungary to Israel in 1949. He died Friday.
He was one of several residents and staff at a retirement home in Jerusalem to catch the coronavirus, after a social worker reportedly caught the virus from a French visitor at a wedding.
His family said they were saddened not to be able to be with him during his final days. They were asked to stay away in order to not catch the virus.
"He was a beloved and dear man, lived a full life, was dedicated to his family, and showed strength until his very last moments," his son said in a statement published by the Israeli daily Haaretz. "We lament that he had to spend his last moment without his family by his side."
Coronavirus cases in Israel have spiked in recent days to more than 800 by Saturday. Israelis are required to stay at home, with some exceptions.
But many Israelis went outside to enjoy good weather Saturday. Health ministry officials threatened stricter lockdown measures if crowds don't comply.


npr--2020-03-21--Coronavirus Is Isolating Some Kids In Protective Care From Parents And Services

Coronavirus Is Isolating Some Kids In Protective Care From Parents And Services On Mondays and Tuesdays , Jessica 's daughter is supposed to stay overnight with her in Brooklyn , N.Y. , but that 's all changed with the coronavirus outbreak .
`` I have to just do FaceTime , video conference and three-way calls , '' Jessica says .
`` I ca n't see her anymore , for now . ''
Her daughter , who is a toddler , is in foster care and Jessica is part of a mother-and-child program that provides a home and mental health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live with their kids , or who have children in foster care .
Jessica asked that NPR only use her first name because of pending legal cases related to the custody of her daughter , which she is working to regain .
But now she does n't know when she 'll see her child again .
Visitations have been canceled and she says video calls ca n't replace in-person contact , especially with a 2-year-old .
Her little girl ca n't hold a conversation or pay attention long enough to try .
Jessica @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accidentally hangs up the chat .
`` I 'm usually feeding her , singing to her , playing with her , we were bonding , '' Jessica says .
`` It 's like [ the virus ] snatched it away from me now . ''
Attempts by cities , counties and states to mitigate the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 are forcing child welfare services , foster agencies , family courts and parents across the country to assess what necessitates in-person contact .
`` One of our biggest concerns is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Anya Mukarji-Connolly , a supervising attorney at Brooklyn Defender Services , the organization representing Jessica in her legal case .
Because of the coronavirus outbreak , New York City 's courts are only hearing cases that are deemed an emergency or essential .
That means Jessica 's upcoming court appearance — when custody and visitation were supposed to be addressed — is now postponed for months .
Services provided to families are also slowing down .
`` We do n't know yet how this is going to impact our clients , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be terrible , '' Mukarji-Connolly says .
`` Not having access to services , not have access to visitation , it 's certainly going to be harmful to the families , but also we anticipate it will delay reunification . ''
That 's particularly devastating for a family in this time of panic when parent and child are seeking comfort , Mukarji-Connolly says .
It also may prolong how long a child is in foster care when they could be reunited with their parents .
Right now New York City 's Administration for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operate .
`` We continue to put protocols in place to help our frontline workers carry out that mission safely , '' says Chanel Caraway , a spokesperson for the agency .
`` As part of that effort , we are currently working with input from our State oversight agency on guidance that will allow for more flexibility when it comes to conducting home visits to ensure children are safe , '' Caraway says .
Other states are making drastic decisions .
Maine 's Office of Child and Family Services announced it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopping monthly visits by caseworkers to foster homes .
`` To ensure that OCFS is remaining connected to youth , parents , and resource parents , it is expected that staff will coordinate contact to occur through phone calls or video conferencing for any families that need to be seen by the end of April 2020 , '' read a letter addressed to both foster and adoptive parents on Maine 's Office of Child and Family Services website .
`` Calls from staff may come through to you from different phone numbers as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remotely .
Please answer unknown numbers at this time or check voicemail frequently . ''
Los Angeles County courts are suspended through April 16 for all non-emergency and non-essential matters .
The county has the largest child welfare system in the country and right now it says it is fully staffed and continuing in-home visits , placements and removals , while also assessing what in-person contact is absolutely necessary .
It 's also providing protective gear to its staff .
`` Much of the work that we do is emergency basis , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the home unannounced , '' Bobby Cagle , the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services , says .
`` When we do that , we try to equip those workers first with the kind of masks , eye protection , gloves and gowns that they need '' in the event that they encounter a family member who is , or could be , sick , he says .
Cagle is managing a system of some 9,000 staff who serve about 34,000 children at any given time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a 24-hour a day , seven days a week endeavor across our country , '' Cagle says .
`` And just like police protection and fire protection , our services continue throughout the crisis and the social distancing . ''
But the same isolation that is supposed to keep people healthy could also be detrimental for a child who is being mistreated .
Calls to the system 's hotline are down and Cagle says that 's because schools are closed and teachers and school staff , who normally have an eye out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids .
So Cagle is calling on the public to watch for signs of abuse and neglect and to call the Child Protection Hotline .
`` I very strongly encourage the public to remain vigilant about the safety of children in families , '' he says .
`` This is a time of increased stress and we know from the work that we do that this can also cause an uptick in maltreatment of children .
And so we want to be very much on the watch for that . ''
For now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and equipment he needs to keep going , but that this is just the beginning .
Protective gear will need to be replenished and he 's expecting that staffing will also drop significantly if this is a long-term pandemic .
`` There may be a time where we have to begin to do contact based upon risk to children and families .
Taking the most risky ones first , '' he says .
`` Thankfully , we 're not there at this point . ''

Coronavirus Is Isolating Some Kids In Protective Care From Parents And Services
Enlarge this image Elva Etienne/Getty Images Elva Etienne/Getty Images
On Mondays and Tuesdays, Jessica's daughter is supposed to stay overnight with her in Brooklyn, N.Y., but that's all changed with the coronavirus outbreak.
"I have to just do FaceTime, video conference and three-way calls," Jessica says. "I can't see her anymore, for now."
Her daughter, who is a toddler, is in foster care and Jessica is part of a mother-and-child program that provides a home and mental health and drug treatment services for moms who either live with their kids, or who have children in foster care. Jessica asked that NPR only use her first name because of pending legal cases related to the custody of her daughter, which she is working to regain.
But now she doesn't know when she'll see her child again. Visitations have been canceled and she says video calls can't replace in-person contact, especially with a 2-year-old. Her little girl can't hold a conversation or pay attention long enough to try. Jessica says her toddler often presses the screen and accidentally hangs up the chat.
"I'm usually feeding her, singing to her, playing with her, we were bonding," Jessica says. "It's like [the virus] snatched it away from me now."
Attempts by cities, counties and states to mitigate the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 are forcing child welfare services, foster agencies, family courts and parents across the country to assess what necessitates in-person contact.
"One of our biggest concerns is the slowdown in family court," says Anya Mukarji-Connolly, a supervising attorney at Brooklyn Defender Services, the organization representing Jessica in her legal case.
Because of the coronavirus outbreak, New York City's courts are only hearing cases that are deemed an emergency or essential. That means Jessica's upcoming court appearance — when custody and visitation were supposed to be addressed — is now postponed for months. Services provided to families are also slowing down.
"We don't know yet how this is going to impact our clients, but we know that it's going to be terrible," Mukarji-Connolly says. "Not having access to services, not have access to visitation, it's certainly going to be harmful to the families, but also we anticipate it will delay reunification."
That's particularly devastating for a family in this time of panic when parent and child are seeking comfort, Mukarji-Connolly says. It also may prolong how long a child is in foster care when they could be reunited with their parents.
Right now New York City's Administration for Children's Services is continuing to fully operate.
"We continue to put protocols in place to help our frontline workers carry out that mission safely," says Chanel Caraway, a spokesperson for the agency.
"As part of that effort, we are currently working with input from our State oversight agency on guidance that will allow for more flexibility when it comes to conducting home visits to ensure children are safe," Caraway says.
Other states are making drastic decisions. Maine's Office of Child and Family Services announced it's temporarily suspending all in-person parental visitations and stopping monthly visits by caseworkers to foster homes.
"To ensure that OCFS is remaining connected to youth, parents, and resource parents, it is expected that staff will coordinate contact to occur through phone calls or video conferencing for any families that need to be seen by the end of April 2020," read a letter addressed to both foster and adoptive parents on Maine's Office of Child and Family Services website. "Calls from staff may come through to you from different phone numbers as it is possible they will be working remotely. Please answer unknown numbers at this time or check voicemail frequently."
Los Angeles County courts are suspended through April 16 for all non-emergency and non-essential matters. The county has the largest child welfare system in the country and right now it says it is fully staffed and continuing in-home visits, placements and removals, while also assessing what in-person contact is absolutely necessary. It's also providing protective gear to its staff.
"Much of the work that we do is emergency basis, and that means that we have to appear at the home unannounced," Bobby Cagle, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, says. "When we do that, we try to equip those workers first with the kind of masks, eye protection, gloves and gowns that they need" in the event that they encounter a family member who is, or could be, sick, he says.
Cagle is managing a system of some 9,000 staff who serve about 34,000 children at any given time.
"The work of child protection is a 24-hour a day, seven days a week endeavor across our country," Cagle says. "And just like police protection and fire protection, our services continue throughout the crisis and the social distancing."
But the same isolation that is supposed to keep people healthy could also be detrimental for a child who is being mistreated. Calls to the system's hotline are down and Cagle says that's because schools are closed and teachers and school staff, who normally have an eye out for alleged abuse, aren't seeing kids. So Cagle is calling on the public to watch for signs of abuse and neglect and to call the Child Protection Hotline.
"I very strongly encourage the public to remain vigilant about the safety of children in families," he says. "This is a time of increased stress and we know from the work that we do that this can also cause an uptick in maltreatment of children. And so we want to be very much on the watch for that."
For now, Cagle says he has the staff and equipment he needs to keep going, but that this is just the beginning. Protective gear will need to be replenished and he's expecting that staffing will also drop significantly if this is a long-term pandemic.
"There may be a time where we have to begin to do contact based upon risk to children and families. Taking the most risky ones first," he says. "Thankfully, we're not there at this point."


