npr--2020-04-30--Tracking The Pandemic: How Quickly Is The Coronavirus Spreading State By State?

Tracking The Pandemic : How Quickly Is The Coronavirus Spreading State By State ?
Since the first coronavirus case was confirmed in the United States on Jan. 21 , over one million people in the U.S. have confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
On April 12 , the U.S. became the nation with the most deaths globally , but there are early signs that the U.S. case and death counts may be leveling off , as the growth of new cases and deaths plateaus .
The pattern is n't consistent across the country , as new hot spots emerge and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state 's case count is growing , click here .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
In response to mounting cases , state and federal authorities have emphasized a social distancing strategy , widely seen as the best available means to slow the spread of the virus .
Most states have put in place measures such as closing schools and nonessential businesses and ordering citizens to stay home as much as possible .
It 's not clear how long such measures need to be in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan , the city in China where the virus originated , a strictly enforced lockdown and widespread testing have slowed the outbreak dramatically , enough to bring an end to the 76-day lockdown .
A large portion of U.S. cases are centered on New York City .
Since March 20 , New York state , Connecticut and New Jersey have accounted for around 50 % of all U.S. cases .
As of April 9 , nearly 60 % of all deaths from COVID-19 have been in these three states .
While New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as seen below , it notched between 8,000 and 10,000 new cases each day between March 31 and April 12 .
To understand how one state 's outbreak compares with another 's , it 's helpful to look at not just the daily counts but the rate of change day over day .
In the following chart , we display cases on a logarithmic scale , meaning that every axis line is 10 times greater than the previous one .
This type of scale emphasizes the rate of change .
When case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's curve trends sharply upward , as New York 's does over the first 15 days past 100 cases .
Generally , this is evidence of unbridled community transmission of the disease .
As new cases slow , the curve bends toward horizontal , showing that the state 's outbreak may be leveling off .
This does n't mean the number of cases has stopped growing , but the rate of growth has slowed , which could signify that social distancing measures are having an effect .
In some areas , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the earliest outbreaks — such as California and Washington — seem to be having success at suppressing the disease .
The outlook in Washington has improved to the point that the state has returned unused Army hospital beds it had received in preparation for a peak in cases .
Elsewhere , limited access to testing may make the number of cases look smaller than it really is .
As testing becomes more readily available , we are likely to see the number of confirmed cases continue to grow , even if not at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used here are 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 .
State-by-state testing and hospitalization data are still being assessed for reliability .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local health department 's website .
Stephanie Adeline , Alyson Hurt , Connie Hanzhang Jin , Ruth Talbot and Thomas Wilburn contributed to 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--2020-04-30--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--2020-04-30--In Forecasting Hurricane Dorian, Models Fell Short

Hurricane forecasters and the models they depend on failed to anticipate the strength and impact of last year 's deadliest storm .
Hurricane Dorian caused catastrophic damage to islands in the Northern Bahamas , killing more than 200 people and causing billions of dollars in damage .
A new report from the National Hurricane Center studied the storm 's formation and development and how well meteorologists did predicting its track and intensity .
The verdict ?
Meteorologists did not do a good job predicting Dorian 's formation .
Dorian began as a small disturbance in an area in the Caribbean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppress hurricane formation .
The European computer model , the one that 's been most reliable in recent years , failed to predict its formation .
Another model , the GFS , predicted it would form much further east .
As it began to take shape , forecasters were unable to determine where the storm 's center would be .
The head of the National Hurricane Center , Ken Graham said , `` Dorian 's forecast was extremely difficult because we were tracking three centers . ''
One early track for Dorian had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were expected to tear the storm apart .
Another showed it heading toward Florida .
The surprise came when , as Dorian formed , its track shifted to the right .
Graham said , `` That means less interaction with land , warm water ( and ) more time to get geared up and stronger and eventually reach Category 5 strength before reaching the northwestern Bahamas . ''
After the formation stage , the NHC report said forecasters mostly got the storm 's track right .
Where forecasters and the computer models fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ None of the models anticipated Dorian would strengthen into a catastrophic Category 5 storm with sustained wind speeds as high as 185 miles per hour .
Although some models and the official NHC forecast indicated Dorian 's forward motion would slow as it neared the Bahamas , none predicted the storm would stall there , pounding Great Abaco for several hours with intense winds and subjecting it to tropical storm force winds for three days .
More than 29-thousand people left homeless on Abaco and Grand Bahama Island and total damage from Dorian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dorian was the strongest hurricane in modern records to make landfall in the Bahamas .
The name Dorian may eventually be retired .
The World Meteorological Organization ( WMO ) which maintains the list of names assigned to hurricanes , routinely retires the names of the most devastating storms .
But this year , because of the coronavirus pandemic , the WMO held its annual meeting his year by video conference , and wo n't make decisions about which names will be retired until next year .

In Forecasting Hurricane Dorian, Models Fell Short
Enlarge this image toggle caption Russell Lewis/NPR Russell Lewis/NPR
Hurricane forecasters and the models they depend on failed to anticipate the strength and impact of last year's deadliest storm. Hurricane Dorian caused catastrophic damage to islands in the Northern Bahamas, killing more than 200 people and causing billions of dollars in damage.
A new report from the National Hurricane Center studied the storm's formation and development and how well meteorologists did predicting its track and intensity. The verdict? Meteorologists did not do a good job predicting Dorian's formation. Dorian began as a small disturbance in an area in the Caribbean with dry air, which tends to suppress hurricane formation. The European computer model, the one that's been most reliable in recent years, failed to predict its formation. Another model, the GFS, predicted it would form much further east.
As it began to take shape, forecasters were unable to determine where the storm's center would be. The head of the National Hurricane Center, Ken Graham said, "Dorian's forecast was extremely difficult because we were tracking three centers." One early track for Dorian had it crossing over Hispaniola where high mountains were expected to tear the storm apart. Another showed it heading toward Florida. The surprise came when, as Dorian formed, its track shifted to the right. Graham said, "That means less interaction with land, warm water (and) more time to get geared up and stronger and eventually reach Category 5 strength before reaching the northwestern Bahamas."
After the formation stage, the NHC report said forecasters mostly got the storm's track right. Where forecasters and the computer models fell short was predicting Dorian's intensity. None of the models anticipated Dorian would strengthen into a catastrophic Category 5 storm with sustained wind speeds as high as 185 miles per hour. Although some models and the official NHC forecast indicated Dorian's forward motion would slow as it neared the Bahamas, none predicted the storm would stall there, pounding Great Abaco for several hours with intense winds and subjecting it to tropical storm force winds for three days. More than 29-thousand people left homeless on Abaco and Grand Bahama Island and total damage from Dorian was estimated at $3.4 billion.
Dorian was the strongest hurricane in modern records to make landfall in the Bahamas. The name Dorian may eventually be retired. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) which maintains the list of names assigned to hurricanes, routinely retires the names of the most devastating storms. But this year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the WMO held its annual meeting his year by video conference, and won't make decisions about which names will be retired until next year.


npr--2020-04-30--South Korea Reports No New Domestic Coronavirus Cases

South Korea , which waged an early battle against COVID-19 after the disease emerged from China , said on Thursday that it had no new domestic cases for the first time since a surge nearly ten weeks ago .
The country experienced its first case on Jan. 20 , but did n't see infections ramp up until mid-February .
They peaked on Feb. 29 with 909 daily cases and have been trending down ever since .
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported just four new coronavirus infections on Thursday , all of them cases that came from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total number in the country to 10,765 , with 247 deaths .
Thursday 's milestone is seen as a victory for South Korea , which has received international praise for its handling of the pandemic , with its heavy reliance on widespread testing , isolation and contact tracing to control COVID-19 .
Even with the slowdown , local health authorities remain on alert over a series of holidays that begin on Thursday with Buddha 's Birthday , followed by May Day on Friday and Children 's Day next week , Yonhap news agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they had concluded there was no local transmission of the virus during parliamentary elections earlier this month in which authorities required voters to wear masks and gloves while casting ballots , Reuters reports .
`` Twenty-nine million voters participated in the April 15 parliamentary election ... Not one case related to the election has been reported during the 14 days of incubation period , '' Yoon Tae-ho , director general for public health policy , told a briefing , according to Reuters .