npr--2020-03-21--Pence To Be Tested For COVID-19; 'Hundreds Of Millions' Of Face Masks In Production

Pence To Be Tested For COVID-19 ; 'Hundreds Of Millions ' Of Face Masks In Production Vice President Pence on Saturday announced he and his wife will be tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus , following confirmation that an aide on his staff was diagnosed with the respiratory disease last week .
Pence made the remarks at a news conference following the coronavirus task force meeting at the White House .
Earlier in the week the vice president , who leads the task force , told reporters that he has not been tested for the virus because the White House doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be .
`` I 'm pleased to report that he is doing well , '' Pence said of his aide , adding that `` he had mild cold-like symptoms for a day and half . ''
Pence explained that all contact-tracing has been completed and neither he nor the president had direct contact with the aide .
Regardless , he said , he would undergo testing later in the day .
He also offered the latest figures on the number of Americans who have been tested : More than 195,000 people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were tested in county hospitals or health care labs around the nation .
Of those , roughly 19,350 have tested positive for the coronavirus , Pence said .
President Trump , who was first to speak at the news conference at the White House , ran through the list of steps the administration has taken to fight the spread of the virus , including an order for `` hundreds of millions '' of face masks and other supplies for health care professionals .
`` We started with very few masks and now we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Trump said after blaming previous administrations for the stockpile shortages the country now faces .
He later specified the government has issued a contract for 500 million N95 masks , saying they are `` now '' available to hospitals and other health care centers .
Part of the demand for supplies is being met by the private sector in `` sixth gear , '' he said , which is heeding the call to make masks , swabs and ventilators by pivoting from their primary industries to making the desperately needed supplies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clothing maker , for retrofitting its manufacturing capabilities to produce masks for medical use .
He also noted the shift by alcohol distilleries in Tennessee , Kentucky and West Virginia toward making hand sanitizer products that will be distributed throughout all 50 states .
He touted his work on legislation to bring economic relief to businesses and workers .
He said his administration will give people extra time to file taxes , moving the deadline from April 15 to July 15 .
Additionally , he said students will not face interest penalties or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Homeowners will also get help : Foreclosures and evictions on HUD loans are suspended for the next 60 days .
Trump talked about reaching agreements with Canada and Mexico to halt the entry of what he called the `` Chinese virus , '' a term some have criticized as stigmatizing .
Adm. Brett Giroir , head of the U.S. Public Health Service , is leading the effort to expand testing .
He said the agency is distributing equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile to `` many states '' on a daily basis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when states would have enough masks or other equipment .
Giroir said the outcry for more tests is not necessarily an issue of supply — he said there are tens of thousands of tests out there — but of making sure the right facilities are getting the right kind of tests and training .
This week , governors across the country warned that they were seeing shortages of supplies needed for testing , including testing reagents , used to create a chemical reaction to detect the virus , and swabs .
On Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azar said there had been `` tremendous progress '' in lab testing and dismissed complaints about shortages as `` anecdotal . ''
But groups that represent public health labs , epidemiologists and state health officials said late Friday that there were `` widespread shortages of laboratory supplies and reagents . ''
The Association of Public Health Laboratories said testing should be reserved for health care workers and first responders , older Americans with symptoms and other people at high risk of getting seriously ill from the virus .
The groups said mass testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead urged people with mild respiratory illness to stay at home and isolate themselves .
Hospitals have also said health care workers lack masks and other gear needed to protect themselves when treating patients with the virus .
Pence said on Friday that there would be an announcement this weekend about what he called `` a major acquisition '' of masks .
A week ago , Trump and Pence had said there would be a website where people could find out whether they needed to be tested for the virus and direct them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ division of Google 's parent company has developed a pilot project in San Francisco , no website for national use has materialized .
After the president thanked Google for developing the website last week , the tech company put out a statement saying the life sciences division , Verily , was only in the `` early stages '' of such a rollout .

Pence Tests Negative For COVID-19; 'Hundreds Of Millions' Of Face Masks In Production
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
Updated at 8:55 p.m. ET
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife have both tested negative for COVID-19, his office announced on Saturday.
"Pleased to report that the COVID-19 test results came back negative for both Vice President @Mike_Pence and Second Lady @KarenPence," Katie Miller, the vice president's press secretary, said in a tweet.
Earlier on Saturday, Pence announced that he and his wife would be tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus, following confirmation that an aide on his staff was diagnosed with the respiratory disease last week.
Pence made the remarks at a news conference following the coronavirus task force meeting at the White House. Earlier in the week the vice president,who leads the task force, told reporters that he has not been tested for the virus because the White House doctor had told him he didn't need to be.
"I'm pleased to report that he is doing well," Pence said of his aide, adding that "he had mild cold-like symptoms for a day and half."
Pence explained that all contact-tracing has been completed and neither he nor the president had direct contact with the aide. Regardless, he said, he would undergo testing later in the day.
He also offered the latest figures on the number of Americans who have been tested: More than 195,000 people have been tested, not including those who were tested in county hospitals or health care labs around the nation. Of those, roughly 19,350 have tested positive for the coronavirus, Pence said.
President Trump, who was first to speak at the news conference at the White House, ran through the list of steps the administration has taken to fight the spread of the virus, including an order for "hundreds of millions" of face masks and other supplies for health care professionals.
"We started with very few masks and now we're making tens of millions of masks," Trump said after blaming previous administrations for the stockpile shortages the country now faces.
He later specified the government has issued a contract for 500 million N95 masks, saying they are "now" available to hospitals and other health care centers.
Part of the demand for supplies is being met by the private sector in "sixth gear," he said, which is heeding the call to make masks, swabs and ventilators by pivoting from their primary industries to making the desperately needed supplies.
Trump praised Hanes, the cotton clothing maker, for retrofitting its manufacturing capabilities to produce masks for medical use. He also noted the shift by alcohol distilleries in Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia toward making hand sanitizer products that will be distributed throughout all 50 states.
He touted his work on legislation to bring economic relief to businesses and workers. He said his administration will give people extra time to file taxes, moving the deadline from April 15 to July 15. Additionally, he said students will not face interest penalties or fines for delaying student loan payments. Homeowners will also get help: Foreclosures and evictions on HUD loans are suspended for the next 60 days.
Trump talked about reaching agreements with Canada and Mexico to halt the entry of what he called the "Chinese virus," a term some have criticized as stigmatizing.
Adm. Brett Giroir, head of the U.S. Public Health Service, is leading the effort to expand testing. He said the agency is distributing equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile to "many states" on a daily basis.
But there's no clear answer to when states would have enough masks or other equipment.
Giroir said the outcry for more tests is not necessarily an issue of supply — he said there are tens of thousands of tests out there — but of making sure the right facilities are getting the right kind of tests and training.
This week, governors across the country warned that they were seeing shortages of supplies needed for testing, including testing reagents, used to create a chemical reaction to detect the virus, and swabs. On Friday, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said there had been "tremendous progress" in lab testing and dismissed complaints about shortages as "anecdotal."
But groups that represent public health labs, epidemiologists and state health officials said late Friday that there were "widespread shortages of laboratory supplies and reagents."
The Association of Public Health Laboratories said testing should be reserved for health care workers and first responders, older Americans with symptoms and other people at high risk of getting seriously ill from the virus.
The groups said mass testing would quickly deplete supplies, and it instead urged people with mild respiratory illness to stay at home and isolate themselves.
Hospitals have also said health care workers lack masks and other gear needed to protect themselves when treating patients with the virus. Pence said on Friday that there would be an announcement this weekend about what he called "a major acquisition" of masks.
A week ago, Trump and Pence had said there would be a website where people could find out whether they needed to be tested for the virus and direct them to nearby drive-though sites. While a division of Google's parent company has developed a pilot project in San Francisco, no website for national use has materialized.
After the president thanked Google for developing the website last week, the tech company put out a statement saying the life sciences division, Verily, was only in the "early stages" of such a rollout.


npr--2020-03-21--Growing Calls To Close Immigration Courts And Release Detainees As Virus Spreads

Growing Calls To Close Immigration Courts And Release Detainees As Virus Spreads U.S. authorities face growing calls to shutter all of the nation 's immigration courts , and to release detained immigrants who do not pose a threat to public safety after an ICE detention center worker tested positive for the coronavirus .
Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported for the first time this week that one of its workers has the virus that causes COVID-19 .
ICE also says there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus among its more than 37,000 detainees nationwide .
But immigrant advocates and physicians warn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility is inevitable as the pandemic spreads and the number of cases in the U.S. rises quickly .
`` A coronavirus outbreak at immigration detention facilities is imminent , if it 's not already happening , '' said Silky Shah with the Detention Watch Network .
More than 3,000 physicians signed a letter urging ICE to release detainees while their legal cases proceed — particularly adults over 60 and people with serious chronic medical conditions that would put them at higher risk in the event of an outbreak .
`` They 're just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Dr. Ranit Mishori , who also signed the letter .
Mishori is a professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine and medical adviser to the group Physicians for Human Rights .
`` The window of opportunity is rapidly , rapidly closing because I think we need to let them out before they become sick . ''
ICE says the worker who tested positive is a member of the medical staff at the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey .
The staffer did not routinely engage directly with detainees , according to ICE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developing symptoms .
Nearly half of immigrants detained by ICE have been accused of no crime other than civil immigration violations , and many probably would not have been held under previous administrations .
Some detained immigrants described a feeling of helplessness and confusion in the face of the widening pandemic .
`` I wish they were transparent and tell us the truth , so we would n't be anxious , '' said Virginia , an asylum-seeker from Venezuela who 's detained at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center , about 90 miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know people have gotten sick , but we do n't know what it is , '' she said in Spanish through an interpreter .
`` It 's so hard being in here without knowing . ''
Virginia says she 's detained in a large room along with more than 50 other women , including her sister Patricia , who is also seeking asylum .
They asked us not to use their full names because their cases are still pending .
Their room is under quarantine , along with several others in the detention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says her concern about the coronavirus spiked after an Ecuadorian woman in their room developed flu-like symptoms .
`` Her bed is two beds away from mine , '' Patricia said .
`` She 'd spend hours sleeping , deep coughing , lots of it .
Her body was aching , she did n't get out of bed one day .
...
Her face was red , flushed .
She looked hot , she had a high temperature . ''
Patricia said the Ecuadorian woman had tested negative for the flu , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We know there are cases near here , about an hour from here , '' Patricia said .
`` The staff comes and goes , we are locked up here , we really do n't know anything . ''
ICE says it is taking precautions to protect detainees .
The agency has temporarily suspended social visits at all of its detention centers .
And some U.S. immigration courts have closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
But others are still open , and hearings for immigrants in detention are still taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors and immigration lawyers to postpone them .
The union that represents immigration judges renewed its calls to close down all immigration courts after an ICE prosecutor in Newark , N.J. , tested positive for coronavirus , the union said on Twitter .
Ashley Tabaddor , president of the immigration judge 's union , said there 's been no transparency from the government .
`` COVID-19 does not discriminate , '' she told reporters , according to KERA .
`` There 's no engagement .
There 's no discussion with any stakeholder .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ union representing ICE attorneys , told reporters that migrants are being forced to choose `` between attending court on the one hand or protecting themselves against exposure to the coronavirus by not attending court . ''
Imelda Maynard , an attorney with Catholic Charities , attended immigration court in El Paso earlier this week .
`` None of the people in there had masks on , '' she told KERA .
`` There really is n't room in that courtroom for the people appearing to sit six feet apart from one another .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Immigration lawyers in Boston say they 're increasingly concerned about the spread of coronavirus after a courtroom there abruptly closed earlier this week .
`` I was walking towards the waiting room , and one of the judges popped out of the courtroom and loudly announced : 'My courtroom is now closed because yesterday there was someone in the courtroom who is presumed positive , ' `` immigration attorney Susan Roses told WBUR .
There 's also growing concern about the spread of the coronavirus in shelters for unaccompanied migrant children that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Refugee Resettlement .
`` It is our responsibility to effectively limit exposure to this disease and prepare to manage outbreaks of COVID-19 , '' Sen. Ed Markey wrote in a letter to the Administration for Children and Families , which oversees ORR .
`` This responsibility is especially serious when it comes to the care of vulnerable children . ''

Growing Calls To Close Immigration Courts And Release Detainees As Virus Spreads
Enlarge this image David McNew/Getty Images David McNew/Getty Images
U.S. authorities face growing calls to shutter all of the nation's immigration courts, and to release detained immigrants who do not pose a threat to public safety after an ICE detention center worker tested positive for the coronavirus.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported for the first time this week that one of its workers has the virus that causes COVID-19. ICE also says there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus among its more than 37,000 detainees nationwide.
But immigrant advocates and physicians warn that an outbreak in an ICE detention facility is inevitable as the pandemic spreads and the number of cases in the U.S. rises quickly.
"A coronavirus outbreak at immigration detention facilities is imminent, if it's not already happening," said Silky Shah with the Detention Watch Network.
More than 3,000 physicians signed a letter urging ICE to release detainees while their legal cases proceed — particularly adults over 60 and people with serious chronic medical conditions that would put them at higher risk in the event of an outbreak.
"They're just stuck there like sitting ducks," said Dr. Ranit Mishori, who also signed the letter. Mishori is a professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine and medical adviser to the group Physicians for Human Rights. "The window of opportunity is rapidly, rapidly closing because I think we need to let them out before they become sick."
ICE says the worker who tested positive is a member of the medical staff at the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey. The staffer did not routinely engage directly with detainees, according to ICE, and has been in self-quarantine since developing symptoms.
Nearly half of immigrants detained by ICE have been accused of no crime other than civil immigration violations, and many probably would not have been held under previous administrations.
Some detained immigrants described a feeling of helplessness and confusion in the face of the widening pandemic.
"I wish they were transparent and tell us the truth, so we wouldn't be anxious," said Virginia, an asylum-seeker from Venezuela who's detained at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, about 90 miles west of Baton Rouge.
"We know people have gotten sick, but we don't know what it is," she said in Spanish through an interpreter. "It's so hard being in here without knowing."
Virginia says she's detained in a large room along with more than 50 other women, including her sister Patricia, who is also seeking asylum. They asked us not to use their full names because their cases are still pending.
Their room is under quarantine, along with several others in the detention facility, the sisters said. Patricia says her concern about the coronavirus spiked after an Ecuadorian woman in their room developed flu-like symptoms.
"Her bed is two beds away from mine," Patricia said. "She'd spend hours sleeping, deep coughing, lots of it. Her body was aching, she didn't get out of bed one day. ... Her face was red, flushed. She looked hot, she had a high temperature."
Patricia said the Ecuadorian woman had tested negative for the flu, and was now being tested for coronavirus.
"We know there are cases near here, about an hour from here," Patricia said. "The staff comes and goes, we are locked up here, we really don't know anything."
ICE says it is taking precautions to protect detainees. The agency has temporarily suspended social visits at all of its detention centers.
And some U.S. immigration courts have closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. But others are still open, and hearings for immigrants in detention are still taking place — despite calls from judges, prosecutors and immigration lawyers to postpone them.
The union that represents immigration judges renewed its calls to close down all immigration courts after an ICE prosecutor in Newark, N.J., tested positive for coronavirus, the union said on Twitter.
Ashley Tabaddor, president of the immigration judge's union, said there's been no transparency from the government. "COVID-19 does not discriminate," she told reporters, according to KERA. "There's no engagement. There's no discussion with any stakeholder."
Fanny Behar-Ostrow, head of the union representing ICE attorneys, told reporters that migrants are being forced to choose "between attending court on the one hand or protecting themselves against exposure to the coronavirus by not attending court."
Imelda Maynard, an attorney with Catholic Charities, attended immigration court in El Paso earlier this week. "None of the people in there had masks on," she told KERA. "There really isn't room in that courtroom for the people appearing to sit six feet apart from one another. It's a pretty small courtroom."
Immigration lawyers in Boston say they're increasingly concerned about the spread of coronavirus after a courtroom there abruptly closed earlier this week.
"I was walking towards the waiting room, and one of the judges popped out of the courtroom and loudly announced: 'My courtroom is now closed because yesterday there was someone in the courtroom who is presumed positive,' " immigration attorney Susan Roses told WBUR.
There's also growing concern about the spread of the coronavirus in shelters for unaccompanied migrant children that are run by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.
"It is our responsibility to effectively limit exposure to this disease and prepare to manage outbreaks of COVID-19," Sen. Ed Markey wrote in a letter to the Administration for Children and Families, which oversees ORR. "This responsibility is especially serious when it comes to the care of vulnerable children."
NPR's Marisa Peñaloza contributed to this story.