South Korea Reports No New Domestic Coronavirus Cases
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
South Korea, which waged an early battle against COVID-19 after the disease emerged from China, said on Thursday that it had no new domestic cases for the first time since a surge nearly 10 weeks ago.
The country experienced its first case on Jan. 20, but didn't see infections ramp up until mid-February. They peaked on Feb. 29 with 909 daily cases and have been trending down ever since.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported just four new coronavirus infections on Thursday, all of them cases that came from outside the country. That brings the total number in the country to 10,765, with 247 deaths.
Thursday's milestone is seen as a victory for South Korea, which has received international praise for its handling of the pandemic, with its heavy reliance on widespread testing, isolation and contact tracing to control COVID-19.
Even with the slowdown, local health authorities remain on alert over a series of holidays that begin on Thursday with Buddha's Birthday, followed by May Day on Friday and Children's Day next week, Yonhap news agency reports.
Health officials also said Thursday that they had concluded there was no local transmission of the virus during parliamentary elections earlier this month in which authorities required voters to wear masks and gloves while casting ballots, Reuters reports.
"Twenty-nine million voters participated in the April 15 parliamentary election ... Not one case related to the election has been reported during the 14 days of incubation period," Yoon Tae-ho, director general for public health policy, told a briefing, according to Reuters.


npr--2020-04-30--Biden Announces Vice Presidential Search Committee

Former Vice President Joe Biden formally began the process of selecting a running mate on Thursday morning , releasing the names of former and current Democratic officials who will lead his search for a vice presidential candidate , who Biden has said will be a woman .
Former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd , Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Cynthia C. Hogan , a top aide to Biden in the Senate and White House , will lead the search over the coming months .
`` Selecting a vice presidential candidate is one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no one knows this more than Joe Biden , '' campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said in a statement .
`` These four co-chairs reflect the strength and diversity of our party , and will provide tremendous insight and expertise to what will be a rigorous selection and vetting process .
We are grateful for their service to the campaign and for their leadership . ''
The team will also include what 's described as `` a network of vetting teams '' working under former Obama White House counsel Bob Bauer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Obama homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco .
Biden 's pledge to pick a woman as his running mate intensified speculation since his path to the Democratic nomination became clear .
Several potential candidates have addressed the prospect in interviews in recent weeks .
Biden said he 'd consider California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate just one day after she ended her own bid for president late last year .
A Biden-Harris ticket has the potential to increase turnout and support among black voters .
While Biden praised Harris ' efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she has campaigned on his behalf , the two famously sparred in the first Democratic primary debate when Harris criticized Biden 's past stance on school busing , an issue which had affected Harris personally .
When asked in an interview on April 16 if she would accept an offer to be Biden 's running mate , Harris stressed that her focus is on fighting COVID-19 while adding , `` Obviously , I 'd be honored to serve with Joe . ''
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has also been floated and would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
Biden and Warren have not seen eye to eye on a number of issues — notably clashing on bankruptcy policy 15 years ago , though Biden has since endorsed Warren 's bankruptcy reform plan .
Warren is also a supporter of `` Medicare for All , '' a key progressive policy priority that Biden does not support .
As a running mate , Warren has the potential to bring in more liberal voters who may be wary of Biden 's record as a centrist .
On April 15 , Warren said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer to be Biden 's running mate .
When asked in another interview on the network about the prospects of an all-white ticket , Warren responded , `` That is a decision that will be up to the vice president . ''
Former Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams is another possible contender .
Abrams is seen as someone who could boost voter turnout among black voters and progressives , especially considering black voters in Georgia turned out at a higher rate for her 2018 campaign than in the 2016 general election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ through her organization Fair Fight Action since her campaign ended .
One of Abrams ' biggest potential drawbacks is that she does not have any federal experience .
Abrams has been the most vocal about her interest in being Biden 's running mate over the past weeks .
`` I would be an excellent running mate , '' Abrams first said in an interview with Elle magazine published earlier this month .
Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer has become one of the most frequently mentioned picks because of her rising profile governing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
In her 2018 race , Whitmer won in nine counties that voted for President Trump in 2016 .
As Biden faces an allegation of sexual assault which his campaign denies , Whitmer has been open about her own experience as a sexual assault survivor .
In an interview with NPR on April 14 , Whitmer chose not to voice her outright opinion on the accusation by a former Biden Senate staffer named Tara Reade .
`` It is something that no one takes lightly , '' she said .
Other possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Amy Klobuchar , who also ran for president this year , have been asked about the allegation , voicing support for Biden .
When asked about the prospect of being Biden 's running mate , Whitmer told NPR that she 's focusing on her current role , but leaving the door open .
`` It 's absolutely flattering to be considered among a massive group of women leaders across the nation , '' she said .
Conversations about representation in the Democratic Party have become more frequent in recent years and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden to choose a woman of color for the ticket .
One of Biden 's search committee co-chairs , Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester , was the first person of color and first woman ever elected to Congress from Biden 's home state of Delaware .
Several other Democrats have been rumored as potential picks for Biden , including Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto , New Mexico Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham and Florida Rep. Val Demmings , all women of color .

Biden Announces Vice Presidential Search Committee
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paul Sancya/AP Paul Sancya/AP
Former Vice President Joe Biden formally began the process of selecting a running mate on Thursday morning, releasing the names of former and current Democratic officials who will lead his search for a vice presidential candidate, who Biden has said will be a woman.
Former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Cynthia C. Hogan, a top aide to Biden in the Senate and White House, will lead the search over the coming months.
"Selecting a vice presidential candidate is one of the most important decisions in a presidential campaign and no one knows this more than Joe Biden," campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said in a statement. "These four co-chairs reflect the strength and diversity of our party, and will provide tremendous insight and expertise to what will be a rigorous selection and vetting process. We are grateful for their service to the campaign and for their leadership."
The team will also include what's described as "a network of vetting teams" working under former Obama White House counsel Bob Bauer, Biden campaign general counsel Dana Remus and former Obama homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco.
Biden's pledge to pick a woman as his running mate intensified speculation since his path to the Democratic nomination became clear. Several potential candidates have addressed the prospect in interviews in recent weeks.
Biden said he would consider California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate just one day after she ended her own bid for president late last year. A Biden-Harris ticket has the potential to increase turnout and support among black voters. While Biden praised Harris' efforts after she dropped out in December and she has campaigned on his behalf, the two famously sparred in the first Democratic primary debate when Harris criticized Biden's past stance on school busing, an issue that had affected Harris personally.
When asked in an interview on April 16 whether she would accept an offer to be Biden's running mate, Harris stressed that her focus is on fighting COVID-19 while adding, "Obviously, I'd be honored to serve with Joe."
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has also been floated and would be one of the most progressive choices for Biden. Biden and Warren have not seen eye to eye on a number of issues — notably clashing on bankruptcy policy 15 years ago, though Biden has since endorsed Warren's bankruptcy reform plan. Warren is also a supporter of "Medicare for All," a key progressive policy priority that Biden does not support. As a running mate, Warren has the potential to bring in more liberal voters who may be wary of Biden's record as a centrist.
On April 15, Warren said on MSNBC that she would accept the offer to be Biden's running mate. When asked in another interview on the network about the prospects of an all-white ticket, Warren responded, "That is a decision that will be up to the vice president."
Former Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams is another possible contender. Abrams is seen as someone who could boost voter turnout among black voters and progressives, especially considering black voters in Georgia turned out at a higher rate for her 2018 campaign than in the 2016 general election. Abrams has focused on addressing voter suppression through her organization Fair Fight Action since her campaign ended. One of Abrams' biggest potential drawbacks is that she does not have any federal experience.
Abrams has been the most vocal about her interest in being Biden's running mate over the past weeks. "I would be an excellent running mate," Abrams first said in an interview with Elle magazine published earlier this month.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has become one of the most frequently mentioned picks because of her rising profile governing a state at the center of the COVID-19 pandemic. In her 2018 race, Whitmer won in nine counties that voted for President Trump in 2016.
As Biden faces an allegation of sexual assault, which his campaign denies, Whitmer has been open about her own experience as a sexual assault survivor. In an interview with NPR on April 14, Whitmer chose not to voice her outright opinion on the accusation by a former Biden Senate staffer named Tara Reade. "It is something that no one takes lightly," she said.
Other possible running mates, including Abrams and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who also ran for president this year, have been asked about the allegation and voiced support for Biden.
When asked about the prospect of being Biden's running mate, Whitmer told NPR that she's focusing on her current role, but leaving the door open. "It's absolutely flattering to be considered among a massive group of women leaders across the nation," she said.
Conversations about representation in the Democratic Party have become more frequent in recent years and many in the party have explicitly called on Biden to choose a woman of color for the ticket. One of Biden's search committee co-chairs, Rochester, was the first person of color and first woman ever elected to Congress from Biden's home state of Delaware.
Several other Democrats have been rumored as potential picks for Biden, including Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Florida Rep. Val Demings, all women of color.