npr--2020-03-21--African Countries Respond Quickly To Spread Of COVID-19

Earlier this year , when the first reports of the coronavirus started to come out of China , global health officials said they were very worried about what would happen if the virus started spreading in Africa , where many health systems are already struggling .
Well , now the coronavirus is spreading in Africa .
So far the number of reported cases remains low .
As of Saturday , more than half the nations on the continent — 36 of the 54 countries — had reported cases .
South Africa , with 150 cases , is the only one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many countries in Africa are responding aggressively to the pandemic .
Schools were ordered closed in the Nigerian capital of Lagos after only eight cases were confirmed nationwide .
Last week South Africa banned visitors from high-risk countries , closed down schools and quickly opened drive-through testing centers in Johannesburg .
Regional experts say a widespread pandemic in Africa could cripple the continent 's fragile health-care systems and be devastating economically .
It also could be difficult to contain while foreign donor nations that traditionally assist the continent in such crises are overwhelmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the World Health Organization 's Africa region , Dr. Matshidiso Moeti , said on Thursday that most of the cases have been imported from Europe and so far there is relatively limited community transmission of the virus on the continent .
`` Although there may be some undetected infections , we do n't think these are very large in number , '' Moeti said .
Given Africa 's close ties to China and the explosive outbreaks happening elsewhere in the world , it 's unclear why that is .
Researchers are questioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus or if it is still just in an early phase of the epidemic .
Moeti speculated that the low number of cases may be because the Southern Hemisphere is just coming out of summer .
`` In southern American countries there 's also been spread but it has not been the same as we 've seen in the Global North .
So we are trying to understand if this could be related to temperature or to weather , '' she said in a video conference call with reporters .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southern part of continent and some Eastern African countries .
We may from this infer that we should expect ... perhaps in a couple of months when the winter sets in in the South ... to see an increase in the rate of transmission of this virus . ''
One question in Africa is whether the number of confirmed cases is so low simply because the virus is n't being detected .
At the beginning of February only two countries in sub-Saharan Africa —Senegal and South Africa — had the ability to test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped 43 more countries set up or augment their national laboratories so that they can also test for this pathogen .
The overall capacity of those labs is low , and the tests will have to be done in capital cities .
But getting even a basic level of domestic testing capacity running could be crucial as borders close and international air transport grinds to a halt .
Managing a major outbreak on the continent could be difficult , Moeti said , and two of WHO 's recommended interventions — social distancing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Sometimes families live in houses where you do n't have a bedroom for every family member , '' Moeti said .
`` Quite a few people in the family have to sit in the same space , sleep in the same space .
`` In addition they may be in houses that do not have running water so the possibilities of hand-washing in the ways that it 's recommended with soap is a challenge under those circumstances . ''
Tom Achoki , who 's studied health care in Africa extensively , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in many countries since the 2014 Ebola outbreak .
`` But still the health-care systems are very weak . ''
Achoki , the co-founder of Mass Sciences and a lecturer at the University of Pretoria , says by `` very weak '' he does n't mean just a shortage of emergency room beds .
`` They 're dealing with access to things like disinfectant , '' he says .
There 's a need to train workers on using masks and gowns to protect themselves when treating COVID-19 patients , he says .
Achoki @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still collected on paper forms rather than digitally in many African countries .
`` So the transmission of data is not as effective , '' he says .
`` This is an epidemic which is moving very quickly . ''
He says improving information systems is something that needs to be addressed and could hamper the ability of some countries to respond to this outbreak effectively .
Gyude Moore , who served as part of Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf 's administration during the Ebola outbreak , says African nations are already innovating to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now a visiting fellow at the Center for Global Development , says countries saw the devastation of the Ebola crisis and are taking steps to get ready for this virus .
`` For example , Nigeria , they 've applied the lessons from Ebola and they are doing their best to separate the response to the [ coronavirus ] pandemic from the provision of regular health care , '' he says .
`` The people [ in Nigeria ] presenting symptoms of the disease are ushered into a specialized clinic , specialized areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Moore says .
`` It allows the health system to continue to function and not be overwhelmed quickly .
What we saw in West Africa [ during Ebola ] was how very fast and how easily the health system was overwhelmed as the case load increased . ''
To prevent that during this pandemic , countries across the continent are trying to get ready for COVID-19 .
Uganda has n't yet confirmed a single case but it 's already banned weddings and large religious gatherings .
Kenya , Moore notes , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations ca n't order nationwide or citywide lockdowns as Italy and China have .
Moore says it 's just not possible .
`` In an informal economy , '' he says .
`` People literally have to go out every day as a means of being able to feed themselves . ''
One of the other big concerns in Africa is how the coronavirus may affect places that are also battling other diseases such as malaria , cholera and HIV .
`` HIV-positive individuals who are on medications are probably fine , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg .
`` The people that are most vulnerable ... and there are a lot of them ... are HIV-positive individuals who are not on medications . ''
Roughly a third of the 7.7 million South Africans with HIV are not on treatment .
COVID-19 has been particularly deadly to people with compromised immune systems .
Hofman says the expectation is that the disease would be quite bad if it starts spreading among people who are HIV-positive and not on medication .
South Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with tuberculosis .
It 's not known exactly how COVID-19 would play out in TB patients but piling a second respiratory disease on top of TB could be devastating .
Hofman says she hopes the arrival of coronavirus in South Africa will spur people who are HIV-positive to enroll in the government 's free treatment program .
She also says there might be a silver lining in getting more people to wash their hands , which could stop the spread of other diseases too .
`` This is a big natural experiment that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't really know exactly how it 's going to play out , '' she says .
But Hofman says South Africans and people in many low- and middle-income countries are accustomed to adversity .
`` So possibly we will handle this a little bit better , '' she says .
`` But the fact is that this is going to have a huge economic consequence aside from the health issues .
In a country where there is already a 30 to 35 percent unemployment , this is of grave concern to us @ @