npr--2020-04-30--Civilian Mariners Say Strict Navy Coronavirus Restrictions Are Unfair

The Navy has ordered members of its Military Sealift Command — a group of civilian mariners who supply military vessels around the world — to stay on their ships in an effort to prevent outbreaks of the coronavirus .
A `` gangway up '' order enforcing the lock-down was issued on March 21 .
But more than 20 civilian mariners from ships on missions or in ports and naval bases around the world told NPR it 's an overly harsh move , undercut by another decision to allow others — including Navy personnel and outside contractors — to come and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down only applies to civilian mariners .
A similar order was not made for the Navy 's military personnel .
Even when a ship is docked and on a Navy base , the civilian mariners , known as CIVMARS , say they ca n't leave to see family or go to previously planned medical appointments , and they say there is n't enough personal protective equipment to go around .
`` I feel like a prisoner , '' says one man who ca n't leave a docked ship to go to his house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He says family members of the crew come to the chain link fence at the edge of the pier , to talk or bring medicines and food .
The civilian mariners NPR spoke to said they feared retaliation and NPR agreed to identify them by their first names or not name them at all .
`` I live in my office , '' says a chief mate on one ship .
`` I live with my coworkers .
I eat every dinner , every meal with my boss .
There 's nowhere for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escape . ''
The order is n't a two-week quarantine of people who 'd been exposed to the coronavirus .
It 's still in effect more than five weeks after it was issued and without a time limit .
A senior MSC official , in sending the order , said the `` unprecedented challenge '' of the coronavirus required `` swift implementation of actions that will protect the health of our afloat units and preserve our warfighting and humanitarian readiness . ''
And it 's worked pretty well : In contrast to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sailors on a crew of about 4850 have tested positive , the virus has not spread through the command 's ships .
But many of those civilian mariners are furious at the loss of their liberty and say it does n't make sense that the `` gangway up '' order applies only to them , and that Navy personnel and contractors move on and off the ships .
Three unions that represent them have filed a grievance against the Navy .
The MSC operates some 125 ships that supply the military , mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with everything from fuel , food and ammunition .
Some ships have civilian crews only , but in port can have Navy sailors and outside contractors on board .
Other `` hybrid ships '' include both civilian mariners and Navy crew .
CIVMARS also are key to shipyard repairs of the Navy 's own aging fleet of ships .
When coronavirus broke out on the Roosevelt , after a port call in Vietnam , it was the crew on the nearby MSC cargo ship , the USNS Richard E. Byrd , that took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aircraft carrier , says John Konrad , a former oil rig captain who runs the maritime website gCaptain .
Those CIVMARS , working with minimal personal protective gear or test kits , decontaminated and stored those items from the Roosevelt .
No one on the civilian ship got sick .
Another outbreak was reported this week on the USS Kidd .
But on the MSC ships , which include the hospital ships USNS Mercy and Comfort that have responded to the pandemic , there have been just a handful of cases of mariners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spokesperson .
Still , to the civilian mariners , that protection has come with what they see as a double standard that comes down hardest on them .
One woman spoke from a ship in a West Coast port as she looked out the window .
Some of the Navy crew , from the ship hers was supporting , were on the pier jogging .
But she had n't been allowed off her ship in five weeks .
`` As I 'm looking out the window , I feel like a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't go outside , ' and I watched the other kids play , '' she says .
`` You restrict our liberty , [ in ] the name of protecting us from coronavirus , '' says another CIVMAR .
`` But we are still exposed to the military personnel that go on and come back to work .
And the contractors that have some jobs to do on the ship .
They go home and they come back . ''
He says the Navy personnel and contractors do n't always wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a ship , mariners and the MSC report .
Their temperature is taken .
They 're asked questions about symptoms and if they 've been exposed to someone who 's sick .
Two civilian mariners working at a Massachusetts shipyard have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last few days .
Although the source of their exposure is n't certain , several outside contractors at the shipyard had tested positive earlier , says Tom Van Leunen , a spokesperson for the MSC .
In addition , he notes , there have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mariners on the USNS Comfort , the hospital ship that is ending its deployment in New York .
The MSC says any shortages of protective gear are sporadic .
There are also few test kits , civilian mariners say , to determine if someone has the virus .
Many civilian mariners say they have access to N95 masks — at least in the last few weeks .
Others , particularly those on ships now at sea , say they still ca n't get the proper protective gear .
Like one civilian mariner who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repaired .
He says until he can get the proper mask , he 's not going to wear any covering .
`` I figure , if I 've got to wear a cloth over my face like a bandit from the Old West , it 's not really worth it .
Cause a piece of cloth is not going to stop a micro-organism that 's airborne . ''
The unions are asking for proper gear .
Also , in their legal grievance , for extra pay for those confined to their ships .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the current friction reflects some simmering resentments of crew with management that have resulted from staff shortages and stalled promotions .
She notes that many CIVMARS are older — often veterans or retired military — in their 40s , 50s and early 60s .
Many , because of age and underlying health conditions , are more at risk if they contract COVID-19 .
Those civilian mariners are in jeopardy because the policy allows younger Navy sailors freedom to come and go on those same ships .
`` They 're allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make good choices , '' she says .
`` They 're kids in the Navy . ''
Salvatore Mercogliano , a professor at Campbell University with an expertise in military and maritime history , says CIVMARS he has spoken to have mixed feelings about the lock down .
Many appreciate that they 've been kept safe from the coronavirus .
But they 're government employees , not military ones who are more used to restrictive orders from their superiors .
`` It 's very easy for the Navy to sit there and say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We do this all the time . '
'' says Mercogliano.
`` Well , Navy sailors are paid 24/7 , they get benefits that civilian mariners do n't get , '' including veterans benefits when they leave the Navy .
`` If you told any government employee , '' he says , `` that they could n't go home or they could n't do anything , then they 'd want to be paid for that . ''
Konrad thinks the MSC 's quick and strict response to the pandemic could be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Navy overall and the burden not left to CIVMARS alone .
`` These gangway up policies and extra procedures are working on board the MSC ships .
They 've been working on board for weeks . ''
Similar policies , he says , may have prevented the widespread outbreak on the Roosevelt .
Meanwhile , the civilian mariners are frustrated as their movement is restricted .
One working in an East Coast shipyard , notes the Navy 's ban on alcohol on ships .
`` I want to get off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and go to a bar and drink a couple of beers and have some real food for a change . ''

Civilian Mariners Say Strict Navy Coronavirus Restrictions Are Unfair
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mike Blake/Reuters Mike Blake/Reuters
The Navy has ordered members of its Military Sealift Command — a group of civilian mariners who supply military vessels around the world — to stay on their ships in an effort to prevent outbreaks of the coronavirus. A "gangway up" order enforcing the lock-down was issued on March 21.
But more than 20 civilian mariners from ships on missions or in ports and naval bases around the world told NPR it's an overly harsh move, undercut by another decision to allow others — including Navy personnel and outside contractors — to come and go on the ships. The lock down only applies to civilian mariners. A similar order was not made for the Navy's military personnel.
Even when a ship is docked and on a Navy base, the civilian mariners, known as CIVMARS, say they can't leave to see family or go to previously planned medical appointments, and they say there isn't enough personal protective equipment to go around.
"I feel like a prisoner," says one man who can't leave a docked ship to go to his house, just a 10-minute drive away. He says family members of the crew come to the chain link fence at the edge of the pier, to talk or bring medicines and food.
The civilian mariners NPR spoke to said they feared retaliation and NPR agreed to identify them by their first names or not name them at all.
"I live in my office," says a chief mate on one ship. "I live with my coworkers. I eat every dinner, every meal with my boss. There's nowhere for us to go. We have no escape."
The order isn't a two-week quarantine of people who'd been exposed to the coronavirus. It's still in effect more than five weeks after it was issued and without a time limit. A senior MSC official, in sending the order, said the "unprecedented challenge" of the coronavirus required "swift implementation of actions that will protect the health of our afloat units and preserve our warfighting and humanitarian readiness."
And it's worked pretty well: In contrast to the USS Theodore Roosevelt, where almost 1000 sailors on a crew of about 4850 have tested positive, the virus has not spread through the command's ships.
But many of those civilian mariners are furious at the loss of their liberty and say it doesn't make sense that the "gangway up" order applies only to them, and that Navy personnel and contractors move on and off the ships. Three unions that represent them have filed a grievance against the Navy.
The MSC operates some 125 ships that supply the military, mostly Navy ships, around the world, with everything from fuel, food and ammunition. Some ships have civilian crews only, but in port can have Navy sailors and outside contractors on board. Other "hybrid ships" include both civilian mariners and Navy crew. CIVMARS also are key to shipyard repairs of the Navy's own aging fleet of ships.
When coronavirus broke out on the Roosevelt, after a port call in Vietnam, it was the crew on the nearby MSC cargo ship, the USNS Richard E. Byrd, that took the trash and contaminated equipment from the aircraft carrier, says John Konrad, a former oil rig captain who runs the maritime website gCaptain. Those CIVMARS, working with minimal personal protective gear or test kits, decontaminated and stored those items from the Roosevelt. No one on the civilian ship got sick.
Another outbreak was reported this week on the USS Kidd.
But on the MSC ships, which include the hospital ships USNS Mercy and Comfort that have responded to the pandemic, there have been just a handful of cases of mariners being diagnosed with COVID-19, according to a spokesperson.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mike Segar/Reuters Mike Segar/Reuters
Still, to the civilian mariners, that protection has come with what they see as a double standard that comes down hardest on them.
One woman spoke from a ship in a West Coast port as she looked out the window. Some of the Navy crew, from the ship hers was supporting, were on the pier jogging. But she hadn't been allowed off her ship in five weeks. "As I'm looking out the window, I feel like a little child when my mother said, 'You can't go outside,' and I watched the other kids play," she says.
"You restrict our liberty, [in] the name of protecting us from coronavirus," says another CIVMAR. "But we are still exposed to the military personnel that go on and come back to work. And the contractors that have some jobs to do on the ship. They go home and they come back."
He says the Navy personnel and contractors don't always wear masks.
Everyone is screened before they get on a ship, mariners and the MSC report. Their temperature is taken. They're asked questions about symptoms and if they've been exposed to someone who's sick.
Two civilian mariners working at a Massachusetts shipyard have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last few days. Although the source of their exposure isn't certain, several outside contractors at the shipyard had tested positive earlier, says Tom Van Leunen, a spokesperson for the MSC. In addition, he notes, there have been a couple of confirmed cases of civilian mariners on the USNS Comfort, the hospital ship that is ending its deployment in New York.
The MSC says any shortages of protective gear are sporadic.
There are also few test kits, civilian mariners say, to determine if someone has the virus.
Many civilian mariners say they have access to N95 masks — at least in the last few weeks. Others, particularly those on ships now at sea, say they still can't get the proper protective gear.
Like one civilian mariner who works on a ship that's being repaired.
He says until he can get the proper mask, he's not going to wear any covering.
"I figure, if I've got to wear a cloth over my face like a bandit from the Old West, it's not really worth it. Cause a piece of cloth is not going to stop a micro-organism that's airborne."
The unions are asking for proper gear. Also, in their legal grievance, for extra pay for those confined to their ships.
One veteran mariner, close to retirement, said the current friction reflects some simmering resentments of crew with management that have resulted from staff shortages and stalled promotions.
She notes that many CIVMARS are older — often veterans or retired military — in their 40s, 50s and early 60s. Many, because of age and underlying health conditions, are more at risk if they contract COVID-19. Those civilian mariners are in jeopardy because the policy allows younger Navy sailors freedom to come and go on those same ships. "They're allowed to go out and get sick and not make good choices," she says. "They're kids in the Navy."
Salvatore Mercogliano, a professor at Campbell University with an expertise in military and maritime history, says CIVMARS he has spoken to have mixed feelings about the lock down. Many appreciate that they've been kept safe from the coronavirus. But they're government employees, not military ones who are more used to restrictive orders from their superiors.
"It's very easy for the Navy to sit there and say, 'Hey, suck it up Mariners. We do this all the time.'" says Mercogliano. " Well, Navy sailors are paid 24/7, they get benefits that civilian mariners don't get," including veterans benefits when they leave the Navy.
"If you told any government employee," he says, "that they couldn't go home or they couldn't do anything, then they'd want to be paid for that."
Konrad thinks the MSC's quick and strict response to the pandemic could be a model, if it had been adopted by the Navy overall and the burden not left to CIVMARS alone. "These gangway up policies and extra procedures are working on board the MSC ships. They've been working on board for weeks." Similar policies, he says, may have prevented the widespread outbreak on the Roosevelt.
Meanwhile, the civilian mariners are frustrated as their movement is restricted. One working in an East Coast shipyard, notes the Navy's ban on alcohol on ships.
"I want to get off the ship," he says, "and go to a bar and drink a couple of beers and have some real food for a change."