African Countries Respond Quickly To Spread Of COVID-19
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michele Spatari/AFP via Getty Images Michele Spatari/AFP via Getty Images
Earlier this year, when the first reports of the coronavirus started to come out of China, global health officials said they were very worried about what would happen if the virus started spreading in Africa, where many health systems are already struggling.
Well, now the coronavirus is spreading in Africa.
So far the number of reported cases remains low. As of Saturday, more than half the nations on the continent — 36 of the 54 countries — had reported cases. South Africa, with 150 cases, is the only one with more than 100.
Nonetheless, many countries in Africa are responding aggressively to the pandemic.
Schools were ordered closed in the Nigerian capital of Lagos after only eight cases were confirmed nationwide. Last week South Africa banned visitors from high-risk countries, closed down schools and quickly opened drive-through testing centers in Johannesburg.
Regional experts say a widespread pandemic in Africa could cripple the continent's fragile health-care systems and be devastating economically. It also could be difficult to contain while foreign donor nations that traditionally assist the continent in such crises are overwhelmed with their own outbreaks.
The head of the World Health Organization's Africa region, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said on Thursday that most of the cases have been imported from Europe and so far there is relatively limited community transmission of the virus on the continent.
"Although there may be some undetected infections, we don't think these are very large in number," Moeti said.
Given Africa's close ties to China and the explosive outbreaks happening elsewhere in the world, it's unclear why that is. Researchers are questioning whether Africa is somehow less vulnerable to the virus or if it is still just in an early phase of the epidemic.
Moeti speculated that the low number of cases may be because the Southern Hemisphere is just coming out of summer.
"In southern American countries there's also been spread but it has not been the same as we've seen in the Global North. So we are trying to understand if this could be related to temperature or to weather," she said in a video conference call with reporters. "We have a distinct flu season in the southern part of continent and some Eastern African countries. We may from this infer that we should expect ... perhaps in a couple of months when the winter sets in in the South ... to see an increase in the rate of transmission of this virus."
One question in Africa is whether the number of confirmed cases is so low simply because the virus isn't being detected.
At the beginning of February only two countries in sub-Saharan Africa —Senegal and South Africa — had the ability to test for the novel coronavirus. WHO has helped 43 more countries set up or augment their national laboratories so that they can also test for this pathogen.
The overall capacity of those labs is low, and the tests will have to be done in capital cities. But getting even a basic level of domestic testing capacity running could be crucial as borders close and international air transport grinds to a halt.
Managing a major outbreak on the continent could be difficult, Moeti said, and two of WHO's recommended interventions — social distancing and hand-washing — may not always be possible.
"Sometimes families live in houses where you don't have a bedroom for every family member," Moeti said. "Quite a few people in the family have to sit in the same space, sleep in the same space.
"In addition they may be in houses that do not have running water so the possibilities of hand-washing in the ways that it's recommended with soap is a challenge under those circumstances."
Tom Achoki, who's studied health care in Africa extensively, says the medical systems have improved significantly in many countries since the 2014 Ebola outbreak. "But still the health-care systems are very weak."
Achoki, the co-founder of Mass Sciences and a lecturer at the University of Pretoria, says by "very weak" he doesn't mean just a shortage of emergency room beds. "They're dealing with access to things like disinfectant," he says. There's a need to train workers on using masks and gowns to protect themselves when treating COVID-19 patients, he says. Achoki also points out that the data is still collected on paper forms rather than digitally in many African countries.
"So the transmission of data is not as effective," he says. "This is an epidemic which is moving very quickly." He says improving information systems is something that needs to be addressed and could hamper the ability of some countries to respond to this outbreak effectively.
Gyude Moore, who served as part of Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's administration during the Ebola outbreak, says African nations are already innovating to fight COVID-19.
Moore, who's now a visiting fellow at the Center for Global Development, says countries saw the devastation of the Ebola crisis and are taking steps to get ready for this virus.
"For example, Nigeria, they've applied the lessons from Ebola and they are doing their best to separate the response to the [coronavirus] pandemic from the provision of regular health care," he says.
"The people [in Nigeria] presenting symptoms of the disease are ushered into a specialized clinic, specialized areas separate from the regular health system," Moore says. "It allows the health system to continue to function and not be overwhelmed quickly. What we saw in West Africa [during Ebola] was how very fast and how easily the health system was overwhelmed as the case load increased."
To prevent that during this pandemic, countries across the continent are trying to get ready for COVID-19. Uganda hasn't yet confirmed a single case but it's already banned weddings and large religious gatherings. Kenya, Moore notes, has shut down schools.
But most African nations can't order nationwide or citywide lockdowns as Italy and China have. Moore says it's just not possible. "In an informal economy," he says. "People literally have to go out every day as a means of being able to feed themselves."
One of the other big concerns in Africa is how the coronavirus may affect places that are also battling other diseases such as malaria, cholera and HIV.
"HIV-positive individuals who are on medications are probably fine," says Karen Hofman, a professor of public health at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. "The people that are most vulnerable ... and there are a lot of them ... are HIV-positive individuals who are not on medications." Roughly a third of the 7.7 million South Africans with HIV are not on treatment.
COVID-19 has been particularly deadly to people with compromised immune systems. Hofman says the expectation is that the disease would be quite bad if it starts spreading among people who are HIV-positive and not on medication.
South Africa also has a large number of people with tuberculosis. It's not known exactly how COVID-19 would play out in TB patients but piling a second respiratory disease on top of TB could be devastating.
Hofman says she hopes the arrival of coronavirus in South Africa will spur people who are HIV-positive to enroll in the government's free treatment program. She also says there might be a silver lining in getting more people to wash their hands, which could stop the spread of other diseases too.
"This is a big natural experiment that's going on right now. We don't really know exactly how it's going to play out," she says. But Hofman says South Africans and people in many low- and middle-income countries are accustomed to adversity.
"So possibly we will handle this a little bit better," she says. "But the fact is that this is going to have a huge economic consequence aside from the health issues. In a country where there is already a 30 to 35 percent unemployment, this is of grave concern to us."


npr--2020-03-21--'I Wanted To Do Something,' Says Mother Of 2 Who Is First To Test Coronavirus Vaccine

' I Wanted To Do Something , ' Says Mother Of 2 Who Is First To Test Coronavirus Vaccine When Jennifer Haller heard that researchers were looking for volunteers to be injected with an experimental coronavirus vaccine , the Seattle mother of two rolled up her sleeve .
Well , not literally .
Haller , 43 , the first person to receive the vaccine , was wearing a tank top when a pharmacist , sheathed in gloves , a mask and protective eye gear , injected her with an experimental vaccine named mRNA-1273 .
It made her arm a bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no , no side effects , '' she says .
With the outbreak rapidly spreading across the nation , Haller says she was excited to enroll in the Phase 1 trial , which started Monday .
`` I wanted to do something because there 's so many millions of Americans that do n't have the same privileges that I 've been given , '' says Haller , who now works from home for a small tech company .
`` They 're losing their jobs .
They are concerned about paying bills , feeding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years to develop and bring to market .
They go through extensive animal trials to ensure they are not only effective , but safe .
But as the coronavirus death toll rapidly climbed — reaching 11,147 on Friday — researchers felt they could n't wait .
The injection Haller received was developed by the National Institutes of Health and the Massachusetts-based biotechnology firm Moderna Inc .
It does not use any form of a live or weakened virus , so Haller ca n't contract the coronavirus from the vaccine .
That does n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to sign a 45-page waiver just to enroll in the trial .
Despite the uncertainty , Haller says she was moved to volunteer out of a feeling of helplessness .
She felt uniquely positioned to contribute , given that her children are older , she has friends and family nearby and a job that allows her maximum flexibility of when and how she works .
`` This was just something that I could do and that I wanted to do . ''
The vaccine given to Haller was developed in record time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chief medical officer for Moderna .
`` We 've been able to do that based on the fact that our technology starts with the digital information .
So we did not need to have the physical virus , just the information . ''
Instead of using parts of a killed virus to provoke an immune system , Moderna , working with the NIH , created a synthetic RNA molecule once the virus behind the outbreak in Wuhan , China was identified .
In early January , just days after the virus was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particles that they hope will convince the body to produce antibodies against the coronavirus .
On March 16 , Haller and three other study participants were the first to be vaccinated .
Zaks says 45 patients in all will participate in the trial , each at three different dose levels .
Moderna is one of at least 20 drug manufacturers around the world working on potential coronavirus vaccines and treatments .
President Trump has reportedly told pharmaceutical executives that he wants to see a vaccine developed in the United States to ensure it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NIH-Moderna trial will receive a two-dose vaccination schedule , 28 days apart .
Haller keeps a log of her temperature and any symptoms she might be experiencing .
So far , she says , there have been none .
All of the participants will be monitored for a total of 14 months .
Regular blood tests will show whether the vaccine is activating their immune systems .
Participants in the study will receive $ 100 for each lab visit for a total of $ 1100 .
Zaks says he is confident in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he says , adding , `` we 've already begun the scale-up activity in our manufacturing site to be able to scale up and produce the vaccine . ''
Still , even if this first human trial is successful , public health officials do n't expect a vaccine to be ready for widespread use for at least 18 months .