npr--2020-04-30--A Next-Generation Coronavirus Test Raises Hopes And Concerns

States clamoring for coronavirus tests in recent weeks have been talking about two different types .
First , there 's a PCR test that detects the virus ' genetic material , so can confirm an active infection .
And then there 's an antibody test , which looks at the body 's reaction to that infection , so is useful in identifying people who have been infected with the virus in the past .
Now , there 's a third kind of test under development to help fight COVID-19 that homes in on proteins that stud the virus 's outer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an active infection .
Known as an antigen test , this one could offer a much easier and more widely available alternative for diagnosis than the PCR test , proponents say , though some other scientists remain concerned about the test 's reliability .
`` We have to have a breakthrough innovation in testing , '' Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House Coronavirus Task Force said recently on Meet the Press in her most recent pitch for antigen tests .
`` We have to be able to detect antigen rather than constantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the viral particles itself . ''
Though there are no authorized coronavirus antigen tests on the market yet , several companies are already working on them , including one that has started seeking a stamp of approval from the Food and Drug Administration .
`` It 's very exciting , '' says Lee Gehrke , a microbiologist at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who is involved with E25BIO , a Cambridge , Mass.
, company developing the test .
`` It could change the landscape for testing . ''
OraSure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also developing an antigen test that would enable people to test themselves at home from a saliva sample .
`` Having a rapid antigen — in-home — self-test will help both combat the virus and also individual fear , '' says Stephen Tang , the company 's chief executive officer .
`` It actually gives the individual a bit of control and understanding — whether they 're infectious and whether family members are infectious .
So I think it starts to get us back in a mindset where we can control our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that such a test could be very helpful .
`` Rapid antigen tests would be valuable because of their speed , '' Tom Inglesby , who directs the Johns Hopkins Center for Biosecurity , wrote in an email .
But Inglesby and others caution that any antigen tests would have to be carefully vetted to make sure they 're accurate .
Relaxed oversight by the FDA recently has raised concerns about the reliability of some other kinds of tests — such as antibody tests — which are being marketed aggressively by some companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look for other types of infections , such as testing for the flu , or for strep in someone with a sore throat , antigen tests have tended to miss more infected people than the PCR tests for coronavirus typically do , experts say .
`` We know an awful lot about the performance of antigen detection tests , '' says Frederick Nolte , who heads testing at the Medical College of South Carolina .
`` And we know that that sensitivity leaves a lot to be desired . ''
Generally , antigen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 percent of infections , Nolte and others say , and that 's likely not good enough for many uses of a diagnostic test for the coronavirus .
`` If you 're using this test to screen people to make sure that they 're not infected , and that they go back to work or things like that , then you 'd be giving people the message that they are not infected when actually they are — and therefore transmitting the new coronavirus , '' says Jesse Papenburg , an infectious disease expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to see if people are actively infected with the virus are sophisticated molecular tests that can spot its genetic material in specimens swabbed from inside peoples ' noses and throats .
Most use the technique known as polymerase chain reaction — PCR — to generate and analyze millions of copies of genetic sequences from the virus .
But those tests require sophisticated equipment , highly trained technicians and complicated processes that use specialized chemicals ; those strict requirements of PCR tests , and problems in reliably meeting them , have all contributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is considered crucial for determining the scope of the pandemic , bringing it under control and keeping large new outbreaks from occurring .
Testing enables public health authorities to spot new infections quickly so patients can be isolated and so anyone they might have had contact with .
Typically , antigen tests are much easier and less expensive to manufacture and simpler to perform than either PCR tests or antibody tests .
The same technology is used in pregnancy tests .
`` It looks very much like a pregnancy test .
And they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require special chemicals or training to use them .
And they can give you a read out in about 15 minutes or so , '' says Gehrke , one of the collaborators on the E25BIO test .
Gehrke says his company 's test appears to be very accurate when evaluated with samples of the virus in the lab .
`` The difficult question — and the one we want to ask — is how well does it perform on samples from real patients , '' Gehrke says .
Papenburg questions whether antigen test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genetic tests because , unlike those PCR tests , they ca n't produce large quantities of the target proteins — so might be more likely to miss an infection .
Tang says OreSure is also conducting careful studies to ensure the company 's test would be reliable — able to not only detect an infection with the novel coronavirus , but to quickly and accurately discern it from other coronaviruses , such as those that cause the common cold .
`` Our aiming point for our rapid antigen test is to make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tang says , though he acknowledges it remains to be seen how the test will compare to the molecular tests .
It could turn out the antigen test 's results would have to be confirmed by the PCR tests , Tang says .
Another company , Mologic Ltd. of Bedfordshire , UK , is also developing an antigen test and hopes to get it approved by June , according to Fionna Tod , a company spokeswoman .
The test would produce results in 10 minutes and would sell for about $ 1 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helpful in less affluent parts of the world .
In an email , the company 's medical director , Joe Fitchett , noted that genetic tests often use samples gathered through an uncomfortable procedure that involves swabbing deep into the nose .
`` PCR tests using nasal swabs can be deeply uncomfortable , and poor technique is well-documented to lead to false negatives , '' Fitchett says .
`` On the other hand , saliva that can be deployed in a rapid antigen test and could offer better , more user-friendly performance — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
During a briefing Wednesday announcing a $ 1.5 billion effort to speed the development of new coronavirus tests , National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins said it could be possible to develop reliable antigen tests .
`` While traditionally antigen-based tests have lower sensitivity and specificity than do nucleic acid tests , I do n't believe there 's any law of physics that says there has to be the case , '' Collin said .

A Next-Generation Coronavirus Test Raises Hopes And Concerns
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sergii Iaremenko/Science Photo Library/Getty Images Sergii Iaremenko/Science Photo Library/Getty Images
States clamoring for coronavirus tests in recent weeks have been talking about two types.
First, there's a PCR test that detects the virus's genetic material and so can confirm an active infection. And then there's an antibody test, which looks at the body's reaction to that infection and so is useful in identifying people who have been infected with the virus in the past.
Now, there's a third kind of test under development to help fight COVID-19 that homes in on proteins that stud the virus's outer surface; it, too, detects an active infection. Known as an antigen test, this one could offer a much easier and more widely available alternative for diagnosis than the PCR test, proponents say, though some other scientists remain concerned about the test's reliability.
"We have to have a breakthrough innovation in testing," Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House coronavirus task force said recently on Meet the Press in her most recent pitch for antigen tests. "We have to be able to detect antigen rather than constantly trying to detect the actual live virus or the viral particles itself."
Though there are no authorized coronavirus antigen tests on the market yet, several companies are already working on them, including one that has started seeking a stamp of approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
"It's very exciting," says Lee Gehrke, a microbiologist at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who is involved with E25BIO, a Cambridge, Mass., company developing the test. "It could change the landscape for testing."
OraSure Technologies Inc. of Bethlehem, Pa., is also developing an antigen test that would enable people to test themselves at home from a saliva sample.
"Having a rapid antigen — in-home — self-test will help both combat the virus and also individual fear," says Stephen Tang, the company's chief executive officer. "It actually gives the individual a bit of control and understanding — whether they're infectious and whether family members are infectious. So I think it starts to get us back in a mindset where we can control our destiny."
Public health experts agree that such a test could be very helpful.
"Rapid antigen tests would be valuable because of their speed," Tom Inglesby, who directs the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, wrote in an email.
But Inglesby and others caution that any antigen tests would have to be carefully vetted to make sure they're accurate. Relaxed oversight by the FDA recently has raised concerns about the reliability of some other kinds of tests — such as antibody tests — which are being marketed aggressively by some companies with unverified claims.
When used to look for other types of infections, such as testing for the flu, or for strep in someone with a sore throat, antigen tests have tended to miss more infected people than the PCR tests for the coronavirus typically do, experts say.
"We know an awful lot about the performance of antigen detection tests," says Frederick Nolte, who heads testing at the Medical University of South Carolina. "And we know that that sensitivity leaves a lot to be desired."
Generally, antigen tests tend to miss about 15 to 20% of infections, Nolte and others say, and that's likely not good enough for many uses of a diagnostic test for the coronavirus.
"If you're using this test to screen people to make sure that they're not infected, and that they go back to work or things like that, then you'd be giving people the message that they are not infected when actually they are — and therefore transmitting the new coronavirus," says Jesse Papenburg, an infectious disease expert at McGill University.
The tests currently used to see whether people are actively infected with the virus are sophisticated molecular tests that can spot its genetic material in specimens swabbed from inside people's noses and throats. Most use the technique known as polymerase chain reaction — PCR — to generate and analyze millions of copies of genetic sequences from the virus.
But those tests require sophisticated equipment, highly trained technicians and complicated processes that use specialized chemicals; those strict requirements of PCR tests, and problems in reliably meeting them, have contributed to the testing shortage.
Wide-scale testing is considered crucial for determining the scope of the pandemic, bringing it under control and keeping large new outbreaks from occurring. Testing enables public health authorities to spot new infections quickly so patients can be isolated and so anyone they might have had contact with.
Typically, antigen tests are much easier and less expensive to manufacture and simpler to perform than either PCR tests or antibody tests. The same technology is used in pregnancy tests.
"It looks very much like a pregnancy test. And they're very simple. They don't require special chemicals or training to use them. And they can give you a read out in about 15 minutes or so," says Gehrke, one of the collaborators on the E25BIO test.
Gehrke says his company's test appears to be very accurate when evaluated with samples of the virus in the lab.
"The difficult question — and the one we want to ask — is how well does it perform on samples from real patients," Gehrke says.
Papenburg questions whether antigen test could ever be as reliable as the genetic tests because, unlike those PCR tests, they can't produce large quantities of the target proteins — so might be more likely to miss an infection.
Tang says OraSure is also conducting careful studies to ensure the company's test would be reliable — able to not only detect an infection with the novel coronavirus, but also to quickly and accurately discern it from other coronaviruses, such as those that cause the common cold.
"Our aiming point for our rapid antigen test is to make it highly sensitive and highly specific," Tang says, though he acknowledges that it remains to be seen how the test will compare to the molecular tests. It could turn out the antigen test's results would have to be confirmed by the PCR tests, Tang says.
Another company, Mologic in the United Kingdom, is developing an antigen test and hopes to get it approved by June, according to Fionna Tod, a company spokeswoman. The test would produce results in 10 minutes and would sell for about $1, she says, which could be very helpful in less affluent parts of the world.
In an email, the company's medical director, Joe Fitchett, noted that genetic tests often use samples gathered through an uncomfortable procedure that involves swabbing deep into the nose.
"PCR tests using nasal swabs can be deeply uncomfortable, and poor technique is well-documented to lead to false negatives," Fitchett says. "On the other hand, saliva that can be deployed in a rapid antigen test and could offer better, more user-friendly performance — that will be critical for a self-test."
During a briefing Wednesday announcing a $1.5 billion effort to speed the development of new coronavirus tests, National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins said it could be possible to develop reliable antigen tests.
"While traditionally, antigen-based tests have lower sensitivity and specificity than do nucleic acid tests, I don't believe there's any law of physics that says that has to be the case," Collins said.