'I Wanted To Do Something,' Says Mother Of 2 Who Is First To Test Coronavirus Vaccine
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted S. Warren/AP Ted S. Warren/AP
When Jennifer Haller heard that researchers were looking for volunteers to be injected with an experimental coronavirus vaccine, the Seattle mother of two rolled up her sleeve.
Well, not literally. Haller, 43, the first person to receive the vaccine, was wearing a tank top when a pharmacist, sheathed in gloves, a mask and protective eye gear, injected her with an experimental vaccine named mRNA-1273. It made her arm a bit sore, "but besides that, no, no side effects," she says.
With the outbreak rapidly spreading across the nation, Haller says she was excited to enroll in the Phase 1 trial, which started Monday.
"I wanted to do something because there's so many millions of Americans that don't have the same privileges that I've been given," says Haller, who now works from home for a small tech company. "They're losing their jobs. They are concerned about paying bills, feeding their family."
Vaccines typically take years to develop and bring to market. They go through extensive animal trials to ensure they are not only effective, but safe. But as the coronavirus death toll rapidly climbed — reaching 11,147 on Friday — researchers felt they couldn't wait.
The injection Haller received was developed by the National Institutes of Health and the Massachusetts-based biotechnology firm Moderna Inc. It does not use any form of a live or weakened virus, so Haller can't contract the coronavirus from the vaccine.
That doesn't mean there aren't risks. She had to sign a 45-page waiver just to enroll in the trial.
Despite the uncertainty, Haller says she was moved to volunteer out of a feeling of helplessness. She felt uniquely positioned to contribute, given that her children are older, she has friends and family nearby and a job that allows her maximum flexibility of when and how she works.
"This was just something that I could do and that I wanted to do."
A sprint to Phase 1 trials
The vaccine given to Haller was developed in record time, according to Dr. Tal Zaks, the chief medical officer for Moderna. "We've been able to do that based on the fact that our technology starts with the digital information. So we did not need to have the physical virus, just the information."
Instead of using parts of a killed virus to provoke an immune system, Moderna, working with the NIH, created a synthetic RNA molecule once the virus behind the outbreak in Wuhan, China was identified.
In early January, just days after the virus was identified, researchers had designed synthetic virus particles that they hope will convince the body to produce antibodies against the coronavirus. On March 16, Haller and three other study participants were the first to be vaccinated. Zaks says 45 patients in all will participate in the trial, each at three different dose levels.
Moderna is one of at least 20 drug manufacturers around the world working on potential coronavirus vaccines and treatments. President Trump has reportedly told pharmaceutical executives that he wants to see a vaccine developed in the United States to ensure it controls supplies.
"This should work"
The subjects in the NIH-Moderna trial will receive a two-dose vaccination schedule, 28 days apart. Haller keeps a log of her temperature and any symptoms she might be experiencing. So far, she says, there have been none.
All of the participants will be monitored for a total of 14 months. Regular blood tests will show whether the vaccine is activating their immune systems. Participants in the study will receive $100 for each lab visit for a total of $1100.
Zaks says he is confident in the trial. "This should work," he says, adding, "we've already begun the scale-up activity in our manufacturing site to be able to scale up and produce the vaccine."
Still, even if this first human trial is successful, public health officials don't expect a vaccine to be ready for widespread use for at least 18 months.


npr--2020-03-21--Fact-Checking 5 Trump Administration Claims On The Coronavirus Pandemic

President Trump has made a lot of promises about actions that his administration is taking to fight the coronavirus pandemic .
Not all of them have been exactly on the mark — and some have yet to pay off as advertised .
The president announced on Wednesday that the Navy would dispatch its two hospital ships , the USNS Comfort and the USNS Mercy , to help treat patients and free up land-based hospitals for coronavirus patients .
`` So those two ships are being prepared to go , and they can be launched over the next week or so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ships in `` tip-top shape . ''
Well , not so much .
The Navy said that the Comfort was actually undergoing repairs in Norfolk , Va. , and it would be weeks before it would be ready to sail to New York .
And the Mercy , based in San Diego , would take several days before it was staffed with doctors and nurses and be ready for deployment somewhere on the West Coast .
Although the deployments may still go ahead , the ships likely wo n't sail right away .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Food and Drug Administration had `` approved '' use of an anti-malaria drug called chloroquine to treat patients afflicted with the coronavirus .
`` We 're going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately , '' Trump said , calling it `` a tremendous breakthrough '' and a potential `` game-changer . ''
But FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn tried to tamp down Trump 's enthusiasm , saying that `` a large , pragmatic clinical trial '' would be needed first to determine the drug 's usefulness before making it available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could n't `` speculate about a timeline '' for the drug 's availability .
Trump 's enthusiasm for hydroxychloroquine spilled into another press conference on Friday , when he again described it as a potential wonder drug .
And again , a public health official — this time , Dr. Anthony Fauci , a top immunologist on the White House 's response team — tried to rein in the optimism by echoing the need for clinical proof that it would make a difference .
On Thursday , Trump said another drug , Remdesivir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or very close to approved '' by the FDA for treating patients coronavirus .
In fact , that drug is undergoing a clinical trial and is months away from being ready for use .
Last Friday , Trump said at a Rose Garden news conference that Google has 1,700 engineers developing a new website that would help Americans determine whether they should seek testing for the coronavirus .
The president sought to cast his own project as a triumph compared with the initial failure of President Barack Obama to roll out a website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care market enacted in 2009 .
`` Google is helping to develop a website , '' Trump said .
`` It 's going to be very quickly done — unlike websites of the past — to determine whether a test is warranted and to facilitate testing at a nearby convenient location . ''
Within hours , Google attempted to clarify the president 's comments .
It said an affiliated company , Verily , was working on the project but on a limited scale only for people in the San Francisco area .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of development , '' Google said , `` and planning to roll testing out in the Bay Area , with the hope of expanding more broadly over time . ''
The website is now functional in `` select counties in the Bay area . ''
On Wednesday , Trump met with a group of nurses at the White House , telling them that the administration had arranged for a major new supply of the type of respirator in high demand during the pandemic .
`` We 've ordered 500 million N95 masks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He also said that construction companies were being asked to donate unused masks .
The next day at a briefing , Vice President Pence stated : `` We 've vastly increased the supply of medical masks . ''
But hospitals continue to report that they are running short of masks , as are pharmacists .
Authorities are taking donations from unlikely sources , including financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs .
Loose-fitting surgical masks are n't appropriate for dealing with the pandemic authorities say ; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between a surgical mask and an N95 respirator .
Trump acknowledged the shortfall in supplies on Friday when he said he had invoked the Cold War-era Defense Production Act , which permits him to direct production of essential items .
`` We are using it , '' Trump said , `` for certain things that we need , '' citing ventilators and masks .
It still is n't clear how much equipment is needed to respond to current and future patients in the pandemic beyond what 's in hand today and when or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of the most frequent exaggerations coming from the administration is the availability of coronavirus tests .
When he visited the CDC in Atlanta earlier this month , Trump claimed that `` They have the tests .
And the tests are beautiful .
Anybody that needs a test gets a test . ''
Pence made a similar claim last week , saying that `` a million tests are in the field '' and that `` by the end of this week , another 4 million tests will be distributed . ''
Even so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel sick struggling to be able to confirm a diagnosis with an actual test .
Fauci acknowledged that there clearly is a gap between the supply and the demand .
At the same time , he echoed assurances by Trump and Pence that the situation is improving .
`` I get the same calls that many of you get ... for one reason or another they ca n't get [ tests ] , '' Fauci said on Friday .
`` That is a reality that is happening now .
Is it the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Absolutely not . ''
The anecdotal nature of the accounts means it 's difficult to assess what the spread might be between the testing capacity available now , or set to come onstream soon , and the pool of people who satisfy the administration 's guidelines to request one .
Trump and Pence say they do n't want every American — particularly those who are feeling well — to be tested .
It still is n't clear , however , how big the gap remains between requests for tests considered valid under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the capacity to support them .

Fact-Checking 5 Trump Administration Claims On The Coronavirus Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
President Trump has made a lot of promises about actions that his administration is taking to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Not all of them have been exactly on the mark — and some have yet to pay off as advertised.
Naval hospital ships
The president announced on Wednesday that the Navy would dispatch its two hospital ships, the USNS Comfort and the USNS Mercy, to help treat patients and free up land-based hospitals for coronavirus patients.
"So those two ships are being prepared to go, and they can be launched over the next week or so," Trump said, calling the ships in "tip-top shape."
Well, not so much.
The Navy said that the Comfort was actually undergoing repairs in Norfolk, Va., and it would be weeks before it would be ready to sail to New York. And the Mercy, based in San Diego, would take several days before it was staffed with doctors and nurses and be ready for deployment somewhere on the West Coast.
Although the deployments may still go ahead, the ships likely won't sail right away.
FDA drug approval
On Thursday, Trump touted that the Food and Drug Administration had "approved" use of an anti-malaria drug called chloroquine to treat patients afflicted with the coronavirus.
The president sounded excited.
"We're going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately," Trump said, calling it "a tremendous breakthrough" and a potential "game-changer."
But FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn tried to tamp down Trump's enthusiasm, saying that "a large, pragmatic clinical trial" would be needed first to determine the drug's usefulness before making it available to coronavirus patients.
Hahn said he couldn't "speculate about a timeline" for the drug's availability.
Trump's enthusiasm for hydroxychloroquine spilled into another press conference on Friday, when he again described it as a potential wonder drug.
And again, a public health official — this time, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top immunologist on the White House's response team — tried to rein in the optimism by echoing the need for clinical proof that it would make a difference.
On Thursday, Trump said another drug, Remdesivir, had "also been approved, or very close to approved" by the FDA for treating patients coronavirus. In fact, that drug is undergoing a clinical trial and is months away from being ready for use.
The website
Last Friday, Trump said at a Rose Garden news conference that Google has 1,700 engineers developing a new website that would help Americans determine whether they should seek testing for the coronavirus.
The president sought to cast his own project as a triumph compared with the initial failure of President Barack Obama to roll out a website as part of the changes to the health care market enacted in 2009.
"Google is helping to develop a website," Trump said. "It's going to be very quickly done — unlike websites of the past — to determine whether a test is warranted and to facilitate testing at a nearby convenient location."
Within hours, Google attempted to clarify the president's comments. It said an affiliated company, Verily, was working on the project but on a limited scale only for people in the San Francisco area.
"Verily is in the early stages of development," Google said, "and planning to roll testing out in the Bay Area, with the hope of expanding more broadly over time."
The website is now functional in "select counties in the Bay area."
Medical supplies
On Wednesday, Trump met with a group of nurses at the White House, telling them that the administration had arranged for a major new supply of the type of respirator in high demand during the pandemic.
"We've ordered 500 million N95 masks to drive private production," Trump said. He also said that construction companies were being asked to donate unused masks. The next day at a briefing, Vice President Pence stated: "We've vastly increased the supply of medical masks."
But hospitals continue to report that they are running short of masks, as are pharmacists. Authorities are taking donations from unlikely sources, including financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs.
Loose-fitting surgical masks aren't appropriate for dealing with the pandemic authorities say; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a graphic detailing the important differences between a surgical mask and an N95 respirator.
Trump acknowledged the shortfall in supplies on Friday when he said he had invoked the Cold War-era Defense Production Act, which permits him to direct production of essential items.
"We are using it," Trump said, "for certain things that we need," citing ventilators and masks.
It still isn't clear how much equipment is needed to respond to current and future patients in the pandemic beyond what's in hand today and when or whether the demand will be met.
Testing
One of the most frequent exaggerations coming from the administration is the availability of coronavirus tests.
When he visited the CDC in Atlanta earlier this month, Trump claimed that "They have the tests. And the tests are beautiful. Anybody that needs a test gets a test."
Pence made a similar claim last week, saying that "a million tests are in the field" and that "by the end of this week, another 4 million tests will be distributed."
Even so, anecdotal reports abound about Americans who feel sick struggling to be able to confirm a diagnosis with an actual test. Fauci acknowledged that there clearly is a gap between the supply and the demand.
At the same time, he echoed assurances by Trump and Pence that the situation is improving.
"I get the same calls that many of you get ... for one reason or another they can't get [tests]," Fauci said on Friday. "That is a reality that is happening now. Is it the same as it was a few weeks ago? Absolutely not."
The anecdotal nature of the accounts means it's difficult to assess what the spread might be between the testing capacity available now, or set to come onstream soon, and the pool of people who satisfy the administration's guidelines to request one.
Trump and Pence say they don't want every American — particularly those who are feeling well — to be tested. It still isn't clear, however, how big the gap remains between requests for tests considered valid under Trump's and Pence's conditions — and the capacity to support them.


npr--2020-03-22--As Restaurants Across The Country Close Their Doors, Deliveries Pick Up

As Restaurants Across The Country Close Their Doors , Deliveries Pick Up On a typical sunny spring afternoon , the outdoor seating of Atlanta 's Krog Street Market would usually be packed .
But it 's not a typical week .
As more and more people practice social distancing and stay inside in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic , the tables at Krog are completely deserted .
Most restaurant booths have large signs indicating they 're either closed or only serving food to-go .
But there 's still people coming in and out , carrying Postmates and GrubHub bags @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I 've done about 15 deliveries , which is more than normal , '' says Raymond Neville , who 's been driving for Uber Eats for about two years .
He says the number of orders coming in has significantly picked up in the last couple of days , which is why he 'll keep working even if it might mean potentially exposing himself to the virus .
`` I 'm just washing my hands .
I have hand sanitizer in the car , '' he says .
`` I 'm taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is what it is . ''
About half of all states have placed limitations on restaurants : No dining-in allowed — only take-out , delivery , and the occasional drive-thru .
And the list just keeps growing .
The new rules are part of the nationwide effort to flatten the coronavirus curve .
On March 17 , President Trump spoke with executives from companies such as McDonald 's , Domino 's and Wendy 's to encourage them to close their dining rooms and shift to a to-go model of business for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay at home , but it does n't mean orders stop rolling .
`` [ Business ] has picked up , '' says Justin Willis , who also works for Uber Eats .
`` The money is definitely more than it normally is . ''
He says he 's not too worried about potential exposure to the virus because he does n't touch or talk to people when running orders , and he carries his own hand wipes around to disinfect any surfaces he comes in contact with .
Uber Eats recently announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products .
Other drivers coming in and out of restaurants wear gloves and wipe down door handles before touching them .
Some people decline to be interviewed for this piece for sanitary reasons .
And some drivers worry that continuing to deliver food will ultimately put their health at risk .
Online , campaigns like # PayUp — a movement on behalf of gig economy workers — are demanding that companies such as Instacart , DoorDash and Grubhub take more precautions to protect their drivers , many of whom ca n't afford to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So far , there 's been some response .
Uber recently updated its sick policy to say it 'll provide up to two weeks ' financial assistance to drivers who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed in quarantine by public health authorities .
Postmates says it 's also offering to help with medical expenses for drivers who meet certain requirements .
And across apps , there seems to be a push for customers to choose the `` contactless delivery '' option that asks drivers to leave food outside doors and on front porches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to [ people ] when I hand off the food and go , '' says Stephanie Session as she heads inside Patria Cocina to pick up an order .
She started delivering for Uber Eats last year , but she says that since social distancing became encouraged , the volume of weekday orders is matching that of a busy weekend .
And to her , more orders and better tips makes the work worth it .
It 's unclear when restaurants will fully reopen .
But workers like Session plan to keep delivering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and there may be more drivers soon .
DoorDash is rolling out a new `` priority access '' program for in-house restaurant employees who would like to start delivering during their unexpected time off .
Back at Krog Street Market , as he carefully loads food into his car , Willis summarizes the situation : `` People still got ta eat . ''

As Restaurants Across The Country Close Their Doors, Deliveries Pick Up
Enlarge this image toggle caption Isabella Gomez Sarmiento/NPR Isabella Gomez Sarmiento/NPR
On a typical sunny spring afternoon, the outdoor seating of Atlanta's Krog Street Market would usually be packed. But it's not a typical week.
As more and more people practice social distancing and stay inside in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the tables at Krog are completely deserted.
Most restaurant booths have large signs indicating they're either closed or only serving food to-go. But there's still people coming in and out, carrying Postmates and GrubHub bags.
"In the last two hours, I've done about 15 deliveries, which is more than normal," says Raymond Neville, who's been driving for Uber Eats for about two years.
He says the number of orders coming in has significantly picked up in the last couple of days, which is why he'll keep working even if it might mean potentially exposing himself to the virus.
"I'm just washing my hands. I have hand sanitizer in the car," he says. "I'm taking my own precautions, but hey — it is what it is."
About half of all states have placed limitations on restaurants: No dining-in allowed — only take-out, delivery, and the occasional drive-thru. And the list just keeps growing.
Business Food And Beverage Industry Hit Hard By Coronavirus Outbreak Food And Beverage Industry Hit Hard By Coronavirus Outbreak Listen · 6:49 6:49
The new rules are part of the nationwide effort to flatten the coronavirus curve. On March 17, President Trump spoke with executives from companies such as McDonald's, Domino's and Wendy's to encourage them to close their dining rooms and shift to a to-go model of business for the time being.
That means more people stay at home, but it doesn't mean orders stop rolling.
"[Business] has picked up," says Justin Willis, who also works for Uber Eats. "The money is definitely more than it normally is."
He says he's not too worried about potential exposure to the virus because he doesn't touch or talk to people when running orders, and he carries his own hand wipes around to disinfect any surfaces he comes in contact with. Uber Eats recently announced it would be providing drivers with sanitization products.
Other drivers coming in and out of restaurants wear gloves and wipe down door handles before touching them. Some people decline to be interviewed for this piece for sanitary reasons.
And some drivers worry that continuing to deliver food will ultimately put their health at risk. Online, campaigns like #PayUp — a movement on behalf of gig economy workers — are demanding that companies such as Instacart, DoorDash and Grubhub take more precautions to protect their drivers, many of whom can't afford to stop working because of the coronavirus.
So far, there's been some response.
Uber recently updated its sick policy to say it'll provide up to two weeks' financial assistance to drivers who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed in quarantine by public health authorities. Postmates says it's also offering to help with medical expenses for drivers who meet certain requirements.
And across apps, there seems to be a push for customers to choose the "contactless delivery" option that asks drivers to leave food outside doors and on front porches.
"I'm not that close to [people] when I hand off the food and go," says Stephanie Session as she heads inside Patria Cocina to pick up an order.
She started delivering for Uber Eats last year, but she says that since social distancing became encouraged, the volume of weekday orders is matching that of a busy weekend. And to her, more orders and better tips makes the work worth it.
It's unclear when restaurants will fully reopen. But workers like Session plan to keep delivering as long as orders keep coming in — and there may be more drivers soon.
DoorDash is rolling out a new "priority access" program for in-house restaurant employees who would like to start delivering during their unexpected time off.
Back at Krog Street Market, as he carefully loads food into his car, Willis summarizes the situation: "People still gotta eat."