npr--2020-04-30--Virus Outbreak Poses Political Challenge For Republican In Key Senate Race

In what could be one of the closest Senate races this fall , the coronavirus pandemic has scrambled some of the usual political lines .
North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis , who 's facing re-election to a second term , has found himself on the same side as the state 's Democratic governor , Roy Cooper ( who 's also facing re-election ) in backing the state 's stay-at-home order .
`` We 're moving in the right direction but we have not beaten this virus , '' Tillis said during a telephone town hall with constituents in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can do now is to let our guard down . ''
It 's a stance that has put Tillis at odds with many GOP officials in the state , not to mention the protesters who are holding weekly marches in the state capital to protest Cooper 's order .
`` I 've seen the damage that 's been done by this shutdown , '' said protester Gary Jesmock said at a recent rally .
`` And I think it 's very dangerous . ''
While North Carolina has been spared from the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state 's stay-at-home order has been extended to May 8 .
Tillis took flak early in his term for suggesting public health regulations like mandatory hand washing for restaurant employees be eliminated as a way to cut red tape .
He said businesses could post signs saying they opted out of that rule and that the free market would decide whether that 's a good idea .
Today he repeatedly urges North Carolinians to wear masks and has chided them for not taking the pandemic seriously enough .
`` I have a concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people in North Carolina who are not heeding the advice on social distancing and wearing facial coverings when they go out , '' he said .
In a state that 's been close in the last three presidential elections , Tillis won his first race by one-and-a-half percentage points in what was , at the time , the most expensive Senate race ever .
Democrats need to win at least four Senate seats from Republicans to retake the Senate if Joe Biden also wins the White House .
North Carolina is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican senators are facing well-funded Democratic challengers .
Tillis ' Democratic challenger , Cal Cunningham , says the senator 's praise of Cooper is purely tactical .
`` I think we see once again a very transparent election year effort to grab a hold of what 's popular , '' Cunningham said .
Cunningham , an attorney who served in the Army JAG Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan , says Tillis is n't doing enough to push the Trump administration to send North Carolina more personal protective equipment .
The state has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reserve to safely open reopen .
`` First he said the president exercised decisive leadership , but we still do n't have the testing and the PPE that the governor is calling for , '' he said .
Tillis ' campaign said in a statement that the senator is supporting a `` data-driven , bipartisan approach '' to reopening .
It also criticized Cunningham and Democrats for saying the Trump administration sent masks to China , when it was charities who sent PPE there in the early days of the pandemic .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perilous .
He initially opposed Trump 's emergency declaration to pay for a wall between the U.S. and Mexico in 2019 .
Conservatives were furious .
Tillis reversed himself , but not before twice getting booed at Trump rallies .
Trump has endorsed Tillis , but has n't forgotten , bringing it up during a January visit to Charlotte .
`` We had a good relationship , but we sort of disagreed on a couple of minor policies , '' Trump said .
`` That 's OK. Of course , I wo n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thom Tillis . ''
So far Tillis has backed the recommendations from the White House coronavirus task force .
But when asked about the president 's suggestion that injecting disinfectant might kill the virus , the Tillis campaign did not respond directly , saying only that people who think they are sick should see their doctor .
As North Carolina moves to reopen , Tillis will have to balance the caution from the state 's liberal and harder-hit regions like Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham with rural , conservative areas .
Last week , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tillis by phone that he 's worried the Main Street stores in his small city of Mt .
Airy will never reopen .
`` I 've seen a lot of things , '' Rice said .
`` But I 'm gon na tell you , this is a very serious , serious situation .
Otherwise you are going to come to Mt .
Airy North Carolina which was a lively little town and you are going to find ... nothing . ''
Six years ago , Surry County – home to Mt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest margins of victory in the state .
A question for his re-election is whether voters there and in other parts of the state will accept his caution .

Virus Outbreak Poses Political Challenge For Republican In Key Senate Race
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mike McCarn/AP Mike McCarn/AP
In what could be one of the closest Senate races this fall, the coronavirus pandemic has scrambled some of the usual political lines.
North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who's facing reelection to a second term, has found himself on the same side as the state's Democratic governor, Roy Cooper (who's also facing reelection) in backing the state's stay-at-home order.
"We're moving in the right direction but we have not beaten this virus," Tillis said during a telephone town hall with constituents in April. "And the last thing we can do now is to let our guard down."
It's a stance that has put Tillis at odds with many GOP officials in the state, not to mention the protesters who are holding weekly marches in the state capital to protest Cooper's order.
"I've seen the damage that's been done by this shutdown," said protester Gary Jesmock said at a recent rally. "And I think it's very dangerous."
While North Carolina has been spared from the worst of the virus so far, the state's stay-at-home order has been extended to May 8.
Tillis took flak early in his term for suggesting public health regulations like mandatory hand washing for restaurant employees be eliminated as a way to cut red tape. He said businesses could post signs saying they opted out of that rule and that the free market would decide whether that's a good idea.
Today he repeatedly urges North Carolinians to wear masks and has chided them for not taking the pandemic seriously enough.
"I have a concern that we still have a significant number of people in North Carolina who are not heeding the advice on social distancing and wearing facial coverings when they go out," he said.
In a state that's been close in the last three presidential elections, Tillis won his first race by one-and-a-half percentage points in what was, at the time, the most expensive Senate race ever.
Democrats need to win at least four Senate seats from Republicans to retake the Senate if Joe Biden also wins the White House. North Carolina is one of a handful of swing states where Republican senators are facing well-funded Democratic challengers.
Tillis' Democratic challenger, Cal Cunningham, says the senator's praise of Cooper is purely tactical.
"I think we see once again a very transparent election year effort to grab a hold of what's popular," Cunningham said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gerry Broome/AP Gerry Broome/AP
Cunningham, an attorney who served in the Army JAG Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan, says Tillis isn't doing enough to push the Trump administration to send North Carolina more personal protective equipment. The state has said it doesn't have enough PPE in reserve to safely open reopen.
"First he said the president exercised decisive leadership, but we still don't have the testing and the PPE that the governor is calling for," he said.
Tillis' campaign said in a statement that the senator is supporting a "data-driven, bipartisan approach" to reopening. It also criticized Cunningham and Democrats for saying the Trump administration sent masks to China, when it was charities who sent PPE there in the early days of the pandemic.
For Tillis, challenging the president has been perilous.
He initially opposed Trump's emergency declaration to pay for a wall between the U.S. and Mexico in 2019. Conservatives were furious. Tillis reversed himself, but not before twice getting booed at Trump rallies.
Trump has endorsed Tillis, but hasn't forgotten, bringing it up during a January visit to Charlotte.
"We had a good relationship, but we sort of disagreed on a couple of minor policies," Trump said. "That's OK. Of course, I won't put up with it for long, Thom Tillis."
So far Tillis has backed the recommendations from the White House coronavirus task force. But when asked about the president's suggestion that injecting disinfectant might kill the virus, the Tillis campaign did not respond directly, saying only that people who think they are sick should see their doctor.
As North Carolina moves to reopen, Tillis will have to balance the caution from the state's liberal and harder-hit regions like Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham with rural, conservative areas.
Last week, an 84-year-old retiree, James Rice, told Tillis by phone that he's worried the Main Street stores in his small city of Mt. Airy will never reopen.
"I've seen a lot of things," Rice said. "But I'm gonna tell you, this is a very serious, serious situation. Otherwise you are going to come to Mt. Airy North Carolina which was a lively little town and you are going to find...nothing."
Six years ago, Surry County — home to Mt. Airy — gave Tillis one of his biggest margins of victory in the state. A question for his reelection is whether voters there and in other parts of the state will accept his caution.


npr--2020-04-30--Tell Us: What Will Your New 'Normal' Look Like?

Tell Us : What Will Your New 'Normal ' Look Like ?
After weeks of stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders , @ @ @ @ @ loosening restrictions and allowing some businesses , beaches and other places to reopen .
If @ @ @ @ @ you planning to resume your old routine ?
Will you go back to work , @ @ @ @ @ at a restaurant , or allow your child to get together with other kids ?
@ @ @ @ @ Please fill out the form below or at this link here .
Our reporters may @ @ @ @ @ featured on NPR .
Your submission will be governed by our general Terms of Use @ @ @ @ @ the Privacy Policy says , we want you to be aware that there may be @ @ @ @ @ provided under law for journalistic activities or freedom of expression may override privacy rights you @ @ @ @

Tell Us: What Will Your New 'Normal' Look Like?
Enlarge this image NPR NPR
Updated May 14
After weeks of stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders, many states are looking at loosening restrictions and allowing some businesses, beaches and other places to reopen.
If your state reopens, are you planning to resume your old routine? Will you go back to work, socialize with friends, eat at a restaurant, or allow your child to get together with other kids? How will you decide?
Please fill out the form below. Our reporters may contact you for a story featured on NPR.
This form was closed on May 14.
Your submission will be governed by our general Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. As the Privacy Policy says, we want you to be aware that there may be circumstances in which the exemptions provided under law for journalistic activities or freedom of expression may override privacy rights you might otherwise have.


npr--2020-04-30--Coronavirus Pandemic Complicates Getting Groceries With SNAP

Not long after the shelter-in-place order went into effect in California last month , Melissa Santos and her wife established new rules : they 'd eat breakfast , try to get by with snacks , suppress hunger with coffee , and then have dinner .
Santos is a student at the University of California , Berkeley .
At 32 , she 's older than most of her undergraduate peers ; she spent years taking care of a grandmother with Alzheimer 's before considering her own education and career .
The shelter-in-place order means Santos is allowed to go out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her in a high-risk category for COVID-19 , and her doctor advised her to stay home .
Santos is one of the nearly 40 million Americans on SNAP , the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program commonly known as food stamps , and that number is rising with the coronavirus-related layoffs .
But few online grocery delivery services will accept SNAP payments .
So Santos has faced a stark choice : go out , risk getting severe COVID-19 or starve .
She goes out as little as possible and tries to stock up as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As students they already lived frugal lives , she explains , then breaks into tears .
`` We 're just having to make sure that we have enough for , you know , the next day , '' she says .
The fact that SNAP recipients ca n't get delivery has been a problem ; after all , many have disabilities or restrictive medical conditions .
In 2016 , the U.S. Department of Agriculture , which oversees SNAP , started a pilot program to enable online purchases .
In a statement the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states that wanted to join .
But Kristina Herrmann , director for underserved populations at Amazon , says it 's much more more complicated than it should be .
There are a series of technology hurdles — from stores needing new systems online that differentiate between food and non-food items to states needing new systems to handle new payment processors .
They 're not unsolvable problems , they just have n't been done ; food stamp issues do n't tend to be top-of-mind for most technologists .
Because of COVID-19 , the USDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that wants to join the pilot .
Eleven more were just approved , including California .
Many should be online with authorized retailers by some point in May .
In those states , Walmart will accept SNAP for grocery pickup but not delivery ( and did not respond to NPR 's requests for explanation ) ; Amazon and Amazon Fresh will accept SNAP for online grocery orders , but SNAP customers of Amazon 's Whole Foods chain will still have to shop in person .
So , even where delivery is possible , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of SNAP recipients , still not possible .
The elephant in the room is , of course , Instacart , the leader in U.S. grocery delivery .
Their app lets customers buy from around 25,000 stores in 5,200 cities .
But the government says that because Instacart is not a retailer itself , it ca n't join the program .
Eliza Kinsey , who researches public health at Columbia University , points out that this is about more than food security .
If high-risk people have to go out to get groceries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more pressure we 're going to be putting on the whole healthcare system , '' she says .
It could mean more severe COVID-19 cases .
In other words : this is n't a problem that merely affects poor people or those with medical conditions .
It 's a big problem for everyone .

Coronavirus Pandemic Complicates Getting Groceries With SNAP
Enlarge this image toggle caption Scott Heins/Getty Images Scott Heins/Getty Images
Not long after the shelter-in-place order went into effect in California in March, Melissa Santos and her wife established new rules: they'd eat breakfast, try to get by with snacks, suppress hunger with coffee, and then have dinner.
Santos is a student at the University of California, Berkeley. At 32, she's older than most of her undergraduate peers; she spent years taking care of a grandmother with Alzheimer's before considering her own education and career.
The shelter-in-place order means Santos is allowed to go out to grocery stores, but her obesity puts her in a high-risk category for COVID-19, and her doctor advised her to stay home.
Santos is one of the nearly 40 million Americans on SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program commonly known as food stamps, and that number is rising with the coronavirus-related layoffs. But few online grocery delivery services will accept SNAP payments.
So Santos has faced a stark choice: go out, risk getting severe COVID-19 or starve.
She goes out as little as possible and tries to stock up as much as possible on $194 a month. As students they already lived frugal lives, she explains, then breaks into tears.
"We're just having to make sure that we have enough for, you know, the next day," she says.
The fact that SNAP recipients can't get delivery has been a problem; after all, many have disabilities or restrictive medical conditions. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP, started a pilot program to enable online purchases. In a statement the USDA told NPR they approved all six states that wanted to join.
But Kristina Herrmann, director for underserved populations at Amazon, says it's much more more complicated than it should be.
There are a series of technology hurdles — from stores needing new systems online that differentiate between food and non-food items to states needing new systems to handle new payment processors. They're not unsolvable problems, they just haven't been done; food stamp issues don't tend to be top-of-mind for most technologists.
Europe In Southern Italy, Charity Is Now A Major Means Of Sustenance In Southern Italy, Charity Is Now A Major Means Of Sustenance Listen · 3:20 3:20
Because of COVID-19, the USDA now says it'll fast-track any state that wants to join the pilot. Eleven more were just approved, including California. Many should be online with authorized retailers by some point in May. In those states, Walmart will accept SNAP for grocery pickup but not delivery (and did not respond to NPR's requests for explanation); Amazon and Amazon Fresh will accept SNAP for online grocery orders, but SNAP customers of Amazon's Whole Foods chain will still have to shop in person.
So, even where delivery is possible, options are limited, and for the majority of SNAP recipients, still not possible.
The elephant in the room is, of course, Instacart, the leader in U.S. grocery delivery. Their app lets customers buy from around 25,000 stores in 5,200 cities. But the government says that because Instacart is not a retailer itself, it can't join the program.
Eliza Kinsey, who researches public health at Columbia University, points out that this is about more than food security. If high-risk people have to go out to get groceries, "potentially getting exposure, the more pressure we're going to be putting on the whole healthcare system," she says. It could mean more severe COVID-19 cases. In other words: this isn't a problem that merely affects poor people or those with medical conditions. It's a big problem for everyone.