npr--2020-03-22--When Cancer And Coronavirus Collide: Fear And Resilience

When Cancer And Coronavirus Collide : Fear And Resilience It 's like being in prison inside a prison .
Having advanced cancer while being wary of the COVID-19 virus really sucks .
I am speaking both as a doctor and as a person with cancer – since 2016 , I have lived with stage 4 lung cancer .
The threat of cancer hangs in the air like a gun to your head .
It makes you think about risks and survival odds .
It forces you to confront the fact that you may die sooner than you 'd imagined .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is only making more palpable .
COVID-19 is another reminder of the fragility of our lives .
And even if a person with cancer manages to look away from the idea of mortality , the virus will bring it back into view .
Your body is already tired from `` fighting '' cancer .
And your mind has very little bandwidth to decide , if the question arises , which enemy is more dangerous : the cancer cells or the virus .
In fact , for people with malignancies , especially those treated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separate the two threats .
They are among the most vulnerable in this epidemic because chemo can weaken the immune system .
They are exposed to a higher risk than the general population , and we need to pay attention to them .
Even before this epidemic , people with cancer already had many challenges and unmet needs .
Cancer and its treatment often leave patients with pain , fatigue , and limitations in terms of what they can do on a day-to-day basis .
Many patients deal with emotional and mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for most but the affluent , especially if they have to reduce their work hours or stop working altogether .
Navigating the complex health system and the often inadequate health insurance only adds to the burden of living with the illness .
This epidemic will make the struggle of cancer patients worse .
In places where social distancing is recommended , they need to stay home .
They may be forced to stop working if they ca n't work from home , or they may face layoffs .
They could end up losing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on others for basic needs , like shopping and transportation , may find less reliable help as their aides isolate themselves or become sick .
Those who receive emotional support and information from centers that provide in-person services could be cut off from immensely needed resources .
Most important , medical care will likely be jeopardized when the health-care system becomes overwhelmed .
Many experts have started talking about advanced cancer patients not receiving life-saving care if the situation of scarcity becomes real .
This is all scary to the cancer community .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared than many to face an existential threat .
We 've developed resilience and learned to live in the here and now .
When you confront your mortality , you realize that life is finite — there no time but to become your true , authentic self .
You start to judge what you do by your own standards and express yourself truthfully .
You also become empowered to claim a voice to advocate for yourself and the community .
Because if you do n't speak up , perhaps no one will .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ already isolated , and we need to find ways to stay connected with them .
Reach out virtually to your friends , especially the ones who are struggling or those who have serious illnesses .
Say hi and tell them you are thinking of them .
We can try to make room for everyone to express their raw emotions , their honest feelings .
Let 's find creative ways to do that .
Art and writing can help some , and so does humor .
Listening to the person who is suffering is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volunteer solutions .
Just be there and listen .
We can stand in solidarity with those who suffer .
We can advocate to ensure accommodations are made for those who need them and that the essentials are available for everyone .
I am sure someone needs grocery shopping , transportation or a cooked meal .
If you have two rolls of toilet paper or two containers of hand sanitizer , give one of each to someone who needs them more .
I drove around Seattle tonight , and oh , how much I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's only been a couple of weeks .
I know that our resilient city will again be lively and active .
But in the interim , we must n't forget those living on the margins .
This epidemic reminds us that no one is immune to illness .
When we are busy trying to survive individually , let 's not forget the other person , and especially let 's not forget those who have been ill for a while .
As our society faces an illness that is serious and devastating , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few lessons from dealing with our infirmities .
With support and care , you can find the strength to carry on .
You keep going , and you give it your best shot .
And always try to remember : Today is a gift .
Morhaf Al Achkar is a practicing family physician and a faculty member at the University of Washington .
He is the author of Roads to Meaning and Resilience with Cancer .

When Cancer And Coronavirus Collide: Fear And Resilience
Enlarge this image Angela Hsieh for NPR Angela Hsieh for NPR
It's like being in prison inside a prison. Having advanced cancer while being wary of the COVID-19 virus really sucks. I am speaking both as a doctor and as a person with cancer – since 2016, I have lived with stage 4 lung cancer.
The threat of cancer hangs in the air like a gun to your head. It makes you think about risks and survival odds. It forces you to confront the fact that you may die sooner than you'd imagined.
It's a terror that the coronavirus is only making more palpable. COVID-19 is another reminder of the fragility of our lives. And even if a person with cancer manages to look away from the idea of mortality, the virus will bring it back into view.
Your body is already tired from "fighting" cancer. And your mind has very little bandwidth to decide, if the question arises, which enemy is more dangerous: the cancer cells or the virus.
In fact, for people with malignancies, especially those treated with chemotherapy, it is impossible to separate the two threats. They are among the most vulnerable in this epidemic because chemo can weaken the immune system. They are exposed to a higher risk than the general population, and we need to pay attention to them.
Even before this epidemic, people with cancer already had many challenges and unmet needs. Cancer and its treatment often leave patients with pain, fatigue, and limitations in terms of what they can do on a day-to-day basis. Many patients deal with emotional and mental health difficulties.
Financial stress is a challenge for most but the affluent, especially if they have to reduce their work hours or stop working altogether.
Navigating the complex health system and the often inadequate health insurance only adds to the burden of living with the illness.
This epidemic will make the struggle of cancer patients worse. In places where social distancing is recommended, they need to stay home. They may be forced to stop working if they can't work from home, or they may face layoffs. They could end up losing their health insurance.
Patients who depend on others for basic needs, like shopping and transportation, may find less reliable help as their aides isolate themselves or become sick.
Those who receive emotional support and information from centers that provide in-person services could be cut off from immensely needed resources.
Most important, medical care will likely be jeopardized when the health-care system becomes overwhelmed. Many experts have started talking about advanced cancer patients not receiving life-saving care if the situation of scarcity becomes real. This is all scary to the cancer community.
Yet people with cancer are perhaps better prepared than many to face an existential threat. We've developed resilience and learned to live in the here and now. When you confront your mortality, you realize that life is finite — there no time but to become your true, authentic self. You start to judge what you do by your own standards and express yourself truthfully.
You also become empowered to claim a voice to advocate for yourself and the community. Because if you don't speak up, perhaps no one will.
This epidemic is isolating people who were already isolated, and we need to find ways to stay connected with them. Reach out virtually to your friends, especially the ones who are struggling or those who have serious illnesses. Say hi and tell them you are thinking of them.
We can try to make room for everyone to express their raw emotions, their honest feelings. Let's find creative ways to do that. Art and writing can help some, and so does humor. Listening to the person who is suffering is also good. Do not jump to volunteer solutions. Just be there and listen.
We can stand in solidarity with those who suffer. We can advocate to ensure accommodations are made for those who need them and that the essentials are available for everyone.
I am sure someone needs grocery shopping, transportation or a cooked meal. If you have two rolls of toilet paper or two containers of hand sanitizer, give one of each to someone who needs them more.
I drove around Seattle tonight, and oh, how much I miss the old city! And it's only been a couple of weeks. I know that our resilient city will again be lively and active. But in the interim, we mustn't forget those living on the margins.
This epidemic reminds us that no one is immune to illness. When we are busy trying to survive individually, let's not forget the other person, and especially let's not forget those who have been ill for a while.
As our society faces an illness that is serious and devastating, we, cancer patients, can share a few lessons from dealing with our infirmities. With support and care, you can find the strength to carry on. You keep going, and you give it your best shot. And always try to remember: Today is a gift.
Morhaf Al Achkar is a practicing family physician and a faculty member at the University of Washington. He is the author of Roads to Meaning and Resilience with Cancer.