npr--2020-04-30--Calif. Governor Expected To Order Closure Of All Beaches And State Parks

Calif .
Governor Expected To Order Closure Of All Beaches And State Parks A California Police Chiefs Association memo sent Wednesday informed its members that Gov .
Gavin Newsom will order all California beaches and state parks to close , effective Friday , May 1 .
`` After the well-publicized media coverage of overcrowded beaches this past weekend , in violation of Governor Newsom 's Shelter in Place Order , the Governor will be announcing [ Thursday ] that ALL beaches and all state parks in California will be closed , effective Friday , May 1st , '' the memo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of our members a heads up about this , '' it continued , `` in order to provide time for you to plan for any situations you might expect as a result , knowing each community has its own dynamics . ''
The governor 's office did not immediately respond to NPR 's request for comment .
The memo was first reported by the website Santa Cruz Waves .
The governor 's order would come days after widely-circulated photos showed weekend crowds descending upon beaches in southern California .
Newsom scolded Californians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order and social distancing measures .
`` Those images , '' Newsom said in a press conference Monday , `` are an example of what not to see , people , what not to do if we 're going to make meaningful progress . ''
The state has experienced a record-setting heat wave over the last week , while coronavirus cases continue to surge .
The tens of thousands of people who cooled off along the coastline prompted local government officials to meet and discuss whether to limit crowds .
Officials in Newport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , met on Tuesday and decided to keep beaches open without instituting any further restrictions .
Santa Cruz officials decided Wednesday to put in place a beach curfew , only allowing visitors before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Those planned limitations , which allow some form of beach access , would be overridden once the state order is formally announced .
Newsom said Monday that modifications of statewide measures to control the spread of the coronavirus are `` weeks , not months away . ''
But he warned that any type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and behavior . ''
There is still no expiration date on the statewide stay-at-home order .
Wednesday , Bay Area officials announced their shelter-in-place order would extend through the end of May .
The expected beach-access restrictions come as a record number of Californians have applied for unemployment and many grow restless , house-bound for over a month .
Beyond the stay-at-home order protests that have popped up around the state , in less-populated areas of California local officials and business owners are pleading for Newsom to reopen the economy .

Calif. Governor Expected To Order Closure Of All Beaches And State Parks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
A California Police Chiefs Association memo sent Wednesday informed its members that Gov. Gavin Newsom will order all California beaches and state parks to close, effective Friday.
"After the well-publicized media coverage of overcrowded beaches this past weekend, in violation of Governor Newsom's Shelter in Place Order, the Governor will be announcing [Thursday] that ALL beaches and all state parks in California will be closed, effective Friday, May 1st," the memo reads.
"We wanted to give all of our members a heads up about this," it continued, "in order to provide time for you to plan for any situations you might expect as a result, knowing each community has its own dynamics."
The governor's office did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment. The memo was first reported by the website Santa Cruz Waves.
The governor's order would come days after widely circulated photos showed weekend crowds descending upon beaches in Southern California. Newsom scolded Californians for not abiding by the statewide stay-at-home order and social distancing measures.
"Those images," Newsom said in a press conference Monday, "are an example of what not to see, people, what not to do if we're going to make meaningful progress."
The state has experienced a record-setting heat wave over the last week, while coronavirus cases continue to surge.
The tens of thousands of people who cooled off along the coastline prompted local government officials to meet and discuss whether to limit crowds.
Officials in Newport Beach, where beachgoers flocked last weekend, met on Tuesday and decided to keep beaches open without instituting any further restrictions. Santa Cruz officials decided Wednesday to put in place a beach curfew, only allowing visitors before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
Those planned limitations, which allow some form of beach access, would be overridden once the state order is formally announced.
Newsom said Monday that modifications of statewide measures to control the spread of the coronavirus are "weeks, not months away." But he warned that any type of reopening would be "driven by data and behavior."
There is still no expiration date on the statewide stay-at-home order. Wednesday, Bay Area officials announced their shelter-in-place order would extend through the end of May.
The expected beach-access restrictions come as a record number of Californians have applied for unemployment and many grow restless, house-bound for over a month. Beyond the stay-at-home order protests that have popped up around the state, in less-populated areas of California local officials and business owners are pleading for Newsom to reopen the economy.


npr--2020-04-30--Los Angeles City And County Offer Free Coronavirus Testing To All Residents

Los Angeles City And County Offer Free Coronavirus Testing To All Residents Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday that all city and county residents who want a coronavirus test can now get one for the first time since COVID-19 cases began appearing there in January .
The announcement , which makes Los Angeles the first major city to offer free testing to all its residents , came on the same day that county health officials reported a surge in the number of new COVID-19 cases , which they attributed in part to more widespread testing .
The Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — its largest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic .
It also reported 56 additional deaths due to the coronavirus .
Health officials say despite the uptick , the rate of hospitalization and death in the county has remained steady .
Los Angeles County now has a total of nearly 22,500 confirmed cases — accounting for nearly half of California 's more than 46,000 .
Until now , due to a scarcity of test kits , only people showing symptoms of COVID-19 , essential workers and those in institutional settings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a test in Los Angeles .
Garcetti 's announcement could be a significant milestone , because health officials say without widespread testing they are unable to accurately track the spread of the disease .
That information could then be used to determine when it is safe to ease stay-at-home orders .
Now , any L.A. city or county resident who wants a test can make an appointment and get one at one of dozens of testing sites in the area , the mayor said at a news conference on Wednesday .
But he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be given priority for testing .
Garcetti said Los Angeles currently accounts for roughly 9 % of all the tests nationwide .
NPR 's Adrian Florido in Los Angeles contributed to this report .

Los Angeles City And County Offer Free Coronavirus Testing To All Residents
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday that all city and county residents who want a coronavirus test can now get one for the first time since COVID-19 cases began appearing there in January.
Free COVID-19 testing is available to any L.A. County resident. https://t.co/13jZaOOegy — MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) April 30, 2020
The announcement, which makes Los Angeles one of the first major cities in the nation to offer free testing to all its residents, came on the same day that county health officials reported a surge in the number of new COVID-19 cases, which they attributed in part to more widespread testing.
The Los Angeles County Health Department confirmed another 1,541 cases — its largest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic. It also reported 56 additional deaths because of the coronavirus.
Health officials say despite the uptick, the rate of hospitalization and death in the county has remained steady. Los Angeles County now has a total of nearly 22,500 confirmed cases — accounting for nearly half of California's more than 46,000.
Until now, because of a scarcity of test kits, only people showing symptoms of COVID-19, essential workers and those in institutional settings such as nursing homes could receive a test in Los Angeles.
Garcetti's announcement could be a significant milestone, because health officials say without widespread testing they are unable to accurately track the spread of the disease. That information could then be used to determine when it is safe to ease stay-at-home orders.
Now, any LA city or county resident who wants a test can make an appointment and get one at one of dozens of testing sites in the area, the mayor said at a news conference on Wednesday.
But he added that people showing symptoms would still be given priority for testing.
Garcetti said Los Angeles currently accounts for about 9% of all the tests nationwide.
NPR's Adrian Florido in Los Angeles contributed to this report.